The end of the semester abroad doesn't really come as a surprise, because you know from the beginning how long you're going to be abroad. But I was still a bit shocked when I realised it was time to pack my bags. With that,...
The last two weeks of my semester abroad in Riga have begun. But before I get too melancholic about the last five months, here are some useful tips and tricks to make life in Latvia a lot easier that I have tried and tested!...
It's the 22nd of December and as I write this I'm back at my parents' house on Lake Constance and it's wet, cold and grey outside. In my mind, however, I'm still 1,600 kilometres north-east in the Latvian winter wonderland. So...
I've already shared some of my impressions of Riga and Latvia with you here. Now it's time for us to get to know the closer and more distant surroundings together, because there is so much to see. So welcome to the digital...
If you imagine the Baltic States, especially in winter, you probably have images of endless snow-covered landscapes in your head. Now - at the end of November - this is gradually becoming a reality. So welcome to digital postcard...
During a semester abroad, especially if you only have lectures in the evenings like me, you have a lot of time to get to know the city and the surrounding area, especially the pubs, museums and parks. Luckily, there are plenty of...
Of course, a semester abroad isn't just about partying all night, traveling and drinking tea (even if most of it is), but also about everyday university life. Because as my mother likes to say: "It's a semester abroad, not a...
Sveiki and welcome to digital postcard no. 2 from Riga! As I'm writing this, I'm sitting in my favourite café, which I have to admit I visit about every other day, sipping my gigantic Kafija (oat) latte for €2.50. So you can...
... to Riga, Latvia. A city, a country and a whole region about which I actually knew barely anything. But that was precisely what made it so exciting for me and was the crucial aspect in my choice of country. However, when...
Split the bill? "Shared bill or separate?" A sentence that is normal procedure for us in Germany when it comes to paying in restaurants or bars. Not in Leuven and the surrounding area. In most cases, you cannot pay...
International Another positive aspect of Leuven: internationality. As an Erasmus student, you won't be out of the ordinary at all. English is spoken everywhere and everyone in the city is used to internationals. As an exchange...
Now that I've spent four months here in Belgium, studying not only marketing but also the local people and culture, it's time for a first résumé. Today's blog post is the start of a three-part series in which I present different...
In today's post I will start with an incredibly strong and valuable concept - friendship. Thanks to my semester abroad I could and was allowed to once again experience very intensively what friendship means and how important...
The Oude Markt - legendary not only for us as internationals, but also for all night owls from Belgium. Whenever you feel like going out, just ask the simple question: "Oude?” The Oude Markt is a market set in a rectangular...
Surprise! Easter holidays are right around the corner. Unlike in Germany, not only students, but also all university students in Belgium enjoy two weeks of Easter holidays. The lecture-free period is therefore the perfect time...
Beep... Beep... 6:45am, my alarm goes off and I wish it wouldn't, but I guess I have no choice - time to get up! After you already know what university life looks like in Leuven, today it's about what happens besides that. The...
…or my first culture shock on my Erasmus journey so far. What am I talking about? - The system at my partner university. However, I can say right away that it's not as bad as it seems at first glance, and it could be much worse...
...too much, definitely too much! Hi, I'm Jana, 22 years old, and struggling with how to fit all my household items into two suitcases for six months. But well, that's probably the first challenge you have to face, and it's also...
Some people might relate: just a moment ago it was Christmas, everything was festively decorated and one was eating way too many cookies and played board games with the family. After one filled their belly over the holidays and...
[Translate to Englisch:] Mit großen Schritten geht es auf Weihnachten und damit auch bereits das absehbare Ende meines Auslandssemester zu. Porto ist schon seit Mitte Oktober festlich geschmückt und mein lokaler Supermarkt hat...
When I arrived in Porto in September, summer was still in the air. People were lying on the beach, sunbathing, swimming and every evening they met to watch the sunset. Then in mid-October there was a complete change in the...
In the last entry, I introduced my friend Magda, with whom I have already taken a few trips. Although Portugal has many exciting places to explore, on our first trip we took the Flixbus to Vigo, which is just over the Spanish...
After years of building up my friendships in Würzburg, the semester abroad was a pretty big step out of my social comfort zone. Being on your own in a foreign environment and not even speaking the local language can be pretty...
Bom dia! I have been in Porto for four weeks now and I have already been able to gather some first impressions of the country and its people. The city has a very special atmosphere and a great vibe. In the city centre, when the...
48 days until the flight - when I received this message with my booking confirmation, I danced around my flat for five minutes. After almost a year since the application process at the university, the proximity of the departure...
