Dzień dobry, nazywam się Camille Ledure, jestem Belgijką. Jestem studentką Erasmusa w Akademii Sztuk Pięknych na Wydziale Wzornictwa.
(For those who don’t understand Polish, I’ll let you look up the translation.)
On September 29th, 2024, I arrived at Chopin Airport in Warsaw with a rucksack, a handbag (don’t worry — the rest arrived later), and, thanks to my grandpa, a little guide to Warsaw. To be honest, I was not prepared at all for this adventure: I knew almost nothing about the country, the culture, or the language. I had no expectations, only the hope that whatever happened, I would learn a lot. Fortunately for me, this experience turned out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me (not to sound too dramatic).
Let’s go back to that first moment, stepping off the plane and trying to find the exit. I remember seeing a sign that said “wyjście” with “exit” written underneath. I immediately noted it down in the Notes app on my phone and thought I’d write down every unfamiliar word I saw. Let’s just say that tactic didn’t last long. But from day one, I was determined to learn Polish, even though many people warned me against it. Polish is a hard language — that’s a fact. Still, I grew to appreciate it with its whispering sounds and clusters of consonants. I found it fascinating to be in a place where I couldn’t understand or speak a single word. It was a big shift from Belgium, where I speak French and Dutch and can easily communicate with anyone. English became my main language of communication, while Polish became the language I wished I knew. My first semester in Warsaw was all about “firsts”: first time living abroad, first time making international friends, first time having courses in English, and first time learning a language from scratch. I was raised in a bilingual environment, and English came to me naturally, so I never really had to put in effort to learn a language. When we started having Polish language and culture classes, it was actually the first time I actively tried to learn one — writing down pronunciation and
vocabulary. I remember that first class: around 30 of us, all trying to mimic the sounds our teacher Agnieszka made. The letter combinations all sounded very similar to us non-native speakers but were, apparently, very different. For instance, the [ʐ] sound can be written in at least three ways — rz, ż, or ź — and [u] can be spelled u or ó. Learning Polish is very confusing at the beginning, but once you understand the alphabet and how each letter or combination is pronounced, it gets easier tto read what’s written around you. I started a little game: whenever I was in public, I tried to read everything around me — as quickly as possible (which wasn’t very fast at first). When I saw a word appear often, I’d look it up. For example, I kept seeing the word Listopad, which means November
(as you might’ve guessed — this was around November). These classes went on until January. I enjoyed them, but I quickly realized that going once a week for 90 minutes wasn’t nearly enough to really learn a language. By the end of the semester, I had made some Polish friends, but I still felt like I could do more to truly integrate.
The start of the second semester was a bit more challenging. Many of my friends had returned to their home universities, I was missing home, and I wasn’t sure I had the energy to go through the whole “Hi, nice to meet you, my name is…” process again. Unlike the new arrivals, I already knew the city, the school, and some people — both from the first semester and local students. So I decided to dive deeper into learning Polish. Starting February 15th, I began taking Polish classes three times a week for 90 minutes, in addition to the classes at school. I was determined not to leave this country without knowing at least the basics. We used a textbook called “Survival Polish: Seria do nauki języka polskiego” — level A0, which is the absolute beginner level. I already had a head start thanks to the first semester, but I was still happy to join a small group of seven people from all over the world, all eager to learn. We studied the alphabet, numbers, professions, food, and how to order it in a restaurant. We also tackled grammar, syntax, and more. A new game emerged: based on the context and the vocabulary I knew, I’d try to understand what people around me were talking about. When I recognized a word, I’d proudly say it out loud and ask if I got it right
Looking back, this Erasmus experience has been far more than just an academic exchange — it became a journey of self-discovery, cultural immersion, and personal growth. When I first arrived in Warsaw, I didn’t know what to expect. I barely knew the language, the culture, or the city. But through the challenges of adapting to a new environment, learning Polish from scratch, and building connections with people from all over the world, I found myself becoming part of something much bigger than I had imagined. Trying to learn Polish wasn’t just about speaking the language — it was a way to understand the people, to connect with the culture, and to show that I cared about being here. Polish people may not always seem open at first, but the moment you make an effort — even just saying a few words in their language — their expressions soften, their eyes light up. One of the most memorable compliments I received, and one that meant more than I expected, was: “Wow! You’ve got a great accent in Polish!” It wasn’t just about pronunciation; it was a sign that I had truly connected, even briefly, across language and cultural lines.
I may not have mastered Polish (yet), but I’ve gained something equally valuable: a deeper appreciation for language, a new sense of resilience, and unforgettable memories that I will carry with me long after this semester ends. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that making the effort — no matter how imperfect — can open doors to friendships, understanding, and a truly transformative experience.
