8 Things I HATE About Living In Poland

[@dupajasio4801]

I think it's great you're pointing out these things. Perhaps people are used to things being certain way and need to be reminded that there are better ways. Excellent work.

[@sionv2009]

Tax return every month is WILD😦 I get what you're saying about jealousy, that's an unpleasant experience for sure. Tho I also understand where your neighbour is coming from when they said you shouldn't tell people about mortgage free. It's a really hard balance of wanting to help without coming across as bragging. That's something that I find challenging to navigate!

[@pandabossanna]

Yeah the tax thing is the ONLY thing that makes me want to leave haha... oh yeah no I know, it was just an example but there are so many smaller things too I just couldn't think of any :D

[@GdzieJestNemo]

just companies. As an individual taxes are done automatically on annual basis. Only thing you need to do is apply tac breaks if you want

[@OfficialBioDevil]

I absolutely understand you feel about the "bullying" because people here do not respect that I am not happy here and that I want to leave as soon as possible.

[@sSomeawesomeneSs]

lol u sound like a positive guy🤣

[@smilemeXxz]

I'm a Bulgarian and I think Eastern European countries are quite similar to one another so I have experienced more of those things. But being here my whole life and having a wider experience of many many people, I would say there are people and people. I would say that all the people I've stuck around and they stuck around me are the biggest supporters of each other and we get excited for any and everything in each other's lives. Also, being an investor myself, it's a breath of fresh air finding other people interested in investing and being ready to talk about finances openly. I would say, be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. Normalize your mindset around you. Also, if some regulations get broken in a way you can't justify, don't hesitate to contact (I believe anonymously is an option) the respective authority. My experience is that for every person breaking regulations here, there is at least one unhappy with it, but the amount of people actually taking action is so low that many times authorities aren't even aware.

[@pandabossanna]

I’ve reported a couple things anonymously and nothing was done with it because they need witnesses :( but noone is willing to go into a war with their neighbours! But yeah I totally agree with the rest and being part of the solution :)

[@smilemeXxz]

@@pandabossanna I don't necessarily mean it in a way that one reporting would lead to the solution of the current situation right away but more like when more frequent reports happen and more people express their desire for change, the regulators tend to do more frequent (or any if there have been none) inspections or to tweak local rules to make them harder to overpass.

[@Яневлщызйжуиёфыбюа]

your English is terrible omg

[@EVandPassions]

I am from Poland and I agree but as I see comparing like 20 Years ago this things are improving but unfortunately very slowly and there is still a lot of things to improve.

[@pandabossanna]

Oh yeah it’s definitely better than it used to be!

[@jerzy7118]

In public health care, the problem is time, not services. Some serious surgeries are a time problem, you have to wait a long time for your turn, but if someone is in a hurry, they can be done for a fee, because in public institutions there is no payment, because those who work are automatically charged amounts depending on their earnings, and there is also the service in private facilities. . I know that it looks better in England, but in Poland it looks definitely better than in the USA.

[@Kejmur]

This is very much true. As long as you are willing to pay privately, you can get those visits quickly. It shouldn't work like this with public healthcare, but this is how it is, especially with heavy shortages of people working in healthcare in Poland (part of it was heavy immigration once Poland ended up in the EU, but right now thankfully many Poles have started returning). Also, many public healthcare workers work in private workplaces as well at the same time, which tends to also pay better. Quality of service is still decent, and I mean the best European Union standards, which is still pretty good.

[@karenlouisefletcher5719]

I’m a South African living in the UK and I would say there is jealousy in the UK too. People don’t relish others good fortune and if you speak of good luck it’s viewed as being full of yourself.

[@pandabossanna]

Where abouts in the UK do you live?

