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Post by Bonobo on Jan 10, 2009 22:29:28 GMT 1
Poland set to be holiday hotspot in 2009
Easier (press release), UK
7 January 2009
A new report has named Poland as one of the expected holiday
hotspots for the coming year. The FCO & ABTA Travel Trends Report,
produced by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Association of British Travel Agents, shows that Poland could be a real winner thanks to the warm welcome and value for money it offers travellers.
As the pound falls to record lows against the euro, the Travel
Trends Report says that holidaymakers are seeking extra value as
well as unforgettable experiences when they plan a trip abroad. The Polish National Tourist Office believes Poland is perfectly suited
to meet these criteria and is confident that a first-class holiday
in Poland will not break the bank.
Acting Director of the PNTO, Ewa Binkin, said: "We're delighted that
the Travel Trends Report has highlighted Poland as one of the
hotspots for 2009. It shows that we are a great country to visit
with lots of world-class attractions on offer."
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 7, 2009 22:09:05 GMT 1
In Warsaw, romance is in recession
Ever since Europe said `I do,' more Polish wives are saying `I don't': Migration and modernization are taking a toll on marriage in this heavily Catholic country
DOUG SAUNDERS AND ANNA OLEJARCZYK
Toronto Globe and Mail
January 30, 2009
In the airless confines of a Holiday Inn conference hall in Warsaw last Sunday, almost 200 women, most of them young and all of them unaccompanied, could have been shopping for vacation deals or mutual funds as they shuffled between tables and booths, scribbling notes, collecting leaflets and studiously avoiding eye contact.
Something more intense was going on in an isolated corner of the room, involving circles of women seated in stacking chairs and clenched fists, tears, heated discussions and bursts of nervous laughter.
Here, in the heart of Europe's most devoutly Roman Catholic country, is a new and increasingly popular institution – the divorce fair.
Polish women (and 95 per cent of the people paying $11 to attend are women) flock to these events. They come to meet divorce lawyers and accountants and to attend counselling, but also to rid themselves of the stigma that until very recently was associated with divorce, in a country whose traditional values have changed with amazing speed.
Image from
Renata Markiewicz, with her daughter Karolina, wait by the door of the courtroom for a divorce trial against her husband in a Warsaw court. Renata is accompanied by a witness Beata Zawrocka, while a man on the left is an unrelated lawyer checking the list of trials. (Piotr Malecki/For The Globe and Mail)
They often do it by partaking in some very untraditional rituals. At some fairs, they throw darts at photos of their soon-to-be-ex- spouses, hold symbolic burial ceremonies for the offending images or write down unsavoury memories and burn them. There are divorce fashion shows and companies that will help you organize another increasingly popular Polish institution, the divorce party.
"Times have changed," says Mariusz Trzebniak, the young businessman who created the divorce fairs last year as a lucrative addition to his wedding-fair business. "Years ago, a divorce fair in Poland would have been unrealistic, while now people look at life differently. There's more freedom, free will. There's more of a consumerist way of approaching things."
The quick and effortless divorce, all of a sudden, has become something that a great many Polish couples want.
This has occurred, not coincidentally, in the five years since Poland joined the European Union in 2004. With this came the opening of borders and a flood of educational opportunities, media outlets and foreign visitors into the country. It also gave all Poles the right to live and work as full citizens of 26 other countries – a change that sent two million flooding westward in search of work, adventure and new perspectives on life.
With the recent economic slump – which has hit Britain and Ireland, home to almost a million young Poles, far harder than Eastern Europe – the Great Migration has becomes a Great Return, sending hundreds of thousands of Poles back home to challenge long-entrenched Eastern values.
About half of the women at the divorce fair have recently moved back from Western Europe, according to the organizers. Many have learned English; many more have lived away from their husbands for periods of years.
Women, in many cases, have become the primary breadwinners in Polish households, or at least equals at work and home. They appear to be the drivers behind the divorce trend.
"Under communism, there was a cult of men that ruled how things would be," says Anisa Gnacikowska, a Warsaw divorce lawyer. "And now we have changing mentalities, where women look at their mothers who have been `hens of the house' and they choose not to be in the same position.
