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Jack Walker
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 412
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 Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 6:55 pm Post subject: Life after Poland. |
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Hi all,
I am now entering my 7th week back in Canada after 7 years in the ol' Polska and I have to say,it feels great to have gotten out when I did:) I should have left a few years ago actually.
It's nice to be able to make some good coin for less work and to see contented,mannerly people everywhere. Understanding everyone and being understood is also pretty damn groovy:)It actually took me a few weeks to get used to being able to use English everywhere.
I'm feeling much less stressed these days and have more free time to concentrate on my other hobbies without having to count pennies.
Lots of good ethnic cuisine abound sure helps as well.No bureaucracy to deal with, with respect to finding employment is an added bonus.
So far I don't miss Poland at all and not sure if I ever will as of this moment.
It's nice to know that life does exist outside of Poland I guess. Don't ever sell yourselves short! |
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hrvatski
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Posts: 270
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 8:52 am Post subject: |
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| I've been out of Poland for 8 months and it's good, but I do miss Poles, especially the uni students. |
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sparks
Joined: 20 Feb 2008
Posts: 632
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:22 am Post subject: |
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| I've been here for 8 years and am pretty certain that this will be my last year. I really do miss the US for many of the reasons that you mention, Jack. I wonder, however, how you feel in a year or five. We've all chosen to live abroad for various reasons and I don't know if the renewed excitement about being in our homelands won't be short-lived. |
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PierogiMonster
Joined: 17 Jun 2010
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:24 am Post subject: |
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'Just deciding this weekend whether to fly the coop or stay for my 6th Polish year.
True, it is easy to forget that there is life outside Poland (esp. as, being native speaking teachers, we could easily go somewhere else). I'm in Krakow, where the ex-pats talk about the 'black hole effect': a lovely town to live in, but once you get sucked in beyond that event horizon (the edge of the black hole) it's very,very hard to drag yourself out again. |
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Jack Walker
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 412
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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Yes,you all make some good points.Who knows how I'll feel in a year or two, but for now,I am exceptionally contented.
Poland has a tendency to get deep into one's psyche and make them feel like they are in an endless hole at times.
I have lots of great memories and made lots of great friends over there and don't regret having lived there one single bit.
However,you know when it's time to move on.
It probably would have made my stay more pleasant if I had actually mastered the language.It simply got tiring having to get someone to go to the various offices etc with you and translate.No more stress with respect to language for me now:) |
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dynow
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 1080
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| Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 3:12 am Post subject: |
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Jack Walker wrote:
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| Poland has a tendency to get deep into one's psyche and make them feel like they are in an endless hole at times. |
Poland certainly can beat you up mentally. It's not an easy place to live, plain and simple. There are some nice things about living out here, sure, but in the end, it's a bit of a hard life, wouldn't you say?
Another very big factor for an expat living out here is your age and marital status. Personally, what pushed me the hardest was as I got older out here and thought about marriage, kids, a small house, 2 cars, (nothing out of the ordinary, just standard things a married couple with hopes of having children would want) i started to realize how incredibly easier it would be back home to achieve all those things.
I guess I'm a bit spoiled in the sense that I married a Polish girl so I will never have that feeling of complete disconnect from Poland when I go home because for some expats, when they leave, everything Polish vanishes. Things like being able to speak Polish every day to my wife once we leave here is something I really value because I can't imagine all those endless hours learning declensions and dokonany/niedokonany going down the toilet.
So Jack Walker, after 8 weeks back home, is there anything you really truly miss about Poland that you cannot get/find/experience in Canada? |
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Jack Walker
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 412
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| Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:40 am Post subject: |
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Hello Mr.Dynow,
About the only thing I miss about Poland right now is the cheap booze.It's expensive to get your drink on in Canada:( I don't really miss anything else at this point.
