Living in Germany and having traveled to many countries, I made the decision to temporarily move to Poland with the assumption that it would be relatively similar to other EU nations. However, my expectations were shattered because of the numerous culture shocks and unexpected challenges which made me feel incredibly depressed.

Before diving into my rant, I want to make clear that the issues which annoy me are from my personal perspective and also about the general atmosphere/ the way the country is run and not a reflection on all Polish people. I have made some amaazing polish friends and it's an enormous country, so it won't be the same everywhere.

Firstly, the customer service. Unlike in Germany, where it's customary to engage in kind interactions with a subtle smile, in Poland, the atmosphere is completely neutral, and devoid of any display of emotion. I have gotten used to this neutral demeanor, but it's not uncommon either to encounter extreme rudeness, just because the person youre talking to is having a bad day and doesn't want to be approached by anyone even if it's their job.

Polish social dynamics show a preference for close circles of friends and family, with a noticable avoidance of interacting with strangers, going as far as not caring if someone were to collapse on the street. And the lack of patience for foreigners attempting to speak Polish slowly also doesn't make you feel very welcomed.

There's also this pretty unsettling vibe when you're outside with aggressive drunk people causing a scene. I mean, seeing a drunk peeing in public at a busstop during the day? That's something I've never seen before. And the driving scene here, non-stop honking just for sticking to speed limits—it adds to this feeling that people here are a bit more on edge.

A prevailing "I don't care" attitude and ignoring regulations seems to be manifesting in different ways. City full of snow in winter, no street cleanup for days. I almost broke my foot on the icy, lumpy sidewalks. Landlords commonly ignore tenant issues and my workplace neglects concerns like a mouse infestation in our cafeteria.

Another noticable aspect is the perpetual victim mentality that is displayed, either in personal life(complaining) or when it comes to politics. Some harbor eternal grudges against neighboring countries which they use as an excuse to be prejudiced and hateful and some still talk about demanding reparations from historical wars, despite ongoing financial support from Germany/ The EU in the amount of billions of Euros.

Additionally, Poland's strong Christian values manifest in a concerning level of homophobia. While I respect individual choices based on religious beliefs and I understand more traditional mindsets, the extent of hostility towards the LGBT community surpasses anything I've seen before.
Harm and violence or even worse are openly expressed and wished upon this demographic rather than just letting them live freely and minding their own business.