Having just got back from a few days in London it strikes me again just how many Poles are now in the capital. Everytime I get on a bus I am sitting next to Poles. When I get off the bus I am facing a Polski Sklep (Polish shop). When I go to a pub or restaurant I am served by Poles. I am greeted by them at hotel receptions and accosted by them at markets. They are renovating my friends houses and looking after them in hospitals. They are taking advantage of a plethora of free university courses (I would have to pay for any education in Poland). They are hearing Sunday Services from Polish priests and in their native language. For the first time in over 500 years England has now more Catholics than Anglicans, this being a direct result of the Polish invasion. Polish people in Great Britain far outnumber all other immigrants... they are everywhere.
After Germany beat Poland in Euro 2008 I phoned Big German Friend with congratulations. When England are playing even the most obscure of nations, Poles always support the opposite side. They never support England. They are resentful because of all the Poles in 'slave labour', but if things were that bad in the UK why don't they just go home? And why blame England? Millions of Poles having fled their homeland... surely it is Poland that is the problem?
The fact is that a young Polish architect or engineer can earn more money and have a better standard of living managing a shop or restaurant in Britain. Not only is the average income in Poland pathetic (less than 80 quid per week), but employees receive no tea breaks and only half an hour for lunch (if that). Working conditions are often horrendous and employees rights are non-existent. Health and Safety is an unknown concept and Poland still not having grasped capitalism, choice is little and prices inflated. When getting on planes to visit family back home, Polish people are invariably loaded down with carrier bags full of cheap goods (Polish shop owners buy much of their stock in Argos!).
Consequently they are happy to be living in Britain and are much more productive than their British counterparts who have had it so easy for so long. But why can't Poles be a little more gracious about their new adopted home? The Polish papers scream POLES EXPLOITED IN GREAT BRITAIN! and all you will here from Polish immigrants in the UK is about their "Beautiful" Poland and how wonderful things are back home. Yeah, right.
Word of the week: Niegrzeczny meaning rude.
