University of Silesia in Katowice

During my PhD studies I went on a three-month internship in Kaunas, Lithuania, as part of the Erasmus Programme. I took part in the programme to gain knowledge and experience related to the synthesis of polymers. I can truly say that it was a valuable experience and the greatest adventure of my life, despite the fact that I was unsure of my language skills, full of anxiety and fear of spending several months in a foreign university.

However, once there, I quickly realised that it was one of the best decisions in my life. I met a lot of interesting people – not only from the institute where I was doing my internship, but also from the entire academic community. I am still in touch with many of them. What is more, I learned a lot, deepened my knowledge of polymer chemistry, got to know Lithuanian culture, visited many beautiful places, and significantly improved my language skills.

It is undeniable that I came back with a huge baggage of experiences and memories – I will cherish them for the rest of my life. I would recommend an Erasmus trip to anyone who has such an opportunity. It is a journey of life and a school of life, an experience that cannot be replaced by anything.