to come to UK?

[whitney85]

So lately I wonder whether to come to UK. I'm from Poland. Live in a big city, have a job I like. I'm a mother of 2. My husband works too. We have 3 badroom apt, 2 cars and live a pretty stable life. On the other hand I want something more. I need a new experience. I'd like to live in a country wwith more opportunities. Before the kids we lived for a while in US, where we worked and traveled. We speak english but it's not as good as I wish. Not yet. I'm about 30 and it's been almost 6 years I haven't used the language. But anyway, I would like to make a change and go to UK. But I'm scared a little too. I was in London and Oxford once, I liked it there. But being a turist is way different than trying to settle down.
And finally I go to the point. Do you think its resonable? What do you think about so many immigrants in UK? Do you even want us there? A tough question I know. But I need to know how it really looks like before I make a final decision. Its not only about me. I don't want my children to feel any worse.So pleasy give me an answer and help me make my mind couse I don't know what I should do...

draw*

Fair enough.

You can use Polish equivalent to NHS, it's perfectly fine but sometimes with longer waiting than the UK and Public Schools don't charge fee's, private ones do.
You can claim benefits there as a member of the EU but there's probably a lot of paperwork involved (as there is for most things there).

It is being unfair and tarring people - your buying into the Daily mail attitude that all Polish people abuse the benefits system. Or you wouldn't have posted what you did at 21:34:53.
Anyway got to go do rl, will be back later.

Fair explanation CarbeDiem,

You have cleared some things up. That's good! Thanks
(I think we are probably a bit brainwashed.)
It's difficult to know what's the truth and what isn't. That's why some of my questions were maybe a bit blunt. But I wanted to know what the answers were. And who better to ask than a Polish person, rather than believing some article in the Daily Mail

Where I used to live in Aberdeen had quite a large Polish community, though not sure how good it would be for jobs unless you/husband are interested in the oil industry. As a medical professional you should probably be able to find something most places though I would think?

Also I think it is really horrible of people to attack OP here without having concrete evidence of trolling. There are lots of other European countries I would like to live in at some time- Spain, Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Greece- some of these have higher benefits than the UK, but this would not be the reason (most people do hope/expect to get a job rather than be forced to live on minimal poverty payments ffs), some of us are actually interested in other cultures and like to have more life experience than living our entire life in a narrowminded little suburb in Surrey, actually.

sweet health care (govt funded if unemployed, health insurance direct from wage if employed) is much, much, much better in Germany than The UK, and child benefit is more too. Most people are attracted by The counrty where tbey can speak The language and / or know there are communities from their Homeland. I would imagine there are far more Polish immigrants in Germany than The UK.

Child benefit agreements are reciprocal - based on The tax paying parent claimant - across The EU. I live in Germany, if (shudder) I were to take leave of my senses and send my children to live with my pardnts in The UK, I could still claim Kindergeld for them and send IT to my pardnts in The UK. IT is a Lot more than UK CB and Not means tested... The UK isn't a honeypot, people jusz go where they have connections or can speak The language.

^Add message | Report | Message poster queenofthemountain Wed 06-Aug-14 21:27:03
No Britain is overcrowded enough already.^

DFOD

OP, moving abroad will be a lovely and very enriching experience for your DCs but agree with other posters that your quality of life is likely to be much much lower than you are used to!

You're a clinical psychologist? They are going to bite your hand off, they are in incredible short supply, particularly if you're trained in CBT and willing to do NHS work. I should think your qualification is recognized. Look on NHS Jobs website, also worth approaching private organizations like the Priory, Bupa etc.

Superwifeandmum - I'd prefer it if you left actually.

As far as school goes I have taught 3-5 year old Polish children in the past. As a general rule they do well. They pick up the language quickly as they are surrounded by it. Also they have come from a family that has taken huge steps in search of a better life and impart that view to tegu children. They are hard working and motivated.
I'd rather have a class of Polish children than ones from British families that don't have that work ethic.

OP,

O

Alpaca beat me to the punch. She is looking to work (maybe helping our struggling nhs) paying taxes and she speaks better English than my polish. Cultural diversity -it what makes societies vibrant and diverse. Come up north op- we are lovely up here. (Rents are cheaper than London.)
Btw op-I love Warsaw. We spent a very happy holiday there.

Each to their own I suppose but I think we need to sort out the immigration system before we welcome more people with open arms.

However I see your point least whitney85 has qualifications that would benefit us.

Report away. It's a forum Alpaca not everyone has the same views.

Sorry, stupid phone!

OP, please don't be put off by stupid comments from the likes of superwife. Sadly, there are some people in the UK like that, but they are definitely in the minority.

As far as I'm concerned, you're very welcome here if you want to come. We have lots of Polish people in the area where I live, and they are very well integrated into the community.

People are kidding themselves if they think that the NHS and child benefit are enough to draw people to the UK. As others have said, language is probably a bigger attraction.

I'm sorry op, please don't think all Brits are unwelcoming xenophobes. Most of the posts have been more constructive though.

Do come over here for a while, it sounds like you'd like the adventure and it's a good time with youngish children, and as long as you can get a good job, the standard of living is quite good compared to Warsaw (not sure about beyond as spent most time in the capital!).

I would be sure to have an exit strategy so you can always go back and not take a massive drop in standard living on your return.

And defo don't be a zero contract used and abused carer!!! There are good private (non agency) specialist carer jobs around, where you get paid better (£15 ph upwards depending on specialism), and treated better, so if you really want to go into caring, do that! Normally carers get exploited and it attracts people who can't get any other job, and are paid and treated appallingly... That's why we have repeated scandals about carers abusing their vulnerable clients. That's the state of the industry.

And also, of you're paid minimum wage (or shockingly, below), it's bloody hard to scrape by. That's when being here could become a trap. Don't believe everything you read in right wing media, it's not possible to have a good life subsisting on benefits and it would be an awful lot nicer to be living as you are now.

Anyway, I'd look at using your professional qualifications to get a job with better wages and hours. Is there a reason you said you don't want to look for something in that field?

Happy hunting, whatever you decide.

Sweet-are you British? if so why so disparaging about your own country? Parts of the UK are really beautiful. Parts of the other countries you mention are pretty dire. As well as the draw of the language the UK is pretty multicultural and in most cases welcoming. Racism is less common than in France and Germany.

I really hate how the British feel it's OK to run the country down, it's not perfect for sure but on the whole we are lucky to live here.We have opened our doors to many and are prepared to share resources and opportunities and embrace other cultures. That's why people are happy to come here.

OP

Agree with TA jobs, also you could take a 'community interpreting' qualification and work as an interpreter.

IMHO Polish immigrants fall broadly in to 2 groups. Young people with no ties who are happy to house and even room share and take any manual labour going. Which is exactly what a lot of Australian / Kiwis do for a year or two.

The other group are people with a trade, plumbers, builders etc.

There are other jobs people do but these are the people who seem to thrive.

And the reason I think they are so numerous is that they are not competing with British workers, we have or had a shortage of trades people and a lot of British people don't want to do things like pick asparagus all day.

Do your research, what job can you do and how much can you both earn? Check out chi care costs, it might not be possible for you to both work. How much is rent? What will you do it you don't get work?

How ridiculous to report someone for saying she thinks there is a problem with the immigration system at the moment and so the OP shouldn't come. The OP asked how people felt, she is giving her views.

To those suggesting she gets a teaching assistant job, do you know how many people in this country are lining up to get such jobs after studying to become a teaching assistant for a year or two?