date ideas? american woman/ non-english speaking polish guy

hi! i've just discovered this forum. i just started seeing this polish guy who speaks very little english, and we are going to have our first alone date on sunday. help! i need some ideas for a good date spot or activity.

the situation is this. i'm a 31 year old american woman living here in the US. I was set up by my female coworker who is polish, but it wasn't a completely blind date. I met this guy briefly (when he came into the store i work in) before my friend mentioned that she wanted to set us up. normally i don't agree to set ups, but this guy is so cute, and my friend spoke so highly of him.

we had our first group meet thing over many drinks on saturday night. i was surprised by how little english he speaks. i only speak about three words of polish, so verbal communication has been very difficult. he is also younger than me (born in 1980, so either 25 or 26) and seems very shy. i am extremely attracted to him, and we seemed to hit if off (at least physically) at the end of our group set up thing. he seems like a sweetheart and txt msgs me several times a day, and came to my job on wed to bring me a doughnut. =) he can understand very basic conversation like, 'how are you?' but when i ask anything more than basic travel type questions, he doesn't understand. this doesn't really bother me, but because we are both so shy, it is difficult and uncomfortable at times. i did purchase a polish/ english dictonary, and i intend to bring it on sunday.

i would like our first date to be in a place where it is quiet enough for us to be able to attempt to communicate without either one of us being too embarassed about our language skills. but sunday evening is not the best time for a date like that. it's going to be dark, and probably too chilly for anything outside. and we both have complicated living situations right now, so our homes are not an option.

i'm usually full of good date ideas, but this is a situation i'm unfamilar with. i want a place where we can talk, but have something to distract us. oh, and he just stared taking ESL classes, if things go well, it should get easier. =) any ideas or suggestions will be most appreciated!

Maybe a nice restaurant (if he lives in the Polish neighbourhood he could show you how the Polish kitchen tastes). You don't wanna be in a place where you are the only people - as then you'd have to be talking (unless you hit it off again .

thanks! i think a restaurant is a good idea. we're in the suburbs, so there aren't any polish neighborhoods nearby. i'm pretty confident we're going to hit it off again anyway!

ARe you going to get married?

The zoo, a walk in the park, ice skating [if you have a rink], shopping trip.

married?! we just met. i think it's a little early for that.

But you are over 30 -- in Poland most girls are married by 30..

heh, maybe true, but we're in america. and he may not want an older american wife.

I don't know which are you live in, but if it's in Chicago area it might be a good idea to go to see a Polish movie (with English subtitles) at The Chicago International Film Festival (one of the movies is on Sunday Oct 8 5pm). More info here.

Just don't fall asleep watching the "komornik"

whats the language of love

thanks to all for your help and suggestions! we wound up going to the same resturaunt we had drinks in before-- only because it was too difficult for me to communicate a different meeting point. i was so nervous, but i had a really good time. i brought along my polish-english dictionary. we had a great deal of trouble understanding each other. strangely enough i don't think that discourged either one of us very much.

It could be kind of fun learning a new language and trying to understand each other, and if everything goes well, you can look at it 5 years from now and laugh at how you tried to communicate.
Follow your heart.

... and remember : vodka connects people

well, if you like the guy and the guy is worth it, be patient. Start with a book call Polish for beginners, and on his side tell him to go to School to take English classes.
Dont worry, when you guys have the quemistry the languague is not a barrier.