Name: Pia Burghardt Age: 24 Studies: Bachelor Architecture in the 9th semester at the FHWS Semester abroad: Wintersemester 2022/2023 at Portugal-Universidade do Porto
It's doomsday weather outside. That fits my mood right now. I am sitting here in an almost empty apartment and am sorting my things. What do I leave here? What do I give away? What do I sell? And which things do I take with me on...
I would like to dedicate this entry to the topic of language, as it is a very large part of my experience here in France. Without language you can't communicate, shop, attend lectures, and most importantly, you can't build...
To be honest, I am not entirely sure what I expected of this city before my arrival. Surely not that it would tire me so much. Next to the beautiful streets, cafés, viewpoints, and parks there is also the noise. Everywhere there...
Bobigny is a Banlieu (suburb) of Paris. The Bobigny Campus of the Université Sorbonne Paris Nord is situated here, in the middle of an industrial area, between a hospital, gas station, a student dorm and car repair shops.In my...
“You are not on our list of Erasmus students.” When I heard this sentence, my heart was in my mouth! “Do I have to go back to Germany? Am I even allowed to study here? What, if I have to leave? But I have a signed learning...
After arriving in Paris, I spent the first night couchsurfing (Couchsurfing is a platform for intercultural exchange, where people offer their couches as accommodation) - because yes: I travelled to Paris without having a flat. A...
Paris, January 18th, 2022 Did I think of everything? ID card? Bus ticket? Toothbrush? Surely, I must have forgotten something! These thoughts run through my head while I am at the bus station at 1:23 am at night with 0°C...
Name: Lea Schleiß Age: 22 Studies: Bachelor Social Work Semester abroad: Summer semester 2022 at the Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
Today is December 22nd, 2021, and I am on the plane to Düsseldorf to see my family. I cannot believe that it will be Christmas the day after tomorrow. The semester is nearly over and there is a total mood of departure. For nearly...
Winter is slowly beginning here in the capital, and it is time to say goodbye to autumn. Actually, I hate autumn, but this one here in Budapest was special. The sun was shining nearly every day, I did endless coffee walks and...
In the meantime, it is already the end of October, and I must admit that time is just running away. Today I want to update you about what has been happening with me the past weeks. Let us start with my favourite part – my...
Budapest is known as “Pearl on the Danube” or “Paris of the East”. I can 100% confirm both. I am strongly convinced that everyone needs to visit Budapest once in their lifetime, because it is beautiful and incredibly diverse....
We had barely arrived in Budapest and settled in when classes started. As in most European countries classes start in September instead of in October – as in Germany. That is why we had a very short summer break this year, but...
We are on the train. Suddenly, everyone takes off their masks – apparently, we just crossed the border to Hungary, because masks are not mandatory here anymore. It is a strange feeling at first, but this changes quickly into...
August 30th, 2021. Emotional chaos. I am on the train to Budapest where I will spend the next two semesters. I am excited and happy, but at the same time very stressed and troubled by insecurities. I will have a lot of time to...
Name: Svenja Steinborn Age: 22 Studies: Bachelor International Management im 3 Semester an der FHWS in Würzburg Semester abroad: Double Degree (WS 21/22 und SS22) an der Budapest Business School
Here we are. Probably the worst part of my stay abroad. Exam period. I must admit that I have never been so unprepared for an exam period, but I just had to enjoy my stay to the fullest extend and wanted to participate in as many...
What a surprise! I was really looking forward to spending my birthday in Portugal but due to the fact that I had two job interviews, a lecture and an oral exam scheduled on my birthday, I was quite annoyed. So, I was already...
I am under the impression that time goes by quicker in Portugal than in Germany. I am sure that the clocks were tempered with, that is the only possible explanation. By now, people you’ve met a few times have become friends and...
Bom dia! I have already had two of my six exams! The exams were written at university, so we finally went on campus and met the other students in our class. I mustadmit, it felt a bit strange to be back in a classroom again....
I have spent quite some time over here in Portugal and every day, I am more amazed by this city. My Portuguese is getting better,and I am confident enough to try some small talk with locals. A great adventure was my...
Just when I sat down to write this entry, I received an e-mail from university. They told us that they mustpostpone classroom teaching for yet another week. Unfortunately, some students of the Instituto Politecnico de Lisboa...
„Do not fear the future” - “That fits”, I thought this morning when reading this quote on my astrology app. I am still a bit afraid, but at least it seems like the universe is on my side concerning my semester abroad at the...
“Highest infection rate worldwide!”, “Portugal’s health system on brink of collapse!”. I read these headlines again and again, hoping the letters would dissolve and change into positive and hopeful words. I don’t know if it is...
