First impressions after moving to Poland

My impressions of life in Poland are dependent on whether I was living in the city or a small town.

As an American, I found myself very comfortable in large urban areas where expats met and there were some English speakers.   There are social events and things to do.  I like Warsaw a lot.

In the small town where I first worked (in a great job), the people outside of work kept to themselves and I was barely acknowledged.  Even co-workers did not invite me over to their homes, for a year.

No one spoke English in the town, and that's not a flaw in them  (b/c I'm in Poland) but it's very isolating.  I'm an extrovert but found it nearly impossible to have a social life until I moved to the city.

Generally, Poles are hard working, humble and smart.  Once you become friends, they are very generous, loyal,  kind and fun. 

Outwardly, however, they are not the warm & fuzzy people you might meet in North or South America.

For instance, in elevators Poles do not initiate conversation, they do not initiate greetings on the street even if you're neighbors, and they don't hug "strangers" they've known 2 years.

In general, they are a measured people.  It has been a great experience.

Oh, thanks for the insight.

Very similar impression.
A French man married with a Polish woman, I get from her a lot of remarks regarding my easy going  ways with new acquaintances. I am not formal enough according to her. As I learned Russian for many years, the least confusion with a Polish word becomes a diplomatic scandal, even with in-laws or close friends.
Never heard a dirty jokes here. I really miss them and therefore keep my own collection secret.
At work, Polish people are far too conventionnal in their methods. Excellent subcontractors, really serious, professionnal and concentrated, but not creative enough when it comes to expand their markets abroad. They may manufacture some of the best mining machinery in the world (my speciality) but nobody knows them outside of Polish coal and copper or CIS mines.
Kids are so polite and quiet, compared to French ones!
On the whole, I prefer so much to be here than in Paris. I will never be part of the scenery though. The language and the ways of people will remain strange for me. It's like waking up in an exotic country every morning. Eternal holidays in fact. Better than the Riviera.