Erasmus Experience in Lodz, Poland by Theo

Why did you choose to go to Lodz, Poland?

I chose to go to Lodz in order to complete a software/computer engineering internship at the Polytechnic University in the micro-electronics and IT department, a renowned university throughout Poland.

How long did you stay there? How much financial aid did you receive in total?

My stay lasted 3 months but I didn't get any financial aid to complete it.

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How did you find the student atmosphere in Lodz?

I didn't rub shoulders with many students there, but I did have regular contact with a Polish PhD student with whom I worked with on a project. He was very nice and suggested we go to a concert at the University so I could familiarise myself a bit with these new surroundings.

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

The city is rather working-class, a sign of its factory worker and textile past (we call it the Polish Manchester), you have to like it. As for the University, it's modern and the management, teachers and supervisors are nice.

What is the food like in Poland?

In the supermarkets, you can find basic products like pasta, rice or even cheese. However, the delicatessens are the best part.

Did you have any problems finding accommodation in Lodz?

I didn't really have any huge problems. I stayed first in a youth hostel for 2 weeks on the outskirts of the city, what was hard was feeling at home. I made the most of those 2 weeks by successfully looking for an apartment closer to the university and in which I felt freer.

What was the living cost in Lodz?

Like throughout Poland, it's a lot cheaper than living in France. You could live off 20 euros per person for a big weekly shop.

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How did you find learning the language? Did you do any language courses offered by the university?

The Polish language has many cases of declension like in Russian or German. Being a Slavonic language, it is substantially different to our French from Greek and Latin roots, it's therefore harder to learn, even if many words are very similar in the two languages. For everyday life, when "hello-thank you-goodbye" are enough, it's not a problem. But if you have to talk in more depth, I favour English, with which I'm naturally more at ease.

Which is the cheapest way to get to Lodz from your city?

Perhaps car-sharing is the cheapest to get there. But that takes time, and you have to trust people. I preferred to fly to Warsaw, then take the train to Lodz.

Which places would you recommend to go partying in Lodz?

I'm not really a party person, especially in a place which I don't really know and where the language barrier is still a problem for me. Ergo, I can't really advise anyone on that.

What about eating in Lodz? What are your favourite places?

I mostly ate at home, I don't really like eating out especially when I'm alone, which is most of the time.

And which cultural visits would you recommend?

Lodz isn't a city turned to tourism, far from it. However the Manufaktura, an impressive shopping centre, could be interesting, so could the main street Piotrkowska.

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Do you have any advice for future Lodz students?

Don't count on doing any sightseeing, but if you like student house parties, a few Polish people told me that this was the ideal city in Poland.