Why not live in Nowa Huta?

I am an American who's traveled thrice to Poland with my Polish-German wife. We are considering moving to Krakow after I finish my BA in Sacramento, CA. I'll complete the CELTA program from IH and attend Jagiellonian's CEE studies program. While perusing the Gumtree.pl apartment listings, we've come to the conclusion that Nowa Huta has the most affordable and abundant housing. However, I've read several vague, but derogatory comments regarding this part of the city. Is the issue merely one of aesthetics (i.e. resistance to living in Stalin era high rise apartments) or is there a genuine safety issue for foreigners. As a married 28 year old man, I won't be out drunk and running the streets at night. Should I be able to utilize the tram and shop with my family without being harassed?

Welcome.

I'm English and i live in Nowa huta.I have been living here for 6 months and have never had any trouble.I feel safer here walking around at night time than i did when i lived in England.

When i told my Polish friends that i was moving to Poland they asked where i was going to live,when i told them i was moving to Krakow, Nowa huta they had a look of horror on their faces and told me what a dangerous place it was.None of them had even been to Nowa huta,just what they had heard.

For the first few weeks i got lots of stares from people only because i was a "new face on the block".You do get the feeling of a tight community here.

Transport wise you have a choice of tram numbers 1,4,9,10,13,14,15,75,22 and nearly as many buses that take you to the centre of Krakow so no problems there.

Property here is cheaper than other areas of Krakow BUT is rising.I can't give you any good advise on buying property in Poland but i'm sure someone else on the forum can.

Don't be put off by what some people might say about Nowa huta.The poles i know that say what a bad place it is have never lived here.

Just to add,after reading your post again.......The only time i got harassed on a tram in Poland was in Poznan and that was by an elderly lady that thought i should give up my seat to her....which i did

Thanks for the reply Hutnik. Might that be you who had recently posted a roommate wanted ad on gumtree?

To the rest of the expat community in Poland, are there no more opinions regarding my possible future home? Your input is greatly appreciated!

I do know that the water is disgusting in Krakow and you can not drink it. Is Nowa Huta still in use? That makes a big difference too. I was in Krakow many years ago as I attended Jagiellonski but over twenty years ago. I remember being on a tram which stopped somewhere very near to the Huta but I can not remember which number it was after all these years (twenty five?). I can not understand why you want a CELTA as no such qualification is needed to teach in Poland.

With a BA and a CELTA you could get a much better teaching job than someone that has no qualifications.

Yes, especially in South Korea, where a degree is a compulsory qualification but not in Poland.

I also remember that nobody could ever wear the colour white as it always showed up because of the general level of dirt in that town.

25 years ago you say, eh? Thank you michal for your up to date information. :) Your contribution in this thread could not be more meaningless. :)

Best regards etc etc bla bla bla :)

What was your fantastic contribution to the wonderful Polish economy twenty five years ago? I very much if things have changed that much anyway, everything is very very slow to happen in Poland, anyway.

I doubt if you would get a better job teaching English in Poland just because of a BA degree. Better to look to Asia such as South Korea, that is where I would go if I could. Avoid Poland at all costs!

Somebody obviously is in a bad mood today. :) Tsk tsk :))

You heard the man Hutnik. And he knows what he's talking about. He’s been to Nowa Huta only 25 years ago. LOL :)

But he did say that things are very very slow in Poland.I guess things must have changed very quickly in the last 6 months (or in the 4 years that i've been coming to Poland) because i see lots of people wearing white t-shirts and even the women wearing white skirts.

Michal,the original post was about Nowa Huta.As live here i only gave my view that it is not as bad as people make out.Regarding teaching in Poland (even though Kes didn't ask about teaching) i'm sure he knows what he is doing otherwise he would be asking should i go to South Korea or Asia.

Go to dave's ESL forums and start a thread something like this:

I am an American with a Polish/German wife that wants to move to Poland.I have no Degree and no teaching qualifications.What are my chances of getting a job with a school that will pay enough money to live on?

You maybe right,teachers that are LIVING AND WORKING IN POLAND NOW might say "no problem,just turn up and you will get a job that pays 45zl an hour"

Yes, it is a good and interesting forum, I have looked at it a few times myself. It would be nice I suppose to travel the world and do something different.

Maybe the 'huta' is shut now, I do not know as my detailed knowledge is a bit dated and things do change.

My mistake, twenty one years ago to be exact.

I can not talk about the modern day but when I was in Poland many years ago, a teacher earned a hundred pounds a month! Mind you I suppose prices have also risen a little over the years.

Yes but Dave's forum is a sensible forum for people looking for jobs in South Korea and China. Being an English language teacher in Poland must be one of the most degrading jobs in the world-rather like being a security guard in Woolworths!

whoopee........more insults from Michal... :(

Well, that certainly changes everything. I take everything back. :))

That is all right and your apology is accepted, no offense taken!

Would you work in Poland as a rotten English Language teacher?

I think Lady in Red would make an excellent English teacher, not rotten at all

Well, all right, an excellent teacher in a rotten place. Does that sound better?

Firstly Michal, my comment to you was not in reference to the comment about English Language teachers.......so, as I have told you before, do not take my comments out of context please. Message 21 shows exactly what you said, I quoted your words and made my appropriate posting. So stop being stupid.

You seem to have a total strange fixation on teachers and languages. There is nothing wrong in being a language teacher, in any language or in any country in fact, it's a highly respectable and honourable occupation.

I posted some time ago what my occupation is. I'm honest you see......unlike some. Go and have a look. So why on earth would I want to change my occupation........you are such a silly man, very, very silly indeed.

You take other posters words out of context then quote them onto one of your posts for what ? Just shows you to be daft really.

Maybe you should pull the stick, possibly the whole tree, out of your @ss before you make a comment. :]

I agree Artur :)

Nice to see you again cat with melon on head <g>


How are you doing Artur ?

And good to see you lady wearing the red. :]




I'm a bit tired, we've had two-a-days for two weeks now, and my calves are ready to explode from overuse. Other than that I'm the same old Artur. :]