I am sure pretty much everyone from Europe has already heard about Erasmus exchange program, which enables you international mobility during your student years. Everyone who applies to the program gets a chance to study in a foreign European country from 3 to 12 months and on the top of that, you get a scholarship to help you with your living expenses!
My Erasmus exchange in Prague
What an amazing opportunity a student can get, right?! However, I can see that not all students are as exited as I am. Many of them are scared of the fact that you are living in another country, without your family and friends and you are all alone. I can tell you that there are hundreds of students who are in the same position as you and are experiencing the same problems as you do, but once you let your guard down and start living in the moment and enjoy it with people around you, then you realise that Erasmus exchange was one of the best things that happened to you in your student life!
Morning view of the Prague castle
If you have a chance to study abroad just take it! Don’t think twice! You will be in this completely unfamiliar environment you are not used to it in new foreign country sounded with an unfamiliar culture and by unknown people. But let's face it, the school prepares you to face the world in theory, while Erasmus gives you the chance to test yourself in real life! When you are put in this kind of situation with these circumstances, you have the chance to prove yourself. You have a chance to discover who you really are and what is the thing that drives you in your life.
Crazy students party!
1. Travel, live and discover unfamiliar places
When you ask Erasmus student what was doing in his free time, 90% of them will answer you: travel. You have your weekends free and to be real even during the week you can take time to discover unfamiliar places. Why wouldn't you? When you know that when you finish your faculty, you probably won't have this awesome opportunity to travel so much and your life will probably become one big routine. 9-5 job and 30 days of vacation per year don't help with this at all, it only makes it harder. That's why you need to take advantage of the opportunity to travel and gain international experience whenever you can! The benefits of living abroad include chances to see new natural wonders, museums, landscapes, landmarks and culture that people bring with them. And you are not limited to only one country! Europe is relatively small and consists many different countries with diverse cultures that you can visit if you just take a flight of 1h! For example, during my time of Erasmus exchange not only I discovered huge part of Czech Republic, but also four other countries around Europe.
Trip to Belin with schoolmates
2. The fresh style of education
Another reason that might drown you to exchange it to try a different style of education. You learn how other school system works and you can learn from your schoolmate's new techniques of studying books, preparing presentations or how to deal with overall school work. By enrolling in a study exchange program, you will have a chance to see aside of your education you may not see at home. Overall you will find out different the pros and cons of education systems there and at home, but at the end, it will only make you understand people, its traditions and culture more.
Hidden spots in nature. Perfect place to hang out with schoolmates.
3. You receive scholarship
Every Erasmus student receives a scholarship to help you with living expenses and the amount of it depends on the home country and destination you choose. IMPORTANT! Everyone tells you at the beginning that it won’t cover all the expenses with living and travel, but it is at any rate of significant help. But if you come from a small country like me, you can get a pretty high scholarship, that makes your living and studying abroad affordable experience. Remember you will never get another opportunity to live and travel another country almost for FREE! Take this advantage and don't be stupid, it's waiting for you! You just need to take it to the fullest!
4. You practise a foreign language and/or learn a new one
My English for example, was pretty good before I wanted to study abroad, but once you are put in a situation when you need to use it all the time and no one understands your mother language, then you overstep this line when you became fluent in the second language. It is not easy, but once you get used to thinking in a foreign language than it gets easier, your vocabulary becomes richer and you find yourself using words you would never use it before. It doesn’t stop there! Remember you are hanging out with students all over the world and I can guarantee you they will teach you all the inappropriate words (and some useful ones if you show interest) in their language! No matter what language you use during your Erasmus exchange, there is no doubt you will improve your communication skills in foreign language.
Prague ZOO
5. Upgrade your CV
From an academic point of the view, Erasmus exchange offers you and additional education and cultural experience which you probably wouldn't be able to gain in your school programme back at home. You heard it many times and it's almost a cliché, but this experience actually upgrade your CV! It looks great on your CV and a lot of employers will appreciate it and took the student who has some kind of international experience and education. When you finish your study abroad you will come home full of a new perspective on culture, language skills, great education and motivation to learn new things. Needless to say, that all of these skills are the one, that employers are looking for in a new employee. If you participate in studying abroad I can guarantee you that you will have wider employment opportunities after you graduate!
After work drinks
6. Find new interests and rediscover yourself
While living in another country you will be part of a new society in which you will discover new habits, learn new things and re-educate yourself about the world. You will become more open-minded towards new things, more tolerable and in general more appreciating about life overall. Erasmus exchange and living abroad is more than study and meet new people, it's about rediscovering a better version of yourself. If you are still questioning yourself about student exchange, let me tell you will find many new activities and interests that you would never have discovered at home! You may find your passion in photography, hiking, skiing, singing, writing or any other new activity you may never even think about it trying at home.
Park near my dorm
7. You face the responsibility in real life (not just in theory)
Many students study in their hometowns and are still living with parents or they live in a city nearby in their own apartment. Studying abroad offers you the chance to see what it means to become independent and take care of the things adults do every day. When you come home you can say that you are much more independent, because you deal with real life in a foreign environment in a different language with people who have different mentality. Living real adult life in your home country will look like a piece of cake after studying abroad. Being in a new place by yourself can sometimes be hard at times and it really tests your ability to adapt and react to different situations to solve the problem. That is what makes you grown independent person who can take care of yourself.
Picnic in the park
8. Prepare yourself for new inspiration and motivation
There are many students out there, who feel that they have lost their “mojo” and motivation at the certain point in their student life. I am almost 100% sure that this happened to most of us. Taking a break from stressing yourself with your future and career, when you really don't know what you want in life is sometimes the best solution to the problem. In student life, we call this "taking a break" moment Erasmus exchange and study abroad. Erasmus semester or even better a year in the foreign country will give you boost and inspiration for your future plans and maybe even a huge turning point for your future career.
Trying new food, my new favourite thing to do!
9. Make new friends for life
In my opinion, one of the biggest benefits of Erasmus exchange is the opportunity to meet new lifelong friends from diverse backgrounds and culture. Friendship is something that is universal, and it is in human nature, regardless of the language, culture, religion or ethnicity. Try to make an effort to stay in contact with your international friends after you come back home. You can always say, that you have friends beyond borders and you can visit them or they visit you. You will have a lot to share based on your mutual experience gained during living abroad, even if you don’t see each other every day. In addition, to have a good friend, these friends can also be important networking tools later in your life.
Birthday boy!
I want to hear your story of study abroad! :) What are your experiences?
