How does it feel to be one out of three Erasmus students in the whole city?

Big cities in Europe are completely full of Erasmus students. The world is open for them - people fall in love, make friends create ideas. Fates are intertwined. International Island accepts everyone.  I guess I’m not the first and I’m not the last who asks if there is life after Erasmus.  This program was a breath of freedom, there was no parent and no boss. Only your friend who you’re sharing the evening with.  

My friends described their Erasmus experience as a never-ending party.  It’s when millions of foreigners around, forgetting about global cataclysms, just enjoy their days. This is what life outside of big politics looks like. Tolerance isn’t just a word in Erasmus society, but a reality.

My semester was quite unique. Recently the Erasmus community decided to expand the program to regional universities in small towns as well. What came out of this?

Well, I’m a good example.

I had never been to Greece before. I was afraid of unexpected situations and excited at the same time. Moreover, it was first flight in my life and it seemed like I was the only one passenger – I went to Greece alone.  

Time has passed, my world turned upside down  - right now it’s funny to recall the state of being lost when people asked me something in the Greek language, when I was avoiding open markets and how surprised I was with every palm and orange tree I saw on the street.

Europe itself is the cradle of the world’s culture, the mother of Madness, and Greece with its great past and crazy present is a good example of that. I heard so much about this country before and all of that appeared to be false.

My destination for Erasmus semester was Kastoria, a city in northern Greece in the region of West Macedonia.  I had never heard of this city before.My only information came from one old Greek man in the airport in Warsaw who said that it’s a bit “cold choice” hinting at the weather conditions of that part of Greece. I wish I could meet that man again to boast about staying warm even in the coldest city in Greece.

Probably, during my stay, I was pretty modest with compliments, but right now I want to express all my gratitude to those who made me feel at home in Greece.  Dear all, I was so lucky to meet you, to become a little part of your daily life, to find support and care so far away from Ukraine.

I had an opportunity to get to know Greek culture from the inside. When I was at school preparing projects about Ancient Greece, I had no idea that I would see all this with my own eyes.  Staying in a small city gives you a chance to meet almost everyone. The last day when I was walking down the street I was generous with greetings. I didn’t spend that much time here, I didn’t know the reality of those Kastorians, but we were glad to see each other.

One very important thing. I don’t speak any Greek. In the beginning of my Erasmus, it was an obstacle, I felt a bit lonely, but I found good people who spoke to me only in languages I understand. I had a lot of confusing and funny situations when I spoke with Greeks using none language; when I found in Kastoria street food sellers speaking better English than bank workers. To be honest, I haven’t spoken in my mother tongue very long time. Did I lose anything? I improved my English. My Erasmus program taught me that understanding each other is everything. Always stay patient with your companion, always try to explain your point (even with hands) and listen carefully.  People are crazy. They create weapons to kill dissidents but seems like they forgot how to speak.  Try never to forget.

You may feel lonely being an international student in a small town.

You may find something you have been looking for the last 5 years of your life.

You may use your time learning a lot of new things or watching a list of movies you thought it was impossible to see due to lack of time. Or to go to the island on the weekend like we did. You belong to yourself. You’re free.

I hope other Erasmus students in Kastoria – my French flatmate Coralie and our Portuguese friend Tiago had fun as well despite everything.  

This is my last week in Greece, I hope I won’t be running after airplanes in the airport like the hero in the best Erasmus movie, L'Auberge Espagnole.  My summer has started at the end of February and there are still a lot of warm days ahead!

Let’s enjoy our biggest adventure – life!