10 POLAND SHOCKS from an AMERICAN Living in POLAND! 

I agree with everything you said. 👌

Poland is a GOLD mine for history !!! Americans still live with that Cold War era perception. Please, please get up to speed on the realities.

Poland does have world's largest castle.

Soon Poland will be less and less European like other European countries ...

unlike US :D

That's a great question. I did know from my American schools that Poland was bombed badly during WWII. We still see the old videos of a war torn Germany and Poland played in our documentaries. So, I wasn't really sure what I would find. But I did not expect such great infrastructure or even skyscrapers rivaling the West. I was actually shocked the first time I saw Warsaw.

@@TravelAddictGuy I was shocked as well, because the Poles built all these ugly, soulless skyscrapers next to the old town. In Moscow they were much wiser, they erected it far away from the historical center.

Ich werde nie verstehen was dieses "me as a German/Latin American/blablablubb...." zu bedeuten hat. Hättest du dich nicht "gewondered" wenn du kein Deutscher wärst?

@@user-yp2mw2ko9k Let me explain it. It is mainly Warsaw and Wroclaw built that way. And there is a reason for that. Simply Warsaw was completely destroyed by Germans after the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. Completely in this case means 'completely'. Not 'a lot'. Completely. 90% of buildings were ruined. Wroclaw on the other hand was destroyed by Soviets as Gemans turn it into fortress. As a result of it the modern buildings and the "old" buildings got built / renovated at the same time. For example renovation of Royal Castle in Warsaw was completed in 1984! 40 years ago and 40 years after WWII. Some skyscrapers were built before that date. But renovation is not ended yet. Now there is a plan to restore 'Palac Saski', also destroyed by Germans and hopefully more will come. This is also the reason why there is so sharp border between the oldest and the newest. Simply there were no means to renovate all, less precious buildings that were sourounding the old town before WWII. They were replaced by modern architecture required to let people live. There is nothing about wisdom in it, it is just about the human needs. You must have houses, workplaces, hospitals etc before you start taking care about monuments and history. The cities that were not so heavily affected like Kraków or Lublin looks much different.

@@gj5676 A long text about nothing, because you avoid to explain why they did not built their horrible skyscrapers further away....

That's a great point. I think that us Americans have forgotten how to cherish our freedoms.

To prawda👍

no nie jest za darmo, unia sporo się dołożyła, w tym "wredne" niemce

Yes, I respect all those who died to free Poland. I am impressed by how patriotic Polish people are. They really love their country. It has saddened me greatly to learn about the Warsaw uprising and how Poland suffered during WWII. My grandfather was an American soldier in WWII. He told me some stories about the war. But it seemed far away in America. Here in Poland, I've seen the effects of that awful war.

@@TravelAddictGuy Actually, this is 'Nation - alism'. Native. Ne. Which the ''West'' despises & is confused about. And in Poland, WW ii, with the men fighting overseas, the Polish women and youths showed their courage.

@@metanoian965 They fought with such courage.

Warsaw rose from the ashes after WWII like a Phoenix. This also applies to many villages, towns and cities. Poles have been developing their country economically at a very fast pace. For this they should be commended. I enjoyed watching your video. Good job. Keep it up!!!

You listed a lot of great things about Poland. I agree with all of them, Poland is a great place to visit or live. Yes, Poles are very patriotic and love their country. Yes, tourists and foreigners coming to Poland should respect their laws and culture.

Poland is developing at a rapid ace. It's quite amazing how they have rebuilt their country. Thank you very much. 🙏🏻

Zgadzam się w 100% Nie reklamuj za bardzo, bo będzie jak wszędzie 🫣

🐻‍❄😄

But we do. Of course not in summer time. 🙂

@@wojciechpatalas6660 🐻‍❄🇵🇱🏇

Go to Zakopane and you will understand how wrong you were 😂😂

@@zmacerowanyzywokost3629 Those crazy poles. 🐻‍❄😂

Yes, I can now tell the difference. I can usually detect Ukrainian, too. But when I first arrived, I was not used to the Slavic language.

I only said the things I felt about Poland. Dziekuje bardzo. 🙏🇵🇱

Polska to wspaniale miejsce do zycia. Nie spierdõlcie tego glosujac na peŁo.

