Micael Nunes and Catarina Coutinho in Poland:
3.731 KM AWAY FROM HOME!
WE LIKED THE SCHOOL A LOT – BY HAVING A VERY FREE EDUCATION, GIVING THE POSSIBILITY TO CONNECT THE FINE ARTS TO DESIGN AND RESOURCES BETWEEN VARIOUR SUBJECTS IN EACH PROJECT.
[On the left: Catarina and Micael. On the right: City of Lodz, Poland.]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2011/2012.
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Portugal.
Course: Graphic and Multimedia Design.
Host institution: Akademia Sztuk Pięknych (ASP) w Łodzi, Lodz, Poland.
Course or field of study: Graphic Design, Multimedia Design and some subjects from others fields.
Why did you choose this school?
First of all we took into consideration the country that where we were going, for their level of cultural life and also reflecting from the various options in it. We have chosed the city of Lodz because they have a school that allowed to receive several students from our school, and also because we had a very positive feedback from other outgoing students. The school offers an art core very dynamic, where several subjects complement each other and so we could explore them and the workshops that were different in ESAD.CR.
[Tatra Mountains, Poland.]
Did you like the school?
Yes, we liked a lot by having a very free education, giving the possibility to connect the fine arts to design and resources between various disciplines in each project.
How far was the school from the city?
The school is situated near the city center, the most common transport was electric as well as being cheap enough was undoubtedly the best option, because it was very warm and the winter is very cold.
[Warsaw, Poland.]
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
Yes. We can use various techniques to develop projects, not having many restrictions which had made possible the development of projects that reach out our interests. With regard to teachers in the overall level, we did not have the best impression, since they do not give the same follow-up we receive in ESAD.CR. They do not create support classes where students expose matter or references.
How did you get involved to native teachers and students?
During the intensive course of Polish (in the city of Katowice) it was quite easy to meet people and create friendships with the language teachers. In the city where we study the remaining five months was more difficult to communicate with students and teachers as they often did not speak English (no alarm because everyone had assistants who helped us). The people that actually gave us more pleasure to meet were the friends we’ve made among several trips and those that we have known through CouchSurfing.
This school is “ideal” for…
Create a portfolio in the areas of interest and develop multidisciplinary work using techniques not found in Portugal.
[Our little house, Lodz, Poland.]
Where did you stay?
We stayed in an apartment with a colleague of ESAD.CR, and oddly enough, with two more Portuguese’s. The houses are not very cheap, but it was worth to have some extra comfort and also because we could live together. If you are alone, we recommend you stay in the residence to be cheaper and easier to meet the student’s community.
[Micael in Berlin, Germany.]
What did you think of the city?
From what we saw and lived, perhaps the city was the most negative aspect. The city was very dark and gray. Being one of the largest cities in the country, we would think that is always something happening both at cultural and leisure, but in fact the city did not offer us much. That’s what motivated us more to travel and visit other cities.
Did you experience difficulties with the language?
Yes no doubt, although we have gone a month for the EILC course, but it was almost impossible to understand the Polish language. We pass all the time trying to say the words correctly, even though we never get to have a long talk in Polish. To talk with teachers and colleagues, the use of the English language helped, but little, because almost no one spoke English. You can always think about learning a few words in Russian.
[Augusto, other ESAD.CR’s ERASMUS student, and Catarina, in Lviv, Ukraine.]
Did you like the food?
The food was quite different and very good. We tried various regional dishes (you can have lunch in restaurants by 2.5 €). The biggest problem is finding good and fresh fish, since we were quite far from the sea. The most important are undoubtedly the drink. There were plenty of beer brands, although no gas. But do not forget that Polish vodka is very good. Yet we always felt the lack of a good Portuguese coffee, a good imperial and a plate of lupines on a summer afternoon.
How was the standard of living?
The price of living was much cheaper than here, but in the meantime is rising very fast; we recall that it was the only country that has not suffered from the economic depression. Well to give you a better idea, a cheeseburger costs 75 cents, going to a restaurant and ask for the main dish, with drink and dessert, may be round 4-6 Euros. Transports are very cheap also, and have huge discounts on train travel and in museums (51% discount in the presence of Polish student card), without a doubt the most expensive it is housing, is almost the same price as in Portugal.
[On teh left: Romania. On the right: Catarina in Romania.]
Did you visit other cities?
AHAHAHAH of course! The prices are quite accessible by train.
We chose to CouchSurfing in all cities, enabling us to meet more people, to have free stay and to know the best spots in town. Inside Poland we visited cities, as for example: Krakow, Warsaw, Gdansk and Wroclaw. We also had the opportunity to visit other countries, such as: Germany for only 12 Euros (cost of going to Berlin), Hungary for 15 Euros (cost for going to Budapest) and also for Ukraine and Romania.
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
The weather, no doubt! But what were most surprised for us was the people that seemed to be always sad and reserved and the amount of xenophobic and racist people in a country that suffered so much.
[Cluj-Napoca, the third largest city in Romania.]
Did you receive a grant?
Yes, we received a grant. Micael received at the beginning and the Catarina received when she was in Poland.
Do you plan to go back?
Not at the moment. We want to visit other destinations. The labor market in Poland is not very interesting; the minimum wage is quite low.
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
No doubt we can really see other cultures, political and artistic, meet new people, learn new tools and see the best and the worst of our country.
Did you experience some adventure or strange situation you’d like to share?
One of the funniest things that happened in the past was not having the card inside the electric Ukraine, and unfortunately the reviewer caught us and made a huge scandal for us to pay the fine. A few minutes after the conversion, we saw that the fine it was 2.5 Euros.
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Eduardo Lopes in Birmingham, England:
IT WAS FUNNY TO SEE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS GETTING OUT THE STREET IN PAJAMAS, IN A CRAZY RUNNING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, BECAUSE SOME WERE SEEING SNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES.
[On the left: Eduardo in London. / On the right: Eduardo in Dublin.]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2010/2011.
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Industrial Design.
Host institution: Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (BIAD), Birmingham, England.
Course or field of study: Product Design.
Why did you choose this school?
There were no major reasons. First I have chosen the country and in England I had two options: Birmingham and Nothingham.
Did you like the school?
Yes, I liked. The facilities were good.
How far was the school from the city?
The school is located in the, so-called, “City center”.
[On the left: The front of the Institute. / On the right: BIAD]
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
Yes it is. At both: workshops (wood, metals, polymers) and in the teachers level.
What other areas of study are developed in this school?
The study areas mostly developed are: Design (Product, Interiors, Fashion, Textile and Graphic), and Architecture (general and landscape).
How did you relate to native teachers and students?
My relationship with teachers was always very good. They did everything to make a person feel well. My fellow natives were always very polite to me but never showed any interest in knowing why I was there or not.
[On the left: Painting Room. / On the right: Wood Workshops.]
This school is “ideal” for… who likes to produce full-scale prototypes. The workshops were very well prepared and the students did not have had to pay for any of the materials used. The school provides long industrial boards/blocks of wood and metal, ink, and small materials like screw, etc.