"Back then, women were less certain of themselves, more determined to hold on to a marriage and dependent on their husbands. They didn't have the confidence that they could support themselves. Now, when something is wrong in a marriage, a spouse thinks that there's no point in wasting their life in a union that doesn't work, and has more self-confidence to move on."
According to an analysis by the national office of statistics, one in three Polish marriages now ends in divorce within three years, a figure close to those in Western countries. These numbers have leapt up quickly: In 2000, only 43,000 Polish couples divorced. Seven years later, after Poland had been in the EU for three years and 700,000 young Poles had moved to Britain, this figure had almost doubled to more than 80,000 – if the 7,000 Polish divorces conducted in British courts are counted.
And they have to be counted. With EU membership came the right to a legal divorce under any European country's laws. In Britain, it is an inexpensive process if uncontested, usually conducted out of court.
To prevent all its marriage and divorce activities from being exported, Poland streamlined its procedures. Divorce once involved years of bureaucracy and numerous expensive court appearances. In 2004, the law was changed to allow it to take place in a few hearings for a single fee of 600 zlotys ($216), half of which is refunded to the couple if there are no disputes.
The switch seems to have broad support: A study done for the Warsaw daily Polska found that divorce is considered acceptable by more than 50 per cent of Poles.
Still, it represents a shock to the entrenched religious culture. At least 95 per cent of Poles consider themselves Catholics, and levels of religious observance remain high – in part because the church played such a heroic role in ending communism here 20 years ago, but also because almost half the population remains rural, many of them peasant farmers. Traditional ways of life still thrive, as do the political and religious groups that support them.
Outside the Holiday Inn on Sunday, a small circle of devout Catholics huddled in the cold and tried to persuade the women to reconsider their decision and not to enter the building. Some women read their warnings and turned away. But most ignored them completely.
"For us, this is not something that should be easy," says protest organizer Jacek Uljanicki, a member of the Movement of Light and Life, which is leading the anti-divorce campaign. "It is not natural. It should be hard. It should make you think twice about the decision you are going to make."
In fact, Mr. Uljanicki is himself a divorcee: His wife ended their marriage eight years ago; it was their lengthy parting that drove him to join this religious movement. He wants church representation in divorce procedures and at events like this. The church itself, which does not sanction divorce under any conditions, has complained loudly about the new attitude toward marriage breakup.
But new institutions seem to be governing private lives here, apparently created by the enormous exodus of Poles westward during the past five years and their equally dramatic return.
Aside from instilling new attitudes, the mass migration has put terrible strain on many relationships. Poles have been a primary source of low-cost service labour in some of Europe's most expensive cities; even if they come with their spouses, they end up living in crowded rooming houses, leaving little time or space for intimacy.
"This person thinks they will love the other one forever and the relationship will be fine when they go abroad," says Mr. Trzebniak, the divorce-fair organizer. "However, we are not seeing each other – time passes. We don't talk, or we only do over the phone, and she sends money while he is alone or vice versa. And it has to end."
Grazyna Czubinska, a sex-and-relationshi p counsellor for Polish migrants in London, says the strain is likely to increase as the return migration intensifies and newly independent young women find their lives at home fall short of their raised expectations. She predicts, based on current trends, that about 600,000 marriages in the next five years will fall apart because of migration.
"I find it shocking that communication breaks down so much, especially in a time where we are technologically advanced, where there is the telephone with rather decent international rates, where there's the Internet, where there's Skype," she says, referring to the free online long-distance service. "Contact is possible and it needs to exist at least once a month. When that contact is missing, that is when a spouse goes looking for it somewhere else."
It's a striking observation: Today, when it's possible to talk to your estranged lover at any time for free, the breakdowns that destroy marriages seem to be not across technological or linguistic barriers but across cultural and economic ones – and the results are even more devastating.
Doug Saunders is a European correspondent for The Globe and Mail. Anna Olejarczyk is a Canadian journalist based in Warsaw.
