KUL Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II

*DISCLAIMER* I haven’t been here since 2007 and it was only as part of a study abroad winter program. */​DISCLAIMER*
I enjoyed my time at The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. I came for about a week in January 2007 as part of my school’s (The University of St. Thomas — St. Paul Campus) Politics of the New Europe political J-​tern Study Abroad program. J-​term is basically an opportunity to take accelerated classes during the January break and each class is usually worth 4 credits, typically the equivalent of a regular semester’s class.
The first part of our trip stopped in Lublin, Poland and KUL hosted us. We had the pleasure of meeting professors from the university and spending time with local students. They let us use their classrooms and resources and helped us set up workshops with Polish ambassadors, Foreign Service workers at the US Embassy in Poland, and other well known political figures. It was a wonderful experience and taught us a lot about the history of Poland and how its politics have evolved over time, especially in regards to being viewed as more modern since joining the European Union.
Part of the program also included using KUL’s facilities such as their informational rooms and the lunch room. I have to say, the cafeteria still stands out. They had plenty of freshly cooked meals and they were very well balanced. It’s been years since I was there, but I still have fond memories of their soups loaded with dill. Eating lunch on campus also allowed us the fortune of being able to make lasting friendships with our dining companions from the school.
I can’t speak to the day-​to-​day lives of those who attend this university as part or full-​time students; however, if you find yourself here for a short term program, you can expect a tremendous amount of hospitality. I think their motto really rings true: Tylko w Lublinie jest KUL!