Ostrava is a great and green city

Kamila has spent one semester in Ostrava as a student of Czech language at the Faculty of Arts. We asked her about her studies, experience with an exchange program, living in Ostrava and her future plans.

Kamila, where are you from and what are you studying?

I am from eastern Poland and I'm studying Bohemian Studies in Poznan. I am in the last year of my Master's degree. I could choose between Czech, Russian or Croatian language. At the beginning I thought I would study Russian because I like their literature and culture. But in the end I decided to choose a language that is not so popular with Poles, so that I would have exclusive skills for the job market. Also, I already loved Czech literature at that time, I read Kundera and Hrabal. A good friend of mine had studied Czech in the past, and based on her references I partly decided to go into that field as well.

Is this your first study abroad?

No, I went to the Czech Republic before for summer school. But I've never been to Ostrava. Before I came here, everyone told me that Ostrava was not a nice city, that it was too industrial. The truth is that everyone who told me that had never been here. Ostrava is a great and green city. I was very surprised by all the parks I can go to. I really like it here. I also like that Ostrava is not such a big city. You don't get lost here and a lot of places are within walking distance, which is nice. Although my accommodation is a bit further away from the university. But it's still not a village and offers the advantages of a big city.

In your opinion, was it difficult to apply for this type of exchange programme?

No, it was easy. I had a lot of support from our Polish coordinator and also from your coordinator. They are very nice and helpful. Whenever I didn't know what to do, I could write or call them and they solved everything quickly. If I had to deal with all the bureaucracy on my own, I doubt I would have managed it, but I had no problem with such coordinators.

What was the most difficult thing about the exchange programme?

I would say it was the first two weeks. The student has to go through all the courses they can attend and choose which ones are the most suitable for them. You have to choose as many courses as possible that are similar to your home course so that you get credit when you return.

Did you experience any culture shock?

Depends. We are neighbouring countries and Ostrava in particular is a bit influenced by Poland compared to Olomouc or Prague. But still, there are some differences. The main cultural difference I see is that I feel that people in the Czech Republic live slower. In Poland, not only in big cities you have to rush. You have to get your work done quickly. Here you have time for everything. I also feel that people read a lot. I meet a lot more people on public transport reading books. I like this culture very much.

Would you consider staying in the Czech Republic after you finish your studies?

I am not sure. There are options to get a job here in the Czech Republic and work with your native language or get a job at home and work with Czech, and both options sound great to me. It will depend on the specific job.

Why would you recommend going abroad to study?

It's an opportunity to meet new people, improve your language. It depends on what language you want to pursue. I am working on Czech, but I also feel like I am improving my English. My roommate is Bulgarian, so we speak English together. It's also a great opportunity to learn about another culture. Even though I live very close to the Czech Republic, I still see new things every day.

Updated: 17. 07. 2024