Poland is a very attractive country for foreign tourists. Guides are often written by foreigners themselves and provide guidelines on how to travel in Polish towns and cities, where to eat and what objects to see as a must.
Besides the beauty of the nature and charm of the largest cities and smallest towns, foreigners unanimously point to the kindness and openness of Poles as advantages of Poland.
Yet Polish people often mistrust strangers.
Over recent years Poland has experienced a strong economic growth, which one cannot deny. The growth dynamics is appreciated by foreigners who live in this country and get involved in the life of their new homeland and express optimism about further developmental prospects for Poland or the specific city they are attached to.
We hear them say that Poland is OK. Certainly there are many things to do or improve upon so that it would be better here. Still, with regard to what is happening in some Western European countries, Poland is undoubtedly in a condition which other countries envy it.
Over the last two or three years the inflow of foreigners looking for employment to Poland has intensified. A coverage prepared by Al Jazeera at the beginning of April 2013 in Wroclaw confirms this tendency. In summer we learnt about nearly one thousand Italians working in Wroclaw: Italian media were the first ones to generate very good publicity for the capital of Lower Silesia. According to the Financial Times, over 10% of the 100 thousand employees of the outsourcing sector in Poland are foreigners: this means that solely in Wroclaw there are almost two thousands of them in this branch. They earn less than they could get at home but only if they could find a job!
Poland should be really more proud of its achievements
-It is safe, dynamic and modern here. Complaining does not encourage anyone to act. I want to change this attitude and help Wroclaw on my own to take the huge opportunities which cooperation may create, this is the comment offered by Parry Sondhi, the first foreigner whom we have interviewed to learn the opinions of foreigners concerning living in Wroclaw.
We all need to ensure that future generations are even more open, tolerant and capable of cooperating with representatives of other nationalities. And with other Poles too.
Read the first interview with Parry Sondhi.
Marcello Murgia, our (half)foreigner in the editorial staff.
