On Babes Wandering Abroad we share experiences of babes who live, work or study abroad to help and inspire other women. It can be good to read about someone else’s experience, in the hope you can get something out of it.
We got in touch with Elise (@journal_of_a_traveler) on Instagram. Elise is from Belgium and has been on Erasmus twice, in Italy and Germany. She has shared her Erasmus experience with us! Read how she experienced her Erasmus journey in both Italy and Germany, and the helpful tips she has shared with us when you are thinking about going on an Erasmus exchange as well.
Erasmus in Trieste, Italy and Karlsruhe, Germany
What is your name, nationality and where did you go on Erasmus?
My name is Elise and I’m Belgian. You can find me on Instagram @journal_of_a_traveler. I went on Erasmus twice; the first time was in Trieste, Italy and the second time in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Why did you choose these places?
These choices were pretty easy and obvious for me. I studied a Bachelor in Applied Linguistics in Italian and German, therefore I was only allowed to study in countries where people speak those languages. During my Bachelor I chose to go to Italy, because I am totally in love with the Italian culture. I could choose between different universities situated in diverse locations. Eventually, I chose Trieste, a town located about 2 hours away from Venice. I made this choice because the Università degli Studi di Trieste offered outstanding translating and interpreting courses in Dutch, German and Italian. So my choice was mainly based on the academic offer of the university.
For my second Erasmus semester my choice was more limited. This time I wanted to dive into the German culture and improve my German. I was doing a special Erasmus program offered by my home uni (called ‘extended master’) and the only German-speaking partner university was located in Karlsruhe. Thus, I studied at the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft in Karlsruhe. Again, I didn’t care much about the location, because my biggest motivation was improving my German and it didn’t matter much where I would do that!
How did you experience living in these places?
In general, I love living abroad and stepping out of my comfort zone! Both times I went on Erasmus for 6 months, but I wouldn’t have minded staying longer. I very much enjoy the independence, the feeling of freedom and the thrill of new places and people. These exchanges enrich your life in so many ways and broaden your horizon (yes, the clichés are true!). Looking back, I am so happy and proud of myself for doing it.
More specific, there were some differences in my two exchanges. In Italy, my life was a lot more relaxed and I had more time to travel. The Erasmus community was rather small so it felt like we were one big family. I spent a lot of time soaking up the culture. Something that was quite new to me was the more informal relationship between students and professors and the approach of teaching.
In Germany, my life felt more fast-paced and busy and it felt like everybody else lived life that way too. The Erasmus-community was big so it was a bit harder to make meaningful or lasting connections. Academically, students were very driven and respectful to their professors. But there was also space for a more informal relationship, usually after classes.
Would you recommend doing an Erasmus in both places?
Yes! I loved the two cities (with a small preference for Trieste), both are nice places to study with an international crowd and with ESN. But honestly, I believe Erasmus can be great anywhere. It’s what you make of it!
Are there any tips you would like to share about your experience abroad in these countries?
I wrote more detailed blog posts for students that want to go on Erasmus to my destinations. You can find the one about Trieste here, and the one about Karlsruhe here. You’ll find tips on how to find a room, what documents you need, where to eat and so on!
What advice would you give to other girls who want to do an Erasmus or go study abroad?
There are a few things you could keep in mind as a girl. First of all, and I am sorry if this is too much information, you might want to bring enough menstrual products from home if you’re picky on brands. Sometimes you can’t find the product you use at home abroad and that can be annoying. Secondly, don’t forget to bring enough medication (such as birth control pills or medication for allergies). Thirdly, make sure you feel comfortable around your future flat mates if you will live in a shared flat. Of course, this is hard to determine on a first visit to the flat and even harder when you have arranged your stay before leaving on Erasmus. But you can try to get to know a few things about them beforehand or check how much privacy you’d have (like whether there’s a lock on your bedroom door). Lastly, take some of your favorite food from your home country with you for those ‘I-do-miss-home-a-tiny-bit’ days.
Many thanks to Elise, we are very happy and grateful that she was willing to share her story. We also think the tips she has shared are very helpful, and we hope it might help you! You can follow Elise on Instagram (@journal_of_a_traveler) where she also shares her travel tips!
Would you like to share your story or experience? Get in touch with us! Send us a DM on Instagram (@babeswanderingabroad) or send an e-mail to mail@babeswanderingabroad.nl