Journal 8 – Is complaint Polish peculiarity?


Sometimes, complaint can be an engine of progress. However, it isn’t good if complaint constitutes a stable trait of someone’s attitude. At that case, complaint doesn’t have a positive influence for a malcontent and his surroundings.
When I lived in Poland, one time I watched on TV interview with foreigners from different countries who have lived in Poland no less than 5 years. A Polish journalist asked guests about differences between people in Poland and their native countries.
The American diplomat, a lady of the middle age, said that Americans don’t complain as much as Poles do. She gave an interesting example. If a neighbor asks John, who had a serious heart surgery two weeks ago, “John, how are you today?”, than John suddenly answers, “I am fine. How are you?”
In Poland, when we meet people they usually complain about health, money, job, spouse and many different things. Poles are very kind and hospitable, but complain is their particular trait style of life, the American lady ended her statement.