Pros and cons of doing Erasmus.

Erasmus?

As many may know, my Erasmus experience ended about a month and a half ago. It wasn't like any other Erasmus experience, it took a lot of work dedication.

Spending a whole year working and a lot of stubbornness was to blame for me spending 6 months of my life in Milan. Was it worthwhile? Lots of people have asked me if all this effort was in vain now Erasmus is over, and this makes you reconsider almost everything. I will try to tell you in detail what Erasmus gave me and what it took out of me. Hopefully this will give you a better idea of this difficult, but important, decision.

Cons of doing Erasmus.

I'm going to start with the horrible bit, which those of you who are starting cars to go and catch the plane to your destination do not want to read. It's important that you do so however, because only knowing your weak points will let you overcome them.

1. Distance

Of course, this is a classic. We all know that when we leave home for so long, taking suitcases too, it's difficult, but I will cover the problem a bit more.

Life is full of unexpected events, some good, others bad. One of my best friends had to endure the loss of a close family member whist on Erasmus. They received the call whilst on a journey with me, it was not easy by any means.

Then, in that moment, you question if it really is worthwhile moving so far away. What if I had celebrated my mother's 50th birthday with her? Am I being too selfish?

First of all I will tell you that none of this is your fault. if it wasn't because of doing Erasmus, it would be because of other things where you have hundreds of choices. This is life, you have to make decisions, and within these there are some downsides. If you go to the cinema in the same week that you have an exam, you may fail. But if you don't go that week, your friends get angry because you don't spend enough time with them. You have to weigh things up and then make a decision.

This is a game of for and against, of decision making and of life. It isn't better or worse, just that we have to weigh up our options and decide what we want to do. That's why I gave you a downside to Erasmus, "The Distance".

2. Stress

I should say that, for me, I believe that I tend to control this in a positive way, but I know that others often don't. As a result, this is something you need to have on your list.

Being in a completely new city, where you are alone, and where you have to deal with things independently, creates moments of stress. I remember one day when I woke up early to try and do some paperwork in the university. I was sent from one office to another, at the same time as my friends were messaging me on Whatsapp to stay and eat. I had a job to do for the following day which wasn't finished and I have two bags with me and a short coat which I was carrying due to the university's heating.

I arrived late to eat because the lecturers were playing ping pong with me, sending me all over the place As it wasn't going to be any different, it didn't solve my problems. I tried to explain this to the group which was waiting for me in the canteen. They all spoke English, and I, with my jacket tied around me and my bags dragging behind, couldn't explain myself fluently and complain as I wanted.

After eating I went to do the damned work on the faculty's computers, because the internet wasn't working in my accommodation that week. After arriving, all of the rooms were busy, there was a "lab assistant" exam and, consequently, there were no available computers. I walked around the faculty for a while before I decided to go home and finish the job the following day.

As a happy end to the day, it began raining cats and dogs, and I, being from Murcia, wasn't used to going outside with an umbrella over my head. Can you imagine the view? Right you are, Luis went with two bags, soaked to the skin waiting for the bus. With no work done, no solutions to problems and lots of stress.

Once on the bus I thought that that was it, but no. There was a big traffic jam in Milan, and I had to wait, dripping wet, 30 minutes until we reached the next stop. If this wasn't enough, my phone ran out of power and the journey took twice as long as normal. And once I reached my house... Tada! There's no food, so you have to buy some and then make dinner.

Okay... a miserable day! I won't tell you anymore. This is just to show that there will be days where you think: "How happy I'd be at home, with a blanket, dinner made, and my problems solved" but well, this is part of the challenges of Erasmus. It isn't all negative, mind you. It teaches you to appreciate what you have, value yourself and many other things besides, which I shall tell you about later.

3. Comfort

On your first day of Erasmus, you will meet a personal assistant. You can contact them 24/7, and they will help with anything.

Truthfully, I never imagined that it would have been so comfortable. Your clothes are ironed, your heating is fixed if it breaks, you are found if you get lost in the centre of Milan. Luxuries, but these aren't common knowledge, so I'll tell you the "original" version.

Just as with the last point, I should add that the convenience doesn't really happen. Getting up in the mornings, having ironed clothes, food made, the fridge full... all of these things you have at home without even thinking about them Forget it!

If one day you forget to shop, you already know that food will not appear magically in the fridge. If you wake up and your favourite shirt isn't washed and ironed... bad luck. If you break the heating and spend the night freezing, try to fix it with your landlord or the guy from reception.

Like everything in life, there are upsides. But here, I'm going to scare you! Therefore, i will tell you that you need to walk before you can run, you need to be very smart during your Erasmus or you will end up with nothing in the fridge.

