Erasmus experience in Kaunas, Lithuania by Ester

Why did you choose Kaunas?

I wanted to try something different to Spain. In Lithuania not only the climate is different from the one we enjoy in Spain, but also the people, culture and gastronomy is pretty different, so it seemed an interesting Erasmus+ destination. Furthermore, since they have not entered in the Euro yet (they will in January 2015), the currency change is beneficial.

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How much do you receive for your scholarship and how long does it last?

The Erasmus+ scholarship lasted for 10 months, and I received around 200€ per month, considering the scholarship from the MEC, the UE and the university.

How is the student life in Kaunas?

It's awesome. Kaunas even though it is a relatively small city (around 400 thousand inhabitants), it has many universities (5 if I'm not wrong, with their respective faculties) and it is plenty of students, both, national and international.

Would you recommend the city and university of Kaunas to other students?

Of course I would. For me it has be an incredible experience.

How did you find the country's gastronomy?

The Lithuanian traditional food is based on the potato, and their main dish is the "Cepelinai", which consists on a tasty kind of potato stuffed with meat. I don't recommend you to eat it very often, because it has many calories, but it is perfect to deal with the cold weather of Kaunas!

Was if difficult for you to find accommodation in Kaunas?

Actually not. My university of destination (VMU) has a dormitory in the city centre for international students, so I didn't have any problem.

How much does it cost living in Kaunas?

It is cheaper than Spain. The currency change is beneficial for us, coming from the Euro. For example, my dormitory costed 220LT, what corresponds to 60€. Eating at the restaurants was also pretty cheap, and the alcohol too (specially the beer).

How did you deal with the language? Did you attend any course at university?

Lithuanian is very difficult to learn, but I learnt some basic words for the daily life. However, most of the people there speak English, so the language is not a big problem. Actually, my destination university offered a Lithuanian course, but my home university didn't allow me to add it to the Learning Agreement.

Which is the most economical way to get to Kaunas from your city?

By plane, whit at least one stop in an intermediate airport.

Which places would you recommend to go out in Kaunas?

Going to Dzem Pub on Tuesdays is mandatory. You will find Lithuanian and international people, there is a karaoke and a terrace in the top of the building. Another good bar is Blue Orange, where the waiters and waitress are very friendly.

Regarding the discos, there are Zero Club, Deja Vu... Even though there are many, my favourite one is Zero Club. In addition, if at 5 a. m. you still want more party, you can go to Kankle, very recommendable for the last drinks of the night.

And to eat in Kaunas? Could you mention your favourite places?

The best place regarding the quality-price relation is the Charlie Pizza. There you can find a menu of pizza and Coca-Cola for 10LT (around 3€). Besides, it has many more dishes and the place is pretty cool. Another good restaurant is Gen Bai, a Japanese with the best sushi I've ever tried.

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And any cultural places to visit?

I could recommend some museums in Kaunas, but I don't remember the name. But if you look for an alternative experience, I recommend the Devil's Museum. You can also visit the Star Sower. And another good plan is to visit the Zalgirio Arena, near the river.

As I commented there are a lot of museums related to the II World War, paintings, art... There are also many parks and a castle.

Which advice would you give to future students?

Not to prejudge. At the beginning, Lithuanians could seem to be cold, but ass you know them better, you realize they are very kind and helpful people.

Have fun, enjoy the city and don't forget to attend to at least a basketball match of the Zalgiris Kaunas.