Poland: a culture overlooked, home to some of the coldest skies and warmest hearts around. Past Review
By John H (Economics., Tulane University) for
CIEE: Warsaw - Central European Studies
Changed my life, my major, and my personality in ways that I am only beginning to appreciate.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Bogdan and Gosia both take their jobs personally, and my experience working with them was extraordinary. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing is a difficult task in densely populated Warsaw. The program provides dorm housing, but the university dorms are nothing like those in the US. Rooms are small, and the buildings are relics of the communist time (the city's housing is currently undergoing massive redevelopment and modernization). I would recommend considering leasing an apartment (this CAN be cheap if you work at it), especially if you are staying for a full year. Get in touch with the advisors early, and they can advise you/assist you. The dorm provides a good social forum, but the same can be achieved by going out and socializing with Poles, and by meeting with your Polish buddy on a regular basis (this is a GREAT buddy program, and the buddies can be very helpful resources). |
| * Food: |
The school had no central dining facility, and Poland isn't world famous for its' culinary proficience. There are some very good restaurants in Warsaw, however, these just aren't accessible during studies. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
This experience will change your life, how you see the world, and how you see yourself. It is priceless. It certainly wasn't the most comfortable or luxurious experience of my life (quite the opposite), but I wouldn't do without it. One of the best decisions I have ever made. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Poland is low-crime, and has a high life expectancy. The school did offer some workout facilities. WHen it wasn't snowing, Warsaw is a great city to exercise in. Mental and physical health issues are handled personally by the program directors, and they will go to any length to ensure students are healthy. Be careful with the Vodka, it's easy to overdo it in Central Europe, and the Vodka is much more palatable and commonly consumed than in the US. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Food, transport, drinks, and most recreational activities in Poland are much cheaper than in the United States. If you are disciplined, you can live reasonably on almost nothing. It's easy to get carried away with cheap shopping and cheap nights out, though, so it's important to remember that things CAN add up. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
It was difficult to practice Polish because the Poles were all insistent on practicing their english! It is a difficult language to learn, especially in just a few months, but Pani Ania was a very patient and engaging instructor. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | n't spend too much time following Erasmus (European exchange) students. Some will make good friends, but generally they are in Poland just to party (literally every single night). Polish students, while shy at first, are more fun to party with, and generally more interesting to talk to (many love to talk politics or society around a beer), and they love to discuss cultural differences. Go out of the way to introduce yourself to those in the dorm who speak English (a majority do), and make yourself open to the dorm community: this is where the best experiences come from. Do something outside of class to expand your experience every week, if not every day. |
