The proper behavior an American should show when visiting Poland

urszulaThreads: 2 Posts: 362 Joined: Aug 31, 07 ♀	Jun 4, 10, 15:37 #61
frd: No surely you've made a mistake. Whoever thinks like that has to be wrong in the head. Lol. Can't take a JOKE?

IronsideThreads: 59 Posts: 6,786 Joined: Feb 26, 09 ♂	Jun 7, 10, 00:02 #62
urszula: how to get a job illegally, who can they swindle to get more money, who can they marry to stay legal, how to make money, money, money. They never travel around the states to visit national parks or are they ever interested in the US history Its a trait well established in the USA history and profit is GOD for many.

Pinching PeteThreads: 1 Posts: 1,111 Joined: Feb 23, 08 ♂	Edited by: Pinching Pete Jun 7, 10, 00:08 #63
Ironside: USA history and profit is GOD for many. Well, we have no choice but to pursue it; profit puts food in the belly.. not socialist grandfathers. No toilet paper lines here either.

IronsideThreads: 59 Posts: 6,786 Joined: Feb 26, 09 ♂	Jun 7, 10, 00:29 #64
Pinching Pete: Well, we have no choice but to pursue it; profit puts food in the belly.. not socialist grandfathers. Well, in that case there nothing wrong with Polish illegals the USA, pursing money in any which way they can?! Pinching Pete: No toilet paper lines here either. Aren't you lucky pincher ?

HamikaThreads: - Posts: 5 Joined: Jun 30, 10 ♀	Jul 1, 10, 03:00 #65
I fail to understand why someone would be required to write an essay they can't knowingly answer.

beckskiThreads: 19 Posts: 2,148 Joined: May 15, 07 MEMBER ♀	Jul 2, 10, 03:00 #66
chattynettie: The proper behavior an American should show when visiting Poland Wow... I better take close look at this thread, before I visit the motherland this summer. A sincere thanks PF, for putting up with me FIVE terrific years, muah!

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Jul 2, 10, 03:04 #67

beckski:

chattynettie:
The proper behavior an American should show when visiting Poland
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Wow... I better take close look at this thread, before I visit the motherland this summer.

One more thing; it is proper for visiting young women to take the Polish men out for drinks. If this isn't done then it is disrespectful to Polish culture. This is the proper appreciation a guest should show to the host.

f stopThreads: 33 Posts: 2,861 Joined: Dec 9, 09 ♀	Edited by: f stop Jul 2, 10, 21:02 #68
urszula: They never travel around the states to visit national parks I strongly disagree. I find Polish people here to be much better traveled than an average American, and much more adventurous in their choices.

MatowyThreads: 1 Posts: 519 Joined: Jul 4, 09 ♂	Jul 2, 10, 21:43 #69
f stop: I strongly disagree. I find Polish people here to be much better traveled than an average American, and much more adventurous in their choices. But if you live in the U.S, then surely the Poles you meet have to have travelled there, and thus are more likely to be frequent travellers?

kondziorThreads: 2 Posts: 441 Joined: Oct 16, 09 ♂	Jul 2, 10, 21:56 #70
Proper behavior? Just don't smile all the time, damn it. It freakes me out.

f stopThreads: 33 Posts: 2,861 Joined: Dec 9, 09 ♀	Jul 2, 10, 23:16 #71
Matowy: But if you live in the U.S, then surely the Poles you meet have to have travelled there, and thus are more likely to be frequent travellers? I think urszula was referring to Poles in US.

jgonso25Threads: 1 Posts: 4 Joined: Feb 24, 11 ♀	Feb 24, 11, 18:10 #72
I am a New Yorker going to Poland! I am not that loud and obnoxious! But does it really matter once everyone is drunk anyway?! P.S. people might not enjoy loud NY'ers but that is part of our charm, belief it or not :D

HavokThreads: 14 Posts: 1,508 Joined: Mar 12, 10 MEMBER ♂	Feb 24, 11, 22:29 #73
sparrow: Don't ask for ketchup in a restaurant if there isn't any on the table.. Why the fock not? is ketchup a taboo back in PL?

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Feb 24, 11, 22:37 #74

sparrow:

From my personal experience American tourists in Europe seem to think everyone around them is intrested in their conversations.

what a bull. Another America expert. Different culture, not better and not worse, just different.
Why the hell you guys always believe that just because one behaves differently, he's automatically an idiot? I lived in Poland (and other European countries) for a while and I think that some of your behavior is odd too but I just take it the way it comes. It's just another experience in my life.

