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CULTURE SHOCK! (of my Polish finance who visited the US)


equinox
22 Apr 2007 #31
Cars have air-conditioning!!!

Tell me something. Is he really from Polad? Or maybe he is just making fun of you?
daffy 23 | 1,500
22 Apr 2007 #32
There is nothing wrong with it.

oh big time spot on m! i hope none of us implied there is!

as with all changes in life, time will allow us to acustom/aclimatise.
miranda
22 Apr 2007 #33
Well,
I am a city slicker myself and sometimes I find it difficult to tolerate people who are shocked at many things. I guess that depends on open one is to any experiance and how well travelled and curious about life one is. Some people are more set in their ways than others and it doesn't depend on nationality but on the preson. I find that people who are not open to experiance (not the ones crossing ones boundries and hurting one in any way) have easier life in general. Having tolerance is important, having a balanced tolerance is even better.

Luck of tolerance is driven by fear of not being able to cope with the unknown.
equinox
22 Apr 2007 #34
Thanks K for the reminder, i'd forgotten.

That was good. High five.

Look at North Pole`s post:
polishforums.com/polish_women_serious_demand-9_8512_1.html#msg121452
Eurola 4 | 1,902
22 Apr 2007 #35
Krysia, thanks for sharing the new experiences and welcome back. Right on the button. I miss the "Have a nice days" when in Poland. Yes, our big main stream grocery stores still offer paper or plastic. They even ask If I need help with carrying them outside. I would not mind if I had to take my own bags to the store.

I frequently buy at Trader Joe's however and they appreciate bringing your own bags. You even fill out a little ticket for weekly draws of $25.oo (never won yet).

As for air-conditioning in cars or homes in Poland, they exist, but they are too expensive for most.

As Miranda mentioned, small town folks in America are experiencing a huge culture shock as well when going to a big city. Some suburban people NEVER drove a car in downtown Chicago ( too scared). When I came over here, I was renting an attic apartment at a house owned by nice American couple in their 60's. They never drove in downtown Chicago. If they flew anywhere for a couple of days, they called a taxi because "they would get lost at O'Hare" airport. Later, I drove them to O'Hare or pick them up.

I also lived in NY (late 80's)and drove in Manhattan every day (loved it). Downtown Chicago has a "small town" feel when you comeback from NY...
Bartolome 2 | 1,085
22 Apr 2007 #36
really? ive been to tesco's there and other skelpi and never paid for the plastic bags?

Well then, it appears that some shops charge for plastic bags and some don't.

This encourages people to recycle which is good for the environment. people dont like paying for their bags but when they get them for free they use so much more!

Yeah, it's a good thing, my family uses bags made of strong fibre, so no amount of shoppings can be scary (especially for my mum).
shopgirl 6 | 928
22 Apr 2007 #37
you have to buy your plastic shopping bags

Here we buy a "green bag" that you take with you each time you go to the grocery store. By having your green bag, you get 10% off the bill. And they save on stocking paper and plastic bag supplies :)

Some suburban people NEVER drove a car in downtown Chicago ( too scared).

Sounds like Phoenix LOL! A white-knuckle ride to any destination. And if it is raining and the desert flash floods pop up over the freeway, oh my god! It is hard to brake down from 70 mph to stopping!

I'd rather drive in Los Angeles! :)
Enough
23 Apr 2007 #38
with friends like these who needs enemys?

Exactly. Stop spreading lies, krysia. Stupid b(word).
LoneStranger 3 | 382
23 Apr 2007 #39
Poland is a big bad backwater where crime is rife, no one is friendly and there is no hope, only vodka.

Excuse me?

krysia

Congrats Krysia! :) ... I hope you get married soon.

But your boyfriend is getting so much shocked? Dont you think its not as much as you feel it is :) ... yes the two countries are different... but Poland is not so backward :) :)...
sapphire 22 | 1,241
23 Apr 2007 #40
personally I feel culture shock every time I go to the USA.. and I live in London! everything is just too damn big there. I didnt even know how big a block was, til I tried walking 8 of them..
peterweg 37 | 2,311
23 Apr 2007 #41
In US they always say: "Have a nice day" and smile when you shop. Never hear that in Poland. SHOCK!!!!

Yeah, but visitors to the US assume that they actually mean it.

Its a meaningless comment, they may as well say 'go **** yourself'

BTW, Ireland and other countries have added a tax of 10p or so on plastic bags to reduce the billions of bags that end up poluting the countryside. Free plastic bags at supermarkets are causing massive environmental damage in all countries, expect to pay for them in future - its not supermarkets being nice or nasty.
Patrycja19 62 | 2,688
23 Apr 2007 #42
Yeah, but visitors to the US assume that they actually mean it.

Its a meaningless comment, they may as well say 'go **** yourself'

umm no, it isnt that way, because alot of the time you can have a really good conversation with a stranger who works at a store, and say have a good one, I mean it

when I say it, and I know the other person does, we leave on a great note just because we had talked about something in common. maybe some, but not all.

sad way to look at it really, if I felt that way every time I left the store, I would be
flipping out on people. you really have a bad outlook on life. something needs to
change in your otherwise you wont see the change in the world.

Krysia, welcome back, you were missed. :)

Congradulations again. I wish you both the best.
Nod
23 Apr 2007 #43
Yeah, but visitors to the US assume that they actually mean it.