Where did you stay?
I stayed in one of the student residences – The Coppice.
How far was the residence from the school? And from the city?
The residence was more or less at about 3 km from town and 4.5 km from school.
[On the left: My project for “Display and Packaging”. / On the right: My room.]
The residence was good?
Yes, no doubt.
How much did it cost?
Around £87 (€ 100) per week.
Other information/experiences:
The residence is a neighborhood of 11 buildings. A sort of private condominium with gym, pavilion, sports and a grass soccer field on the outside. The buildings (of 2 or 3 floors) are divided into flats of 6 bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. The laundry and the security room are in a small building in the center of the neighborhood.
[On the left: My room. / On the right: The Coppice with snow.]
What did you think of the city?
The city itself is not pretty. It is a great city whose center is almost exclusively “pedestrian”. The only nice part in the city center is called Channels of Birmingham, some creeks that intersect at various sites in the city.
The only time that the city is beautiful and which gives pleasure walking through it is at Christmastime. Every year it happens the familiar German “Christmas Market”. The market occupies the entire center of every city, there is a bit of everything of handicrafts and is a place where you can eat and drink traditional German products.
Did you experience difficulties with the language?
In the beginning I had great difficulty with the language, due to the fact that when I went there my English was almost null. But thanks to the friends I have made there and the support of my teachers, I improved a lot and now my English is reasonable.
[On the left: Christmas Market. /On the right: Small bar in the Christmas Market.]
Did you like the food?
Gastronomy is a too strong word to describe what we eat there. Food is in large part based of fried food. And people do not stop for lunch at noon. It is seen a lot of people walking through the streets to eat sandwiches and hamburgers. The cafeteria was a part almost non-existent in the school; it was largely being used to eat sandwiches and other fast foods.
I could enjoy a large amount of Indian cuisine. =)
How was the standard of living?
The standard of living was pretty good.
Did you visit other cities?
Yes, I was two days in London. Where has been sunshine and heat, which is funny if you know the bad weather’s reputation of the city.
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
The main difference is the origin of the plurality of persons. It is a country with a large number of emigrants. Mostly Indians, there were Indians since the security employer of the residence until the teacher of Informatics, passing for the bus driver and the cashier of the supermarket.
Other information/experiences:
I had lucky and the possibility to go to Edinburgh, Scotland and Dublin, Ireland. From Birmingham, travel back and forth, never crossed 20 €.
Did you receive a grant?
Yes, I was the third highest ranked of my course.
Although the grant only have payed housing, it was a great help. Help without which I could not had the opportunity to have this experience.
Did you make friendships with English people?
I have made a very few friendships with English people. People are not welcoming and they do not feel a need to know what you do or who you are.
In contradiction, I have made great friendships with other ”international students”. Friends of countries such as Germany, Slovenia, India, France and Hong Kong.
Do you plan to go back?
I liked a lot. I am trying to arrange a meeting there with the people who lived with me.
[On the left: Dublin - Ireland. / On the right: Edinburg - Scotland.]
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
It brought a lot. On a personal level it made me meet people and different cultures, different ways of perceiving life and discovering new countries through people I met. At the professional level allowed me to learn another work method and a different way of looking at what exists in my field of study.
Did you experience some adventure or strange situation you’d like to share?
In 2011, the first time I saw the sun was on January 3. Therefore in the winter the day darkens around 3:45 pm. It happened that in the 1st day I woke up at 4pm and it was already night, in the 2nd day I woke up earlier, I just went to bath and the sun had gone again…
Another situation was on my birthday, it began to snow at midnight right. It was funny to see hundreds of residents getting out the street in pajamas, in a crazy running from one side to the other, because some were seeing snow for the first time in their lives.
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
Simply enjoy. It is a unique experience and is difficult to explain how much enriches a person. I recommend students to have no fear of anything. Meet different people and cultures is always a positive experience.
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Alexandra Fonseca in Nottingham, England:
LEARN HOW TO HAVE BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND PLAY AND YOU WILL HAVE THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LIVES.
[On the left: Photoshoot Pit & Pendulum, May 2012, Marquet Square. On the right: October 2011, Nottingham Trent University.]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2011/2012.
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Interior Design.
Host institution: Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, England.
Course or field of study: Furniture and Product Design BA
[On the left: October 2011, The Great Egg Race –1º Prize, NTU. On the right: October 2011, Student Card.]
Why did you choose this school?
I chose this University for its prestige, for its competitions, prizes, facilities and the available equipment in the workshop.
Did you like the school?
I loved it.
How far was the school from the city?
Its within the city, it’s a 5 min walk from the center.
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
Yes.
[On the left: February 2012, Workshops NTU. On the right: March 2012, Main Project- upholstered stool.]
What other areas are well developed in this school?
Several namely: Accounting, finance and economics; Animal, Equine and wildlife; Architecture and civil engineering; Art and Design; Business, Management and marketing; Computing, Engineering, Maths and other technologies; English, History and philosophy; Geography, Horticulture and environment; Languages and Linguistics; Law, Criminology and justice; Media, Journalism and communication; Politics and international studies; Property, Construction and surveying; Psychology, Sociology, Health and social care; Sciences including sport sciences; Teacher training, Education and childhood and youth studies.
How did you relate to native teachers and students?
It wasn’t difficult. There was a great concern from all the teachers and staff at NTU about my wellbeing, inside and out of the university. Everybody was very welcoming and always willing to help if there was some kind of problem.
This school is “ideal” for…
Expand our qualifications and be recognized by the produced work. Learn new teaching methods, while developing a good, healthy and friendly competition between colleagues. And it’s ideal to open our mind to new ways of looking and think.
Other information/experiences:
One of the big strengths on my course in this school is that it possesses great workshops with all the necessary technicians and equipment for the development of projects, always with high standards of security so the risks are minimal. 90% of the materials used to develop projects are free (given by the university).
[Residende.]
Where did you stay?
On a private residence for Erasmus/exchange students.
How far was the residence from the school? And from the city?
From the residence to the University/City Center was about 15/20 min by bus, sometimes less.
The residence was good?
Yes.
How much did it cost?
It was 130 £ for a week.
[On the left: Chicken pie with mashed potato and yorkshire pudin. On the right: Breakfast, NTU]
Other information/experiences:
My residence wasn’t one of the cheapest ones but it had all the conditions for my safety and well being. It was a room with a private bathroom with a TV and Internet. The kitchen was on the ground floor and I shared it woth 5/6 more people. The common areas were also on the ground floor and it consists in a big living room with 3 tv’s and a bunch of sofas and tables.
What did you think of the city?
I thought that it’s a magnificent city not only for its history but also for its culture and people.
Did you experience difficulties with the language?
I always loved the English language so it was easy in the end.
Did you like the food?
I got used to it pretty quickly. They are not known for their gastronomy but it’s not that bad, I actually thought that is was good. Different but good, and I end up enjoying what they had to offer.
How was the standard of living?
For a student that comes from Portugal to England it’s quite expensive.
