Moving to Poland
For some expats, moving to Poland means priming for a poor, post-communist state still prone to the presence of wild animals: for others, it means migrating to Europe's best-kept secret.
In truth, neither extreme is a fair picture of this Central European nation, but both rightfully shed some light on a country that modestly finds itself at the crossroads of a quickly-evolving region.
Poland has never been a popular expat destination, and when the country officially joined the European Union (EU) in 2004, emigration statistics sky-rocketed, and the population decreased as hundreds of thousands of Poles left their homeland for greener pastures.
A history entrenched in foreign occupation, repeated post-war partition and high unemployment rates left a sizeable grey cloud on Poland's horizon, but thanks to a "shock therapy" programme initiated in the early 1990s, the country's socialist-style economy was replaced by a market economy that has only truly become successful in the last two years, 2009 and 2010.
Expats moving to Poland these days will find a country on the verge of prosperity. As the only EU nation to avoid recession, foreign capital is pouring in and investment banks are looking to set up shop.
Work opportunities for enterprising foreigners look to be on the uphill, but those looking to relocate will still face a number of realities that can quickly move from "a challenge" to "a hardship".
Poland is well known for its crippling bureaucracy, and as a result, large infrastructural changes are slow to take effect. Salaries are among the lowest on the continent, and the government spends the lowest percentage of its GDP on healthcare.
Expats will also need to prepare themselves for a relatively conservative environment; strong family values and a powerful Catholic undercurrent still dominate the social milieu.
Furthermore, with the exception of a new, vibrant youth movement, very little of the Polish population speaks English.
This last point in particular can complicate everything, from assimilation into the working environment to solidifying meaningful social connections.
On the upside, though, Poland's largest cosmopolitan centres - Warsaw and Krakow - are trying their best to clamber onto the international stage, with a growing café culture, clubs that never close, and an increasingly cutting-edge cuisine scene.
There's a reason the Poles are known for their ability to have a good party, and a long legacy of vodka is only a part of the whole.
Expats moving to Poland with an optimistic attitude can certainly succeed, but the path may prove more difficult than in other more attractive destinations.
In truth, neither extreme is a fair picture of this Central European nation, but both rightfully shed some light on a country that modestly finds itself at the crossroads of a quickly-evolving region.
Poland has never been a popular expat destination, and when the country officially joined the European Union (EU) in 2004, emigration statistics sky-rocketed, and the population decreased as hundreds of thousands of Poles left their homeland for greener pastures.
A history entrenched in foreign occupation, repeated post-war partition and high unemployment rates left a sizeable grey cloud on Poland's horizon, but thanks to a "shock therapy" programme initiated in the early 1990s, the country's socialist-style economy was replaced by a market economy that has only truly become successful in the last two years, 2009 and 2010.
Expats moving to Poland these days will find a country on the verge of prosperity. As the only EU nation to avoid recession, foreign capital is pouring in and investment banks are looking to set up shop.
Work opportunities for enterprising foreigners look to be on the uphill, but those looking to relocate will still face a number of realities that can quickly move from "a challenge" to "a hardship".
Poland is well known for its crippling bureaucracy, and as a result, large infrastructural changes are slow to take effect. Salaries are among the lowest on the continent, and the government spends the lowest percentage of its GDP on healthcare.
Expats will also need to prepare themselves for a relatively conservative environment; strong family values and a powerful Catholic undercurrent still dominate the social milieu.
Furthermore, with the exception of a new, vibrant youth movement, very little of the Polish population speaks English.This last point in particular can complicate everything, from assimilation into the working environment to solidifying meaningful social connections.
On the upside, though, Poland's largest cosmopolitan centres - Warsaw and Krakow - are trying their best to clamber onto the international stage, with a growing café culture, clubs that never close, and an increasingly cutting-edge cuisine scene.
There's a reason the Poles are known for their ability to have a good party, and a long legacy of vodka is only a part of the whole.
Expats moving to Poland with an optimistic attitude can certainly succeed, but the path may prove more difficult than in other more attractive destinations.
