Vladislav Rudenko, a Kryvyi Rih FRI-member, spoke about his first experience on an Erasmus exchange in Poland.
Have you ever participated in an Erasmus+ project before? If so, what was special about this one?
It was my first Erasmus+ and that’s what made it so special.
What should EVERY FRI member know before a project?
Don’t forget about Erasmus+ projects. And you can always add your experience related to the FRI to your CV. And then tell others about your experience and involve them in the FRI.
Please tell us about a typical day at the project. What was your daily routine like during the exchange?
Our day would start with a delicious breakfast, after which we would get together and distribute gifts and letters from our secret friends. Then, until the evening, we worked on workshops prepared by the participants themselves. Afterwards, we had a team reflection. Finally, the most interesting part of the day was the cultural evenings! During these evenings, we talked and listened about the traditions and interesting facts of each country. We shared souvenirs and national food.
Were there any cultural differences that surprised you or caused difficulties?
Because of stereotypes, I was afraid that some nationalities would have a completely different way of thinking and seeing life, but after getting to know them, my team and I calmed down.
What do Erasmus offer that no other project can?
The advantage of Erasmus is that you will not only gain knowledge on a particular topic, but also communicate and spend a lot of time with foreigners. You can also get a cool YouthPass certificate, which you can use when registering for other projects in the future.
What conclusions did you draw after participating in the exchange, what insights did you gain?
English is quite important on such projects, although it is not mandatory. It will just make it much easier to understand and communicate with others. – You shouldn’t be afraid of new people, because they are just like you, they are on this Erasmus+ for the first time. And those who have already had experience in this are supportive and helpful. – You need to talk about Ukraine and the war, because many people are not interested and do not understand it. – And of course, the most important conclusion is that I enjoyed it incredibly. I am very grateful to my team, team leader and organisers! It would not have happened without them.
Edited by Maria Moshyk, with the support of Mykhailo Didenko