BEST COURSE IN SUMMER COURSE WARS: ATTACK OF THE AI 16.07.2023- 24.07.2023- SKOPJE SURVIVAL GUIDE
SURVIVAL GUIDE Table of Contents 4 - All about BEST and BEST Skopje 6 - Introduction to North Macedonia 8 - Introduction to Skopje 10 - What to visit in Skopje 12 - Arrival in Skopje 14 - Language School 16 - What to bring? 18 - Important phone numbers and useful links
SURVIVAL GUIDE Hello Dear PARTYcipant! This Survival Guide is made to provide you with some useful information for your travel to the Republic of North Macedonia and to prepare you for your stay. Local BEST Group Skopje has been working hard to make the BEST possible COURSE for you and we hope you are looking forward to it as much as we are. Please read this document very carefully. It provides you with all the information you need, but if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us! Best regards, On behalf of BEST Skopje Your Organisers!
SURVIVAL GUIDE 4 ALL ABOUT BEST A BEST - Board of European Students of Technology is a voluntary student organisation that provides endless opportunities for students all around Europe. With its non-profit, non-representative and non-political character, BEST dates all the way back to 1989, and has since then grown immensely, with 88 Local BEST Groups in 31 countries. In addition, BEST also aims to strengthen the connection between its three stakeholders: students - universities - companies. BEST helps students achieve an international mindset, understand and respect each other's cultures, and work in a culturally diverse environment. Furthermore, through its activities and core services, BEST supports students in their personal development, acquirement of new soft and hard skills, as well as reaching their full potential. OUR VISION AND MISSION EMPOWERED DIVERSITY DEVELOPING STUDENTS
SURVIVAL GUIDE 5 AND BEST SKOPJE BEST Skopje is officially founded in 2002, and has been supporting students in their development ever since. Through numerous events, BEST Skopje offers students complementary education, career support and educational involvement (the core services of BEST), and has organised several editions of EBEC (European BEST Engineering Competition), Job Fair and LEoE (Local Event on Education), as well as one BSE (BEST Symposium on Education). Of course, we have also organised various BEST Courses, specifically in the summer season. In fact, this year we will finally be organising our 18th BEST Course, and all of our members are very excited to welcome you and give you the most incredible and unforgettable 9 days of your student life! FRIENDSHIP LEARNING IMPROVEMENT FLEXIBILITY FUN OUR Values
Introduction to North Macedonia Population: 1,836,713 (2021 est.) Capital: Skopje is the capital and the largest city in North Macedonia with about a third of the total population. Other cities of interest: Ohrid, Resen and Dojran - the cities where our three natural lakes reside, as well as Mavrovo - our winter wonderland. Other cities full of culture are Prilep, Bitola, Struga (which also has part of Lake Ohrid) and more. Weather: The weather in North Macedonia during the summer (especially in July and August) is very hot, with some occasional summer storms. During mid-day in July, the temperatures go from 30-35o C, but sometimes they can reach up to 40o C. In the night you can cool off. It's very important to have a bottle of water with you at all times, and do not forget to put sunscreen on! Time: CET (GMT+1) Language: Macedonian, but most young people can speak English well. Many people can also speak French, German, Spanish (telenovelas). Also, we have no trouble understanding Serbian, Bosnian, Bulgarian and Croatian because of the similarities in our languages. Electricity: Like most of Europe, North Macedonia has 230V power grid @50Hz. BEST 6 SURVIVAL GUIDE
