Ten members of BEST lund went on a one week long Cultural Exchange (CE) to Gliwice in Poland. The CE was a three-way exchange and also people from Veszprém (Hungary) participated. Here is the story, enjoy!

Arrival

We arrived to Poland on Saturday March 28th to Katowicze airport. After a short busride we met our polish hosts. The actual CE started first on the Sunday so no activities were planned but as Swedes we wanted to be on time ;-) The first night we therefore stayed in different appartements around Gliwice.

Day 0 - Start of the CE

The Sunday was spent shopping in Gliwice shopping mall. During the afternoon the group from Veszprem showed up and the evening were spent with different get to know games. During the Sunday we also moved into the dormitory that would be our home for the week.

Day 1 - Mine visit and Polish evening

Monday was the first day that was really planned. In the morning we got a history lesson about Poland and also a short language lesson with the most common lines. In the afternoon we took the bus to an old coal mine. At that time we had already realized that coal is used more often as energy source than in Sweden.



In the evening we had Polish night. That means that we tried several polish dishes and even had a live-band during the dinner.

Day 2 - Gliwice radio station

Next day (the Tuesday), we went to Gliwice radio station. Gliwice radio station is famous becuase it is the highest wooden tower in the world. It was also an important location during the start of the second world war. At that time Gliwice was a german city, and Hitler sent in german soldiers dressed like polish soldiers to attack the radio station. The outdressed german soldiers were when supposed to send a message over the radio so that it looked like Poland attacked Germany instead from what actually happened. But if you want to know more about that story, you will have to find it out yourself. SORRY.



In the evening we had, the for BEST so typical event International Evening. This means that the participants cook typical food dishes from their countries and present it to the others. This time we decided to not to bring any herring since thats a very typical polish dish as well. Which might be the first time in BEST Lunds history.

Day 3 - Heritage park

On Wednesday morning we went to a polish heritage park. The park contained old buildings and the guide told us stories about how people lived in Poland a long time ago. The group were also divided into two groups for a workshop in the end. One group was doing wood-crafting, what the other group did I don't remember now.

Day 4 - Tyskie Brewery

The last day in Gliwice we spent in Tyskie Brewery. After the Brewery trip we had another work shop. This time we had a polish cooking lesson. Sadly, but maybe not surprisingly the polish organizers were not to impressed of our creations.

Day 5 - Kraków

On Friday morning we went to the old capital Kraków. After Lunch the organizers had prepared a city rally for us. A city rally is a more fun way of sightseing, but if you don't know I will not spoil the fun here (go on a BEST course and find out).

In the evening we had a goodbye party, we all ended at a student nightclub in AGH (A university in Kraków also hosting a BEST group).

Day 6 - Departure

Saturday, was also departure day and no activities were planned. BEST Lund decided to spend part of the day at the shopping mall in Kraków and the rest of the day around the market square in the city center, enjoying the lovely weather before returning home to Sweden.