Erasmus Experience in Ostrava, the Czech Republic by Cristina

Why did you choose to go to Ostrava, the Czech Republic?

It's cheaper than the other destinations I was offered. The credits of the transferrable subjects counted for more than in other places.

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

The grant lasted 10 months and I got €115 a month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Ostrava?

It's really good, there are a lot of Erasmus students here, so there's always someone there to help you out if you need something, whatever it may be.

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

Yes. I really liked my stay here.

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What is the food like there?

It's not very good in general, but we get by with what we have. You eat a lot of fast food here... especially pizza. Although, we tried to make Spanish food between us as often as possible.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Ostrava?

No, it was very easy to find a place in the residence I stayed in. All, or almost all, of the Erasmus students lived here.

How much does it cost to live in Ostrava?

I didn't spend more than €300 a month and I spent as much as I wanted (not including the cost of travelling).

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Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the university?

Czech is very difficult and I didn't learn any. I improved my English quite a lot, thanks to speaking it with other foreigners.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Ostrava from your home city?

Going by plane to any nearby city (flying from Madrid, generally) and then taking the train.

Where would you recommend for a night out in Ostrava?

Stodolni on Wednesdays and Fridays, Alexandria on Saturdays. For the other days, you can go to the Poruba residence to one of the bars for a few beers.

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And to eat in Ostrava? What are some of your places to go?

There are cheap restaurants where you can have a good meal. I don't know what they are called, but they're near the Poruba VSB residence.

At the Karolina (a shopping centre) there are all the usual fast food places.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There's not that much to see here, it doesn't take long. There's a zoo, the Miniuni, the main square...

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Do you have any advice for students coming to Ostrava in the future?

Warm clothes are important.

Be very careful with what you do, the people there don't think the same and they have different customs. Also be careful that you don't get scammed, all of the paperwork is pretty complicated.

Don't be afraid to go to a foreign city, you'll usually always find someone to help you out.

I would recommend going on Erasmus, it's a great experience, which you'll never get the chance to have at any other time in your life. You have to make the most of it.