Polish women like to tell you how beautiful they are, but it's nice to know that there are lots of sharp birds on this side of the pond as well  They are certainly slimming up more over here recently .Lots of gyms and fitness centers sprouting up everywhere and lots of people getting into the healthy living thing. |
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Mr.Engrish
Joined: 22 Oct 2009
Posts: 57
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Hmmm, interesting stories guys. I'm only on my first year here, things are starting to get better and better as time goes on.
Since this is my first year I would have to agree with you guys on the fact that Poland does play on a persons psych compared to the west. There were times where I was questioning whether I made the right decision in terms of coming to Poland, however, as time went by things were starting to work out.
It's kinda interesting to see the points of view of people who lived here for many years, maybe in time I'll share the same opinion. |
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dynow
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 1080
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| Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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Jack Walker wrote:
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| About the only thing I miss about Poland right now is the cheap booze. |
really? how's that? i think the exact opposite about the costs of drinking in Poland. |
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Jack Walker
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 412
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| Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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Well I guess if you're a whisky/rum drinker it is expensive over there, but I was sticking with the beer and scattered bottle of vodka.Those 2 tipples are definitely cheaper in Poland.A 6 pack in Canada sets you back about 30-35zlish these days.
A 500ml bottle of very average vodka is about 42zl over here! |
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dynow
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 1080
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| Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:40 am Post subject: |
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Jack Walker wrote:
[/quote]A 500ml bottle of very average vodka is about 42zl over here!.[/quote]
yeah, i was afraid you were looking at it like that.
you don't live in Poland anymore or earn zl....why consider what it would cost in zl???
think about your earnings in Canada vs. Poland in simple numbers, forget the units of currency.
let's say you earn 3000 per month in Canada, and earned 4000 per month in poland. Is paying 28 for a 750ml of Jack Daniel's in Canada more expensive than paying 90 in Poland?
think about it. |
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Jack Walker
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 412
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| Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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| dynow wrote: |
Jack Walker wrote:
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A 500ml bottle of very average vodka is about 42zl over here!.[/quote]
yeah, i was afraid you were looking at it like that.
you don't live in Poland anymore or earn zl....why consider what it would cost in zl???
think about your earnings in Canada vs. Poland in simple numbers, forget the units of currency.
let's say you earn 3000 per month in Canada, and earned 4000 per month in poland. Is paying 28 for a 750ml of Jack Daniel's in Canada more expensive than paying 90 in Poland?
think about it.[/quote]
I understand what you're saying Mr.Dynow, but I can simply tell you that it's quite cheap and pleasant to get shitfaced on an ESLer's salary in Poland.One doesn't have to stretch zlotys to do that and I'm sure you'll agree.If you avoid the hoity toity clubs and the like,you'll do ok!  |
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maniak
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Posts: 194
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| Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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| whatd the post-esl employment opportunites look like for you mr walker? did you have/want to continue teaching or did you fall back on something you had going before coming to PL? |
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Jack Walker
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 412
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| Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 11:03 am Post subject: |
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| maniak wrote: |
| whatd the post-esl employment opportunites look like for you mr walker? did you have/want to continue teaching or did you fall back on something you had going before coming to PL? |
Dzien Dobry Mr.Maniak!
I wanted to take a break from education after doing it for 11 years, so I got a job as an assistant manger at a clothing store.It's interesting work and something entirely new for me.I'll try this out for a year or so before getting back into the educational field eventually.
Sometimes it's good to change things up a bit! |
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dynow
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 1080
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| Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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Jack Walker wrote:
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| One doesn't have to stretch zlotys to do that and I'm sure you'll agree. |
looks like we'll have to agree to disagree.
one thing can be taken from this though......there ALWAYS is enough money to buy alcohol
Jack Walker wrote:
| Quote: |
| I wanted to take a break from education after doing it for 11 years, so I got a job as an assistant manger at a clothing store.It's interesting work and something entirely new for me.I'll try this out for a year or so before getting back into the educational field eventually. |
i like it. love it or hate it, it's a nice change. something different. people need that from time to time. |
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