"Learn Something New"
"Choose a Direction"
"See the World Through Different Eyes"
"Meet People From all Over the World!"Erasmus Competition
This year's Erasmus competition was entitled ERASMUST! Why More Students Should Take Part. Our 09/10 photography institutional winner was Sarah Mellish who studied German in Austria whose images you can see here, our essay institutional winner was Rocio Carracedo-Lopez who studied Law in Spain, here is her essay:
Sun. Sea. Sand. Sangria. These are the famous four words that always seem to be inextricably linked, unwaveringly present and unnervingly idealist when it comes to describe Spain. Here I was, last August, looking forward to a new adventure of living and breathing the Spanish dream in Bilbao. In reality, I had never heard about the city. Whilst people made references to the beauty and extravagance of the Guggenheim museum; the news constantly spoke of ETA’S violence and extreme political stance. So, I arrived in Bilbao with unfounded expectations, fears and hopes and what I found, ten months on, was a new culture, the reality of Spain and a life-changing experience that will never be forgotten. In brief, there was no sea, no sand, few rays of sun and a very little amount of sangria. But what I found was a country divided by its regional differences, its pride and history, yet united in its love and passion for good food, drink and vitality for life. It was not just a journey of uncovering Spain, but it was a journey of self-discovery that would somehow and out of nowhere, change my outlook and way of life forever.
Meeting new people was perhaps one of the most refreshing and incredible parts of the whole Erasmus experience. Mostly because, you are in a foreign country, without your family, friends, culture and all those things that you took for granted as a support system. It makes you overcome your insecurities and vulnerabilities and embrace the experience to the maximum. It compels you to let yourself go and just enjoy the unknown, whilst constantly learning about your personal attributes and weaknesses. It is a journey of self-discovery, which facilitated me with the ability to adapt quickly to situations, become more resilient and independent. Being around people from other countries eradicated some prejudices and misconceptions that I never knew existed and forged new ideas about not only the Spanish culture, but about the world around you as you interact and befriend Europeans, Americans, Latin Americans , Asians; you name it, you will meet them. One could argue that we already live in a Cosmopolitan society enriched by people of all races, ages, cultures and religions, but the Erasmus experience throws all of you together, with everyone representing their country and making you a close-knit family. I have made friends for life. These virtues are obviously hugely beneficial for future careers and it improves your communication, interaction, tolerance and adaptability.
While I was in Spain, it was incredible how much my Spanish improved. It was difficult at first to find the confidence and the determination to just go out there and speak, to distance myself from the British students and to fully emerge myself in the Spanish culture. However, it proved invaluable for my language skills. Speaking a language is much more than accurate grammar, exuberant vocabulary and complex sentence structures, but more about feeling the words, conveying the meaning and fully engrossing yourself in the conversations. You can put what you have learnt in class into practice, but no amount of academic lessons can prepare you for the real experience of living and speaking in the country. The best way to learn a language is by being there, living it, breathing it and loving all aspects of life. By being in class, listening to the professor, working on group work and just taking notes did wonders to learning basic vocabulary and also more specialist words that will be useful in my final year at university. By going out and doing different activities, like going to the fiestas, the local festivals and exploring the bars and restaurants, I acquired a fuller understanding of colloquial words and idiomatic expressions. It made me love the language even more.
During my year abroad, I was able to take part in a whole load of new activities. I was able to teach English to children. I started out with two children and ended the year with seven aged within 6 to 12 years. I acted for some as a tutor whilst for others, I just babysat, sang songs and did craft activities whilst trying to familiarise them with the English language. It was an incredible experience to do something completely out of my comfort zone, have fun with it yet learn about responsibility, leadership and initiative. I also undertook the Tandem programme with a French girl, so that she practiced her English and I could improve my French. I felt much more confident in my speaking ability and noticed progress in my fluency and grammatical accuracy. In addition, I participated with the Catalonia United Nations stimulation game with a German teammate, which was a fantastic and unforgettable experience. It was great to present a state’s side, get involved in the debates and develop my negotiation skills. Arguably, most of these skills could have been undertaken back at home, but being in Spain, really gave me the opportunity to embrace new challenges by giving me more confidence and determination to face them head on and to see things from a fresh and more European outlook.
Erasmus is so much more than learning a language; you gain a whole new perspective to life. It’s so much more than just being in another country; you grow to appreciate it with all its flaws and qualities. It’s so much more than just meeting new people; you learn their culture, their way of life and disregard your prejudices. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, that makes you stand out from the crowd because it really is a test to your mental strength. Erasmus is a roller coaster ride with more ups and downs than an average university degree, but it is so fulfilling and enriching that a very select few who go abroad, would recommend you not following their footsteps. It truly is the best experience and one that will remain with you forever. What I learnt and experienced could take many a whole lifetime to discover, yet I was able to do it in just ten months and for that, I have a lot to thank Erasmus for.
You can view Past Erasmus Competition entries here.