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 17, 2009 9:50:54 GMT 1
chelseahouse.infobasepublishing.com/BookList.asp?pageID=2&gradeType=&ISBN=0791096742&Parent=GeographyPoland Authored by Zoran Pavlovic, Series Editor: Charles F. Gritzner Modern World Nations Set, 71-Volumes Published: 3/1/2008 ISBN-10: 0791096742 ISBN-13: 978-0-7910-9674-1 Format: Hardcover Page count: 128 Trim size: 6 1/2 x 9 1/4 Dewey Number: 943 Reading Level: Grades 6 - 12 List Price: $30.00 Status: Available  Specifications Full-color photographs and maps. Facts at a glance. History at a glance. Bibliography. Further reading. Index. Summary For a better part of its history, Poland’s destiny has often been strongly influenced, if not determined, by the actions of its neighbors. From the west, Germans often advanced eastward; from the east, Russians, and later Soviets, expanded toward the west. In both cases, Poland was in their path. Yet, despite attempts by others to integrate or divide Poland, its people managed to overcome countless obstacles, preserve their ethnic identity and unity, and remain independent. In that process, Poland has appeared as a country in transition, a country on a journey without an entirely clear final destination. Today, the country may finally find the long-awaited peace and prosperity as Poland serves as a member of the European Union, especially if the dream of a unified, boundaries-free Europe becomes a reality. In Poland, readers will discover this land’s rich culture, storied history, and present-day political and economic situations. About the Author(s) Zoran Pavlović is a cultural geographer currently working at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He is the author, coauthor, or contributor to 11 Chelsea House geography books, including Spain and Greece in the Modern World Nations series. He was born and raised in southeastern Europe.
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Feb 18, 2009 16:02:04 GMT 1
Recently my son brought home a children's book about Poland from the local library. It was published in 1999, so some of the information is not current (such as John Paul II being the current Pope). I am not certain that all of it is accurate, either. Here is some of the information he found particularly interesting:
Poles belong to the ethnic group known as Slavs. More than 2,000 years ago, some Slavs moved from the east to what is modern-day southern Poland. They were called the Polanie, which means "people of the plains". These settlers are the long-ago relatives of modern-day Poles.
The white stripe on the Polish flag stands for the eagle [that Rus, Czech, and Lech saw building its nest when they were searching for a place to live].
Many Poles have light skin and brown hair. People in Poland look a lot alike because almost all of them are ethnic Poles. Only a small number have German, Ukrainian, Belarussian, or Jewish backgrounds.
The sound of two Poles talking might seem like whispering - even if they are speaking loudly. That is because Polish has lots of "sh", "ch", and "zh" sounds.
Two out of three Poles make their homes in cities. City kids usually live in large buildings full of small apartments.
Polish kids satisfy their sweet tooth with yummy desserts like poppy-seed cake or berry bomb. Berry bomb is made with ice cream and - you guessed it - berries.
At Easter Catholic families take painted eggs to church for a blessing. On Easter Monday, boys dump buckets of water on girls. (big smile at that) But girls have buckets, too. Gotcha!
In Poland kids begin school when they are seven years old. (cry of "No Fair!" at that) They study science, math, history, geography, Polish, literature, and social studies. Some kids take computer and foreign language classed after the regular school day ends. Teachers assign lots of homework. Kids go to school six days a week. (look of horror at that) Classes start around nine o'clock and end about two o'clock.
When Polish kids get to school, they change from street shoes to slippers to help keep the school floors clean. The school gives each student a number. Sometimes the teachers call on kids using numbers rather than names.
