Erasmus Experience in Torun, Poland by Zoé

Why did you choose to go to Torun, Poland?

I wanted to go to Torun because Polish people told me it is far more beautiful than Poznan. It is completely true, it is the third most beautiful city in Poland, after Cracovia and Gdansk. What is more interesting is that architecture is 80% from 12th century at the Old Town. It was worth seeing according to all Polish people I met.

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

Scholarship is from October to June. There is holidays for Christmas, February and April. I recieved money from European Union, my university and my region in my home country, and I could ask some money from Polish government, but I asked too late. I recieved 530€ per month by region + 1200€ from EU + 1125€ from my university for year.

What is the student lifestyle like in Torun?

Student lifestyle can be whatever you want. I lived in my own flat. I didn't go to clubs. I was going to supermakets such as Auchan and Fresh Market for vegetables. I went to Bygdoski city park everyday; it is a big forest which goes from the city centre to the Vistula river (most charming river in Europe) and it is really relaxing. I improved my Polish really fast. But you can live in dormitories, drink a lot of beers and vodka in pubs and clubs and enjoy parties every night without speaking Polish even one time in a year. It depends on what kind of life you want to live.

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

Yes, of course I recommend this city. Erasmus coordinator, Mrs. Malgorzata Grudzinska is very kind and she will help you by any manner, teachers are kind and studying is not hard. The city is little, familial, very charming and welcoming.

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What is the food like?

Polish food may be hard to get used to it for most foreigners. You can eat traditionnal Polish food (soups, pierogi, pierniki, hot chocolate... ) as well as international food, which you buy in supermarkets. Meat and the cheese may shock you because it looks all the same. They prepare it in the same way for all types, and it is quite hard to find beefsteak.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Torun?

I found my accomodation very easily on the website olx.pl. At the beginning it will be hard to understand because this webside is only in Polish, but all types of accomodation are there (very cheap accomodation like 100€ to most expensive - 300€), they are mostly for students, but you can also find many opportunities at the university, where people put their annoucements on the walls.

How much does it cost to live in Torun?

The cost of living is incredibly cheap, compared to Western European countries. 1€=4zloty. It seems to be the same in Turkey. Transport is also cheap (1 normal ticket is 2, 80zl, 1 reduced is 1, 50zl). People travel between cities by train (40 to 20zl) and buses (a lot of different companies go to every city for around 30zl). Be careful about little supermarkets: they have very diversified prices depending on products. I always go shopping to Copernicus shopping mall, there is Auchan in which everything is cheap.

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

Of course there are Polish lessons for the beginners and for advanced learners too. Other courses are in English. Some of them are dedicated to Erasmus students even if teachers don't speak English very well. The language difficulties depend on each person, but I like this strange language, which is very difficult to get used to. I was very happy to know basic phrases before coming (I learned Polish for one year) because Polish people don't speak English and you will need this basic knowledge when you arrive to Torun, buy your transport tickets and find your accomodation. Polish people really love foreigners who make the effort to speak their language and it will help you a lot more than not speaking even a word in Polish.

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

I always take train to move around Poland because it is very cheap for students, but you also have very cheap company Polskibus and, of course, Blablacar.pl.

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Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Torun?

Hostels in Torun are not expensive, but the cheapest is Dom Turysty PTTK on Legionow street, then comes Orange Hostel on Prosta street.

The others are more expensive.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Torun?

A very good restaurant and not expensive is the traditionnal restaurant called Pierogarnia. You will eat some traditionnal pierogi, which are well prepared in this restaurant!

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

You can visit the Town Hall, old biggest market, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist church, which is also the part of glorious past of the city. These are the most beautiful things I saw in Torun.

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Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Torun in the future?

Please try to learn some words in Polish before coming concerning transport (tram, bus, train, airport), restaurant, accomodation and try to be informed about the social rules like not smoking at a bus stop, give your seat to old people, do not kiss to each other on cheek, do not cross the street out of a regular pedestrian crossing and without a green light (you can be fined if you cross on a red light, or if you smoke at a bus stop)!

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