<h3>Moving to Poland</h3>

 
Poland is an interesting choice &ndash; what made you decide to move here?

Kevin Nikel: I was born and raised in a small town in western Germany. My parents are originally from Poland and migrated to Germany in the 80&rsquo;s. Throughout my childhood, we visited Poland regularly, three to four times a year and some of my best memories are from those visits: the people, the culture, and especially time spent with family.

I completed my education in Germany and began studying Industrial Engineering with a focus on Construction Management. However, during my studies and while working as a student intern, I discovered a stronger passion for the economic and managerial aspects of business.

This shift in interest, along with personal reasons, led me to move to Poland and continue my studies in International Business Management in English. I chose Gdańsk, which is right next to my mother&rsquo;s hometown, making it a meaningful location for me. Living and studying here has helped me grow personally and professionally. I&rsquo;ve significantly improved both my Polish and English skills, and gained valuable international experience by stepping out of my comfort zone also known as &ldquo;Hotel Mama&rdquo; and adapting to a new environment. 
 
&nbsp;

What were your first impressions of living and working in Poland?

Kevin Nikel: My first impressions were really positive. I didn&rsquo;t expect Gdańsk to feel so international &ndash; I met people from many different countries through my studies, work, and social life, which made the transition easier and even more interesting.

People were friendly and open, and I appreciated how welcoming the environment was. Of course, there were challenges at first, but over time I got more comfortable, improved my Polish and English, and started to feel more at home. It&rsquo;s been a good mix of reconnecting with my roots and learning to manage life on my own.

<h3> 
Journey with PwC</h3>

Was it challenging to adapt to a new culture and working environment? How did PwC support you in that transition?

Kevin Nikel: Adapting to a new culture and work environment always comes with some challenges, but PwC made the transition much smoother than I expected. From the very beginning, I felt supported. The onboarding process was well-organized, and the enrollment staff made it clear that I could always reach out with any questions, no matter how small. That really helped take the pressure off.

One thing I appreciated a lot was the buddy program. Every new joiner is paired with a more experienced colleague who volunteers to help with all the small, day-to-day questions. It felt like having a friend at work from day one. PwC even encourages that relationship by inviting both to a coffee break, which helped break the ice.

Later on, I was also assigned a coach, someone who is there for long-term support and guidance. Having both a buddy and a coach gave me a strong sense of structure and made it easier to settle in, both professionally and personally.

Overall, the international and open culture at PwC, combined with all the support systems in place, made adapting to the new environment a really positive experience.

 
&nbsp;

What has your career growth been like since joining PwC here?

Kevin Nikel: I joined PwC in December 2024 and started with a two-week training in Lublin, which was a great introduction to the company and its culture. Shortly after, I was assigned to a project where I&rsquo;ve been working ever since.

Early into the project, I was given the opportunity to take on the role of deputy team leader. It was a challenge at first, but I&rsquo;m really thankful for the chance. Supporting my team lead and taking on more responsibility helped me grow a lot, both professionally and personally. I learned how to manage tasks more effectively, communicate better, and support the team in a more structured way.

Since then, I&rsquo;ve been focusing on continuing to grow in that direction and building on the experience I&rsquo;ve gained so far.

<h3> 
Career with the German language</h3>

To what extent do you use the German language in your daily work at PwC?

Kevin Nikel: I use mainly German for my daily work. I&rsquo;m part of a German-speaking team, and our entire project is conducted in German &ndash; from meetings and documentation to day-to-day communication. The team includes professionals from different parts of Europe, but German is our common working language.

Only when it comes to internal PwC matters that are not directly related to the project, like administrative topics, trainings, or internal communication, I switch to Polish or English, depending on the context.

 
&nbsp;

Are there specific departments or projects at PwC Poland that actively seek German-speaking professionals?

Kevin Nikel: Yes, there are specific departments (like Financial Crime Unit) and projects at PwC Poland that actively look for talented German-speaking professionals. These roles are often tied to international projects or clients from German-speaking countries, where fluency in German is essential for communication and documentation. Being able to speak German is definitely a strong asset and opens up more opportunities within the firm.

 
&nbsp;

Can non-Polish speakers with good German skills find rewarding career paths at PwC Poland?

Kevin Nikel: Yes, definitely. English is the internal language at PwC Poland, so Polish isn&rsquo;t required. If you speak German and English, that&rsquo;s more than enough, especially since many departments and projects specifically look for German-speaking professionals. I work with several colleagues who don&rsquo;t speak Polish and have built successful careers here.

 
&nbsp;

What advice would you give to other Germans or expats considering moving to Poland for work?

Kevin Nikel: Poland is definitely worth considering if you&#39;re open to something new. When I decided to move, I wasn&rsquo;t entirely sure what to expect &ndash; but looking back, it was a great decision. The job market is active, especially in international companies that value language skills such as German and English, and there&rsquo;s a lot of potential for professional growth.

For me, starting at PwC was a big step. I didn&rsquo;t know everything from the beginning &ndash; and honestly, I don&rsquo;t think anyone does. But that felt completely normal. What I appreciated was that PwC doesn&rsquo;t just expect you to fit into a role from day one &ndash; they support you in growing into it. It&rsquo;s not just about the job title, but about developing the skills and mindset that come with it. That approach made the transition much smoother.

Outside of work, life in Poland has been full of small discoveries &ndash; new places, new people, and a different pace of life. It&rsquo;s been a chance to grow not just professionally, but personally too.

So if moving abroad is something you&rsquo;ve been thinking about, Poland is definitely a place to keep on your radar. It might just be the fresh start you didn&rsquo;t know you needed.

Kevin

What brings a German professional to Poland? Meet Kevin and his journey with Poland and PwC

<h3>Moving to Poland</h3>

I&#39;m really curious about your hometown. Can you tell us a bit about where you&#39;re from and what your life in France was like?

Benoit Galtie: Sure! I&rsquo;m originally from a town called Fontainebleau, located about 60&ndash;70 km south of Paris. It&rsquo;s a well-known place in France, especially for its historic castle where Napoleon gave his farewell speech before his first exile. It&#39;s a beautiful, tourist-friendly town surrounded by forests, historically used as royal hunting grounds. I spent my childhood and teenage years there and stayed in the region until I finished my bachelor&rsquo;s degree.

Later, I moved to Paris to pursue my master&rsquo;s and start my career. I studied accounting and audit and worked as an external auditor in Paris for several years. In total, I spent 26 years in France before relocating to Poland.

 
So what were your first impressions of Poland? Any surprises?