[@mariuszstanisawczyk8990]

I would agree with both bullying or jelousy. Although i would say that, at least in my case, i felt it more in a way - no compliments, not showing respect, being sort of invisible. The only people which are worthy in Poland are those which just love to work - and the work is their primary motivation and satisfaction. And better yet: if you're workaholic and humble at the same time. Bullying in work is often called "Polish school of managment" or "Januszowo" (Janooshovo). I think that this is possibly related to how capitalism is still something fairly new in Poland. On top of it small and medium business is having a very hard time here - like you're saying: lots of complicated taxes, very expensive to have ur own business etc.

[@MarcinAntczak1]

You are wrong, It's illegal to keep dog on chain. Dog can be kept like this for few hours max during the day and has to have access to water, shelter etc. and honestly such cases where dogs are chained are rare.

[@pandabossanna]

It’s not illegal to keep a dog on a chain in Poland. There’s been suggestions to make it illegal but PIS turned it down, I think the new gov are going to discuss it again. You can’t keep it chained for more than 12 hours, but in reality you can let it off for 2 mins then chain it up again. I had straz gminna and PIW involved in a case where the dog was never ever let off (multiple eyewitnesses) and they didn’t do sh*t, said the owner suggested harming the dog if it starts causing problems (ie straz gminna), and that the dog is better off on a chain there than in a shelter (bull because at least it would run around every day and be taken for walks at the shelter). If you think chained up dogs are rare you must not have been to many rural Poland villages/towns.

[@Andy-ig9ky]

Loads of jealousy envy exists in Ireland 😂yeah oh good Lord unbelievable 😊 anyway love your videos 😊 keep it up Luv. Happy Saturday

[@oua4397]

Oh dear air quality . That’s what makes me think if I can settle down in Poland or not .

[@pandabossanna]

It’s pretty awful :(

[@cjeremie]

In Australia to tell yor neighbour you have a house without a mortgage is more like bragging. Telling family and friends is fine but neighbours!! OMG. That's more personal.

[@pandabossanna]

I probably didn’t clarify that it’s not like you’d say it out of nowhere, it comes out naturally in conversation sometimes! I would find it weird to lie?

[@ladymallowyt]

I feel like every country, town or city has positives and negatives. No where is 100 per cent positive. It also depends on the persons experience. I hope you take more to the positive side of living in Poland as you built a nice home there 😊

[@pandabossanna]

Of course! This is why I did a video about things I love too :) but the main thing for me is the fact my family is here anyway :)

[@thomasj3421]

Incredible. It's the same in Greece, 8/8. (things are improving though)

[@pandabossanna]

Oooo interesting! Yeah they are here too but v slowly lol

[@GV-xx7vh]

Jealousy is every where, i live in England without a mortgage and i find that people here can be jealous too.

[@pandabossanna]

Yeah I know :) but it’s another level of jealousy here, trust me!

[@kocem3384]

As a Pole I agree

[@pandabossanna]

Haha glad to hear it! :)

[@wielebna444]

Yes, jealousy is a thing in Poland. It's something that we are actually aware of as Polish jealousy is depicted in many polish movies/ shows/ literature. Not sure where that comes from, maybe the fact that Poland used to be a communist country, so everyone was equally poor and restricted and for the last 30 years some people really achieved a lot or earned lots of many and many others stayed behind. Could be one of the reasons.

[@II-vd3wp]

I am an accountant in Poland and a year ago I found a remote job in an accounting office. this type of work is also possible. actually, it happened after the pandemic, when bosses suddenly realized that they had to be flexible in some way. however, when it comes to relationships at work, I could write a book on this subject. I have encountered jealousy and reluctance myself. I think that this was largely influenced by, among others, the fall of communism and thus the increase in unemployment. people graduated from college and then it turned out that there were no jobs. Many recruitment processes in companies were a cover for hiring people based on acquaintances. that's why so many young people went to Europe to look for work. however, health care is also a difficult topic. on the one hand, private health care may seem cheap, but it depends on how much someone earns, first of all. secondly, at the same time, our National Health Fund contributions are increasing, and I wonder where is this money?

