SURVIVAL GUIDE Summer Course 2018 POLAND, WARSAW 16 - 25 JULY 2018
the dark side of the moon Dear participants! Welcome to Warsaw summer course! We are glad that you chose to spend the BEST part of a year with us in Poland! As soon as you get here you will realize why is this course so tremendous! In this survival guide you will be provided with some interesting informations about Warsaw as well as those important ones that gonna make it easier for you to move around!
People always ask us… who we are? where do we come from?...
WARSAW UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Warsaw University of Technology is one of the leading institutes of technology in Poland, and one of the largest in Central Europe. The origins of Warsaw University of Technology date back to 1826 when engineering education began in Warsaw Institute of Technology.
22 INDEX
1. GENERAL INFORMATION...... 4 2. FORECAST...... 8 3. DON’T FORGET TO BRING WITH YOU...... 9 4. OUR REGIONAL CUISINE...... 10 5. TRAVEL POSSIBILITIES. HOW TO MEET US!...... 11 6. I HATE WALKING! HOW TO GET AROUND WARSAW WITH EASE?...... 12 7. FEW RULES, THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW…...... 13 8. FEW USEFUL WORDS...... 14 9. TIME IS MONEY. DON’T WASTE A BIT!...... 15 10. EMERGENCY NUMBERS...... 16 11. CONTACT US...... 16 POPULATION: 38,5 million people
LAND AREA: 312,679 km2
GENERAL LANGUAGE: polish INFORMATIONS
SUMMER TIME ZONE: UTC+2
ELECTRICITY: Voltage - 230 Volts
4 SOME HISTORY OF WARSAW
The history of Warsaw spans over 1400 years. In that time, the city evolved from a cluster of villages to the capital of a major European power, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth—and, under the patronage of its kings, a center of enlightenment and otherwise unknown tolerance. Fortified settlements founded in the 9th century form the core of the city, in today's Warsaw Old Town.
The city has had a particularly tumultuous history for a European city. It experienced numerous plagues, invasions, and devastating fires. The most destructive events include the Deluge, the Great Northern War (1702, 1704, 1705), War of the Polish Succession, Warsaw Uprising (1794), Battle of Praga and the Massacre of Praga inhabitants, November Uprising, January Uprising, World War I, Siege of Warsaw (1939) and aerial bombardment—and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Warsaw Uprising (after which the German occupiers razed the city).
The city has hosted many crucial events in the history of Poland. It was the site of election of Polish kings, meeting of Polish parliament (Sejm), and events such as the Polish victory over the Bolsheviks at the Vistula, during the Battle of Warsaw (1920), and today the frequently attacked city has grown to the multicultural capital of a modern European state and a major commercial and cultural centres of Central Europe.
5 SPECIAL PLACES
OLD TOWN
Walking the streets of the Old Town and New Town allows you to rest from the bustle of central city life. Atmospheric alleys, squares, and cosy cafés create a unique sense of history, and in the summer, the Old and New Town Squares become stages for musical and theatrical performances and open-air galleries. PALACE OF CULTURE AND SCIENCE
Completed in 1955 as a ‘gift from the Soviet people’, the building is the embodiment of Socialist Realist architecture. It is still the tallest building in Poland and fulfils the role of a cultural centre accommodating theatres, museums, a cinema and a concert hall. The highest viewing COPERNICUS SCIENCE CENTRE platform in Warsaw, on the 30th floor, offers an excellent panoramic view of the city. A kingdom of experiments and a heaven for those interested in the world. Here everyone can delve into nature’s mysteries, conduct experiments on their own and, above all, have fun. 6 WHY WAR-SAW?
Wars and Sawa
King Kazimierz Odnowiciel, while on his way from Kraków to Gniezno, came across a poor fisherman’s hut. The hungry king found his way to the hut thanks to the smoke and the smell of fresh food. As he was having some fish from the night’s catch, the fisherman told the king the story of his family which had just recently grown bigger thanks to the arrival of two marvellous twins. The poor fisherman and his wife could not baptise the babies, though, because there was no church in the area. The king, who had really enjoyed the meal, wanted to pay the peasants with gold, but they, according to the old Polish tradition of hospitality, refused to take any payment. Then the king asked them for one more favour – he asked to be the twins’ godfather at their baptism that he would organize. An altar was set up on a hill, and a priest commissioned by King Kazimierz named the twins Wars (the boy) and Sawa (the girl). And King Kazimierz announced that Pietrko Rybak (Peter Fisherman) would from then on be called Piotr Wars, the royal fisherman, the father of Wars and Sawa, and the owner of the vast forest. The king also told him that one day, when a village began to take shape near his hut, that he should give it a name derived from his new surname – and that the village would carry that name forever.
7 2. FORECAST
In July temperature can reach even 30 degrees (due to global warming it is even more possible), so remember to take sunglasses and some cool shorts ;) But to be honest it may also drop below 20 degrees so it would be wise to pack some long sleeves and trousers. When it comes to the rain it’s really unpredictable, it may rain for the whole week as it may not. So it is recommended to have some raincoat or at least an umbrella ;)
8 3. DON’T FORGET TO BRING WITH YOU
• Smile on your face • Passport / visa / ID card • Student card - ISIC card (it provides discounts on public transport and in many restaurants ;) • Toilet stuff • Clothes suitable for sunny and rainy conditions • Camera (or just phone ;)) • Sunglasses • All needed medicines (if you need one) • Fancy clothes for the official closing • Bathing suit – just in case • Typical food and drinks from your country – it will be needed for the International Evening. When you pack the food, please have in mind that it needs to be preserved for a few days between your arrival and at the night of the party.
