Sad life of a Polish immigrant in the UK. Ch. 2 - Stress

Ksysia:

Everyone takes it easy in Britain, you have local newspapers, local radio, football teams and pubs, and that's about it. You don't fret over the politics as much as we do, you're not bombarded with Gazeta Wyborcza and TVN living in a state of permanent catastrophe.

This is what draws people over here, that lack of stress.
This is what makes people not care what job they are in - even if it's 200 pounds per week, at least the petrol is dirt cheap.

It's not stress free for all of us. Especially with the nasty comments: not in the papers, not in the internet, but at work. But definitely your life is easier (and the roads go without saying)

southernThreads: 116 Posts: 10,959 Joined: May 17, 07	Oct 2, 09, 16:11 / #
Ksysia: that lack of stress. Stress is good.It makes you slim and horny.

blueboyThreads: 3 Posts: 65 Joined: Sep 19, 09	Oct 2, 09, 17:11 / #
szkotja2007: Describe the above That's the vodka poured, now where did I put the coke?

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07	Edited by: szarlotka Oct 2, 09, 17:24 / #
spiritus: Christmas actually means something in Poland. In the UK it's just an excuse to drink and shop. True.... but so is March 10th, April 13th, August 5th and all other days except January1st when your New Year's resolution is to give up drinking and shopping;) Edit - scratch my wife from January 1st (shopping I meant, it's a compulsive shoes disorder you see)

MareGaeaThreads: 45 Posts: 5,527 Joined: Feb 6, 08	Oct 2, 09, 17:27 / #
Ksysia: Especially with the nasty comments: not in the papers, not in the internet, but at work. But definitely your life is easier (and the roads go without saying) Did you know that you're very sexy when you're complaining sarcastically? True! Anyway, I now know that you only mean it sarcastic or for fun, but ehm, maybe your next series could go about a black person living in Poland? Or an Arab living in Pomerania? M-G (1,5 hours to go and then weekend)

krysiaThreads: 26 Posts: 3,604 Joined: Aug 10, 06	Edited by: krysia Oct 2, 09, 17:45 / #
Ksysia: This is what draws people over here, that lack of stress. Then why don't Poles take an example from UK and make Poland a stress free country? Why do Poles always think somewhere else is better than Poland? Why don't Poles abide by the rules of the country they are in instead of doing things the way they are done in Poland: illegally and against the rules. If Poland would mobolize itself and the people try to make something out of themselves instead of thinking that other countries will support them and help them, then Poland would also be stress free.

aphrodisiacThreads: 22 Posts: 3,998 Joined: Apr 15, 09	Edited by: aphrodisiac Oct 2, 09, 17:49 / #
Ksysia: Everyone takes it easy in Britain, you have local newspapers, local radio, football teams and pubs, and that's about it. You don't fret over the politics as much as we do, you're not bombarded with Gazeta Wyborcza and TVN living in a state of permanent catastrophe. This is what draws people over here, that lack of stress. This is what makes people not care what job they are in - even if it's 200 pounds per week, at least the petrol is dirt cheap. It's not stress free for all of us. Especially with the nasty comments: not in the papers, not in the internet, but at work. But definitely your life is easier (and the roads go without saying) I understand that as a new arrival you have things to say, but I think that you need explain to people that these are YOUR experiences and YOUR way of looking at life in general. I actually troubled myself to read some of your blog entries and I came upon a post on Polish library system. It is not different then this post, so I came to conclusion that it is YOUR attitude more so then the "reality" you are trying to describe. That reminds me of a person I had met lately and who arrived into the new country 4 months ago and she had a similar attitude. Most of the things she happens to dislike and is very critical of every little encounter. No joy in discovering a new place, but a lot of hight expectations. Sad, but true. I see is as a misdirected anger to be honest;)

KsysiaThreads: 39 Posts: 545 Joined: May 6, 09	Oct 2, 09, 18:19 / #
aphrodisiac: you need explain to people that these are YOUR experiences Now I do not understand?! Who else's would they be??? aphrodisiac: similar attitude Why 'attitude'??? I said that UK is stress free and you say 'attitude', then others say 'so get the fcuk out'. Can you not take a compliment???

ShelleySThreads: 18 Posts: 3,647 Joined: Jun 26, 07	Edited by: ShelleyS Oct 2, 09, 18:23 / #
Can we have a wip round so we can send this miserable kant back to Poland? delphiandomine: The UK still sadly hasn't learnt that long hours doesn't mean productivity - and this is one reason I don't want to go back. There's something very wrong with the macho attitude that "oh, I worked 13 hours yesterday, you only did 12, you're not dedicated enough". High profile projects with a client that wants it like yesterday, mean people have work like pack horses to get it out of the door, because we are not the only consultancy in the UK..I work with some pretty damn inteligent people who are shithot at their jobs...they'll be working this weekend and will be working until circa. 10pm every night next week, in order to please the "client"...by the way, they dont get paid for the extra time...its just expected.