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 18, 2009 16:54:36 GMT 1
Recently my son brought home a children's book about Poland from the local library. It was published in 1999, so some of the information is not current (such as John Paul II being the current Pope). I am not certain that all of it is accurate, either. Here is some of the information he found particularly interesting: Are there illustrations too? More or less it is all correct except for 6 day school week. I remember we used to go to school for 6 days but it was in late 70s. Since then, 5 days. Berry bombs? I have never heard of it..... ;D ;D ;D ;D Yes, it is true. Kids work two or three hours every day on their homework. [/i] [/quote] Unfortunately, it istill happens here and there though school authorities have fought with it for years. |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Feb 18, 2009 17:19:01 GMT 1
Are there illustrations too? Yes, very nice ones.  More or less it is all correct except for 6 day school week. I remember we used to go to school for 6 days but it was in late 70s. Since then, 5 days. I figured that was incorrect. Should I tell my son, or let him continue to feel sorry for Polish students??? ;D Berry bombs? I have never heard of it..... ;D ;D ;D ;D I found a recipe for mixed-berry ice cup - puchar lodowy wieloowocowy. Maybe that is similar? The illustration looks similar to a French bombe. |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 19, 2009 11:34:43 GMT 1
I figured that was incorrect. Should I tell my son, or let him continue to feel sorry for Polish students??? ;D Tell him that Polish students make up for the lost year doing much more homework than American kids. Hmm, it is quite normal for kids to eat ice-cream but highlighting it as Polish tradition is a bit exaggerated. |
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 22, 2009 6:00:26 GMT 1
Study in Poland
Eurogates
18 April 2009
Why choose Poland?
Polish educational system provides high quality services. That is proven by the success of Polish proffesionals working all over the world, acclaimed as perfectly educated, creative and effective. Studies in Poland cost much less than in most European countries, and cost of living is much lower.
Do I have to speak Polish?
There are English courses available for international students, so you don't have to speak Polish. If you prefer to study in Polish you will have to graduate a Polish course before you start studying. The course costs 2000 euro, lasts a year, and takes place on a University of £ódŸ.
What are the tuition fees at Polish institutions?
The minimal tuition fee is 2000 euro a year. Although, universities may set higher amount for particular courses, so you should verify the cost of studying in a University of your choice.
What are the living expenses in Poland?
The living expenses in Poland are much lower than in most EU countries. The amount of 200-400 Euro should cover the monthly costs of accomodation, food and transport.
Is Poland safe?
Poland is a safe country. According to statistics, it's one of the safest within the EU. Nevertheless, precautious behaviour is neccesary, as anywhere in the world.
Am I allowed to work in Poland?
If you're a EU/EEA citizen you are allowed to work full time without any permission. If you're a citizen of Belarus, Russia or Ukraine you may work for 3 months in a period no longer than 6 months. All other nationals may work without a permission in July, August and September.
Is health insurance necessary?
Yes, you have to obtain a health insurance policy. If you're a EU/EEA citizen you have to get a European Health Insurance Card in your home country. If you're not a EU/EEA citizen you have to obtain an insurance policy in Polish National Health Fund. The cost estimates from 36 to 279 PLN, depending on a number of medial procedures included. Health insurance is neccesary to legalize your stay in Poland.
How will i find housing?
International Office of the University of your choice will help you to find a place in a student's dormitory. If no place is available, or if you prefer to live by yourself, you may find housing on private market. There are many possibilities, including renting a room, sharing an apartment or renting an own flat. Most Universities have their own accomodation databases, connecting students with homeowners free of charge. In real estate agencies it's neccesary to pay a fee (usually equivalent to a monthly rent).
Are any scholarships available?
Scholarships are available for students with proven Polish origin, and for students from Belarus who are subject to a political repression. It's neccesary to apply for a scholarship in a Polish consulate in your country of origin. The consulates provide all the neccesary information. Other scholarship offers may be available in certain Universities. You should check it out in a course search engine and in the International Students office of the University of your choice.
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Post by valpomike on Apr 22, 2009 20:01:57 GMT 1
If I were young again, this is what I would do, for sure.
The only thing I know, is when Doctors come from Poland, most do not pass the test, given here in the U.S.A.
Why is this?
This is also true of Nurses. I know of a few, Registered Nurses, who when they came here, could only work as a Nurse Aid, for much less money.
Why is this true?
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on May 24, 2009 16:20:26 GMT 1
So, a Polish guy is lucky to walk into a bar ...
By PATRYCJA ROMANOWSKA
Edmonton Sun
17th May 2009
In bold defiance of what is commonly defined as rational thought, I happen to be in Poland.
I will write about why I am here when enough time has passed for it to be funny. Right now, only the roads are funny. More in the "I'm going to die" hysterical vein than the "ha ha" one, but it's something.
