What it means to be Eramsus

Ever wonder what it actually means to be Erasmus? Everyone around you seems to be talking about the Erasmus+ Program? Or maybe you are curious about the great unknown and wish to go on an adventure? Bare with me, you might just get the answers you are looking for.

The time you spend on your Erasmus can be described in many different ways. But I will just put it in some simple words, the Erasmus experience is a time to discover yourself, other cultures, traditions, languages, cities, people, food, customs.

Although Erasmus is and will probably be one of the best times of your life, one must proceed with caution, as it may not always be an easy road. Many challenges may follow, from filling in the documents required by each institution, moving to a new country, understanding a new culture, and learn how to fit in. But I dare you to take my word and be brave, as it is one of the most rewarding experiences a young adult can go through.

You will learn that you are more though than you ever thought to be, you will get to see the world through different lenses, widen your horizons, make beautiful friendships with people all over the world, and master new skills.

"They say that Erasmus is not just a year in your life - but your life in one year."

Getting to live abroad, starting as a stranger, to slowly at the end of the 6 to 12 months of your mobility become a local, knowing all the best spots in town, be it for the best food, view or the most popular place to hang out.

Traveling and living abroad is great, but I think we missed out on one important detail, and that is a new educational environment: a new university, new professors, and subjects your university might not offer that you can now finally take. And let’s not forget your new colleagues, understanding and experiencing another educational system, which might be similar or completely different to what you are used to.

The whole experience will be a rollercoaster of emotions and adventures. By the end, when the moment you so deeply wanted to avoid arrives, your whole world will be completely different. You will have changed in ways unknown to you at the beginning, you will have a group of wonderful friends you cannot imagine living without and luggage full of memories and souvenirs to take back home.

“The highest form of bliss is living with a certain degree of folly.” - Desiderius Erasmus