Benoit Galtie: Before coming, I didn&rsquo;t know much about Poland. There&rsquo;s a large Polish community in France, but still, many of us don&rsquo;t know the country well. I had some outdated stereotypes &ndash; thinking it would be grey, cold, maybe even a bit Soviet-like. But when I first saw Gdańsk&rsquo;s Old Town, I was blown away by how beautiful and vibrant it was. There&rsquo;s so much to do, culturally and socially.

Later, when I moved permanently, I experienced more of the cultural differences. For instance, Poles can seem a bit closed off at first, unlike in France where small talk with neighbors is common. But once you break the ice, people here are warm and welcoming. It just takes a bit more time and effort to build that connection.

<h3> 
Journey with PwC</h3>

Now let&rsquo;s move on to your career. You started at PwC in 2016 and returned as a Senior Manager in 2025. What brought you back, and how do the two experiences compare?

Benoit Galtie: They were recruiting for roles connected to financial services &ndash; though the name of the department was different then &ndash; and they were looking for candidates who spoke European languages like French, Italian, Spanish, or German. French wasn&#39;t required, but it was definitely an asset. That&rsquo;s how I got in, and I started as an analyst in the Financial Crime Unit, eventually progressing to a senior team leader role before I left in 2021.

That first experience was both rewarding and challenging. It was my first time working entirely in English after coming from a French-speaking environment, so there was a lot to adapt to. Thankfully, I met great people &ndash; some of whom became close friends &ndash; and had leaders who trusted me and gave me growing responsibilities.

I was away for about four years, still based in the Tri-City area, working for other companies. But over time, I realized that PwC offers strong career development opportunities and a great network of people. Coming back as a senior manager, I already knew most of the team, including the other senior managers and managers &ndash; many of whom I worked with before. It really felt like I never left. Of course, some things have changed, but overall, the trust, the processes, and the culture are very familiar.

Being back also gives me a fresh perspective and allows me to contribute with external insights that might help improve the organization. My scope is now more global compared to before, when it was mainly European. In my previous role, I worked with teams in India and Asia, which helped me better understand different operational and cultural dynamics. Now, I can apply that experience while enjoying the familiarity of a European work environment again.

<h3> 
Career with the French language</h3>

You&#39;re fluent in French, and you&#39;ve worked with both French and European clients. How have your language skills helped you in your work, and do you think they&rsquo;re valuable for professional development?

Benoit Galtie: Absolutely, language skills are a major asset &ndash; especially in a dynamic job market like Poland&rsquo;s. From the start, speaking French allowed me to take on tasks others couldn&rsquo;t, like reviewing documents or communicating directly with French clients. It gives you a natural edge and allows for deeper relationships with stakeholders, especially when you share a language and cultural background.

It also opens doors to projects and roles involving French-speaking markets. In general, language skills &ndash; whether French, German, or any other &ndash; are highly valued here and can really support your career development.

 
PwC in Poland is actively recruiting French-speaking professionals. From your experience, what opportunities can they expect if they join the AML/KYC team?

Benoit Galtie: The very fact that PwC is hiring French speakers means there&rsquo;s an intention to build a stronger presence in French-speaking markets. That creates many opportunities &ndash; not just for client-facing work, but also for internal growth and specialization.

We already have things like a German club internally, so a growing French-speaking community could lead to similar initiatives. Beyond that, speaking French gives you a real edge when dealing with French clients and documents. It&rsquo;s a skill that sets you apart and can lead to unique roles, leadership opportunities, or specialized projects &ndash; either on the business or people side.

 
I think that your career path &ndash; from analyst to senior manager &ndash; is a great example of how much growth is possible at PwC. To end our talk, I&rsquo;d like to ask a lighter question. If you could give advice to someone considering moving to Poland for work, what would it be?

Benoit Galtie: First, allow yourself time to adapt. Moving abroad is always a big step, and it takes time to settle in, make friends, and understand your new environment. Be patient and open.

Second, learning even the basics of the local language helps a lot. It makes your life easier and shows respect for the culture. You don&rsquo;t need to be fluent, but being able to say &ldquo;hello,&rdquo; &ldquo;thank you,&rdquo; or &ldquo;goodbye&rdquo; goes a long way. Locals really appreciate the effort.

And overall &ndash; stay curious! Poland is a beautiful country with rich culture, great food, and warm people. If you stay open, you&rsquo;ll have a fantastic experience.

And finally &ndash; what&rsquo;s your ultimate Polish dish?

To be honest, I love it all. Sure, Polish cuisine is quite different from French cooking, but that&rsquo;s part of the charm. I&rsquo;m a meat person, so pasztet and kiełbasa quickly won me over. Pierogi, of course, are iconic &ndash; and if I can get my hands on a good serving of kotlet schabowy, I&rsquo;m a happy man. The vegan community might not love this answer, but hey, that&rsquo;s just how it is!

Benoit

From Analyst to Leader: How Benoit built his career at PwC Poland (twice!)

Careers in Poland: When did you move to Poland and how did you make that decision?

Natnael Tilahun Demissie:&nbsp;I moved to Poland in 2021 to pursue studies at the University of Warsaw. Several factors influenced my decision, but the main one was the quality of education. Additionally, I was eager to immerse myself in a new culture and meet people from diverse backgrounds. Student life and the opportunity to explore the country were also significant considerations in my decision.

CP: You currently live in Warsaw. What do you think about the city? Would you recommend living here? 
 
N.T.D:&nbsp;I absolutely love it here! Warsaw has a unique blend of historical charm and modern energy, with countless places to explore and activities to enjoy. The city has a lot to offer for anyone who&rsquo;s looking to experience a big city full of great opportunities. Plus, the public transportation system is efficient and makes it easy to get around. I would definitely recommend living here!

&nbsp;

CP: What was the biggest culture shock you experienced in Poland? 
 
N.T.D:&nbsp;For me, the biggest culture shock was how reserved and quiet people are in public spaces in Poland. Coming from a place where people are more outgoing and expressive, it was surprising to see how much emphasis is placed on maintaining a calm and quiet demeanor in public. It offered me a unique chance to see how people value their personal space and the peaceful moments.

&nbsp;

CP: Let&rsquo;s talk about your professional life. Could you tell us a bit about your work experience? 
 
N.T.D:&nbsp;My first professional experience began with an internship at Equinix in the summer of 2023. As part of my academic pursuit, I was fortunate enough to secure this opportunity. The internship lasted for three months and it provided me with invaluable learning experiences. Following my internship, I was offered a full-time position at Equinix as an Accounting Advisor, which I currently hold. The internship equipped me with knowledge and experience essential in professional life, and I am continually learning and improving in my role.

