Krakow, Poland Report of what it's like to live there - 11/22/16
Personal Experiences from Krakow, Poland
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
This was our second expat experience. We also lived in Mexico.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
We live in New England. We could fly through Boston on cost-construct to Frankfurt or Munich and then on to Krakow. A couple of times, we had to fly from Dulles to Frankfurt and then on to Krakow.
3. How long have you lived here?
We lived in Krakow for two years.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
U.S. Consulate.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
The housing was fantastic. Nice houses with good yards. Our house was across from a walking path along one of the rivers that flowed into the center of the city. We were walking distance to a little village with bakeries, fruit stands, etc. I was surprised at the amount of storage in the house. We really loved it.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
I liked shopping from the local vendors in the village- excellent fruit/ vegetable stand, butcher, bakery etc. There were also large grocery stores including Carrefour, Lidl and the bulk store- Makro. We were able to get whatever we needed and the prices were good.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
I only needed brown sugar, vanilla and corn meal but I was able to get them from the orders we placed from the commissary in Warsaw. They delivered to us about once a month.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Everything is available in Krakow. Everything. It was also a growing food truck scene with some excellent options.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Not that we noticed.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
We shipped through DPO but it came through Warsaw and then was delivered to us so it was a little delayed.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
We paid about $3- $5 per hour for help. I've never had better help. The person that came in to help us worked exceptionally hard and was alway pleasant. In fact, we became so close, our kids were in her wedding!
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
Lots of options. Seems like personal trainers are everywhere and reasonably priced. There are also several large gyms. On top of that, there is so much opportunity for outdoor activities in Las Wolski (the woods near much of the housing), bike paths galore, etc.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
We were fine with credit cards. We did make a point of going inside banks for ATM's.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
I only know of one Catholic service.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
In the center, everyone spoke English. In the supermarkets, etc. no one speaks English and it can be tough because the Poles aren't known for their friendly, helpful demeanor! Thank you for Google Translate!
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
I think it would be tough but not impossible.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Absolutely safe and plentiful. We also used Uber all the time.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
We had a diesel SUV and it was great. Some parking is tight so you might now want to go too big. I didn't see many mini-vans.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes. It was installed when we arrived.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
We used Orange and had a lot of trouble when we traveled outside of Poland. I might chose Play if we were to return.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
There are some good vets. There are several pet sitters/ home care options for dogs. No quarantine. Easy access to dog/ cat foods available in the U.S.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Not much employment for spouses other than the consulate where there were a couple of positions.
2. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
3. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
It's a huge tourist city so you see everything. We never needed formal dress.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
On weekends, the old city fills up with sloppy, drunken bachelor parties from Ireland and the UK. Otherwise, I always felt safe.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
The air quality in the winter is shocking. You can see the yellow air and it is disgusting. A lot of people wear masks in winter. We had a lot of respiratory illnesses.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Krakow is in a river valley and a lot of people still burn coal and trash. When there isn't a good breeze, the pollution gets trapped over the city. You can see the smog and it is really disgusting. Krakow is no joke for bad air in the winter.
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
The winter pollution is awful. It's very lush with lots of woods, flowers, etc. so if you have allergies it might be a problem.
5. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
It does wear on you to have it gloomy and smelly all winter!
6. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
It's about the same as New England. It can get pretty hot in the summer. We only had a couple of days of really cold weather and not as much snow as my skiing family hoped for!
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
Our kids went to the International School. There is also a British School and a new school that was opening as we were leaving. We LOVED ISK. The teachers were caring, engaging and creative. Our kids thrived there and the community was welcoming and fun.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
I know that they were working to improve this area and had made great strides while we were there.
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
Our youngest child went to a local Polish pre-school. There were many other international kids in the school but it was mainly Polish. We loved it. Very caring and nurturing. They had swimming lessons, piano lessons, dance and music classes, etc. The ladies fed them home cooked meals about 15 million times per day! She left speaking perfect Polish. We were jealous.
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
The schools offer many extra curricular activities. There is also Little Gym that offers classes in English. Beyond that it was a bit hard because everything was in Polish.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
It's a big expat community. There are a lot of banks and IT companies doing business in Poland. Morale is quite high and it tends to be a tight knit, fun group.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
We were very involved in the school community and I also joined IWAK (International Women of Krakow). I'm NOT a joiner but I thought IWAK was great. Really laid-back activities that you could pick and choose and great ways to network and get questions answered. The IWAK holiday party was a highlight both years.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Very good for everyone. There is so much to do!
4. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Poland is not very open-minded. Our LGBT friends had a good community but were probably more careful in Krakow than they might have to be elsewhere. Krakow and Warsaw are definitely more open than other parts of Poland. The vibrant university community in Krakow definitely helps.
5. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
Poles are not so excited about other ethnic populations coming into Poland. It is VERY Catholic and traditional.
6. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
I don't know where to start. Within Krakow there are festivals, markets, concerts, outdoor activities, etc. In the area, there are castles to explore and tons of outdoor activities. You can spend tons of time in the Tatras and ski in Zakopane. You are so close to Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, etc. Krakow has Ryan Air and Express Jet so it makes a great jumping off point for all of Europe.
7. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
We loved visiting some of the local castles. We also went up to Gdansk and Sopot, Warsaw, etc. There are also some fantastic thermal spas on the way to Zakopane. We highly recommend Rabka Zdroj and Ogrodzeniec for kids.
8. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Buying Polish pottery from Boleslawiec can become a sport. There is also a ton of amber (although the prices were higher than I expected).
9. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
Centrally located in Europe, affordable, access to everything that you need. Great housing, strong and happy expat community. It's fun to live in a place where so many tourists want to visit!
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
Our biggest challenge was breaking through the barrier to get to know Poles. Smiling just doesn't happen and that can wear you down. Once you get to know people, they are lovely but your daily interactions might be challenging. Poles have very definite opinions about how things should be done and they will let you know if you aren't doing it right! I was yelled at several times for not having my kids in winter hats in September and June!
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Absolutely.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Preconceptions that Poland will be cold and dreary.
4. But don't forget your:
Get out there and explore. Poland will surprise you!
5. Do you have any other comments?
We loved it. Even if you don't move there, you should visit!
