Jemima Steen

“Erasmus is not one year in your life, but your life in one year,” was a cheesy quote on the shutter of my landlord’s office outside my flat in Córdoba, Spain. While cringey, and definitely not entirely true, it speaks some wisdom. During your year abroad, you have so many experiences which really shape you as a person. If you’re reading this, then yes, this is your sign to do a year abroad! The following points are a few invaluable things that I learnt on mine.

An understanding of other cultures was a key skill which I learnt during my year in Spain. About 70% of international students were Italian, so I definitely learnt more things about Italy than other countries. (I hope I learnt some Italian too, like “oohh La Madonna” or “Oh God,” which they repeated a lot)! I also learnt about Italian cultural values, such as their warmth and friendliness, which we should definitely take notes on in the UK. For example, they are much more open to strangers and friendlier than a lot of British people. I hope I can learn this from them. (I also learnt that cooking pasta “wrong” is close to sin!) As well as Italians, I met people from all over the world, like Germans, French, Argentinians, Americans, Ecuatorians, amongst other nationalities. This taught me the ability to socialise with a range of people from different backgrounds, and an interest in learning about other cultures.

I also saw some amazing Spanish traditions, which I would never have seen if I did not live in Córdoba. One example is La Semana Santa or Holy Week around Easter. During this period in Andalucía, southern Spain, there are mass parades of different floats in the street and the roads are closed off. Each float portays a different scene from the Christian Easter stories, and is carried by about 20 men. They are an amazing sight; the floats carry lots of candles and flowers, as well as ornate figures of La Vírgen María, (the Virgin Mary), or Jesus. These are extremely heavy to carry and pedestrians watch the parades with awe on both sides of the street, applauding as the float-carriers pass by. The floats were particularly breathtaking at night, with the candles shining through the dark. This is just one example of the amazing sights I saw in Spain, and I am sure wherever you go, you will also see fantastic scenes.

Perhaps most importantly, I learnt how to manage my mental health on my year abroad. One of my flatmates in Spain, who had already been on a year abroad before, told me that living abroad is one of the best forms of personal development. I didn’t quite understand it then, but now that I am reflecting on my experience, I see its truth. Abroad, you are confronted with yourself. This means that your personal struggles become more obvious to you, partly because of the time you spend alone. I know this sounds scary, but it taught me to really help myself and develop strategies for when I felt anxious. Spending time alone also allows you to really get to know yourself, another useful life skill. Thus, while there are difficult, isolating times while being away, you become a stronger, more resilient person as a result of them.

Overall, while Erasmus definitely does not represent your entire life in one year, the quote which I started with has a degree of truth. You have a range of experiences on Erasmus, some amazing, but some very difficult, sort of like what life is like. I guess that is my interpretation of the quote above. What you gain on your year abroad certainly outweighs the difficult experiences: the ability to get on with people from different backgrounds, the unforgettable sights, a deeper understanding of yourself, and in my case, some very strong friendships.