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CHI Home >> Work & Travel Abroad >> Teach in Poland | |
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Poland
Overview | Culture | Sightseeing | History | Money Matters | Support | Map Programs Available: Overseas English Tutor
Overview:Poland remains reasonably cheap and safe, with hospitable people who welcome visitors. Over the past decade, it has developed into a modern, vibrant and progressive state, yet at the same time it maintains its traditional culture. The northern and central landscape is dominated by the North European Plain, whose flat expanse
The climate is temperate, with mild summers; however, it is susceptible to extreme temperature variations within short periods of time. Winters are generally cold, and precipitation is common throughout the year. The country's natural beauty is challenged by severe air and water pollution, as well as deforestation. Culture:Arts Poland has a rich tradition of music, art, dancing, and literature. Romantic composer Frédéric Chopin (1810–48), the country's best-known musician, based many of his compositions on traditional Polish folk music. Carved wood sculptures are an important Polish folk art. These painted or stained sculptures made of linden wood depict mythic and biblical themes as well as everyday subjects. Ceramics, embroidery, and painting are other well-known Polish folk arts. The fall of socialism in the 1990s brought about a significant decline in government funding for the arts. Urbanization and the mass media are also transforming Poland's cultural arts. Eating Although schedules are changing with society, Poles generally eat breakfast between 6:30 and 8 a.m. Many people eat a second breakfast (e.g., a sandwich) around 10 a.m. Some families expect to gather for the main meal at 3 p.m. and enjoy the lighter evening meal (coffee or tea and sweet rolls) between 6 and 8:30 p.m. Poles eat in the continental style, with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. They keep both hands (but not the elbows) above the table during the meal. It is polite to leave a little food on the plate at the end of a meal to indicate that one's hunger has been satisfied. Conversation during the meal is minimal, but it is polite to sit around the table just after eating to talk. In restaurants, one requests the bill from the waiter and pays at the table. Tips generally are expected. The host may toast a guest with vodka or wine, served between courses. It is appropriate for the guest to return the gesture later in the meal. While the early urban breakfast is often light, many rural people eat more substantial food
(e.g., hot cereal). The main meal consists of soup, meat or fish, salad, and potatoes. Ice cream or pastries are eaten for a
late-afternoon snack. Bread, dairy Greetings Adult males and teenagers usually shake hands upon meeting. Women greet each other with kisses or handshakes. Close friends greet by kissing the right, left, and then right cheeks. At social and business gatherings, Poles greet each guest personally, women first. A man might kiss the extended hand of an older or younger woman, but not the hand of a woman near his age. And if one blinks both eyes, it can often be construed as a sign of romantic interest. When introducing a man, one uses Pan before the last name; for a woman, the term is Pani. One addresses a professional person by title and last name. The title is used alone in formal conversation or in business. Between adults, first names are used only by mutual consent. People Polish people value individualism, practicality, and self-reliance (exercised on an extended-family level). They place great emphasis on the family, tradition, and education. Poles are generally outspoken, especially in private circles. They are straightforward and realistic, sometimes cynical. People value generosity and do not regard highly those who are not willing to share their time, resources, or power. Poles are proud of their cultural heritage and their ability to survive war, territory losses, and subordination to other nations. During periods of foreign domination, the Poles looked to their heritage as a great power in order to retain a belief that they were not a conquered or subordinate people. Prior to World War II, the Polish noble class considered itself better than the occupying forces, which gave Poles the desire to maintain their culture and language. Religion The overwhelming majority of Poles (around 95 percent) belong to the Roman Catholic Church, which has had great influence in the country since Poland was Christianized in the 10th century. About 75 percent of Poles consider themselves practicing Catholics although the country’s Catholic information agency reports that only 10 percent regularly attend Mass and abide by the Church’s precepts. Catholic ceremonies (baptism, First Communion, weddings, and funerals) are marked with elaborate family gatherings. Because the Catholic Church is a strong and unified entity, it has played an important political role in the past. The church in Poland historically has been nationalistic and patriotic, championing the cause of the people while under communism. The previous Catholic pope, John Paul II, is a native Pole. Sightseeing:Auschwitz Established within disused army barracks in 1940, Auschwitz was initially designed to hold Polish prisoners, but was expanded into the largest centre for the extermination of European Jews. Two more camps were subsequently established: Birkenau and Monowitz. In the course of their operation, between one and 1.5 million people were killed. Auschwitz was only partially destroyed by the fleeing Nazis, so many of the original buildings remain as a bleak document of the camp's history. A dozen of the 30 surviving prison blocks house sections of the State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau. The cinema in the visitors centre shows a short documentary film about the liberation of the camp by Soviet troops on January 27, 1945. Kraków Kraków came through WWII unscathed; the 20th century's impact having been confined to acid rain. It has retained a wealth of old architecture from different periods; the tallest structures dominating Kraków's skyline are the spires of old churches. It's a city alive with character and soul. Ringed by parkland, the Old Town is both charming and compact. The Main Market Sq is flanked by historic buildings, museums and churches. St Adalbert's Church is one of the oldest, dating back to the 10th century. And the museum of museums, Czartoryski Museum, exhibits a fascinating and impressive collection of European art. Malbork Castle This is Europe's largest Gothic castle and was once known as Marienburg - headquarters to the Teutonic Knights. It's one of Poland's oldest, and a splendid example of a classic medieval fortress, with multiple defensive walls, a labyrinth of