Some Taboos in Poland

Steffen Möller is German actor which came to Poland in 1994 and stayed there. First as German teacher, but he later became an actor/tv presenter in Polish television. He wrote a quite entertaining book about his experiences with the Polish people and differences in culture and daily life. The book "Viva Polonia" (in German) is a rather nice read, but I am not sure how many clichés are there in it, since I have never been to Poland myself. (Of course, I am going to change that in November).

According the book, there are few things to consider when traveling and/or living in Poland. Actually it's a list of do's and don'ts (and this a short excerpt from it):

• Don't criticize your teacher, boss. professor, priest or voivode.
• Don't tell any jokes about Karol Wojtyła. Telling jokes about Joseph Ratzinger is acceptable though.
• Don't be the first to leave a party.
• You can't refuse the first or second glass of vodka. Only during the third round you may politely decline.
• Don't ask your coworkers how much money they make.
  
• Don't deny that the Polish women are the most beautiful in the world!
• Don't say anything about Kraków.
• Don't talk openly about how you really don't see the big fun in the great Polish film comedies like Reijs, Mis or Seksmisja.
• Don't speak out in a positive way about politicians, the police, the Polish State Railways, the Polish Health Service or the Polish National Football team.