Erasmus, a once in a lifetime experience!

If you’ve landed on this message, it probably means you’re about to embark on or have experienced an Erasmus journey, whether it’s for an internship or studies. In this post, I am delighted to share my experience with you.

Where did I go?

I always knew I wanted to go on an Erasmus exchange. My dream was to study abroad after finishing high school, but financially and being so young, my mother wasn’t keen on the idea. Fortunately, it became clear pretty quickly that there are opportunities to spend a few months abroad during higher education for studying or working. Once I became aware of this option, I immediately attended all the necessary information sessions, sorted out the administrative requirements, and more. However, don’t underestimate this process; there’s so much to consider and organise.

One thing led to another. I got to list my top three destinations. Being a big fan of Austria, I chose Vienna as my first choice. My second choice was Annecy, in France, and my third was a small village, again in Austria, whose name I can’t even recall now. The result? My second choice… I was so disappointed. At first, I didn’t even want to go anymore. But after a night’s sleep, I realized, I’m so gonna do this! It’s a chance I might not get again soon, so I’m grabbing it with both hands.

And indeed, a few months later, in August 2022, I set off on my own with a whole lot of luggage to Geneva by plane. Geneva?! You might wonder. Yes, from there, there’s a great connection to Bla Bla Cars and Flixbuses to the town of Annecy, where I would be staying.

Annecy

Annecy is a town nestled around a stunning lake in Haute-Savoie, France. It boasts picturesque charm and is often referred to as the Venice of France due to its canals that meander between narrow houses.

The lake in Annecy is surrounded by magnificent mountain peaks and is renowned for its purity. Motorboats are not allowed, and many areas are protected to maintain the lake’s clarity and cleanliness. Cycling around the lake is highly recommended, but when the weather is beautiful, taking a refreshing swim or renting pedal boats, paddleboards, and other watercraft is a must.

Annecy boasts an abundance of local restaurants, offering a delectable array of dishes typical to the Haute-Savoie region. If you have a penchant for traditional Haute-Savoyard cuisine, Annecy is undoubtedly the place to be. From indulgent raclette to hearty tartiflette and classic cheese fondue, you’ll find it all here.

The town gets quite bustling during the summer holidays. However, if you’re studying there, you’ll soon transition from being a tourist to feeling like a local, which I found particularly enjoyable. Just be mindful that it can get quite busy, but this liveliness adds to the vibrant atmosphere of the town.

Where did I stay?

Finding accommodation in Annecy can indeed be quite challenging, especially if you don’t start early. Due to Annecy’s proximity to the Swiss border and the number of people working in the area, rental prices are remarkably high. Many individuals aim to secure more affordable housing in France compared to the expensive options in Switzerland.

Fortunately, luck was on my side. Even before I knew that my Erasmus would take place there, my mother had dreamed of a summer vacation in that region. Our holiday was already booked. In July, we coincidentally vacationed there, and in August, I began my studies. During our holiday, we tirelessly searched for accommodations. We did everything, scoured real estate agencies, sought information from youth services, basically anything that could help. But nothing… Still no place to stay for the next five months. Until…

During our vacation, we stayed in Talloires, a small and beautiful village on the edge of the lake, about 20 minutes from Annecy. We stayed at Hotel Les Grillons, a great hotel with incredibly friendly staff. I took a chance and asked the hotel owner if she could assist me in finding a studio or apartment.

With succes! She offered me her studio in her house, right near the hotel. And the best part of it all?! It was rent-free. I didn’t have to pay any rent; all I had to do was look after her children for 6 weekends until the hotel closed. I did it gladly! Although occasionally, I experienced some fear of missing out (FOMO) when others went on trips. But more about that later. In any case, I was incredibly happy that I found a place and could still begin my studies there.

School & studies

The school I attended was part of the Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB). It’s a French institution primarily offering classes in Chambéry, but for an international semester as a marketing student, Annecy is the ideal location. Therefore, I pursued a Master’s in International Management. It was a rather broad program covering all essential business aspects. While most classes were conducted in English, I was required to take French evening classes if I wanted to pass the French subject back in Belgium.

Furthermore, the USMB has several departments in Annecy: IUT, which catered to more engineering-oriented disciplines, Polytech, offering technical and mechanical courses, and IAE, where I studied more economic, business management, and law-related subjects.

My school was situated quite high in the mountains, providing every classroom with a breathtaking view of the village of Annecy and the lake. It truly felt like a dream come true.

When friends become family

Arriving in Annecy, no one around, and suddenly it hits you… Here I am, I don’t know anyone, I barely know the area, what on earth am I going to do for an entire semester!?

When I was actively searching for housing, a girl reached out to me. She was also looking for a room or apartment and was open to the idea of sharing a house. Her name was Rubi, but little did I know she was a girl. 🤣 I kept thinking Rubi was a boy’s name and disregarded her email. Once I arrived and settled in, I thought, “Now, I need to get moving on.” With a nervous heart, I sent her a WhatsApp message, still thinking she was a guy until I saw her profile picture. Less than 5 minutes later, I received a reply. From there, we arranged to meet for drinks in the city center, exchanged details, and agreed to visit Geneva together.

I thought to myself, “Okay, at least I know one person here now.” Rubi was following the same course as me, and we could start together on the first day of school. We met some other people there, a bit reserved at first, and most of them grouped up with their compatriots, which was quite normal. After all, Rubi was also a Dutch speaker.

We survived the first day of school, and thanks to Rubi, who stayed in a residence with other students, I got to connect with more people.

Soon, we formed a tight-knit group. I often stayed over at the residence, we went out together, and always returned home as a group. We did city trips to Lyon, Chamonix, Avoriaz, Aix-les-Bains, and more. I underestimated how well you could get to know people and how they get to know you in just 4 months.

Erasmus students and their mindset

I must admit, the mindset of Erasmus students is somewhat different from those back in Belgium. They’re more open to meeting new people, eager to learn, motivated in their studies, ambitious, etc. For instance, I love reading. When I mention this to my classmates and friends in Belgium, they think I’m crazy and find me boring. On Erasmus, everyone reads, and these are massive books about history, politics, or psychology. That was something that struck me and made me pause for thought.

We all look at the same stars

After being constantly together for 4 months, it was eventually time to say each other farewell… I can tell you one thing, tears were shed copiously. We were all so incredibly sad. We made it a beautiful last evening and enjoyed each other’s company one last time in the French Alps. Something unforgettable. What will always stick with me is someone saying, “If we miss each other, just look at the stars at night; after all, we’re always looking at the same ones, no matter where we are.“

Now, you might wonder if we still keep in touch?
Absolutely, and I’m incredibly grateful for that! The thought of not hearing from them and them disappearing from my life brings tears to my eyes. They mean the world to me. After all, you’ve experienced things together that nobody else can understand. It’s an experience unique to our group, and what an adventure it was.

We often call and text each other. Recently, we had an Erasmus reunion, a year after our adventure ended. We also met again this past summer. Soon, I’ll be visiting some of them in Spain, and they’ve traveled to Belgium or the Netherlands several times as well. When we plan something, I drop everything for them; I’m more than willing to make time for my little Erasmus family.

Discover below some of my favorite snapshots.