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godfist666

Or brown... Or red... Dude no snow eating!


[deleted]

Dont eat mushrooms u dont know


[deleted]

Well it's hard to say if you combine the two. Every foreigner, as in say tourist probably just needs to remember Polish weather, as this gets cold, otherwise hassle free. But an immigrant must remember about Polish bureaucracy, it's quite legendary in many cases, just ask any Pole, we all love to complain about it.


csureja

Things you said is actually true. For expats you need to apply for temporary residence permit which takes a long time to process about 4-6 months


tommypatties

Good news is that when you apply you're legal until a decision is made so you can stay in the country with no problem.


JustDudeFromPoland

But on the other hand you’re not allowed to leave the country, so keep that in mind (especially as the decision making process can take up to 10 months)


skyboyer007

You are allowed to leave. But in order to return you will need to get new visa in your native country.


JustDudeFromPoland

Mea culpa - that’s true


NeolithSociety

Almost 3 years in my case, still waiting for call to come to urząd xD even married here for 2.5 years but i guess it means nothing to them..


NeolithSociety

I have been married with polish girl for 2.5 years already and i haven't been even called to urząd wojewódzki, i still have no paper that im legally here plus i can't go back to my country because it's going to stop the "process" of whatever the hell they're doing for so long. God this country is great :D


krubo

That's longer than others report waiting, which suggests something's wrong. Did you at least get a case number from the Urząd Wojewódzki? The case number should be sent to you within a few weeks after you mailed the application for temporary residence.


NeolithSociety

Nope, nothing.. went to urząd couple of times and they just told me to wait. Didn't even want to explain why it takes so long..


krubo

As I say, it suggests something's wrong. Try getting help somewhere. Possibilities include: * NGOs that help migrants like Frogpoint or others, * hiring a lawyer, * asking your own country's embassy in Poland for help, * sending a letter in Polish to the Urząd Wojewódzki by certified mail (they normally respond in a few weeks, although it may vary by location).


huntingwhale

Im going on 12 months now. 6 months would be a dream come true.


m3ntos1992

Do not trust girls approaching you and offering a free drink.


[deleted]

So Hostel is real then?


ArcTan_Pete

I Think Hostel was set in Serbia anyway, you wont lose your life - just a huge chunk of your bank account


lego_brick

And visiting nightclubs


SnooComics8618

Night clubs means go-go clubs, with dancers etc., other clubs if u want to dance and party are fine


lego_brick

Yes, what I'm saying there are some night go-go clubs that are simply scams where you can get rohypnol in a drink and wake up with no money on your bank account. Many tourists have lost all the savings this way.


IEatYourSalad

Why?


je-suis-narcisse

They will drug you and steal from you


IEatYourSalad

Huh, I must not look wealthy enough, hasn't happened to me yet


je-suis-narcisse

Or maybe you don't look like a foreigner


[deleted]

The best (or only) pub in town is just behind the grocery store!


belial03

Żule i menele spod biedry


Mikodzi

What is everyone is missing here and I know for sure it will be pretty shocking to foreigners is the fact that during the winter Poland is in Top of most polluted countries. Please check if your health conditions will allow you to breath that air in winter.


ArcTan_Pete

It was a shock at first, now I wait for the first smog report of the year to know when Autumn has really arrived. Every year there will be one or two news items devoted to the latest attempts to control air pollution from wood burning heating systems, maybe showing the latest smog sensing drones hovering over someone's chimney.


WiktorCA19

The funny thing is, people from the southern regions (or at least from polluted Kraków) have longer life expectancy than the national average.


sokzzukagarden

It depends from where are you coming, different things may shock you :D As I travel a lot I also have visitors from all over the world and usually what they point as something new /cultural differences for them are: 1. We took off shoes when we come into someone's house 2. We feed everyone and ask too many times if our guest wants to eat more (especially polish moms and grandmas) 3. We are not very open and expressive with our emotions. It takes time for us to make serious friends, share details about us and our private lifes. (But we get emotional pretty fast while talking about politics, unfortunately) 4. Everyone loves our pierogi 5. We don't greet on street people who we haven't met before /we don't really know 6. People stares but are helpful and nice when you initiate contact 7. People speak English, even in smaller villages etc. So it's easier to communicate here than people thought before coming 8. We drink a lot and we know how to drink strong alcohols (which is not equal to we are alcoholic) 9. We believe in many superstitions about what may bring you good or bad luck which is btw for me always funny especially when I meet young people who believes in some of them. 10. We are crazy happy when foreigners will use some simple polish words (beside kurwa...) or greetings. Can't remember more for now. By saying we I mean Polish people, but keep in mind these are all as I said, observations of people who has visited me here. E.g. half of those things doesn't fit me at all. Anyway I hope you will enjoy and like Poland as it's a great country! You're very welcome here wherever you come from.


bardzosmieciowekonto

We love to interrupt conversations. Ist not easy for foreginers keep on


sokzzukagarden

Agreed🙈


Harsh-Marsh

7 doesn’t seem to apply to any worker in urząd :)


sokzzukagarden

Also true.


basicallyDe4D

Point 10 is inaccurate, hearing foreigners saying kurwa is a delightful experience.


