I’m currently studying my third course in the bachelor’s programme of Nursing. I had already been in three different health services during my Practical Trainings, in two Hospitals and in an Outpatients Clinic. Furthermore, I want to go to other hospitals to learn of distinct ways of working and different ways of being a nurse. So, therefore Erasmus is the dream landing opportunity to bring me new learnings and different points of view.

 

On the other hand, I would also decide to live the Erasmus experience to develop my autonomy and personal growth, as I will be independent and away from my family. This will be the first time that I go to live away from home, so this is a challenge for me.

 

Finally, I also really want to go to Salzburg in the first semester because of its student environment and the people from all over the world that I could meet, from other countries and cultures. As well, I chose this destination because I would like to go to a city where is very different from where I currently live. I love this destination for the incredible nature that surrounds it, I can’t stop thinking about the high mountains that I could climb and the nature sports that I could practise. 

 

Now it’s different. At this Erasmus experience I will go practically alone. I am going with a classmate that he is also my friend, but we don’t know each other that much. 

 

So, as I cannot bring my friends during all my stay (also I don’t want to), I am going to bring photos of my family and friends. They will remind me the reasons for undertaking this experience and that they are here with me, in good and bad moments.

 

Also, I think that the main challenge I am going to face is to make new friends. I have always been making friends, but I’m shy when I don’t know the people and I’m afraid to don’t take advantage of the experience from the beginning.

 

Otherwise, at the beginning maybe it’s difficult to make us understand each other, people of different countries and cultures, the Erasmus people want to live the full experience and they will be ready to face the situation. And so will I.

The problem comes when you are judged with an adjective without reason, only with the argument of your origin. As if someone that doesn’t judge you said that please don’t speak loudly because you come from Spain. And that’s not right and that’s not fair. 

Because you don’t know this person, and not all the people are the same, and you can speak softly and come from Spain.

Because the stereotype of speaking loudly may not affect you, but if someone said that you are a trafficker, a thief, a criminal, a pederast, an unpunctual and lazy person, a fascist… because you come from a specific country, it’s very dangerous.

Because it can hurt you a lot, it can take you big opportunities away, it can take you so many troubles to live your everyday life.

Because no one can be judged by his origins, ancestors, or his country. No one can judge you by your skin color or your gender.

Because each person is distinct, and we do different actions and live in different ways, although we live in the same country.

One of them consists of sharing a room in a hostel and staying at their parties. This seems a good activity to meet new people from other countries and start a natural conversation.

Another idea of making friends could be to join a group with people that have similar interests like a club, gym, dance class or a meetup group. This is also a good plan because all the people that be part of the group have something in common. 

 

On the other hand, I would never try to make friends going alone in a local bar or pub. It makes me very difficult for me to build up the courage to say “hi” and make a conversation. I think that this way is very utopic. Or maybe I have this perspective now with the pandemic context, that I haven’t been to a bar for 2 years :’)

Moreover, other ways to meet people in another country could be joying a volunteer community, going to festivals or concerts. Actually, do the activity you do, the only one that works is the predisposition and the attitude of making friends.

And also thank you for all these English lessons, I’ve enjoyed them a lot and I’ve learned a lot of things. The emergencies vocabulary will be very useful in my internship at the hospital for sure. 

It has been a pleasure <3