Canadian moving to Poland...any advice?

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redking18	Feb 4, 09, 01:37 / #
I would suggest that learning the language is part of the transition that you need to make but beginner level from a phrase book should be ok for your first few days/weeks specially with your in-laws help, until you go to a class. Polish has a lot of consonant clusters & diphongs & nasal sounds, & Polish Grammer is also different from English watches out for noun/adjective cases. Watch Polish TV & listen for words you know/learning but it is in a different language so TV will be boring. Culturally the Roman Catholic Church & the ex Communist regime has had the biggest effect & there is, of course, a lot of pop Americanism (eg the Mall) with the German invasion of WW2 having left a hint of anti-German sentiment & some terrifying landmarks to Man's inhumanity. So avoid Religion or politic conversation in Public. Pope John Paul was Polish, so praising him as being a great man will win you browning points with any Pole (no matter what their religious beliefs are, HE WAS POLISH). Feel free to wear the Red Maple with Pride, just don't go over board or expect Polish people not to share your sentiment. Theives/muggers are everywhere in the world so same precautions you use in Canada will apply. Despite general anti-German sentiment, Poland has a lot of Noe-NAZI skin-heads in poor regions specially in Łodz & the Northwest, so listen to your in-laws when they tell you to avoid any area but there is areas in Montreal/Toronto which aren't safe neither, so again common sense should prevail in these situations. They celebrate Christmas on the 24th with a huge meal & go to Mass on 25th. Name days are important, so find out your & your child's name day. Independence Day is 11.11, May day is a bank holiday, all church holidays are important. Polish "flavoured" vodkas are ok often served cold from freezer looks like sambuca but don't drink "Spiritos" it used very strong. Poles drive like Italians.