Bonn, weird letters and ladybugs.

It was a Thursday and as always I was studying in a little cute library full of ladybugs in Bonn. In that cold winter afternoon I didn't know I was about to receive an e-mail that would have brighten my day.

I received a letter from the most unlikely sender: myself.

Last year I wrote myself an e-mail and through the platform futureme.org it was delivered to me that afternoon. In the letter I was basically trying to predict how my life would be like from there to the next year. I wrote it in a period where I was quite tired of my life in my hometown, I was disappointed by several failed applications to exchange programs abroad. When I applied to the Erasmus project, I did it as it was going to be another unreachable dream on the list. I wasn't thinking it was actually going to happen.

And then it did.

Months start to run fast, in a snap of fingers my suitcase is packed, I say goodbye to friends and family, I jump on my flight from Rome to Bonn. And suddenly there is silence. This was my very first impression of Germany. The airport was so quiet compared to the crowded and loud Italian capital. To me it looked like people were whispering not to disturb the others.

The first Erasmus events started. It was a big surprise for me when somehow the organizers of the Welcome week knew about my birthday and they literally forced 300 perfect strangers to sing me happy birthday. My cheeks still turns red when I remember that moment, but I extremely appreciated it anyway.

Dear reader, I hope you are not one of those who thinks Erasmus is just about partying and drinking. To experience one or two semesters in another university is crucial for growing in your educational path. You are alone and independent here, it means you are forced to familiarize with bureaucracy system for apartments, documents, exams. If you are lucky you will have a company of curious and crazy friends and you will have a chance to travel around Europe.

There is no doubt, though: you will find yourself in uncomfortable situations. Once I spent almost 7€ at the canteen because I thought it worked like in Italy. I ended up having two big plates and I had to convince my Belgian friend to eat one because it was way too much. Not to mention the uncountable awkward greetings with Germans and Spanish, where you do not know how to behave: hug or kiss? If kiss: 1,2 or 3 times? And from the left or the right? I am still struggling with it honestly.

But that is exactly how we grow: challenging ourselves, learning to master awkward and stressful situations, circumstances we have never experienced before.

There'll always be that voice whispering you not to go too far, to find your safe nook and hole up there forever. Changing is always scaring.

First I was afraid, then the my curiosity made me forget about the fear. Slowly I started to understand, to fall in love with this various world we live in, to chase for new stories to listen .

I walk back on the library. In my mind I see friendly faces saying goodbye. When I stroll, every corner of this city reminds me of something. Spring is over, the peaches blossoms on the street have been swept away, and in that little sweet library in the centre of Bonn the ladybugs are gone.

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