[@adamkomarnicki5632]

Biurokracja dobija w Pl. Przykład jest coś takiego jak wniosek o emeryturę. W tym wniosku trzeba od zera pokazać wszystkie świadectwa pracy itd. mimo że wcześniej co miesiąc składka do ZUS była odorowadzana elektronicznie i ZUS ma moje dane w elektronicznej bazie danych. Drugi przykład gdy wpriwadzano podatek od zysków kapitałowych na GPW to pierwotnie państwo chciało by obywatel rozliczał się co miesiąc a nie rocznie, dopiero Stowarzyszenie Inwestorów Indywidualnych wybiło ten kretynizm ministerstwu z głowy 😊

[@pandabossanna]

No to juz by bylo nie pomyslane, chyba nikt by juz nie inwestowal!!! Tak z ta emerytura to dobry przyklad, glowa mi peka z tym - slyszalam wlasnie o tym jak ktos mi powiedzial “tylko nie zgub tego PAPIEROWEGO swiadectwa bo ZUS bedzie potrzebowal jak bedziesz chciala emeryture” 🤯🤯🤯😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 a w UK loguje sie online i widze wszystkie skladki i ile mi sie emerytury od panstwa nalezy

[@adamkomarnicki5632]

​@@pandabossannaA najsmieszniej że jak trafi się do urzędu pracy to tam też mają dane gdzie i jak długo pracowałem 😊

[@pandabossanna]

Hahahaha

[@evvez]

I think the tax issue is misdiagnosed or misinterpreted in this video. Coming from a Polish family where everyone is self-employed, at least the people I know pay accountants every month simply to save money, not because they wouldn't be able to do their returns themselves (and in the DIY approach, you can always get a one-off consultation). The accountant navigates the complicated tax system to decide which model of taxation is best and how to best use it to your advantage, because taxes in Poland are high and the amount you pay can vary wildly depending on which route you go. Plus, while the accountant is busy figuring everything out and handling the paperwork, you can spend that time doing your job and making money. My own business in Poland before I left was very simple tax-wise and I had no reason to hire an accountant at all.

[@pandabossanna]

Just the fact the returns are monthly is absolutely ridiculous! And it shouldn’t be so complicated that you need an accountant to “figure out” the best ways etc :) where did you move to? The UK tax system is FAR simpler, I don’t think anyone can disagree with that once they’ve experienced it?

[@evvez]

@@pandabossanna I absolutely agree with that! And I'm actually in the UK, the system there is simpler and more user-friendly even for my business.

[@ancasoare5521]

You have literally discribed Romania (I am Romanian living in the UK), which leads me to believe that all these are just aprt of the eastern european culture, unfortunatley. And that is why most eastern europeans leave their countries and go west.. do you think you will be able to live with all of these things long term?

[@pandabossanna]

I think most of them yes, as having my family here really helps! But the first two points are the only two that could cause me to want to leave again! It’s really ridiculous

[@PatrycjaaNowacka]

Mate the adverts here are off the hook. Everything is pharmaceutical. Mad.

[@pandabossanna]

Literally/(

[@gantz1978]

1) Red tape - since you are not Polish (nor EU citizen) it might be root of the problem - as a Polish native I can conduct official business on-line without a need of going anywhre or signing things physicaly. However I do agree that sometimes the proceudures themself are absurd (especially when it comes to social security system, or when your legal situation is out of ordinary). 2) As a self emploed person myself - I can confirm that unfortunately you need an accountant in Poland - at least at the begining - only after 13 years of runing my "company" I feel confident enough to correct my accounant from time to time :) . 3) "Old mind set" - totally don't agree. 4) and 5) Bullying at work and jealosy - obviously we surround ourselves with different kind of people. From my experience I could not say that issues you mentioned were general rule of thumb in Poland. 6) Public health care - totally agree. I haven't seen a doctor for ages because of how the system works. 7) I think this air quality issue is egzagerated. 8) I think this issue is another strech on your part.

[@pandabossanna]

I am a British AND Polish citizen, I have both passports :) and perhaps you are lucky, because everyone I speak to (neighbours/friends/family) has experienced old mindset, bullying, and extreme jealousy in forms of people talking about others etc.

