MY STUDENT MOBILITY IN BELGRADE: Julia Skrzyńska, Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow

6. July 2021

Julia Skrzyńska
Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow

Erasmus+ Mobility for Studies at:

University of Arts in Belgrade, Faculty of Applied Arts

Summaries are usually not easy, especially if the thing to be summarized have lasted for a few months. This is the case of my Erasmus exchange that I participated in during the summer semester at the University of Arts in Belgrade. For many this period of time might not seem to be long, nevertheless these 5 months were one of the most intense in my life so far.

Firstly, everything was new. The city, the country, the University and the people. I decided to be renting a flat with flatmates I hadn’t met before, we just found each other on Facebook group. It was even a bigger unknown for me, as it was the first time when I moved out from my family house. Of course there was more excitement in all of this than an actual fear, but a little bit of stress too. Yet all the uncertainty disappeared when I arrived in Belgrade. The city felt like home since the very first minute and I had the impression that, somehow, everything is familiar in a way. One of my first thoughts was: 5 months won’t be enough!

The classes started few days after my arrival, so I jumped into a full studying mode almost immediately. I found some similarities between the programs both at UAB and my home university, although the course surprised me with its intensity. I did things I have never done before, particularly in the costume class which was really demanding. Sometimes it was a challenge to make it on time with all of the responsibilities, but I’m happy I had a chance to do things I would have never done if I had stayed in Cracow.

Nevertheless, Erasmus is not only studying, is it? Fascinated by the city’s history, I walked around and explored the area a lot. One of my favourite things is the mix and variety of the architecture here as well as the contrasts it makes. As a fan of brutalism I find the New Belgrade particularly interesting and aesthetically pleasing. Zemun on the other hand reminds me of one neighbourhood in Cracow, so sometimes it feels like time and space traveling when I move from one part of the city to another. But probably my preferred neighbourhood is the one I’m living in – Dorćol. I can’t imagine that anyone could not like it, as there’s everything one needs: great cafes (including my beloved Centrala), chill, artistic vibes, beautiful buildings and a lot of history behind. I pass the same streets almost every day and still find new venues or details I haven’t noticed earlier. The more time one spends in a certain place, the more it reveals to them.

While describing my experience in a foreign country I cannot forget about its language! I’m not learning Serbian, but knowing other Slavic language definitely helps in a daily communication. I catched up the Cyrillic without even realizing it, along with some everyday basics and food-connected vocabulary that I often use at the ‘pijaca’. Being able to communicate with locals in their language is undoubtedly a very satisfying feeling.

Speaking of locals, or people in general – I met some extremely kind people here, mainly when I was in bigger or smaller troubles. I think that unexpected meetings make the best stories, or at least very memorable ones. This is what I’ll keep in my memory for sure – those people who my paths crossed with here, even if only for a few minutes.

It has been a lifetime experience indeed. I left my comfort zone and faced a lot of different issues, gaining more and more confidence with each next one. It’s hard to believe that majority of my time here has already passed and I’ll be about to leave in a month, as I got used to living here and I can truly call Belgrade my home now. But the best thing about home is that one can always come back there, and this is what I’ll surely do in the future.

Of course – enjoying the food