Tuesday, August 14, 2012

It's a normal country.

Poland is a normal country.

Normal.

Think about what that word means to you, and then think about another country other than the one you live in, and then imagine that's Poland.

Normal.

A Normal Country.

What does that mean?

That means that you buy food at grocery stores, you buy gas at gas stations, you shop at IKEA (don't you love how IKEA made it into my "regular" list ;) ), you drive on the right side of the road (GB is OUT--- again with the joking),you eat the food, you drink the drinks, you poop, you laugh, you cry, you say please and thank you, or not, you shop for clothes and hope you look nice, you go outside on sunny days, you stay inside on rainy days, you bundle up in the cold, you wear less in the heat. You paint the walls, you make the beds, you do the laundry.

...and so on and so forth.

Normal, everyday stuff, in a normal place.

What?

What makes Poland not a normal country? Tell me.

Because I'm beginning to see that when people say that something is "so typical" of Poland, or that Poland is "backwards," or they say "wait and see, that'll never get done in Poland" that most of the time it's something that they think should be different. It's usually something that they think is inconvenient or  somehow lacking in the country. And if you're comparing it to America, then don't even get me started on what my definition of "normal" is, because plenty of things there are backwards, that land "flowing with milk and honey." Plenty.

Is it possible that there is no objective definition of "normal" or"forwards" (whatever that means)? Is it possible that every country is just different?

I don't know, you tell me. What's so *irregular* about Poland? What's so backwards about Poland? Manage my expectations. Because, so far, it's all been pretty normal.



Yeah, it's a normal country, it's cool.


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on a completely unrelated note:


I got my wish! The rain came, the air is cool and crisp. t will warm up again soon, but right now, this is perfect snuggling weather. With hot tea and knitting. And maybe some Star Wars thrown in for a bit of balance in the force. I did just say that.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend!






21 comments:

  1. I think what's abnormal is the majority of Poland being convinced that "this or that could happen ONLY in Poland", that Poland is somehow more prone to having idiots in the government, stupid laws and so forth, more than any other place in the world. It either comes from people still believing in what Adam Mickiewicz had once said (Poland = Messiah) or from the major tendency for being self centered. Who knows.
    To be honest though, every time I hear "Poland is a sick country" (coming from a Pole, of course), making it seem like we have some kinda monopoly here, that makes us special, my head is about to explode.

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    1. I have to agree. Except that rather than getting angry or frustrated (although it is both those things for sure) this attitude makes me sad. To live in this sort of reality is to have given up on a country that is progressing at light speeds compared to many other places, as well as preserving some of it's uniqueness and history along the way. Why? Why sit and just resign yourself to seeing your country as this place of stagnation, when it's not. It doesn't make sense. It's sad.

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  2. Polish people are quite critical of Poland and at the same time patriotic. That's why even their f--- ups can ONLY happen in Poland. They own them!

    For me Poland is a normal country because when your children are sick you can take them to the doctor without checking if you have money in your wallet first. If it is after-hours, you can take them to the after-hours office. If it is in the middle of the night, you can take them the ER and if it is in my village you can go to the pharmacy and ring the bell. The doctor lives upstairs. And if you had to go to a private doctor, the doctor's fee is within the means of most people.

    You can tell your children that they can be whatever they want to be and not think about the huge student loan they would have for medical school. You will still worry about them each and every day but you don't have to worry about them getting shot.

    Despite all that we are weighing up our options Poland vs the US....the US vs Poland.

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    1. It's funny because you are not the first person to mention this idea that America is a place where you will get shot. I have only heard this sentiment from Canadians, or rather, Poles who immigrated to Canada, hoping to come to America, and being scared out of their mind because they heard that in America (from Canadians) everyone is carrying guns and ready to shoot you at any moment. They were pleasantly surprised when they got to Florida. Bu there is def. more violent crime in America than in Poland, and this does make me feel safer here. For sure.

      Health care. Ahhh, health care. I don't know what to say. It is what it is in both countries. I cant figure out what to think about it. I really cant. America has such excellent health care, if you can afford it. Otherwise, you have to rely on the government and that's not so pretty. Here, health care is great, if you can afford private, otherwise you have to rely on the government, and that's not so pretty either. BUT, I haven't had to deal with health care here as I have in America. My husband has always been fortunate to have decent healthcare (although incredibly expensive with so many dependents) and we have never had a health issue to confront. I am not looking forward to the day when we may need regular health care here due to an ongoing issue, with a child with a chronic disease for instance, and if we can't afford private insurance, what that means for the child. I just dont know. We just don't yet. I know the system in America, and it stinks, because it's so expensive, for no reason other than fear of lawsuits, and here, it's cheaper but it always sounds like a "you get what you pay for" type of thing. Or maybe that's just Poles complaining again... ;)

      I do believe that we have right to basic health care but I don't believe that we have a right to basic health care at all costs. So, I will have to wait and see what it's like here before I make a judgement.