[on the left: April 2012, Center of Nottingham Marquet Square . On the right : June 2012 | London, Camden Street ]
Did you visit other cities?
I visited Shakespeare hometown and Camden Street in London. I also had the change to go to Alton Towers and to the Cadbury world.
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
The major difference is the gastronomy. There is also the work schedules (they work less hours then in Portugal), most businesses close between 17.00 and 18:00, that way spending more time with their families.
Other information/experiences:
There is a good balance between work and play, because they work less time therefore they are available to do different things and they have the willing to enjoy life.
Did you receive a grant?
Yes.
Did you make friendships with English people?
Yes.
[July, Rock City.]
Do you plan to go back?
Yes, I’m hoping to go back this year still, in September or October to do my Post Graduation Course.
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
Personally I think it was an unforgettable experience, I worked a lot, with a great desire and effort and on the other level I had a lot of fun. Professionally I feel like I have more qualifications and skills do develop new projects.
Did you experience some adventure or strange situation you’d like to share?
There were a lot of adventures and strange situations but I clearly remember the night when me and my friends decided to go out and it started to snow heavily. We were at Pit and Pendulum for some drinks as we were celebrating a friend’s birthday, everyone that arrived after me was soaking wet and angry about it. I only saw snow once in my life and I couldn’t remember very well so I was the only one who was really happy. That happiness ran out pretty quickly as we found out that we were stuck in the city center and all the public transports weren’t working because of the snow. But the amount of snow didn’t stop us of having fun; we managed to get to rock city and had a great night. In the end we all got home safe, wet and with sore bums.
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
Learn how to have a balance between work and play and you will have the best time of your lives.
Isabel Henriques in England:
I LEARNED A LOT FROM WORKING PROCESSES, PARTICULARLY IN FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY: THE INTERACTION WITH MODELS, IMAGE EDITORS, STYLISTS, HAIRDRESSERS, MAKEUP ARTISTS…
[On the left: Isabel Henriques – school project by Rute Leonardo. On the right: Birmingham.]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2011.
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Fine Arts.
Host institution: Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (BIAD), Birmingham, England.
Course or field of study: Visual Communication.
Why did you choose this school?
Someone already had told me it was a good school. I began to see the courses and it seemed very interesting. The courses were much targeted to the area I chose.
Did you like the school?
I liked it, but there were things that I thought did not work well in terms of human resources. Some people were unfriendly, for example in the photography workshop (one of the areas I worked more), but in general they were nice!
[Fashion Photography – school project.]
How far was the school from the city?
In total 15 minutes (10min. by train and the rest of the time on foot).
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
I think so, but at the same time, the fact that there is specialization the briefings turn to be very limited.
[Birmingham, England.]
Besides Visual Communication, what areas of study are developed in this school?
From what I can remember… textile design, product design, animation, photography and video, architecture and fashion.
How did you relate to native teachers and students?
I gave myself very well with the teachers, especially after a trip we did in the second week after we arrived, at Lake District (a trip to try landscape photography) and to know the places. Here we also know some colleagues in the same area and also others from Erasmus.
[A school trip to Lake District (North West England) to try landscape photography.]
This school is “ideal” for…
…personal growth in the sense that we gain more autonomy, because there we are a bit ignored and we must do for ourselves.
Other information/experiences about the school:
When we entered the school it looked like we were in a hospital (we are accustomed to other types of architecture). It reminded me ESAD.CR, workshops as we have with enough quality, for example, there is room to make a video with “chroma” green that had a very useful device to capture motion; the photography studio was bigger, that is, it had several rooms in one. We had a security course to work in the workshops, but there are certain common sense things that could be prevented, I think.
It seems that they give more importance to the concept than to the realization: the teachers do not teach techniques and sometimes they said “You can pay a photographer if you cannot do by yourself”. What matters is the end product.
Where did you stay?
I stayed in a place called Selly Oak, I rented a room in a house that belongs to a student that in the same year came to ESAD.CR. I went to his place.
How far was the apartment from the school? And from the city?
It is 20min. from school and 10min. from downtown. I have made the trip by train.
[On the left: Selly Oak Park, Birmingham. On the right: Interesting decoration in Birmingham.]
The apartmentwasgood?
Yes, it was small but was very comfortable and warm.
How much did it cost?
216 pounds (without including additional costs).
Other information/experiences:
“Carpet Every Where!” I do not think it is very hygienic.
What did you think of the city?
It is very industrial. The only part I liked was the parks and the “canal”.
[Some places in Birmingham, England.]
Did you experience difficulties with the language?
Only in the beginning because I had to concentrate in speaking only English. I improved a lot my English.
Did you like the food?
The gastronomy is very bad. The only thing I ate there was “Fish and Chips,” I did not like. I started to like beer because of the cider (apple beer) – it is not bitter like regular beer. I cooked cod with cream to kill nostalgia, it has has been the best food I ate while I was there.
[On the left: Glasgow, Scotland. On the right: Edinburg, Scotland.]
How was the standard of living?
It depends. It had things cheaper and other more expensive than in Portugal. The market was much cheaper. It was a good place to save.
Did you visit other cities?
Yes – Lake District, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London.
[Liverpool, England.]
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
“iPad” culture! It seems like life is concentrated on iPhone/iPad. For example a concentration of people caught when was the release of iPad 2.
Other information/experiences:
The expectations were too high for what I experienced, especially in London…
Did you receive a grant?
When I was there I did not receive a grant. But after closing the accounts of the year, I could receive it.
Did you friendships with natives?
Yes, some people, especially a guy who lived in the same house with me.
Do you plan to go back?
Yes I liked, but maybe London, to see if I changed my mind!
[On the left: London Market by Tânia Carvalho. On the right: The House of Parliament and the Big Ben.]
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
I think somehow I became a little more open and more comfortable socially. What might help me a lot professionally in the future. I learned a lot from working processes, particularly in the area where I did a fashion photographic work. The interaction with the models, image editors, stylists, hairdressers, makeup artists, etc. I interacted with people of “Model Mayhem” (http://www.modelmayhem.com/), in this website there are professionals in various areas and levels. The ones with zero experience who want to create a portfolio and not charge anything beyond the costs they may have, in return we give the photos on CD-ROM or print; and also professionals who charge for the job.
Did you experience some adventure or strange situation you’d like to share?
On the Gay Day Parade, I found funny a few “outfits” that they used.
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
Do not go with too many expectations. Give time to time, we have to adapt to space and situations. There is always a bright side to everything!
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Daniela Duarte in Italy:
PROFESSIONALLY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FACE THE LABOR MARKET, HOW IT IS PRODUCED AT A LARGER SCALE THAN THAT OF OUR COUNTRY, BOTH IN FILM AND THEATRE IN ROME.
[On the left: Daniela Duarte. On the right: Snow scene.]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2010/2011
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Interior and Spatial Design.
Host institution: Accademia di Belle Arti dell’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy.
Course or field of study: Scenography.
Why did you choose this school?
This was the only school partner with the Scenography course.
Did you like the school?
Yes!