Many things here are similar to what we are used to in our part of the world. People have nice cars, there is a pile of construction and generally crappy service.
On the flip side, it takes some time to adjust to the continuous eating, ridiculously overblown prices of blouses or grapefruits, and the roads. While there are some two-lane roads where the traffic flow is at times even reasonable, for the most part, driving is reserved for people who are forced to through necessity or who don't have a very strong desire to stay alive. For those foreign to the marvel of Polish highway infrastructure, let's start with some basics.
1) How do you know you are on a road in Poland?
Well, it looks like a shoulder but amazingly has two lanes and is jam packed with traffic. The speed limit is 60 km/h but everyone is going 90 km/h, except for two cargo trucks and some Soviet-era junker. The relative slowness of these vehicles, whether due to work-mandated adherence to highway laws or simply lack of engine capacity - the latter being infinitely more probable - is causing everyone else to constantly be passing.
In brilliant landscaping fashion, someone came up with the concept of not having a shoulder and instead, planting trees on the side of the ditch nearest the road.
2) How do you know you are in a car on a road in Poland?
If you are the driver, you will know because your eyes are closed, you are stepping on the gas pedal and thumbing the rosary hanging off your windshield wiper wand, praying that the oncoming traffic goes back into their proper lane before they hit you, a tree or hit you into a tree.
If you are a passenger you know because if you look to the left, your driver has his eyes closed; if you look ahead, the driver in the oncoming vehicle passing the Soviet-era junker has his eyes closed; if you look to the right you see trees, which are not particularly soothing right at that moment, and you don't bother looking behind because your body is immobilized with fear.
3) How do you know where the cops are on a Polish road?
If you are like 90% of the population you have a CB radio where between the swearing, bad jokes, 400 different variations of slang terms for cops and other male dominated activities, people talk about where the police are stationed.
This is quite puzzling since it is obvious where the cops are because it causes you to nearly rear-end the car ahead when everyone abruptly starts doing the speed limit.
The CB radio is useful for yelling at the guy in oncoming traffic who just about killed you, while passing a truck and fiddling with his radio.
4) How can you learn more about the roads?
You can watch the news, which is about 25% car accidents, and try to draw conclusions about what not to do if you want to survive.
The obvious conclusion is to take the bus. But others include: don't drink and drive, don't drink while driving, watch out for trees, don't pass eight vehicles on a double line and don't pass eight vehicles on a double line through a construction zone.
For more information, you can tune in to reality TV shows that actually show nothing other than car accidents. Apparently, they are designed to promote road safety.
I suspect, though, that they are actually the government's clandestine version of a Participaction campaign, designed to make everyone want to walk.
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Post by Bonobo on Mar 9, 2013 23:00:40 GMT 1
Poland – a phoenix unaware it is all but risen from the ashes
04 March 2013
MY FIRST residence in Warsaw was a tiny room in a dilapidated flat, one of countless such types in the centre of the city. As is the norm there, the room takes turns serving as a lounge and, at night, a bedroom when the sofa-bed wedged between basic furniture, with great grunting and swearing, turns grudgingly into a haven for harried bones.
Getting acquainted with the neighbourhood made me question: is this really Europe? Where are the quaint, narrow streets; the buildings steeped in history and permanence? These streets were huge and the buildings skyscrapers of reflective glass.
A simple history lesson shed some light. Warsaw, the scapegoat of all wars, has been razed to the ground to be bravely rebuilt from the bottom up so often it has never been able to retain buildings older than the 16th century.
From 1655 to 1658 alone it was pillaged by Swedes, Germans and even Transylvanians. What this translates to is an eclectic conglomeration of different architectural styles clashing peacefully – until you add a monstrosity called the Palace of Culture and Science to the mix.
Away from the centre the streets become less haphazardly inhabited and more serene. The long, straight touristy one that changes names twice (from "Nowy Swiat", meaning New World, to "Krakowskie Przedmiescie", or Krakow Suburb) is one example.
