Next Student Story

Although I am from Poland I had decided to study in the UK and thought it would be a good idea to use the opportunity to take part in the Erasmus programme. That is how I ended up in Finland and Sweden, where I spent the most amazing time of my life. I have learnt a great number of things about other cultures and experienced more than I could ever imagine. I have gained a knowledge for which I will always be thankful.

The main reason why I decided to take part in Erasmus was because I love adventures! I believed that it would help me to see the world from a different perspective and broaden my life both educationally and culturally. The best thing about the experience was that I met fantastic people from all over the world. It is also worth noticing that the Erasmus programme provided me with the opportunity to travel. I had a chance to attend Sea Battle - the most amazing event that I have ever taken part in. It takes 2000 Erasmus students from Sweden, Finland and Estonia on a two day cruise between the Stockholm and Tallinn. I already know that I will go back on that boat!

I went there on my own, which I believe is the best way as you can see and experience more. Of course, there was a fear of the unknown, but at the same time, there was a huge dose of excitement, which made everything much more interesting and worth going into. At the end, I realised that there was nothing to be afraid of. It was much easier to say 'hello' than 'goodbye'.

In both Finland and Sweden I was offered beginners language courses. They gave me some basic knowledge that I could use in everyday life. Nearly everyone spoke fluent English though so I had plenty of opportunities to improve my English language skills! After the Erasmus period, a group of ten people that I met in Sweden visited me in Poland. It's quite funny, but I had a chance to see my own country from a completely different perspective.

If you like adventures, Erasmus is just perfect for you! I had the best time in my life enjoying every minute of it. I got a chance to know the Scandinavian culture and lifestyle. I went to the famous Finish sauna once, sometimes twice a week and in winter time into the icy lake as well. I also gained a few kilograms trying all the delicious Swedish cakes and cookies and I can honestly say that I don't have any regrets! I believe that the year that I spent abroad significantly enriched my entire life. There were a lot of people that can be seen as members of various minority groups, however being one of them made my Erasmus adventure even more interesting! Meeting various people changes you and helps to become more open and understand other people's traditions and cultures.

Don't think too much, just do it!