How a Simple Guy from Ukraine Moved to Poland and Became a Top Blogger
We showcase real people who moved to Poland, started from scratch, and achieved great results. Perhaps in one of these stories, you’ll recognize yourself and also decide to move to Poland.
Today, we have an interview with a Ukrainian blogger. Meet Max Elets – a YouTube blogger, marketer, digital producer, and an interesting guy. You can watch the full interview in the video.
What’s your name?
My name is Max Elets, I’m 28 years old, from Ukraine, Donetsk region, and I currently live in Gdańsk. Why did you decide to move?
I found out about my Polish roots, and even before deciding to move, I wanted to learn Polish, though without any specific goal. I started learning the language, found out that I could apply for the Polish Card, and didn’t know why, but I thought it would be good to have it. I submitted the documents, and after the war started, I decided to go to Poland for a couple of months to work, and I ended up staying here.
Why Poland specifically?
Because of my Polish roots, even without the war, I would have gone for some time. Initially, I had no goal to move, I was planning to stay for two months and see how things went. I considered living in Berlin, but it didn’t work out, and I spent two months in Stockholm working.
Tell us how you moved?
I decided to go, passed the interview, but hadn’t received the Polish Card yet, so I started looking for work. I found a job through VKontakte, in some group about Poland. I just wrote on the wall, “Looking for work,” and someone responded. It was much easier back then. The job was on a construction site. They sent me a standard job invitation and soon notified me that I was getting the Polish Card. I made a visa through it, bought a ticket, and left. I didn’t stay long at the construction site, I got fired, and then I started thinking about what to do next. I found out that with the Polish Card, I could study for free, so I googled various educational institutions. The most comfortable conditions and requirements were in Gdańsk. I didn’t even know such a city existed before. I googled some pictures, liked it, and have been living here for 6 years.
What are you doing now?
I am a YouTuber. I create video content and also promote YouTube channels, both mine and for businesses on order. I create content, but I want to move away from that and focus more on promotion. I’ve reached a certain level of income, and now I can focus on what I truly enjoy.
How much can you earn in your field?
From ads on my channel, without too much effort, about a thousand dollars. I don’t actively search for advertisers, they mostly find me. If I take ads every week, I can make $3-4K per month. As for creating content, the price depends on where the content is going. But I never take less than 500 PLN. The more creative the work is, the higher I can charge.
What are the pros of Poland?
There’s one big advantage, and it’s hard to put into words – it’s comfortable here. Someone coming for just two days won’t understand or notice it. It’s the little things – it’s clean, the transport arrives on time. After moving to Poland, I caught myself thinking: when I walk at night and encounter a group of young guys, I don’t cross the street. Before, I would change my route. I feel safer here. And the main thing – the opportunity to travel around Europe.
What are the cons of Poland?
It’s hard to navigate the legislation. Taxes are higher than in Ukraine. It’s difficult for people to legalize themselves. A person comes here, pays taxes, meets all the requirements, but this is not particularly encouraged. These bureaucratic circles, although I haven’t been through them much, I know how the system works. I don’t understand why Poland hasn’t changed this. I came here 6 years ago, and nothing has changed since then.
Favorite city in Poland?
Gdańsk. I consider it the most beautiful Polish city. It’s very comfortable, though it’s a bit smaller, and there’s not much of a community. My friends and I organized business meetings, but there’s definitely more of that in Warsaw and Kraków.
How do people treat Russian speakers?
They treat us normally. If you behave well and treat others with respect, you will receive the same in return. Some people have a negative attitude, but there were such people in Ukraine too. It’s not about the country, it’s about the person. Some people don’t like foreigners, and some help them. Poles have helped me many times. I treated everyone with respect, and the people I met on my way treated me well in return.
How did you learn the language?
I took courses before I moved. When I applied for the Polish Card interview, I realized I wouldn’t have time to prepare on the courses, so I started preparing specifically for the interview. After moving to Poland, communication helped a lot, especially on the construction site, where I had a tough Polish language school.
What advice do you have for people planning to move to Poland?
I recommend approaching it consciously and thinking about it. Decide on the purpose of your move. If you want an adventure, don’t overthink it, just buy the tickets and go. But if you want to move seriously, learn the basics of Polish so it’s more comfortable in daily life. It’s uncomfortable when you can’t communicate with the people around you. Get at least minimal qualifications – photo retouching, video editing, writing texts. With some qualification and basic knowledge of Polish, you can feel comfortable here.