@@podunkman2709 zawsze jakas pisowska albo konfiarska cebulka się musi trafić :) chłopie obudź się, jak do ciebie nagrania z rozmów nie docierają dostarczone przez pana kleksa, to nic do ciebie już nie dotrze. masz czarno na białym jakie było złodziejstwo a spinasz się na peło. Jakoś kaczaffi razem z ziobrą i morawieckim mieli 8 lat aby rozliczyć tuska i co? Coś nie pykło? nic nie znaleźli? o popatrz XDDD rozumiem, że ty juz jezdzisz nowiutką Izerą i ładujesz tani prąd z Ostrołęki. A nie, czekaj .... XD

​@@podunkman2709 Zgadza się, Polska to wspaniałe miejsce do życia... dla patoprawicowych złodziei.

@@podunkman2709 ok, dzięki za dobrą radę, w następnych wyborach będę głosował na złodziei i oszustów z piss a w prezydenckich zagłosuję na pinokio albo tę wiedźmę oborową z brzeszczy! lol ruski trollu

So to an American who is not familiar with the Slavic language it might sound a bit like Russian. After being here for a short time, I quickly learned the difference. I know that both countries are completely unalike. Thank you and best wishes to you.

Not only unalike but Russia is hostile to us for hundreds of years. And not only us...

I've heard that, actually, so some people told me not to say. Jak sie masz, unless I was ready to hear a long story.😁

@@TravelAddictGuy true :)

Yeah if you ask "co słychać?" be ready to hear someone summerising their entire last month 😂

I think in most parts of the word people ask, how are you, how is it going, or something similar. It's an easy way to start talking and connect with someone.

​@@topalbanomany people just ask "how are you" as British "how do you do", expecting answer like "how do you do" in reverse (not listening, wanting short answer). It doesn't work this way in Poland and I was kinda surprised why Americans don't use "how do you do" if they expect one word in reverse

Yes, it's the Polish way. I like it.

@@TravelAddictGuy Pole here. I've been working in multinational corporation for many years. I am travelling all over the world, meeting people of different nations, languages and cultures. I've been to anglosaxon countries thousand of times. But still when somebody greets me with "how are you" I am covering in sweat and I die inside a little. What to answer? Does that person really want to know how am I? Why do you care? Why do you ask? Why can't we just get straight to business?!

@@Blyfycyfyfyf The "How are you?" question from a native speaker, is really like a greeting. It's just common courtesy similar to Dzien Dobry in Poland. You can simply answer I'm fine or I'm good, followed by "How are you?" .

@@TravelAddictGuy I know, but still - cultural differences :) The head understands, the heart does not :)

@@Blyfycyfyfyf Same here. :) I've been talking with foreigners for over 20 years now, and still, everytime i am asked about my day, my polish soul is screaming to answer honestly. :)

It's true that many American cities are dirty and full of trash nowadays. I choose Poland over the USA.

​@TravelAddictGuy it's obvious why but it's a thought crime to say it

If you would have immigrants from all over the world ,Poland wouldn’t be clean.

I respect all of the people who worked hard to make Poland what it is today.

Yes, that's exactly it. Thank you. 🙏

🙂

In Detroit there is one line that goes to Chicago 3 times per day, that is all.

I only say what I believe in my videos and have experience. Thanks to you and all the kind Poles I've met here. 🙏🇵🇱

Latwo nas kupic kilka slodkich slow ktore nic nie kosztuja, jeszcze poklepia nas po plecach i pojedziemy umierac za Ukraine.

I was shocked by how nice of a country Poland is.

ja się nie cieszę. Raczej smuci jak ci wszyscy ludzie mają sprane mózgi trwającą od dziesięcioleci antypolską propagandą. To tak jakbyśmy przyjechali do USA i byli zszokowani, że Amerykanie nie jeżdżą konno w kapeluszach i rewolwerem przy pasie, a ich miasta nie są kompletnie drewniane i zbudowane wzdłuż jednej ulicy.

Thanks to Poland, I've enjoyed living here. 🙏🇵🇱

still white ;) I don't mind black, hard-working people in Poland, working hard like me...

It's sad to say what my country has become. Yes, you're right about all three.

