Teaching English in Zakopane, is it safe?

kayterrThreads: 2 Posts: 11 Joined: Nov 18, 09 ♀	Nov 18, 09, 22:19 #1
I will be teaching English in Zakopane soon and I am nervous because I am African-American and I wanted to know if I will be safe in that part of Poland? I've been to Warsaw/Krakow before and I didn't have any problems at all, but I've not been in the mountains in Poland before. I just wanted to know what anyone Polish thinks of this plan? Will I be ok?

♂

Nov 18, 09, 22:25 #2

kayterr:

I just wanted to know what anyone Polish thinks of this plan?

It will be safe as long as you use common sense - but there is one important thing to consider. It's quite likely that you'll experience 'indirect' racism from students - there is a definite attitude in Poland that those of colour are inferior teachers. I've seen and heard this for myself - classes of well educated people telling me that they wouldn't want a black teacher, and even among my friends, I've heard such similar attitudes. It's not racism as such, more just a lack of experience with those of other races.

If you don't mind me asking - do you have previous experience in Poland with teaching?

♀

Edited by: natasia Nov 18, 09, 22:25 #3

i am sure you will be absolutely fine. i am really sorry that you have to worry like this, but honestly, zakopane has a lot of tourism and i'm sure lots of different nationalities are seen there all the time. it is a beautiful place and that has brought people there.
i can't believe it isn't safe. it isn't like east germany in the 1980s. it is totally different. and some poles might blow hot air about people who are different from them, but i think in reality they are very welcoming. that is my experience (seeing they interact with people of different races in my house).

it will be great. don't worry. look forward to it. if anything, you will seem exotic and they will all be after you ; ) and remember all the kids are brought up on mtv and there is a high african-american representation there ... you will be like a pop star.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Nov 18, 09, 22:29 #4
You should be fine but try to avoid heavy drinking mountaineers. They can be a little rowdy, more cantankerous than standard folks after drinking. Still, I see Zakopane as a safe enough area. You might be told off for speaking English as my English friend got, LOL.

kayterrThreads: 2 Posts: 11 Joined: Nov 18, 09 ♀	Nov 18, 09, 22:33 #5
delphiandomine, I don't have any experience as a teacher in Poland or in general. I am actually studying International Relations here in college. I will be volunteering at a summer camp. Truthfully, I just wanted to find a way to go back to Poland ;p

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,340 Joined: Feb 20, 07 ♂	Nov 18, 09, 22:34 #6
Seanus: You should be fine but try to avoid heavy drinking mountaineers. They can be a little rowdy, more cantankerous than standard folks after drinking. Oh no we're not. we're happy drunks who pile chairs up high and climb them. On topic - You'll be fine in Zakopane

kayterrThreads: 2 Posts: 11 Joined: Nov 18, 09 ♀	Nov 18, 09, 22:35 #7
Seanus Thank, Seanus, I'll keep working on my Polish then!

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Nov 18, 09, 22:37 #8
Szarly, LOL. Quite the man! You'll be fine, sir. As Natasia said, you may well become sth of a celeb! There's a pretty mellow vibe in the mountains so you shouldn't go far wrong. Just applaud vodka and all will be well :)

delphiandomineThreads: 40 Posts: 9,577 Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂	Nov 18, 09, 22:38 #9
kayterr: I will be volunteering at a summer camp. Aha - well, if you're happy with them using you, then you won't have a problem. But I'd actually try and recommend finding a paid summer camp in Poland - the money won't be that great, but it's certainly better than not being paid for it! I wouldn't recommend summer camps where you volunteer for many, many reasons.

kayterrThreads: 2 Posts: 11 Joined: Nov 18, 09 ♀	Nov 18, 09, 22:38 #10
Haha! Ok, wonderful! (p.s I'm a girl =p)

♂

Nov 18, 09, 22:39 #11

kayterr:

I will be teaching English in Zakopane soon and I am nervous because I am African-American and I wanted to know if I will be safe in that part of Poland? I've been to Warsaw/Krakow before and I didn't have any problems at all, but I've not been in the mountains in Poland before. I just wanted to know what anyone Polish thinks of this plan? Will I be ok?

You should be careful with those Highlanders. They are quick with their axes. There are hundreds of jokes and stories about Lowland dwellers coming back from the mountains with an axe in their back.

http://humor.dobremiejsce.pl/?zdjecie=3

kayterrThreads: 2 Posts: 11 Joined: Nov 18, 09 ♀	Nov 18, 09, 22:39 #12
Delphiandomine, really? Why not? Are there any paid summer programs you know of?

kayterrThreads: 2 Posts: 11 Joined: Nov 18, 09 ♀	Edited by: kayterr Nov 19, 09, 00:15 #13
Pawian, I don't speak polish so I have no clue what that says! Are highlanders truly that...scary?

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Nov 19, 09, 00:24 #14
Just funny stuff, nothing to be worried about. It's not too dissimilar to the dialect here in Silesia which is called Gwara. It just involves vowel changes and misspelt words. The sounds are pretty soft there. Zakopane is a very touristic area so they are accustomed to foreigners. It's a cool place to teach :)

♂

Nov 19, 09, 01:40 #15

kayterr:

Pawian, I don't speak polish so I have no clue what that says! Are highlanders truly that...scary?

