Where in Poland exactly? Warsaw is no different from any western city, all the way fucked up and ugly as fuark. Wroclaw, Krakow, Gdansk - different story.
I have no idea where is this "Polish seem cold" comming from. I always try to help tourist best I can and nowadays vast majority of people here can speak decent English. Last time some American old lady with Tennessee accent asked me if I'm British, lol.