Home In 20 Days - My thoughts on Poland...

Cardno85:

I have had 3 really good months, sure it was a struggle for money, I sometimes had language troubles and sometimes wasn't all that happy. But all in all I am glad I came. I have learned a lot and, when I return, I will no doubt be in a position to stay a lot longer.

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 2, 09, 08:26 / #
So I am heading home in 20 days. I thought I would share my views on life in Poland and any advice I can give to fellow Scots heading over here in the long term. I have loved my time here. The people are so friendly and so helpful. The highlight being my trip to Rabka for Christmas. My friend knew I was going to be alone and so invited me off to the mountains where I was welcomed into the family and made to feel right at home. Even though I was struggling with the language and the customs were so different to me (not only being non-Polish, but non-catholic as well) I was helped and offered all sorts of delicious items. If anyone gets the chance of attending a good family Christmas then I would reccommend it! Another highlight (although also low point) has been my work. A place where I met all sorts of people who were so friendly and eager to help me when things didn't go quite right, or if I needed advice about anything. I found Krakow to be a great city for a foreigner as it is very tourist prepared. It means that when I run out of Polish I can apologise and people can speak english to me. Also the beauty of the city is incredible. I love just walking when it gets dark through the ancient city just looking at all the buildings. Couple that with a great transport system. Coming from the UK it's very strange that when my tram says it will leave at 1452 that it will...near enough to the second every day. Which is handy when planning days and nights. All in all I will definately come back to this city to work and live, I have really felt at home here. However in future I will keep in mind a few things that I have learned that will be mistakes not to be repeated. For example I will be more organised on arrival. Instead of making sure I had permanent accommodation and all my paperwork (NIP, Bank Account, etc) fully sorted within the first few days. I decided to treat it like a holiday and spend time with some girl. Meaning that when I got down to work and she dissapeared I had the struggle of doing it all myself with no help from this girl and with limited time due to work commitments. I would also make more of an effort before I leave to get my TEFL course and stuff in order to get something a bit better paid. Instead of taking a risk and changing career I stuck with what I knew and ended up with something which has inevitably been my downfall. Struggling to pay rent, going out after work meaning not being able to eat until your next set of decent tips. So go out there, don't be worried about being out of place, go for the best you can and don't just settle for what you know. So, basically I just wanted to say to all the people who spout abuse about Poland and it's people that they have obviously just had a bad experience or have not been open. I have had 3 really good months, sure it was a struggle for money, I sometimes had language troubles and sometimes wasn't all that happy. But all in all I am glad I came. I have learned a lot and, when I return, I will no doubt be in a position to stay a lot longer.

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,306 Joined: Apr 21, 08	Jan 2, 09, 08:37 / #
some good advice even for us non jocks :-)

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Jan 2, 09, 08:37 / #
Cardno85: I have had 3 really good months, sure it was a struggle for money, I sometimes had language troubles and sometimes wasn't all that happy. But all in all I am glad I came. I have learned a lot and, when I return, I will no doubt be in a position to stay a lot longer. Hey Cardno85, Great to hear from you but why are you leaving?. I remember you were having a very difficult time here and I am very happy that you fell in love with the people and the place as I have. I don't mean to sound ridiculious but it sounds like because you had a troubled landing, you met real people who helped you, if you had been "prepared" perhaps you would not have been so enriched, just a thought. Here you gotta come out for a pint tommorw night, ah? A few of us are getting together, I think... although not sure, all a bit rushed but all are welcome. P.S. you can always convert ;)

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 2, 09, 09:09 / #
Thats very true about the people. I have met some great people in my time here that, if I was more organised I would not have. I reckon I could probably stick it out for another couple of months, put out feelers for jobs that pay more and flats that charge less. But, to be honest, I can do all that within 20 minutes of being back home in Glasgow and there I can save some money and come back here more organised, meet up with my friends and spend more time enjoying myself and less time working/lying in bed cos i can't afford to go out. As for pints tomorrow, I will check out how tips go tonight to see if I can make it. Leaving is purely a financial reason, home then Norway, make some money and save some up. Then come back and set up with a bit more grounding.

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,306 Joined: Apr 21, 08	Jan 2, 09, 09:17 / #
Cardno85: Norway care to elaborate? Cardno85: tips thought you meant horses lol.

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 2, 09, 09:25 / #
time means: care to elaborate? Well my friends work in Norway vaccinating fish. It's hard work, but accommodation is paid for, as is food and you earn 800pound a week after tax which is all in your pocket. Plus they go hunting and fishing at weekends so pub trips are rare so it's easy to save money. I can do that for 6 months or so, save up well and either go back to Glasgow and put down a deposit on a flat or come to Krakow and find a job but have savings this time that mean there isn't the same financial pressure. I could spend a few weeks trying to find a well paid job and a flat that is inexpensive but relatively nice. But I can do all of that in Glasgow in a few hours with the amount of people I have befriended in my 6 years behind bars there. Or head back to Inveraray where I have a flat, job and friends waiting. Basically life back home is a lot easier because I have lots of fall back on. Even if everything goes tits up I can head back home to Mum's for a few days until I find something. Here I really don't have much.

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,306 Joined: Apr 21, 08	Jan 2, 09, 09:29 / #
vaccinating fish? i also had to read the `behind bars` twice lol wooden not steel :-) sounds like a good plan. best of luck whichever you go for.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Jan 2, 09, 09:30 / #
Cardno85: pub trips are rare so it's easy to save money. They are rare because it costs an arm and a leg for a disgusting beer. So you will save money, I have worked there many times. Where abouts in Norway? How old are you Cardno85? if you don't mind me asking. I hope you get out for a pint. time means: tips thought you meant horses lol. ha ha ha, good one.