The truth is in little mountain villiges you'll find these little pubs or inns where completely drunken guys are fighting each other or any newcomers that might happen to be there. I'm visiting one such villige during every summer and there are always stories about how drunk they can get and what they can do. It's a bad idea to go to a local pub in a small villige when it's after 18:00... and that is for anyone not only foreigners, as for Zakopane, I don't think you have anything to be afraid of..

kayterrThreads: 2 Posts: 11 Joined: Nov 18, 09 ♀	Nov 19, 09, 03:42 #16
If I understand basic polish, will I still be able to understand even if there are local dialects, Seanus?

cherylellis

Nov 19, 09, 05:01 #17

I visited Zakopane April 09..absolutely beautiful. The one thing that stands out is the incrediable stonework. The extra special Polish vodka made me unable to find my camera:) Is there any chance one of you kind soles would take some pictures of the stonework for me. I have searched the internet for pictures..none to be found.The stone was river rock(that's what we call it here in Canada) it is the round smooth stones. There would be 3 or 4 stones rounded side out then one sitting on it's flat. My email is cheryl.ellis@gmail.com.

♂

Nov 19, 09, 09:39 #18

delphiandomine:

I've seen and heard this for myself - classes of well educated people telling me that they wouldn't want a black teacher, and even among my friends, I've heard such similar attitudes. It's not racism as such

LOL how is this not racism?

because Zakopane is such a lucrative spot for business activities, the mafia representation is a little higher than the typical Polish city. However, as an English teacher that uses common sense and leeps his nose clean, you should be safe. You won't be the only person of color that has passed through, but you may get some goofy stares from locals just the same. Zakopane has a definite small-town feel.

McCoyThreads: 46 Posts: 1,755 Joined: Jul 3, 08 ♂	Edited by: McCoy Nov 19, 09, 09:56 #19
cherylellis: the incrediable stonework some pics from Z. [imgs=]http://www.iv.pl/images/r7dp4qpvvx0hc31t1gzl.jpg]f[/imgs] and more here Zakopane and surroundings

kayterrThreads: 2 Posts: 11 Joined: Nov 18, 09 ♀	Nov 19, 09, 20:48 #20
WOW! Those pictures are amazing. Was anyone here from Zakopane? What do you think of the subject?

CzestochowaThreads: 12 Posts: 60 Joined: Mar 11, 07 ♂	Nov 22, 09, 23:38 #21
Juche: because Zakopane is such a lucrative spot for business activities, the mafia representation is a little higher than the typical Polish city I can confirm this. I've just come back from Zakopane and I wouldn't suggest it as a place to conduct business unless you have some solid contacts there. The local police are also quite keen to top up their salaries.

pawianThreads: 80 Posts: 4,542 Joined: May 30, 08 ♂	Edited by: pawian Nov 23, 09, 00:04 #22
Another side of Zakopane: Decrepit bus stops Burnt houses Hostile highlanders Graffiti everywhere Decrepit houses Bears at large Football fans Omnipresent ads Sects and evil auras Dangerous sidewalks and pavements Mountains blocking the sunlight

Cardno85Threads: 33 Posts: 857 Joined: Jul 11, 08 MEMBER ♂	Nov 23, 09, 00:58 #23
pawian: Sects and evil auras Do you have a bigger version of that picture, looks quite fascinating.

BarneyThreads: 14 Posts: 1,469 Joined: May 26, 08 ♂	Nov 23, 09, 01:08 #24
pawian: Mountains blocking the sunlight Yeah, one minute they look good, the next they are getting in the way! Whats with that?

pawianThreads: 80 Posts: 4,542 Joined: May 30, 08 ♂	Edited by: pawian Nov 23, 09, 01:27 #25
Cardno85: Do you have a bigger version of that picture, looks quite fascinating. Yes:):):)

kayterrThreads: 2 Posts: 11 Joined: Nov 18, 09 ♀	Nov 23, 09, 08:40 #26
what does that poster mean?

pawianThreads: 80 Posts: 4,542 Joined: May 30, 08 ♂	Nov 23, 09, 21:27 #27
kayterr Warning against sects one characteristics of which is a display of certain signs.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,647 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Edited by: SeanBM Nov 23, 09, 21:30 #28
Hello kayterr, I have written some things about vacation time in Zakopane, perhaps it will put your mind at ease. Recommendations for Zakopane Best of luck, it is a beautiful place, I live near there :)

kayterrThreads: 2 Posts: 11 Joined: Nov 18, 09 ♀	Nov 24, 09, 05:19 #29
Are sects prevalent in Poland? How popular are they?

MEMBER ♂

Nov 24, 09, 09:53 #30

kayterr:

Are sects prevalent in Poland? How popular are they?

Really quite worryingly popular. There is a really popular one that meets on a Sunday morning all around the country and they burn things and chant and talk to dead people and deities...

But seriously, I think they will probably be like most other places, minorities mainly with a good mix of rebellious teenagers just for good measure.

POLAND . The Unofficial Guide.	Unanswered \| Archives
POLAND . The Unofficial Guide.	Culture and Customs of Poland	Witamy, Guest \| PF Members \| Gold Members

Home \| Unanswered \| Archives \| Random \| Statistics	Time in Poland: 12:27 / Feb 9
About Us \| Contact Us \| Rules, Privacy \| Poland Advertising	© 2005-12 PolishForums.com