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Feb 24, 11, 22:49 #75

Never refuse what is offered to you if you are a guest in someones home. If offered a drink accept one, do not say no thank you. Polish people are fantastic hosts and to refuse is very insulting.

Don't make a big reaction to the lack of deodorant (mostly older generation), it just is how it is.

Use an internal filter and stop yourself from saying "why would they do it like that? We dont do it like that in the states?" Think it, just don't say it.

Do not expect people to speak English, this is not an English speaking country. Rather read a bit and try to learn a few basic words, people will be much friendlier.

Do not expect shopworkers to pay you any mind, they wait for you to show interest in what they are selling. My first few years here I was appalled at the last of customer service...now it just is what it is.

A great (but hard to find book) is Shortcuts to Poland, written by an American expat living here for a long time. Her observations of cultural differences are spot on!

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Feb 24, 11, 23:04 #76

dhrynio:

If offered a drink accept one, do not say no thank you. Polish people are fantastic hosts and to refuse is very insulting.

true, especially when it comes to alcohol

dhrynio:

Don't make a big reaction to the lack of deodorant (mostly older generation), it just is how it is

very true

dhrynio:

Do not expect people to speak English, this is not an English speaking country.

agree, however English is the most popular language in the world, it would be smart to learn it.
You'll have less problems with younger people (quite a few speak some English).

dhrynio:

Rather read a bit and try to learn a few basic words, people will be much friendlier.

always a good advice no matter what country you go to.

dhrynio:

Do not expect shopworkers to pay you any mind, they wait for you to show interest in what they are selling. My first few years here I was appalled at the last of
customer service...now it just is what it is.

yep, very bad customer service (like almost anywhere else in Europe).

MEMBER ♂

Edited by: Havok Feb 24, 11, 23:52 #77

sparrow:

behavior an American should show when visiting Poland.

The proper behavior is to act natural, watch your belongings at all times, don't venture to places that look unsafe.

Most people will notice right away that you're an American because of your clothing, general looks and how you talk… (In a similar way how you can tell who is from NYC, LA or down South.)

Poland is a blend of mainly German and Russian cultures with a pinch of Italian and of course more recently the American "culture", but I don't know for sure if there is such thing as an American culture per se..

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Feb 25, 11, 00:51 #78

chattynettie:

Ways of being friendly?

Few Polish jokes will help you break the ice.

chattynettie:

proper greetings

"Yo wassup" and high five.They love it.

chattynettie:

Things to be careful of as not to offend anyone?

No worry bout it, they don't get offended easily.In order to gain respect remaind them how much US helps Poland sending bilions of US dollars to Poland and how Americans freed them from German ocupation during WWII.If invited for a drink yell "Nasdrovyaaa" loudest you can and adress all the old women per "babushka".
Basically just be an American.

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Feb 25, 11, 01:50 #79

grubas:

In order to gain respect remaind them how much US helps Poland sending bilions of US dollars to Poland and how Americans freed them from German ocupation during WWII.If invited for a drink yell "Nasdrovyaaa" loudest you can and adress all the old women per "babushka".
Basically just be an American.

You really believe that we're all that stupid grubas? (not a question, I know your opinion).
You said you live here so you should know that about 98% of us don't care about Poland (not in a bad meaning of it).
A good advice for chattynettie is to at least try to avoid all political and history topics as you guys are "experts" anyway and unless one will be saying what you want to hear, you'll start with ridiculing one and if that ain't gonna be good enough, you'll continue with your insults until you're gonna eventually satisfy yourself.

Now to chattynettie, don't worry about what some of the posters here are saying, you'll find many nice people in Poland. It seems like this forum has gathered the creme de la creme of smartasses, the type that you won't be meeting in Poland very often.

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Edited by: PlasticPole Feb 25, 11, 01:56 #80

grubas:

No worry bout it, they don't get offended easily.In order to gain respect remaind them how much US helps Poland sending bilions of US dollars to Poland and how Americans freed them from German ocupation during WWII.If invited for a drink yell "Nasdrovyaaa" loudest you can and adress all the old women per "babushka".
Basically just be an American.

You must be using sarcasm and irony. That sounds like a recipe for disaster. You might not have any friends at all if you act like that.

grubasThreads: 20 Posts: 1,452 Joined: Feb 1, 10 ♂	Edited by: grubas Feb 25, 11, 02:15 #81
guesswho: I know your opinion You do? guesswho: You really believe that we're all that stupid No,I don't.Not all.

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