Things that annoy you in Poland.

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Edited by: Moderator Aug 1, 09, 10:19 #1

HI,

I love Poland i think its beautiful and a great place to bring up kids in my point of view ( in the correct area ). Anyway there are many things that **** me off and i was wondering if you all feel the same.

1. I bought a first class ticket by train from somewhere in Poland to somewhere - i bought it one month ago - when i got to the train after being 1 hour delayed there was no place me a mouse - why do they keep selling tickets if there is no place ?

2. Banks - why the hell do you have to sign each piece of paper ? I think it took me 3 hrs to open an account and i signed about 20 pages- also international transactions and other banking issues are always a huge problem here !

3. This one will be mixed - ways of thinking and doing stuff are very weird - i mean everything is just done differently or the long way around. People always push the poor down even in these hard times and i feel that many things are done because they think they are in the communistic era still...

4. Every darn thing here comes with a small fee or price- when they say nothing is for free the Poland takes first place !

Pozdrawiam !

MEMBER ♂

Edited by: Wroclaw Boy Aug 1, 09, 10:30 #2

away guy:

why do they keep selling tickets if there is no place ?

Out dated booking system, try first calss next time.

away guy:

Banks - why the hell do you have to sign each piece of paper ?

contracts, contracts, contracts, should you default on something they'll say hey you signed this back in 1947. They should replace that with a terms and conditions box i.e tick here if youve read and understood it. Poland will be ready for that within 10 years hopefully.

away guy:

This one will be mixed - ways of thinking and doing stuff are very weird - i mean everything is just done differently or the long way around.

They love to complicate things, its always never that easy. When somebody comes along and says hey why dont you try it this way theyre like nah that wont work, then you just do it and prove it. Problem is things have always been complicated in Poland the Poles expect and suspect it. Some moulds are hard to break.

away guy:

4. Every darn thing here comes with a small fee or price- when they say nothing is for free the Poland takes first place !

I think America tops that bracket.

Many issues in Poland are based on lies and trying to catch somebody out. If he says this i'll just say that scenario, it goes on and on. How they keep up this intricate state of affairs is beyond any reasonable doubt of Westeners such as my self. i guess its inbred.

In England if i go on a trip no friends or family call me to check if im OK. When my wife travels shes taking phone calls every five minutes, after living here I now know why, its a nightmare especially on public transport. I find myself calling her with questions such as, whos in the train cabin with you? did you buy the ticket OK? any delays? watch out for scum bags? do you have your pepper spray?

conclusion: expect the unexpected, wait for the problems, try to stay one step ahead at all times. If things go well and with no issues - thank your lucky stars.

it is getting better..

Grzegorz_Threads: 80 Posts: 6,101 Joined: Nov 16, 06 ♂	Aug 1, 09, 10:31 #3
away guy: Things that **** you off you in Poland. More and more foreign peasants coming here.

away guyThreads: 12 Posts: 392 Joined: Mar 16, 07 ♂	Aug 1, 09, 10:33 #4
Thanks Wroclaw Boy , yes it seems its getting better slowly ...

1jolaThreads: 33 Posts: 2,739 Joined: Sep 23, 08 ♂	Aug 1, 09, 10:54 #5
First time away from your village is tough. So strange.

szkotja2007Threads: 38 Posts: 2,543 Joined: Dec 29, 06 ♂	Aug 1, 09, 11:08 #6
I had to read the opening post twice - I wasn't sure whether you meant these things happened in Poland or UK. Very similar problems wherever you go. Apart from maybe Japan with the trains.

away guyThreads: 12 Posts: 392 Joined: Mar 16, 07 ♂	Aug 1, 09, 11:09 #7
Grzegorz_: More and more foreign peasants coming here. I agree - thanks to EU i feel that is to be blamed too. ( also fake paid marriages and other scams ) I dont mind foreigners that come here legally and work hard but im seeing too many unlike that ! its becoming like the UK

Spice_BoyThreads: - Posts: 7 Joined: Jul 17, 09 ♂	Aug 1, 09, 16:45 #8
I hate many many things in Poland, but there really isn't much point complaining about them, because it won't do much good. You know what the absolute worst is though?... the fact that Poles themselves complain about Poland so much. It's hard to stay positive in that sort of environment.

lowfunk99Threads: 18 Posts: 435 Joined: Jan 7, 08 ♂	Edited by: lowfunk99 Aug 1, 09, 17:33 #9
The Polish Border Patrol! Let me amend this. My school, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

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Aug 1, 09, 17:35 #10

Spice_Boy:

I hate many many things in Poland, but there really isn't much point complaining about them, because it won't do much good.

