A guide to your first week of Erasmus

Rule No. 1, do not take your parents with you.

Yes, moving abroad is an incredibly scary thing to do, particularly if you've never really left your home country for anything more than a month's travelling with you bestie or two weeks in Magaluf after receiving your A Level results. In most cases, you are about to spend at least ten months living abroad. Though as daunting as this is, taking your parents with you will only complicate matters. They can come and visit once you've settled in (and bring the PG Tips and pickle crisps you'll have started to crave). I would even discourage taking partners for the same reasons, but I'll leave that one to you.

Rule No. 2, do not panic - you're about to have the best year of your life so far.

So, you've packed your life into one suitcase (or five) and you fly out to your new home. If you're moving to a big city, such as Madrid or Barcelona, chances are you haven't found accommodation yet, but have hopefully pre-booked a hostel. Upon arrival, providing you're not absolutely shattered from the journey, take advantage of the hostel staff - ask what's going on that evening, if there are ways for you to meet other Erasmus students, the best sights for finding accommodation. These people live in the city and will be full of useful knowledge, and lucky for you - it's their job to share it!

Rule No. 3, socialise with everyone.

You will no doubt be tired, particularly if you've gone straight in and embraced speaking the local language. However, try to be as sociable as you possibly can and join in any evening activities, even if you leave early to the bed which has been calling you for hours. Take this opportunity to meet new people and soak up the knowledge of the people you meet. You'll find that it's definitely not what you know, but who you know when it comes to most things in life. You're also very likely to meet people in the same situation as you, meaning you can share the work load or even look for flats together if you get on particularly well.

On your second day, try to set up as many flat viewings as possible. Find out the average prices from the hostel staff so that you're well informed about the local areas and what to expect. However, don't forget to have fun, to explore the surrounding areas and to talk to the weird and wonderful people that hostel's attract.

Once you've found a flat to your liking (which should only take a few days if you organise a good number of viewings, maybe a week if you're particularly fussy), go out and celebrate! Go for dinner or drinks with your new friends and flatmates. Explore your local area and take an interest in the people around you - if you get to know the old couple next door or the funny looking man in the Carrefour, not only will this improve your language skills but they will also look after you and become your friends. This will instantly make you feel more at home and comfortable in your new city.

Rule No. 4, go to the Erasmus events. Even if they're crap.

Even if you've arrived well before your university classes/work starts, there will usually be Erasmus events or language tandems taking place. These are great for meeting like-minded people and will ensure you know everything you need to know about the area you are living in. Don't worry too much about socialising with the English speaking people at the moment (I know your professor told you to avoid them), it's important for you to broaden your connections in every way possible. And, although they'll deny it, local students love the Erasmus bars - they're cheap, fun and full of fresh, new (slightly lost-looking) students from all around the world.

Rule No. 5, have fun!

The first couple of weeks, or maybe even months, of your transition are going to be difficult. You'll spend a lot of your time lost, confused or trying to work out what on earth the crazy man at the bus stop is trying to communicate to you. However, it will get easier. Immersing yourself in another culture, one which you will feel a part of by the end of your 10 months, is incredibly rewarding and eye-opening. You get to be a part of a world which people who haven't studied languages will never get to see, and you will make friends for life, some of whom may not even speak English.

The next ten months are going to fly by - make the most of them!

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