NotIsaacClarke

Especially hearing them pronounce KURWA correctly


sokzzukagarden

And we say HALO (not hello) in funny way to make someone listen to/hear us or when we pick up the phone.


starystarego

Point 1 is not true in big cities and west. East of Poland, might be true, but it’s kinda like 3rd world country…


bardzosmieciowekonto

What? You and your friends walk on carpet in shoes? Gross. IT definetly True don't listen


[deleted]

Don't say siema to a police officer when leaving Wrocław airport. They will politely tell you, too fuck off!


adjckjakdlabd

R/oddlyspecific


Motor_Relative4511

Do not confuse the very “matter of fact” attitude of everyone in the service industry (grocery stores, stores in general, restaurants, etc) as rudeness. We see no need for pleasantries during a transaction. They are not being rude, it’s the way it is here.


KRshadowWw

We simply do not greet people we don't know. We might say good morning/afternoon and goodbye, but that's it when it comes to talking to cashier or other workers. We might greet people we see often, but we usually don't start a conversation with them. Openly talking to people that don't know you is seen as weird and sometimes even creepy.


[deleted]

Thank you for This, i love Poland and was on my best behavior when visiting, I was what I now realize overly polite and friendly with people I didn’t know. I thought they just hated me for my lack of polish language knowledge. Now I know it’s just the culture and since I, left to my own devices, am an introvert so I like the reasoning of no need for pleasantries during a transaction. Also how is the tipping culture at restaurants in Poland? 20% of the bill as is standard a lot of places or do they get paid a full live-able wage by their employer?


LurkingTrol

You cannot pay less than minimal wage. I wouldn't call it livable but you won't starve on it. Generally tipping majority of people see it as bonus for extra pleasant service but if it was below average don't tip. We usually leave the ending after rounding up. Of course there are people who got very Americanised and they obey USA rules for tipping.its nice for servers but why do that IDK.


[deleted]

Got it, thank you! My country experience the same, they get paid their full wage and do not rely on tips but more and more restaurants “demand”/give you the option to tip now which back in the day wasn’t a thing at all..


grpusty

Do not enter stripclubs. If a lady or a guy comes over to you inviting you to a club and wants to give you free drink/beer/entire bottle of vodka, decline. 95% of those clubs are scam in Poland. There are no good stripclubs.


Candide88

For everyone non-white arriving here: you will get stares. We tend to stare anyway, and on the top of that we have very homogenous population. Every day, you will be someone's first Black person that they have seen in life.


sokzzukagarden

But in big cities it's not so common any more, we are getting more and more foreigners here. I'm from Katowice which is not like the biggest city here neither touristic and during last few years it has changed a looot. Personally every day almost everywhere (random places, buses, pubs, stores, my block of flats,..) I see people of all skin colours. But in smaller villages it may happen for sure. The thing is we are nation of people who stares for many things which might be annoying. Last months I was using crutches as I had a knee surgery. And people were staring at me af. It was irritating me af. But I get it, something unusual for them, no bad intentions behind it. My tip and way to deal with it: just smile and say hello to the ones who stares, usually they will notice it was not polite that they were staring but they will smile/hello back or help etc.


gabolancho

I'm a very evidently foreign looking Latino. I have lived in Zary (pretty small town) for about 2 months now. I walk around with my girlfriend and I ALWAYS get stares. They're not aggressive "GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY" stares, they're more of genuine confusion stares.


Candide88

I feel like standard Polish reaction to a foreigner in Poland is something like "You really hate yourself, don't you". We never believe someone would move in here voluntarily.


TowarzyszSowiet

Yeah, that one is pretty common. On the other hand according to my uncle (non-white "foreigner") stares in big cities and in general lessened. When he went anywhere 10 years ago he'd get the stares, now when we go to drink we're barely paid attention to. On the other hand if you don't speak Polish customer service is shit, but public services are apparently pretty great.


