Erasmus Turku

1. Make a presentation of yourself.

Hello, my name is Tomasz, I’m 22 and I live and study at Technical University of Lodz, Poland.

2. Describe briefly the place you are from.

My home town is Lodz. It’s one of the big cities in Poland. High traffic jams, no skyscrapers, a lot of hotels… nothing unusual except old textile factories that now figures as museums.

3. Tell us how the city where you study is.

Same as above. I’m studying in the same town.

4. What do you think about your home university? (Before you go on Erasmus) Be honest ;)

My home university from my point of view is unfriendly to all students. Huge queues to Student’s Office, no aid from teachers. Hierarchical system which is part of Polish culture preventing the development ofbonds between teacher and student.

5. What encourage you to go on Erasmus? Reasons, etc..

Discovering the world, I always wanted to travel and Erasmus gave me such opportunity. Moreover, such programs are welcomed by potential future employers.

6. When you decide that, what countries / destinations you had in mind and why?

When Erasmus coordinator gave me a list of universities with which my university had agreement. Then I picked one which corresponded with my field of studies.

7. Once you know definitely the destination

How did you feel?

Excited.

What did you think about the place?

I thought that Finland is cold place but in fact winter was warmer than in Poland.

What your closest people (family, friends, colleagues ...) told you or thought about it?

They were happy that I had such opportunity to study abroad.

If you had a choice to choose another one, what would have been?

Finland again or some warmer place.

8.  For how long is / was your stay? Do you think that's enough? Would you have liked to have stayed longer? / Would you like to stay longer?

I’ve stayed for 2 semesters (10 months) and it was definitely too short! I would like to stay there for the rest of my life or at least big part of it.

9. How did the paperwork, formalities, etc..? What do you think about all this?

It’s quick and easy. Of course it depends on organization at university. E.g. in Technical University of Lodz, I got the impressionaboutlack of communicationwith the students.

10. How is the city where you live or you used to live during your Erasmus?

Turku was great! Beautiful city with river and close neighborhood with sea makes it real attractive!

11. Where did you stay (residence, apartment, dorm)? Explain how it is.

I was at Student Village in apartment in block of flat. It’s like normal apartment, except there were students all around me J

12. Well, what about the Host University? How it is? What do you think?

Turku University of Applied Sciences is a great university! Everyone is helpful to each other and what is the most important You feel valued.

13. Compared to your home university,what advantages and disadvantages do you get when compared to the host university?

Good communication between TUAS and students

Electronic system that contains all changes to study plan and e-mail notification system

Lack of queue in Student Office

Teachers always have time and are opento criticism

14. During Erasmus, it iscommon make trips taking advantage of the staying in other countries and places. Did you already make a trip? Got one in mind? Where do you want to travel? Where have you gone?

During my exchange program I visited a lot of places in Finland and abroad.  I was in Sweden, Estonia and Russia.

15. Finally, the most important. Tell us as Erasmus generally is in the place you are or were (as applicable). How the partys, the other Erasmus, social life, student organizations, associations Erasmus, are and so on (The more you can write, the better!).

Every party for exchange students were well organized. Social life in fact depends on people but I haven’t met anyone unfriendly during my stay. Student organizations like Finnish ESN-IAC are helpful to everyoneand every activity performed by this organization was amazing!