@@alias_required lol no Zyd minds

plaskoziemowcu, czyzbys zarazil sie virusem razistowskim od KonfedeRuSSi tz.duch Adolfa

There are no drug addict but there are alcohol addicts but mostly you don't see them everywere

I knew there was a story behind this place. They have done a wonderful job of restoring it. Thanks for sharing. 🙏

Chodziłem po tym miejscu, gdy było całkowicie zrujnowane, łał, teraz wygląda super! Szkoda, że nie mieszkam już we Wro.

Dziękuję za wpis, bo choć byłam kilka razy we Wrocławiu, to tego miejsca zupełnie nie znam. Pozdrawiam.

@@pantarei. They did all of this in around 1 year. It's quite amazing!

@@TravelAddictGuy there os some work to do with astronomic tower on top - I’m waiting :)

Duck is rarely eaten in the USA. I have only seen it in Chinese restaurants.

I've been to Canada last year and in one shop our normal boletus was named "exotic mushroom" :) Something that's normal to us doesn't have to appear the same to people overseas.

That's very true.

How about boar?

@@albertwolanski7688 I mentioned boar, it's delicious and not something we eat in America.

I'm so glad to hear that you enjoy visiting Poland. 👍🇵🇱

You can easily speak english, most of people can use it quite freely.

I'm glad that my videos are inspiring others to come visit Poland. 🇵🇱🙏

You'll be fine using english, polish is a hard language to learn, but if you use "Dzień dobry" which is good morning, and "Dziękuję" which is thank you, people will notice that.

I'm so glad that you enjoyed Poland. This country has a lot to offer. 🇵🇱👌

I'm glad to have found this beautiful country. Dziekuje bardzo. 🇵🇱🙏

That would be awesome. But I doubt it will ever happen because the auto industry doesn't want it. They want to sell cars.

@@TravelAddictGuy You're right, but in the American version, people would be driving along with them in their electric cars.

@@dugiejoness5197 Many Americans don't like the electric cars. They are not buying them.

As someone who lives a 4 hour drive from the nearest train station, who cares if they make the rains better. And many many Americans live hours away from any train.

@@TravelAddictGuy All Americans would love electric cars if they could travel as far on one charge as on one refueling. it's very real but not yet. Prototype batteries are too expensive.

Not much. 😁

Decent beer

Well, you can walk in a middle of a night just about anywhere and you're allowed to carry a knife or even a sword, but you don't need to, because once you lose sight of one 2-men police patrol, another one shows up. So you can walk around a city cluessly whole night and not worry. Almost anytime there is a police patrol who has you in the line of sight and they are not afraid to fight back if someone is actually dangerous.

@@piotrmalewski8178 Police is Poland are very tough and not be be messed with.

alcohol?

Dziekuje. 🇵🇱

Dziekuje bardzo. 🇵🇱🙏

"Welcome TO Poland", my friend :)

@@grzegorzbainczyk2718 Thank you. 🙏

It doesn't now, but it did when I first heard it. I'm just being honest.

@@TravelAddictGuy just so you know ow some words might sound similar a but Russian person will not understand polish person. Ukrainian, Belarusian, Czech, Slovakian language is more similar to polish than Russian. People in Poland are extremely insulated if you say that. ( just an advise from a polish person) never say that while people you speak to might try to ignore the comment and not react deep down they will always be offended. Russia is polish biggest enemy always has been and any reference like that might set some people off. You were obviously lucky that people didn’t react. Trust me. Avoid comparing anything polish to similar topic/object in Russia.

@@TravelAddictGuy both - Polish and Russian are slavic languages, but we use different aplhabets and Polish (unlike Russian) is highly influenced by Latin. Interestingly, Ukrainian (which is also a Slavic language and uses a different alphabet) has more in common with Polish than with Russian. Even if Polish sounds similar to Russian to someone, it is not as close as it may seem. The closest language to Polish is Slovak, and then Czech.

