Name: Daniel Gomis Compañ
Country of Origin: Spain
Profession: Student of Business and Management
Connection to Poland: I had many Polish friends from my Erasmus year in Slovenia, and I was a volunteer for the EURO 2012 in Gdansk.
Purpose of the stay in Poland:
I’ve been to Poland twice. The first time I traveled across the country meeting friends from the north to the south. The second time I was there for 21 days volunteering in the UEFA EURO 2012.
What surprised you most while visiting Poland?
What surprised me the most about Poland was the interest and knowledge the Poles shared about my homeland(Spain). I would have never imagined that so many people in Poland study the Spanish language or would like to visit Spain.
Another thing that shocked me was the early sunrise in Summer, which was more than 3 hours earlier than in Spain.
What is different comparing to your country of origin?
Well, obviously the weather and the language are the biggest differences. When I was there in September the weather was much better than I imagined, but when I was there in June the temperature was quite similar to the temperature of some of the winters of my region. The language is totally different from mine, and it’s impossible to catch more than a few words without previous knowledge.
The architecture and style of the buildings is quite different as well.
What have you heard about Polish people, is this true or just stereotype?
To be honest I didn’t know many things about Poland or the Poles before meeting all of my Polish friends. It is true that some people of Western Europe have the wrong image of the people from the East but those “differences” turn out to be false when you visit any Eastern country or you meet local people.
Can you list three dishes you liked most?
No doubt about the first one: “żurek” is my favourite dish. Then I like “pierogi” a lot. And lastly, it can sound funny, but some “zapiekanka” saved my life late at night after a party…
Which three places from Poland do you recommend and why?
I’d say a tour around Wrocław, and the Old Towns(Stare Miasto) of Warsaw and Gdansk are the best bets to visit.
Is there anything special you would like to share related to Poland or Polish people?
I’ve been in Poland more for more than a month, and I shared my life with Poles for more than a year, and during that time I have never felt like a stranger. Everything I have to say about Poland and it’s people is positive. I’ve always had lovely times among my Polish friends.
Are you going to visit Poland one more time?
Of course, I still have many places left to visit and I would like to refresh the good memories that I have from the places that I have already visited!
How was the Euro 2012?
Before going to the EURO 2012, I always said that my ten months as an Erasmus student was the best period of my life. But now I can say that my trip during the EURO 2012 was the best experience that I have ever had, even though it was very short, but also so intense. I love football and sports in general, and I enjoy being abroad, so I enjoyed my 21 days in Gdansk immensely. I will always remember the year 2012.
What do you think about organization site?
I was a volunteer in my hometown for events such as the Volvo Ocean Race and the Eurobasket, but there’s no possible comparison between those and the Euro 2012, as this was so much bigger in every sense. Everything was much better organized, and the number of people involved was a staggering. I also didn’t see any problems in the city. I remember that before going there I had read some articles in newspaper saying that some things were not going to be ready for the event, but eventually the looks of the city and the event were great.
What was your point of view as a volounteer?
I felt “special” in some ways because my team, Spain, was playing in the same city where I was volunteering. I think many volunteers saw me as a football fan and most of the Spanish supporters in the city saw me as a “weird worker for the organization that pays instead or getting paid for it”. I guess both things were true and I am very happy that I was there when my country finally won!
What were your favorite experiences?
I think it is impossible to choose just one thing: but to see such an event from the inside, to meet so many good people from different cultures, the football matches… It’s impossible to describe all the good feelings in just a few words.
What will you remember forever?
I will never forget the many experiences of it: the people that I met, the football matches and the incredible good atmosphere of the city with all the supporters of the different teams in the city.I always thought that these international sporting events could be a little bit dangerous, but I didn’t see any problems in 3 weeks of coexistence with different fans and nationalities, and the crowds of different countries had fun together with no hate amongst us. It confirmed for me that sports and international meetings are the way to show that people are all the same.