10 Myths about Erasmus Programme

Today we want to present you 10 myths about Erasmus Programme:

1. Erasmus-Orgasmus - No. Not all knowledge ends up in bed. Surprised? Most people go mainly just to make international friends relationship.

2. Nice vacation time - All classes on Erasmus are mandatory, generally there is no mercy. The argument that you are a Erasmus, and may instead develop 15 subjects could 10 just does not work. Erasmus, non-Erasmus, go to class and learn a must. A lot.

3. On vacation does not run out of money - No, unfortunately not. Erasmus scholarships are not too high, but of course everything depends on the university.

4. Party every day – Of course if you want come back to your country exhausted and with the failed semester or year on your studies. But 2-3 times per week it's possible, but still - not every week.

5. You will live in modern apartment - Apartment in the center is expensive and the scholarship is hard to pay for them. Therefore, the students often choose a student flat near the university campus or dormitories.

6. You can learn foreign language well - On Erasmus exchange you are surrounded in great majority by others Erasmus students, not native citizens. That’s they with who you live, spend your free time or attend courses and their language skills are different – one of them speak quite well whereas the others really poorly. But for example if you are going to country, where you will try to learn english, but the native language is different, your language studies could be less effective (of course, it don't have to be!). Of course it depends on country - if you are going to England to learn english or to Spain to learn spanish it's easy to pick up the language.

7. From scientific point of view that time will be beneficial - Maybe there are universities where it’s not truth but generally courses are really easy and don’t pose a challenge. It quite common that somebody has only courses 2 days a week and their weekend has 5 days. It is also truth that sometimes it’s hard to find courses that are requested by home university and you have to enroll at something not entirely connected with your field of study.

8. After comming back you don't have to pass exams, if you get 30 or 60 ECTS credits. Exacly it depends from univesity. For example in Adam Mickiewicz University you have one year to pass program differences.

9. You will not want to go home - After a few weeks you will miss what is national for you and desire to eat for example pierogi from your mom. To be honest - you will be happy if you will find sth from your counry abroad.

10. You won't stand POST ERASMUS DEPRESSION. For sure sooner or later you will have it. But you can make it easier - you can meet and party with all your friends after half or one year on Erasmus. Also you can join local ESN and be Erasmus Tutor/Mentor. Thanks to that you will help other Erasmus students and you can feel erasmus spirit in your city! At the end you can go for Erasmus Practice or if it is possible - second time for Erasmus (it's possible, if you before were on program LLP-Erasmus or if you went for Erasmus + during balchelor, you can go again during master studies).

BONUS: It’s not that easy to get on Erasmus exchange. If you are going to countries like Spain, France or Italy english it’s not enough! You have to know native language of those countries, because usually there is no classes in english. That’s why universities are checking your language skills before. Some students are trying to get an exchange even 2 years, but finally they get it and they pick up the language quickly. Don't give up! You have to try ;)

Let's meet us! Guillermo Villanueva Lop from Spain

Let's meet Guillermo Villanueva Lop! This is our friend from Spain, who is studying for the second time in Poznań. :)

That's what he wrote about him:

"Hi there!

I’m Guillermo, from Spain. I’m a student of M.A. in International Relations (in English) at Adam Mickiewicz University. I’m a very optimistic person, always joking and trying to have fun and see a smile in the people who are around me.

I first arrived to Poznań three years ago taking part of Erasmus exchange program in my fourth year of studies in History. I chose Poland as destination because I was looking forward to live a really new experience in a country with a totally different culture, language, history, food… and even weather and currency!

Now I can assure that it was one of the best decisions I’ve have ever made. I enjoyed my time here to the full. I was able to visit more places than I had ever done in my life and I fell in loved with this country,, but my best memories of those times are about the people I met then, including some of my current best friends.

Since the first day I came back home, I felt the well known post-Erasmus depression and I did my best to get the chance to be back in Poland. And I achieved it! Only one year later I took part in European Voluntary Service (EVS) in Kwidzyn, a small town about 100 km. from Gdansk. For 9 months I was helping in a school for teenagers who had problems to finish secondary school in normal conditions. The experience was incredible and I was able to develop many skills that I didn't even know I had and to improve my knowledge of Polish language.

In September I came back to Poznań and I will stay here the rest of this year and the next one. I don’t know what will come later, but I’m sure that my “relationship” with Poland will remain forever and wherever I go :)"

Let's meet us! Natalia Ivanova from Bulgaria

It's time to introduce you our second Erasmus Friend :) This is Natalia Ivanova form Bulgaria (yes, that lovely girl, who can predict future from the hand;)).

That's what she wrote about her:

"My name is Natalia Ivanova, I’m from Sofia, Bulgaria and I’m currently a journalism student in Sofia university “St. Kliment Ohridski”. What brought me in Poland is Erasmus (obviously) so I’m spending my winter semester as a student of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan.