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 2, 09, 09:37 / #
SeanBM: They are rare because it costs an arm and a leg for a disgusting beer. So you will save money, I have worked there many times. Where abouts in Norway? How old are you Cardno85? if you don't mind me asking. I hope you get out for a pint. All over travelling from fish farm to fish farm in our beast of a jeep. More like no going out because the stuff we vaccinate with is ridiculously toxic and so you need to be fully alert. Plus being on fish farms takes us quite a bit out the way of cities so access to pubs is limited. I am only 23 so I have plenty of time to make more mistakes and move to other places and fall for other foreign girls! I hope so too. Hopefully tips should be not bad tonight so I should make it out for one at least.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Jan 2, 09, 09:42 / #
Cardno85: I am only 23 so I have plenty of time to make more mistakes That's called experience ;) Cardno85: move to other places and fall for other foreign girls! The world is yours :) Cardno85: I should make it out for one at least. Great!

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08	Jan 3, 09, 06:14 / #
Vaccinating fish triggered my memory of an old joke about a job offer at the London Zoo circumcising elephants. It doesn't pay much BUT THE TIPS ARE BIG!!!

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Jan 6, 09, 08:45 / #
The alcohol demon has just spoken ;)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Jan 6, 09, 08:47 / #
Were you guddling for carp? Sorry, that's Wigilia, wrong gig ;)

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07	Jan 6, 09, 08:53 / #
Cardno85: I have been found asleep in 18 in total Blimey - I thought I had a good track record. That's Olympic standard;)

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 2, 09, 09:50 / #
SeanBM: That's called experience ;) Yup, a valuable thing too. I have learned a lot so far in my life, but every day is a school day (my dad's mate used to say that all the feckin time).

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 6, 09, 08:39 / #
Few things I have learned on my trip as well. -Bring warm clothes -If trying to get a Sanepid Book or NIP number, bring a Polish speaker with you! -If you are in DTaylor's house and you see a bath full of water, try not to fall in it. -Don't try and keep up with SeanBM with the drinks...he's a demon. -When heading from Dworzec Głowny to the underpass and it's snowing...you are safer and better just sliding down the slope...try and walk and you will end on your arse. And lots more besides!

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Edited by: SeanBM Jan 6, 09, 08:43 / #
Cardno85: -If you are in DTaylor's house and you see a bath full of water, try not to fall in it. Ha ha ha ha, there is a photo somewhere ;) How are you?

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 6, 09, 08:46 / #
I am not too bad at all. I have my clothes back and a nice bruise on my lower back. Gonna have to see that photo...it could become a new PF Logo!

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Edited by: SeanBM Jan 6, 09, 08:47 / #
Cardno85: Gonna have to see that photo Me too, Dtaylor took it. But tell us again, you have a bit of history with bath tubes, 18 if memory serves me correctly?

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 6, 09, 08:52 / #
I seem to often fall asleep in baths. I have been found asleep in 18 in total. However they are normally empty at that point. Seanus...I have no idea what I was doing...I went to the toilet...next thing I knew there was a splash and I was in the bath.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,726 Joined: Mar 10, 08	Jan 6, 09, 08:53 / #
I think Dtaylor booby trapped the bathroom;)

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 6, 09, 08:57 / #
SeanBM: I think Dtaylor booby trapped the bathroom;) And to add insult to injury, when I went to pick up my wet stuff the next day...it was still full of water! szarlotka: Blimey - I thought I had a good track record. That's Olympic standard;) Well I have a habit of falling asleep at parties, then waking up and carrying on...people notice if you go into their bedroom, but if you sleep in the bath and pull the curtain over then no-one notices!

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07	Jan 6, 09, 08:58 / #
Cardno85: but if you sleep in the bath and pull the curtain over then no-one notices! Class, sheer class!

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Jan 6, 09, 09:00 / #
Do you have any aspirations to be a fish?

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 6, 09, 09:05 / #
No, I don't even like going swimming that much. Maybe I have aspirations to be eaten by People at Christmas (and you can read that any way you like :P).

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Jan 6, 09, 09:10 / #
Reverse cannibalism? ;)

outintheyardThreads: 37 Posts: 542 Joined: Jan 7, 08	Jan 6, 09, 12:28 / #
This thread is a great read. It only confirms what I hear from all my friends who have visited Poland. It is a fairly decent place to live.

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 858 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER	Jan 6, 09, 12:37 / #
It's a really nice place to live, great people, great sights, great beer, great women. Just be organised if you come here...there's a lot of beurocracy and so make sure you have someone with you to help you with forms and questions the office may have. Other than that, come on over and have a ball!

SiegfriedThreads: 2 Posts: 103 Joined: Aug 8, 08	Jan 8, 09, 11:48 / #
Lol, good story, glad you enjoyed your visit ;)

dtaylorThreads: 15 Posts: 992 Joined: Sep 15, 07	Edited by: dtaylor Jan 15, 09, 18:40 / #
Cardno85: And to add insult to injury, when I went to pick up my wet stuff the next day...it was still full of water! Hey i was rat arsed, u done the washing, but u think i was gonna do the drying :D But yeah, bath is in a fecked place if your gonna take a leak at the same time;) Pictures of the aftermath...i'm not sure people want to see it :D or maybe? If someone will tell me how to load a pics, i will post it grrrr