This brings us to one of the jewels of Warsaw – the old town. The gorgeous and historical marketplace nestling here was originally built in the 13th century. When the Nazis were retreating during the Warsaw Uprising they levelled the old town and left a sea of rubble. Over the last 60 years the square has been painstakingly restored to look cookie-cutter perfect and is now a teeming meeting place of artists, vendors and tourists.
People here are in the same rat race all capitals seem characterised by. You get on or off the bus amid throngs of other beating hearts and the clickety-clack of women's heels.
In autumn, you continuously subject your body to the stuffiness of sweat and recycled air to the whip of an icy wind as you make for your chosen mode of public transport.
During my first week I sat down at a pricey restaurant on Ulica Nowy Swiat, a tourist's dream world of shops and amazing-looking women.
Seeing a parade of such perfection, such impeccable dress sense... it was quite a blow to realise that, with my customary short hair and slacks, I could never, ever be as feminine and beautiful as Polish women are.
Tellingly, most expatriates in Poland seem to be men. I joined a Facebook group titled "Saffers in Poland" and went to a rugby match to meet expats and/or visitors like me. Turns out they were all men: most over 35, married to Polish women and with Polish kids – the whole shebang. The few younger ones either came to Poland thanks to a (now ex) Polish girlfriend, or were lured here by Polish women's legendary beauty.
A self-confessed guy's girl in SA, I was mystified not to be able to make any good Polish guy friends save for one lonesome creature.
In June last year I was a proud Poland supporter cheering on the red and white team during the European Cup. Warsaw had been a hive of activity with major repairs undertaken all over.
The tournament is long past but Warsaw is now barrelling into the future at a pace few other cities can keep up with. Business is booming and the phoenix is rising, but unfortunately mentalities only seem to be geared towards comparisons with Western Europe. All Europeans except for the Poles are aware of how well Poland is doing.
During difficult times on the streets (I was beaten up by an old woman with an umbrella on my last day in Poland) I would grumpily criticise it's not new infrastructure Warsaw needs to bring tourists in, but also new mentalities.
And so my job at a Polish pre-school in Warsaw came to an end and I am finally back on the African continent. It seems my parents' misgivings were unfounded – they were convinced the job I'd landed was a fluke; that I'd be forced into a prostitution ring never to be heard of again.
Now that I'm back home, I miss the efficient, fast and cheap transport system that gave me a wonderful sense of independence; I miss the beautiful golden autumns and the relief of spring when nature slowly comes alive again. I do not miss nine months of winter.
I miss feeling safe on my bicycle, even at 3am. I kind of miss knowing rules and laws are enforced so well (sometimes too well: I was caught with no bus tickets a few times and had to endure the wrath of controllers on power trips; they were ready to cart me off to jail for the night).
I miss my wonderful friends and the amazing bosses who brought me "rosól z kurczaka" (chicken soup) when sick in bed at the beginning of my stay.
I have learnt how to educate, discipline and organise adorable children; I have managed to travel and see more of an unknown country with a harsh past but a rich beauty. I have grown a thicker skin through my experience, and I cannot wait to share what I have learnt with my own country.www.peherald.com/news/article/12825
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 11, 2021 7:14:02 GMT 1
French comments on life in Poland www.onet.pl/styl-zycia/onetkobieta/francuzi-o-zyciu-polsce-ludzie-cudowni-i-wcale-tak-duzo-nie-pijecie/r0gjfjb,2b83378a ONET WOMAN NEWS
"There are too many procedures here, not enough logic. But wonderful people." French about life in Poland
- Poland is a country that for Western Europeans is a bit like a Christmas present waiting under the Christmas tree - sums up Jean-Luc. - You don't know what to expect, although you already have some expectations. And then it turns out that in this box you find something that you fall in love with. And you stay here forever.
Anna Frydrychewicz
11.8 thous.
