My Erasmus Experience in Salerno

And so arrives the hardest moment of Erasmus. People have barely spoken to us about it, but you have to experience it to know what it feels like now that you're home, in your city, with your family and friends, and you leave behind everything that has happened these past months.

In my case, I arrived in Salerno on the 19th September and I left on the 19th July. 10 months over. It's impossible to sum up this year. I'd need pages and pages to tell you with the least detail, from the most insignificant thing to the most important.

To make a long story short, I only want to tell you that it has been without a doubt the best year of my life. From preparing to leave, which was about a year ago when the most wonderful girl on the planet messaged on whatsapp, suggesting to live with her, up to the stress of the last few days, getting everything together and doing everything "for the last time" and the crying..., the trivial sobbing. Each day has been special and each day has been different. Routine? On Erasmus? What's that?

I want to dedicate a few lines to Salerno, this city that hardly any people know, but spending a few days there is enough to make you fall in love and get taken it by it. I don't know what it was. I don't know if it was its narrow paved streets, its privateering, or its tiny beach (Santa Teresa) with its palm trees and black sand. I don't know if it was the fact that it was a city without laws (seat belt? For what? Four people on a motorbike? why not? ) I don't know it if it was its parks, its breakwaters and its incredible promenade that was lovely to walk along every morning or at dusk, gazing at those amazing views. Or maybe it was the deafening sound of the ambulances, or the mix of scents you smelt going round each street (bakeries, pizzerias, fish mongers, leather clothes shops, book shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, fruit shops, mini markets, music shops with records, toy shops, etc... ) Maybe it was the late ice creams or its supermarkets (eté, sole365, sigma, deco, etc... ) Perhaps it was the small but welcoming churches, its duomo with its spectacular crypt; or the Arechi Castle, with its incredible views. Or maybe it was Stadio Vestuti- the official meeting place for a night out or travelling (to Rome, Florence, Foggia, Sicily, etc... ) Also, perhaps it was the Boutique (bakery by day and club by night), or its ice cream shops- blessed Punto Freddo. Or maybe it was the Central Station, Piazza della Concordio or Bar Mary (with Robert, the biggest in Salerno)- three places that allowed us to get around all of Italy. Maybe it was the university- that incredible campus surrounded by mountain with its own climate; in winter, you could feel the cold in your bones and, in summer, the heat would melt you. I doubt it was the transport which was a bit frustrating- you could spend anything from 5 to 50 minutes at the bus stop, waiting for the bus to go to university. When you waited more than 15 minutes there, you'd wonder if it was really necessary to go that day, although the worst was when it finally came, but no one else could squeeze in. Crazy. Perhaps it was the weather there, and we had it all: torrential rain, hurricane winds, snow, (lots of) cold, (too much) heat, scorchers, humidity... Even so, I loved it. Equally, it could've been the atmosphere, the people, the ESN lot (you're the best), the parties, the clubs... Actually, I suppose it was all of this, the mix, the variety, which made Salerno into my second city, my second home.

My heart breaks just thinking that if one day I go back, which I definitely will, it won't quite be the same. The city of course will still be the same or very similar, but the people will be missing, the ones who have been the most important thing about Erasmus for me. Salerno has made incredible, amazing, marvellous people cross my path, allowing me then meet and love them. For this, Salerno, I will eternally be grateful to you; you've made me very happy. I will always carry you all in my heart, had we more or less happened to meet, I will always remember you. All of us have been companions in this experience in this city, and with only that, you have a place nel mio cuore (of course I needed a little bit in Italian) and a house in Madrid, where I'll be happy to host you. Thank you everyone. I wish you the best in this new post-Erasmus stage of your lives.

We will always have Salerno.

"Erasmus is not a year of your life; it is a life in a year".