[@pandabossanna]

7 - this is extremely bad in certain places, it’s an issue that for example is discussed on a lot of fb groups in Poland annually. And 8 - I see it with my own eyes every day, plus you should follow DIOZ on instagram and you’ll see what I mean. They’re just one example there are tons of organisations like that and what they deal with is horrific. But every day I walk my dog and I talk to neighbours about dogs we see chained up 24/7 etc. you’re very lucky if you haven’t seen or experienced these things :) I’m jealous of where you live!

[@evvez]

Keep in mind many of these things are better in big cities, but any small town without those issues is an exception to the rule.

[@lawrencer25]

❤

[@uceee1]

Ive heard alot about jealousy thing in poland being polish but ive never seen it amongs ppl i met and know. Maybe im blind.

[@pandabossanna]

It's definitely there, most people I speak to see it often! But it's not like openly being jealous, you can see it through general actions! E.g. a friend told me recently they know someone whose neighbours were so jealous of their nice life and house/garden they would often drop stuff over the fence like dead animals etc. But I doubt they told anyone they were doing it!

[@sSomeawesomeneSs]

@@pandabossanna i havent seen it either, as someone who knows both english and polish...those 'neighbors' sound pretty mentally ill and i think its weird that you are judging other polish people by them im sure you know that british people are internationally recognized for stereotyping and not putting in the effort to understand other cultures. i can see some of it in your video. the fact that youve mostly spoken to other english expats about this topic doesnt help, as they are more likely to have a similar mindset

[@sSomeawesomeneSs]

​@@pandabossanna btw i was raised in a us city, so i am not just baselessly defending poland lol

[@pandabossanna]

@@sSomeawesomeneSs I'm also Polish and I have spoken to many many polish people - friends and family and students that I teach all around Poland - and I haven't had a single person disagree with me on this :) and yes I did point out that I'm generalising, there are exceptions of course - I know people who aren't like this, and I'm not like this either, so I know it's not everyone. But it's just very common here, and literally everyone who lives in Poland that I speak to says the same.

[@sSomeawesomeneSs]

@@pandabossanna i dont know a single person that is like this, and apparently neither does the other polish person commenting.... maybe the people you were talking to were simply being polite and going along with what you said. after all, it is a weird topic to bring up in conversation

[@marcinrafalski]

Wow, !!! I m 100 procent agree with what you said (off course like yours observation is telling we can't generalized everything ) Threating animals in a deep villages and in a towns it s completely different (but believe me that it has changed anyway for much better since last 20 year's,) I live in UK at the moment and I I was saying that many times that some solution's from UK I wish someone just copy and paste to Poland in Taxes running business and the mentality that government institution they are to help citizens (because that works for everyone) not to try your life harder and wait for your mistake We still need at least 10 years to improve it 😊 but 50 years of communism and destroying society takrs time to rebuild 😢 I m glad You like In Poland and wish you all the best ❤❤❤

[@xdlol59]

1) I totally agree. 2) Again I agree. 3) About costumer service I don't agree. I hate when in the west employees are fake over-polite, they force themselves. In Poland employees are still nice, but it natural, we are all humans, it should be mutual respect and "costumers are always right" rule might lead to costumers being rude and they may abuse this rule. 4) I partially don't agree. When you started to say "I did that and that" I unconsciously rolled my eyes hahaha. We hate bragging and we were raised to be humble (Catholics vs Protestants mentality). I can't stand this Anglo-Saxon mentality, please have some class and humility. I think it's because in PRL when someone had something it meant that they were traitor and spy who cooperated with communist government. They might told on you (that you criticise government) and you might lose your job, get in prison or be killed. 5) I totally agree. 6) I agree. 7) I totally agree, it's a problem especially in countryside.