How far was the school from the city?
I was in the city center.
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
Yes, in general subjects are annual, meaning there are few who have the durability of a semester. This results in a least amount of projects, compared with ESAD.CR.
What areas of study are developed in this school?
Graphic Design, Interior Design, Restoration, Fine Arts.
[Fine Arts Academy entrance.]
How did you relate to native teachers and students?
Well, although they have not mastered the English language, but they are very receptive when we need help!
This school is “ideal” for…
I do not think it is an ideal partner, but much depends on what each student wants.It makes us live a different reality. In my case, as I wanted to scenography and this was the only partner with this course. I got very happy memories and experiences with this experiment.
Other information/experiences about the school:
It is a small school, the cafeteria is for all the universities of L’Aquila, is slightly away from the Accademia.
Where did you stay?
Initially on a university campus, then on a rented room in a house with other Erasmus students.
[On the left: A small dinner in the house where I stayed. On the right: Cappuccino.]
How far was the house from the school? And from the city?
In the city center, 5 min. walking from school.
The room/house was good?
Yes.
How much did it cost?
200 Euros/month double room (free of charge included). In the first month you pay a deposit.
Other information/experiences:
Due to the process of restoring the city, a house in the historic center can be complicated and expensive.
What did you think of the city?
It is a very old city, with monuments of different eras. Some are being restored because of an earthquake in 2009.
[On the left: Church restoration. On the right: Escalinata di S.Bernardino di Siena.]
Did you experience difficulties with the language?
No.
Did you like the food?
What we already know of Italian gastronomy: a lot of variety of pasta, piazzas, bread, cheese and sausages.
How was the standard of living?
A little more expensive than in Portugal, but I think that is affordable.
Did you visit other cities?
Yes! Pescara, Rome, Verona, Venice and other locations in Abbruzo.
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
There was a great shock, only the Italians, more specifically “L’Aquilani” live life in the calm, without any pressure or stress “what you don’t do today, you do tomorrow or next month”.
[On the left: A manifestation in the historic city center. On the right: Nice landscape.]
Other information/experiences:
Try to enter and live a little the lifestyle of the city/country.
Did you receive a grant?
Yes.
Did you friendships with natives?
Yes.
Do you plan to go back?
Absolutly!
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
On a personal level it was fabulous to live and socialize with people of other cultures, besides the Italians, is very enlightening. Professionally, I had the opportunity to face the labor market, how it is produced at a larger scale than that of our country, both in film and theater in Rome.
Did you experience some adventure or strange situation you’d like to share?
All students that were on the university campus that I mentioned earlier, were literally dumped, because they decided that that campus was not legal, but the whole process of looking for a new home, allowed a fairly strong among all students and even teachers.
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
Inform yourselves as much as you can about the city/country and desired school. And try to adapt a little the lifestyle of the city/country in question to live the most of what this experience has to offer.
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Patrícia Oliveira in Latvia:
…IS NOT THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD BUT WE ARE RECEIVED WITH THE GREATEST KINDNESS THAT CAN EXIST!
[On the left: Patrícia Oliveira in Stockholm, Sweden. On the right: Liepaja, Latvia.]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2010/2011.
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Graphic Design.
Host institution: Liepaja University, Liepaja, Latvia.
Course or field of study: Arts/Computer Arts.
[On the left: Liepaja, Latvia. On the right: Classmates.]
Why did you choose this school?
It was a random choice. I was placed at the end of the list of “Out Going Students”, far below that I expected and I didn’t had a lot of choices. At the time we had talked to a guy who had been there who informed us that the environment was nice and that life was relatively inexpensive (anyway it was not the case…).
Did you like the school?
For those who like to go back to the old arts school is perfect. I did not loved it but it was good to feel the artist spirit again. I liked the falling buildings, auditoriums for painting in sight… But it depends on the cases, because buildings are divided into courses, the main building was in very good condition!
How far wasthe schoolfrom the cityand from accommodation?
The main building is in the center of the city. In relation to accommodation is about 15 minutes walking (arts building).
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
Not really, we had the feeling that all we did was very good compared to others. But I think they try, but as there were not the most worked areas there, I think they do not bother to improve the quality of the work.
Besides Graphic Design, what areas of study are developed in this school?
I think a little of everything.
[The rented house where I stayed.]
How did you relate to native teachers and students?
The teachers were the people who most helped us! With colleagues we had some communication problems, they are afraid of speaking English (as a whole is a city in which they speak little English), so there was this communication barrier.
This school is “ideal” for…
Courses involving video and Humanities.
Other information/experiences about the school:
Learning to speak by gestures!
Where did you stay?
I stayed in a rented house.
How far was the house from the school? And from the city?
From the school: 15 minutes walking. From the city: it was in the center.
Did it have good conditions?
Excellent, was the best house I had! But I changed it once before I have this; the first suffered much from cold and bad kitchen conditions.
How much it cost?
120 Lts = 160 Euros.
Other information/experiences:
Students should look for houses before get involved in trouble as we did.
[On the left: Liepaja, Latvia. On the right: The city of Liepaja has a lot of cats around.]
What did you think of the city?
It is a miniature of Caldas da Rainha city. I did not like a lot because after having spent one month in the capital, all that is below is difficult to accept in Erasmus.
Did you experience difficulties with the language?
Yes, some. But still we have learned the basics to guide us. We tried to explain us in English.
[On the left: Funny shugar. On the right: The first dinner.]
Did you like the food?
It is not very rich, is always the same, but good!
How was the standard of living?
It was low for the insiders, high for the outsiders.
[Two pictures on the: Stockholm, Sweden. On the right: Riga, Russia.]
Did you visit other cities/countries?
Yes: Lithuania, Stockholm (Sweden) e Riga (Russia).
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
On gastronomy and climate there are features that shape the cultural differences, such as meal times, the personality of the people, more calm, shy and reserved.
Did you receive a grant?
No.
[On the left: A bath at 10 degrees. On the right: A boat trip with friends.]
Did you friendships withnatives?
Sim.
Do you plan to go back?
One day. But will not be the first destination of choice.
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
Learning to accept other ways of living and socialize. Learning to communicate with people that speak a different language from ours.
I had more time to learn things on a professional level that would not have time in Portugal.
[On the left: Liepaja, Latvia. On the right: The best coffee in Riga, Russia.]
Did you experience some adventure or strange situation you’d like to share?
We were stolen in the first house in which we had stayed. We almost called the police. Well, but there are bad things that come for good, after we had the good fortune to go to one of the most beautiful homes houses we’ve seen.
Also out on an adventure to Lithuania by car and at 70 Km away we had a flat tire in the truck. There are good and bad experiences, but they are all caricatures!
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
Go with an open mind! Is not the best city in the world but we are received with the greatest kindness that can exist!
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Joana Fontes in Poland:
DO ERASMUS! TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AROUND YOU AND ALWAYS HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND WILLINGNESS TO LEARN MORE!
[On the left: Gdańsk. On the right: One of the train trips.]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2009/2010.
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Graphic and Multimedia Design.
