IS THIS CITY A GOOD PLACE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME?

[Skv]

Hi everyone! I’m Luk, and I live in small country in East Europe – Poland. I have a little problem and I heard that you(Americans) are very helpful and nice people so I hope that you help me to find solution of my problem. In Poland, we have a program for students who they want to see America. It’s called “Work&Travel” . The U.S consulate give us permission for work and J-1 visa so we can legal work and live on U.S teritory for 4 months(Students holiday). I’m student of architecture and I really want to see Los Angeles. I think this city is awesome! In Poland we don’t have sth like this. I saw it on the photos in these and similar forums. This skyscrapers, highways, palm trees, beaches and ocean...oh God....it’s fantastic. As a student, but also a man, I really want to see that. I read a lot of books, artickle in LATimes, topic on forums about LA, because I belive that If you want to live in a place like that you should know a few things about it. Unfortunatelly I don’t have any member family in California(only my uncle live in NYC :/) and friends too L(( . But this is my dream: Live and work in LA for 4 months. But I don’t know if I can do this. When I said to my friend ‘ Guy’s I decided go to the California, find the job for Holiday and live there for 4 months’ they told me ‘Are you crazy? It’s impossible! You’re not american citizen, not even british. You live in Poland! Nobody employ you! You won’t find apartment and You’ll die like a homeless or sb shoot you!’ Then I said “It’s not true! I’ll have work permission and Social Seciurity Number I’ll be legall on States teritory. Like as US resident. I can’t believe that no one employ me! Sb must! It’s LA – the city when everythings gonna happen!’ ‘will see, will see...’ God...My friends ruined my dreams. They destroyed my plans L But I still have a hope that they’re wrong. You are LA residents so i think you know everything what i need to known. So There are my questions:

Do you think thant I could find a job for 4 months in which I won’t need special qualifications. You know, typical job for students and young not well educated people(I still study architecture so maybe in future I’ll get the better job e.g an architect and i’ll create new skyscrapers in downtown makes LA more beatifully than it is now).Maybe I can work in shop or car wash, enterteinment Park or sth like that. Please tell me, where the UCLA students work? Remember: It’ll be a holiday.

And also: Do you think I could find an apartment or room for 4 months(month-to-month lease) for about 500-600$ per month in not bad neighbourhood? Do you think it’s posiible in LA? You know I heard that If you live in bad, gangsta area You could be kill for missing bullets. In Europe, people think that LA is one of the most dangerous and unsafe place in the world. Gangs, police chases, drive-by, shooting, agressive driving and so on. I don’t agree with it. Maybe there are some very bad areas like Inglewood but the rest are fine. Am I right?
So you know I’ll be survive in this city for 4 months. Maybe there will be hard but i really want to do that!

So please, don’t kill my dreams and tell me the truth: IS THIS CITY A GOOD PLACE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME? IS THERE ANY CHANCE TO MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE?

BTW As you see maybe my english it’s not perfect but I think I can coumunicate with other people . I use simple form and tenses e.g Past simple, past perfect, future and so on. But I think it’s not problem in speaking-language. Unfortunately my english it’s not safistacted and I dont’t use specialist verbs, nouns and forms(e.g. I would be grateful and other) very often. English should be easy J Of course I want to practise my english until I have satisfaction(so probably – never J)

Oh, I forgot. More information aobut Work&Travel program -
http://www.workandtravel.net/

[Fern~Fern*]

You can't always believe what you hear about L.A. Know who told you about the drive by shootings and gangs and so forth. That not true at all, LA is a beautiful city with a ton of opportunities. So you don't speak very good English, Hey neither does 50% of the city. I actually met a cat from Poland like 2 yrs ago. He's English was not the best and he manage to get a job as an operator for At&T (Foreign Calls). He hooked up with some Latina and got married. Last I heard he has 2 kidz and still works in the same business. So if he made it so can you, also if push comes to shove there's always Porn!!!! :lol:

[Adas_wch]

Hi everyone! I’m Luk, and I live in small country in East Europe – Poland.

darowal bys sobie z tym malym krajem i jeszcze wypchales nas na wschod ;) glowa do gory ;)

[Fern~Fern*]

^^ English!!!!

[Elsongs]

also if push comes to shove there's always Porn!!!! :lol:

If we ever hear of a pr0n actor called "The Polish Sausage," we'll know who it is. :lol:

[Elsongs]

^^ English!!!!

Relax, he's just breaking out the Polish for bonding purposes.
I'm largely monolingual but grew up in a household where another language was spoken (Tagalog) and likewise a neighborhood where many other languages are spoken.

