Job Discussion Forums

[mediano tzu]

Hello everyone. I'm doing ESL in Korea right now and that's alright, but I've thought about going to Poland after my contract ends here for a change of scenery, mostly because I know someone who has a school there and she's offered me a job.

The school is in Rzesz�w. Of course I see from the Wikipedia page on it some of the historical details, and that it's a pretty small town (listed at 164,000 occupants), but I'm wondering if people here can give me some opinions on the place. Is it bereft of amenities? Sleepy? Will I have more than average difficulties getting by there as an English speaker? Is it aesthetically pleasant or unpleasant?

Anything else worth mentioning would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

[dynow]

Never been to Rzeszow, don't know much about it either, but what I CAN tell you is that as far as towns in Poland go, 164,000 is far from small.

Oh, and YES, you will have difficulties not being able to speak Polish. I live in Wroclaw, 700,000 people, and for the most part, unless you walk into a restaurant with a young waitstaff, people will not know english, atleast not at a reasonable proficiency. To boot, Polish is a painfully difficult language to learn. At the very least, learn simple greetings and, more importantly, learn to count. Know your numbers at the very least before you come to Poland.

Also, you may want to specify "amenities"......

[mediano tzu]

[canucktechie]

I should note that Rzeszow is only a few hours way from Lviv, Ukraine, which is one of the most interesting cities in Eastern Europe. You don't need a visa, either, assuming you're EU/US/Canadian. Weekend visits would be quite practical. Krakow, too, of course.

[Robski]

It was a couple of years ago now but I had a good time in Poland; I was in dirty old Katowice and I loved it (even if I did complain sometimes). Here in Saudi Arabia I really miss it - almost as much as I miss home. The Poles are a fabulous bunch and eager to learn. And unlike Saudi Arabia, it really matters what you do in class. If I'm any good at this teaching thing it's because of having to do a good job in Poland.

Also, talking to so many EFL people from anyone who have worked almost anywhere and everywhere you can imagine, you learn that Korea is one of the toughest places, and Poland is one of the best. You won't get rich but you will have a jolly good time.

[mediano tzu]

[mediano tzu]

[dtomchek]

Hello;
Well, I have been to Rzezow and nothing I can remember really stands out. If it has over 100,000 people, it will have a Kino and a McDonalds. There might be an old mansion to see. It is not the "Industrial Heartland" like the southwest. Bottom line, Rzezow is not Krakow but you could do worse. You could wind up in Koszalin or Katowice

Lviv is a really interesting city to visit. You go down to Przemysl and take a bus from there. Takes 2 hours and if you take the earliest bus, you can hang for 5/6 hours. At the end of the day, the 4 of us took a cab the 60 Km back to the border and it cost only $25 . Could not believe that the border closes at 700pm

It use to be a Polish city of Lwow before the war. It still has a great cemetary to visit as well as a hill to climb up for a great panoramic view of the city.

I guess the best way to describe it is it is like a really pretty girl who has not showered or seen a dentist in some time. It has tons of potential but is a little run down (at least it was 5 years ago when I was there) and has not been taken care of. Still worth the trip if you like the historical aspect of it all.

[mediano tzu]

[slodziak]

I have some friends who live in Rzeszow so I have been there for the odd weekend or two.

I think there will be enough there to keep you interested for a year and then if you start to make friends etc you would probably feel comfortable staying for longer. The nightlife scene is beginning to grow - there are some good bars and restaurants and a couple of clubs in the centre. There is a pretty rynek (town square) which was renovated a few years back.

It's a culturally interesting area as there is a big Ukrainian minority. The countryside is dotted with culturally important buildings and some areas of outstanding beauty.

Yes - you are close to the Ukrainian border and Lwow is a must but I doubt you will want to go every weekend. You are only a couple of hours away from Krakow (Lwow's sister city) by train - 90 minutes by car. Krakow is a town which could be best described as a beautiful girl who has a shower everyday and has had the latest dental treatment but doesn't wear as much makeup as Prague.

In answer to your question about Polish cities - you are unlikely to go to a country with as much architectural variation in its cities as Poland. Having been colonised by the Prussians, Austrians and Russians it is saturated with examples of the unique styles these empires epitomized. Added to that you have an interesting Italian flavour in Krakow and a distinctly Flemish look to Gdansk and Wroclaw - Korea and Japan Poland is not.

(can you tell I miss it?)

From a negative point of view Rzeszow is in Eastern Poland so it doesn't keep the pace when it comes to development of roads, rail and other infrastructure. But it has all the local amenities you would expect of an EU city of 150,000. You may also come across a lot of people who support the paranoid Kaczynski twins (president and prime mister whose main support base is in the East) and if you are not a xenophobic, homophobic potato head you will find their views a little gut churning.

In Rzeszow you will have bitter winters, brilliant springs, hot summers and colourful autumns.

If you have an opportunity I recommend you take it.

[Steve Smith]

I lived nearby for a few months, in a small town called Lezajsk. Generally speaking, the South East is a pleasant part of Poland, a very peaceful and rural region. To enjoy it fully, try to get hold of a car, as the public transport outside Rzeszow is not the best.

Lezajsk itself is nice enough, and is famed for its Lezajsk beer, among other things. Nearby Lancut is very pretty, with a beautiful castle and a nostalgic air of a bygone era. You're also in range of the gorgeous Carthpathian mountains.

Rzeszow is not much to write home about in its own right, and I can promise you, it will be damn cold in the winter. The winter I was there, I saw 4 months of permanent snow. I recall seeing a decent opera in a dilapidated theatre, and having a repulsive ice-cream sundae in the Hortex cafe, but admittedly this was 10 years ago, so things should have moved on since then.

Good luck.

[richard_1-1]

I've lived in Rzeszow since December and I love it. It's perfect for visting Krakow (2 hours by train), the countryside is beautiful, many great hills, forests and valleys.. perfect for cycling. The winter here this year was mild, never went below -10.c. The city itself is clean and very pretty, the nightlife here is superb.. The locals are great, i don't speak Polish and have no problem communicating. Most people speak some English, especially those in pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. All in all it's a very friendly town and I'll certainly stay here for a good while longer.

[chromium]

I lived in Rzeszow for 2 years (up until 22 June, in fact) and thought it was a decent place to live. There are enough bars, clubs, restaurants, etc. to not get bored - even a few good places to see live music. It's fairly clean and attractive. The market square is being renovated, so none of the 30 or so beer gardens are open right now, but there are a few other places right near the rynek to sit outside and have a cold one.

The whole "town center" is pedestrian only, so it's easy to walk around.

There are a number of shopping centers, and there are in the process of building, I believe, 3 more.

There's one large cinema, Helios, and an indie one right in town on the main strip, Zorza.

As a teacher, I would definitely check into working there. You should ask for 40 - 43 zl (after tax) per 45 min. lesson.