How Living in Poland Changed These Foreigners

Summary

The video asks long-term foreign residents how living in Poland has changed them. Their experiences include:

Independence and responsibility

A woman who moved from Kazakhstan at 18 learned to handle everyday problems on her own, including going to offices and hospitals in Polish. Diana, from Thailand, became more confident fixing things around the home and changing a tire.

The woman from Kazakhstan says her mother noticed she had become less spoiled and more self-reliant.

Honesty and directness

Aman compares the Indian idea of jugad—finding a way to get something done, sometimes by bending rules—with the Polish word kombinować. He says Poland taught him to be resourceful without compromising his integrity, and that he feels honesty is rewarded.

He also says he now gives clearer answers about what he can do and when, rather than vaguely promising to try.

Confidence and opportunity

A fashion professional says people in Poland encouraged her to pursue modeling. She studied and worked while modeling, and Polish agencies helped her build her career and work abroad. She also felt that her perspective as a foreigner could bring something distinctive to fashion in Poland.

Personal beliefs and resilience

One interviewee says living away from family made religious observance more of a personal decision. Learning Polish history, including the story of Mieszko’s baptism, also shaped her respect for religion in Poland.

Rafa, from Nigeria, says living in Poland made him more aware of being Black and of how others might view him through stereotypes. He says this encouraged him to value himself and work hard, while acknowledging that the pressure can be mentally difficult. He emphasizes learning Polish and having to prove oneself beyond stereotypes.

Everyday life and traditions

An interviewee from India says Poland made him appreciate sunshine more and take walks to enjoy the fresh air on sunny days.

Ramayana, from Brazil, and her husband Franklin tried morsowanie—cold-water swimming—after living in Poland for years. She describes going into the sea with a group and then warming up in a sauna. Her daughter stresses that it requires preparation and following safety guidance; Ramayana also mentions having an instructor.

Notable Locations, References, and Speakers

• Locations: Poland; Gdańsk; Warsaw; Italy, Turkey, and Spain; Żabka convenience stores; and Polish government offices (urząd).
• Other references: Warsaw Fashion Week; Mieszko and Poland’s Christian history; morsowanie; and the Polish words kombinować and urząd.
• Sponsor: Siiami, a legal and accounting services provider for businesses in Poland.
• Named speakers: Aman, Diana, Rafa, Ramayana, and Franklin. Several other interviewees are not clearly named in the subtitles.