[@pandabossanna]

I agree I hate the over-politeness, but I think from my experience (maybe it's different elsewhere) you get zero politeness here :( everyone just acts like you're bothering them by even wanting help. On the 4th point, I think there's a difference between bragging and being honest about your life. I have someone in my life who I can tell is bragging for the sake of it (talking about things they bought / how much they cost etc) but I'm talking about a general sort of jealousy, even if it's just a case of you see someone has something they don't even need to be talking about it. Hopefully that makes sense :)

[@sSomeawesomeneSs]

@@pandabossanna you might be bad at reading social queues, or you simply come off as rude yourself and people respond the same way. ive never had an experience where people were generally unhelpful (opposite in fact), and this holds true from most people i have known or even just seen on youtube

[@pandabossanna]

@@sSomeawesomeneSs if you knew me in person you would know that comment is so ridiculous it's funny :)

[@10secondsrule]

I’ve spent 20 years in England and hated the last 17 of them. It’s like living in a Monty pythons movie plus the crime and filth. However saying that I must agree with your observations, you are correct, we are several years behind the rest of the western countries simply because we have only become „free” of foreign occupation in 1989. Until then people had very little, heck we did not even have a real chocolate available - a mars bar was like a life time event. A lot of people still remember those days and plenty continue whatever they have learned from their parents. Perhaps this explains the recent jealousy a bit although it is a part of polish past history as well. I dread working for polish company these days for the exact reasons you’ve mentioned, I only done it once and it was ok. The boss was great but it was more than a 2 decades ago. My experience in the U.K. was really good. Polite, educated bosses who always show respect in front of you - behind your back? I don’t know but I don’t care about the things I know nothing about. Taxes in the U.K. are very simple but also annoying when you are living abroad and can’t do it online - it has to be paper by mail (makes no sense!) or you pay a company for the service to submit it for you. Also try to sell or buy the house there - It’s months, sometimes years. I think a lot of people have tax adviser in PL to save money not because it’s so complicated they can’t do it themselves. Anyway, don’t give up, stay yourself and share the good way so the stubborn people see another way and maybe learn something from it.

[@roberttwardowski9711]

True..dont get registered with the City because then you will be officially a Resident and at Mercy of the bureaucrats.

[@pandabossanna]

Haha unfortunately I don’t have a choice, I make regular income into Polish bank accounts so they would come for me! (Plus I had a full time job for 6 months so was automatically registered everywhere)

[@roberttwardowski9711]

@@pandabossanna Open bank Account in UK or Austria. Why do you must have polish bank Account? I dont have. There is law that they can freeze your bank Account for whatever reason.

[@roberttwardowski9711]

@@pandabossanna you can get polish Iban with wise service.

[@magdab-e]

So so sad, I’m Polish and won’t move back for these exact reasons! Poland makes me insane!

[@dudleyk444]

The problem with jealousy is caused by many years of experience with the fight for survival. With limited resources, anyone who has more than you has is your enemy. He has more because he took from the weaker and poorer. This changes with the sense of economic security, if you know that tomorrow, in a year or two, you will have a job, a house and you will not worry about how to feed your family, you will not look at others with envy. monthly tax settlement, applies to indirect VAT. You can also choose to bill every 3 months. You settle income tax once a year. A Polish citizen can do many things online, all you need is the m-obywatel application and an electronic signature. Loans are also granted online, at the bank that maintains your account. But don't be surprised that they demand personal presence and a physical signature from the foreigner. Maybe you can lend me 10,000 pounds if I write you an e-mail? 😁 Many of these inconveniences only apply to foreigners.😕

[@pandabossanna]

I have a Polish citizenship/passport and still experience all these hardships, and because I have a company I have to pay ZUS monthly! No idea re income tax yet because I’m exempt :)

[@barbac3742]