CP: Do you enjoy working as an Accounting Advisor? What is the most challenging aspect of this position? 
 
N.T.D:&nbsp;Yes, I quite enjoy working as an Accounting Advisor. Each day, the role presents various challenges, making it both an engaging and continuous learning experience. The most challenging aspects are the technical related to numbers and financial tasks. However, overcoming these challenges keeps the job engaging. Additionally, I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with my colleagues.

&nbsp;

CP: Are there many foreigners working for Equinix? 
 
N.T.D:&nbsp;Yes, there are indeed. The company is very diverse, with employees from over 40 nationalities across Europe, Africa, Asia, North America and beyond. This diversity brings a wealth of perspectives and ideas, making it an enriching place to work. I enjoy learning from my colleagues&rsquo; different cultural backgrounds and experiences. The inclusive environment at Equinix truly makes it a global company.

CP: How would you describe the work culture at Equinix? 
 
N.T.D:&nbsp;The work culture at Equinix is amazing. Everyone is incredibly supportive and eager to collaborate on projects. Another great aspect of working here is the emphasis on work-life balance. We organize numerous celebrations and events throughout the year, ranging from family picnics, massage day, meditation sessions, bowling nights, or dog-walking initiatives to camping trips and other fun activities. These events help foster strong relationships among colleagues. Additionally, Equinix values professional growth and career development, offering ample opportunities for employees to advance in their careers.

CP: Was it difficult for you to find a job in Poland? 
 
N.T.D:&nbsp;I wouldn&rsquo;t say it was difficult, but it is competitive. As long as you have the right qualifications and experience, finding a job is manageable. However, the job market is highly competitive, which can make the process challenging. I believe that standing out from the competition through unique skills and a strong professional network can greatly enhance our job prospects.

CP: Do you have any advice for those who are thinking about moving to Poland? 
 
N.T.D:&nbsp;Poland is a great place to grow and develop your career. If you are looking for an enriching experience filled with collaboration and opportunities, I believe it&rsquo;s a fantastic choice. For anyone planning to move to Poland, I would advise doing thorough research online, as there are many useful resources available. Gathering all the information beforehand will help you determine if Poland is the right fit for you.

Natnael

From student to Accounting Advisor: Natnael’s career at Equinix Poland

Careers in Poland: What inspired you to move to Poland, and how did you come across the opportunity to work at Schneider Electric Polska?

Adrien Krol: After working in hotels for several years, I felt a strong need to change my life and connect with my Polish roots. I always wanted to make this journey, and 2019 seemed like the right time for new challenges. Visiting Poland as a tourist is different from living here, and I am happy to be part of Schneider Electric, a company that relates to my background. I was born in Rueil-Malmaison, France, close to Schneider Electric&#39;s headquarters. Truth be told, working here seems almost like fate! Growing up, I would pass this building on my way to school. I even got the job offer on my 30th birthday, which was a nice coincidence!

CP: What was your initial impression of Warsaw when you first arrived, and how has it changed over time?

Adrien Krol: I have fond memories of visiting Warsaw as a child because my dad was born here. It has been amazing to come back here and see how the city has evolved over the years. I can confidently say it is a great place to live. I have no negative feelings about Warsaw whatsoever. Quite the contrary: I plan to stay here for many years. It feels like home.

CP: How does your company support expats in settling into their roles and adapting to life in Poland?

Adrien Krol: If you&#39;re thinking about joining Schneider Electric, go for it! The company truly cares about its employees and provides excellent training programs to help you develop various skills. This support fosters personal growth and opens up many opportunities for the future. At Schneider Electric, I&rsquo;ve felt that people truly matter - they encourage you to learn and help you build a career here.

CP: How would you describe your role within the company?

Adrien Krol: As a Supplier Collaboration Accountant at the Polish Accounting Competency Center (PACC), I focus on focus on ensuring our invoicing processes are accurate. I check for errors and maintain clear communication with suppliers. This process is all about teamwork and accuracy, and I enjoy being part of it.

CP: How important is knowledge of the French language in your day-to-day work? Has your knowledge of the French language been an asset in your role?

Adrien Krol: Knowing French is very important for my job, especially when communicating with suppliers. It also helps me connect better with my colleagues and makes our work relationships more enjoyable. As a native speaker, knowing the French language not only helps with my tasks, but it also enriches my work experience.

CP: What do you enjoy most about living and working in Poland? Are there any particular places or activities you&rsquo;d recommend to other expats?

Adrien Krol: My fianc&eacute;e and I feel very safe in Poland; it is a peaceful place to live. I would recommend exploring different cities, as Poland has beautiful landscapes and a rich history. One of my favorite places to visit is Krak&oacute;w &ndash; it is truly magical.

CP: Were there any challenges you faced as an expat in Poland? And how did you overcome them?

Adrien Krol: Even though I speak Polish well, I must admit that the first year was a bit challenging &ndash; I had to start a new life in a different country. My determination to succeed kept me going, and I learned to be patient. Now, I am proud of what I have achieved and where I am.

CP: For French-speaking professionals considering a move to Poland, what advice would you give them about living and working there?

Adrien Krol: Be patient! Adjusting to a new country takes time. I would also suggest starting to learn Polish as soon as possible. Joining French-speaking groups on social media can be very helpful: there, you meet people with similar experiences and find advice and support. And, above all &ndash; enjoy the journey &ndash; it is worth it!

Adrien

It feels like fate! – Adrien on his move from France to Poland and career at Schneider Electric

<h3>Careers in Poland: What inspired you to work at PwC and choose Poland as a destination?</h3>

Paola Agamennone: I started working at PwC in October 2023, a little over a year ago. Before that, I had never been to Poland, though I&rsquo;d heard great things about it from friends and colleagues. After finishing my bachelor&rsquo;s and master&rsquo;s degrees in Italy, I noticed that Poland&rsquo;s job market was thriving, especially in fields like mine. Compared to Italy, Poland offers more opportunities, especially in big cities.

The professional environment here stood out. My field, AML (Anti-Money Laundering), wasn&rsquo;t as prevalent in Italy, and I found it exciting to work in a role that let me use my German language skills alongside English.

And moving to Warsaw was a great decision &ndash; when I arrived, I was amazed by the mix of modern skyscrapers and historical charm. The welcoming culture made it easy to settle in.