Currency: North Macedonia is not part of the EU and we don't use Euros. When you come to North Macedonia you're going to have to change some money into Macedonian Denars, There are exchange offices at the airport and everywhere around the city. We also recommend taking a credit/debit card and using it everywhere, and having some cash with you at all times just in case. Prices: In North Macedonia we use Denars. Approximately, 1 Euro equals 61.5 Macedonian Denars. North Macedonia is considered as a rather cheap country to live in - now you know! 1 Beer at a café/nightclub: 1.6€ - 2.4€ (100 - 150 DEN) In a supermarket: 0.8€ - 1€ (50 - 60 DEN) 1 Cocktail: 3€+ (180+ DEN) 1 Pack (20) of cigarettes: 1.8€ - 3.3€ (110 - 200 DEN) 1 Bottle of Coca-Cola (2L) in a supermarket: 1.3€ (80 DEN) 1 Ice-cream: 0.8€ (50 DEN) 1 Hamburger: 2.9€+ (180+ DEN) Bus ticket (whole day + all lines): 2.4€ (150 DEN) Bars and Nightlife: SIM Card for internet: 8.1€ (500 DEN) There is a wide variety of bars in Skopje, including bars with live jazz, rock, traditional music, and sophisticated spots to suit every taste and mood. Late night cafés serve liquor as well as coffee. There is a pulsing nightlife scene in Skopje with a mix of international people. Heaps of live music and DJ venues will get you dancing and will ensure an exciting visit. Cafés: Spending time in cafés is a national pastime in North Macedonia, which is evident from the plentiful variety of cafés in Skopje. From sophisticated, trendy cafés, where one goes to be seen, to cozy, family-run establishments, where one goes to relax, there is something for everyone. Shopping: Reserve some of your time during your stay in Skopje for shopping and visiting Skopje's shopping malls, streets with domestic and international department stores, souvenir shops, delightful antique shops, handcraft shops, and much more. Opening Hours: Most of the shops, supermarkets and facilities in Skopje are open from 08:00 to 20:00 on weekdays, and from 08:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays. On Sunday everything is closed, aside from cafés, restaurants, clubs, and large shopping centers, such as Skopje City Mall, Vero Jumbo, East Gate Mall and Ramstore Shopping Mall. PRICES 7 SURVIVAL GUIDE
Introduction to Skopje! Back in 4000 BC, Skopje was just a village. Its ancient name Scupi was given by the Romans when they took Macedonia as a province in 146 BC. They were the first to set Skopje as a city. Some remains of their rule are still present today, like the Skopje Aqueduct, and other ancient cities like Stobi and Heraclea. 8 SURVIVAL GUIDE
When North Macedonia was in Yugoslavia (1945 - 1991), Skopje reached its peak population, going from 150 000 to 600 000 citizens in 1991. Though Skopje's neoclassical architecture style was ruined in the devastating earthquake in 1963, some of that architecture is still found in buildings like the Ristic Palace, Skopje's Old Train Station, The City Assembly, and more. Today, Skopje is a modern city with a rapid expansion and a constant "makeover" in buildings, streets and shops. During the Middle Ages, North Macedonia was under the Ottoman rule for 500 hundred years, which denied a big part of Macedonian culture and traditions. One of today's most visited attractions in Skopje is the Old Bazaar, built by the Ottomans. 9 SURVIVAL GUIDE
WHAT TO VISI ~ Stone Bridge ~ The Stone Bridge in the City Square is built between 1451 and 1469. This bridge represents the connection between Skopje's past and present and is featured today as the emblem of the City of Skopje. The bridge was partially renovated in the 1990's. ~ Old Railway Station ~ The clock on this old train station stopped at 5:17 AM in the morning of the 26th of July 1963, when this piece of the grand modernist station of Skopje was one of the few parts of the city that remained standing after a devastating earthquake crushed the city. It's a reminder of a tragic moment in Skopje's history. Today, it is a museum. ~ Matka ~ Just outside of Skopje lies a natural treasure - Matka Canyon. It's