Name: Katharina Prößl Age: 20 Studies: Bachelor International Management 4. Semester at FHWS in Würzburg Semester abroad: Summer semester 2021 at Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal
How quickly the time has passed ... I arrived here 6 months ago and now the semester abroad is already over. The exam period is over too, and now it is time to say goodbye and pack my suitcase. I wonder, how did my belongings...
Christmas holidays are over and my time in Denmark is almost over, too. It was really nice to see my family and friends again after 3 months, but it was yet another adjustment, because I got so used to life in Denmark. I like...
Time flies and soon it will be Christmas! Before it is time to go back home, I wanted to enjoy the remaining weeks. I decided to visit the Copenhagen Zoo. It is really large (about 11 hectares) and exhibits many animals. The...
Last weekend we went on a trip to Lund, which is the 11th largest city in Sweden. It is old, quiet and not so big after all. You can see many young people in town, most of them are students who live here. It is really nice. It...
The second half of my semester has started, but it is never boring. Last Friday, we had a fire alarm in our residence. The problem is that only few students stay here over the weekend. Most students and all of the staff go home....
October is ending and the last few days were very busy. During the fall break, I welcomed some visitors from home. We booked a hotel room in Copenhagen, so that we would have more time to go sightseeing. In addition, I treated...
“Hej” from Denmark! Exam period in October went well and now it’s time for the fall break, which is from 14th till 20th of October here at the Zealand Academy. The concept of studying here works different than in Germany. At...
Time flies. I’ve been in Denmark for 4 weeks now and there are many things happening. The “dormitory” I life in is a student residence for students like me and at the same time a boarding school for Danish pupils. This is why we...
Last December, when I decided to study abroad, it felt as if I had plenty of time, but suddenly the moment of my departure was close and I still had many things to organize. The most important thing for me was to find...
The last exam is over, my folders are packed away, and the stress has completely disappeared – a great feeling after the exam period. The best thing is that I don’t need to pack my bags, move out, and finish my semester abroad...
![[Translate to Englisch:] Gruppe von lachenden Studierenden mit je einer Pappschachtel in der Hand, auf der eine Bierflasche aufgedruckt ist. Sie stehen bzw. hocken vor einer Hauswand, die mit einem alten Foto mit einer Gruppe von Menschen versehen ist.](/typo3temp/_processed_/a/2/csm_Text_7_Bierprobe_in_Murcia_12362cf482.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Gruppe von lachenden Studierenden mit je einer Pappschachtel in der Hand, auf der eine Bierflasche aufgedruckt ist. Sie stehen bzw. hocken vor einer Hauswand, die mit einem alten Foto mit einer Gruppe von Menschen versehen ist.")
As the already says, it is not a „goodbye“, but a „See you again Murcia”! After I had taken all the exams and the strain of the last weeks in Murcia had been over, straight on I had to start packing my suitcases. Fortunately, I...
It’s 2019 already! Somehow it feels unreal that the exams are about to begin and that the first semester of the double degree will be over soon. Right before Christmas, time just flew by. Between studying for tests we, the...
![[Translate to Englisch:] Selbst gebauter Schneemann](/typo3temp/_processed_/d/6/csm_IMG-20181201-WA0029_9317f61bf2.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Selbst gebauter Schneemann")
The Christmas markets have opened! Yes, not only one but several markets. I don’t know the exact number, but I’ve already been to four different ones here in Prague. The markets are a really big deal here. At any time at day and...
![[Translate to Englisch:] Straßenbahn bei Nacht in Prag](/typo3temp/_processed_/d/8/csm_IMG_20181114_201123_894_53f0de422a.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Straßenbahn bei Nacht in Prag")
It’s the end of November, but Christmas has already started at the beginning of the month. At least it feels like that. The Halloween decorations have been completely replaced by stars, flashing trees, and string lights. But it’s...
![[Translate to Englisch:] Becher des Unicorn College Prag](/typo3temp/_processed_/e/5/csm_20180924_135305_eb50b58d02.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Becher des Unicorn College Prag")
It’s mid-November. I’m trying to enjoy the last few autumn days in Prague with sun and colourful leaves. As there are so many beautiful parks here, I’ve often been outside enjoying the nice weather – as long as I still can. My...
![[Translate to Englisch:] Blick auf Prag](/typo3temp/_processed_/9/2/csm_20181006_162612_bcdb23b72e.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Blick auf Prag")
Ain’t it funny how life changes, you wake up, ain’t nothing the same and life changes… Thomas Rett’s Life Changes was resounding through my headphones as I was sitting on the train on my way along the river Elbe from Dresden to...
