My Erasmus experience in Poznań, Polonia de Laura

Why did you chose to go to Poznań, Poland?

I chose to go to Poznań because, when compared with the options I had (Portugal or Italy), it was the furthest away, and I could speak English whilst I was there. If I hadn't have gone through an Erasmus exchange, I would have never had the chance to visit the city, and I've already visited both Portugal and Italy before.

How long is the grant for? How much financial aid do you receive?

For a period of approximately 3 months and 20 days, I received 733€. Poznań is very cheap, so the grant money covered my housing and bills.

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What is student life like in Poznań?

It's very good - there are a lot of students here.

Would recommend the city and the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań to other students?

Yes, although, I have not studied at the UAM (the main university here); instead, I'm at a physiotherapy school. The city is not as beautiful as other Polish cities, like Krakow, for example, but with it being so cheap, you can live well and travel for almost next to nothing.

How is the food in Poland?

It's very, very good.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Poznań?

No, it wasn't.

How much does it cost to live in Poznań?

I lived in a house with 5 other people, but I had my own room. Bills were about 170€. The food was very cheap. A big trip to the grocery store will cost you about 20€-25€ (depending on what you eat). At restaurants, you can eat good food for less than 10€. Nightlife was cheap too.

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

I did not take any classes. The Polish language is very difficult, but the young people speak English, along with the people from my local area. In the supermarkets and in another retail stores, people generally did not speak in English.

What is the cheapest way to get to Poznań from your city?

From Madrid - by plane. You can stop in other cities, making your journey cheaper, but, at the end of the day, it's annoying. Stopping in Germany will make for a well-priced journey (because Madrid-Poznań is not a direct flight) if you book in advance.

Which places would you recommend for nightlife in Poznnan?

Cuba Libre is one of the most famous places, as well as Czekolada.

What about places to eat? What were your favorite places?

The best Polish restaurant is Chatka Babuni (they have delicious pierogis). Mannekin sells crepes, which are also very delicious, but cannot be considered to be Polish food. Another good restaurant was Chlopskie Jadlo, which also has very delicious Polish food. I recommend the pierogis and zurek (inside a bread roll).

And what about cultural hotspots?

There are a lot of museums, but they're not very nice to visit. There are also many parks in the city too.

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Is there any advice that you want to give to future students in Poznań?

Learn some Polish so you can get by, and so that you won't be intimidated by taxi drivers (because they try to).