I can tell you're not a Pole. ;)

If you're a Westerner it takes a lot of getting used to. But remember this...

There is usually a reason why people do things the way they do. And sad but true, the reason for many things the way they are in Poland is because it is a territory that has known very little peace and freedom.

Freedom comes at a price though. And although there is peace now, and the younger generations are adapting to cope with it, the older Poles have been swept aside and have trouble adapting. Give it a generation or two of people born into freedom and prosperity and we will see attitudes change. I'm sure of it.

I think Poles both in Poland and abroad, though, will be surprised at how many of the "lost generation" who buggered off to UK and other countries when Poland joined the EU decide not to come back. Nearly all of them went with the dream of making a stack of cash and coming back to buy/build a dream house/start a business. But a lot of them will like the easier lifestyles available to them in the West.

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Aug 1, 09, 19:24 #11

away guy:

1. I bought a first class ticket by train from somewhere in Poland to somewhere - i bought it one month ago - when i got to the train after being 1 hour delayed there was no place me a mouse - why do they keep selling tickets if there is no place ?

Kinda like overbooked plane tickets on pretty much any airline in the World.

away guy:

2. Banks - why the hell do you have to sign each piece of paper ?

Try to cal almost any business in the US or Canada. This call will be recorded for training and record keeping., says the welcome message. I admit that just listening to that easier than signing a paper.

away guy:

People always push the poor down even in these hard times and i feel that many things are done because they think they are in the communistic era still...

I'm surprised! Really? Like everywhere throughout the history of mankind?

away guy:

4. Every darn thing here comes with a small fee or price- when they say nothing is for free the Poland takes first place !

That's nothing. In the US, for some goods you have to pax tax on tax. Yup, you pay tax and the amount of tax is taxed.

polishcanuckThreads: 10 Posts: 583 Joined: Feb 11, 07 ♂	Aug 1, 09, 23:58 #12
away guy: think they are in the communistic era still... It's very difficult to undo half a century of communism. A whole generation of people were born, educated and lived under this ****** up system. It will take time to transform poland to western standards.

lexiThreads: 1 Posts: 188 Joined: Feb 17, 09 ♀	Aug 2, 09, 00:05 #13
polishcanuck: It will take time to transform poland to western standards. It's the younger generation which will transform poland, they have totally different views, and of course multi-culturalism, that changes things very quickly.

GregKellyThreads: 1 Posts: 21 Joined: Jul 25, 09 ♂	Aug 2, 09, 03:25 #14
The only thing that will not change is : corruption. Political parties in all the EU countries are like mafia.

ragtime27Threads: 1 Posts: 245 Joined: Feb 20, 09 ♂	Aug 2, 09, 03:37 #15
How about charging for the loo in a restaurant when you already spent a substantial amount of money. now that's annoying :)

Wroclaw BoyThreads: 56 Posts: 5,260 Joined: Jul 3, 09 MEMBER ♂	Aug 2, 09, 11:30 #16
ragtime27: How about charging for the loo in a restaurant when you already spent a substantial amount of money. That never happens.

lesserThreads: 7 Posts: 2,014 Joined: Oct 19, 07 ♂	Aug 2, 09, 12:16 #17
polishcanuck: It will take time to transform poland to western standards. If the west only had any decent standards... GregKelly: The only thing that will not change is : corruption. Political parties in all the EU countries are like mafia. Well said.

WroclawThreads: 74 Posts: 7,270 Joined: Apr 1, 06 ♂ [Moderator]	Aug 2, 09, 14:03 #18
Things that annoy you in Poland. Cobbles: They are no good for walking on and I dislike cycling on them. And they are bloody everywhere.

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Aug 2, 09, 15:07 #19

Wroclaw:

Cobbles: They are no good for walking on and I dislike cycling on them. And they are bloody everywhere.