I’m mainly interested in literature, musical experiences, poetry, European cinema and theater. I’m also interested in the mood of my two-seated tent that lately creates durable and meaningful memories.

Over the last three years I’ve been working as music editor, host of a radio show for live music in the lovely student radio “Reakcia” in Sofia, a reporter and editor of a morning program. You can blame me for media promiscuity, but I’m basically trying out the media soil to ensure myself that it’s worth it to grow something there. If I were a song I would probably be a remix between Prodigy and Louis Armstrong in the spirit of a child who tries combinations on the keyboard of his father, but most people find this change in the mood kind of charming.

I mostly enjoy the people around me, the beer around them and the environment around us all. This is the reason why I find Erasmus program amazing – it gives you the opportunity to meet some new people, to try some new beer and to live in some new environment away from your comfort zone back at home."

Erasmus evening PART 3 - Divinations & beliefs in Bulgaria, Ukraine and Germany

Have you ever tried to predict your future? We did it! Here is the broadcast of third part od Erasmus evening in Radio Meteor. 

TOPIC: Divinations, witchcrafts, beliefs and superstitions in Bulgaria, Germany and Ukraine.


Guests: Natalia Ivanova (Sofia-Bulgaria), Olga Vorovka (Kiev-Ukraine) and Kassandra Becker (Frankfrurt-Oder - Germany).

We'll predict our future from hands! 

Listen to us every two weeks on Tuesday at 11pm in Radio Meteor ---> click here: www.meteor.amu.edu.pl

For those, who has little problems with english we prepared short TEASER IN POLISH! ;)

Enjoy!

Kolejny odcinek EE poświęcony był magii, a dokładnie wróżbom, przesądom i przepowiedniom. Gośćmi Gabi były trzy dziewczyny - Kassandra z Niemiec, Natalia z Bułgarii i Olga z Ukrainy. Dziewczyny opowiadały między innymi o tym, jak w ich krajach wyglądają wróżby i czy obchodzą takie święto jak Andrzejki.

Kassandra pierwszy raz o Andrzejkach usłyszała w Polsce. W Niemczech (przynajmniej w tej części, z której pochodzi) nie ma obecnie podobnego zwyczaju, a przynajmniej powszechnie się go nie celebruje. Natomiast w Bułgarii jest podobne święto, ale nie opiera się ono na magii, lecz na przesądach. „Dzień przesądów” obchodzony jest 20 grudnia. Bułgarzy wierzą, że jeżeli pierwsza osoba przekraczająca w tym dniu próg ich domu jest dobra, wróży to szczęście na cały kolejny rok. Z kolei na Ukrainie Andrzejki są, ale wypadają w inny dzień niż w Polsce, dokładnie 13 dni później, czyli 12 grudnia. W ten wieczór młode dziewczyny wróżą sobie swoją przyszłość i to jakich będą miały mężów. Czyli trochę tak jak w Polsce. ;)

W trakcie audycji dziewczyny rozmawiały o wróżbach popularnych w ich krajach, porównując je do polskich zwyczajów. Jak się okazuje można znaleźć wiele podobieństw zarówno w samej wróżbie jak i w jej intencji.

Poza wróżbami w audycji przewijał się też temat przepowiedni. Według Kassandry w Niemczech nie są one zbyt popularne i jedynym jej zdaniem dniem, kiedy ludzie przepowiadają sobie co ich czeka w przyszłości, jest Nowy Rok. Olga opowiadała o przepowiedni związanej z czasem. W momencie kiedy spojrzysz na zegar i wskazuje on np.: godzinę 12:12, czyli taką, w której liczby się powtarzają, szybko pomyśl życzenie, a na pewno wkrótce się spełni.

Po omówieniu szczęśliwych liczb i rzeczy, które przynoszą pecha, przyszedł czas na osobiste zwierzenia dotyczące wróżb. Dziewczyny opowiadały o tym, czy były kiedyś u wróżki lub same próbowały wywróżyć swoją przyszłość. A może tak trochę wróżb na antenie? Czas na wróżenie z dłoni! W rolę wróżki wcieliła się Natalia. Na pierwszy ogień poszła Gabi, a dokładniej jej lewa ręka. Co czeka ją i pozostałe dziewczyny w przyszłości? Który z trzech krajów jest najbardziej, a który najmniej przesądny?

Aby się tego dowiedzieć koniecznie wysłuchaj całej audycji! :)

Let's meet us! Gabi - originator of Erasmus evening

Gabriela Jelonek - student of two fields of studies, Political Science and Journalism at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland). Full of energy and always smiling girl, who is initiator and originator of Erasmus evening. She also was on Erasmus exchange - in Madrid.

She works in two radio stations and always has a lot of stories to tell. In general, she speaks a lot ;)

Let's meet her!