&nbsp;

<h3>CP: What drew you to AML and this part of PwC&rsquo;s business?</h3>

P.A.: Initially, my goal was to find a job where I could use German, a language I had worked hard to master. AML intrigued me because it&rsquo;s a growing field, especially in Poland, and directly connects to real-world financial processes. At PwC, I get to work with German-speaking clients while also improving my English daily.

This role has allowed me to bridge professional and personal growth. Relocating here has also been an opportunity to learn Polish &ndash; though it&rsquo;s challenging! Overall, I was drawn by the chance to work in a dynamic field with an international focus.

&nbsp;

<h3>CP: What advantages have you found working for PwC in Poland?</h3>

P.A.: The biggest advantage is working for a multinational company with strong values and a supportive, multicultural environment. Despite being the only Italian in my office, I felt integrated from day one. This inclusivity is something you don&rsquo;t always find in smaller companies.

I also appreciate PwC&rsquo;s flexibility, like the option to work remotely or in a hybrid mode. For instance, I can work from Italy when visiting home. This balance between work and life is invaluable.

&nbsp;

<h3>CP: And, from another side of the spectrum, what challenges does it involve? And how do you manage to face them?</h3>

P.A.: I suppose the main challenge was starting in a completely new field. There were so many new things &ndash; new country, workplace, and colleagues &ndash; and process details to master.

But, on the bright side, PwC eased the transition with a thorough induction program that included two weeks of intensive training.

&nbsp;

<h3>CP: You&rsquo;ve mentioned the induction program. Could you tell us more about the experience?</h3>

P.A.: The induction lasted about two weeks and was entirely in English. It started with a general introduction, where we met our team over coffee and pizza. The rest of the training included interactive presentations and practical sessions, led by trainers from different backgrounds.

What I appreciated most was how the process encouraged &ndash; but didn&rsquo;t force &ndash; interaction. It helped us bond as a group, and many of us still stay connected, even across different offices. The training gave me a solid understanding of AML processes and set me up to feel confident in my role.

&nbsp;

<h3>CP: Did this experience make it easier for you to get familiar with the new job and new company?</h3>

P.A.: Yes! The combination of professional growth opportunities and the chance to connect with people from diverse cultures has made this experience very rewarding. I&rsquo;m grateful to be part of a team that values collaboration.

&nbsp;

<h3>CP: What opportunities for personal or professional growth have you encountered while working at PwC?</h3>

P.A.: Working at PwC has been a great experience. Both personal and professional growth, I would even say.

In my current project&nbsp;meeting targets and performing well has led to opportunities for advancement. For example, starting as an analyst, you can quickly grow into higher roles.

What I particularly appreciate about working here is the collaborative environment &ndash; new employees often reach out for help, and there&rsquo;s always someone willing to assist, which is great!

&nbsp;

<h3>CP: What surprised you the most about Polish culture or people?</h3>

P.A.: Coming from southern Italy, let&#39;s just say &ndash; some cultural differences stood out! (laughs). Italians are very expressive and physical, like greeting people with hugs or cheek kisses, which isn&rsquo;t common in Poland. I also noticed the &quot;Polish smile,&quot; which is more reserved than what I&rsquo;m used to.

That said, I&rsquo;ve mostly had positive experiences. People here are polite, helpful, and kind. For instance, a colleague in Poznań went out of her way to help me navigate local bureaucracy when I arrived. The cities I&rsquo;ve visited &ndash; Warsaw, Gdańsk, Poznań, and Krak&oacute;w &ndash; are clean, safe, and beautiful. I especially appreciate how safe Poland feels, even as a woman living alone.

&nbsp;

<h3>CP: And what was the biggest adjustment?</h3>

P.A.:&nbsp;The biggest adjustment was the weather &ndash; especially in winter!

I come from Puglia, a region in the south of Italy, where winters are mild, so I was shocked by Poland&rsquo;s harsh winters! It took me about a year to adapt &ndash; layering clothes and understanding how to best handle the cold, and do on.

Although I love Polish summers, which are mild and quite enjoyable, especially when compared to the heat of southern Italy &ndash; so there is an upside!

&nbsp;

<h3>CP: Would you recommend Poland and PwC to others considering working abroad?</h3>

P.A.: Absolutely! Poland is a modern and well-organized country, with efficient transportation and services that make life easier. Warsaw, for instance, is incredibly accessible and has a strong Italian community, which was a pleasant surprise.

Poland also offers a good job market, with companies actively seeking multilingual professionals. While Italy often demands extensive experience for entry-level roles, here the expectations are more realistic, allowing younger professionals to gain valuable experience.

When it comes to the second part of your question &ndash; working at PwC &ndash; this is something I would recommend, as well!

It&#39;s a great experience also for newcomers &ndash; the environment is supportive, and the company invests in your learning. For example, my role required language skills (English and German, in my case), but they didn&rsquo;t expect me to start fully trained in specific technical areas &ndash; they helped me grow into the role.

What I particularly appreciate about working here is that PwC provides diverse paths based on your skills and personality. So if you&rsquo;re more reserved, you could excel in analytical roles. And if you&rsquo;re talkative and social, you might be recommended for recruitment or&hellip; doing interviews!&nbsp; (laughs).

Paola

Trading pasta for pierogi: Paola’s journey with PwC and Poland

Daria, how long have you been living in Poland? Why did you decide to move here?

Daria Veselovska, Service Operations Manager at Revolut: After participating in an au-pair programme in the Netherlands, I realised the experience of living abroad can open&nbsp;many doors for you, and I felt it could become a part of my lifestyle, so I continued looking for more opportunities. In 2015, my younger brother started studying in Warsaw and I tagged along, without even knowing how this was all going to play out. My expat journey started in Rzesz&oacute;w, and if we exclude my temporary relocation to Ireland (2018-2019), I&rsquo;ve been staying in Poland for roughly six years in total.

Could you tell us a little bit about your work experience? What has your career path looked like so far?

In 2010, I graduated from the National Technical University of Ukraine as a Mechanical Engineer in the Printing &amp; Publishing branch, and initially my career was dedicated to this industry. The responsibilities combined graphic design, pre-press operations, quality assurance and offset printing.

I really enjoyed my job, but I was 21 years old and wanted to see the world outside of Ukraine. That&rsquo;s how I got into the au-pair exchange programme and spent a year abroad, living in a Dutch host-family, providing childcare and housekeeping services, and in my free time doing portrait and concert photography.

After that, there were five years of professional photography, short attempts to live and work in the Netherlands, and then an introduction to Google Digital Marketing tools and the customer support field. The hiring process was quite complex and had several stages, but I did my research, learned about the tools, passed Google Ads certification exams, and in 2016 successfully became a part of Google Ads Support, here in Krak&oacute;w.

