The last one!
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Jelmer
18 Februari 2016 | Spanje, Almería
Home sweet home.. or not?
It has been some time since my last blogpost, it was a busy time with the last exams and moving back to the Netherlands. The exams went quite smoothly, three are already checked and I have received nice marks. One more to receiive and then it’s done! The last week in Spain was really busy, we went out for dinner a lot. These dinners were mostly ‘goodbye’ dinners. During the days I have spent many hours studying for the exams and in the evening the dinners. I didn’t have the time to think about the fact that I will miss Almeria, being an Erasmus and missing Spain until the day after my last exam. I had one free day to clean up the house etc. This moment I realized it’s over.. the once in a lifetime experience has been finished. Sounds very dramatic, but saying goodbye to such a nice experience makes me a bit melancholic.
The travel back home went very smooth and I arrived in my hometown in the middle of the night. The next day was all about sleeping and being with the family since my father had his birthday. Directly the day after I needed to wake up at 6:30 and get back to the life in the Fastlane. I am currently graduating at a company so I am working for 40 hours a week again.
Home sweet home, or not.. this will be the topic of this blogpost. It is so good to be back home again, speak the language that you always have spoken, recognize the road signs, being able to cook with your familiar ingredients etc. but most of all; see your friends and family again and more often! I am happy to have a new challenge by doing my graduation. I want to have new things and experiences in life.
But…
The experience in Spain has changed me, gave me an eye-opener to what all is possible in life if you are willing to take a leap of faith. Getting out of your comfort zone will let your personality grow. I haven’t had the time to think about Almeria much, since I am back in the Netherlands, but I am sure those moments will come sooner or later. The atmosphere in Almeria was breathtaking, being an Erasmus lets you make new friends easier than expected. That is going to be quite different in the Netherlands. Home or abroad, both have their charms
Enough dramatic talk now as my final blogpost, I want to give some do’s and don’ts for future Erasmus students!
Do’s
- If you have the possibility, travel earlier to the country/city, alone! (this will get you culture shocked and out of your comfort zone + on your own feet)
- Stand open for new cultures and different views
- Grab every opportunity that comes by (every trip, every dinner invitation, every party invitation)
- Make a list of words and verbs which you can use in the day to day life there (hang it in the house!)
- Review the courses you have to do, check if you can leave the work for the last month or if you have to keep it up to date every week
- Try to make local friends (don’t be afraid to have some random small talk with locals about strange topics. I was talking with an old man at the beach about jellyfish for example haha)
- Realise now and then that this experience will end some day.. it makes you enjoy it better!
Don’ts
- Don’t stay with your own countryfella’s
- Don’t say no to trips if you are not sure if you are in the mood.. JUST GO! It will be awesome!
- Don’t be afraid to spend a little money for extra trips, a special dinner or other experience (it is once in your life, enjoy it!)
- Don’t have any prejudices ( I know it’s hard since it’s your natural behavior, but try not to!)
- Don’t tell yourself ; I am not the right type of person for this trip/friends/atmosphere. Grab yourself by the balls and get out there!
If you are going to be a future Erasmus student, enjoy and live the experience to the fullest!!
That’s it! My erasmus period abroad! Hasta luego amigos!
It has been some time since my last blogpost, it was a busy time with the last exams and moving back to the Netherlands. The exams went quite smoothly, three are already checked and I have received nice marks. One more to receiive and then it’s done! The last week in Spain was really busy, we went out for dinner a lot. These dinners were mostly ‘goodbye’ dinners. During the days I have spent many hours studying for the exams and in the evening the dinners. I didn’t have the time to think about the fact that I will miss Almeria, being an Erasmus and missing Spain until the day after my last exam. I had one free day to clean up the house etc. This moment I realized it’s over.. the once in a lifetime experience has been finished. Sounds very dramatic, but saying goodbye to such a nice experience makes me a bit melancholic.
The travel back home went very smooth and I arrived in my hometown in the middle of the night. The next day was all about sleeping and being with the family since my father had his birthday. Directly the day after I needed to wake up at 6:30 and get back to the life in the Fastlane. I am currently graduating at a company so I am working for 40 hours a week again.
Home sweet home, or not.. this will be the topic of this blogpost. It is so good to be back home again, speak the language that you always have spoken, recognize the road signs, being able to cook with your familiar ingredients etc. but most of all; see your friends and family again and more often! I am happy to have a new challenge by doing my graduation. I want to have new things and experiences in life.
But…
The experience in Spain has changed me, gave me an eye-opener to what all is possible in life if you are willing to take a leap of faith. Getting out of your comfort zone will let your personality grow. I haven’t had the time to think about Almeria much, since I am back in the Netherlands, but I am sure those moments will come sooner or later. The atmosphere in Almeria was breathtaking, being an Erasmus lets you make new friends easier than expected. That is going to be quite different in the Netherlands. Home or abroad, both have their charms
Enough dramatic talk now as my final blogpost, I want to give some do’s and don’ts for future Erasmus students!
Do’s
- If you have the possibility, travel earlier to the country/city, alone! (this will get you culture shocked and out of your comfort zone + on your own feet)
- Stand open for new cultures and different views
- Grab every opportunity that comes by (every trip, every dinner invitation, every party invitation)
- Make a list of words and verbs which you can use in the day to day life there (hang it in the house!)
- Review the courses you have to do, check if you can leave the work for the last month or if you have to keep it up to date every week
- Try to make local friends (don’t be afraid to have some random small talk with locals about strange topics. I was talking with an old man at the beach about jellyfish for example haha)
- Realise now and then that this experience will end some day.. it makes you enjoy it better!
Don’ts
- Don’t stay with your own countryfella’s
- Don’t say no to trips if you are not sure if you are in the mood.. JUST GO! It will be awesome!
- Don’t be afraid to spend a little money for extra trips, a special dinner or other experience (it is once in your life, enjoy it!)
- Don’t have any prejudices ( I know it’s hard since it’s your natural behavior, but try not to!)
- Don’t tell yourself ; I am not the right type of person for this trip/friends/atmosphere. Grab yourself by the balls and get out there!
If you are going to be a future Erasmus student, enjoy and live the experience to the fullest!!
That’s it! My erasmus period abroad! Hasta luego amigos!
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