Host institution: Akademia Sztuk Pięknych (ASP) w Łodzi, Lodz, Poland.
Course or field of study: Graphic Design (Faculty of Graphics and Painting).
Why did you choose this school?
This was not my first choice, but after a search at school web site, which even offered information in English, I thought it would be the most suitable for what I wanted to develop/learn in terms of work, with special emphasis on printing techniques as screen printing and engraving. I also had made friendship with Polish Erasmus students in the year’s application, and also had the testimony of friends who have had exchange held there the previous academic year and they were quite pleased.
[On the left: Gdańsk. On the right: School in Łódź.]
Did you like the school?
I really liked the school, it was huge and had excellent conditions, as well as in classrooms and in their own workshops. It had a wide space, with all materials at our disposal. However, I felt the lack of a digital print workshop, for example, as well as we use in ESAD.CR.
How far was the school from the city?
The school is located in Łódź city, not far from the center. However traveling were mostly made by “tram” (electric), for being cold and snowing… Despite being the 2nd largest city in the country…
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
Yes, quite. The students have two common years of Graphic Arts and Painting, and only at the fifth semester they have specialization in one of the following areas: Graphic Design, Printmaking, Painting, Drawing and Sculpture, or Multimedia. Since I was an Erasmus student, I could choose freely any subjects of the departments. But I think this model is much more complete and enriching for students.
Besides Graphic Design, what areas of study are developed in this school?
The most developed areas in the school are: Textiles and Fashion, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and also the Visual Arts. It appears that it is the best fashion school in the country…
[On the left: Łódź Design Festival. On the right: Łódź Design Festival.]
How did you get involved to native teachers and students?
As I mentioned, I already knew two Polish students who, at that time, were already back to Poland. The approach with colleagues was a little difficult, given the differences in culture and personality, but with some colleagues from the residence and from some classes we gave ourselves pretty well. As I was in Erasmus with a friend and classmate from Portugal, and also with other of Fine Arts and other of Multimedia Design, this adventure was not so difficult. The rest of the group was also shy, with the exception of two Portuguese students in the course from Porto. The relationship with teachers was great. For practical reasons, even for being the subjects of our interest, I chose only subjects in which teachers or their assistants spoke English, that despite having done the course EILC in Poland Kraków (Cracow) during the month of September, I expressed myself and made me understand much better in English.
This school is “ideal” for…
The school has very good references in the Fashion course but as my study area was the Graphic Design and Printmaking, only then I can rely. I’m very interested in silkscreen and other printmaking techniques, such as almost all the subjects I chose to do during the Erasmus studies, were those areas. I loved the conditions, new techniques or ways to implement them and that’s what I recommend to all interested students.
Other information/experiences about the school:
I recommend to all students to attend the perform the Erasmus EILC course, if the language of the country is considered difficult to choose and this language course is available. There are other advantages, such as if the course occurs in a different city from the city where is the Erasmus school, there are a possibility to know a different city during one month.
Where did you stay?
I was at the school student’s residence. It was much easier and cheaper, since I stayed for only one semester.
How far was the residence from the school? And from the city?
The residence was in the city of Łódź. Maybe a few 15/20min, depending on the weather conditions, and if the “tram” was right at the tram stop on time.
The residence was good?
Yes, I’ve never been at a residence. At ESAD.CR I rented a room/apartment. I had less privacy, because I had to share the room, but I have no complaints to make.
How much did it cost?
80 Euros/month, if I remember correctly.
What did you think of the city?
At the beginning, the city of Łódź disappointed me a little, it was very large, gray, dark and lifeless… This was a great shock comparing with the previous city, Kraków, where I had made the EILC course Polish. But I learned to like it, but mostly to understand culturally Poland. I liked a lot to know this country, culture and people. We are so different and yet so similar. But are these cultural differences that make us truly knowing things, and even miss, like or appreciate more what we have and our own country.
[On the left: Wawel Castle, Kraków. On the right: Łódź Design Festival.]
Did you experience difficulties with the language?
Despite having done the Polish course, I always talked in English. With exceptions, like in public services and restaurants. Most of the people did not speak much of English, sometimes not because they did not know…
Did you like the food?
The food is quite different from ours, a lot of potatoes and they rarely eat fish… but as I am vegetarian, my case was a little aggravated. The gastronomy was part of the Polish course, so I’ve been almost a month eating tomato and mushroom soups and salads. But I do not forget the fantastic cappuccinos and apple cake, the Sharlotka.
How was the standard of living?
The standard of living was lower than in Portugal (now with this crisis might not be). But yes, the public transport were fairly cheap. I went out to dinner many times, despite the kitchens of the restaurants closed very early – 8 o’clock in the evening.
[On teh left: Praga. On the right: The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin.]
Did you visit other cities?
Yes. Me and Joana Gomes, during the course of Polish EILC we spent a month in Kraków, the course organized visits to places: the salt mine of Wieliczka, the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Berkinau, Pieskowa Skala Castle and the mountains of Zakopane. We visited Warszawa (Warsaw), the capital, Gdańsk and Wrocław north, we passed briefly Szczecin, Katowice and northwestern border. We also visited Berlin (Germany) and Prague (Czech Republic).
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
In the gastronomy and climate there are features that shape the cultural differences, such as meal times, and even the personality of the people, more calm, shy and reserved.
Did you receive a grant?
No.
Do you plan to go back?
If I have plans at a strict sense, no. I have to explore other places. But it is a door that is always open!
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
At both levels this experience brought me lots of good things… there have been so many and so good that it is difficult to describe, so I recommend this experience of mobility at all the students.
[On the left: East Side Galery Berlim. On the right: Wrocław.]
Did you experience some adventure or strange situation you’d like to share?
There were plenty of adventures or peculiar situations, especially for the first times or when traveling, but as I remembered and liked to share, maybe the 1st snowfall, out of time, even in early October, when we Portuguese seemed children mystified with this phenomenon. It was very beautiful.
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
Do Erasmus! Take full advantage of everything and everyone around you and always have an open mind and willingness to learn more.
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Helder Gorjão in Hungary:
TIME TO THINK, TIME TO LIVE, FREEDOM TO WORK WITHOUT ANY CONDITION – THAT’S WHAT BUDAPEST GAVE ME !
[On the Left: Mountains in northern Hungary. On the right: Parliament building.]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2011.
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Fine Arts
Host institution: Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Budapest, Hungary
Course or field of study: Photography.
Why did you choose this school?
It’s a good question … This was the only option I’ve made, I chose this school because of the country – it is cheaper than Portugal (cost of living) and because of the photography department.
Did you like the school?
It is a good school but it cannot be compared with the ESAD.CR conditions.
How far were the school from the city?
The school is organized in several campuses, spread over various locations in the city. The central services with some departments (such as photography) are in the Buddha, is about 15 min. from the main station (tram, metro and bus), the department of textiles are in Pest (and other split by other buildings).
[At Left: Budapest. At right: Balaton (lake).]