One year as a Customer Support Specialist, better understanding of Google Ads and Analytics, basics of the CSS and HTML led to my next role as a Subject Matter Expert in a company that just entered the Polish outsourcing arena &ndash; Cognizant Technology Solutions.

Why did you decide to work for Revolut?

When I relocated to Dublin, finding good banking services was a real challenge &ndash; I soon found out that Irish banking apps only allowed you to make transfers, pay the utility bills and top up your phone. But thanks to my friend, I learned that there are some great banking apps (I know I&rsquo;m biassed, but like Revolut) that will offer you a full range of features. And what was critical for me at that time, the registration is fully remote and takes no more than 10 minutes. That&rsquo;s when I decided to proceed with Revolut and I&rsquo;ve been a loyal customer since 2018.

In 2020, I considered applying for one of the roles in Krak&oacute;w, but then Covid-19 happened, and I postponed my application to the end of 2021. During these four years, I&rsquo;ve seen how much our products have grown, as well as the company&#39;s values, like Never Settle and Think Deeper, which are pretty much aligned with my own values.

Are there many foreigners currently working at Revolut?

Yes, absolutely. I think our company has the most multicultural, diverse, and inclusive environment I&rsquo;ve seen so far. We have people from all over the world, including Eastern and Western Europe, Singapore, Japan, the US, Australia and more.

<div>
<div id="_com_1" uage="JavaScript">
How would you describe the work environment and the atmosphere?

When it comes to the atmosphere and overall working conditions, I should say that at Revolut I finally feel like I belong. From day one, you&rsquo;re supported by the trainers, Workplace Experience team, HR, your line manager, colleagues and other Revoluters &ndash; and the support continues throughout your journey.

How do you unwind after work? What are the best places to spend your free time in Krak&oacute;w?

I&rsquo;m a big coffee fan, so combining walks with my dog Houston and stopping by some good coffee places is something that feels quite refreshing during the early morning hours. I&rsquo;d definitely recommend Kr&oacute;lowa Przedmieścia, Kawa Krakusa and Karma Coffee Roastery to start your day with.

After work, I like catching up with some friends in Kleparz, Kazimierz or the Old Town area, reading a book, or spending time with my partner.

How does Revolut support your passion? What are the benefits you appreciate the most as a Revolut employee?

Where do I start? My main passions are photography, travelling, and lately surfing, and Revolut&rsquo;s working policies allow me to enjoy all three of them, not only during the scheduled vacation time, but throughout the year. When it comes to our hybrid working model, you choose whether you&rsquo;d like to work from home, the office, or favourite city in a different country. After the probation period you can work outside of your country of residence for up to 60 days per year.

That&rsquo;s what I did in April, earlier this year &ndash; worked for three weeks from Peniche, Portugal, combining my business schedule with surf sessions, met new people, explored local attractions, took tons of pics and felt really good both physically and mentally.

Nowadays it&rsquo;s easy to get yourself burned out, or simply too overwhelmed with all the things that are happening around you, but this flexibility allows us to deal with everything in a much better way! We also have some unique holiday allowances, focused on the well-being and special occasions, but I&rsquo;d encourage everyone to apply for jobs at Revolut and learn more about it on your own.

What&rsquo;s your advice to expats who are thinking of joining Revolut? 

If you&rsquo;re looking for an entry level position and worrying about not having enough experience or knowledge, don&rsquo;t worry, we hire a lot of graduates and we&rsquo;ll provide you with the tools and support you need!

If you&rsquo;re aiming for a higher role, want to work directly for the company and help build Revolut, then learn more about the product and our <a href="https://www.revolut.com/en-PL/our-culture">Cultural Values</a>, ensure your CV reflects all your past achievements, supported by the relevant data, and get ready to Deliver WOW.

What are your plans for the near future? Are you going to stay in Poland for longer?

I want to continue scaling our Social Media Support operations, including an expansion to a few new locations. Also want to make sure our channels are efficient enough for customers when it comes to support-specific queries or feedback sharing, as well as make more people aware of our product and latest job opportunities. Finally, to plan my next work and surf trip, fall edition!

Am I going to stay in Poland for longer? No solid answer as of yet. We&rsquo;ll see what 2023 will bring us!
</div>
</div>

Daria

A home away from home – the story of Daria from Ukraine

Accenture  

Nordea Bank Abp SA Oddział w Polsce

Schneider Electric

Brown Brothers Harriman

Westwing

Philips Polska

PepsiCo Global Business Services

Revolut

Brainly

Equinix

Czech Republic

Germany

India

Ukraine

Brazil

Spain

Portugal

Italy

United States

Romania

France

Turkey

Netherlands

Argentina

Finland

Mexico

Denmark

Ireland

Colombia

Norway

Sweden

Ethiopia

I come from tropical Colombia and moved here with my Polish husband whom I met while running a project in South America.

At the beginning, we lived in Białystok, where I worked as a Spanish teacher and attended Polish classes. One of my classmates told me about Accenture and I decided to give it a go &ndash; a month later I was here in Warsaw, working as a Data Reviewer.

Today I am managing several very talented teams. I was glad to find myself in a Spanish-speaking team at the beginning, which really helped me to adjust to the new environment. At the same time, I was given the opportunity to continue with my Polish classes in our company. The language is very rich and complex, but still worth a try! Working at Accenture is all about cross-cultural relationships, sharing different perspectives and making sure everyone&rsquo;s input is valid.

To me, providing valuable feedback and maintaining effective communication with my teams is the key to further development. I also like to get involved in animal volunteer projects, which help me gain a new perspective and bring additional meaning to my daily work life.

Alejandra – Internet Services, Accenture Operations Poland. Join us!

I moved to Poland for love and I think it was my best decision. I have always been interested in the business world and knew Accenture long before I joined the company.

My first role here was as a Junior Web Data Analyst with Italian, but recently I have been promoted to the Junior Team Leader position. In my opinion, the company offers limitless growth opportunities &ndash; for example, through numerous training courses which help enhance your skills and competence. I myself joined a dedicated programme for aspiring leaders of Accenture, which helped me gain more confidence in my new role as the Team Leader.

We also have a lot of initiatives and spend time together outside of work. It feels like being part of a big, international family. I appreciate the fact that the company embraces diversity and all employees here are treated equally and respected. Also, applying from abroad is not a problem &ndash; I could participate in the online recruitment process while still being in Italy!

Pier – Internet Services, Accenture Operations Poland. Join us!

