Of course you're right, but then again I believe it was obligatory by law to be employed somewhere. Those who weren't used to be considered "social parasites"

Of course you're right, but then again I believe it was obligatory by law to be employed somewhere. Those who weren't used to be considered "social parasites" (official terminology, see eg. http://www.zielona-gora.po.gov.pl/index.php?id=36&ida=3790 http://www.zielona-gora.po.gov.pl/index.php?id=36&ida=3790) Now, whether or how this law was actually enforced is another matter, but at the very least not having a "normal" source of income was frowned upon, so I imagine already standing out as a foreigner you might prefer to keep a straight record.