Chris Wojdak
Torun Trip Essay, 2008

This summer I was given the opportunity to travel to Poland and spend two
weeks in Torun taking a summer course at the Nicholas Copernicus University.
The two weeks I spent in Torun will be an experience I will cherish for the
rest of my life. During those two weeks I met around thirty people, between
the ages of 18 and 60, from around the world. I also had the opportunity to
improve my Polish and learn grammar, writing, and communication skills. The
course was very helpful and I would highly recommend it to anyone with a
remote interest in learning languages and meeting new people.

The city of Torun was beauty in and of itself. The old town is truly a sight
to see. I was immediately suprised at the sheer size of the beautiful old
town which remained fully intact. Torun has an impressive number of churches,
even for an old Polish town. One point of interest is the intersection where
the University, an old church, and a jail meet. There is never a shortage of
thinigs to do in Torun. Pubs, cafes, dance clubs, restaurants, museums, a
planetarium.  After two weeks I felt like I had only just scratched the surface
of what Torun has to offer.

The Polish language course was incredibly helpful. At first I was nervous I
would be placed in a group either too difficult or too easy for my ability level,
but those fears were put to rest after a placement exam was administered to all
students. The students were divided into four groups: beginner, intermediate,
advanced intermediate, and advanced. There were two different classes, grammar
and communication, which each met daily. The schedule alternated so that some
days there would be two classes of communication, and other days there would be
two classes of grammar. In addition to tehse classes, lectures on Polish history
took place twice a week adn were offered in both English and Polish. Each of the
students was given a complimentary textbook and notebook. The teachers were
phenomenal. The groups were kept small enmough that individual attention could
easily be given to everyone. By the end of the two weeks I felt that my Polish
had improved considerably, especially my grammar and writing.

The chance to meet new people from around the world was a once in a lifetime
opportunity. Making friends was very easy, and everyone was very amiable and
open minded. The 30 people in the program cam from around a dozen or so countries.
I met people from France, Russia, Italy, Serbia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Germany, Hungary, and Kazakhstan, among other countries. Learning about different
cultures, customs, and languages was another valuable life experience.

In conclusion, my summer in POland was unlike any other trip I have experienced
during my lifetime. My only regret was not signing up for the three-week program.
The program was a learning experience in every way. Everything from the food I
ate to the people I met, and of course the lessons I learned, were valuable to me;
something I will never forget.