Luckily, and just for you, most of the younger people speak English. It all depends on what kind of person you are - if you can manage to get yourself understood - they will help you. But imagine if you went to France or Germany and didn't speak a word - how would you manage?.
You'll manage fine. Don't bother with books, by the time you've figured out how to say something you will become frustrated. Use your personality and be polite.
I have been in Lodz now for 3 weeks and managed to survive perfectly fine!
The people are friendly and very helpful. Most of the younger people speak some English and are willing to help you out.
It's a really vibrant and up and coming city with excellent transport throughout. Buy your bus/tram tickets from the newsagents or kiosks before you get on the bus and stamp it on the bus. I made the mistake of trying to ask the bus driver for a ticket! I learned quickly..... The MPK website is really good and in English.
Lots of independent restaurants, bars, and clubs and not been over run by big chain establishments yet. Although lots of new chain hotels springing up around where I am currently on Al. Pilsudskiego.
Getting what you want is not a problem as the menus come in English and most bar staff will understand or in a busy club just point to what you want. The local Okocim beer is nice too.
Piotrkowska is the place to hang out at weekends and the Galeria Lodz is close by too for shopping and has a Tesco. When you have seen one Tesco, you have seen them all...
So far I haved checked out Klub Pomarancza and Lodi's Club. Both are a bit too commercial for my liking. Both were busy and Lodi's has a great sound system. Although the 6am licence and managing to get into Foo Foo's Bar upstairs was pretty decent. :) I haven't had any problems getting into clubs as the security have been friendly enough and quite effective at dealing with trouble makers from what I saw! Most people have been friendly enough when I mention I am Scottish and not Polish.
Is any good underground dance clubs on Piotrkowska? Kaliska maybe? Gossip may be too difficult to get into!
I'm a Scottish student just about to come over to study in Lodz for a year. From one Scot to another, what's it like? I'm going over in September and after finally getting everything sorted I'm just getting a little worried about well... actually moving over now haha.
I have been here for a few weeks and will be in Lodz till the end of September. I'm back home in Scotland at the minute and off to Lodz on Thursday again.
It's pretty much as described above tbh.
I was worried mainly about the language barrier when I was coming over but it's not been too much of a problem.
But I'm living out of a hotel and not having to look for my own accomodation. I am sure the other students will help you out too.
Before that I spent 3 months in the US and Lodz so far has been a far more positive and better experience.
The hotel handed me a guide called Lodz In Your Pocket and it's got a website too. Have a look on there as it's full of good advice.
Drop me a PM if you have any specific questions and I will ask the guys in the office and see what I can find out.
Are you sure you are in Lodz?I am asking because Lodz is the most depressing and most neglected city in Poland.
Granted I'm not far from the centre.
Not really sure why you think it is depressing with a new airport not far away, lots of new hotels being build, decent shopping centres, and several multinational companies setting up shared service centres in Lodz over the next 12 months. It's not the finished article by any stretch but certainly has alot going for it than most places.
Plus the weather has been fairly decent for the month I have been over.
Now if you want depressing I could recommend a few places far worse!
So now you are an expert on Lodz too?A lot must have changed since last week because last week it looked depressing and neglected.Apart from parts of Piotrkowska and Pilsudskiego thye rest of city centre looks like Sarajevo after siege.And you are wrong about 80's too,Lodz looked much better in the 80's.
Thanks for the advice Optimo, I'll look into Lodz in Your Pocket.
As for Lodz looking bad, I live near Glasgow and study in Paisley, scenery or non-attractive cities are a norm for me so not too bothered about that part. The most important things for me are good universities and a good student atmosphere which I've heard is meant to be the case at Lodz.
So now you are an expert on Lodz too?A lot must have changed since last week because last week it looked depressing and neglected.Apart from parts of Piotrkowska and Pilsudskiego thye rest of city centre looks like Sarajevo after siege.And you are wrong about 80's too,Lodz looked much better in the 80's.
Ah another proud Pole! I've never seen a nation like it to put its own down.