Hee hee. Well if you're in Wrocław they are LOL. I thought they were redoing most of the major roads through town though?

I haven't come across many cobbles in the Łódź/Zgierz area though. That motorway from Cottbus to Wrocław is kind of "special" don't you think? Baboom, baboom, baboom. Like travelling by train. ;)

MEMBER ♂

Edited by: Wroclaw Boy Aug 2, 09, 15:10 #20

It doesnt annoy me more shere amazement really:

How do these old cars manage to hammer accross cobbled roads, rutts and god knows what else these roads throw at them without falling apart? I can be driving fast on a bad road and some 1990 astra will come flying past bouncing all over the show. Must feel like hes on a roller coaster or something, im just waiting for pieces to start flying off the car but it never happens.

RaficooThreads: 4 Posts: 45 Joined: Dec 2, 08 ♂	Aug 2, 09, 15:13 #21
a small 200ml bottle of Water costs 5Zl in the Centre(Krakow).. wtf? do they get their water from God's river??

Wroclaw BoyThreads: 56 Posts: 5,260 Joined: Jul 3, 09 MEMBER ♂	Aug 2, 09, 15:14 #22
Raficoo hey raficoo, got any bruises mate? how many times did you get shot?

ShelleySThreads: 18 Posts: 3,647 Joined: Jun 26, 07 ♀	Aug 2, 09, 15:15 #23
ragtime27: How about charging for the loo in a restaurant when you already spent a substantial amount of money. now that's annoying :) Obivoulsy being a muslim you dont go in bars, they actually do this in the UK if you want some paper to dry your hands! Usually africans doing it!

NikaThreads: 3 Posts: 651 Joined: Jul 21, 09 ♀	Aug 2, 09, 15:39 #24
How about charging for the loo in a restaurant when you already spent a substantial amount of money. now that's annoying :) That is annoying but it's not in Poland only - they do the same in Belgium ;)

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Aug 2, 09, 16:19 #25

ShelleyS:

they actually do this in the UK

no,as far as I know it doesn't happen in UK where you have to pay in advance to use the loo in restaurant.

the case you're talking about is mainly in night clubs and it is considered as a tip since you're not obliged to pay and as you did put it the African guy provide you with paper to dry your hands and perfume spray.

I do go to bars and night clubs for your own information :)

AmericanGirlThreads: - Posts: 22 Joined: Jul 22, 08 ♀	Aug 4, 09, 14:50 #26
Spice_Boy: the fact that Poles themselves complain about Poland so much They do infact complain about their jobs, life style, weather, anything they can come up with... but at the same time...they are the biggest Polish patriots I know of.

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Aug 4, 09, 17:15 #27

Me personally I dislike the attitude of some people, everyone is very self-reliant and would rather not have any contact with anyone if they dont know them.
I sometimes wonder how friendships here come into place since nobody talks to strangers.

Another thing that pushes my button is the bureaucracy and all the papers and stamps u need for everything, to get form 2, u need form 1 with a stamp, but dont forget to take a copy, because when u request form 3 u need to present form 1 and 2 while u had to hand in form 1 to get form 2... If the rainforest ever dissapears, I will blame Poland for it!

Another thing that annoys me is the condition of the road, the lack of highways (100km here takes u 2 hours by car).

The knowledge of English by native people sometimes upsets me too, but I understand that, since I am in their country, I should adapt to them, but its kinda hard for example at the city hall when there is nobody that speaks English and u dont understand sh*t from the forms u have to fill out.

There are many more things I could say but I think I will stick to this for now :-)

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07 ♀	Edited by: LondonChick Aug 4, 09, 22:36 #28
Not annoying - just curious... why do lots of Polish firms give several telephone numbers e.g. For further information call +48 22 XXXXXXX, +48 22 XXXXXXX, +48 22 XXXXXXXX Surely one will do, right?

tj123Threads: - Posts: 104 Joined: Jul 31, 09 ♂	Aug 4, 09, 23:14 #29
LondonChick: Surely one will do, right? Worse yet they rarely answer any of them. I HATE trying to get people on the phone at government offices or firms.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07 ♀	Aug 4, 09, 23:22 #30
tj123: Worse yet they rarely answer any of them. Yup - that's my biggest bugbear of all...

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