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
Yes, it has a studio, digital lab (with Macs, scanners, an Epson photo quality printing), a analog lab (with about 5 enlargers), has also a lot of equipment for students request (including spotlights, flashlights, etc.).
Besides Photography, what areas of study are developed in this school?
Animation, textiles, ceramics and glass (I think).
How did you relate to native teachers and students?
The teachers were relaxed and accessible. I never knew very well the Hungarian students, I was more in touch with Erasmus students, because some of them were at our school earlier in exchange.
Other Information/Experiences:
All curriculum units frequented were extra-curricular, as in Portugal I had already made enough credits, and the projects were advanced to conclude what was lacking. So, I was not too caught up in school in order to respond to exercises.
Where did you stay?
I stayed in a rented apartment.
[Zichy Jeno Utca 27 :) my kitchen and a small dinner.]
How far was the apartment from the school? And from the city?
About 30 min. from the school using public transport and it is was at the center-center-center of the city.
How were the conditions of accommodation?
I still had bullets of war in the wall, had a bathtub in the kitchen that was transformed in a couch, two stoplights and a dreamlike Mediterranean garden. I loved the apartment! Well, it does not meet the general standards of beauty J
How much did it cost?
+- 137 Euros /month + expenses (was +- at 180 Euros in total), that is: 48298 Huf (Forins). In the 1st month you paid over the value of one month as security deposit.
In the winter it is necessary to pay attention to the cost of gas, because the heating is one of the things which increases the expenses account.
Other information / experiences:
I had the best landlord in the world! In general, landlords are usually quite strict, they make lists of the contents of the house and check everything…
What did you think of the city?
Perfect! For the architecture, the experience, the living, the services (they are open 24 hours), the beauty of the river, the bars and cafés (installed in degraded buildings, they call them ” ruin bars” because they are made of obsolete furniture, is very different from bars here).
[At Left: Lánchíd (bridge). At right: Market.]
Did you experience difficulties with the language?
The EILC are available (Erasmus Intensive Language Courses) in various cities of the country (which is a good way to meet other cities, and its surrounding areas because these courses have a tourist tour to learn things and habits about the country). I did this course, but the language is very difficult.
The younger people speak English.
Did you like the food?
The bread takes stickers on it directly, and people stir it with the hands (as we pick the fruit); the most Hungarian traditional is páprika (which is the equivalent of our chili) – put it in all sorts of cooked; the most traditional dish is the gulasch with potatoes (a kind of soup); meat (they put meat in everything, they do not have fish), I don’t know how to explain…; all the food is spicy (spice mixed with everything); traditional drinks are pálinka (like our aguardente) and unicum (an herbal liqueur).
[At Left: Impossible to give a title :P. At right: Hungarian candy.]
How was the standard of living?
It is lower than in Portugal, everything is cheaper but the coffee (no good).
Did you visit other cities?
I visited: Pécs, Balatonlelle and Szentendre. Out of the Country: Prague, Vienna, Belgrade.
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
The people do not laugh in the street, that’s what shocked me most when I arrived. However, when they are in groups of friends, they are very friendly.
Other Information / Experiences:
At the end of three months you have to register in the country. Do not leave Portugal without health insurance, because the card is provided in the social security card (European disease), has no validity for small emergency situations.
Less than 15 Euros a monthly pass for all public transport within the city with presentation of student card (it is important to take it!).
From the airport to the city, there are three options: taxi (the most expensive, 5000 Huf), bus and metro (640 Huf) or train (from Terminal 1, 320 Huf).
I found the city very safe, more than Lisbon.
The best thermal baths are the szechenyi – it has pools of hot and cold water, indoor and outdoor (the best time to go is after 7 p.m., it’s cheaper).
Did you receive a grant?
Just to make the language course (EILC) 200 Euros, which I have not received yet.
Did you make Hungarian friends?
Yes, with some people, they gave me freedom to go whenever I want; they give me “roof”.
Do you plan to go back?
I do not know, I recently returned!
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
Time to think, time to live, freedom to work without any condition – That’s what gave me Budapest. It’s what inspires me to continue to have in Portugal, although I doubt that this is entirely possible.
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
Do not look for a house before you get there. It is preferable to stay in a hostel and then seek out calmly. If not, if you rent before you get there, the prices are too high.
The TAPortugal airlines have a promotion for Erasmus students, which offer 10 kilos extra for baggage.
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VeraGomes in Norway:
…GRABBING THE OPPORTUNITY WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, IT CAN PROVIDE A LARGE OPENING OF NEW “PATHS” THAT WILL CHANGE ALL FUTURE PROSPECTS.
[Sunny days in the city park.]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2010/2011.
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Multimedia and Graphic Design.
Host institution: Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen, Norway.
Course or field of study: Visual Communication.
Why did you choose this school?
The school, I chose it mainly because of the country. I decided to do Erasmus as a way to accrue my possibilities of working in a European country and so I was led to search for schools in countries with good quality of life. In addition, the KhiB was recommended to me by several people who knew the city and the school. Doing a little research it was not difficult to decide to what would be my priority.
[KhiB printing workshops.]
Did you like the school?
Yes, very well organized, well-managed resources, which promotes opportunities beyond the study area. The structure and curriculum is ideal for those who want to pursue projects that combine several areas.
How far were you from the city?
The school is spread over several buildings in the city (restored), some right in the center and others further away.
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
Visual Communication in KhiB focuses heavily on digital media. The school fails for not having a Digital Workshop for prints intended for students of graphic design. But for an Erasmus student, it becomes easy to combine subjects of Visual Communication with subjects from another department of printing techniques and if the student interest is exploring the printing, this combination is very enriching. The development work method is very healthy, they give much value to the process and the development of a strong concept. However, there are also technical and “down-to-earth” subjects.
You can see here the three most important projects that I developed in KhiB:
http://www.behance.net/gallery/KRYSS-hotel/875233
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Norsk-Bilde-Studie/877429
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Save-the-words/879486
[Book binding workshop.]
Besides Visual Communication, what areas of study are developed in this school?
In addition to Visual Communication, the school includes a department of Furniture and Spatial Design, Textiles, Ceramics, Fine Arts, Photography, Design and Specialized Printing Arts. Each including various mutations and derivatives.
How did you relate to native teachers and students?
Both teachers and students of the school are very open to exchange students, communication was never a problem because English is quite common.
This school is “ideal” for…
…Develop projects of personal interest to combine several areas. Ideal for those who enjoy printing techniques, for those who like to concentrate on one thing at a time, for anyone who wants to change the clock, learn a strange language. To have initiative is a very appreciated and very special: therefore, someone with energy.
Where did you stay?
I stayed in the residence Fantoft in the first 4 months and later in an apartment in the city center.
[At Left: The Norwegian Constitution Day (17th May). At right: Residence room.]
How was the residence? How much did it cost?
The conditions of residence were the basics. Compensated by the quality of work space and price. It cost 2800 Kr, + – 350 Euros per month.
Other information / experiences:
This residence includes all Erasmus and exchange students. Because it is located relatively far from the city center – from the school you have to walk 20 min.; by metro – is a little insulated from the Norwegian life for those who want to engage in social life and habits of the city.
