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author
Martin Balda
Martin
Balda
faculty
Faculty of Arts
academic year of the stay
2022/2023
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author
Martin
faculty
Faculty of Arts
academic year of the stay
2022/2023
traineeship
study stay
short-term mobility
other
Czech Centre Athens
How does Martin rate their stay?
university
city
accommodation
financial demands
about university
What made your university special? What were the facilities where you studied and the university equipment like?
The Czech Centre Athens is an organization that offers many opportunities to learn about culture, its organization and presentation. You can improve your skills in practical set-up and organisation of cultural events, creation of cultural materials and other things related to culture, which can help you a lot in your future career. In addition, the opportunity is provided to have your own project, which can be independently developed during the internship. A great advantage of the Czech Centre Athens is that you do not have to know the language of the country (Greek), so you can meet other interns who are studying much more diverse fields of study than at other Czech Centres, so it is very enriching to meet them and communicate with them. So if you want to go on an internship and have a creative project in mind that you want to realise, the Czech Centre Athens with its friendly team and wide range of opportunities is a good choice from my point of view.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your "adoptive" university? What made it special? What were the premises where you studied and the university facilities like?
The interns are cultural project assistants who assist the staff of the Czech Centre Athens. The representatives of the organization always approached me correctly, clearly and smoothly, which was great. And, as I wrote above, if you have a good project in mind and a desire to present Czech culture in Greece, or if you can speak Greek in addition, I recommend the Czech Centre Athens as a great opportunity to gain useful practical skills.
What is student life like at university?
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Did you study in English or in the language of the host country? What language requirements does the university have?
My main language of communication was English. I knew very little Greek, so I could read the signs, and I got better at it over time. Fortunately, English is not a problem for most Greeks and they speak it at a very good level, so getting along is no problem. The Czech Centre Athens required only English, Greek was not a requirement.
about the city
What was your impression of the city? How would you describe it? What is interesting to see here?
Athens is a very lively and dynamic city. I stayed near the centre and it was no problem to arrange or buy anything. The city is also student-friendly, with lots of parks, cinemas, cafes, libraries and other student institutions. Athens is a historic metropolis and history can be felt at every turn. There is no need to worry about the lack of museums, archaeological sites, churches and other historical monuments, of which there are dozens and it is virtually impossible to pass them all. But it also offers modern places where people meet. I myself have visited, for example, the modernised Technopolis complex. If, on the other hand, you want to relax by the sea, I recommend Athens' beaches, which are well maintained and clean. Athens is really alive and it is a very pleasant place to live.
about finances
In your experience, how far does the scholarship go? What percentage of your expenses did it cover? What is your opinion on prices in the country in general?
The scholarship was just enough to get by on. If you don't spend too much, it is possible to get by in the country with no problems at all. The prices of basic things like food etc. in Greece are now similarly high as in the Czech Republic, so I don't think there is really a problem with money.
Please advise your classmates on how to save money—Where to shop? What services can be used to save money?
I recommend getting a monthly (or more) ticket for the subway. Otherwise, I basically didn't get around Athens. As for food, I often shopped at chain stores like Lidl, where the prices were reasonable and the quality of food was good from my perspective. Otherwise, I can't think of more tips, as everyone's comfort level is set differently.
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about accommodation
What type of accommodation did you choose? Would you recommend it to others? If not, what type of accommodation do you think is best based on your experience (dormitory, private apartment, private dormitory, shared room, etc.)?
I chose a room in a shared flat with another student where we shared a bathroom and kitchen. I recommend StayInAthens.com to everyone, I was very happy with them, communication was smooth and quick and everything was well arranged and everything went smoothly.
about experiences
Did you use Erasmus stay to travel around your country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
Yes, I took a trip with a renal car to Cape Sounion, to the Peloponnese, then to Alexandroupoli as part of the work on my project. I took a ferry to the islands of Samothrace, Thassos and Paros. All the journeys were absolutely fine and there was no problem on the way. I have had no negative experiences travelling in Greece so I can't not recommend anything.
Language and culture: what cultural differences did you notice? How did you cope with the national language? Was it also the language of your studies? Do you feel that your language skills improved during your stay?
I observed cultural differences mainly in transport. People crossing at red lights, cars honk a lot and overtake other cars on the right side of the road. Motorbikes are everywhere. So you have to be careful. Another thing is that many Greeks don't know where the Czech Republic is and whether it is in the European Union or not. Otherwise I didn't notice too many cultural differences. I could only read Greek at the beginning, but by the end I could read some of the words, so there was definitely some progress in my knowledge of Greek.
final rating
Why here? What makes this location special? Why would you send your friends to your country/city?
Greece is a great country full of history, archaeological sites and beautiful nature completely different from the Czech Republic. Athens is the centre of Greece, where everything important happens. Plus, Greece is one of only two countries (along with Italy) that have a huge ancient heritage that simply isn't found anywhere else. For me, as a student of classical archaeology, it was country that could contribute the most to my studies.
live-saving tips
If I went again, I would definitely remember to pack...
Definitely sunscreen, sunglasses, two towels and repellent.
Before leaving, I would like to know that...
...that there's going to be the highest heat ever measured in the history of modern measurement statistics in Greece.
What surprised me most was that...
...the heat. I didn't think it would be so bad. And also, of course, the beauty of Greek archaeological sites and museums.
The hardest thing for me was...
I guess it was the heat, it was really hard. In July it was not less than 28 degrees Celsius for three weeks straight, including nights. One day it was even 44 degrees Celsius.
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