November 27, 2021, 2:27 pm
You can read this text in 5 minutes
"And you don't really drink that much," says Noëlle. - I love your Christmas markets, food, people in general. I have met many wonderful people on my way
Lothaire, who has been living in Poland since 2009, appreciates the cultural richness of our country and Polish cold cuts
- It is sad that for a country that has suffered so much, you give power too easily to someone who, instead of leading Poland towards the future, returns it to the Middle Ages - says Jean-Luc, who has lived in Warsaw for a year
- As a foreigner I am privileged, but I think that life is expensive for Poles - claims Gilles. - I have friends who buy only what they need, because they cannot afford more
You can find more such stories on the Onet homepage
What is it like to leave your home country for good and live in Poland? It is certainly not easy to find your way here without knowing the language. Lothaire, Jean-Luc, Noëlle, Gilles and Cecile are French who have decided to stay in the country on the Vistula River permanently. What surprised them, what did they dislike, and what definitely won their hearts when they moved to Poland?
The Church interferes with the life of Poles too much
Cecile lives in Wrocław with her husband, cat and two almost adult children.
- I came here 20 years ago for an internship. I taught French at the university. It was also there that I met my beloved. Anyway, I have to say that most French or French women I know came here and stayed because of love.
- And I will say right away that what surprised me, but also charmed me, is the fact that you treat relationships very seriously - adds the 42-year-old.
In France, I did not feel it. If I was dating someone, there were always quite loose relationships. And here, on the first date, the boy gave me a rose. It was the first time I felt that I could stay here.
Cecile points out, however, that the way men in Poland treat women evokes ambivalent feelings in her.
We recommend: "I see respect for difference at every step." A Polish woman in the English countryside
- On the one hand, my father-in-law always kisses my hand, and on the other, he can say that I could work less, because a woman in Poland should primarily devote herself to the family . But I forgive him because he is over 80 - laughs Cecile. - My French uncle had similar comments. The real problem is the situation of Polish women and matters related to the anti-abortion act. I believe that the government or the church in general meddle in such private matters as the decision to have a child is a scandal. I am glad that I have sons, because I would probably take my daughter out of here. But people are lovely here.
Living in Warsaw is easier than in Paris
Jean-Luc is an engineer, he is 34 years old and has been living in Poland for a year. He says that living in Warsaw is much easier for him than in Paris. That the city is well communicated and that everything is "at your fingertips" here. For a large European capital, this is not a common advantage.
We recommend: Polish woman in Japan. "I will come back for the kitchen and wonderful nature"
- I came to Poland because my beloved girl lives here. Now I know that Poles are very family-like, that they cherish traditions and there is a certain spirit of unity in them. Maybe you mention too much of a failed moment in history and too little to look forward. You have great monuments, beautiful cities that need to be shown to the world.
- I really like the atmosphere of the Old Town and Warsaw itself. On the one hand, it is a dynamic, modern city that is developing rapidly. On the other hand, it's cozy and friendly. It is good to live here. I sense that you are here in solidarity, you unite, you know how to help each other. Nobody is anonymous here. Which, of course, can also be troublesome - he adds.
What irritates Jean-Luc is too much influence of the Catholic Church on the political and social life of Poles. And he doesn't like the changes introduced by the PiS party in power.
- It is sad that for a country that has suffered so much, you hand over power too easily to someone who, instead of leading Poland towards the future, returns it to the Middle Ages.
Without playing with stereotypes, Jean-Luc also says that gastronomy in Poland could be on a better level. But he adds immediately that the French is doing great here, because in every big city you can easily find French products.
Too many procedures, too little logic
Gilles's wife is Polish. The couple settled permanently in Goleniów in 2016. Gilles says today that it is one thing to come here on vacation and another to live ...
- Problems arise already at the administrative level - he explains. " There are too many procedures here, too little logic." Replacing the license plate lasts endlessly, you still need to supplement some documents.
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"The healthcare system is at a tragic level," adds Gilles. - In France it is cheaper and much better in this respect. In Poland, medicines cost a fortune, and you have to wait for a specialist for months. Unless you go to visit privately because you can afford it. I went to see a doctor at a public clinic once and he didn't even get up to check me out, he just prescribed me medication.
- As a foreigner I am privileged, but I believe that life is expensive for Poles - he adds. - I have friends who buy only what they need, because they cannot afford more.
