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Lifestyle You can see a country from the window of a coach or hotel, and be happy with what you learn from a guided tour. But if that's all you get, after some time you'll be feeling like a walking encyclopaedia - knowing just the facts, dates, numbers and individual images of a place. You can't get an emotional feel for the place unless you have direct contact with its people, because their customs, culture and traditions leave a mark in your memory of that special corner of the world. Greetings
Polish people enjoy greeting each other. If you find the word "cześć" (Hi!) too difficult to pronounce, you can use "Hello" instead and you'll certainly be understood. When arriving at a meeting, Polish people shake hands. When the company is larger it's right to shake hands with all those present. As a rule the first few minutes of any gathering are taken up with everyone greeting everyone else. This breaks the ice and makes life easier for the shy. Don't be surprised if some people exchange embraces or even a kiss during a greeting. This indicates familiarity rather than love. In the fervour of greetings someone may even lean over to kiss visitors from abroad. If that happens, don't panic, just return the gesture. But with moderation, a kissed greeting is in fact a delicate touch of cheeks. Words and gestures
When the greetings are over the talking starts. In any group there is bound to be someone who speaks English - the most popular foreign language in Poland. The rest will wholeheartedly take it upon themselves to teach the foreigner some Polish. Someone will almost certainly suggest you repeat the tongue twister: "W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie" (say: Vuh Shchebsheshinyeh kshanshch bshmee vuh tshchynyeh), which is difficult even for Poles to say properly. The foreigner can but try - and in so doing amuse all those assembled. After this the conversation may continue in the form of unconjugated verbs and gestures. First names, surnames and...
Bruderszaft is something like a fraternal toast. In no circumstances may you decline it, as this could be taken as an offence. Relations between people who have taken part in this ceremony turn from official to personal. From then on first names can be used, in Polish "przejść na ty" ("ty" being the informal "you" -being on first-name terms). Bruderszaft is accomplished in the following way: two people simultaneously raise a toast, after which they interlock arms and down their drinks. The last part is an exchange of kisses and a "Call me Marek," - "Call me John".
If you don't get on to such familiarities, call your Polish interlocutor Pan (Mr) or Pani (Ms). Dropping the Mr or Ms and using only such titles as Director, President, or professions (Waiter, Driver, Cashier) is taken as impolite behaviour. Even worse is to call someone only by their surname. Saying "Kowalski, pass me that teaspoon", you may expose yourself to the suspicion that you are treating Kowalski no better than a servant. "Panie Kowalski" (Mr Kowalski) is low-brow (and in some circles downright rude); the socially accepted habit of preceding a first name with Pan or Pani is the most prevalent custom. If you say "Pani Beato" (Ms Beata), "Panie Jacku" (Mr Jacek) you can be sure that neither a hotel receptionist nor a company director will take offence. This is the polite form of address to little-known peers, people you have just met, and inferiors; superiors should be addressed "proszę pana" or "proszę pani", or by their title: "panie doktorze", "pani doktor", "panie dyrektorze" etc. Remember name-days
Moving to the informal "ty" makes life much easier, but it also brings certain obligations. The most important is to remember name-days (a patron saint's day - rather than birthdays). This anniversary is important for Poles and in no other culture is it celebrated in such a special way. In order to avoid awkward situations, it is worthwhile checking the calendar and marking the appropriate date. Poles celebrate their name-day at home, sometimes in restaurants, occasionally at work - but these days only after hours. If you see someone on their name-day, offer him or her your best wishes. Small presents are also welcome - flowers, a little toy, a book. Sticking to good wishes only is not a faux pas. The most important thing is not to forget this important date. If you don't see the person on the name-day, a telephone call, text message or email will do. The recipient will definitely remember this gesture, which will make mutual relations that much warmer. If you miss the actual day, you can "make up" for the omission within the "octave" (viz. the next few days). Family above all else
Public opinion poll results have for years consistently shown that Polish people find a successful family life is the most important value. Poland has one of the lowest divorce rates in Europe. This is certainly in part due to the significance of religion in Polish lives, but not only. Agnostics and "lapsed Catholics" as well value the family more than money and professional status. Talking to Poles you may easily get the impression that Polish families are unusually large. Nothing could be further from the truth, however. You should realise that in everyday language "sister" and "brother" can mean "cousin", and "'aunties" and "uncles" may be just family friends. The most popular family model is the 2 + 2 formula (mother, father, and two children), and according to precise statistics it is now nearer 2 + 1.5. Free time
Walking the dog is one of Polish peoples' most popular forms of spending free time. Poles are also going in for more and more sports activities. Cycling, going to fitness centres, bowling and roller skating are the sports recently in fashion. Only watching television enjoys greater popularity - Poles watch an average of 4 hours a day. In recent years visiting shopping malls has grown to be one of the most popular pastimes. Worth recommending is a night out at the theatre or a concert. But take note - Poles attending such events treat them as special occasions and dress elegantly for them (unless it's an avant-garde or student theatre). So, if you don't want to cause a minor sensation, for a visit the Polish theatre don't sport a T-shirt and worn jeans, though it would of course be all right for an outing to the countryside. On the road
There are fewer cars in Poland than in the West, though enough of them to create traffic jams in all the major cities. If you're planning a trip into the heart of the countryside, be patient. Especially as the main routes are also becoming increasingly congested. This is due both to Poles' fascination with cars as well as the country's transit status. Almost every lorry which crosses Europe, from East to West and back, passes through Poland. It is necessary therefore to get used to the large number of lorries on the not very wide roads. For your own safety it is better not to race them and to expect average speeds lower than on roads in the EU. Apart from that, drivers who break the speed limit risk a roadside encounter with the numerous highway patrol police. Fines are heavy and can significantly raise the cost of visiting Poland.