Ochhh with so many things I disagree with you. You're exzaggerating. I assume that your complain on Polish bureaucracy and tax system results mainly from the fact you are not a Polish citizen. For Poles it has become a standard to settle many things online on governmental or public institutions portals and banks' websites, like you can settle taxes, open a bank account or take a loan. One thing is true - it's better to hire an accountant if you are self-employed. As to the public health care it's still better than in UK (I know what I'm saying). What a pity you met at work such narrow-minded people who consider hybryd work as inefficient. They are dinosaures and are in minority. I have the opposite experience as well as my friends and family. We're often working from home and this is already considered as a standard because of total cost efficiency and convenience for strongly developing electronic solutions. With this jealousy thing - it may still happen in some social circles but stopped to be an ugly feature of Polish society. In every nation such people exist, I don't think jealousy can be considered as typical for Polish people any longer. Also as to air pollution during Winter. The situation is no longer as it was 30 years ago. It depends where you live, in some poorer regions, small towns or even bigger like Krakow not favourably located and having old historical city center with old stoves. There the air pollution is still higher. I live in Warsaw - the quality of air in winter months is for sure much better than in other Polish or European big cities (you mentioned that you choked in London - here I can admit it's true, the air is sonetimes really bad)

[@pandabossanna]

I am a Polish citizen :) I have both Polish and British passports! And I live in a small town and the pollution is awful :( trust me! I can barely breathe outside in the winter, you can literally see white and black smoke coming out of chimneys :((

[@mikewojnar6254]

I believe you have an option to not live in Poland! Am I right by thinking in those terms?

[@pandabossanna]

Yes? But i also did a video about things i love, so stop being so sensitive 😂

[@marcindomanski4763]

Having said all these things basically Poland is not the place you should be waisting your Life in and consider l moving back to the UK or some other place perphaps

[@pandabossanna]

Consider that I also have a video called things I love about living in Poland, and the fact I moved here for my family not for how fabulous the country is….

[@Matt-rw9py]

We had sh**loads of wars and occupations by very aggressive and violent powers My Dear, and they deliberately tried to impose their BS and terror on Poland through press, media, education system, etc, hence the bad habits some people haven't yet got rid of and think it's normal but it's not. My emigration to UK actually taught me how to be a nicer person to others (although there're a few mean people there too) so since you're living in Poland it's your job, Our Dear, to show the Poles how to celebrate each other's successes and how to be nicer to each other. You could perhaps start with throwing a birthday or promotion party for someone, especially someone who tends to be jealous:D Fight hate with love, they say. The more we do good things for others then they will follow our example, correct? Listen to Yuri Bezmenov's lectures to find out more on what I'm talking about. Have a lovely day Our Dear! :DDD

[@rafae5902]

I have to say that your sense of entitlement when speaking about how things should be and that your way of thinking is necessarily the correct one for nowadays is cringe. That said, thanks for the video.

[@marcindomanski4763]

Have you been banished to live here??? A glutton for punishment ??? Cos I don’t see why you are still here

[@pandabossanna]

Sensitive much ? 😂 jeez

[@KarlMalecki]

Hi there Anna. I am a Polish lad from Krakow, and I approve this message. Cheers hun.

[@antekp2965]

7:40 A lot of the stuff about jealousy stems from social stratification, privilege under communism and the very unfair economic transition in the 1990s (though not as in Ukraine, of course). in many jobs there is cronyism and the belief that jobs are held through connections, not skills, and this is unfortunately a justified belief. the same applies to material status. this does not explain every kind of jealousy, but I wanted to outline the social background.

[@pandabossanna]

Yeah I definitely think you’re right! The jobs through connections rather than skills is better than it was but still either genuinely happens or people think it! I got my last job all by myself yet a lot of people thought it was because my dad worked there too (it wasn’t)

[@antekp2965]

@@pandabossanna Note how modest Iga Swiatek and Robert Lewandowski are in interviews. They earn millions a week and if they ostentatiously bragged about their wealth they wouldn't earn much from ads targeting Poles, because they wouldn't be liked :-)

[@antekp2965]

@@pandabossannaHouse of the richest Polish MP. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2a2iniEr7ejma8si=qLvaxtRkVQDLQSuQ

[@roberttwardowski9711]

Ignore the government