Author: Leah Roberts

In February in the midst of a long cold winter I got to have a truly unique experience. It is called a Kulig. Translated loosely meaning sleigh ride. It’s a popular winter event that occurs in some regions of Poland including the South East where I was.

My Kulig began with meeting in front of an old wooden cabin. Similar to what you see in the movies. While the guide/leader was talking (in rapid Polish) we were all given a shot of vodka. A typical Polish introduction.

The old wooden cottage

Flavoured Vodka

After we were all warmed up, we went to the sleighs. Now I had imagined a sleigh like you see in parks. It looked slightly different. Unfortunately the snow had melted and it had turned to ice, so the horses could not pull it, but we managed in an alternative way

The sleigh ride was a fun experience. What made it so interesting was that everyone was singing not rhymes but miniature songs. Everyone knew the lyrics. No background music, no instruments anything. In these songs they even had screams which I didn’t realise as I thought people were screaming due to the sleigh ride.

Coming from a place which is often described as a nanny state, safety was really not the top priority. No buckles only the person in front of you to keep you from falling, it definitely added some adrenaline to the ride. At one point the sleigh was turning and it toppled over with the people falling onto to the cold icy ground. Luckily no one was hurt, but a wine bottle was smashed.

One of the nicest parts was reaching a campfire, and everyone getting to roast sausages. I asked my partners why is no one roasting marshmallows.

At the end of the ride we got to back into the cabin and have some proper bigos. One of my favourite tradition dishes consisting of slow cooked meat and souekraut The next part of the night I was told was similar to a Polish wedding.

Dressing up, Disco Polo (music that no one wants to admit they listen to, but knows all the words) and lots of dancing. Now I’m not from a big family, and I have never done any sort of Polish dancing. Fun is the only way I can describe it!

Dressing Up

The inside of the venue

Although I’ve heard not all Polish people enjoy a Kulig, as a foreigner it was a truly a unique experience and something you can’t find anywhere else in the world.

One of the things that drew me to Europe was that in such a small area (comparatively to Australia) you could experience so many different languages, traditions and cultures. To this day it blows my mind.

I distinctly remember one road trip I did from Amsterdam to Mount Blanc. In one day of driving I went through the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and France. It was incredible just seeing and hearing the differences between them.

Cultural differences aren’t necessary a bad thing but they can be challenging all the same. Out of every country I’ve lived and visited Poland by far had the most cultural difference. Here is just a small list!

1. There are very few signs in English and in the central metro station – links to all the trams and buses there are NO signs (I have been living here for 7 months and I still have no idea how to get myself around that station.)

2. The dairy section in the supermarket is huge, trying to find a normal yoghurt is a nearly impossible tasks. I have accidentally bought a yoghurt drink thinking it was milk, tried sour milk, and so many strange cheeses

3. The people who work in supermarkets are not teenagers. When I was in high school we all knew someone who worked in a supermarket. The people serving you will not have a chit chat with you. Although it was similar in other places in Europe I found it more so in Poland.

4. In Poland they don’t cook their sausages. They are all smoked. In Australia I grew up with literally, “cooking snags (sausages) on the BBQ”. The first time I was told I could just eat it without it being cooked I thought it was a joke.

5. Be prepared that the people you need to speak English too won’t. I remember trying to buy a ticket at a railway station right near the airport, you would think they would speak English… I was so wrong. If you need to buy any ticket not from a machine don’t expect English. If you need to send or receive a package or really just do anything requiring a post office you need to speak Polish. This goes for supermarkets, receptionist (not all but alot).

6. Get ready to go into battle when walking around the streets. I’m used to people apologising if they pump into you, if that happens in Poland then its a rare event. It’s not a bad thing just very different and something that took me awhile just to get used too.

7. Polish people stare, and aren’t openly emotional people for example they don’t smile at people very often. It often feels like you are being death stared at all the time.

8. Queuing is not a thing. I was waiting to hand in some papers for my visa and I can assure you, nobody was waiting in a line. In fact, there was a group of about 12 people huddling by the door, shouting at people as they walked in.

9. The culture of drinking is very unique. In Australia drinking is with friends at BBQ, outdoors often beers, ciders and wine. In Poland it’s Vodka. The stereotype really isn’t too far from reality. I have been drinking with families (including grandparents) that will feed you constant shots. As with friends at parties I am gobsmacked at how much vodka they can actually drink.

10. Carbs are super important. Carbs will be with every meal. Not just one lot, normally two. For example, you will have a roast, with mashed potato, and normally bread. There are always grains. Maybe its just my family but I can honestly say I have never eaten this amount of carbs in my life.

So fair to say, there are alot of cultural difference. They are not bad at all, but merely different.