Ireland from a Polish perspective

Whereas Pam's blog is witty and charming, Krystian's blog features much more serious topics. Although his English is in need of a serious brushing up, the impressions he has about Polish immigration hit the nail on the head.

I could relate to all the entries, without exception, in March of 2006 when he came to Carlow as the situation in Croatia is quite similar when it comes to immigration as in Poland, except that Poland is in the EU.

In Poland as well as in Croatia both the educated and the uneducated, especially the young, are taking part in a collective brain drain to Western Europe in search for their El Dorado. Krystian, on the other hand, arrived to Ireland on a whim and plans to stay there only for four months.

Of course, when they finally arrive their high hopes usually burst like a bubble in water. Immediately. Iredicably. Reality sets in-they do have to carry out the entry-level jobs the Irish don't wish to carry out.

Krystian also has to work as an site assistant and not as an archaeologist although he has the diploma. Still, whatever job you carry out, the pay is miles better than in Poland or Croatia.

That so many Polish are actually living in Ireland astounded me. They form the biggest national minority in Ireland and always had a keen interest in the Irish cultural heritage.