Polski i rosyjski moga byc podobne dla cudzoziemca, nic w tym dziwnego, a tum bardziej nieodpowiedniego. Portugalski czasaimi brzmi jak Polski i rosyjski

ale to najprawdziwsza prawda, czemu gość ma kłamać, że polski nie brzmi dla niego jak ruski??? słyszałem o tym ruskim dziesiątki razy będąc w USA czy w niektórych europejskich krajach na przykład w UK, ignorować i uśmiechać się, to najlepsze lekarstwo na narodowościowe kompleksy :) no i jakie to ma znaczenie??? może pod wiejską dyskoteką z ludźmi z krótkimi czołami i grubymi karkami ma, nie wiem bo nie zadaję się z takimi... ludzie, luzujcie a będzie jeszcze fajniej, dystans do rzeczywistości to podstwa szczęścia :)

Sometimes you have to live somewhere else, to appreciate what you have back home. 👍🏻

Tak! 🇵🇱

I never said that it was. Neither is America cheap for most Americans.

Not only for Poles but also others.

I agree it's hard to make generalizations about a country. For the purpose of the video, I had to. Yes, each Polish city is different.

I completely agree with you. France no longer feels safe, especially Paris. It's a shame, but it's true. America is also no longer a safe country. 😢

The riviera part of south France is a world-class region and can offer big life, if you can afford...

@@topalbano Of course, there are always safe havens for the rich. Even in America we have that.

Dziekuje bardzo. 🙏🏻😀

Czesc! Dzien dobry. 🙏🏻

@@TravelAddictGuy Cześć miłego dnia życzę.....

@@zofiasikorska5863 Dziekuje bardzo.

You're right. Many of the countries you mentioned were unfairly shown in Western movies and TV.

Poland not only feels safer, it is much safer than most countries.

It's very kind of you to say that you feel like I'm an ambassador of Poland. I'm really glad that I landed in such a beautiful and historic country. I've thought about visiting Jelenia Gora. Now that you've told me about how nice it is. I'm sure that I will visit. Dziekuje bardzo. 🇵🇱🙏😃

In addition, these languages ​​are very different, not only by structure, vocabulary or grammar, but also with a sound.

From the historical perspective yes. From the scientifical rather not, we all belong to Slavic group of langueages (polish is western slavic, russian eastern).

I did not compare it to Russian. I said to an untrained western ear it could be mistaken for Russian. After living in Poland and learning some basic Polish. It now sounds very different than Russian. But it's a hard language for us to learn.

What a moronic statement. Both are Slavic languages and are similar to each other.

​@@alh6255you are wrong. They are very similar when it comes to grammar and structure. Obviously you do not know either.

I'm very happy here in Poland. Thank you. 🙏🇵🇱

There are still areas like that in Poland. But it looks so much better now than it once did. There are so many things changing rapidly here. With new infrastructure and buildings being built. I think it's a great time to be in Poland with even better times ahead.

Oj, nie rozumiesz swojej żony. Rosja to inna mentalność i nawet nie próbuj jej wyprowadzać z błędu bo zacznie na ciebie krzyczeć. 😂😂

@@matrixmannn 😂😂

Była w Polsce? Niestety dla Rosjan "kura nie ptica, Polska nie zagranica". Przez całe dekady mówiono Rosjanom, że jesteśmy mali, biedni i że mamy gorzej niż oni, a nawet że istniejemy dzięki ZSRR (kiedy to odwrotnie - z Polski wywożono różne dobra, musieliśmy produkować to, co chcieli sowieci). Taki obraz Polski ma przeciętny Rosjanin, a nie ma on nic wspólnego z rzeczywistością. Znajomi Rosjanie gdy przyjechali do Polski byli w szoku, jak u nas wygląda życie. Drogi, domy, samochody, mieszkania. I jak jest czysto.

@@symulacrumorlando To nie ma powodu aby wyprowadzać ich z błędu. Niech myślą, że są imperium, a Ukraińcy zatkną swoją flagę na Kremlu, a my będziemy mieli wreszcie święty spokój bo ile można wojować z tym ruskim mirem, czas odpocząć. Teraz niech sobie Ukraińcy wojują z tym imperium zła. 😁😁

Exactly.

Poland was destroyed by Russians in 1945

Oprocz Warszawy, Szczecin i Wroclaw byly tez zniszczone doszczetnie.

I think it's better than New York. It's certainly much safer.

