In case you wonder, if Poles are just like the rest of us, they are not. - Nothing sinister about that, really. They are just different - like any other foreigners. Most of this strange stuff is not very noticeable if they live abroad. After all everyone needs to adjust to the people they live with, but at home in their homeland - of course, they do things their way.
As a first time visitor to Poland you should be prepared for a cultural shock, although, a minor one - after all Poland is not Burundi or New Guinea, but still. The first thing you will notice is that the Poles like to talk. They talk all the time: to family, friends, standing in the queue, in the street, on a bus - to the people they know - and to the people they don't know. The Poles enjoy talking, sharing their views and experiences, often unconcerned whether you want or don't want to listen. If you travel by train, with people that you need to spend a few hours with, you should not be surprised if you will have to listen to someone's life story - or tell them yours.
No wonder that another favorite Polish pastime is telling jokes. During the communist years, it used to be the way of dealing with the system - if you can't change it, laugh at it - but nowadays the jokes, although, they are seldom political any more, still are a way of dealing with the, often harsh, reality. Compared to other nations, jokes are a serious business to the vast majority of Poles.
Another strange thing, more concrete this time. Did you know that Poles like to shake hands? They shake hands all the time, when they meet, when they say good-bye. A handshake tells you a lot about the person, thus, you better practice to be perceived as the person you are. Not to hard, not too soft, don't hold it for too long, your handshake is you and an important part of giving the right impression. (This is a common thing that Poles abroad continue, the practice of handshaking often making their foreign counterparts uncomfortable.)
Kissing ladies' hands, especially the older ones, as a sign of respect, is still a common, although a bit outdated, practice in Poland. (Not all that long ago the children used to kiss their parents and grandparents hands, but this does not happen anymore. The way we treat our parents has obviously changed quite a bit in the last century).
Another strange thing is that, mostly at night, but even during daytime, you can see drunken people in the street. This is very uncommon in the West, but the Poles do drink a lot outside their homes and often ride a bus or a tram or simply walk home - singing, talking (often to themselves or others), swearing, sometimes abusing or even attacking strangers. This is the famous Polish vodka talking. Unfortunately, nowadays, many drunks have an easy access to a vehicle and choose instead to drive into the night. No wonder that Poland has triple the rate of the drink driving accidents compared to the West.
Beware of when the drinking takes place: it is a common practice to get drunk once you receive your pay at the end of the month. People also drink on the weekends, on their name's days (Poles do not celebrate birthdays), but any reason will do. Many do not even need a reason, thus, it is a common practice, especially among unemployed (or people after work) to hang out outside shops selling beer, and - often for hours - drink beer straight from the can or bottle. The beer is as good as in any pub, and the price is much more acceptable.
Another common pastime for young people, mostly young men, many of them unemployed, is to hang out in the streets. Many are not aggressive, but some are. They can also be abusive, so better watch out. Thus, it is advisable to avoid walking in the night, especially in the areas like parks or dark streets. During the communist years, the Police had been very observant for this kind of behavior, but the new regime is not very proactive in this respect.
You might also be surprised by the stuff Poles eat. The tripes (intestines of a cow) cut in long pieces, cooked with spices are one of the Polish specialties. It might not be your piece of cake, so better check out the offerings.
Like any nation, Poles do have their quirks, but surprisingly, you will get used to them much quicker than you thought possible. And hey, avoid those dark parks and alleys.
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Contributed by Steve
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