a breathtaking outdoor destination that is home to the country's oldest artificial lake - Matka Lake. There are plenty of activities you can do here: hike around the lake, take a boat ride, go kayaking, have a meal at the restaurant and enjoy the beautiful views. Another interesting activity is to visit the Vrelo Cave, which is speculated to be the deepest underwater cave in the world. Needless to say, Matka is a wonderful place that keeps on giving! ~ Old Town ~ The Old Town, also known as Old Bazaar, is situated in an area between the Stone Bridge and the Bit Bazaar, and between the Kale Fortress and the Vardar River. In the past, all economic activities in the city were taking place in this part. In the period between the 16th and the 17th century, the Old Town reached its urban and economic zenith, developing into one of the largest and most significant oriental old bazaars in the Balkans. It is full of bustling shops that beckon visitors. This bazaar is an interesting mixture of Eastern and Western culture. 10 SURVIVAL GUIDE
IT IN SKOPJE ~ Millennium Cross ~ The Millennium Cross is a tourist attraction situated at the peak of the Mountain Vodno. At a height of 66 m, it is the biggest cross in the world and can be seen from 30 km away. It was built to celebrate 2000 years of the existence of Christianity and of N.Macedonia as a biblical land. ~ Kale Fortress ~ The fortress is situated on a hill above the city. There were settlements that existed before the Turks that created the extensive castle walls that have survived until today. The present fortress was originally built by the Byzantines in the 6th century. It is supposed that the stone blocks used in this construction were taken from the destroyed city of Scupi nearby. After the 1963 earthquake, Kale's circular, rectangular and square towers were conserved and restored. Today, this fortress is one of the best sightseeing spots in Skopje. ~ Macedonia Square ~ This square is the largest and most important of Skopje's squares. It is dramatically widened by the deconstruction of the massive neoclassical National Bank and Army House during the 1963 earthquake. The most remarkable building is the Ristic Palace. However, the focus of the square is still the Stone Bridge, and it's a pleasant place to spend time in good weather. ~ Mother Teresa Sites ~ There are several landmarks of Mother Teresa in Skopje, the city she was born in, including a marker of her birthplace, a statue and a memorial house. The Memorial House of Mother Teresa in Skopje was opened in early 2009. 11 SURVIVAL GUIDE
arrival and transp GOING BY PLANE TO SKOPJE GOING BY TRAIN TO SKOPJE - There are two international airports in North Macedonia - one in Skopje and the other in Ohrid. The airport in Ohrid isn't used much outside the summer season. Skopje's airport "Skopje International Airport" is only 25 km away from the city centre. There are regular and charter flights from many major European cities to Skopje by both domestic and foreign air companies: Adria Airlines, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Wizzair, Malev, Turkish Airlines, JAT etc. - "Vardar Express" is the bus company that transports passengers from/to the Skopje airport up to 9 times a day, with a schedule adapted to suit arrivals and departures at the airport. The price is 3.25€ (200 DEN) for a one-way ticket. Check the time-table of busses on the following link: http://skp.airports.com.mk/en-EN/passenger-guide/to-from-the-airport/page/bus - You can take a taxi, but don't accept a price higher than 16-25€ (1000 - 1550 DEN). Do some bargaining. - All the trains that come into Skopje stop at the Main Train Station in Skopje. If you are arriving by train, tell us what time you will arrive and we will be able to meet you at the train station, since the train station is away only 20 minutes on foot from the city center. - Another great way to save money is to travel to the airports in the cities near Skopje. Try connections through Sofia, Belgrade or Thessaloniki. Here you can find low-cost airlines and most of the time they're much cheaper than going directly to Skopje. After you arrive in Sofia/Belgrade/Thessaloniki, you can buy return bus tickets to Skopje which are no more than 30-40€, and the ride takes no more than 5 hours from each of these cities to Skopje. 12 SURVIVAL GUIDE
