Internship Feedback

Uveřejněné zprávy z praxí neprošly ani jazykovou ani textovou úpravou. Proto, prosím, omluvte chybějící „hacky a carky“, stylistické a gramatické nedokonalosti textů.

Bc. Heda Jakubův, UCT Prague,

ročník 4

About the country

Location of the place

Rzeszow is a city located in southeastern Poland. It is the capital of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. It is the economic and cultural center and an important transport hub for the region.

City

Rzeszow is a rather small town with around 190,000 inhabitants. There are lots of modern buildings, but also a beautiful, charming square with a remarkable old town hall.
There are lots of parks and green, as well as many cycle tracks, as this city is very sports friendly.

Surroundings (possible trips, ...)

There are smaller cities like Lancut, Przemysl, Lezajsk worth visiting. I can recommend trips to Krakow (2h), Lviv (5h), Warsaw (5h) or Zakopane (5h).

Employer

Sanofi-Aventis Sp. z o.o.

Work description

I was working in a Research & Development Department. Among some office work, where I worked with raw material documentation or translated, I worked in a laboratory, where I was usually preparing some cosmetics like shampoos, creams or cleansing gels.

Salary (sufficient for local conditions?)

1,000 zl per month. It was enough for lodgings, food and transportation. Travelling expenses I had to cover from my own savings.

Language requirements

English at level B1.

Accommodation (price, who provided it)

I lived in dormitories on university campus provided by IAESTE. First month I stayed in a single room with bathroom and shower shared for 2 rooms, I paid 510 zl/month. Next two months I stayed in another dormitory, where I had a single room with bathrooms and showers shared for the whole hallway, I paid 430 zl/month.
Dormitories were sufficient, but I have to admit that Polish are a bit messy nation.

Social life

Meeting IAESTE members (pick-up at the airport, organized events...)

Well-organized and professional approach. Right after my arrival, there was an IAESTE girl, who drove me to the dormitory. Next day they took me to the doctor for a medical check up and then they took me to work. They borrowed me all necessary kitchen equipment, so there was no need to buy any.
During the whole stay the communication with them was excellent and I cannot think of something to complain about.

Meeting other foreign students

The day after my arrival I met with a guy from India, who showed me around the city. The next day arrived rest of the group, Brazilian, German and Jordanian. We hanged out almost every other day and went on trips on the weekends. When they left, I befriended with the local Poles, who got me an inside to Polish culture and mentality.

Sport and culture

In Rzeszow there are multiple options for sports enthusiastics. A lot of outdoor gyms and perfect cycling tracks along the river, where people also went jogging or roller skating.

Food, local specialties

Close to the dorm were multiple supermarkets, which offered wide variety of food. At work I had lunches for 2 zl, every day 4 different options. The city offers a lot of different restaurants with reasonable prices. Kebabs are very popular and cheap there. It was possible to cook in the dorms.

Other information

Possibilites to communicate with the Czech Republic

There was no need, but you can always call or chat via internet.

Recommendations for students who will go to the same place

Do not hesitate and come here. Bring sports clothes and prepare for barbecues and a lot of fun.

What not to forget with you

Some typical czech liqueur like Becherovka or Stara myslivecka. I also brought some Studentska pecet, which is popular in Poland. Do not forget to bring some raincoat or an umbrella.