This was the very first question I asked myself when I was on a plane to Warsaw, Poland, last September. Can Erasmus change my life? The curiosity began even before I applied to the Erasmus program. But back then, most things were unclear. I didn’t know how to prepare myself for a new country and a new community. However, I found myself fortunate in adapting to my environment quickly, thanks to the help of good and welcoming friends. So, an unpredictable event became something that changed my life, leaving me with amazing memories and many valuable lessons. And that is important because Erasmus is not only about having fun and meeting new people. Personal growth is one of the most important things that Erasmus gives you. In this article, hopefully, you will find some inspiration for your adventures through my experiences and thoughts.
Erasmus+ Expectations and Reality
Your expectations and the reality may differ significantly regarding Erasmus. And that is very natural, so do not panic if you have any concerns. You might stumble, especially if you move to a country that has very different conditions and culture from yours. But we, as humans, are highly adaptive to a variety of conditions. So it’s not about whether you will adapt or not, it’s about how long it will take you to adapt to it. You will have both amazing and harsh experiences during your mobility. And all of that is needed to change your life. Luckily, Erasmus is a huge opportunity for your personal growth.
In my experience, I didn’t know anything about what would possibly happen during my mobility. I had just landed in my Erasmus city, which I knew nothing about, and tried to figure out how to safely get to my dormitory. However, I wasn’t that lonely thanks to my very first Erasmus friend, Umut. We were in the same plane, and we got the same bus to the school campus. Only after we got off the bus, we realise we were coming from the same place. Thanks to his previous experiences, I completed my first day. So, as you can see, sometimes you figure things out when you get there. Maybe with the help of a stranger or the institutions, or maybe some officials. All I’m trying to say is, if you’re bold enough to get there by yourself, you will surely find your way through.
Your first Erasmus Moments
Okay, your plane landed and you’re safely in your dormitory room now. What’s next? Let’s say you will spend your first day and maybe the first two exploring the environment around you. Shop is around the corner, my faculty is there, and the basketball court is here, etc. And maybe you’ll meet with your dormitory room neighbors, if they already arrived. But, your very first contact with your potential future friends will happen around those times. It’s okay to start to interact with people from your country or from a similar culture. But, do not commit the same mistake that I saw lots of people make during their Erasmus. The mistake that they made was sticking with their fellow countryman for the whole semester. Because Erasmus greatly enhances your personal growth, it’s important not to spend too much time with your fellow countrymen. Therefore, the best way to actually learn is to interact with different people from different cultures.
I’m not trying to scare you off, but you should be ready for loneliness. I’m not talking about feeling alone or being excluded. Mainly the feeling of nostalgia and the struggle with adapting to a new environment. Although you might be accustomed to meeting people from different cultures. For instance, I grew up in a highly touristic city and I’ve met lots of foreign people throughout my life. So, I am very familiar with multiculturalism. Yet, I was still surprised by how much different some people could behave. Therefore, this shouldn’t discourage you. Because all the people around you will have the same motivation as you. After warming up to your environment, you will start to hear your inner voice. That will be the first thing that empowers your personal growth during your Erasmus mobility.
Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Living in a completely different city in a foreign country is a challenging thing. Even if the culture or people are similar where you currently live. You probably know that the comfort zone distracts us from our goals and responsibilities. Being in a familiar place generally gives us the feeling of ease and comfort. This means there is nothing to explore, so no need to put effort into anything. Since putting effort is the best way to learn and grow, our comfort zone becomes a trap to us. This is why the Erasmus programme is such a bold test of your commitment to personal growth. Because it will push you to meet new people, integrate, and try new things.
You will spend enormous time with your friends during your mobility. However, you will also have a lot of alone time to face yourself. The real change will begin when you start asking questions to yourself. Of course, those won’t be philosophical or existential crisis kind of questions. But, they will examine some of your life choices and plans. You will find yourself in the right spot only if your Erasmus connects your past and future. All the things I say here might sound a bit extreme or unnecessarily emotional, but you never know what you’ll face. Never forget that. Because Erasmus is not just about your classes or partying or traveling, it’s also a new window to look back at your life. That’s mostly because the Erasmus students are in their early lives and still figuring out a lot of things about their lives.
New Definitions About Your Life
We are highly social creatures, perhaps the most social in existence. Our environment and social circle have defined some of our values and character since birth. Yet our personality is not merely determined by our environment. In other words, our insights and experiences play a significant role in our personal growth.
Before I say anything else, there is one thing I should tell you: make the most of everything. I spent months in Poland for my Erasmus. I had a tremendous time and made lots of lifelong memories. I also experienced some difficulties, such as homesickness, despair, and concerns about whether I was doing enough. But let me tell you something important: your experience will be different from mine. You have a unique personality, and you’ll meet different people, a different environment, etc. Your Erasmus experience will be shaped by every variable, and your personal growth will be affected accordingly.
Based on general experience, it is highly likely that your Erasmus experience will promote your personal growth and influence your perceptions of different cultures and of yourself. One study showed that Erasmus participants demonstrated improvements in personal growth and language proficiency compared to their pre-Erasmus levels. Another study stated that even after 5 years, Erasmus experience had permanent effects on self-efficacy, resistance, and culture awareness.
Conclusion
This is a tough topic to explain and talk about. If you’re in the process of applying to Erasmus, you probably have a lot of questions flying through your mind. However, there is no need to overwhelm yourself. Thousands of people went through the same path and changed their lives, including me. Having seen and experienced everything I have, I can safely say that my life has changed for the better. Nevertheless, it was harder than I could have ever imagined.
So, there is no need to be afraid; amazing memories and also challenges will be waiting for you. I remember the harsh winter that left me feeling tired and unwell, the unpleasant people I encountered, and the countless other difficulties I faced. Yet, all of those taught me something. I realised how important friendships are, how a roommate can influence your outlook on life, and what defines love. In the end, I was the only one walking onto my plane with tears in my eyes, realising how much I had grown up without even reaching my birthday. Sometimes, holding a photograph in your hand can mean far more than just looking at a picture. You carry a small piece from every place you’ve been, and you leave a part of yourself in those places. It’s not just others’ souls that you touch; they touch yours too.
Perhaps the songs you listen to, the books you read, and the city you live in won’t change. But the meaning you attach to them will certainly change. Each time you listen or read, or experience life, you realise that things are different now. So the answer is not simply yes or no. Ask yourself: Are you ready to change? Because that’s where it all begins.
I would like to thank all of my Erasmus friends such as: Umut, Gülderen, Bora, Kamil, Darko, Ala, Kevin, Filipe, and others for being a part of this important stage of my life.
