During an unforgettable Erasmus+ mobility, students from Colegiul Național Bănățean Timișoara, Romania and students from Karol Miarka I Secondary School of General Education with Bilingual Classes/ Liceum Ogólnokształcące z Oddziałami Dwujęzycznymi im. Karola Miarki/ in Żory, Poland, embarked on a virtual and real-life cultural exchange — one that took them through the heart of each other’s hometowns using nothing but photos, words, and emotion. Using Padlet as a collaborative tool, they introduced the cities they call home by capturing snapshots of daily life and adding vivid sensory descriptions. What emerged was a poetic and heartfelt portrait of two cities, hundreds of kilometers apart, yet united by youth, curiosity, and friendship.
Timișoara – A Symphony of History and Youthful Energy
According to our students, Timișoara is nothing but ”a symphony of history and youthful energy”. In Timișoara, every corner seems to whisper stories from the past. Union Square, with its Baroque charm, holds the scent of fresh espresso and buttery croissants drifting from nearby cafés. One student describes this space not just as a location but as an experience — filled with laughter, gentle conversations, and the sound of cutlery clinking over breakfast.
Another student, meanwhile, shares a more social side of Timișoara. In the bustling city center, teenagers offer photo services as part of charitable initiatives — blending art, kindness, and community. “Every time I go out with my friends,” she writes, “we take memorable photos and learn new things about our city.”
By the banks of the Bega River, calm replaces the city’s buzz. In one photo, the water stretches quietly under a crystal-blue sky. Lush trees lean over its edge, and birdsong replaces traffic. The student recalls time spent with friends on a pontoon: “We talked, laughed, and let nature help us unwind.”
Victory Square is perhaps the most emotional stop — the beating heart of the 1989 Revolution. Today, it’s a blend of resilience and culture, with people gathering in front of the National Opera and Theatre. “It’s not just a place,” one student reflects, “it’s the soul of our city.”
And then there is the Cathedral, a towering spiritual symbol, as well as the upcoming celebration “Flori de Florii”, where the city comes alive with traditions, dances, and community spirit — a springtime ode to joy.
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Żory: A Rebirth from Fire
Żory — whose name comes from the old Polish word for “fire” — is a city that quite literally rose from the ashes. Once nearly burned to the ground in 1702, it now thrives with green parks, historic squares, and modern revitalizations.
Park Cegielnia, built over an old brick factory, is now a recreational heaven. With its skateparks, climbing structures, outdoor gym, and even a saline graduation tower, it’s a symbol of urban reinvention and wellness. Here, families relax, children play, and culture flourishes under open skies, as one student descibes it.
The Market Square in Żory buzzes with seasonal energy: light shows from the fountains in summer, concerts, and the much-loved Fire Festival. The statue of St. John of Nepomuk and the historic town hall give it a classic European feel, writes another student.
The recently restored Palace in Baranowice is another gem. Once abandoned, it now hums with life — hosting dance classes, art exhibits, and concerts. Surrounded by peaceful forest trails, it’s both a cultural center and a quiet escape. It is the place where they all spent a lovely afternoon, enjoying a dancing class.
Meeting Places, Shared Stories
Beyond Timisoara and Żory, students visited common places together during the exchange — such as the towering Faculty of Humanities at the University of Silesia in Sosnowiec or the timeless beauty of Kraków’s Wawel Cathedral. In Kraków, the students were swept up by the layers of history — the scent of traditional obwarzanki, the golden domes, and the emotional weight of standing where kings once walked.
More Than a Visit – a Bond
This project was more than just sightseeing. It was a dialogue between cultures, a sensory journey, and a way to build empathy and understanding. By focusing on what they heard, saw, smelt, and felt, students created a map of emotions — one that connected city squares to personal memories, architecture to identity, and strangers to friends.
Each photo was a window. Each description, a bridge.
Recommendation: If you ever get the chance to visit either Timișoara or Żory, don’t just look at the buildings. Sit in the square, listen to the people, breathe in the air, taste the local pastries, and let yourself feel the pulse of the place. Like our students discovered — cities aren’t just made of streets and stones, but of stories.
Conclusions for the Future: Voices of Transformation
As the project came to an end, the real impact began to surface — not in the photos or the presentations, but in the hearts and minds of the students. These are not just fleeting memories but seeds planted for the future. Here’s what they said:
A: “I aspire to get into Med school, but the Polish way of teaching has opened my eyes to new opportunities.”
R: “I want to learn more about history because of how interesting Polish culture is and how curious it has made me feel during this experience.”
D: “This exchange inspired me to follow my own path in life. I’m thinking of becoming a lawyer because I love fighting for justice.”
A: “This experience helped me see the good in people and taught me to embrace every new and different aspect.”
M: “My inspiration for future study is to learn about different cultures and maybe even come to Poland for college.”
R: “I’m really looking forward to going on Erasmus+ exchanges in college or actually doing my whole studies in another country. Erasmus showed me that I could do a lot of things in Europe. I’d really like to travel more.”
D: “I was surprised by the communication workshop at the Silesian University in Sosnowiec because I have just realized this is what I want to do in the future.”
A: “I aspire to get to Art school and the Polish school system has opened my eyes in some ways.”
L: “In the future I would like to study medicine. This experience has just made me realize that I want to follow this path.”
A: “I always said that I was going to study IT, but the university class on communication made me change my mind.”
These voices stand as living proof that mobility is not just about travel — it’s about discovery, purpose, and the courage to dream bigger.