Its a meaningless comment, they may as well say 'go **** yourself'

This is so true.
Patrycja19 62 | 2,688
23 Apr 2007 #44
facts? do you get inside someones head and take it apart??

wow, some really depressed people here.
Decorator 4 | 291
23 Apr 2007 #45
I've been to the U.S loads of times and i love it there, i have always been treated exceptionally well. I loved Chicago, and camping down the Oregon coastline and Washington state was breathtaking.. you can be negative about any country you travel to that's not too difficult. I guess it all boils down to how open minded you are..

I love travelling, even the places that i have not particulary liked, it justs broadens your mind i think.
Patrycja19 62 | 2,688
23 Apr 2007 #46
I guess it all boils down to how open minded you are..

Ahhhhhhh Words of Wisdom!! thanks Decorator, your open mind is refreshing!
:)
Decorator 4 | 291
23 Apr 2007 #47
I especially loved it when i was with my Canadian girlfriend off the beaten track in Washington State, we found this tiny little diner. We sat down at the counter and i ordered coffee in my English accent, it was like a scene from the deliverance.. everyone in the diner stared at me, it was priceless, you can't beat that..

Fortunately it never ended up like another scene from the Deliverance.. :) The Cascade Range was beautiful too.. I also loved it in Seattle, found some great bars there..
sledz 23 | 2,250
23 Apr 2007 #48
Oregon coastline

Its awesome I went there last summer the people were really friendly
the mountians are beautiful and fishing is exellent.....:)
Patrycja19 62 | 2,688
23 Apr 2007 #49
Wow!! overwhelming words of wisdom,, some do have actual good time here :)

Back to topic. I do hope that Krysia's new hubby to be will enjoy it here. take in
a little at a time.. :)
bookratt
23 Apr 2007 #50
Congrats, Krysia, I hope your fiance likes the US.
Ranj 21 | 947
23 Apr 2007 #51
Don't worry, K, we'll get him assimilated to the US in Vegas, baby!:) Can't wait to see you there!

camping down the Oregon coastline

I love the Oregon coast....camped at Seal Rock one year and was in Yachats 2 summers ago. I love the Pacific NW.:)
Lee_England 4 | 51
23 Apr 2007 #52
Leaving your house unlocked is a culture shock to me and I'm English!
Hueg - | 320
23 Apr 2007 #53
Excuse me?

Why what have you done?

lol

I like the new look. Centre partings suit you.

Sometimes, when people say things, they mean what they say. Sometimes, they mean the opposite.
It is up to the reader to interpret, or they can pay someone else to do the thinking for them.

I do hope that has cleared up any misunderstanding on your part.

Mail me the 50€ therapy fee. I do PayInfidel :)
Morybloo
25 Dec 2007 #54
I live in NY for a very long time and came across very nice people. Everyone smiles and says have a GREAT day.....Long Island is wonderful.
grubas 12 | 1,384
1 Feb 2010 #55
Krysia let us know where did u find this retard???must have been a village idiot in his home town or whatever???am i right?
opts 10 | 260
1 Feb 2010 #56
krysia
In Polish grocery stores you have to bag your own groceries, in the US they ask "paper or plastic". Another shocking experience!!!!

I visited Berlin during the last summer; there, people bag their groceries too.

Thanks Krysia
OP krysia 23 | 3,058
1 Feb 2010 #57
am i right?

bingo!

there, people bad their groceries too

In Wisconsin they have monkeys trained to bag groceries
opts 10 | 260
1 Feb 2010 #58
My Polish fiance just came to the US. First time ever. Talking about Culture Shock!

Krysia,

Where did you bagged your fiance? Was it in the fields, in a small village?

I visited Poland last year and was surprised by the progress.

Poland is a big bad backwater where crime is rife, no one is friendly and there is no hope, only vodka.

Hueg,
Poles will usually try to accommodate foreigners, and will respond and interact with foreigners on their level. When interacting with a “backwater” person, Poles will act like "backwater" people.
Bultish
1 Feb 2010 #59
Where did you bagged your fiance? Was it in the fields, in a small village?

Thats the point, he must have come from a small village, he must think he is dreaming when he see somebody using a mobile phone or computor.
grubas 12 | 1,384
1 Feb 2010 #60
In Polish grocery stores you have to bag your own groceries, in the US they ask "paper or plastic". Another shocking experience!!!!

Actually they only ask "debit or credit" if, and when they see u holding a card.thats from my experience.hardly shocking imo.

Everybody stops at a stop sign even when there is nothing coming!!!

no,not everybody

Nobody fences in yards!!!

yea,right.

I live in the rural area and never lock the house.

good 4 u.where i live its advised by state cops on a radio to ALWAYS lock your house and car.They say leaving your unattended car open with the keys inside its not only STUPID but also ILLEGAL.

Cars have air-conditioning!!!

WOW.now im speechless.

Hot water is on the left!!!

and cold on the right.so?speaking about "culture shock"i agree it exist. i for myself was shocked to learn how ignorant SOME americans can be.

Drivers in Poland are terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They go fast then slam on their breaks and get in front of you and pass whenever they feel like it and when you see a car heading your way so you better get off on the side of the road or you're dead meat!!! SHOCK!!!!!!

true.they suck comparing to american superdrivers.especially to the retirees in their boat alike mercurys and buicks doing 35 on the left lane in the 50mph speed zone.they also suck really bad in comparison to u s superdrivers driving on high beams at night no matter what(about 50%in my area).do they blind others?well,who gives a damn?not they for sure.


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