My Erasmus: I lived it

Shared by: Joanna
Erasmus Trip:  Toru Tampere
It was:  2005

People say, Erasmus is about discovering and learning about other cultures than your own. But it is also discovering who you are, learning about your own country, getting to know yourself better than ever before.

And it's true - it will change you. It does change everyone in some way. The most difficult moment is not going abroad - it's coming back - because you are different and in your home country and your home city hardly anything has changed.

It makes sense, why it's possible to do Erasmus only once in your life. The second time wouldn't give you that much. You wouldn't learn half of what you've learnt during the first stay. But on the other hand I believe, going abroad for the second time could be even more difficult - because you are much more aware about the possible consequences.

It sounds now like a warning not to take part in Erasmus, but in fact it's the contrary. DO IT if you haven't done it yet and you have the chance. And when you will be sitting there in some kitchen in some foreign country thinking that it's so unique what you're experiencing, realise, that at the same moment in every single european country, in every single city which has a university there are many, many other people who are doing exactly the same what you are doing right now. They will be sitting in those kitchens tomorrow, in one year time, forever...