9 4. OUR REGIONAL CUISINE
Poland is not only known for the most beautiful girls in Europe or the best vodka but also for our delicious food. People come to try our pierogi (filled dumplings) from all around the world. If you want to feel polish vibe you have to try our most famous dishes and of course, our drinks!
Typical polish food is a bit heavy but once you try it, you will not be able to resist the temptation.Once you are here you have to try pierogi (dumplings), kotlet schabowy (pork breaded cutlet), gołąbki (cabbage roll) and all soups e.g. kapuśniak (cabbage soup), pomidorowa (tomato soup), rosół (bouillon), chłodnik (cold beet-soup). Our national drink is wódka (vodka) and it is one of the best in the world as we mentioned earlier. The most known brands are “Soplica”, "Wyborowa", "Sobieski", "Chopin", "Żubrówka" and "Lubelska".If you are concerned about eating too much and gaining tons of calories, don’t worry! We can always go for a run or hit the gym!
10 5. TRAVEL POSSIBILITIES… HOW TO MEET US!
By plane: The fastest and easiest way to get to Warsaw would be by plane. We’ve got two airports, the main airport called Warsaw Chopin Airport, or the recently opened Modlin airport which is about 30 km from Warsaw. We can pick you up from both or u can get to the meeting point by bus. (more information at https://www.modlinbus.pl/en). It might be cheaper to travel by plane to another city and then by bus or train to Warsaw.
By train: Travelling by train in Poland is cheap for students. The biggest railway station in Warsaw is Warszawa Centralna (Central Railway Station) and once you get there, we'll be able to pick you up. You can find a train at http://www.rozklad-pkp.pl/en and if it's within country borders you'll be able to buy the tickets online.
By bus: Here are some websites that offer bus transport. Check http://www.eurolines.pl/en/ http://www.simpleexpress.eu/en2 http://www.polskibus.com/en/index.htm for internal routes. You can also find different kinds of connections within Poland at http://en.e- podroznik.pl/public/index.do.
11 6. I HATE WALKING! HOW TO GET AROUND WARSAW WITH EASE?
The cheapest way to travel in Warsaw is to use public transport - buses, trams, metro and trains. You can find all information about it at http://www.ztm.waw.pl/?l=2 Here you have some phone numbers to the cheap taxis and uber in Warsaw:
Uber: https://www.uber.com/pl/cities/warsaw/
If you want to know more about Warsaw there are special guides for travelers: http://www.inyourpocket.com/warsaw http://warsawtour.pl/en
12 7. FEW RULES, THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW…
You should remember that in our country:
! drugs are strictly prohibited ! drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes in public is also prohibited ! jaywalk is illegal (otherwise you will have to pay 500 zł fine) ! being sad is banned ! you also shouldn’t eat too much fast foods, polish food is much better ! you shouldn’t say "thank you" when paying for a meal until you've received your change back (in some restaurants it means "keep the change")
There are also few things that you should do in Poland, for example:
• visit at least some of the places listed in this survival guide • offer your seat in public transport to the elderly, disabled people or pregnant women • shake hands when meeting someone and when departing • ask random pedestrians for help, they will do it with pleasure • stamp your ticket in bus/tram • always have your ID with you • hug people when they look sad • party with us!
13 8. FEW USEFUL WORDS
Dzień dobry Good morning/good afternoon Do widzenia Goodbye Dobry wieczór Good evening Dobranoc Good night Cześć Hello Tak Yes Nie No Proszę Please Dziękuję Thank you Nie ma za co You're welcome Pomocy! Help! Przepraszam I'm sorry Która jest godzina? What time is it? Gdzie jest...? Where is...? Ile to kosztuje? How much does it cost? Jak się masz? How you doin’? Jesteś super You’re great Lubię Cię I like you Kocham Cię I love you Dajcie mi piwo/wódki Give me a beer/vodka Przytul mnie Hug me
14 9. TIME IS MONEY… DON’T WASTE A BIT!
Złoty (zł, PLN) is the Polish currency. One zloty is divided into 100 groszy (1 zł = 100 gr). There are banknotes in denominations of PLN 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 and coins in denominations of gr 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 and PLN 1, 2, 5 in circulation. You can exchange money in numerous exchange o ces or banks. Banks in Poland during weekdays are usually open from 10 am till 6 pm and on Saturday - from 10 am till 2 pm. They are closed on Sunday. Exchange points are usually located in city centre, railway stations, airports and places of increased tourist tra c. We recommend you to find "kantor" in the city centre, not at the airport because of higher rates.
Prices of food articles in Poland are not high, shopping is cheapest in hypermar- kets and at markets, while small shops are slightly more expensive.
What? PLN Euro Beer (pub) 7-11 zł 1,6-2,6
Beer (shop) 2,5- 5 zł 0,6-1,2
Cigarettes 13- 17 zł 3-4` Pizza 25-40 zł 6-9,6
Mc Donald’s meal 20-25 zł 4,8-6
Pierogi 15-20 zł 3,6-4,8 Vodka 20-40 zł 4,8-9,6 Club entry fee 25 zł 6
Chewing gum 2,5-5 zł 0,6-1,2
Mineral Water (0,5l) 1,6 0,4 15 10. EMERGENCY NUMBERS
POLICE: 997 FIRE BRIGADE: 998 AMBULANCE: 999 UNIVERSAL EMERGENCY NUMBER: 112
11. CONTACT US
16 Oliwia Lechańska (Main Organiser) e-mail:[email protected] phone number:+48 512 912 921
Piotr Cieślak (Human Resources) e-mail: [email protected] phone number:+48 503 048 797
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