Full name: Andrzej Antoniewski
Native country: Ukraine
University: Jagiellonian University
Year of study: II year of master’s studies (European studies)
Date of stay in Poland: since 2007
What made you leave your native country and study in Poland?
The main reason I decided to study in Poland is my Polish origin, but also a wish to experience studying abroad.
Apart from studying, it is also a great occasion for every foreigner to travel and get to know a new culture. What three places in Poland would you recommend the most and why?
As far as interesting places in Poland are concerned, there are plenty, which makes it difficult to enumerate them and to recommend some. However, in my opinion, the three most interesting places are:
– Cracow’s Old Town. The main landmarks and monuments are: St. Mary’s Church, Sukiennice, Town Hall Tower, Cracow Barbican, etc. I am glad to study in Cracow and that I have the pleasure to see with my eyes such wonderful monuments of one of the oldest Polish cities. Another thing proving its uniqueness is that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
– Wieliczka Salt Mine. The famous mine, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is visited by a large number of tourists every year, mostly foreigners. Personally, I find it fascinating how enormous its underground area is, which is proof of the great work of the builders and of its development through ages. Without a doubt, it deserves to be visited. It will certainly leave unforgettable memories.
– Lake Solina. So far, this is the only place I didn’t manage to sight-see. I’ve heard of it from my friends, who were very pleased with it. The lake is in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, close to the border with Ukraine. In the photographs I saw I liked the landscape the most and I was also fascinated by the view of the enormous Solina Dam, which is 82 m tall. Over the lake there is a health resort and one of its main attractions is a cruise across the lake. Despite not having been there, I highly recommend visiting it. I am sure that nature-lovers will enjoy it.
What surprised you the most during your stay in Poland?
I wasn’t surprised by anything in particular. The only thing I paid special attention to was the road marking. In this case, Poland distinguishes from Ukraine.
How did Polish people treat you in your environment?
I didn’t meet anyone intolerant, rather the opposite. I was lucky to meet a lot of kind people, with whom I became friends.
In your opinion, do Polish students study hard or are they the “party-animal” type?
I think you cannot generalise this. Every person has his individual personality. Some can party better and some prefer to study hard. Observing my friends, I can say that Polish students are a mixture of both types. If the situation requires concentration in work or studying, they’re able to get it all done.
What was the most difficult part for you in the beginning? Was it the language, cultural differences, climate, cuisine, etc? Did you have any hilarious situations connected with those difficulties that you would like to tell us about?
As it usually happens, I had difficulties with the language and I couldn’t understand the word “impreza” (party). When my friends asked me: “Are you going on “impreza” with us?”, it immediately made me think of a specific make of Japanese car.
How did your stay and studying in Poland influence your future plans?
They had a great impact on my future plans. I hope I will be able to bring them all into effect, but it’s still a secret.
Do you think that, from the perspective of time, it was a good choice to study in Poland?
I would rate this choice as a very good one. I am glad I decided to study in Poland, as I have gained a valuable experience. I also had an occasion to profit from many possibilities offered by studies in Cracow and Poland in general.