I've learned most people's objections to hearing foreign languages being spoken in public is because they're paranoid and think those people are talking about them! That's the absolute truth!

So relax, Ferney, I don't know a lick of Polish, but I can guarantee they're not talking about you.

[svs]

LA is actually the second safest big city in the US after NY. You can probably get a temporary job here as well, lots of totally illegal immigrants do. The hard part may be the apartment for $500 a month but if you find a roommate to share, its doable.

[The Baz]

skv, check out www.craigslist.com under Los Angeles and search for "rooms for rent" and "jobs" and you'll find a lot of examples on what to expect.

[Skv]

You can't always believe what you hear about L.A. Know who told you about the drive by shootings and gangs and so forth.

Yeah, but I wrote that I don't believe for that. Read my first post once more:

'I don’t agree with it. Maybe there are some very bad areas like Inglewood but the rest are fine. Am I right?'

So you don't speak very good English, Hey neither does 50% of the city.

But LA is half hispanic, right?(50%:naughty: ) Unfortunatelly I don't know spanish..only 'que pasa' from american movie:lol:

And your story is very interesting and funny. But in conclusion do you think LA is a good place for people from Poland? :P

I try to translate it:

darowal bys sobie z tym malym krajem i jeszcze wypchales nas na wschod glowa do gory

'Calm down! Poland it's not a small country and we don't live on the east. Good luck' :lol:

AND ONLY IN ENGLISH PLEASE

btw

a cat from Poland is an american idiom, right?

[Elsongs]

Hi everyone! I’m Luk, and I live in small country in East Europe – Poland.

Hi Luk -

I want to tell you something and I don'tmean to discourage you from coming here, but I want you to be realistic.

Many people from around the country and the world come to Los Angeles because of the image that they see on TV, movies, magazines or word of mouth. They believe it's some "magical place," "the promised land" or a place where they can become a "star." So much so, that they believe that by merely moving here that magic will happen and all their dreams will come true.

But when they actually come here, they don't see the magic, and start hating the city.

I'm not saying Los Angeles is bad or dangerous or you are totally wrong. It's just that it's just like any other place, it just has its own unique climate, culture and geography. There are all kinds of people here, not just ethnically but in terms of personality. The people here do NOT all think or act alike!

You will meet just as many genuine, caring, down-to-earth people as you will self-serving, shallow assholes. But there are both kinds of people everywhere else in the world.

Los Angeles is what you make it. But don't come here with unrealistic expectations and expect magic to happen as soon as you get off the airplane.
The magic happens with your own drive, initiative, willingness and confidence.
It's not a perfect place, but then neither is Warsaw, New York, Tokyo or Sydney. No place in the world is perfect. This world isn't perfect either.

So please, when you come here, be realistic. Get rid of that "magic" crap and enjoy the city (or anyplace else in this world) on a realistic level. You will enjoy it much more that way.

And oh yeah, Inglewood isn't as rough as you think it is. There's actually some nice neighborhoods in Inglewood.

[JRinSoCal]

In other words don't think of LA as Hollywood. Its a real place with real people of all shapes and colors.

[solongfullerton]

To answer your question, I think you could move here and find a short term job/internship, maybe even with an architectural firm. However, as previously stated, rent here is expensive. one bedroom apartments in nice/fun neighborhoods run in excess of $1500/month. there are many neighborhoods that would be cheaper, but youre giving up certain luxuries. Since you're eastern european, i would check out west hollywood and palms. both have russian/eastern european immigrants. go to losangeles.cragistlist.com for both apartments and jobs. i would also go to the counselor at your college/university and see if they have any connections here in LA. Good Luck!

[ArchiTennis]

i would say definitely check www.craigslist.org a lot of info there...you should also contact one of the many architect schools and ask them about housing...maybe they can help you out? BTW what year are you in architecture? i'm just asking because i'm studying architecture also...i moved from LA to Texas for 3 yrs to finish up...i'm gonna start my 4th year soon. GOOD LUCK!!

[archd1]

This city is indeed a good place for you. But how much money do you really have? It's not as if you can get a job immediately or find aplace to stay. Save up some dough before you come here..money goes by very fast!

[FROM LOS ANGELES]

LA is the right place for the filthy rich to the avarage Joe. LA is the land of dreams, you want it? you get it!

[kidA]

My mom has friends from Sweden and they're here just like you would be [except, they're here longer] and they have jobs. I would suggest working somewhere like a movie theatre in Santa Monica or food place.

[Skv]

Yeah...the difrence beetwen zone times are amazing.... I was sleeping hard when you wrote these posts. Ok maybe not too hard becuse I must finished my project to school...

