Expat Advice: Living in Gdynia, Poland
What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?
Gdynia
How long have you lived there?
a year
What activities, clubs and organizations would you recommend to newcomers to help them meet others?
University groups, take dance classes, play sports in the beach: soccer, volleyball, jogging, etc.
Sports associations, cultural associations. Nature related: hiking, wall climbing, trekking... there is a lot to do on that matter here, Oliwa (church and park), the beach that is all boarding coastline from Gdynia to Sopot is nice.
Summer is nice and hot and fresh (or not, very dry) always with an umbrella in your bag, please.
Nice pubs in concentrated areas - not all over. Beside that, is all quiet. They don't have dancing, parades. But, there is a Heineken festival, summer concerts, and the teathers in Gdynia and Gdanks. But, they are mostly making efforts to present attractive and massive productions, for the size of the city they pull it out quite alright.
Much more than that, mmmmm nope.
In terms of religious, racial, economic and cultural diversity, are the people of this city or town diverse? Are they accepting of differences? Describe.
I do not think they are diverse, this is a young population, but foreigners are still looked at as the exception. Certainly they have been in touch with non locals much more intensevely in the last decade than in all their history. It is easy to understand, and also it is not a big place (Gdynia) is basically residential. Do not expect London!.
If you find your niche and stick to it, and like I said young people are the most active into walking the diverse side, it would be fine for you.
They are interested in mingling, socializing with other cultures, they find exotic or appealing, e.g. Latinamericans, Spanish, Italians, etc. Any Western in sum. People from India, Africa or Asia are viewed more suspiciously and you have to gain their trust and let them get their guard down. You are part of a process they are living now, you are generating the change! hehe
What are the main industries in this city? What types of career opportunities commonly exist? How do most people find new jobs?
Anything related to a port, there is a port here and in Gdansk as well.
Funny we are in front of the sea, but it is really hard to find fresh fish.
Multinationals basically in Warsaw and in Krakow, you heard it here first.
There are two multinational, maybe three and if you are fluent in more than one language it helps you get attention.
Internet is quite useful to find real estate, products and jobs in Poland. Old school is never old enough, but the way they have clinged to the internet is remarkable and they make use of its resources :-)
If a friend of yours was thinking of moving to this city or town from far away, what other advice would you give them.
Why? There are other cities, but it is up to you. I would ask my friend what he/she is looking for: short term stay or long, do you hate big, crowded cities, what are the other reasons he/she is coming, is he/she coming for a boyfriend, fiance/e or he/she has a good job offer to get real? Consider the exchange rate zlotys (local currency) vs Euro since you can start reasonably saving only from 2500 zlotys ( less than 750 EUR aprox, check it by urself) and comparing it to other salaries elsewhere in Europe it won't let you save enough for frequent flights to see your family/friends, or just trip around. Your choice.
Nature is great and watching these people produce and work hard is great, but if you don't have the antropologist vein, don't listen to me. I appreciate them in my experience for what they achieve with their constance and hard work. But this country just went out of a different era not so long ago. So well, give them some time and have low expectations. Overall they are nice people, so keep it low-expected and positive and you will have nice surprises with people and finding natural treasures yet untouched around.
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