Poland 🇵🇱

Bartosz, 32

Born in Jarosław, Poland

Came to Australia in January 2020

How did we meet?

Bartosz was introduced to me by his wife, Marie, whom I interviewed for France.

What is your occupation?

I work as a Cyber Security Specialist at Google.

My passion started when I was 12 and watched a movie about hackers since then, I’ve been obsessed with cybersecurity. My career started in England, where I graduated in Computer Forensics from the University of Derby and then went on to help clients defend their networks and respond to security incidents.

Why did you come to Australia?

The cyber-security market in Singapore is quite small, so I had to move here to Australia in order to pursue opportunities with bigger companies like Amazon and Google.

We also had a fantastic holiday in Western Australia, visiting Perth, Shark Bay and Margaret River in 2019, so we already had great memories of Australia before migrating here.

What do you like about Sydney?

The coastal walks are outstanding; I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the views. My favourite walks so far are Bondi to Coogee and around Watsons Bay.

The climate is amazing here too, with four mild and distinct seasons and blue skies. In Poland, it varies a lot more - the winters are definitely colder and I’m sure it rains more. I’m also shocked to see swimmers here in the middle of winter whereas that’d be unthinkable in Poland.

I like how self-sufficient Australia is. So much of the fresh produce is locally grown, even things like mozzarella. I also admire how conscious Australians are of ethically produced food, such as free-range eggs, organic food and grass-fed meat.

Sydney has an outstanding culinary scene, especially when it comes to Asian cuisines. It’s so authentic compared to other Western cities.

What don’t you like about Sydney?

The distances between places in Sydney are so far. For example, you can easily spend half an hour to an hour in a car because of the traffic and the distance.

Taxis are also very expensive in Sydney. For instance, we recently spent over $100 to visit our friends who live just outside of Sydney. It’s the same with nice restaurants. The zloty (Polish currency) is so much cheaper it’s not even worth comparing.

What would you like to say to Sydneysiders?

Next time you go to Europe, make sure to visit Krakow in Poland. Some places to check out include the city square (“Rynek”), the Jewish square (“Kazimierz”), Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz concentration camp (“Oswiecim”) - somewhere you should really go once in your lifetime.

What languages do you speak?

English, Polish (native), Brazillian Portuguese and French

I went on exchange via a rotary club to Sao Paulo, Brazil. I learnt Portuguese and became fluent but since then, I’ve become a little rusty.

I’ve taken French classes for 2 ½ years because my wife is French and it’d be nice to understand her family more.

Teach us one word/phrase from your native language.

Pierogi

It’s the name for Polish dumplings and it’s one of the most traditional dishes. My favourite fillings are either potatoes & ricotta cheese, or cabbage and mushrooms. There’s a really nice Polish restaurant called Alchemy in Surry Hills - the pierogi there are phenomenal and taste just like back home.

What is one thing you want us to know about your native country?

Poland is definitely an underrated and underexplored travel destination. There are the Tatra and Carpathian mountains, the Baltic sea, forests and lakes just waiting to be explored.

Who is the most famous person in your native country?

Pope John Paul II

He was the Pope from 1978 to 2005 and Polish people absolutely adored him. In fact, many Poles believe that besides John Paul II’s remarkable linguistic skills and passion for skiing, he has contributed to the collapse of communism in Poland.

What is the best dish in your native country?

Barszcz

Polish Borscht (“Barszcz”) is a beet soup that is full of veggies and boasts a bright, sweet and sour flavour making it a perfect first course or warming meal. It goes great with little Polish ravioli (“Uszka”).

Disclaimer: All posts are personal opinions and perspectives of the interviewees and are not a perfect representation of the whole country/experience.