Thanks for answers. I really apperciate that you want to help me.

However, I don’t think the LA is a “promisedland”(maybe for someone rich people). I’m optymistic but not stupid guy. I don’t expect “Hollywood image”. I like LA becuse of it’s natural. In Europe a lots of city’s are plastic.They don’t have all shapes and coulours. The most of them are only in white and black and I don’t like that. But ELSONGS You’re right. I know LA only from movies, books and stupid TV shows. And this is my main problem. I want to see R E A L Los Angeles and compare it. The “Los Angeles Image” and reality! And you know what? I don’t care about gangs, traffic jams and drive-by shooting. It’s an integral part of this city and for me it’s fine. And as you said this kinds of problems are evryhere else in the world. Even in my city. I live in Cracow(a very old city) and we also have a bad and nice areas. I lived in one of them- New Huta. People around Cracow think that this neigbourhood is very dangerous. There a lot of bloody stories about this hood. About gangs, crime, thevies and even about serial killers. And you know what? It’s completly not true. I lived there for 20 years and nothing seriously bad gonna happen to me and my friends too. Ok maybe a couple years ago a group of young gangsters stole my money. We don’t have a lot of guns becouse we must have permission for gun but we have knifes, axes and a lot of other kinds of weapon.
Although, I like LA becuse of architecture. Have you ever been in Europe? We don’t have most of this stuff that you have. Europe and America are completly difrent. Even the colour of ground in LA and Poland is difrrent. Seriously! Why? Becuse of climate, geographical structures and so on. I love LA sunset, I adore to ocean and palm trees and I really like hot and sun. God, I hate winter and cold. It makes my sick. Now in Poland we have a horrible winter. Evrytings is in the snow. Sidewalks, streets, lawns. Car’s are dirty and people are rude. Yeah I saw in LATimes that Malibu is also under the snow(palms and swiminng pools in the snow...very surrealistic view for me!) but this is sth completly diffrent. Poland and eastern Europe is very cold and depresic place in the world(In my opinion) and South California I hope not.And also I’m very intersting about LA’s e.g I know that yours-ELSONGS- location name is the first name of LA in 1857 :P But nevermind. This is dicussion to another topic...

I checked www.craigslist.org. but very basicly. Now i don’t have enough time but I try to check this site more carefully soon(during my winter holiday). I don’t think I could be work in an architectural company on the States. It’s impossible beacuse in Europe we have completly diffrent build-system. So unfotunatelly without american diploma it’s only unreal dream. But I’m also a computer artist, cg and 2d animator, web designer, inker and drawer so maybe I could find sth in this kind of job. But for 4 months without work experience on States teritory and diploma I don’t expect a good job. And unfortunatelly my english it’s not perfect becuse I learned english myself(from movies, books,newspapers) In school we have dramaticaly level of this language. But I want to practice my english as soon as possible. When I come to America I want to talk with other english people in this language. About everytnihg. My country, yours contry, sports wether, life and so ooooon.... In the shop, work, on the streets. I belive this will be the best english lesson in my short life. And this is also a reason why I wouldn’t live in russian/eastern area. I want to learn sth aobut america and american citizens and not from russian and polish imigrants. 1500$ for month? Holly shit! No way! Is too much for me. Buceuse I don’t think that I could earn more than 8$ per hour in non profit sector. And of course I’ll be pay for another important things such as food, subway tickets and so on. Heh...I’m worry that this will be the most hard part of my Los Angeles dream...shit why life can’t be much easier than it is :P In Juni I’ll have about 3 000 $ for everything(program, plane ticets and so on) and believe me in Poland tthis is a lot of money. ONE WORK YEAR! SERIOUSLY! I MUST WORK VERY HARD FOR ONE YEAR IF I WANT TO HAVE ABOUT 3 000 $(maybe litlle more). Incredible... Maybe I’ll sell my favorite camera beacuse I want to have more money. As you said money makes life easier... but in Poland life is hard more than avarage. So be happy that you live in America...I’m on the second year(this information is specially for you tennisguyinHtown J) and I work in McDonald’s company too. I try to save up some money and I think i can do that. Ufortunatelly I don’t have any friends in LA so roommate is also a problem. Heh that’s i thought the cost of livingb in LA is expensive if you are alone...

And on the end my counselor dosen’t have any conection in LA...

[djmanu]

Hi,
I'm from Belgium, I'm working in IT (network engineer), I've a master degree and a good situation here.
I love LA, and my dream is to live and work there but I think that that USA has the worst immigration laws in the world.

[godblessbotox]

it does indeed.