Intercity and Eurocity trains link all the main towns and cities in Poland. It is therefore worth weighing up the pros and cons of buying a train ticket and getting to your destination in half the time a car journey would take. This is especially true of weekend journeys, when traffic both inward-bound as well as out of town can get really heavy. If you get hungry en route, you can stop off at one of the numerous roadside restaurants. Though nothing beats a Polish meal at home. The groaning table
If in France one cannot count all the types of cheese, in Poland the same applies to sausages and cold cuts. Recently barbecues have become highly fashionable with the meat-eating Poles. Special occasions, such as the visit of a guest from abroad, however, demand the preparation of more complicated and rarer dishes. To stay in Poland and not try bigos made of cabbage is like being in Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. Bigos was once a special hunters' dish, served at the end of a long day. Traditionalists who do not eat anything except the specialities of their own cuisine need have no worries about visiting Poland. It is easy to find restaurants serving Japanese sushi, Mexican tacos, American steaks or Greek salads. The one exception is sea food, of which most Poles are not overly fond. On a visit to the mountains you simply must try oscypek - ewe's-milk cheese. It is not found in any other place in the world and is in the shape of a roll with pointed ends. Because the mountain people themselves make it, apart from its quality, care is also taken with its aesthetics - they are imprinted with attractive designs. To the guests' health
The claim that as a nation the Poles can't put their drinking glasses down is wrong. Alcohol consumption is systematically falling and beer is enjoying greater popularity these days than vodka. At parties wine and cocktails are the in thing. However, if you decide on a tipple, it is worthwhile to prepare for toasts. The first toast is usually raised by the host "to the guests' health." It is easy to guess that the guests will reciprocate by drinking to the health of the hosts.
Surprisingly, the Polish national drinks are not alcoholic, but - coffee and tea. Guests are ambushed with the question which of these beverages they would prefer more or less immediately after they cross the threshold of a Polish home. Guest in the home, God in the home
When sitting down to the dinner table it is always a good idea to congratulate the host on the wonderful reception. Poles are convinced that they are an exceptionally hospitable nation and like to be reassured of this. And not without reason. In the past their forefathers often said: "A guest in the home, God in the home," which meant that a guest had to be offered all the best things available. When the best was not forthcoming they would resort to the following expression: "Get into debt, but do it in style." In fact it sometimes happened that the cost of a reception or party would be financed by a loan which then took years to repay. The desire to please guests is still prevalent in Poland today. What you have to know about Poland? Climate - temperate. Four distinct seasons of the year. Spring - full of surprises, in March and April it can just as easily be warm and sunny as cold and rainy, even snowy. Summer - warm (temperatures can go up to the thirties Centigrade), occasionally rainy, the best time of year for visiting the country. Autumn - very colourful, sunny, rainy towards the end, a good time for lovers of forest walks. Winter - temperatures hover around zero (and are often well below zero), with snow guaranteed only in the mountains. Due to the capricious nature of the weather Poles regularly watch the TV weather forecast. Health services - better to buy insurance cover, as private treatment is expensive. There is a full range of drugs in the pharmacies. Some countries have reciprocal contracts with Poland for free treatment on the national health service for their citizens. Churches - it is not advised to plan visits on Sundays or religious holidays. Poles are a religious nation and during masses churches are crowded. No piictures may be taken during a service. Going into a church scantily dressed (e.g. in beachwear) is frowned upon. Telephones - the whole country is within range for mobile telephones. Fixed-line calls, especially international ones are among the most expensive in Europe. E-mail - you can use email in Internet cafes found in all the larger towns and cities. Most companies have email and private use is becoming more and more widespread. Safety - crime rates are among the lowest in Europe. Better, however, not to go in the evening to places tour guides and friends have warned you about. Purse-snatching doesn't really figure large, though it is necessary to be on the look-out for pick-pockets, especially in crowded trams, buses and trains. It is not advisable to leave radios or other valuables in your car. Religious holidays
Movable feasts - Easter and Corpus Christi
August 15th - Assumption of the Virgin Mary
November 1st - All Saints' Day (the commemoration of the dead)
December 25th and 26th - Christmas Secular holidays
January 1st - New Year's Day
May 1st - May Day (Labour Day)
May 3rd - Constitution Day (a national holiday celebrating the May 3rd 1791 Constitution)
November 11th - Independence Day (a national holiday celebrating the restoration of independence in 1918).
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