It has been eight years since I moved here with my Polish husband. We used to travel a lot, but I wanted to raise my children in Poland. Warsaw reminds me of my home because I was brought up in a big city (Mexico City) and now, I have my own family here.

I joined Accenture two years ago as Collections Team Leader. At first, I was not sure if I was the right fit but after a few months I was loving it. Today I am managing several collections teams in the Finance and Accounting department and I help my colleagues to grow their careers. I do my best trying to balance my professional and family responsibilities. It means a lot to me that my work at Accenture allows me to provide stability to my loved ones.

I believe that if you are responsible and like to engage in different activities, then anything is possible, opportunities will come your way. If I could send a message to &ldquo;new&rdquo; expats, I would say &ndash; some things might seem difficult at first, but you will get there eventually.

Sandra – Finance & Accounting, Accenture Operations Poland. Join us!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your family?

I come from a small town in South East Finland. I just turned 31 and I am soon to be an uncle of a little girl, so very excited. My entire family lives in Finland, but I always wanted to travel and explore new cultures. I am positive, outgoing and not afraid to try new things and go out of my comfort zone. I am very committed to my work, but I think that there should always be room for smiles and laughs. I am known for my bad jokes among my friends.

What made you change your life and come to Poland?

I have been working in Nordea for seven years and I spent the last year in Luxembourg, being part of the winding down process at Nordea International Private Banking. After the project I decided that I would like to continue working internationally. The position in Poland offered me a&nbsp;chance to do so, to learn something new and also, to use my previous experience of working directly with clients in Finland. I also had a chance to meet many Polish people before and thanks to the Polish hospitality, it was not hard to convince me to come here.

Was it difficult to move to Poland?

My previous experiences of moving to another country were more difficult than this one. I would say that thanks to the lessons learnt in the past, helpful friends and good people in Nordea, I didn&rsquo;t encounter many difficulties. Sometimes the language causes minor challenges, but so far I have been able to manage pretty dobrze.

What differences can you see between Finland and Poland when it comes to the work environment?

I think that the Polish working style is bit more structured and the rules, which mostly come from the law, are sometimes different compared to Finland and Luxembourg.

A clear structure is definitely a good thing, it helps us to do our job,&nbsp;to&nbsp;deliver&nbsp;the services&nbsp;to our customers and make them happy. I also think that there need to be rules,&nbsp;but mostly I hope they are set for a good reason within the team. When it comes to our company&rsquo;s values, I think there is no difference, at least for now.

I have to say the people here in Nordea Poland are truly committed to our common cause&nbsp;-&nbsp;serving&nbsp;our customers.&nbsp;I am very happy and proud to work with so many dedicated colleagues who take pride in their work. It has been very easy to join the group!

Have you had a chance to explore the city yet?

Yeah! I have been exploring the city. I went to a couple of events (English stand-up comedy for example), also tried local food and travelled to neighbouring cities.

Do you like Ł&oacute;dź so far?

Yes, I do like the city. It is the second biggest city I have lived in (Singapore being the largest).&nbsp;Especially now, in the spring time, it is very vibrant and there are lots of activities here.

Can you tell us about your dreams and hobbies?

When I was a kid my dream was to be a professional football player and because of that, I practiced my signature a lot. I guess I should have trained some other skills a bit more. I still love football and sports in general. I like to be active and keep in shape. I also love travelling and getting to know different cultures.&nbsp;My dream is to have a family and a job where I can make a difference and that I can be passionate about.

Where do you see yourself in a few years?

These kind of questions are always hard because a couple of years ago I probably wouldn&rsquo;t see myself here in Poland, but luckily life takes you places if you give it a chance. I really enjoy my job as a team leader and I would definitely like to continue developing myself and being a bit better every day. In the future I would definitely like to help other leaders grow professionally.

&nbsp;

Would you like to join us at Nordea? Browse job offers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.careersinpoland.com/jobs/city/lodz/employer/nordea-bank-ab" target="_blank">Nordea</a>&nbsp;Ł&oacute;dź.

From footballer to team leader. Meet Joonas from Nordea

Meet Joonas from Nordea

Julie, tell us why did you decide to work for Nordea? What kind of opportunities does your job offer?

Julie Skov: I&rsquo;m 23 years old and I just finished my bachelor&rsquo;s degree last summer. I wanted to take a gap year before proceeding with the master&rsquo;s program and I found this opportunity to work at Nordea very interesting. I see it as an excellent opportunity for me to gain some international experience within one of the largest financial companies in Denmark, and I think it&rsquo;s a great investment if you want to continue and develop yourself within Nordea once going back to Denmark. I also think Nordea is a great place to work if you want to experience the organizational transformation which is taking place at the moment. Seeing how the operations can be optimized and the costs reduced by centralizing the processes and creating one common operations center in Nordea.&nbsp;In my former job in Denmark I was working with organizational and cultural transformations in the oil and gas industry as a student assistant, so this aspect has been quite interesting for me, and I think it&rsquo;s important that as a process officer you have the possibility to contribute to the business development.

What does your typical day look like now that you live in Poland? 

J.S:&nbsp;Since I moved to Poland I have gotten much more free time, and I have become more social. On a typical day I work from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., but the working hours are flexible, so I can schedule them according to my other plans. I work as a Junior Process Officer in the Real Estate Sales Team, collaborating with my colleagues and stakeholders in Denmark every day to ensure efficient case handling. I&rsquo;ve gotten a greater insight to the Danish real estate market and the sales processes, which I think is quite interesting.

After work I usually hang out with my friends in the gym or at the local caf&eacute;s. Ł&oacute;dź offers some very nice shopping and nightlife facilities in the city and there are a lot of young people from abroad here, so there are plenty of opportunities to make new friends. On weekends I like to go out with my friends for a drink or to play badminton, but I have also spent some weekends travelling around Poland. The prices here are very low, which gives you a lot of freedom to do what you want to.

Do you use your native language at work?

J.S: Yes, all the documents and programs that I work with are in Danish. I communicate in Danish with all personal banking advisers, customers and stakeholders. I help my Polish colleagues with translating some of the complex cases and identifying key information to solve the cases, so I&nbsp;use it all the time.

Did the company help you with relocation?

