Miguel Angel's Erasmus Experience in Opole, Poland

Why did you choose to go to Opole, Poland?

Honestly, amongst the possible destinations I was offered, it was one of the few that really caught my attention. In the beginning, I was somewhat reluctant, thinking that the people only spoke of how cold it was in their very difficult language, but, in the end, I decided to go there and it wasn't that bad.

How long does your grant last for? How much money do you receive as financial support?

My grant was for 9 months, although I was there for almost 10 months. We received a weekly sum of 125€. My university paid us in advance and we would receive their payments every month.

What is student life like in Opole?

Despite not being a very big city, there are loads of students. The fact that there are only makes you notice the sheer quantity of students in this small city.

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Would you recommend the city and the university that you attend in Opole to other students?

With regards to the city, of course. As I said earlier, it's small, but very pleasant. It doesn't have the noise and the disorder of a big city, but it does have quite a few things there for you to do.

With regards to the university, I can only talk about the one that I attended, the Politechnika Opolska. If I had to single out any drawbacks of the uni, it would be that we (the Erasmus students) - at least the ones on the same course as me - didn't "mix" with the rest of the Poles in class. In other words, our classes were solely attended by Erasmus students. But, aside from this, I couldn't say that there were any other drawbacks.

What is the food like in Poland?

Poland has a different food culture to that of the "Mediterranean kitchen", although that's not to say that it is bad. There are typical dishes, like "pierogi", which are an interesting one to try. You will discover several different varieties of soup, some of which are very strange, others very good. The cheese soup is a good choice.

Was it difficult for you to find accommodation in Opole?

Truthfully, I had no problems finding accommodation. As long as you get in contact with them in advance, the university will accommodate you in one of their residences. You can try to request an individual room, but it's quite unlikely that they will give you one. The "standard procedure" is to share a room with either one or two more people, depending on the residence you are allocated.

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How much does it cost to live in Opole?

Cost of living in Opole is quite cheap, at least it was the year that I was there. The residence cost around 70€ if I remember correctly, and the prices for students on public transport were laughable. If you are running late and miss your bus, you always had the option of getting a taxi for as little as 2€-3€. With regards to food, you could fill your trolley at the supermarket for 100zl (25€). So, if you manage your money well, you can save for some good trips. Also, being a student also means that trains within Poland are very cheap, which allows you to travel around the whole country for just 4€.

What is the language like? Did you attend any language classes at the university?

Being realistic about the situation, the language is not easy at all. According to what they told us, even a Polish native might never end up learning the language as a whole. But, if you sign up for a class offered by the university, you will learn to say the four basic expressions that you need to survive there, as the situation may arise where you meet someone who does not know English (shop assistants, taxi drivers, people working at ticket offices, etc. ). So, I recommend that you learn some Polish (something more than just insults, which I am sure they will teach you on your first day in the country).

What is the cheapest way of getting to Opole from your city?

To get to Opole, the closest airports are Wroclaw and Katowice. You also have the option of Krakow, although you would then have to suffer a 4 hour train journey to get to Opole. For me, the best option is Wroclaw, as it's barely an hour away from Opole, but there aren't always flights. So, if you have to choose Katowice, I wouldn't recommend arriving at night because the onward connections are bad; look for an alternative time or fly to a different airport.

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Which places would you recommend for nightlife in Opole?

You have several options to choose from, but which ones you choose all depend on the kind of atmosphere/vibe and music that you like when going out clubbing. I think that it would be advisable to ask your Polish friends where's best to go, since they could have closed one place from one year to the next, or another one could have become more popular. During the year that I was there, spending Tuesday nights in Cina Club was legendary. Other options were Drakke, Aquarium, and Papa Musiola, amongst others.

And eating out in Opole? Can you name your favourite places?

This is going to follow the same spiel as the previous question, as it depends on your tastes. And like before, I don't think there is anyone better than your native friends there to help you find somewhere. If it's still open, which I hope it is, I recommend that you go to the crepe place located on the banks of the river, next to the library. In addition, there is Warka, which is a really good place with typical Polish food and pizza. If you like football, there is (or there was) a place called "The Football Pub", situated halfway between the Politechnika and the Sokrates student residence.

And cultural hotspots?

Opole is a city with lots of history - it was the capital of one of the regions of Silesia in the past - so if you have the opportunity to do a tour with someone who can explain things about the city, do it, as it could always be quite interesting.

With regards to places to visit, the Piast Tower (Wieża Piastowska) is a symbol of the city. It's on a bit of an incline, and you can climb to the highest point to take in the views of Opole. In the same area, the year that I was there they were constructing a lake, which I suppose will already be finished by now, and there is an ampitheatre where the 'National Festival of Polish Song in Opole' is celebrated every year.

You also have the ruins of the city walls, the river, the cathedral, the Holy Trinity Church, and the zoo. The zoo is quite small, but the park that surrounds it is both immense and beautiful... if you are not used to living in an area full of green spaces, like me, it will seem even more enchanting to you.

Any advice that you want to give to future students in Opole?

Honestly, I don't have that much advice, apart from make the most of the experience and enjoy yourselves; you only live once. Don't ever stop travelling, as Poland has so many things for you to see and enjoy, and enjoy the snow! Although it may be very cold, it's a great opportunity for you to go skiing or snowboarding - activities that you would never be able to do in Spain.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any doubts/questions, you can send me a private message.

Long life Erasmus!

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