My Erasmus: I made a year worth living

Shared by: Miguel L. Mayher
Erasmus Trip:  Madrid Paris
It was:  2005

I wanted to leave. I had to. 20 years in Madrid was more than enough.

 I had heard many stories about the Erasmus experience, the parties, the new deep friendships... also about the cultural barriers, the flunked exams and lost friendships afterwards.

 I knew what I wanted: a year to remember the rest of my life.

I got it, although I could not have imagined it the way it happened.

 You see, when you ask an ex-erasmus "how was it?" you often times get a simple "oh, great" and nothing else. They know you won't get it. Not in an arrogant way but as a matter of fact.If you really want an answer, prepare to sit down and listen for several hours, because an erasmus knows how hard it is to convey to others what that year abroad means, in fact "you have to see for yourself".

I discovered french people are totally open if you just open up yourself first, I learnt to live in a residence, to live by myself, to live the moment. I met ridiculous amounts of people. I made an enormous amount of friends. I met myself in unexpected ways.

I remember thinking it was forever, it could not end. It was pure sheer joy of being!!! Next year? *shrug* Only NOW existed. And that perspective allowed me to churn every piece of the pie, smell the flowers and still have time to finish my studies.

 I remember watching the World Cup and having inner struggles in choosing sides: I then understood what being european meant. I was happy when Spain scored. I was happy when France scored.

 And last but not least, some wonderful special souls enriched my experience in ways only they could. I felt the pain of having to leave a cherrished companion, simply because the 1st semester was over. I felt the joy of carpe diem. The fun travelling. The laughter of happiness.

 All this, in one year.

I decided I had to make something out of it. It could not end. And so I started a project that is about be finished and ready for all. Because we all lost friends when it was over. That won't happen anymore.

 Yes, I may be a romantic in the broad sense of the word. But no one will take away from me those days and nights in Paris.

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