Poland joined the European Union in 2004. Foreign investment has made the country one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. According to Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, the IT industry accounts for about 8% of Polish GDP.

Poland has an impressive artistic and literary heritage. The most prominent figures are the composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin, the author of battle and historical canvases Jan Matejko, the poster designer Franciszek Starowieyski, and the scientist Andrzej Tomaszewski. The stars of the literary world are Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of the “The Witcher” book series, and Stanislaw Lem, who wrote the novel “Solaris”.

There are 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country, 15 of which are cultural. Tourists from different parts of the world come to see famous Polish castles and listen to the chilling legends about local ghosts. The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork is the largest castle in the world by land area.

The nature of Poland is diverse: forests, fields, swamps, lakes, rivers, mountain chains with steep cliffs, and coastal areas. Białowieża National Park is one of the last preserved areas of untouched forest in Europe and home to the mighty European bison. On the border with Slovakia there are the Tatras — the highest mountain range in Poland. The Baltic coast is lined with beaches and sand dunes. In summer, many vacationers sunbathe in the dunes — the sand hills shield people from the squally wind.

The two climatic zones are oceanic and continental. Winters are harsh and relatively snowy. Summers are mild but humid — especially closer to the coast — and the temperatures rarely exceed 30°C.

Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, or ZUS, is a state body where you can get health insurance. It ensures free medical care in public hospitals. All employees are automatically enrolled with a 9% tax deducted from salary. You can get medical treatment in a public medical center based on your PESEL — a social insurance card for foreigners — or your passport. There are also private medical centers. You can pay for their services directly or get insurance for private medical care.

Kindergartens

Children aged 1 year and above can go to a nursery. At the age of 3, they can attend a kindergarten. Before entering primary school, 5- or 6-year-old children should complete a year of preschool program called zerówka.

Kindergartens may be public or non-public. Local authorities cover the major part of educational costs for public facilities. Parents pay for the meals and daycare if it exceeds 5 hours per day. Non-public kindergartens are fully paid.

Schools

School education in Poland is compulsory. After completing a preschool program, children enroll for an eight-year primary education cycle. After this, they complete a mandatory national competence exam. Then, they can attend secondary institutions to receive 4 years of general or 5 years of technical education. Polish children graduate from school at the age from 18 to 20.

There are both free public and paid private schools.