![[Translate to Englisch:] Theresa Schubert](/typo3temp/_processed_/9/5/csm_Profil_Magdalena_ebb2aea184.jpg)
Name: Magdalena Trauth Age: 24 Studies: Master's programme Brand and Media Management, 3rd semester at FHWS in Würzburg Studies abroad: Winter semester 2019/20 at Zealand Institute of Business and Technology in Denmark
![[Translate to Englisch:] Spanische Flagge auf einem Platz mit Palmen](/typo3temp/_processed_/2/3/csm_Text_6_bf21b2e828.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Spanische Flagge auf einem Platz mit Palmen")
I travelled to Spain to study and learn Spanish, but I did not only improve my language skills, but also learned about the habits of the Spanish people. Although Germany is not too far away from Spain, I noticed a few things here...
Meanwhile, we are already in the crunch mode of the midterms, which also means the half of our semester abroad is already over. The examination system here at UCAM is structured differently from ours in Germany. The midterms are...
As you can easily see from the headline: Time flies...and I absolutely don't know where it flies to. As soon as you've settled in a bit, you're stuck in the routine of your everyday life. Sometimes I think the days are too short...
The journey begins! Five Brazilians, another German and I made our way to Andalusia during the first weeks of our stay abroad. More precisely, our journey took us to the two wonderful cities of Seville and Granada. After a 5...
From snow-covered and quite cold Germany I arrived in springlike Murcia after a 2,5h flight and a one hour bus ride. Just as warm and cordial I was welcomed by my three flat mates who gave me a guided tour of the city right after...
I was just checking out the latest flight offers, when an "Expedia" advertisement popped up - "Travel yourself interesting". The ad shows impressions of other countries, in this case pigs swimming in the sea...
This night, I set two alarms because tonight it’s on! I had to get up at 3 in the middle of the night in order to get on the plane in Stuttgart at 6am. I was excited and happy when I got in my parents’ car but then I received an...
Almost 10 months ago it was settled and since then I have been simmering. I will be spending one semester at Saimaa University of Applied Sciences in Lappeenranta, Finland. In November last year, I uploaded my letter of...
Yes, it really does exist: After-Erasmus depression. It also caught me. I’m sitting on my bed surrounded by three half unpacked suitcases for 3 days now. Somehow I can't move, I can't clean up anything, I don't want to get out....
Nobody wants to admit it or even pronounce it, but the semester abroad also has an end. Five months go by faster than you think. Peng Poof...a semester is passed. While some Erasmus students returned home at the end of...
Looking at my bank account makes me kind of hysterical, because soon even my last reserves will be spent. I really belong to the poor students now. I'm broke now, but I have made thousands of wonderful experiences. I know, it...
Yes, it is true, Erasmus students spend most of their evenings in bars, on the piazza or in the club…at least at the beginning, when everything is new and you have to find your "role" in the still unknown city. As long...
The first two weeks of uni have passed and I have to admit that I thought it would be easier somehow. Talking in Italian and studying in Italian are definitely two different things. But first of all, here are some general facts...
Bicycles and Bologna belong just as much together as Würzburg and wine. Everywhere in the streets you can see old, rusty bicycles. In Germany, no one would use such battered bicycles. Since the city is not too big (about 386,700...
Dear diary, ciao Bologna, beautiful city. With almost my whole wardrobe and even more expectations in my luggage I finally arrived. Note: Not only in Würzburg the winter is cold and grey, no, also in Italy. To my...
Dear diary, Bologna, I'm coming! Soon my long-awaited semester abroad will finally begin. When I tell my friends or relatives that I will study one semester in Italy, their eyes start to glow. Italy - pizza, pasta and...
November draws to a close. And not only November, but also my semester abroad. Only three weeks of my six months filled with excitement, emotions, ups and downs are left. People who say that there are only ups during a stay...
Long ago my halftime here has already been passed ... with November my penultimate month dawns, in about 7 weeks I have to start packing again. It’s a bit tough at the moment. At the beginning of November the snow chaos hit...
This time I’ve been thinking long and hard, from where should I start… so I decided for a Finish hello in the first place! In the meantime, it is October, Finish Lokakuu – the Finish have a lot of u and y and ä stringed together...
In the meantime, it is the end of September and some things have happened again! When you do an Erasmus- semester, you definitely go on more trips… where do I draw a line for that? When I will return back to my good old Germany,...
