Job Discussion Forums

Wild Bill · Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 37

Getting back on track, I shared an apartment with a Pole my first year there. It was a blast, and we are still very close. His english got much better and my knowlege of Poland was greatly increased.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Also hopefully back on track: it's really not the norm anywhere in Europe to get even a promise of a job interview from abroad. You're right - anyone who will hire you from long-distance may very likely be desperate for teachers for some reason that won't be to your benefit. To look for decent positions, you need to be here on the ground, CV in hand, looking and acting like a professional. But most newcomers can find acceptable employment fairly quickly.
Schools don't usually hire from abroad because people don't show up, or when they do, they have sometimes misrepresented themselves in some way. There is just not the shortage of teachers in Europe as there is in Asia, so good schools don't need to take the chance.

Also, be careful if you are coming on a financial shoestring. The reality is that (however much you pay!) landlords usually want one month's rent as a deposit and the first month's rent in advance. Language schools typically pay monthly, at the END of the month worked. You've really got to have enough 'thousands' to get by for two or three months at least. If you haven't - stay where you are and save up. Sorry to be negative, but I have been working with TEFL teachers for the past eight years and I have seen people get into pretty serious financial trouble with just a little bit of bad luck.

freudling1000 · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 50

This Alex Shulgin guy.

There is no way you can prove that I am a liar. But just the mention of that makes me raise an eyebrow at you. It is true, I never said I had a house for 450 PLN per month, I had a large room in a house with full use of the house for 450 PLN per month. How did I get a deal like that? It is in the burbs for one. Two, I got connected through a friend. None of this stuff is advertised.

My place in the old town is 800 PLN per month. You are right, they go for way more but mine does not. Sorry if that makes you angry or whatever else you feel from it. I am also not necessarily proud of my connections, since I drink and go out way too much. Basically, destroy myself. It doesn't take long to get to know people if you are constantly out, like 5 days/nights a week.

BUT, when I first got to Warsaw, I had to pay 1100 PLN for a downtown flat like everyone else. I also got scammed, etc.

joshsweigart · Joined: 27 Feb 2005 Posts: 66

So the point of all the bickering seems to be that there are lots of places to live in Poland and that these places come at different prices...

I've lived with some Polish friends and they treated me as such. Of course it's risky to live with people you don't know. If you're coming from the States for your first time you should probably take what the school offers and then just start making some friends and see if they want to move in with you somewhere. It really isn't any different than if you want to live with someone in any country.

freudling1000 · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 50

Right on Sweig. Thanks for chiming in biatch. I do know you have some good experience out here in Poland, land of boobs and beer.

Take it easy stars and stripes.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

[quote="freudling1000"]Right on Sweig. Thanks for chiming in biatch./quote]

Wow, are you trying to be even more charming than Warren?

freudling1000 · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 50

I spent the last week with joshsweigart. We are friends and have really good "gaydowns." If you don't know what "gaydowns" are, just do a google.

Grrrmachine · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 265 Location: Warsaw, Poland

Alex, whilst you and Warren obviously have your own reasons for talking to eachother like this, you are being particularly abrasive at the moment and I don't think it's helping the forum in any way. You are rather setting yourself up for a large amount of criticism for calling someone a liar (when you have no evidence, and could simply have said that his personal situation is not indicative of the "normal" Warsaw, or the Warsaw newbies find at first), as well as your rather viscious scorning of the language mistakes used on the board. You've given me some sound advice in the past; go back to that rather than venting spleen everywhere.

It must get incredibly lonely on that high horse sometimes.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

bennyr81 · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 45 Location: Poland

I dont really know too much about prices in the old town but ive just got a flat (120m2) for 500 a month. its not in the centre but not too far away and is in a nice area.
Also, depending on connections why wouldnt those in the old town who have flats via the government not rent them out for low low prices if they are not using them...im not suggesting that is why the flat could be 800zl a month but that is about the cost the owners have to pay for them

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

Kymro · Joined: 19 Oct 2003 Posts: 244

I know someone who lives in a city centre flat, and pays nothing at all.

This is because (a) the czynsz happens to be extortionate and (b) the property is very run down.

The owner would rather allow someone to life there for free than pay bills for an empty flat no-one would want to rent.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553