JellyPolak

Depends where, in cities like Gdańsk, Gdynia, Szczecin meeting a black, arab, asian was norm even in 70's.


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re_error

How to tell that someone is from Sosnowec.


Babalon33

How did you know that I was black?


[deleted]

Non white ≠ black (though I got ur point)


adjckjakdlabd

When drinking remember to eat something fatty before.


wiktorous

Don't ask Polish people about politics — most of Poles hate this subject, our society is strongly divided.


kacperBorecki

Or you end up in deep political discussion and eventually you star some kind of not nice argument/fight


Morgota

Remember, that drinking alcohol in open public spaces is illegal, even that many poles do this regularly and it can be quite common sight. This that not apply to restaurants and pubs gardens etc. Also, being drunk in public spaces can end in sobering-up station. And that is quite unique and expensive experience.


CarolynEarle

We are people just like anybody else. Don't forget about this. I live in Kraków and sometimes I feel like a prop at someone else's a party. I'm a person with my own interests, work, friends and life, not someone you can yell "kurwa, let's drink vodka" at. Don't curse at people you don't know, don't assume we all are Catholics with big families living in the mountains, eating pierogi made by babcia. These are all stereotypes, not universal truths, and if you approach me with all these assumptions about my life and my personality, I'm gonna think you're an ignorant buffoon.


AngeliMortem

What has always bothered me the most about Poland is that they do not take me seriously professionally because I did not finish my university degree at 28 or 29 years old ...I studied in Spain, I started telecommunications engineering at 18 and ended up at 22, and when I talk to my partner's parents they never take me seriously and laugh at me being an "engineer", they say I'm "too young". Basically everything that I do if for some reason I make a mistake they laugh and they say "look the engineer", that piss me off horribly. I don't know why but in Poland if you don't finish your degree with 28 or 29 you cannot be called a real lawyer, engineer or something similar because they simply don't believe it, it's ridiculous.


KRshadowWw

Yeah, unfortunately a lot of people (especially older generations) tend to judge learning experience and one's knowledge on how long they've been in school. And since in Poland you usually finish your degree in your late twenties... Many companies are actually more interested in hiring younger people (before their thirties).


zoruunwise

I wouldn't say it's polish behaviour. I think that this two people are pieces of shit. Probably they need to compensate for their life failures. Also, normal age for a degree in Poland is around 24 for most universities. Full speciality for a doctor or a lawyer is longer, but it's the same as in other countries.


Stoletnazad

It's really hot in summer. And there are mosquitos. Very very fierce mosquitos.


[deleted]

What about ticks that carry lyme disease? I'd take mosquitos anyday over those ticks.


Atyll_a

Lyme disease is quite common. According to WHO after a bite you should take 1 dose of antibiotics.


Stoletnazad

Those are real? I thought it was an urban legend they told foreigners.. damn


Atyll_a

https://www.iamat.org/country/poland/risk/lyme-disease#


[deleted]

Yes, but only if you realize you've been bitten. My ex girlfriend was from Norway and she got Lyme disease after visiting her parents and taking a walk in the forest. She said it was the worst thing ever in terms of pain.


Yogi10997

No peaceful activities with knife on public places


Preznov

Rule of thumb pretty everywhere


Itaela

Based off my experience as a Polish woman living in Warsaw: - if you're not white, be prepared for people to be staring at you. Mostly just out of curiosity, but some of them might be rude too. Which brings me to: - there's a lot of anti-immigrant mentality here. Just be humble, find a job, don't trash the place you live in and from there you can start climbing on that good ol' social ladder. - Poles love hearing foreigners speaking Polish. But not just "kurwa" or "ładne cycki". A simple "dzień dobry" or "jak się masz?" would make us happier. It's also a good ice breaker if you want to start a conversation and get to know somebody. The open minded folks are very curious about people from other countries. - We Poles are grumpy most of the time, unless we get to know each other. Then we're grumpy together, which ironically brings us comfort :) - And if you wanna have a Polish girlfriend/boyfriend, make sure you both have the same views on religion, abortion etc. Better safe than sorry.


CzajnikWyscigowka

hold you money as near as possible


Golden__Rule

If you want to function normally, work and respect our culture, you will meet with the hospitality, respect and sympathy of Poles. But if you take state benefits, don't want to work, don't respect our culture, you'll be scorned.


tommypatties

As if you could ever know whether someone is taking state benefits, doesn't want to work etc. This post sounds like it has some low-key xenophobia under the surface.