KsysiaThreads: 39 Posts: 545 Joined: May 6, 09	Oct 2, 09, 18:23 / #
krysia: Why do Poles always think somewhere else is better than Poland? good question, Krysiu. I think that some of it is to do with the political failure dating back to the 18th century, some is due to the uprisings - the soldiers went abroad and were missed by families, and avoided jail. But also a lot is due to the American propaganda fighting with Soviet propaganda during the cold war. We did not want to be on this side of the curtain, so we yearned for the other side. Some people still believe that the mythical West is better. On both sides! Poles believe that England is like in Jeeves and Wooster, and USA like in the Disney films. Britons believe that Poland is a sad dodgy country, Americans believe that Poland is where stupic Pollacks come from. None of this is true. Ksysia The Prophet.

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07	Oct 2, 09, 18:26 / #
ShelleyS: Can we have a wip round so we can send this miserable kant back to Poland? Who me?.... Please don't send me there. There's a price on my head in Bar Nobo. I want assylum in the UK;)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Oct 2, 09, 22:27 / #
Spot on again, spiritus. They feed themselves pessimistic and defeatist nonsense. Come on, show us that the Polish spirit is defined differently than the hating of Russia and Germany.

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,415 Joined: May 30, 08	Oct 2, 09, 22:57 / #
Seanus: Come on, show us that the Polish spirit is defined differently than the hating of Russia and Germany. Of course it is defined differently. We also hate Jews and Ukrainians.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Oct 2, 09, 23:00 / #
LOL, and you being a closet Ukrainian Jew, my friend ;) ;) How could you say that? ;) ;) How's teaching, pawian? Stress-free, just picking up or in full flow?

KsysiaThreads: 39 Posts: 545 Joined: May 6, 09	Edited by: Ksysia Oct 3, 09, 09:40 / #
spiritus: Why do you post under two separate names when you're clearly the same person i.e identical avatars ??? Illiogical - why would I have two accounts? krysia entertains herself with the confusion of similar names, so when I chose an avatar to differentiate myself from her, she immediately selected the same on, to keep entertaining herself. For all who don't wish to be used as krysia's entertainment - I'm not a gold member. krysia: I was here first 'i was here first so I will steal your avatar'. how impressive! what credit you bring to your nation!

dnzThreads: 25 Posts: 804 Joined: Dec 2, 07	Oct 2, 09, 18:39 / #
szarlotka: Who me?.... Please don't send me there. There's a price on my head in Bar Nobo. I want assylum in the UK;) In that case asylum shall be granted, the keys to your 8 bedroom Georgian townhouse are in the post and what sort of car would you like sir, BMW mercedes or perhaps an aston? All free of charge of course.....

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07	Oct 2, 09, 18:40 / #
dnz: All free of charge of course..... What a gent you are guvnor. I'll have the Aston;)

aphrodisiacThreads: 22 Posts: 3,998 Joined: Apr 15, 09	Oct 2, 09, 18:49 / #
Ksysia: Why 'attitude'??? because there is a pattern in your thinking, therefore I used a word attitude. Ksysia: Can you not take a compliment??? I am not in the UK. Changing countries has similar challenges all over the world. That was my point. It could be stressful and I think that venting is one way of dealing with it. I like some entries in your blog because you are indeed asking questions, which is a good thing. Ksysia: Ksysia The Prophet. this attitude could be dangerous though, ha, ha......

southernThreads: 116 Posts: 10,959 Joined: May 17, 07	Oct 2, 09, 20:34 / #
krysia: a stress free country? No country is stress free.Actually I find Poland quite a relaaaaaxed country.

spiritusThreads: 53 Posts: 253 Joined: Oct 25, 06	Oct 2, 09, 22:24 / #
krysia: Then why don't Poles take an example from UK and make Poland a stress free country? Why do Poles always think somewhere else is better than Poland? Why don't Poles abide by the rules of the country they are in instead of doing things the way they are done in Poland: illegally and against the rules. If Poland would mobolize itself and the people try to make something out of themselves instead of thinking that other countries will support them and help them, then Poland would also be stress free. Why do you post under two separate names when you're clearly the same person i.e identical avatars ??? Then why don't Poles take an example from UK and make Poland a stress free country? Clearly you think life for us Brits is stress free. It isn't. Why do Poles always think somewhere else is better than Poland? I would hazard a guess that most of the Poles who think this way are still in Poland and haven't travelled much. As a Pole you're more aware than I am of the history your country has had to endure. 50 years of Communism with all it's negativity drip fed to the new generation....YOUR generation. It's hardly surprising people THINK it's better elsewhere. Poland is a very, very young democracy and it's inevitable there will be growing pains. Your country has waited since 1939 to be truly free again and it's a pity that people like yourself are abandoning it.