What did you think of the city?
Despite being the second largest city of the country, its area is ideal for those who enjoy walking or cycling. The fact of being surrounded by mountains (so is the rainiest city in Europe) makes it easy to escape to nature very suddenly and whenever you want. In the cultural level is very lively: lots of live music, galleries and many organizations, events and festivals.
[The colors of the city.]
Did you experience difficulties with the language?
No matter how much problems you have with the Norwegian, they never have problems with English. The trick is to ask people directly. For those who want only to study, the language is not a problem.
Did you like the food?
The gastronomy goes hand in hand with the schedules, with strange hours the gastronomy also becomes strange. But in general I think knowing what we want to eat, anything is possible to find in supermarkets, although there are, in parallel, a lot of fast food. The gastronomy is not as important as for the Portuguese people, so I’m still looking to find out what characterizes the Norwegian cuisine beyond the “matpakke”. Good for those who are brave with the cheeses.
[Nature, a walk distance.]
How was the standard of living?
Very high.
Did you visit other cities in Noruega?
I was in Trondheim in the first three weeks, a little further north. A town considerably smaller than Bergen and more cosy.
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
Probably the level of impulsivity. Period.
Did you receive a grant?
Yes.
Did you make Norwegian friends?
Yes.
[Vera and a friend barbequeing at the fishing port.]
Do you return to Portugal since “Erasmus”?
My plans were to stay. And I’m still here.
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
Brought me many different perspectives in relation to personal and cultural identity; boosted my confidence and my independence. The Erasmus experience was actually what drove my professional life, and having found a job, I learn to be more practical, “to the point” and more efficient.
The link of the company that hired me:
http://alfgundersen.no/
It is impossible to make a conclusion of what is to make Erasmus, because grabbing the opportunity with all the strength, it can provide a large opening of new “paths” that will change all future prospects.
Did you experience some adventure ou strange situation you’d like to share?
Think I would be able to walk with 20 degrees below zero in the street and return home running in fear of losing my toes. Oh!
[Walking on water, winter time!]
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
Invest in a good jacket and a good pair of boots for winter, learn the language (EILC), try hiking. Being a country so different from Portugal, virtually everything will be new, be receptive to unexpected experiences.
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João Marques in Poland:
ON A PERSONAL LEVEL IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT I DO NOT NEED HALF OF THE STUFF I HAVE. 
[At left: João F. Marques and Alexandre Soares at home (Lodz). At the right: Manufaktura - Former textile manufacturing facility that has become much more than a shopping center. Works like a city within the city of Lodz (about 150.000m2).]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2010/2011
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Graphic Design.
Host institution: Akademia Sztuk Pięknych (ASP) w Łodzi, Lodz, Poland.
Course or field of study: Graphic Design.
Why did you choose this school?
In terms of print media is excellent, the quality of the Polish poster is very good!
[At left: Material used in paper production. At the right: Studio Paper of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Lodz]
Did you like the school?
I liked most of all because of the working conditions, the teachers, and the new techniques I learned and had never worked. The studio workshops were always open, it is a kind of Bauhaus where there are no classes as such, students may develop their work and if they need, they have the support of technicians and teachers, who are always there.
How faristheschool from the city?
It is about 2 km.
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
Yes it is very well developed, especially the techniques of engraving, printing and paper production.
[At left: Cellulose. At right: Working paper production.]
How did you relate to native teachers and students?
Well, there is no “the school environment” as we have here, because as I said earlier, we have no classrooms where people come together all at the same time. As I went with 3 other colleagues we just did not meet many students.
This school is “ideal” for…
…Fashion Design, they have fantastic conditions, Printmaking and Paper Production.
Other information/experiences:
The quality of the bar/cafeteria is quite good, with about 3.50 Euros we can buy a meal with drink, but it differs from our canteen, there it is like eating at a restaurant, you have several dishes to choose.
[At left: Mega Pizza (70cm) in Katowice. At the right: "Smietana" – used in Polish cream soups.]
Where did you stay?
I stayed in a rented apartment.
How far is the accommodation of the school? And the city?
It is located at 2km from the school and the city center.
How were the conditions of accommodation? How much did it cost?
It’s amazing how it looks so bad from the outside and inside it is the opposite! The house has cost at four people about 500 Euros.
Other information/experiences:
I advise other interested students not to go to the Residence school because there we lose contact with the city (apart from the comfort).
What did you think of the city?
Gray, industrial, with some interesting wartime landmarks: they have the largest Cemetery of European Jews.
Did you experience difficulties with the language?
Yes, of course! The oldest did not speak well English but the youngest spoke good!
Did you like the food?
Pickles in everything! They have a completely different cuisine, the soup takes cream and no potatoes. Generally they have good food.
How was the standard of living?
Very low!
Did you visit other cities in Poland?
Yes I visited everything! It was very cheap to travel with a student card, we had 57% discount, and we could see the whole country (bus, rail, cruise: from Latvia to Sweden for 30 Euros round trip…).
[At left: Cruise Riga/Latvia – Stockholm/Sweden for 30 Euros (round trip). At right: Central Square of the Polish capital: Warsaw]
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
They are a very closed people, more oriented towards the classical arts, almost all know musicians… The scars of the war are very much alive…
[The largest Jewish cemetery in Europe, in Lodz.]
Otherinformation/experiences:
Do not miss the trip to Auschwitz, I left that visit with the maxillaries contracted so shocked by the history.
I have met many Portuguese and Spanish people there.
In bars and nightclubs there were songs in which staff from nowhere climbed up on tables, break glasses… It seems like a traditional dance, a bit strange, from my point of view.
Did you receive a grant?
No. I worked to be able to go. I was the only one among other ERASMUS colleagues from other countries, who had no scholarship. They pay them everything.
Did you make Polish friends?
Yes, several. Some had already been on Erasmus exchange in ESAD.CR.
Do you plan to go back?
Yes! I would like to go back before the end of the semester.
[Auschwitz - Cans containing gas, used in gas chambers.]
[At left: Gate of Auschwitz: "Arbeit macht frei" (Work sets you free). At right: barbed-wire fences of concentration camps.]
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
At both levels was very important! On a personal level made me realize that I do not need half of the stuff I have. At the professional level, for example, just yesterday I got a job because I gained experience in paper production.
I was willing to work outside of Portugal, perhaps I would try Canada.
Overall, I gained holidays all over the world resulting from people of different nationalities I met!!
Did you experience some adventure or strange situation you’d like to share?
Me and Alex, who was with me, we went by bus, and I, joking with him, pulled his seeing glasses… well, they fell outside the bus, the door closed, we asked the driver to stop, but he did not understood what we have said and continues. We never saw his glasses again. Alex does not see anything without them, and stayed that way for 2 days. Then we had to run several optical shops to find proper glasses for him.
Another interesting situation that I found it was a Portuguese who is studying there. He came to me saying that he was asked to take good care of me, to show me places, etc. It was nice!