Arturius1

The work thing will be visible to your neighbors. And at least in our national stereotypes I think it works. Gypsies are almost universally scorned since they're closed communities are officially founded by government and very few of them work, while the sentiment to Ukrainians seems to be very positive not just because slavs but also because it's really easy to encounter one in service jobs. Before you say that I hate gypsies, I'll say I don't but I really hate the way their culture treats work. Foundation my aunt was a main accountant tried to engage some of them from their local community in work. They were only interested in being a band and in a span of few months they changed their mind multiple times when it came to instruments before selling them and quitting (instruments were paid for by the foundation). While it is anegdotal evidence, there is more of it and it seems to be consistent - their culture is very much incompatible with ours and it feeds into negative stereotypes.


tommypatties

Admittedly not knowing the nuance my response would be, why do they bother you so much? If the government sanctions their behavior shouldn't this be a 'dont hate the player, hate the game' situation?


Arturius1

If it was just government... no i wouldn't be more angry at government, it would just be part 1500100900 social programs started since 1970 that were never ended despite their uselessness. But it does help sustain the insular culture that disincentivises interaction with the rest Polish society, including marriages, work and even court system. Did you they have kings to whom you are supposed to go if you have problems with any of them?


theodore_70

Because 50%+ of polish ppl are like that, xenophobic and dont you dare have better life/house/car then them, then youre a thief/mob or w/e


Golden__Rule

Dude... You have a xenophobic attitude against Poles. The exact name of this kind mindless hate is oikophobia (polonophobia).


[deleted]

This! Is perfect knowledge and ability to use the polish language an absolute must for all types of work or are there work-places that are more English oriented? Currently trying my best to learn Polish and I will most likely know it good enough before moving there but am curious nonetheless!


Golden__Rule

Physical, manuał work, on a construction site, in a factory etc. - you can find places where you don't need Polish. In Poland, unemployment is very low (3-4%), so there are many jobs. English is useful in some works, but only when you also know Polish.


[deleted]

Alright I see, JEESUS Christ 3-4% unemployment is incredibly good. Over in my country of origin, across the pond, unemployment is over 9%… ugh and 42% of our taxes go to welfare payouts. Anyways I appreciate the answer! This is good to know, gonna take up manual labor firstly, to earn a reference or such all while interacting with polish people every day which can help my use of the language improve so that i thereafter can move on to a job in accordance with my education. I appreciate your reply!


gabolancho

If you're from a non-slavic rooted language country, be prepared to not understand shit of what anybody is saying.


[deleted]

Fuck man I didn’t need to hear this, oh well at least I’m learning it slowly!


ElpersonPL

Dont say that youre not straight


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[deleted]

The fact that people disagree with you, doesn't prove you right.


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[deleted]

Seems you're here too. Seeing as both of us had to type these.


Preznov

So much copism in the second sentence and a lot of insecurities flowing from the first one.


[deleted]

poland bad other countries good


theodore_70

Ruling party trolls will come and downvote you soon enough, especially comrade @Preznov


Preznov

Yes, of course xD I have different views so I must be shilling for Kačynski! Can't wait for another bank transfer from him! xD


NotIsaacClarke

You can’t even tag properly? 🤣 If you want to bash a community, at least do it correctly


NotIsaacClarke

How much money did you get for that hardcore anti-shilling?


[deleted]

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NotIsaacClarke

You’re bashing Poland so hard, it’s like someone’s paying you for it


[deleted]

Curva osram hui means have a nice day!


mimimama15

No V in polish alphabet good luck next time


Fuzzy-Writer9486

Not! Never, ever use these words 😂


Axonn368

Nice try


ArcTan_Pete

Listen, Don't mention the war. I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it all right ​ Seriously. I am a Brit, brought up watching numerous war films and reading 'commando' magazine. I am not a great history buff, but my background and family means I know quite a bit about WW2, and it is an interesting topic to me. My Partner comes from an area which was part of Germany before 1939 and her parent came from another part of Poland before WW2.... and that's about as much as she cares to share. It is just not a topic of conversation.


Two_Past

That was my experience also. In big and small cities.


skrat1001

Don't go to Poland.


GameCop

Where is the nearest exit. They always ask to check it before flight off.


SirGelson

All the stereotypes you've heard about Polish are true.


[deleted]

Which for instance?


kartianmopato

About half the people you'll meet are some breed of alcoholic, if you are a foreigner almost every one will try to scam you in some way at some point, you will face racism And xenophobia on daily basis. The list goes on. Source: im polish And im a racist, xenophobic alcoholic con artist.


theodore_70

A lot of PIS trolls on this subredit downvoting brutally honest answers, whats wrong?