rooms and chambers, and some exquisite architectural detail. It was constructed by the Knights in 1276 and became the seat of their Grand Master in 1309. Damage sustained in WWII has been repaired since the conflict's end, and it was placed on the Unesco World Heritage List in 1997. Slowinski National Park The Slowinski National Park includes a 9-mile stretch of coast and two large lakes complete with surrounding belts of peatbogs, meadows and woods. There also a couple of interesting villages. You can walk around the park, or see it by boat, bike, electric trolley or horse-drawn cart. The shifting dunes in the park are reputedly the world's only such phenomenon on such a scale. They consist of an accumulation of sand thrown up on the beach by waves. Dried by wind and sun, the grains of sand are then blown away to form dunes which are steadily moving inland. Torun Rich with history (its the birthplace of Copernicus) and Gothic architecture, Torun has one of the best-preserved old towns in Pomerania, packed with monumental red-brick edifices, baroque facades and vaulted roofs. And while the Old Town has a sleepy country-town feel, the central square district buzzes with night life. Warsaw Emerging like a phoenix from the ashes of WWII, Warsaw is essentially a post-war city. Its handful of historic precincts have been meticulously reconstructed, but most of its urban landscape is modern, from the dull products of the Stalin era to the more creative efforts of recent years. A decade after the fall of communism, Warsaw has turned into a thrilling, busy city swiftly catching up with the West. It's Poland's most cosmopolitan, dynamic and progressive urban centre, dotted with luxury hotels, elegant shops and a diverse range of services. History:The Poles are descendants of a Slavic people who settled between the Oder and Vistula Rivers before the time of Christ. King Mieszko I adopted the Roman Catholic faith in A.D. 966. In the late 14th century, Polish life and culture flourished under King Kasimir the Great. Poland combined with Lithuania in the late Middle Ages, creating a mighty empire that was a major power in Europe. Poland's 1791 constitution, the second in the world, was patterned after the U.S. Constitution and gave freedom to the serfs. Due to political infighting among the ruling nobles, as well as other factors, the monarchy declined to the point that, in 1795, Poland was invaded and partitioned by Prussia, Austria, and Russia. For the next 125 years, Polish identity and culture were preserved by the Roman Catholic Church and Polish exiles. Poland became a nation again in 1918, at the end of World War I. The country had little chance
to stabilize though, as the German army invaded in 1939. Within days of the German invasion to the west, the Soviets invaded
from the east, and Poland was again partitioned. More than six million Poles died
In 1981, following a series of crippling strikes and the formation and activity of the Solidarity labor union, General Wojciech Jaruzelski declared martial law. The Sejm (Parliament) outlawed Solidarity, and its leaders were jailed. Martial law was lifted in 1983, and Lech Walesa, the leader of the still-outlawed Solidarity union, received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his efforts to win freedom and a better standard of living for the Polish people. In April 1989, the government legalized Solidarity and implemented government changes. In June, many Solidarity members won parliamentary seats, and Solidarity official Tadeusz Mazowiecki became prime minister. The new democratic government began moving toward a market economy. A bold economic program, referred to as "shock therapy," was instituted in 1990. It caused prices to rise sharply and immediately led to high unemployment. Jaruzelski resigned to speed political reform, and voters elected Walesa president in late 1990. After nearly a year in power, Walesa came under increasing criticism for rising unemployment and economic recession. He eventually lost parliamentary support for his economic reforms. Former Communists gained control of Parliament in 1993 and have slowed the course of economic reform. In November 1995, Money Matters:Sample Costs of Goods
Transportation Public transportation is efficient and inexpensive. Excellent railroad and bus systems connect most cities as well as neighboring countries. Travelers purchase tickets from kiosks and, on boarding, punch the tickets in machines mounted near the door. Car ownership has continued to rise dramatically in the past few years, though many Poles do not have cars, and families rarely have more than one car. City traffic is difficult and roads are inadequate; the transportation infrastructure needs improvement to meet the growing needs of individuals and businesses. Warsaw has a new subway system. Airlines service large cities.
Support During Your Placement:We will be available to give you any support, advice, or guidance you may need with any issues. There will always be an emergency number for you to contact. Our aim is to ensure that you have a happy and successful experience during your stay in Poland.
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extends across the country from Germany to Ukraine. Impressive mountains run along the southern border: the Tatry (in the
Western Carpathians) and the Sudety, which host the country's skiing and resort areas. Forests cover nearly one-fourth of the
land. Poland's location and flat terrain have made it vulnerable to territory-seeking armies throughout history, and its
borders have changed several times. The total land area today is about the size of New Mexico.
products, and canned fish are plentiful. People purchase bread several times a week, sometimes even daily. Only those who live
far from a store eat bread that is more than two days old. Common dishes include 
during World War II, including three million Polish Jews who died in the Holocaust. The Soviets were given administrative
control over the regions liberated from German occupation when Germany was defeated. Elections were held, but by 1948 a
Soviet-backed communist government was in firm control and the country's political system came to be patterned after that of
the Soviet Union, with some exceptions (such as land ownership and matters of religion).
former Communist official Aleksander Kwasniewski narrowly defeated Walesa in runoff presidential elections. Poland is now
garnering international credibility as it capitalizes on its material strengths - it became a full NATO member in 1999 and
joined the EU in 2004. As predicted, however, there has been an exodus of many young Poles in search of employment since
joining the EU. The country's international standing has been boosted by its role in the US-led coalition that invaded Iraq in
2003. Lech Kaczyński was elected president in October 2005, marking a shift to the political right.