A skąd taki pomysł? Naprawdę myślisz, że przeciętny Warszawiak myśląc o swoim mieście myśli o NY? No nie żartuj. Podnieśliśmy to miasto ze zgliszczy, nie musimy się do nikogo porównywać, kochamy to, co mamy. A wysokie budynki są nie tylko w NY, w Dubaju są większe ;) Przeciętny Warszawiak pośle swoje dzieci na bezpłatne studia, nie boi się bankructwa po pójściu do szpitala, nie boi się chodzić po ulicach po zmierzchu. I ma jeden z najlepszych publicznych transportów.

​@@symulacrumorlando

Yes. NY is dangerous, dirty and extremly loud 24/7. Warsaw is the oposite of that.

O! POZDRO Bald, jaki przypadeczek.

It's definitely a bit of an adjustment living in Poland. But I also respect this straightforward, no-nonsense approach.

This place looks amazing. The renovation was very well done.

I agree, super clean.

Big on toilets! Poles. This needs to be emphasized again. I grasped that when toilets in Paris itself drew my attention as so very much inferior (and North America is just a shithole on this from).

Hi Janet, Yes, I've been talking with Mikko recently by phone. He is still in Malaga. If I meet the right woman, I would love to settle down with her. 😃

Yes, Poland is a super safe country. I've talked about this on some of my other videos.

Free health care, ha ha, there is nothing free. Why most people go to private clinics?

@@albertwolanski7688 Is the free health care here bad? I'm sure that even private clinics here cost a fraction of what they do in the USA.

🙏🇵🇱

Dziekuje bardzo. 🙏

It's nice, though.

I appreciate how well you've explained it.

Yes, it's very safe. I've talked about his in some other videos.

That is a long time to love in the USA. I don't miss the USA at all strangely. I've been lucky to love in Spain and now Poland. Thank you, I look forward to visiting more Polish towns. 🙏🇵🇱🇺🇲

A lot of people left after Poland joined the EU and the Schengen area, and it seems that Great Britain was one of the top destinations. But that was 20 years ago and today it seems that the movement is in the opposite direction - especially since the previous government, although in my opinion it did little good - it did do one thing well: there is a tax exemption for those returning from emigration - for probably 4 years ? This means that they do not have to pay income tax during this period. You ask where the people are because there aren't many people on the streets. Well, I'll answer you - at work, that's why we have such economic development, and vloggers usually shoot their materials during regular working hours :) If you are a vegetarian, you will easily find a large selection of dishes in Poland (including vegan ones). In large cities you will have a restaurant, bar or cafe serving vegetarian dishes literally on every corner, in the provinces this may be more of a problem, but Polish cuisine is rich in numerous vegetables, and you can get potatoes or cabbage (including sauerkraut) in almost every dish, also meat, unless you ask them not to give it to you :) As for the Polish language, I am very sorry, but yes, it is difficult for foreigners, maybe except Slavs. What's more - somewhere I came across a study that claimed that for English-speaking people, the Polish language is the third most difficult language to learn - after the Chinese Mandarin dialect and Arabic. But don't worry - you can communicate in English everywhere, it's probably hardest with older people who, if they do, know the basics of Russian or German. But for decades we have had compulsory English in schools, young people take it in exams - and if they study at universities, they must pass a foreign language (and most often it is English) at B1 level.

I'm sure that some Poles are still leaving, but less than ever. Many others are moving back to Poland. Cheers!

@jarosawklejnocki6633 , thanks for your reply. The Polish ladies i mentioned are 2 of my rotation carers, and they are wonderful, i wish i new more, i am 77 years old, and i have motor neuron disease. There is no chance of me visiting Poland, especially wroclaw, one carer is from świdnica the other from Radom.

Polish is easy... :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AfKZclMWS1U.html

@@MarianJakiel Napisałem swoją opinię, do czego mam prawo. Jeśli się z nią nie zgadasz i masz inne zdanie, to ok.

😃🇵🇱🍻

Thank you. 🙏

I appreciate the really detailed list of responses. I'm very impressed with Poland, it's people, culture and daily life. Dziekuje bardzo.

So you have seen the changes in the USA first hand. Meanwhile Poland has changed immensely. Do you have any thoughts about this?

That's great to hear. Thanks, my friend. 🙏🇵🇱🦅

@@TravelAddictGuy you still owe me another beer trip in toruń ;)

@@sawomirmarnotrawny1694 Yes, I do.

