Poland

Poland lies in Central Europe and is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine to the east; Russia and the Baltic Sea to the north. Poland is home to more than38 million people and the landscape is very diversified. The Carpathian and the Sudety Mountains stretch in the south. Lowlands and uplands occupy the central part of the country. The northern part of Poland, comprising Pomeranian and Masurian Lakelands, is gently undulating, relatively well forested and covered by hundreds of lakes; still further to the north are the sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea coast.

Since Poland joined the EU, the infrastructure of the country has rapidly improved and there are flights linking Poland with most other countries in Europe. Domestic travel is possible with an excellent train network or on the ever growing motorway network.

The native language is Polish and some older people will also speak Russian. English and German are also spoken as second languages by a growing number of people.