As I stood there and watched the coach, which my mother was on, pull away from the bus stop that was the moment that I knew I was finally alone and Erasmus had officially begun. Was I scared? Of course! Did I know how to get back to my flat? Not a clue! Did I know what to do now? No Idea. These are the first thoughts which fly through every Erasmus student’s head. Thankfully it is the last moment of doubt because before you can even start to miss home, you are welcomed into a makeshift family of other foreign students and propelled into a whirlwind of life-changing experiences.  

The first day of Erasmus is reminiscent of the first day of School or University; it is essential that you are able to condense your entire life into two, very compact sentences. “Hi, my name is...., I’m from the UK and studying so and so?” Naturally, a similar well rehearsed speech will meet you in reply giving you the essential snippets of information to form a beginning of a friendship.

Some of these fellow pioneers will become your comrades, your friends and your family, to whom you turn to when times are difficult. Friends are one of the most essential components to life abroad. It is these friends with whom you relate, because they are going through the same experiences as you. A brilliant benefit of Erasmus is that you do not just meet people from the UK and Europe but from all over the world including China, Canada, and Australia. You are given an amazing opportunity to make friends from all over the globe and widen your cultural horizons. Erasmus is an intense experience and with many people you are able to condense years of friendship into mere months. The friends you make whilst abroad aren’t just for Erasmus but for life!

One of the key foundations of Erasmus is the cultural experience. The best method to learn and experience a culture is to "jump in with both feet", it is essential to try and get involved in every opportunity that is available, ranging from attending a beer festival with some locals you just met in the street to a house party of friends of friends. Trying to fit in can seem daunting but if you take every opportunity available to you whilst you are abroad, then, before you realise, you are assimilated into the local way of life. If you are in France, go out and strike, if you’re in Germany, go out to the festivals, if you’re in Spain go to a fiesta. These cultural experiences that you enjoy can turn out to be the most rewarding. They also increase your tolerance and sensitivity to other cultures and people and in turn you grow a deeper understanding and appreciation of your own culture and who you are as a person.

The path your language takes whilst you are abroad is amazing because every day you improve and learn, slowly becoming more and more fluent without even realising it, which is truly motivational. You hear and dream of that famed moment when all your learning clicks, and it is true this split second exists. It is at this instant your hard work is worth it, without the year abroad it is almost impossible to experience this flash of insight and the pure sense of satisfaction that occurs.

Language, Culture and Friendship are the three critical elements to be able to enjoy the Year Abroad. During your time away there will be up and downs, highlights and heartache, but it is so important to remember that it is all worth it. For there is no experience that is quite like Erasmus, and so you need to make the most of every moment.

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