J.S:&nbsp;Nordea made sure that my relocation went smoothly. The travel went very well. I was picked up from the airport and accommodated in a nice hotel for the first couple of days before moving into my apartment which Nordea had found for me. They helped me with opening a Polish bank account and registering my residence at the municipality office. Furthermore, my team has been very open and welcoming inviting me to team events and showing me some cool places in the city. The environment in the office is very young and informal, which allows you to get close to your colleagues and go to work with a smile. There is also a big international community at Nordea, which really made me feel like home because there are so many Scandinavians, so it&rsquo;s nice to know that you&rsquo;re not alone and you&rsquo;re all in the same boat. We like to visit each other on weekends or go out for a drink.

What do your friends from Denmark think about your work here? 

J.S:&nbsp;They think it&rsquo;s cool that I took such a big step moving to another country. Once I received the job offer I asked my friends for advice on what to do, and they all thought it was such a great opportunity for me and encouraged me to go. I&rsquo;ve already been visited by a couple of friends and my family, and I&rsquo;ve been back home a couple of times. The flight prices are quite low, it&rsquo;s very easy to get to the airport, and my manager is also quite flexible when it comes to scheduling my days off to take an extended weekend when I go home to Denmark. But of course, I miss them. It&rsquo;s never easy moving so far away, but I feel like I&rsquo;ve already gotten so many new friends here, that I hang out with every day, so it&rsquo;s not something that affects me too much.

Do you like living in Ł&oacute;dź? Is it different from your hometown? Have you been to any other Polish cities?

J.S:&nbsp;Yes, of course Ł&oacute;dź is very different from my hometown. It&rsquo;s a city in development, but it&rsquo;s quite big and there are plenty of opportunities here. The prices are very low, so you can afford to live very well. There are a lot of shopping malls and different caf&eacute;s with all kinds of food. I have already fallen in love with the Polish food and the beer here is excellent! There are a lot of bars and local breweries with beer for every taste. This is my absolute favorite thing about the city.

The public transportation also functions very well and is very easy to use for foreigners. It costs less than 1 euro to take the tram around the city, and it&rsquo;s cheaper to take a taxi here than it is to buy a bus ticket in Denmark, so it&rsquo;s quite easy to get anywhere in the city within minutes.

Polish people are always very helpful if you&rsquo;re lost and the culture is quite polite and respectful. People greet me everywhere and are keen to share their culture and history with me. Although it can be a little difficult to communicate with the older people here, most young people speak English very well and are very curious and well-educated, so I think the country is developing and getting friendlier towards internationals.

Another thing that I like about Ł&oacute;dź&nbsp;is that it&rsquo;s right in the center of Poland. You can go everywhere within a few hours. I&rsquo;ve visited Warsaw and Auschwitz and I&rsquo;m planning on going to Cracow next month on a weekend trip with a few colleagues. The country is full of history and nature, so there are plenty of things to discover.

Do you know any Polish words? Would you like to learn some more?

J.S:&nbsp;&ldquo;Dwa piwa, poproszę&rdquo; - &quot;Two beers, please&rdquo; (laughs).&nbsp;

I know some basic Polish words and sentences, but I would definitely like to learn some more. It&rsquo;s quite useful to know the language here because there are some people that don&rsquo;t speak English very well, but luckily my team is quite helpful teaching me some Polish words every day. We have a &ldquo;Polish word of the day&rdquo; at every morning meeting, so I learn a new word every day, and I teach others one Danish word every day. Listening to Polish on a&nbsp;daily basis makes it a little easier for me to pick up the language and understand some of the most common words in a conversation.&nbsp;

Would you like to join us at Nordea? Browse job offers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.careersinpoland.com/jobs/city/lodz/employer/nordea-bank-ab" target="_blank">Nordea</a>&nbsp;Ł&oacute;dź.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Julie and her international experience at Nordea

You&rsquo;re a Swedish and English speaking Italian, what kind of work experience do you have?

Marco Mazzinghi:&nbsp;I started my career&nbsp;in&nbsp;music when I was 17. I studied it&nbsp;until&nbsp;I was 25&nbsp;and continued to&nbsp;work as&nbsp;a musician.&nbsp;However, after some time I realized that I wanted something more stable and that it was quite stressful for me to be on the stage.&nbsp;So, at the age of 27 I started studying radiography. I was the guy who did the X-rays.&nbsp;I worked&nbsp;in many&nbsp;hospitals&nbsp;but&nbsp;since&nbsp;there was not much work in Italy and I always wanted&nbsp;to move somewhere,&nbsp;I decided to go to Sweden.&nbsp;After 2,5 years there I realized that perhaps it&rsquo;s not the right place for me. I thought I could work in a bank, because I always wanted to work in an economic field, but I didn&rsquo;t have any relevant university background.&nbsp;I knew it would be hard for me to get that job. It was something I always wanted to do but didn&rsquo;t have the prerequisites&nbsp;for.

What made you change your life and come to Poland?

M.M:&nbsp;When I saw Nordea&rsquo;s job advertisement, I thought about it much.&nbsp;By coincidence,&nbsp;I had bought an apartment in Poland in the same city where I would eventually find a job,&nbsp;so I thought I could live in my apartment and have a nice job at the same time.&nbsp;I took&nbsp;this&nbsp;opportunity to settle down because&nbsp;I&nbsp;am 34&nbsp;now. I chose Poland because it&rsquo;s&nbsp;an&nbsp;economically and politically&nbsp;stable country.&nbsp;Moreover, working for Nordea&nbsp;among young people and in good conditions seemed like a good choice. So, I decided to give it a try and now it&rsquo;s been 3 weeks since I moved to Ł&oacute;dź.

Why&nbsp;did you choose&nbsp;to work&nbsp;for&nbsp;Nordea in Ł&oacute;dź instead of living in the capital city of Warsaw?

M.M:&nbsp;Generally speaking,&nbsp;I don&rsquo;t like capital cities, because they&rsquo;re more expensive,&nbsp;there is a lot of stress and competition. So, everything is a little bit harder if you live in a capital city. The second factor was that I had my own apartment in Ł&oacute;dź and an opportunity to live here. I am not interested in changing cities right now.&nbsp;<img alt="" src="/media/IMG-20190210-WA0004%20(4).jpg" style="width: 274px; height: 352px; margin: 15px 20px; float: right;" />

Do you find it difficult to accommodate yourself to the Polish conditions?

M. M: I have travelled a lot in my life but here it is especially hard because&nbsp;a lot of people don&#39;t speak&nbsp;English and it&rsquo;s a big drawback.&nbsp;But I walk around with Google Translate and even if it can be&nbsp;quite stressful, I manage it quite well. I also have some friends who can help me.&nbsp;&nbsp;

What major differences can you observe between&nbsp;the&nbsp;Polish and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Swedish&nbsp;or&nbsp;Italian way of&nbsp;working? What do you like the most?