portation in skopje GOING BY BUS TO SKOPJE TRANSPORTATION IN SKOPJE You can travel in Skopje by bus or by taxi, but most of the time it's wiser to choose a taxi. Bus tickets for one full day (for all bus lines) cost 2.4€. You can purchase them at any bus booth, some small shops, and there is an app Skopska for online purchase, but use that at your own caution. The bus stops are marked. People also use a taxi as a means of transportation. It's cheap if you're on a short destination, and if you ride with two or more people, it can be cheaper that the bus, not to mention faster and more comfortable. If you're stuck in traffic, or are going on a slightly longer trip within town, it can cost more. The start tariff is 0.65€, and the maximum price should be no more than 3 - 5€. Make sure your taxi has a meter, and the rest is simple. NOTE: There are some drivers who are not part of a taxi company, and they charge more for the ride, especially if they see that you are a foreigner. In case you need a taxi, we recommend that you call these taxi numbers: Palas: +389 2 15 166 Elitte: +389 2 15 169 Global Taxi: +389 2 15 180 De Luks: +389 2 15 187 Vardar: +389 2 15 195 Nase Taxi: +389 2 15 152 - The Main Bus Station in Skopje offers buses from Tirana (Albania), Sofia (Bulgaria), Belgrade (Serbia), Zagreb (Croatia), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Istanbul (Turkey), which run daily. There is also buses from some European countries, such as Germany, which can run twice/three times a week, and aren't very expensive. - There is a direct bus from Thessaloniki (Greece) every day except Sunday. Most of the busses arrive at the Main Bus Station, but there are some that don't. The Main Bus Station and the Railway Station are next to each other. 13 SURVIVAL GUIDE
14 Language Macedonian is one of the hardest languages to learn, but once you learn the alphabet just like they're written. We use the Cyrillic alphabet, and it may seem s English MAced HELLO / GOODBYE ЗДРАВО GOOD MORNING ДОБРО GOOD EVENING / GOOD NIGHT ДОБРА ВЕЧЕР HOW ARE YOU? / FINE, THANKS КАКО СИ? / Д WHAT IS YOUR NAME? / MY NAME IS... КАКО СЕ ВИКАШ? THANK YOU ФАЛА / БЛ YES / NO / MAYBE ДА / НЕ / ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR-FIVE-SIX-SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TEN ЕДЕН-ДВА-ТРИ-ЧЕТИРИ-ПЕТДЕС HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? КОЛКУ ЧИ I WANT THIS ГО САКА EXCUSE ME, WHERE IS THE TOILET? ИЗВИНЕТЕ, КАД I AM HUNGRY / THIRSTY ГЛАДЕН/ГЛАДНА СУМ I WANT COFFEE / TEA / JUICE / WATER / BEER, PLEASE САКАМ КАФЕ / ЧАЈ / СОК / EXCUSE ME/SORRY / I DO NOT KNOW / PLEASE ИЗВИНИ / НЕ ЗН WHAT TIME IS IT? КОЛКУ Е I DO NOT SPEAK MACEDONIAN НЕ ЗБОРУВАМ I DO NOT UNDERSTAND YOU НЕ ТЕ РА WHAT DOES IT MEAN? ШТО ЗНА COULD YOU TELL ME THE WAY TO...? МОЖЕТЕ ЛИ ДА МИ ГО POLICE STATION / HOSPITAL ПОЛИЦИСК BUS STATION / TRAIN STATION / AIRPORT АВТОБУСКА СТАНИЦА / Ж FROM / TO ОД / STRAIGHT / FRONT / BACK / LEFT / RIGHT / UP / DOWN ПРАВО / НАПРЕД / НАЗАД / Л ONE TICKET TO... PLEASE ЕДНА КАРТА Д WHEN AND WHERE DOES THE BUS / TRAIN / PLANE FOR... LEAVE? КОГА И КАДЕ ЗАМИНУВА АВТ ЗА I AM TIRED УМОРЕН/УМ DO YOU WANT TO DANCE WITH ME? САКАШ ДА ИГР YOU ARE CUTE / HANDSOME/PRETTY СЛАДОК/СЛАТКА I LIKE YOU / I LOVE YOU / LOVE / KISS / HUG МИ СЕ ДОПАЃАШ / ТЕ САКАМ SURVIVAL GUIDE
