Erasmus studies in Hildesheim, Germany

I participated in Erasmus studies last summer 2022 in Hildesheim, Germany. It was a unique experience that taught me a lot, but of course, with a lot of challenges. I was in a small city and I met people from all over the world and learned about different cultures. I met people who became friends for life no matter the distance, and travel buddies. And also I learned a lot about myself.

Living in a foreign country on my own, I became more independent and adaptable. I learned how to trust myself more, I became mentally stronger as I spent a lot of time traveling alone. The first days, I felt mostly alone as I knew nobody and nothing. Luckily, I met my Italian neighbor, Giulia, and we quickly became best friends. We supported each other every day and we realized it was normal to feel sad in the beginning, as it was something completely new for us. A few weeks later, we had a new social multicultural circle and we gained unique experiences. One year later, we feel more than grateful for the opportunity we had and all the memories we shared.

Moreover, I had the opportunity to study at a new university that provided interesting courses that were not available at my home university. And actually, I learned about an interesting specialization that made me follow a new academic path.

However, I faced some challenges, like financial. Living abroad, the overall cost of living alone was a little bit higher than in Greece, but through that, l learned how to save money, and manage my budget. Also, even though it was the best opportunity to improve my German skills, I was speaking mostly English with my friends which resulted in not being at the level I wished. But now I speak fluently English, the international language.

Finally, the most difficult part was returning back home. After spending months in a different culture with great people, coming back home and readjusting to my familiar environment was more challenging than I could have expected. But after all the ups and downs, it is an experience that I will remember for life.

Updated on Montag, 18/12/2023