I should also include here the moment that you become ill. I spent 3 months ill because I didn't know how to cure it. During Erasmus you should consult the doctor, but this is a problem. I understand that you have to pay, but you could us the money to return to Spain.

In my case, I went to the pharmacist to ask for medicine. How do you explain your symptoms to the pharmacist? I asked myself. Added to this was the chill in my room and constant noise. The good thing was that I was with the assistant who is assigned to you on starting Erasmus, who cooked, washed clothes, etc...

4. Habits

Once you spend 6 months or a year doing Erasmus, you have new habits. You see life as a constant adventure. You don't want to think that you'll return to having a "normal" routine. The trips around Europe every weekend are over, as is speaking English and Italian every day.

I'm the first of the 'nonconformists', but that does not mean that I don't, sometimes, put my nose to the grindstone. So that I could enjoy those 6 months in Milan and the rest of the world, I had to work for an entire year, with very little sleep and with a lot of stress. Then? Now, it's time for the ugly part of life. It's about working, studying, but this time with another view.

When you come back you feel like: "Now what? "

Pros of doing Erasmus.

1. Change of view.

My dear future Erasmus, I have the pleasure of telling you that you will never be the same again, you will change.

Don't be scared, we all change as the years go by, but you will grow in a special way. You will be living surrounded by people from other cultures, with different ways of seeing things to you, and they will affect you, without you even realising it.

Each country's stereotypes will be completely ignored because you will know someone from each country. When they talk to you about France and the people in Paris, you will be thinking about Kelly, this girl you met on the first day of Italian classes and with who you will have shared a thousand experiences. When you talk about India you will think of your good friend Abi the boy who speaks very well and with who you visited Lyon. As soon as they mention Mexico to you, you will remember Lino, the boy who is travelling the world with his stuffed snorlax and who helped you at any moment. You shared the trip to Lyon together.

Kelly from France

Of course you will talk about our Portuguese neighbours. Then you will remember the days spent with João from Lisbon. He was there for you from the very first day, the guy you shared all of your problems with from day 1, you strengthened your bonds and nobody got in the way.

João from Portugal

If you're taking about German beer and, as well, about Germans. Marcel will come to quickly to mind and his great attitude, looking after everything around him and helping wherever he could. When you think about Poland you will talk about Dominika and Joanna and you will remember drinking Polish vodka next to the accommodation.

Marcel from Mainz (Germany)

Dominika and Joanna from Poland.

Whenever you hear about Solvenia, and when they say something positive you reply "That's the spirit" which your friend Jasna said so often. Greece? Is there anyone talking about Greece? Don't worry, pick up the phone and message your friend Illiana who lives in Athens and can tell you first hand what's happening there.

Jasna from Slovenia

Illiana from Athens (Greece)

Turkey is in the news a lot these days, so you can remember Napoli, Rome and Pompei with Burcu the girl you made yogurt macaroni with (not a good idea). Iraq? Luis, do not tell me you know someone from Iraq? Where have you been? Calm down guys, I also know someone in Iraq Mani?! Where is Mani? This Iraqi boy who I went home form Italian classes with and slightly improved my English with.

Burcu from Turkey

Mani from Iraq

• Let's see Luis, didn't you do Erasmus in Italy> It looks like you've been travelling the world for 6 months. (Reader)
• Yes, wait and I'll show you my Italian friends. (Luis)

I remember being sat of the sofa in my accommodation and I saw a guy with a ponytail walking past, going to the gym. Something told me to go and introduce myself, he could be my training buddy. I arrived promptly and began talking with him. I didn't know then that he would be mio fratello (my Italian brother). He took care of me, taught me to cook pasta, taught me Italian and made me laugh a lot, but I can't write why on here. Then, when you talk about Napoli you will recall Michele's pizza, and why not, you'll remember your Italian brother Salvatore.

Salvatore from Napoli (Italy)

I took the lift up to my room one such day during my first week in Milan. Before I opened the door I heard a racket in the hall, which was unusual. As soon as I opened the door, I found a load of people playing ping pong, with a large guy in between them. A great guy who accompanied me to all of the parties in Milan. My great friend Luca who will spend the coming year in Malaga. I don't have any words for this kid, he's pure magic.

• How do you say 'Dentist' in Andalusian?
• Dentihhtahhhh

I love you Luquitas, I remember you every time I talk about Milan, because you are from a city of great people. Until Malaga.

Luquitas from Milan (Italy)

• Hey, don't you know that Inter play against Milan today? (Reader)
• Of course I know that, there's an impressive line to get into the stadium, and the Ultras are making a mess in the metro. (Luis)
• How do you know this? (Reader)
• Simone told me. (Luis)
• Who's Simone? (Reader)

Simone was my mate at all the matches that Inter played. That person who I hugged every time the great Icardi scored in the 88th minute and everyone screamed in joy. This is why, every time someone talks to me about Italian football, of my beloved Inter, of the San Siro... every time someone talks to me about the atmosphere in a stadium, I will remember Simone, Milan and all of the goals celebrated together.