“Could you take me to the train station?”, I wrote my sister two weeks before my adventure “studying abroad”, after that I thought about how to handle saying goodbye. “And my parents? They’ll surely want to bring you...
It sounds unbelievable, but the last few weeks were fully packed as the rest semester already was. This was not at least the European Football Championship. A special highlight was definitely the match between Germany and Poland....
Before I started my Erasmus semester, I studied thoroughly the appointment calendar of the University of Krakow, when were the examinations, when did the semester end and so on. Here I gradually noticed, that not all the...
Even if you do not want to necessarily think it, as it means that the Erasmus semester is coming to an end: The exams are approaching. Or in my case actually more drop-off deadlines for written assignments and presentations,...
After more than two months in Poland it was high time to finally pay the capital a visit. Fortunately, we had the beginning of May for a long weekend, because in Poland is not only the first of May is a holiday, but also the...
Last weekend, I had by far the most beautiful experience of my Erasmus semester and met a few of the nicest and most open-minded people. But everything from scratch. The whole weekend started on Friday at 5 o'clock. Still quite...
Slowly spring has come to Krakow and still the weather is quite changeable, but if for a few hours the sun shines, it attracts everyone out. Luckily, there are some parks and meadows in Krakow, along the Vistula, where you can go...
The Easter weekend was approaching and one thing was clear: If I have am free from Thursday to Tuesday, then I can use the time for a little trip. Fortunately travelling costs in Poland are very low, there is a well-developed...
It has been four weeks that I am now in Krakow. However, I have experienced so much during this time that it rather seems to me already four months have passed. At the beginning of the semester the ESN team (Erasmus Student...
In the recent weeks, I was often asked the same question: Why Poland? "Well, why not?" I always replied. What I know about Eastern Europe so far from holidays spent there, is good food, sincere, affectionate and...
“Get out while the going’s good” is what you hear all the time but nevertheless it was harder for me to leave than I had expected. It’s not only the city I have taken into my heart but also all the special people that I came to...
Soon, the moment of which I have been afraid of since the beginning of the semester abroad will come: leaving! In less than two weeks it's time to say "goodbye" for an indefinite time. But one thing is for sure: I will...
After five eventful, exciting and absolutely unforgettable months, on 21 December I had to say "tot ziens Groningen, hoi Würzburg". Unsurprisingly, the time until Christmas went by way too fast and I already wish myself...
Groningen has been shining in a different light for several weeks now. When it gets dark, the Christmas lights are turned on and each street is set in scene with different impressive motifs. The Netherlands don't score with...
The first term is already over - incredible how fast time flies by when you have a lot of work to do and you gain new impressions all the time. The exam period is over and I could enjoy my reclaimed free time in Friesland with a...
…sounds exhausting and I have to say, it was!!! But it was definitely fun and whetted my appetite for more Dutch cultural and extraordinary experiences. The Netherlands have a lot of sights to offer and a huge number of church...
If you haven't visited the Netherlands yet, you might wonder what Pepernoten and Ontbijtkoek are. So for those of you who have a sweet tooth: YOU HAVE REALLY MISSED SOMETHING, because the food culture, except for the fried...
Probably most people imagine a semester abroad with the Erasmus Program to like this: A warm country with many beach parties, plenty of cocktails and lightly clad people. During the program, studying usually becomes secondary and...
Hello everyone, Today, I’m writing one last time because I want to sum up in short my numerous experiences for you once more. Looking back, it was over way to fast! With empty bags, but full of valuable experience I returned to...
The last exams are through and the stress from all that learning is gone in a second, so I can really look forward to one last highlight. After packing, checking my dear old VW transporter, tanking up and picking up two other...
Hey, everyone! I want to start my 5th blog entry with a very strange story that happened to me. The summer finally arrived in Slovenia and the temperature rose up to 30 degrees Celsius. I could have been perfect if it hadn’t...
Hey, everyone! You know that feeling, when you’re on vacation and you check the weather forecast to make sure that the weather here is better than at home? So far, I certainly had the more advantageous weather and was able to...
Hey, everyone! The last two weeks here in Ljubljana were probably the most impressive ones (apart from my arrival week) For one part, as promised, the festival season has finally started. And secondly, I went on two more great...
Hi everyone, I can’t believe how fast time goes by when you do a semester abroad. It’s been two months and the second half of my adventure has begun. I’ve already discovered some secrets of the ‘small great unknown’, as I called...
An European capital only twice the size of Wurzburg. A country the size of Franconia with only half the number of inhabitants. I’m talking about Slovenia and its capital Ljubljana. Maybe you traveled there during your vacation...
