My Erasmus Experience !

I stayed in lovely Pau for almost 6 months and I must say that it was way better than expected. I just didn't expect too much of a small town... at first. However, I can guarantee you that Pau offers anything you could ask for! People are incredibly nice, palm trees grow everywhere and the general atmosphere / architecture is beyond beautiful. It's culturally very rich and the rather small size of the city helps you to integrate more easily (according to my experience).

Pau quickly became my home and it felt right to be there - what else could be better? I fell in love with this place and I highly recommend this city if you're looking for a profound cultural exchange ( and everything that comes with it). You simply don't get lost in a city like Pau. Once you're there, you become part of la grande famille paloise! And by the way, waking up to a breathtaking view on the Pyrenees just highlights the beauty of this place.

I also had some classes at the UPPA as Erasmus student. From my point of view, the University is everything but organised. It took me almost 2 months to get my timetable done. Professors said that " this is just how things are done in France as chaos is part of our culture.. but no worries! In the end, everything turns out just fine". And indeed, most issues disappeared with time. However, I must say that I wouldn't have been able to study there any longer as I felt like I got thrown back to High School most of the time.

Nevertheless, my main goal was to become fluent in French and this is why it was totally worth studying at the UPPA anyway. ( And I guess it's also your main objective, who actually cares about the classes...? )

I can proudly say that I will never forget about my stay in Pau and this city will always have it's own very special place in my heart. Also, I just want to let you know that it's not always the big cities that offer the best experiences, think twice!