Simone from Milan (Italy)

• Okay Luis, but you're Spanish and, in the end you'll come back to Spain. (Reader)
• Calm yourselves guys, I also met Spaniards! (Luis)

For my part this is very special, because these are the people who I've really enjoyed being with, however, I've not spent much time with them.

I'v explained several times that I wanted a European Erasmus learning languages and meeting people from other countries. But they also changed the way I see things.

When you hear about Cadiz, they have something which always makes you laugh. You can agree that at least you know yourself. My awesome Julio, Alex or my brother. You don't know how many times you made me laugh with the most stupid things. Every time I hear about Cadiz I'll call you to check on the Pistachio garden. I don't have words to describe him, I can only say thank you.

Next to him, in the pictures, there are Joan and Borjita. Two Catalonian boys who are dangerous, are much greater than Benidorm. Together they make up the triple threat, along with Luquitas from Milan. Every time I hear about Catalonia I think of these guys, the laughs and the endless parties.

I'm sure that one day someone will talk about Bilbao, and I will remember Mikel, Patricia and Lucia, my two neighbours in my accommodation and a boy who did not fit through the door, no matter how big it was. I don't know if they are like the others in Bilbaom but if they are like these three, what a beautiful city.

I could tell you about a thousand cities and a thousand amazing people. I would tell you about Seville, Granada, Santander, Valencia... I could definitely tell you about Madrid and Getafe, but I want you to find these on your own. I can try to direct your gaze with my words, but only Erasmus will make you look differently.

2. Changing yourself

It's Luis' nightmare to talk about Psychology. What are self-concepts? I'm over the moon that you've asked me this, dear reader. Seeing the importance of this idea, I've decided to create a piece of art with my own definition of Self-Concept.

I understand perfectly if you want to kill me at this point, I really do. But it took my years to bring my creativity to light, so permit me this.

Away from my jokes, this idea is very important and will drastically change your Eramsus experience. Self-concept can be defined as the image that we have of ourselves, that we believe defines us. It is not the same as self-esteem, but they are both very closely related.

If you come up against a language which isn't your own and you just learn it, you will manage to catch planes, trains, travel all over Europe with people from different countries. If you live as an Erasmus student, I can assure you that the idea that you have of yourself will change completely. It's only logical, our experiences change us over the course of our lifetimes, and is this case the experiences are out of this world.

3. Lifetime goals.

I am an example of being a littel bit chaotic because of what I've done up until today. But even so, Erasmus made me a touch more mad about what I want to get out of life.

Right now I'm trying to find money from down the back of the sofa to be able to do another program which consists of travelling to the USA to work over the summer. In reality, I would love to go to Hawaii, some day I'll tell you if whether I was successful or came up short. But the mere fact that I thinking about doing this, the influence for this idea, came from Erasmus.

I am also a person who, despite having everything behind me, always has a reason in him. I don't want to have a car or anything material like that. My goal on this occasion is to learn English perfectly.

My Italian improved no end when I was in Milan, but my English did too. Whilst there, I met some incredible people who only spoke this language, I would love to talk with them once more without a problem. Being able to say what I want to say in the moment that I think it.

4. Open doors, information, possibilities.

Before learing Italian, even before doing Erasmus, I saw a video thanks to a Spanish Rap group called Suite Soprano. In on of their songs the group had a sample of an Italian film, which was subtitled and really caught my attention. What was the problem? This film was only in Italian. I searched for it in hundreds of different ways, subtitled, in English, in Mandarin, for deaf-blind people... but only in Italian. Only Italian speakers could understand this film.

I decided to try and I began to watch it. Italian is very similar to Spanish, don't you agree? Well, to be honest, I didn't understand any of it. 10 minutes in, I stopped watching it and started doing something else. What happened? When I was doing my Erasmus I went back and put the film on again, this time with a totally different result. I managed to understand it perfectly, without any form of subtitles a not one single problem. As you can understand, this changes your Self-concept, your goals and your life.

The same thing happened with music. I've always like American Rap, especially artists like Drake and Russ. Thanks to my Erasmus, and my improved understanding of English, I can now understand the lyrics much more often than before. In most cases I should search for the songs with English subtitles, but this is still a quite big step. You can't imagine how much information we are missing.

Erasmus changed me, it changed my life, and it will change yours.

6 months of pure excitement, dreams and adventure.

I wish you the best for your Erasmus. Best wishes from a former Erasmus who wants you to experience the best your Erasmus can give.

P. S. If you read this, you've agreed to take me with you.

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