A Boyfriend's Language Request Puts a Relationship to the Test

Challenges of Learning Polish in a Short Time

With just two weeks until their trip on December 19th, learning a new language seems nearly impossible. Polish is known to be quite difficult, and the woman already has a demanding job and is learning Italian for professional reasons. She emphasizes that she has a lot of work to do before the holidays and simply doesn't have the time to spare.

She shares her situation, stating that starting a new language now would only complicate things in her head. Her recent promotion at work adds to her already busy schedule, making it even more challenging to take on the task of learning Polish.

Compromise and Communication Barriers

In an attempt to find a middle ground, the woman suggests learning simple Polish words and phrases before the trip. She also points out that both of her boyfriend's parents speak English fairly well, along with some of his other relatives. This leads her to propose that her boyfriend translate whenever there is a communication barrier.

However, her suggestion doesn't sit well with her boyfriend, who gets angry and accuses her of being disrespectful to his family and not making an effort to understand his culture. He goes on a rant about how Americans never make efforts to speak other languages, even though the woman already speaks three languages fluently in addition to the one she is currently learning.

User Reactions and Advice

Reddit users flock to the comments section to share their thoughts. One user quipped, "Your boyfriend doesn't seem to understand the language of reason. Ask him this: 'Should we postpone the trip by a year? That should give me plenty of time to master Polish to meet your expectations.'" The majority of readers agree with the original poster and view this as a major red flag in their relationship.

Some people advise the woman to stay home, as they believe her boyfriend will make her time in Poland miserable. It is seen as a harbinger of things to come, and they encourage her to think about whether this is the future she wants.