Graeme, do you play rugby by chance? Great way to meet people, we have a lot of Erasmus student playing with us. Very low standard v Scotland, we play mainly 7's.
Well us Scots can be like that too, we're proud to be Scottish but have a realistic view of all the things that are wrong with it :P
As for rugby I'm sorry to say I am a die hard American football fan and just can't get into rugby, have a total respect for rugby players and how physical they play but my loyalties sportswise lies with the Yanks. Also, I can't tackle at all haha.
Thanks for the advice Optimo, I'll look into Lodz in Your Pocket.
As for Lodz looking bad, I live near Glasgow and study in Paisley, scenery or non-attractive cities are a norm for me so not too bothered about that part. The most important things for me are good universities and a good student atmosphere which I've heard is meant to be the case at Lodz.
Thanks again, Graeme
The buildings are a mixture of new buildings as alot of companies have set up offices in Lodz (Which is what I do) and undeveloped buildings from before the war.
The story I got told was this was due to the owners being un-known after the war, the buildings remain untouched. Couldn't tell you if this is true or not. The only thing which let's Lodz down is the amount of graffiti everywhere. On the way to work I do see lots of people looking after the place where ever I go.
If you survived a night out in Paisley, Lodz will be a breeze! I found the atmosphere to be very good when I was out most weekends and saw very little trouble. I didn't have any bother getting into bars/clubs either.
If you survived a night out in Paisley, Lodz will be a breeze!
Went to college in Dundee myself and I would agree, way more scary. I have a very good Scottish mate who did his BA in Paisley, he said it was a scary place at night.
Lodz with be like Neverland compared.
PS Graeme, I have seen some eidgets making fools of themselves playing that American bastardisation of my beloved sport here. I'm sure you'll find them online. Anyway when you arrive I'll allow you buy me a pint if you like ;) (didn't forget everything from my time in Scotland)
Well this is good then, my Polish mate from university wasn't so nice about Lodz but said it was a very good student city. You guys telling me it's better than Paisley makes me worry less :)
You're just jealous of our forward passing ability and numerous breaks for a quick rest :P you rugby lads wished you'd came up with that idea first. That's a really good point, do they do pints in Poland? I lived in Norway and they poured the worst pint I have ever seen AND charged me £6 for it to boot. What's the beer like in Poland?
So innocent - comparing Norway. I paid 9pln in Manufaktura for a pint last weekend and was annoyed. Pints are about 6ish pln downtown (1.25 pounds) . A can in a supermarket is 50p (2.50pln). Pints are fine her, just 1%+ stronger than home so pace yourself!
Yes it is all the above reasons that makes me yearn for by beloved rugby to turn into an entertainment farce!!! Actually those rules would suit a man of my "standing" but I can't buy into a sport that lasts 2-3 hours. I'd much prefer to embarrass myself for 80 mins and near die at the end.
So innocent - comparing Norway. I paid 9pln in Manufaktura for a pint last weekend and was annoyed. Pints are about 6ish pln downtown (1.25 pounds) . A can in a supermarket is 50p (2.50pln). Pints are fine her, just 1%+ stronger than home so pace yourself!
I flew back in today and it feels like home. ie It's pouring it down.
It costs me 13 PLN for a large Okocim at the hotel. But in bars and clubs it's pretty cheap for a night out. 8 PLN or 10 for more branded stuff.
There's plenty of 24 hour off licenses too it seems.
Another tip is the bus from the airport drops you pretty much in the centre of Lodz if you wanted to same some cash and not get a taxi. A map can be got from the information desk at the airport and tickets bought from a machine next to the exit.
Can anyone tell me what the better clubs are in Lodz and where the ex-pats hang out? Getting a bit bored kicking about on my own and here for another 3 weeks :(
Have justed moved to Lodz from Dublin at the weekend. With a 1 year old in tow it's been....interesting :D
Have been here a fair bit, 10-12 times and to be honest while parts of it are depressing, it's no worse than any other city I've been in Grubas. (graffiti aside which is a bit OTT in some areas)
