My Erasmus Experience in Gdansk, Poland - by Lorena

Why did you choose to go to Gdansk, Poland?

I chose Gdansk because I wanted to live in a culture totally different to Spanish culture, with a different climate, different customs, and above all, cheap!

How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

In the year that I went, my exchange lasted for three months, although friends of mine only went for half the academic year. My grant was 300 euros a month, since I also received a grant from the MEC - if I hadn't, I would only have received around 160 euros.

What's the student life like in Gdansk?

Gdansk has a great student atmosphere, as does Sopot and Gdynia (the three cities are joined together). Students from the University of Gdansk, the Polytechnic University and the Maritime Academy all mix together, meaning that you get to know people from all over the world.

Would you recommend the city and University of Gdansk to other students?

Yes - spending a year in Gdansk was one of the best experiences of my life, although it's true that for my subject (psychology) there weren't that many classes to choose from, and I really had to make an effort to get good marks there. Everything else though made it a fantastic year, full of travelling, partying and great friends.

What's the food like in Poland?

Polish food is great: zurek, pierogi, gulash... you'll have to accept that you're going to come home weighing a few kilos more, since everything's really tasty and really, really cheap. If you don't like going out to restaurants, you can always go to Lidl or Tesco and buy all different sorts of food (some supermarkets are even open 24/7).

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Gdansk?

I had already been given a room in one of the university halls of residences before I arrived, though within a week I had changed to a flat with some friends. Finding a flat really isn't difficult if you make a bit of effort, but they usually want to charge foreigners more, so don't forget to get a Polish friend to help you in your search!

How expensive is living in Gdansk?

Living in Gdansk is cheap. I don't remember off the top of my head how much I spent every month, and it all depends on how often you go out clubbing, to eat, etc. In 2012, half a pint of beer was 5 zlotys and a meal out between 15 and 20 (around 4 euros)... very cheap and tasty!

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language class at the university?

The language is really hard to understand, but almost everyone speaks English there. Even the baker or the cashier at Lidl can get by in English. :) In any case, I went to a Polish course over the summer offered by the EILC, which was fantastic not just for learning a bit of Polish, but also for getting to know people from all over Europe and making friends who live across Poland.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Gdansk from your home city?

The best way of getting to Gdansk is from Barcelona, as Wizzair flies there directly from El Prat. I think there might now be direct flights from Alicante with Ryanair, and it's also really easy to get there from Madrid, but then you have to fly to Poznan instead of Gdansk.

What are the best places for partying in Gdansk?

Going out in Gdansk is different every day. The best thing to do is just to wait until you get there and discover it all for yourself. People go to one place or another depending on what day of the week it is. On Mondays and Tuesdays, people often go to different clubs near Gdansk university, on Wednesdays they go to Sopot, on Thursdays they stay in Gdansk city centre... for cheap beers, we used to go to Hi-Fi, inside the university residence.

What about eating out in Gdansk? What are your favourite places?

My favourite place is Kos, a tiny restaurant in the city centre which is also very cheap (I say that, a lot of prices have increased with the European Cup). Polish food, meat, pizzas... all super tasty and large portions.

What does Gdansk have to offer in terms of culture?

The best thing to do is just go on a walk through the city centre to admire the buildings...in general, Gdansk is a very beautiful city. To get to the beach (I went a few times during the summer), go to Sopot and follow one of the scenic paths until you reach the cliffs. You can also travel to loads of places both in Poland and in Europe on the train from Gdansk.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Gdansk?

Enjoy everything to the full, as it'll be over before you know it. Integrate with the Polish, because they're super open and nice people (and they also love Spaniards! ). Also, don't hesitate to take advantage of the cheap travelling prices, go and discover other countries. I wish I could go again! :)