[djmanu]

it does indeed.

Yes I think they could encourage more people with good diploma to work in the US like Canada does ...

[Elsongs]

I think that that USA has the worst immigration laws in the world.

I believe every immigrant, legal or illegal, who has come here in the past 25 years would agree with that 100%.

[richardsonhomebuyers]

Skv Chicago actually might be the better city for people from Poland. We do after all have the highest Polish population in the world outside or Warsaw.

And no I'm not trying to bash LA, just letting the guy know.

[klamedia]

Yeah that's right, Chicago is a Polish town now.

[Fern~Fern*]

Skv Chicago actually might be the better city for people from Poland. We do after all have the highest Polish population in the world outside or Warsaw.

And no I'm not trying to bash LA, just letting the guy know.



^ That is tooooo funny ^^.....

The Dudes never said he wanted to move to Chicago at all. Heck he never even mentioned it at all. I tell you what people would do to promote a city.



:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[godblessbotox]

all my fellow polaks moved out of hamtrammic [sp?]... guess they went to chicago?

[Skv]

I know that Chicago has one of the largest polish neigbourhood in the States but this is not for me. LA drive me crazy and i like this feeling. Architecture of this city is completly diffrent than Chicago or New York and culture i believe also and of course there are no palm trees and soo beatifull sunsets in Chicago :P. Am I right LA forumers? :)

BTW According to my trip I found this short clip movie on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYyWdLTuxH0
Amazing...I've fallen in love with LA...

Greetings from cold country :)

[Fern~Fern*]

^^ You sure are absolutely correct Los Angeles is an amazing cities to live in. Palm Tree Avenues to hip coastal cities with too much too offer. In Los Angeles everyday is not the same and you will see that when you get here SKv...... Well just leave it at that until you witness it for yourself Dude!!!!

[Elsongs]

I know that Chicago has one of the largest polish neigbourhood in the States but this is not for me. LA drive me crazy and i like this feeling. Architecture of this city is completly diffrent than Chicago or New York and culture i believe also and of course there are no palm trees and soo beatifull sunsets in Chicago :P. Am I right LA forumers? :)

BTW According to my trip I found this short clip movie on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYyWdLTuxH0
Amazing...I've fallen in love with LA...

Greetings from cold country :)

You might not like palm trees that much when it gets windy here and the fronds fall all over your street, sometimes if they're big and heavy enough, they might even damage your car.

[Elsongs]

Skv Chicago actually might be the better city for people from Poland. We do after all have the highest Polish population in the world outside or Warsaw.

And no I'm not trying to bash LA, just letting the guy know.

The people in Chicago are Polish Americans, long removed from the language of the old country. It's not unlike an immigrant form Kenya going into an African American community and not really relating to the people. I'm Filipino Amercian myself, born and raised here, but I'm not fluent in Tagalog at all.

I don't expect any of the Poles in Chicago except for the real old ones to have a conversation with Skv in the native language.

[Skv]

You might not like palm trees that much when it gets windy here and the fronds fall all over your street, sometimes if they're big and heavy enough, they might even damage your car.

But in Poland is the same! A 2 weeks ago a long branches destroyed my uncle car. The windy day's are horrible everywhere else in the world so this is nothing unsual for me. Hovever palms looks more tropicaly than the normal trees. And I like it. Palms rulez:)

I don't expect any of the Poles in Chicago except for the real old ones to have a conversation with Skv in the native language.

Not exactly...There are a lot of illegal imigrants from Poland in Chicago and New York especially in Jackowo and Green Point. They live there and they have only one aim: earn a lot of money and bring them into Poland. And this is very upset beceuse they live in tragicaly condiotions. I know a few of them. Poor people. They couldn't say any words in english exepct : dollars and Poland . This is a very big problem in Poland and in America too. The dark site of imigrantion...

[solongfullerton]

Here's what you have to do. Book your plane flight here and your return trip home. In the meantime, determine what neighborhood you would like to live in and any potential jobs. its probably going to be nearly impossible to find a place to live before you get here, so i would save some extra money in order to stay at a hostel near the neighborhood you chose for atleast a few days. (Hostels are fairly cheap, $15-$20 per night) Once youre at the hostel, the people who work there will be able to help you get around town so you can go see apartments you might want to live at. Hostel workers may even be able to help you find some other kind of temporary housing. Also, when you're not looking for a place to live, you can look for jobs to help pay for your trip while your here. The real important thing here though is that you do not want a full time job. If you are just visiting, you'll need to have plenty of time to see the sights and enjoy the experience. You don't want to waste your trip working the whole time. So, let us know when you'll be here :)