BEFORE AND AFTER ERASMUS
Last updated on Tuesday, 27/12/2022
I divide my life into two parts: before and after Erasmus. It was the main event and turning point in my life. Actually, Erasmus changed every aspect of it, and not just once. Right now, things would look so much different without all the opportunities it gave me, which it still gives me, and – I’m sure about this, it’s still going to provide me with in the near future.
I divide my life into two parts: before and after Erasmus. It was the main event and turning point in my life. Actually, Erasmus changed every aspect of it, and not just once. Right now, things would look so much different without all the opportunities it gave me, which it still gives me, and – I’m sure about this, it’s still going to provide me with in the near future.
My story started in 2016 when I enrolled at University in Naples for Croatian and Serbian Studies. Back in the day, I was just 19, and I had heard something about Erasmus and the possibility to go study abroad for a short amount of time. Everyone knows about it. Especially in Italy, everyone knows at least one person who has been on this exchange program, most likely in Spain. Almost certainly in Valencia. My Professor of Croatian language suggested that I go as well, to practice my language skills. So I left for Belgrade for the first time in March 2018. Unfortunately, I was there just one month before then came back home. But I never came back to my senses. I tasted something so good, but I didn’t have enough time. I had to go back; I wanted to devour that experience to its core and to its last bite. So I returned some months later, in October of that same year. Then in February 2020. Ultimately, in March 2021, I used my last Erasmus chance to go to Zagreb. It was never enough for me; it was almost possible to talk about Erasmus addiction! But why? There are many reasons. Or maybe there is not any particular reason at all?
This Erasmus student experience opened my eyes and gave me a new perspective on life. While we grow up, especially in smaller areas like the village I am from, we often take many things for granted: things have always been like this, they are like this, and will be like this forever. I never really understood the meaning of these words, but I never objected to them. I thought this is how things go, and we must adapt to given habits and traditions. Erasmus showed me many different ways of living, customs, and practices. And all of them are equally good and valuable. We should not consider culture as a fixed and unchangeable concept. It can take different shapes and get richer when it comes in contact with other cultures. I understood the concept of acceptance not only of others but of oneself, also. You know, there are not so many people in Italy studying what I studied at University. Some other students would look at me with astonishment as I told them the subject of my studies. I almost thought that maybe I am unusual for being interested in this topic. This was until I met other people in Erasmus that study the same subject and are as passionate about it as I am. Alright, that was not so immediate and easy to understand. On the other hand, it was a long process of observation, reasoning, and getting to (often wrong) conclusions. But after it, wow, my life became much easier, richer, and more beautiful.
That was until I got back to normal. At that time, I was close to the end of my university studies, and I was most upset about the fact that this meant the end of the Erasmus era. At least, I thought so because I didn’t know that Erasmus was not just studying abroad. That is until one day, I randomly found out about a Youth Association based in Naples and called “Noi@Europe”. For instance, one of my colleagues from university was collaborating with that association and told me about it. Then, after being active in the association for a while, they told me about the possibility to go on a so-called “Erasmus+ training” for one week in the city of Šibenik in Croatia. As soon as I heard the words “Erasmus” and “Croatia” in the same sentence, without any hesitation, I applied for it. My friends got slightly concerned; to them, it sounded like a joke, if not a scam. Do you really think you have the change of going to Croatia for one week for free? Haha, that’s a good one. But I simply didn’t care about their words. I wanted to go, as I thought it would be nice to return to Croatia one more time to practice the language. So I decided to go without particular expectations. If only I had known at that moment that this would be the second-best decision of my life, the second main turning point in my life, maybe the most significant one.
As I mentioned before, I was towards the end of my university studies. For the records, studying was great for me, as I was passionate about my study subject. Plus, it allowed me to go on Erasmus four times and live my best life. Nevertheless, I was getting closer to the end and did not know which step I would take next. What will I do next in my life? What’s the point of the last five years spent studying, and what’s the point of my degree? I had no hopes, and I was constantly worried and frustrated. Lost and alone. That was until I went for that training I mentioned earlier, held by one youth association based in Šibenik, called “Youth in the European Union.” It was about volunteering opportunities for young European citizens in their country or in different ones. And besides this, a lot was said about European programs and opportunities directed to young people. We learned about Erasmus, Eurodesk, ERYICA, and European Solidarity Corps. At that point, I realized that Erasmus Plus is not just studying abroad; on the contrary! It was many more exciting things. There is an essential difference between formal and informal education. I discovered not only a new world but a totally new, endless universe. I got back the hope I had lost for a long time. There is a place for me in this world! I have a lot of opportunities! I felt great admiration for my trainers and those who care about the future of younger people who do not have a clear idea of what to do in life, like me. I am not the only one; there are many of them. Life does not come with instructions and our world changes at an incredible and unsustainable speed. It is hard to adapt and find your place. But at least now I know that I have great support at my disposal.
In the Italian language, a common saying goes something like “things always come in threes” or “three times the charm,” so Erasmus changed my life even a third time. In that training, we learned about European Solidarity Corps since the topic was about volunteering opportunities in Europe. I was done with my university career, so I decided to apply. You remember how I hadn’t had enough of Erasmus. And now I’m writing this article as an ESC volunteer at – imagine that – Youth Association “Youth in the EU” in Šibenik.
Is this the end of my story? Absolutely not; it’s just the start! Until it’s possible, I will use every opportunity available to me. But my biggest wish is the following: to give back, as much as possible, all that was given to me in the past six years. Help out younger people in the same way I was helped. Give hope. Promote Erasmus. Make someone find their place in this world. Change lives. I will strive for it every day from now on.
Once, in my life after Erasmus, I came across one quote: “Erasmus is the beginning of the rest of your life.” You saw that, at least in my life, there’s no more truthful truth than this. Maybe my story was a bit unusual, but actually, this was my point: show that Erasmus goes far beyond just developing hard and soft skills, making new international friends or life memories of different nature, or reaching fluency in whatever language. It’s not just that. Erasmus literally shaped my life and its main stages. It made me find my purpose. Erasmus is, in conclusion, a real revolution. A miracle.
May this story be an inspiration for at least one of my peers. You’ll figure it out. We have your back; you’re not alone.
Author: Giovanna La Gala