I realized the other day that my growing belly is a direct consequence of Europe and its possibility of free moving of people between EG countries. 2003, i moved to Germany to study in Darmstadt thanks to the Erasmus program.  270 000 other students did the same this year (not only in Germany, but in the whole Eg) and one of them was a Swedish student who also studied in Darmstadt for a year. My lovely M. Who would have know that it would lead to a new life? 

From all the points I collected to get my engineer diploma,  the ones that count the most now are just the one I got in Darmstadt,  about sociability,  comminucation, open minding, craziness too. To live on the other side of the border gave me an incredible power to understand better the changing world we are living in. And the erasmus program made it easy in a lots of way, to get in this mindset. We got for example rooms to live in, a place at the university,  a group of other students to get friends with. It taught me integration in my little scale and above all, the big lesson was to listen and learn feom others, who may have a different approach to life than you in your home culture. It was a wonderful year, that lead me to never live in France again (so far).

Of course is erasmus a big help to start a life abroad but it asked guts to make something of it more than just a year. Many of my “colleagues”  went back home after a year, but even if they did, I am sure that they have something with them a little special. 

So to you, who wonders if you would study abroad or not but hesitate because of “it’s not exactly the same topics that are taught” just go! You will learn anyway!

And to you who wonders if it wouldn’t be better for your country to get off Europe,  think as well that your choice closes this kind of fantastic doors. You cannot have the butter and the cow at the same time.

Cheers to you, Desidereus Erasmus!