Why you should spend an Erasmus semester abroad
Your time in university is usually filled with many new friendships, learnings and some unforgettable nights out. For most, it is the first time they move out of their parents’ home and take the first steps into adulthood. It is also the last time to whatever you basically want before starting a career and taking more responsibilities. But how about taking this time as a chance to go travelling again? To live in a different place, a new country and leave your comfort zone again? Being a student offers you the perfect opportunity to study abroad. A chance to combine both travelling and studying. Have you been offered the opportunity to study abroad and be an exchange student for a semester? If yes, here are the top 8 reasons why you should spend an Erasmus semester abroad.
You can improve your language skills
Let´s start this list on why you should spend an Erasmus semester abroad with some more “basic reasons”. Or rather, the reason why your parents would want you to go study abroad . The first are your language skills. In most cases, you are going to speak another language when going for a semester abroad. Surely, there will always be students from your home country as well but at least to communicate with the locals or foreign students, you will need your language skills. No matter if it is English, Spanish or any other language – it will for sure improve during your semester. Why?
Because you are forced to use it in your everyday life. You are forced into conversations and use your grammar skills spontaneously. This will make your more confident in speaking and you will as well improve your pronunciation. If you have been wanting to speak another language better or even use it later in your career, a semester abroad can actually prepare you for this.
Learn to appreciate other cultures
There is rarely any other occasion where you will come together with this many different cultures. Eramus communities usually consist of multiple nationalities, and you will meet students from all over the world. This also means cultures which are totally different to your own. For example, Asian cultures for a Western student. Living together and experiencing this time abroad together will make you realize how different and yet equal your cultures are. You will be interacting with different cultures, learn about their traditions and beliefs and try their food.
This will leave you more open to the world and also open your mind to different ways of living. Also, you will get deeper in touch with the culture of your host country. Therefore, choose the country wisely!
It looks good on your CV
A very rational reason on why you should spend an Erasmus semester abroad, but yet it is true and should be mentioned. Because a time abroad looks very good on your CV. It is more relevant than ever that employees have experience with the world and different cultures. Studying abroad makes clear that you can handle new living situation, that you are capable of living in a new country and speak a language very well. It also shows more about you as a person and directly attributes positive assumptions to you. If this is important to you and you are constantly thinking about your future career, this is a valid reason.
You will grow through battling the challenges of living in another country
Let´s be honest: it is all but easy to adapt to the life in a new country. You have just left your comfort zone, you have left all you know and are now surrounded by strangers in a completely new place. Easy is different, right?
Getting used to the life in your host country and adapting a routine and settling in your new home might require some time. You will need to figure out how to do the daily things in life and how to keep up in university. You will need to figure out where to get food, how to interact with your roommates and a lot more – shortly: you will experience an immense self-growth during this time. Being all on your own basically forces you to grow. For some, this might be the first time away from home and the safe place at the parents´ house. Maybe this is your first time in your own household. And now you even got the language barrier – but rest assured, you will manage it. And in the end, you will realize how much it did make it grow.
Gain a greater perspective on the world
A semester abroad will change your perspective on the world. Or rather, it will broaden your horizons. Not only will you understand the power of different cultures, the magic of living in another country and the joy of travelling and exploring. But also, you will see how much there is to life and how amazing it is to meet like-minded people to share it and connect with.
It may sound cheesy at first, but after a semester abroad you are really seeing the world with different eyes. Maybe that’s because the time also allows you to figure out what you want in life. It can help you to clarify your goals, to see where life could take you and to define where you want to go.
See it as a chance to travel
An Erasmus semester abroad is more than just studying (actually, this is the least about studying but rather making real life lessons instead). Wherever you choose to spend your time abroad, make sure to see it as a chance to travel around. You can explore the whole country with your new friends you made, or travel to the neighbor countries. Maybe this is a part of the world you have not been to yet. Perfect! Explore it.
Your semester abroad can be your chance to tick of more points on your bucket list and see more of the places you´ve dreamed of.
You will make friends for a lifetime
One of the most convincing reasons on why you should spend an Erasmus semester abroad are the people. The whole experience you´re going to have is based on the people you surround yourself with. They are going to be students from all over the world, with different backgrounds. And all coming together in that one place to live for a few months.
And those people are going to become your friends. Friends for a lifetime. Experiencing all of this together, travelling around together and being unconditionally happy simply connects you to a whole different level. You are going to make friendships which you never had before. I mean, you are basically spending 24/7 with these people, there is no way you are not going to feel like family after only a few weeks.
Therefore, if you feel like you need some real friends in your life or if you want to make international friends, a semester abroad is just the right thing.
… It simply is the best time of your life
And last but not least, a reason on why you should spend a semester abroad which does not need any more explanation: it simply is the best time of your life.
I hope you do not need any more convincing now. Because if you decide to do an Erasmus semester abroad, you will for sure have the time of your life. You will be living in your tiny bubble where all that counts is living in that very moment. This will be a time without many responsibilities, without many duties but simply enjoying life.
To sum it up: why you should spend an Erasmus semester abroad
What stand out most for me is that no one is saying what an important change your life is going to get when doing a semester abroad. No one is telling you how you are becoming a different person, a better person, how you truly start living life and how you live in this tiny bubble of perfection your time abroad is creating. No one tells you how important it is to get at least one Erasmus semester abroad during your university time.
This is one of the reasons why this blog post should motivate you to simply do it. You are not going to regret it, even though it feels hard to leave your comfort zone in the beginning. But the experience of an Erasmus semester abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime chance which you should absolutely take. It will change you to the better and it will provide you with experiences and moments you could not have dreamed of before. Just trust me and go for it. Go have the time of your life and thank me later!
Click here to see how the EU supports you when doing an Erasmus semester abroad.