M.M:&nbsp;There are many differences but the&nbsp;work here in Nordea&nbsp;is more similar to the one in Sweden or in Finland rather than in Poland. I know that people in Poland work really hard and don&rsquo;t receive a lot of money but here, the work is not too hard and the conditions are really good.&nbsp;Nordea&nbsp;follows the Scandinavian way of working&nbsp;and this is what I like.&nbsp;

Is there anything other nations could learn from the Polish people?

M.M:&nbsp;Polish people are quite traditional, which I like.&nbsp;They help each other and have strong values, care about family and religion.&nbsp;They really appreciate the value of nation, they are proud to be Polish. I&nbsp;appreciate that much.&nbsp;Certainly, there is much more other countries&nbsp;can&nbsp;learn from Poland. I think you are the only nation in Europe that is economically growing.&nbsp;I know that economy does not always reflect peoples&rsquo; feelings but since I came to Poland,&nbsp;people here have been optimistic, hard working to make the city more beautiful and&nbsp;to improve the working conditions.&nbsp;I&nbsp;think it will be better and better here.

What is the&nbsp;one&nbsp;thing&nbsp;that&nbsp;you like the most about Poland&nbsp;or&nbsp;Ł&oacute;dź?

M.M:&nbsp;I think that people are happy here even though they are not as&nbsp;wealthy&nbsp;as people in Sweden. That was the first thing I noticed.

Have you already tried any Polish specialities? If so, what are your favourite ones?

M.M:&nbsp;Yes, pierogi,&nbsp;pampuchy&nbsp;with marmolade. Even some soup called&nbsp;żurek. I like&nbsp;sernik&nbsp;when it comes to sweets.

What are your hobbies and how do you pursue them in Ł&oacute;dź?

M.M:&nbsp;I began training box, I would like to play an instrument but I haven&rsquo;t found the time yet. I want to play tennis as well. But soon I will start a&nbsp;process training in Gothenburg. And I will spend 2 months there, so I need to put my plans aside for some time.

Have you already made&nbsp;any&nbsp;friends here?

M.M:&nbsp;I made some friends at work, but for me,&nbsp;friendship takes time and common interests. Time will tell.

Why is it worth coming here, give top 3 reasons?

M.M: The first reason for me is that everything is relatively cheap, the second one is a&nbsp;possibility to meet new people both at work and outside. If you go to Piotrkowska Street, there are people all day long. Finally, the third reason is the possibility to work in a bank because I would never have this opportunity neither in Italy nor in Sweden.

Would you recommend&nbsp;a job&nbsp;in&nbsp;Nordea to your friends?

M.M:&nbsp;Yes, I would recommend it. At least give it a try. I think Nordea gives a good opportunity to have a good life.

&nbsp;

Would you like to join our team? Browse job offers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.careersinpoland.com/jobs/city/lodz/employer/nordea-bank-ab" target="_blank">Nordea</a>&nbsp;Ł&oacute;dź.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Scandinavian way of working - Marco from Nordea

Marco and his work at Nordea

When did you decide to come to Poland and how did you come up with this idea?

I used to work in transport as a freight forwarder. After I finished my studies (Bachelor of Business Logistics), I decided to try something different. I&nbsp;was looking for work in Finland, but besides a few interviews, nothing came from it. So, I also started to look for work abroad. I found this opportunity to come to work in Poland for a Finnish company, with no previous experience required. So, after Christmas I applied for this position, and in January [2018] I got accepted and agreed to start in the beginning of February.

In the end everything happened quite fast. However, I always had an ambition to work abroad, so that played a major part in my decision. Also, I&nbsp;have a good friend from Poland with whom I used to work in transport, and he also recommended Poland a lot. So that made my decision even easier.

Did you know much about the country before you moved here? Is there anything that surprised you - any cultural differences between Finland and Poland?

To be honest, my knowledge about Poland was quite limited. I knew about the biggest cities and important historical events, but that was basically all. However, I used to work with Polish people in my previous job, and always thought they were nice and polite. So that gave me a positive impression about the country, even though I had never visited it before.

About cultural differences &ndash; I feel Poland is similar to Finland, I didn&rsquo;t have a culture shock or anything. I feel Polish people might be more direct saying what they think, though. But I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s a bad thing!

Where do you live in Poland? Do you have any favourite places in the area?

I live in Katowice, in the (Upper) Silesian region. A region with an industrial background, but there are lots of nice places to enjoy outdoor activities. Probably my favourite place here in Katowice is Park Kościuszki, a very nice park for a walk and not too crowded.

Can you tell us a bit about your job here? Do you think Poland is a good place to build a career in your field?

At first, I used to work as a Service Desk Agent, acting as a first line support for IT problems. Nowadays I work as a Service Coordinator, responsible for receiving service requests and coordinating installation schedule with customer and our installation resources. The work is mostly done in Finnish, but sometimes English is also required.

I think in Poland you have many job opportunities, if you can speak Finnish. Also, other foreign languages such as Swedish and Norwegian, seem to be in high demand.

Did you experience any problems with the relocation process?

Relocation was quite simple, because my company arranged a flat for the first few months and helped a lot with all the administrative stuff, opening a bank account etc. I guess the only problem was that there was a huge snow storm in Finland on the night before my flight, leading to a&nbsp;delay at the airport. Because of that, I missed my connecting flight from Stockholm and arrived in Poland one day later than planned.

Do you speak any Polish or do you get by with English in your everyday life?

I started my A1 level Polish course back in October, so I can speak and understand some Polish, but only when talking about basic things. Luckily my friends are supportive to my learning, so I have lots of opportunities to practice.

What do you miss most about Finland?

I have lived almost my whole life next to the sea, so living in Katowice is a bit different, with no sea in sight. But like Finland, Poland has very beautiful nature and landscapes, so I don&rsquo;t feel homesick in that regard.

Have you made any Polish friends already? Do you socialise with other foreigners?

I have met lots of nice people during my time in Poland and made some good friends, who have helped me a lot settling in Poland. In Katowice we have lots of different language meetings, so participating in them has been a great opportunity to meet new people, both local and foreigners.

Have you had a chance to visit other places in the country as well? If so, is there anything you would recommend to other foreign visitors?

I have been visiting some places in Poland, but not nearly as much as I would have liked. Hopefully this summer I can fix this. One of the most memorable trips was to Stołowe Mountains (G&oacute;ry Stołowe). Amazing views!

&nbsp;

Thanks for sharing your story, Henri!

&nbsp;

A Finnish impression of Poland

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