By Ken, Teacher in Warsaw
Cześć wszystkim!
In this blog I will be covering what foreigners should and shouldn’t do in Poland. As a foreigner, it can be difficult acclimatising to new surroundings and from time to time we have a tendency to stick to what we know and what we are familiar with. It can also be very daunting to have to learn another culture and language. I’m of the opinion that Polish is more difficult than Chinese and Japanese, but feel free to prove me otherwise! Anyway personal viewpoints aside, let’s start off with…
The most important thing to do
The number 1 thing you should do if you have any intentions on living in a foreign country for a prolonged period of time is (as I’ve just mentioned) to learn the culture and the language. It may seem totally obvious but many foreigners move to another country and don’t even bother to learn the culture of their new country, and then they may complain that the country doesn’t speak English or doesn’t cater towards their needs. Don’t do this as this is one surefire way to annoy the natives, and it comes off as extremely arrogant. It’s also a huge reason why many natives are against immigrants and expats worldwide.
On the flip side, if you make a genuine effort to learn the language and the history of Poland then Poles will be very appreciative. Poland has been through a World War and Communism over the last 90 years and the effects can still be felt. If you’re interested in these aspects I recommend the Warsaw Uprising Museum. Warsaw and many other parts of Poland had to be totally rebuilt after WWII, so you can understand why Poles are so proud of their country.. Which brings me on to my next point!
Don’t complain!
I get it – the Polish language can feel like doing rocket science whilst balancing a chopstick on your nose whilst doing a handstand, clerks in public service sectors don’t speak a whole lot of English and people don’t smile as part of their “customer service”. Poland isn’t perfect. But don’t continuously complain about things! As aforementioned, Poles are very proud of their country due to their tough recent history, and one thing that annoys them is when foreigners whinge about their country. The locals know that their country isn’t perfect, but it’s not YOUR country to complain about. So just be careful! The odd moan now and again is fine but don’t make it a habit.
Stranger danger
If you’re from America or the UK you’ll often make some friends and idle conversation with strangers wherever it may be – on the street, in a restaurant, in an elevator, the list goes on. People in Poland generally do not talk with strangers unless they are in a safe/social environment like at work or a bar. If you talk to someone on the street in Poland they will assume that you want something like money, directions etc. Additionally, because of many people’s experiences during Communist times they are very skeptical of anyone speaking to them without being prompted to. Polish people are becoming more open in bigger cities but nowhere near as open as America or the UK. Speaking of which….
Get a PESEL number
A PESEL number is Poland’s equivalent to an SSN in the US, or a National Insurance number in the UK. You will need this number to do everything, from getting a bank account to even getting a prescription from a pharmacy. It’s impossible to live in Poland without one, so get one as soon as you start living in Poland. The process is really simple. Go to the district office (urząd dzielnicy) with your work contract and your tenant contract and if all goes well, you shouldn’t need to wait long to get your PESEL. In many cases you’ll get one immediately. Just remember to go to the correct district office, and by that I mean go to the district office where your apartment is located. Don’t do what I did and spend weeks going to the wrong office only to be told that the apartment is actually in a different district!
On a nicer (and greener note)
You should definitely go out and explore, especially if you love nature!
Poles love nature and they will regularly go to the sea and parks in the Summer. In the colder, more wintry months they will go skiing in the mountains or hop over the borders to other countries. Croatia is a very popular tourist destination for Poles due to its apparent beautiful nature. The Baltic Sea is also very popular and so is Zakopane, a town in Poland renowned for the Tatra mountains.
To summarise……
Poland is a very fast-developing country that has come on leaps and bounds since the collapse of Communism. It has a beautiful, safe country which deserves to be respected just as the vast majority of their citizens do. As long as you respect Polish traditions and their culture, you’ll have no problems acclimatising and settling here! Just don’t come here and try to impose your own ideologies and cultural values from your own country.
If you’re interested in moving to Poland, why not click here?