"Incorrect optimist, trying to be everywhere at the same time and curious like a child thy to discover the World. Busy and crazy, but always full of joy and walking bravely marching with a smile from ear to ear. With all that stubborn like a donkey and to some extent irreformable person. My Mother always tells me, that when I was a baby I could not sleep without radio playing softly in the background... and so, it's like that to this days :) I fall in love unconditionally with radio, it has in itself incredible magnetism, which still attracts me... Maybe it's because of the music, which accompanies me - also as a dancer - from my childchood. Perhaps thanks to the people, without them the existence of the radio would not make sense. :)

Why I choose Spain for Erasmus exchange? Again I fall in love, this time with culture of this country. As a dancer, dancing mostly latin dances I always had contact with latin music, which I totally admire! Then I visited Spain and I decided, that this is destination of my Erasmus. But to get an exchange wasn't that easy. I was trying to get to Erasmus programm for 2 years. My university didn't want to let me go because of the language - at the beginning my level of spanish was just A2. So decided to do my best, first I was learning on my own, then I started studying spanish in language school. The next year I get the exchange and I made my dream come true!

I was studying in Madrid at Universidad Complutense de Madrid. And – this is a myth, that on Erasmus you are partying all the time! True is that I had more hours of classes in Madrid than in Poznań. I hated that when I was there, but at the same time I’m happy, because thanks of that I pick up the spanish language so quickly.

I really like traveling, also by hitchhiking. My first Erasmus exchange enabled me a lot of journeys, so I'm planning to go for "Erasmus+"now! Or maybe for Erasmus practice - I still don't know, but for sure I won't sit in one place. For sure Erasmus is one of the best experiences in my life – I met a lot of amazing people, I’ve seen a lot of beautiful places and now I know how it is to live in other country.

After that I’m hungry of more experiences!

Remember: ONCE ERASMUS, FOREVER ERASMUS! ;)

P.S.: This is one of my Erasmus songs. Enjoy ;) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFs3PIZb3js

P.S.2: During my Erasmus I was also working in spanish radio, but also I was recording program for my radio in Poland – Radio Meteor . I recorded 10 broadcasts of “Erasmus postcard” in polish language. You can listen to it here http://www.mixcloud.com/gabrielajelonek/playlists/poczt%C3%B3wka-z-erasmusa/ "

Let's meet our Erasmus friends! ;) First one - Kassandra from Germany

It's time to introduce you our Erasmus friends and us :) The first one will be Kassandra Becker from Germany. That's what she wrote about her:

"Hej I m Kassandra,
I ve been living in Poznan for a couple of months already and I really enjoy being here. While I was using the summer semester for observing and orientating - and of course listening to Radio Meteor - I became active this year myself. For me it is a great opportunity to work in two languages - both English and Polish. I am here at UAM in the framework of a so called „double degree“. During the first year of the master degree I studied at European University Viadrina in Frankfurt/Oder in Germany (but close to the Polish boarder). Afterwards I came to lovely Poznan to continue the program here. Besides my studies in the field of International Relations and European Studies I am interested in journalistic work. I have already had some experiences but working for Radio Meteor is once more an option to work practically and of course to have a lot of fun. Why Poland one might ask. Well, it happened now three years ago: I went to Poland for the first time and felt in love with the country during Erasmus in Warsaw. Since then I have returned to the Poland so many times to a place I consider now my second home. It was (an still is) a huuuge challenge to learn the language but I am not giving it up, and i think I m doing not too bad ;)"

P.S.: We are on FACEBOOK now! You can follow us ;)
https://www.facebook.com/erasmusevening

Studying in Germany and Poland - second episode of Erasmus Evening

The second guest of EE was Kassandra from Germany. She was born in Mainz and she came to Poznan from European University Viadrina Frankrurt Oder. During a conversation with Gabriela she reveal what caused that she came to Poland.

“It was like an incident because it was quick decision. So I’m here and I was in Warsaw and I fall in love in this country. I love everything in this country!”

Interesting and nice custom for german girl was letting ladies first in the doors, for e.g. when she go in to tram. She enthused by the diversity of the university and the Polish program and highlights the importance of double diploma.

Is Erasmus only party? Actually not. Kassandra think:

“It’s your choice, if you want a party in Erasmus time you can do it and if you want to study it is possible too”.

In Frankfurt Kassandra studied european studies focus on political science. In Kassandra's opinion here in Poznan, on our classes she learn more and they are more practical and useful. That knowledge is better to her future job. But a big problem for her are books actually lack of books in English. It makes difficulty in learn. She choose a options of two diplomas it means part of studied she learnt in Frankfurt and a part here in Poznan.

Kasandra was talking about studying in Frankfurt about their campus and and her adventure during live in students dormitories. She thinks students live in Poznan and in Frankfurt is not very different but for her big surprise was “Wielka Gala WNPiD”. It was shocking her, when professors and students were partying together, “In Germany something like this never happened”.

Why German student willingly choose Frankfurt not Berlin University and more details about Kassandra’s survivals you can LISTEN in the broadcast HERE --->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7naNCPN_0s