Thanks. 😃

It may sound like that to some people.

That's awesome to hear. Poland is an amazing country.

I'm glad that I could make you smile. Thank you very much. 😃🇵🇱

It's not that difficult to get. Just ask Ukrainians.

I'm glad that you found what I said, mostly correct. Thank you. 🙏

Only when I first arrived it did. Now it does not.

@@TravelAddictGuy Well, it's same with East-Asian alphabet and faces. You see them only a few times, they are all the same. You get interested and keep watching, and you might not be able to understand or speak the language, eventually 80% of the time you will be able to tell nationality just from seeing a person, and 100% of the time you will be able to tell the language. 10 years ago I didn't see any difference. Now I know exactly the differences between Chincese, Japanese and Korean, although I can't speak any of the languages.

@@piotrmalewski8178 That's a great example, as Americans we cannot tell the difference between Asian languages.

Yes, it's very safe.

That's true.

Czesc! You may see me walking in the city one day then. Because I live near the Wroclaw, Glowny station. 😀

It's really underrated.

@@TravelAddictGuy it was an amazing city 20y ago. Now its 2 crowded. We had better food back then.

That's awesome, my Mother also hates shoes in her house. So some Americans have this tradition too.

I try to be as open and honest about things as I can. Thanks. 🙏🏻

Thank you for the recommendations. I haven't been lucky enough to be invited to a Polish family dinner yet. But I'm looking forward to one. Dziekuje bardzo.

That's very kind of you to say. Thanks to Poland for the warm welcome. Dziekuje bardzo. 🙏🏻

Yes, Poles take pride in their country, city, and home. It used to be like this in the USA. But that has changed in most cities.

That's a great point. Communists made many changes to Poland.

Wow! The internet can do all that? 😂

Yes, I really like it here in Poland. Thank you. 🙏🇵🇱

@@TravelAddictGuy Please do visit Górny Sląsk(Upper Silesia) . Some cities, and districts are like from 40,50's

Spoko. ​@@maciejwojtowicz295

Yes, Polish people are very family oriented. 👏🇵🇱

I'm from Detroit, Michigan. One of the top 10 most dangerous cities in the USA.

It's good to hear from someone who survived the war and communist times. You have my respect, thank you. 🙏🏻

@@TravelAddictGuy Cheers bro!

Not in this case, though. Words like that are actually spelt as one word, no spaces - dwudniowy, czterdziestoośmioosobowy, stopięćdziesięciodwuletni, dwatysiącedwunastoelementowy. Weird but correct. That word is "fake" in two different ways, though. First, it's extremely unlikely for someone to actually use this word in any context. Second, even if someone needed to write it, they would simply write "999-narodowościowy", while in speech, it probably wouldn't be recognized as a single word.

I looked up the longest Polish word on google.

Those are some very long words. They look very intimidating to an American. The word I posted was found on google, under the longest Polish word. Thanks for sharing. 🙏

Thank you my friend. 🙏🏻

😁

I applaud Poland for rebuilding their country. You're now the envy of the West.

I found it from a google search of the longest Polish word.

@@TravelAddictGuy It still makes no sense. it is a fake made up word.

I did show it at the end.

No, no. This is anti-PR, not a video that will make you want to go there. You talk so much and show the most banal and uninteresting place in the center of this city. There is much more, Świdnicka Street, the Market Square, Ostrów Tumski, most of Grunwald, the panorama of Racławice, museums, the zoo, by the river, etc. You need a basic will to make photomontages with a nice side to see. Your video sounds cynical. There are so many good restaurants, nice hotels, nice spaces, and you show an ugly, noisy street with a communist apartment building. From a professional point of view, for your influencer travel video, you get a -1. We want see the place with a narration from off, not a guy who talks

@@bardo843 Ok, I see your point.

I think that's the only dish most Americans would know from Poland, maybe that and Paczki.

@@TravelAddictGuy Pierogi simply are not made by Americans and others as this takes time and effort - for this reason Poles do not make them at home anymore as they did years ago, just buy them for fast cooking at home. The good ones are made by crafty babooshkas and sold in Delikatesy. Industrial one are not that good.

It's nice to hear positive comments. Thank you. 🙏