Erasmus

Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus was born in 1465. He was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, a Catholic priest and theologian. During his life he travelled throughout Europe for his study and work. He died in 1536 in Basel.
This is a short summary about the man behind it all. The experience of our life, the time of our life. That one period when we are able to go abroad and move our boundaries in ways of learning and partying. The dream of many students. Erasmus.
It is not just a semester abroad. It is more. It is a life. During the time you are abroad everything is different. The people, the university, you. They call it the Erasmus experience, and what an experience it is. From the moment you set foot in your new surrounding it starts. This time you are not a tourist but a real student, an Erasmus student. And the feeling even gets bigger once you meet the other Erasmus people. From the first moment you see each other you have a bond. You are experiencing the same thing. You meet people you will never forget, who are your real friends in the time of your Erasmus journey and in the hard time that follows afterwards. Partying, eating, talking and crying together, it feels like you have known these people for all your life. It is not so much about the university or the city you are in that changes your life. It is the persons you meet. And it is not so much about experiencing the culture of the country you are in but about getting to know the cultures of your new friends. Life after Erasmus will never be the same.
Erasmus changed my life. I had to chance to get to know beautiful people. We shared many wonderful moments which I will never forget. They will be a part of my life forever because we were part of the coolest Erasmus group in Barcelona 2009/2010. Slogans as ‘Study hard, party harder’ and ‘Barcelona living’ will be for always in my mind.
My Erasmus neighbour from Italy once told us; ‘We are Erasmus students, yes we can!’ And, yes we can. The farewell is difficult but in my heart they will always be. I lived and survived Erasmus as many will do after me. Erasmus is not just a semester abroad, it is a feeling. A wonderful feeling.

Barcelona, January 17 2010