"Go outside your boundaries, outside your neighbourhood, do something you've never done before.”

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My memories in Copernicus’ home, Olsztyn – Poland

Nicolaus Copernicus, the world-famous astronomer, who placed the Sun in the center of the Universe (heliocentric cosmology), lived at the castle in Olsztyn as an administrator. Just like this fact, I didn’t know many things about this little town, before I arrived!

“Be cheerful, don’t be afraid” – I titled a blog that I launched to publish stories that happened to me here. When I was preparing myself in mind to the journey I found a saying that says: when you travel anywhere and you want to find nice people - you will, if you want to find unkind people - so you will. Taking the first advice I built many friendships that provided a familiar security for me, while I left my family and my friends behind.

The fascinating natural environment, that surrounds Olsztyn, is called ‘The land of a thousand lakes’. The ‘Mazury region’ was nominated to be one of the new seven wonders of nature (www.new7wonders.com ).

In May, when the polish weather turned to be nice and warm, I hired a bicycle and took a circle around the long lake (Jezioro Długie). Then I thought that I wish I could come here more often!

There is no lack of lakes or forests for that matter. I personally planted around 30 trees in a forest outside of Olsztyn together with other Erasmus students, organised by the ESN Olsztyn (Erasmus Student Network). This voluntary work was rather fun and set an example for those pupils, who worked sedulously under our hands.

Olsztyn offers many ways to spend our sparetime. I come from a musical family, so I was glad to be informed about a Philharmonic Concert at the freshly renovated Cultural Center, and six choirs’ concert at the Cathedral, both at the same weekend. I just call it the ’concert weekend’.

"Go outside your boundaries, outside your neighbourhood, do something you've never done before.”

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Being immersed in a search of our mutual historical background I found this proven well-known saying:

“Pole and Hungarian — two good friends, joint fight and drinking are their ends.”

“Polak, Węgier — dwa bratanki, i do szabli, i do szklanki.”

Numerous royal marriages, serial defensive cooperation against the occupying authorities made the relationship so tight between the two nations, that it is considered unique in Europe.

On my first week I was informed about the ‘Polish-Hungarian Firendship Organisation’ working out in Olsztyn that organised an event I was honoured to attend in front of the Solidarity Monument of the 1956 Revolution.

As we used the English language exclusively in the office, my language skills improved considerably during the three-month period. Beside this, I held presentations several times about my home country during the Erasmus Days that we organised to promote the Programme for students. I gained a sort of confidence in public speaking in a foreign language. Moreover, I was interviewed by the local TV station! They made a program about the university, and in a part of it about us, the very first Erasmus students there.

Placement introduces us to worklife with rules, deadlines, decisions and responsibility. I feel that I found the best place for it, it was not only a placement for me, it was much more! They made me feel special and appreciated each other’s work that built a friendly and helpful relationship between us. This positive environment changed my opinion about what constitues a good workplace.

I really enjoyed participating the Educational Fair, after holding a presenation in Łomża they showed us around the city center. Once after work one of my colleagues invited us to her flat, where we tasted their amazing home-made “nalewka” (traditional polish alcoholic drink), and after an Erasmus Day they took us to visit Hitler’s bunker, where we had a short journey in a real army car!

"Go outside your boundaries, outside your neighbourhood, do something you've never done before.”

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Over the course of a few weekends I visited some emblematic citites in Poland. Krakow, that is a popular target for Hungarians, amazed me from the first moment! The ’Planty’, as they call the huge park around the city center, is the most beautiful park I have ever seen! Not to mention the wonderful Wavel, where Nagy Lajos (Ludwik Węgierski) and Báthory István were crowned as Hungarian and Polish Kings.

In Warsaw I was walking around with my cousin and his family and my father, who just visited me. The musical Chopin’ benches feature a button which when pressed have been designed to unleash a thirty second torrent of Chopin. There is a Hungarian Cultural Institute working in Warsaw, which director I had a chance to meet in Olsztyn on the occasion of the Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day.

Gdansk lies on the Baltic Coast, the city of gates, harbor and plenty of amber. I visited Westerplatte, where was the first clash between Polish and German forces during the Invasion of Poland and thus the first battle of the European theater of World War II.

The ESN Olszyn kept us entertained by orginazing thematic parties, such as international dinner, spring party, salsa and karaoke nights, where we could get to know each other and build many friendships.

This review would not be complete, if I only told about the sunny side of my experiences. I was suspicious when everybody encouraged me: „It will be great!” „You will enjoy it”, „It will be one of the best experiences in your life!”… They were right! While leaving your loved ones behind and stepping on an unknown land is a highly brave act, you have a great chance to challenge yourself. But I have to say that, I could not have succeeded without their love and support from home! To cope with their absence only that can help, if you are able to find great people as I found here, in the city of Olsztyn.

Katalin Szabó, student of Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary Erasmus Placement: University of Computer Science and Ecomonics, International Office

1st March – 31th May 2012 Olsztyn, Poland