krysiaThreads: 26 Posts: 3,604 Joined: Aug 10, 06	Edited by: krysia Oct 3, 09, 06:16 / #
spiritus: Why do you post under two separate names when you're clearly the same person i.e identical avatars ??? Except that.....I was here first and I'm not from Poland. :)

spiritusThreads: 53 Posts: 253 Joined: Oct 25, 06	Oct 3, 09, 10:42 / #
pawian: We also hate Jews and Ukrainians. Adolf Hitler, come on down !

Wroclaw BoyThreads: 57 Posts: 5,478 Joined: Jul 3, 09 MEMBER	Oct 3, 09, 13:07 / #
aphrodisiac: I am not in the UK. Changing countries has similar challenges all over the world. That was my point. It could be stressful and I think that venting is one way of dealing with it. But youre a Ukranian Canadian born in Canada how would you know? Youre also a women pretending to be a man.

OsiedleRuda	Edited by: OsiedleRuda Oct 4, 09, 17:40 / #
Ksysia: Britons believe that Poland is a sad dodgy country, Americans believe that Poland is where stupic Pollacks come from. None of this is true. Like many stereotypes, there is at least some truth in that. You can't honestly claim Poland is "completely non-dodgy" or that "no Poles are stupid". Show me a non-dodgy country without any stupid people, and I'll show you a liar :) spiritus: Your country has waited since 1939 to be truly free again and it's a pity that people like yourself are abandoning it. Or, it's hardly surprising that people like her are abandoning it. It's a long time to wait for change - especially as countries such as Japan were hardly much better off at the end of the war, and look what they've achieved since then.

KsysiaThreads: 39 Posts: 545 Joined: May 6, 09	Oct 4, 09, 22:19 / #
Nay - my reasons are personal. and anyway, it's closer from Łódź to EMA than Rzeszów

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Oct 11, 09, 01:49 / #
Is stress really that big of a factor amongst Poles? I don't see it. It is said in a tv commercial that they are more and more tired but I don't pick up on this.

Mister HThreads: 11 Posts: 845 Joined: Jan 4, 08	Edited by: Mister H Oct 11, 09, 15:54 / #
Ksysia: Everyone takes it easy in Britain, you have local newspapers, local radio, football teams and pubs, and that's about it. You don't fret over the politics as much as we do, you're not bombarded with Gazeta Wyborcza and TVN living in a state of permanent catastrophe. This is what draws people over here, that lack of stress. I'm having real trouble understanding your situation and how you are seeing things. Everyone I know has stress of some kind and most of it is down to getting through life and hoping that they have enough money to keep their bills paid and a roof over their heads. Life here can be very stressful. Ksysia: This is what makes people not care what job they are in - even if it's 200 pounds per week, at least the petrol is dirt cheap. Petrol is dirt cheap compared to where exactly ? You're talking about £60 to fill up the average family car. It's only cheap if you drive a Polish registered car and escape road tax, MOT and (probably) insurance. Petrol is probably your only running expense. I changed jobs specifically so I could walk rather than drive to work to cut down on costs. Ksysia: It's not stress free for all of us. Especially with the nasty comments: not in the papers, not in the internet, but at work. But definitely your life is easier (and the roads go without saying) You are sounding very self-indulgent. OsiedleRuda: But she decided that it would be better to fiddle the benefits system and sit on her a** I hope you shopped her to the authorities.

osiolThreads: 59 Posts: 4,714 Joined: Jul 25, 07	Oct 11, 09, 16:13 / #
szarlotka: assylum Is that the same thing as a donkey sanctuary?

derek trotterThreads: 12 Posts: 252 Joined: Apr 10, 09	Edited by: derek trotter Oct 11, 09, 17:42 / #
Mister H: Mister H iam driving my car all the time, tax 204 a year, insurance - a lot cheaper now but I paid first year a 1400 queens money. she only needs 40 a month ( diesel ), and got queens number plates so price for fuel is cheap here. But I feck off back to my country cos I am tired

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,306 Joined: Apr 21, 08	Oct 11, 09, 17:46 / #
derek trotter: so price for fuel is cheap here I don't call £1.03 a litre cheap! derek trotter: But I feck of back to my country cos I am tired Which is?

derek trotterThreads: 12 Posts: 252 Joined: Apr 10, 09	Oct 11, 09, 17:48 / #
time means compare prices for fuel in poland and UK, they are not very different