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    2. Ad the right to basic health care:

      If your kids have a Polish citizenship, then they have a full medical coverage, including hospitals, OR's, everything, until 18, or if they continue education, until 26 or graduating, whichever comes first.

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  3. For me a "normal" country would simply be you have everything pretty much the same as in another country except for a language difference. So corner grocery stores, bars, parks, beaches, subways and train stations. etc.

    OT: where on your blogger template do you have the language widget embedded? I'm thinking of adding it to mine but I cannot find a place for it.

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    1. Go to "add a gadget" and choose the HTML/Java script and then embed the code there. Then you can move it around as you would any other gadget on your side bar.

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    2. don't have the option to choose HTML/Java Script. It might be that you have the older blogger interface. Thanks for trying. :-)

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. I remember riding in a taxi in Athens. That is not normal. That's nuts. The building I was in did not have a washer in Athens or a shower head and laudromats were expensive. That also was very abnormal. But I was able to make pasta, a cafe au lait, and purchase soda and spanakopita if I wanted just around the corner within walking distance. Everything was within walking distance. Coming to Dallas I had to readjust normal when I realized I had to drive everywhere. Truthfully, what I found in Athens was very similar to what I found in my neighborhood in Chicago. It was Dallas that was whack!

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    1. Texas is one of a kind for sure. In fact, I'm pretty sure that it is the abnormal if there is such a thing. Anyone outside of Texas, looking in, would say the same. Also, I think how "normal" a place is depends on how much money you have to add conveniences to your life that you wouldn't have otherwise, like a washer and a shower head. I'm sure some Greeks have those things.

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  6. As far as public dr/private dr - I go to an allergist in a non-public office. There are private offices, public offices and non-public meaning they have a contract with NFZ. I go there with no out-of-pocket payment and sit in the waiting room with people who are there for private visits. We see the same doctor and get the same treatment. My initial skierowanie covers me for the "rest of my life" if needed. That's how the dr put it anyhow. That's ok with me :)

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    1. You forgot to mention, that in non-public offices with public-contract NFZ sets a limit of patients (per year, or per month, can't remember exactly) it'll pay for, so it can happen that you'll hear "in three weeks" appointment time, or sth, because there's no more patient-money "space" that NFZ will pay for this month. And in this moment the "ale jak prywatnie, to może być dziś" talk with registration desk starts :)

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  7. What is cool in reverse sense? Cool as death?
    1. Roads. Roads made of potholes. Inability to build the road that does't deteriorate a few months later.

    2. Average purchasing power.
    http://www.retailpoland.com/80727/Polish-purchasing-power-below-European-average.shtml
    Do you will be able to support your family with your husband employed by Polish company?

    JAcek z Gdańska

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  8. Roads in Texas, outside of Austin, are horrible. Bad roads exist everywhere. And from what I can see, the new highways, expressways and bypasses are well done and though out. It takes time to build back but in and around Krakow that is all they are doing, and it makes travelling so much better.

    I can't speak about raising a family in Poland. We've only just started. Martin's family raises their children here. All of them happy, well educated, and ALL pursuing professional degrees. They are all being raised by 2 working parents who are teachers, farmers, factory workers on one side and doctor, lawyer, and Professor on the other. So far I have seen nothing to indicate that it is not possible to raise a family here, and do it well, with "less purchasing power" very little income.

    Is it easier to raise a family, make money, etc. in the U.S. for instance. Perhaps. But you have to sacrifice and trade a lot of things for those conveniences. And some of those things are not worth it to lose just to be able buy a bigger television or a second car.

    I don't agree that Poland is reverse. By who's definition of "forward?" I think sometimes Poles need to step out of Poland to go to a poorer country to remember how good they have it. I know Americans need to do this too but Poles could benefit as well.

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    1. Yeah, the roads. If it's like Chicago as far as weather is concerned (extreme cold, salted roads, etc), these roads will have potholes in a few years. That's just what it is. The city fixes them, new holes pop up or the fixed ones break. Kind of the good and bad of asphalt-based infrastructure,the good being that there are jobs for people to do and no mud preventing you from even getting to work. Just make sure you know how to change a tire!

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  9. It's so nice and fresh to read such things. When you live somewhere for long time, it's easier to think that grass is always greener somewhere else.

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  10. Poland is normal like most of the western countries. The problem is only politics. Stupid politicians passed bad law and that has consequences: heavy taxation, bureaucracy, unfriendly environment for business, high unemployment, low economical growth, loosely working courts, corrupted officials etc.

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    1. Sounds like most of what we have here in California. Just add crazy expensive real estate prices - In the San Francisco Bay Area, an average home will set you back $700k+ USD... with some modest homes in kid-friendly neighborhoods that go well over $1M. Then add mortgage interest, 1.5% annual property tax, insurance, etc. every year. You have to work like an animal to be able to afford living here... This is not normal.

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    2. And Poland has the lowest cost of living of any country in the EU. That is worth noting. So, your "dollar" goes a long way here. Also important when your average income is not so high.

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  11. That's too bad, really, because the stories I used to hear were great! So much has changed.

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