[At left: Replica of "Tram" (electric) on a bus. At right: Tram Stop.]
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
Take advantage of the ERASMUS in Poland for traveling. Do not get stuck in Lodz, because it doesn’t represent what is Poland, the cultural and artistic diversity that the country has.
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Amélia Santos and Ana Coutinho in Brazil:
AHHH… THE BEST PART! WE LIKED THE SHRIMP, PICANHA, NATURAL FRUIT JUICES, BRIGADIERS… RICE AND BEANS…
[At left: Amelia Santos on the Beach "Canasvieiras" in front of the Accommodation where they stayed. At right: Ana Coutinho in "Barra da Lagoa".]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2010
Home institution: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Graphic Design.
Host institution: University of Southern Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil.
Course or field of study: Design.
[At Left: Amélia and a colleague in Argentina "Trilha de Naufragados". At Right: "Cataratas de Iguaçú", resident animal "Coati".]
Why did you choose this school?
We wanted to go to Brazil and we choose the best school upon what were looking for.
Did you like the school?
The facilities were good but the teaching level was much lower than ours.
How faristheschool from the city?
It is inside the city to the north, 30 km far from downtown.
Your field of study is well developed in the school?
No.
How did you relate to native teachers and students?
The area of Industrial Design was better in terms of workshops and also the area of international relations is very well developed.
This school is “ideal” for…
…to have lunch, the bar was very good!
Other information/experiences:
The students are not very autodidactic, the classes ended and they did not work like us.
[At left: Amélia in "Cataratas de Iguaçú". At right: Ana in front of the "Casa Rosada" in Buenos Aires]
Wherewere youstaying?
In residential apartments, called “Ilha Dourada”.
How far is the accommodation from the school?
The accommodation is inside the city and 5km far from the school.
How were the conditions of accommodation? How much did it cost?
Was very good, near seaside… we had dinner on the terrace, looking over the sea. It cost us 85 Euros a month, each.
What did you think of the city?
The city is well developed in comparison to Brazil, people are a little elitist.
Did you like the food?
Ahhh the best part! We liked the shrimp, “picanha”, natural fruit juices, brigadiers, “caipirinha”, sloppy ice cream … on the beach the pineapples with vodka inside… many things!
How was the standard of living?
In the city of Florianopolis is medium-high type, where are all the rich of Brazil, with vacation house… etc.
Did you visit other cities?
We visited Curitiba, Foz de Iguaçú and Blumenau.
[Buenos Aires in "Bairro la Boca".]
What do you think are the major cultural differences?
They are very cinquentists and a bit retrograde, on the other hand, they try to convey that they are super friendly, but we noticed this falsehood.
Otherinformation/experiences:
We took advantage of the location of the city and we went to Paraguay to the “Ciudad del Este” and Buenos Aires.
Did you receive a grant?
No.
Did you make Brazilian friends?
Yes.
Do you plan to go back?
Yes 10 years from now we will go. To have time to finish the course, find a job and then we will go! (They smiled).
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
On a personal level was very rewarding because we learnt to drop everything to which we’re connected respecting our education and welfare. And the professional level was not what we expected; it were we who passed our information to them.
[At left: "Canasvieiras" Beach. At right: tour boat on the northern island of Florianopolis, Portuguese and Argentinian people.]
Did you experience some adventure or strange situation you’d like to share?
So many… for example the fact that we bought some truck passages at an agency and the guy never showed up and got our money, we lost 25 Euros each.
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
If you want to rest and go on vacation is the perfect place, beautiful landscapes… nature… but not to work!
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Joana Gomes in Poland:
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WITH SNOW AND EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES!
[At left: Joana Gomes, at right: Joana Fontes, both ESAD.CR students in Poland]
Year of the “Mobility Experience”: 2010.
Origin: ESAD.CR, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Course: Graphic Design.
Host institution: Akademia Sztuk Pięknych (ASP) w Łodzi, Lodz, Poland.
Course or field of study: Graphic Design.
Why did you choose this school? From what I could gather in Portugal, it seemed to be a rather technical and practical school, such as ESAD.CR.
Did you like the school?
I liked it a lot. It had excellent conditions in terms of materials.
How far were you from the city? I was on the outskirts of town. The school was about 10 minutes from home.
Your field of study is well developed in the school? Yes, despite feeling that they are still a little behind Portugal, within the area, some techniques are well developed!
Besides Graphic Design, what areas of study are developed in this school? Industrial Design, Fashion and Multimedia, as well as the Fine Arts.
How did you relate to native teachers and students? Teachers and classmates were more reserved than we expected and that we are used to. They didn’t feel very confortable talking to us in English, but it depended on the person.
This school is “ideal” for… Within my field of studies, it is ideal to learn traditional printing techniques such as Linocut, Woodcut, Metal engraving and Screen printing.
[Erasmus Students Exhibition, Joana's Screenprinting work.]
Where did you stay?
At a students residence.
How far was the residence from the school? And from the city? The Residence was approximately 10-15 minutes from school and the city center.
How was the residence? How much did it cost? So so. It cost about 80 euros per month.
Other information/experiences: Since I went with three colleagues from ESAD.CR we had to share the same room, and so we had less privacy. But it was also interesting to share the same apartment with two Polish colleagues and to be able to share experiences with them, such as Portuguese and Polish dinners.
What did you think of the city?
Very industrial and gray.
Did you experience difficulties with the language? I took a course in Polish for a month, but the language is complicated. Many Poles don’t speak English. So in certain situations I had some difficulties.
Did you like the food? Some food was good and some wasn’t. Some dishes were too strong, but others were quite pleasant, like the mushroom soup.
How was the standard of living?
It was somewhat lower than Portugal’s.
Did you visit other cities in Poland?
Yes, I visited 3 cities. Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk.
[Gdansk, Poland]
What do you think are the major cultural differences? People are more reserved, so it was very difficult to communicate with them. They don’t socialize with each other in the canteen or at the bar as we do in Portugal.
Did you receive a grant? Yes.
Did you make Polish friends? Yes.
Do you plan to go back?
Yes, I would like to go back to Krakow in the summer because it was the city I liked the most.
What do you think that this experience brought to you in the personal and professional level?
It brought me more motivation, confidence and maturity. I became more of a “problem solver”. Professionally I had the opportunity to have other experiences and job perspectives.
Did you experience some adventure or strange situation you’d like to share?
The language barrier was the most difficult situation. For example, when I arrived at the Student Residence the gentleman who greeted us didn’t speak English, but we managed to communicate by gestures and a few words in Polish. Even though he didn’t understand us, he gave us a sense of security and confidence when we settled in. He was always friendly, even though he couldn’t speak a single word in English. I’ll never forget him.
A recommendation for future “Mobility Students”:
It’s a completely different country from Portugal, but I think it gave me a unique experience. I had the opportunity to live in a country with snow and extremely cold temperatures. I discovered beautiful cities with very interesting traditions. I also had the opportunity to learn a language I never thought of learning.
It is a good destination if you want a different experience in a country “less known”.
