Job Discussion Forums

[Richfilth]

Hard as it is for many to swallow, weather was my reason for choosing Poland. I only have to suffer through about four weeks of temps over 25, and then it drops back to tolerable human levels. 15 degrees in Warsaw today, which is t-shirt weather as far as I'm concerned.

I'm more than happy stomping through the snow and slush for five months solid.

[sparks]

Just got back from a walk and a coffee, noticed that on the way back, my nose started running a bit, Unfortunately I was too chilly to go and catch it

[ecocks]

Great here too, it's about 14 here tonight. Still shirtsleeve weather but far better than being stuck in the sand. I had dinner tonight with two other TEFL teachers at a sidewalk table and really enjoyed the afternoon. My friends in Baku tell me it has been a miserable summer there with temps hitting the high 20's today. I'm glad to be out of it and in the cooler clime here.

[dragonpiwo]

40oc and in the Med today . Ate fresh caught grouper yesterday...had a bbq Friday and did all the things you can do in Poland. . And earned a tonne even though I didn't teach and won't much for the next 2 weeks till I go on leave. Where did it all go wrong?

[delphian-domine]

[dragonpiwo]

Don't really follow footy at all, but we men and some women all sat round a big fire and cooked 3 delicious grouper and slugged wine. We can get the footy here but as we are all from different countries it would be a bind for some. Not looking forward to the weather there in a couple of weeks. We'll be swimming here till December. Then, it's gym and squash for a couple of months, till the summer starts in March.

[stonethecrow]

As for it being a poverty wage, I'd imagine that many Polish people survive on the same, or less. I'm not one for flashing cash to buy various consumer items. I mainly spend money on travelling, food and beer. Plus, I've got an extra £100 a month coming from the UK from letting a house, which helps. Thinking about it, if I could get another house or flat to let in the UK, I could live like a King... a relatively modest King.

Why Poland - my girlfriend is Polish and I've had trouble finding work elsewhere in Europe. I had a job lined up for Munich but then they messed me about. I'd have gone to Munich in a flash. I fancy staying in Europe for a year before maybe going elsewhere, maybe Vietnam or Hong Kong.
This school has decent reviews from ex-teachers too and skiing in/near the Tatras is appealing!

I'm surprised you say that many things in Poland cost the same as the UK. Maybe it's because of my thrifty ways, but I've found living in Poland quite cheap. Transport, food, booze, accommodation, all seem great value when converted over. I buy most (if not all) of my clothes in the UK and don't buy any electronics in Poland, is that the pricey stuff?

[ecocks]

That's about my take as well.

A couple of other teachers and I get select clothing items from the US, we miss a few food items and uniquely "homey" sort of things. However, the reality is that people live more cheaply here and you will be earning above the average salary of the country.

Some like skiing in the Tatra, others like walking along the river in the Fall and Winter.

You sound like you'll adjust and survive it, even enjoy it.

Best of luck!

[dragonpiwo]

Clothes and electronic stuff for sure....but you can add pricier pub food (cheaper, cruddier beer tho), medicine, like for like hotels and a few other things. Rail is cheaper in Poland by a mile as is some basic food from the supermarket but when you factor in the average British salary, then it's cheaper at Asda. Housing is a tricky one because if you forget the south-east of England relative prices adjusted for average salaries are the same. However, the build you'll get in the UK is much better. Then there's stuff like petrol. According to today's figures from the UK's Reed Consultancy, the average salary of someone who works in teaching is 31,746 GBP, which is 158,730Zl and you'll be earning how many Zloty? Petrol is almost the same prices as the UK. I think people who ate and drank in Wetherspoon's, shopped in Aldi, didn't drive, didn't use taxis, used Skype at all time, shared a flat and went Dutch could live relatively cheaply in the UK. Of course, if I really put my mind to it in Poland I could live cheaply but I just don't like eating in a cruddy restaurant or drinking in 5zl bars. I also like nice clothes as they last longer. Designer stuff is cheaper in Germany and that's why I buy it there. Looking at houses and I've looked at thousands, most would need a tonne of work done and if not, they can be comparable prices to what you'd get in cities up north or in Wales. Even with supermarket food, it's the cheese and veg that are much cheaper in Poland. Toiletries certainly cost about the same. Stuff like pots and pans are pricier in Poland. I've just been charged 50 quid to have my flat cleaned (by the Polish ex- landlady) and that must have taken all of 1 hour. I've chatted at length about this to the very large group of English teacher mates I have in Poland and all concur that going home is not the bother it once was as things are pretty much the same. However, they are all established and teach and do other stuff. Most also have pretty good Polish. Forget the word 'Poland' just think Europe on 16 Quid a day and ask yourself if that sounds OK or not. I've been skiing in Poland, so good luck on that budget . The winter's coming. I hope she's worth it. By the way, does she want to go and live somewhere else in a few years? Many Polish girls don't travel well.

[ecocks]

Forums are great for finding out information and shortening the learning curve.

I don't know how much longer I would have continued paying my cleaning woman 60 zl for 3-4 hours of vacuuming, scrubbing the bathroom and kitchen tiled floors and walls, dusting, changing the bed linens, hitting the windows and doing a load of laundry.

She must think I am incredibly unsophisticated and ignorant for a westerner but probably understands that I'm a newb to Poland with no idea of how much things cost.

I'll be adjusting her payment up to 80 and insisting that after three hours she has to be finished and on her way.

I'm so embarrassed at what she must think of me and the expat community.......

[stonethecrow]

I'm glad I don't need (or want) many luxuries then Even when I have had money, I've never really splashed out on that kinda stuff.

About my girlfriend, she's lived in the UK and we nearly got a job in China this year. Next year I think we will go elsewhere, once I've got a year of experience behind me. Asia probably, Vietnam/HK like I was saying.

Did you think skiing was expensive?! The skiing passes seemed cheap where I went. Admittedly I've gotta get skis and poles still haha. Any suggestions where from apart from Allegro?

[dragonpiwo]

Ecocks, I've moved out, it's what was withheld from my deposit for the cleaning. I know the cleaner, it's what his firm chargesI left it immaculate, so it wasn't me who organised this or I'd have done it myself. I'm not even back in the country for 12 days.

Skiing on 16 quid a day will be expensive. A cheap room will cost you that, then you've got to eat, drink and er ski.

Seriously...you're not gonna argue that 16 Quid a day in Europe 2013 is OK.

And never compare yourself to a Pole. They'll visit mum and dad and eat for free then go and see babcia. They'll get foodstuffs from relatives and won't get charged an arm and a leg for stuff. They'll book tickets ages in advance and on Rynair the dispatcher will turn a blind eye to their suitcase, which they use as hand luggage and you'll get pulled for being 3 grammes over.

It'll be interesting to see how long some people stick around, visas permitting.

I'll concede tho' that some cities have more work than others.

[ecocks]

[dragonpiwo]

You're not comparing like for like and you're ignoring the 16 quid elephant in the room. You've been here how long exactly? 'year on year improvements'-oh yeah you've done one winter.

Whoever you are.....you'll be broke on 16 quid a day. That's the bottom line.

[ecocks]

You really are tiresome you know? I first went to Zakopane in 2007 and again in 2008. Since then family members, friends and acquaintances, as well as something called the Internet have kept me apprised of improvements. Total visits to ski resorts have been around 40-45 in my lifetime and included world class, Olympic-level locations for comparisons.

You really are a limited horizons sort of guy, try getting out and about more.