Apparently the Newsweek article made it sound like Ireland was hell on Earth for the Poles who come here. From Radio Polonia's web site:
Often, when their expectations are confronted upon arrival with harsh realities, many young Poles fall into depression or alcoholism. They start steeling, ultimately, even attempt suicide. They are left on their own, with only sporadic and limited assistance from local Polish organizations, religious centers or consular authorities.According to Izabela Chudzicka it's not as bad as the Newsweek article made out, but maybe being the new host of a t.v. show aimed at Polish immigrants makes it more bearable being here. I'm sure the experiences of Polish immigrants range from the good to the bad to the ugly. It's always the way. One thing I can say is that from what I've seen there are church-goers in this country who are happy to see new blood coming on a weekly basis. I've seen it with Eastern Europeans and with a lot of Filipinos in my area.
The migrant Poles are usually in the 21 to 35 age bracket, quite often with university diplomas. Still, they accept even the most underpaid job offers to stay afloat. When they lose employment, everything starts crumbling, but they stay in Ireland. Nobody likes to forfeit their dreams. When Lukasz, a historian, lost his job his girlfriend left, friends abandoned him and he found himself with no place to live in. Lukasz suffered a nervous breakdown. A Polish priest tried to convince him the sacrifice is not worth the dubious money he could earn and that Lukasz should return to Poland. But then, what kind of life is there back home without money, either?