15 e school t, it's easy to learn how to read and pronounce. That's because words are pronounced strange to many since most European countries use the Latin alphabet. donian pronunciation О / ЧАО ZDRAVO / CHAO О УТРО DOBRO UTRO Р / ДОБРА НОЌ DOBRA VECHER / DOBRA NOK ДОБРО, ФАЛА KAKO SI? / DOBRO, FALA / ЈАС СЕ ВИКАМ... KAKO SE VIKASH? / YAS SE VIKAM... АГОДАРАМ FALA / BLAGODARAM МОЖЕБИ DA / NE / MOZHEBI =ШЕСТ=СЕДУМ-ОСУМ-ДЕВЕТСЕТ EDEN-DVA-TRI-CHETIRI-PET-SHEST-SEDUM-OSUM-DEVETDESET ИНИ ОВА? KOLKU CHINI OVA? АМ ОВА GO SAKAM OVA ДЕ Е ТОАЛЕТОТ? IZVINETE, KADE E TOALETOT? / ЖЕДЕН/ЖЕДНА СУМ GLADEN/GLADNA SUM / ZHEDEN/ZHEDNA SUM / ВОДА / ПИВО, ВЕ МОЛАМ SAKAM KAFE / CHAI / SOK / VODA / PIVO, VE MOLAM НАМ / ТЕ МОЛАМ IZVINI / NE ZNAM / TE MOLAM Е ЧАСОТ? KOLKU E CHASOT? МАКЕДОНСКИ NE ZBORUVAM MAKEDONSKI АЗБИРАМ NE TE RAZBIRAM АЧИ ТОА? SHTO ZNACHI TOA? О КАЖЕТЕ ПАТОТ ДО...? MOZHETE LI DA MI GO KAZHETE PATOT DO...? А СТАНИЦА POLITSISKA STANITSA / BOLNITSA ЖЕЛЕЗНИЧКА / АЕРОДРОМ AVTOBUSKA STANITSA / ZHELEZNICHKA / AERODROM / ДО OD / DO ЛЕВО / ДЕСНО / ГОРЕ / ДОЛЕ PRAVO / NAPRED / NAZAD / LEVO / DESNO / GORE / DOLE ДО... ВЕ МОЛАМ EDNA KARTA DO... VE MOLAM ТОБУСОТ / ВОЗОТ / АВИОНОТ ...? KOGA I KADE ZAMINUVA AVTOBUSOT / VOZOT / AVIONOT ZA...? МОРНА СУМ UMOREN/UMORNA SUM РАШ СО МЕНЕ? SAKASH DA IGRASH SO MENE? / УБАВ/УБАВА СИ SLADOK/SLATKA / UBAV/UBAVA SI / ЉУБОВ / БАКНЕЖ / ГУШКА MI SE DOPAGASH / TE SAKAM / LJUBOV / BAKNEZH / GUSHKA SURVIVAL GUIDE
WHAT TO BRING This is more of a to-do list before you pack and come to Skopje. Be prepared! 16 Your travelling tickets (plane, bus, train); Passport; VISA/Invitation Letter; Travel/Health insurance; Cell Phone; This Survival Guide; List of contact info of the organizers; ID Card; Student ID; Student Card (ISIC) (if you have one); Money/Cards (Credit or Debit); Medicine (if you need any); Towel(s); Toothbrush and other toiletries (shavers, shampoo, etc.); Clean beadsheets and a pillow case (in case you don't feel comfortable sleeping on the ones in the dormitory); SURVIVAL GUIDE
WHAT TO BRING Food/Drinks for International Evening; Country flag for International Evening; Sun Cream; Swimsuit; Clothes (It's best to pack 90% light clothing, but pack a pair of longer trousers and a hoodie or two for the cooler nights); Pair of extra shoes (preferably sneakers, since there will be a lot of walking); Digital camera - we will try to gather all the photos after the course; Sunglasses; Hat; Umbrella; Backpack/Smaller bag (for Weekend Trip); Hand sanitizers; If you have an instrument that you can play, and won't mind bringing, then it will get the atmosphere going for sure; Reusable Water Bottle; Insect Reppellent. 17 SURVIVAL GUIDE
Country Code: +389 International Call Prefix: 00 The Macedonian telephone numbering plan is the system used for assigning telephone numbers in the Republic of North Macedonia. It is regulated by the Agency for Electronic Communications AEK, which holds responsibility for telecommunications. The country calling code of the Republic of North Macedonia is +389. Area codes should always be dialed, even within the country, because of the many fixed and mobile operators. Breakfast -> 08:00 - 10:00 For breakfast, we usually have bread with butter, pâté, jam, Nutella, cereal with milk, sandwich with ham and cheese, etc. Lunch -> 14:00 - 16:00 For lunch, we usually have some soup and always some meaty dish: pork/chicken with potatoes, traditional foods, etc. Dinner -> 20:00 - 22:00 For dinner, we usually go out and have hamburgers, pizza, pasta, etc. - Police: 192 - Fire brigade: 193 - Ambulance: 194 - Center for Announcements and Dangers: 195 - Emergencies: 112 - wikitravel.org/en/Skopje - mzt.mk - skp.airports.com.mk - jsp.com.mk/en - mfa.gov.mk/en Important phone numbers Macedonian cuisine Useful links Important Service Numbers 18 SURVIVAL GUIDE
Main Organiser: Ana Noevska [email protected] President: Andrej Mrcheski [email protected] BEST Skopje [email protected] CONTACT US 19 SURVIVAL GUIDE Main Organiser: Boris Stojkovski [email protected] BEST SKOPJE IS WAITING FOR YOU WITH OPEN ARMS
best skopje bestskopje best skopje summer23.best.org.mk best.org.mk