Gilles also claims that Poles do not pay much attention to what they eat . - If you want to eat well, you go to France - he laughs. - There, each region has its own dishes, and the tradition of good food dates back to the Middle Ages. Our meal can last three hours and is very rich: there are starters, main courses, vegetables, cheese. There is harmony.
In Poland, everything is put on the table at once. Everyone puts on. If you don't know it in the beginning, you feel a little lost. But you get used to it.
M. lives in the north, he doesn't want to give his name. It highlights one very serious problem faced by foreigners in Poland: the lack of information.
- I am divorced, I raise my children myself - she says. - I don't know the Polish language very well. I believe that there is a great deal of chaos here when it comes to social matters. It is very difficult to find out what you are entitled to, what you are entitled to . And as a divorcee, I lost my right to be employed in Poland.
Further part below the video
Łódź has its own charm
Noëlle begins her story about her stay in Poland with her stay in Przemyśl.
When I came to Poland for the first time in 2004, I was terrified. But having failed my exams in France, I left for Germany, and then came here again.
- he says and adds: - My father is Polish, but before that we had nothing to do with Poland, I couldn't speak Polish. I came here again in 2013, spent the summer in Krakow and fell in love with the city, its atmosphere, pubs, people, food.
In order to be able to study at the Medical Academy in Poland, Noëlle went to Łódź to learn Polish during a course for foreigners.
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- Many people say that this city is sad, but I found a charm in it, I loved living there - he says. - Then I wanted to go to Krakow, but life made me land in Wrocław. I graduated in Polish and now I am waiting to be accepted for the equivalent of a medical internship.
When asked about her first impressions, Noëlle said that she actually discovered Poland when she came here for the second time at the age of 21. However, she did not decide to stay here immediately.
- It was not the original plan at all, after the second year of studies I was supposed to return to France, but I fell in love with a Pole - he laughs. - I liked the education system and generally felt good here. I don't like you guys not giving each other a hello kiss. Especially between my friends at the university it creates a lot of distance at the beginning. I remember the girls reaching out to me on the first day of classes at the academy, I thought it rude then ...
"The administrative system in France is a horror, but it's worse here," says Noëlle. - As soon as I got permission to practice, everything turned out to be so complicated that I didn't know where to start. And you never know who is responsible for what, who to contact to settle your case.
Poland as an unpacked gift
What amazes Noëlle is that the Poles complain even more than the French . And that they do not talk to the cashier in the store, they do not thank the bus or tram driver when they get off the vehicle. In France, this behavior is quite common.
" And you don't really drink that much, " he adds. —I love your Christmas markets, the food, the people in general. I have met many wonderful people on my way. I also appreciate the ease of studying, the possibility of continuing education, even if the situation is generally difficult - this is a huge advantage.
Lothaire has been living in Warsaw since 2009. He came for a professional internship a year earlier and spent a month here. He came back a year later because he met a Polish woman and fell in love.
- I remember driving along Żwirki i Wigury Street, it was dark, the road was underexposed - he says. - And then I got off the bus downtown and saw a mall in the middle of the city. To this day, I have this thought in my head, it is a combination of modernity with something older. Just like blocks of flats in various districts of Warsaw and modern buildings in Śródmieście.
Lothaire appreciates the cultural and geographical richness of Poland. - Each region has its own characteristic landscape, history and tradition. I really like traveling around the country, visiting especially smaller cities. It is fascinating - he adds.
Lothaire says he doesn't complain about Polish food, although the first encounter with gastronomy was ... strange.
My future mother-in-law has prepared plum dumplings for me. I saw something similar to gnocchi on my plate and there was fruit inside. It was a sweet and salty surprise. But when it comes to food, I like Polish cold cuts a lot. Such a hit for a foreigner are kabanos sausages and pickled cucumbers
- laughs.
Poland is a country that for Western Europeans is a bit like a Christmas present waiting under the Christmas tree - summarizes Jean-Luc. - You don't know what to expect, although you already have some expectations. And then it turns out that in this box you find something that you fall in love with. And you stay here forever.
Anna Frydrychewicz
Creation date: November 27, 2021, 14:27 |
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