Poles-inhabitants of Norway
Wojtek
4 years in Norway.
A paramedic by education.
In Norway, he worked as an injection molding machine operator. Currently looking for a job.
He doesn't like brown cheese 🙂
Why are you no longer working as an operator?
I was forced to make such a decision in part by the owner of the company ... At one point I made a decision that my mental health was more important. He is a difficult person to cooperate with. Strongly prejudiced against Poles, against people in general.
And the paramedic? Would you like to return to the profession you have successfully performed in Poland?
Hmmm ... a language barrier that I did not make up for due to the fact that Norwegian was not required for the job I received here. This caused a sense of non-duty and laziness.
...are snakker du norsk?
Bare litt (laugh).
And today you would like to improve your Norwegian or do you still think that English is enough in this country?
I bet on Norwegian! I feel worse and worse not knowing this language.
Has anyone made you feel that you should start learning Norwegian?
No, absolutely. This is only my feeling; I would call them embarrassment when I have to ask a met person once again if they will talk to me in English even though I have been here for so long ...
Norwegians tolerant of these situations?
Most of the Norwegians I have dealt with are very tolerant, they are extremely helpful. It's a completely different mentality than in Poland ...
Did you learn anything from the Norwegians?
Yes, or at least I am trying to learn that the Norwegians do not judge another person so boldly; they do not have an imposed opinion about it.
So they are not prejudiced. And we Poles are prejudiced?
Oh yes! We are very prejudiced and this is something that disturbed me a lot in Poland and still disturbs me today. For us, Poles, the stereotypes we receive in the legacy of our parents or grandparents are still important.
Are you talking about the differences in the approach to assessing, or the mentality of both nationalities - so have you learned to go to the store wearing only slippers (from the editor when it does not rain :))?
Haha! This is no longer a problem for me, indeed! And Poles still perceive each other through the prism of their appearance; We cannot focus on what we have to offer and what we look like.
What do we have to offer? Here in exile?
We are an extremely hardworking nation, but also proud. And it works so that if we are treated normally, we give 100% in return. After all, no one has come here to purposely use the social program, to get money for nothing. However, it is still not enough to have a better opinion among the Norwegians than we have… because we have a bad one.
Seriously? Is it that bad?
The classic stereotype of a Pole is a person who comes here only for simple physical work, likes to drink, looks for an opportunity to earn easy money, not necessarily legal. Shit, this is very harmful - don't you think? It still follows us.
And you, are you doing something to disenchant this image, stereotype?
Of course! With the Norwegians I know, I try to build relationships that are not only based on parties, beer and simple matters. I always try to smuggle in good values and a positive opinion about our country. Not alcohol tourism: "come here because we have cheap alcohol"…. Or rather: "come here because we are extremely hospitable, we have great cuisine, rich cultural offer, great architecture". Let's put it on display!
So the land of milk and honey flows, and you have decided to emigrate ...?
Because there is a difference between being a tourist and a citizen. And every country does the same. Poland is a great country in terms of tourism. On the other hand, everyday life in our country and the struggle with it are already more difficult ... I left the country under strange circumstances. Someone from the side might say that I had a good full-time job with a permanent contract as a paramedic. But you know, this notorious dissatisfaction with the money I earned, the constant worry about whether it would be enough for my next salary ... This forced me to resign. I believed there was something better ...
There is something better? Have these living standards changed?
They have changed, yes. But the disadvantages of emigration affect me more ...
Minuses?
First of all, it is a painful separation from family and friends, but also separation from Poland ... Only you know, it is such a separation on the basis of certain habits that I go to the store - I speak Polish,
I go to the office - I speak Polish, if I want to register my car - I know all the rules. Here we have to re-learn everything. And this is precisely the comfort of everyday, prosaic life that I miss here very much ...
Are you single
Tak.
It's a furiously difficult combination; emigration and loneliness ...
It's true, one of the hardest ones, although I try not to think about it too much. During my 4-year stay here, I have been treated for depression, although I was sure that it would NEVER happen to anyone but me. After all, in Poland I worked with a person and took responsibility for his health and life, and it didn't always go my way. People were dying and suffering, and I was able to keep a healthy distance. And I thought I was mentally strong until I came here... because only here you can actually test yourself. I remember that first moment of solid breakdown: I had arrived at Norway in the second half of October with only a car canned food and tent. Fortunately, after a week I had an apartment, and after another three weeks I had a job. At that time, I thought I had everything... Until December, when it turned out that I would not be given leave to go home for Christmas. I came back from work on Christmas Eve at 16 p.m. and I was completely alone. I called my parents, but I put on a good face for a bad game. And then all that was left was an empty apartment and my thoughts that I had basically nothing that would make me happy... I don't wish this on anyone, but if someone wants to test their psyche, let them try to find themselves in such a situation...
What about self-esteem? Did you lose a little while doing a job that does not require the use of your best qualities and competences?
Oh yes, I lost it. I have changed, consciously !, the degree of my responsibility. I changed my work with people, their health and life to work with machines. And, you know, it raises a dissatisfaction, even when you don't really think about it. And I gave up so many years of study, experience, training in the name of money ... And I don't think I'm proud of what I have done, but until I am able to live on it, I choose money.
It was supposed to be funnier, and it turned out sentimental. So let me summarize a little easier; yellow cheese or brown?
(instantly, without thinking) Yellow !!! Definitely! I don't even let the brown one think about it, hahaha!
… So what, Norwegian specialties not for the Polish palate?
I look at the kitchen a bit through the prism of the entire emigration - it is worth trying everything, but the most important thing is not to forget what we like….