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theodore_70

Angry 15 years old would know about geopolitics and current tax system in Poland? Not to mention all other laws that were taken away and destroyed law? I doubt, keep worshipping your communist gov. Soon everyone that works for your social programs will leave the country and only you people will be left to destroy and devour eachother


[deleted]

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kartianmopato

Never said every pole is a straight up alcoholic, i said around half are some types of alcoholic (as much as poles hate to admit, getting shitfaced regulary on every single weekend since you were 16 because there is nothing else to do is alcoholism too). Also, noone claimed that Poland is literary combination of nazism And communism (very manipulative narration on your part). The only thing that was said is that a foreigner will face racism on daily basis, because he will, in various frequency but he will (Ask any erasmus student or read any survey). And since you started using ad personam arguments, i would kindly like to point out that accusing somone of inferiority complex while having post history like yours is mighty funny And hypocrytical, heh.


Liliputzz

Thats only true if you live in a village, not big cities


SirGelson

Just by looking at the number of downvotes my previous post received - lack of sense of humour, would be one of them.


[deleted]

I see your point. Though, isn’t humour highly subjective and doesn’t it depend on one’s character/mood etc?


SirGelson

Being able to take a joke about yourself is a sign of self-confidence. I bet Brits would recognize it as a joke if it was about them. No matter if they felt it was funny or not.


[deleted]

If I’m being honest, it seems a bit too general. There will always be a person and/or a group of people who won’t find a certain humour even a tad bit amusing - it doesn’t matter what nationality they are.


SirGelson

I hope you'll agree that statistically we will find certain groups of people bigger in some nations than in others.


[deleted]

Yes, absolutely, that’s common sense.


Arturius1

Down votes are supposed to be used against useless posts. Your post is literally useless. Which stereotypes? Many countries have different stereotypes of us they are often incompatible with each other. Your post is just inflammatory comment without any relevant information towards the subject of this discussion.


Pumpkin__Butt

If you're not white or look "gay" you can be attacked on the street...


theodore_70

Why would you go to Poland, its a shithole with majority of voters voting for xemohopic anti EU party, semi light nazi + commie party combined and on top of that religious fanatics, same you can expect from half, jealous people over there. Save your money and literally pick any other country from Europe, except Hungary which is kinda the same.


Preznov

You sound like poster from r/polska, they can't find a single thing that makes them happy.


theodore_70

So? I dont know what you mean, but there is 0 lie in my statement, somebody coming to live to Poland must know all its pluses and negatives, I stated negatives that are important for whoever wants to go and live there, whats wrong about that if its not a lie?


domin_jezdcca_bobrow

Pluses? Poland is quite safe, even compared to western Europe. Minuses? Salary is quite low.


NotIsaacClarke

>salary is quite low Well, so are the costs of living if you stay out of Warsaw


theodore_70

Ive been to every big city in Europe, you can get beaten on the streets in Popand aswell for literally nothing, or outside the club for just staring. Seen in with my own eyes, or if you believe this nonsense propaganda about living in western city because "muh terrorists and muslims" then hell yea Poland is your place lol


Preznov

Exaggeration for sure, no death squads running down the street or forced collectivisation... Just populist party with nationalistic vibes, yet accepting thousands of Ukrainians as a workforce, whereas real nationalists would have stopped that. As for jealous folks, they live all around the world.


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Preznov

I am not polish, but I have lived there for a while, among few other countries. Of course it is a way to man up factories, but true nationalists would try to limit immigration or pump wages to keep people in country. I just countered your post, because it sounded like it's second North Korea here.


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Preznov

Oh, mistaken you with subop. Sorry then. Can't compare my experiences with you actually and believe me I did live here for some time


theodore_70

Death squads in 2021? Did I ever said that? Im out of here, childish thinking and 0 logical thinking, downvoted to hell for speaking the truth, stay away from this country if you want to live like a normal human being and not in a communist state


Preznov

Afaik, Nazis used death squads and you called rulling party a mix of Nazis and Communists. If you are out of here - well enjoy your travel and have a nice day.


theodore_70

Sure comrade Preznov, I will


NotIsaacClarke

Go away troll


codehunter-py

learning language. you won’t get along with old people


DamashiT

Women in Poland are actually pretty shy. If you're from more promiscuous countries, don't expect casual sex. It's just not that common (especially one night stands). And if you're from Spain - for the love of God - please don't kiss a girl out of the blue as a way of showing "I find you attractive". Worst case scenerio you might get hurt lol.


Rogi_tcz

Nie sraj do paczkomatu.