Erasmus+

As a citizen of Turkey embarking on an Erasmus exchange program in Slovenia aligned perfectly with my aspirations for personal growth and seeking out thrilling new experiences. I couldn't have been more excited about the opportunity. The exceptional warmth and graciousness displayed by the locals in this community completely alleviated any concerns or hesitations I had upon my arrival. Their genuine kindness was sincerely appreciated and made all the difference in helping me feel at home during my stay.

I fully immersed myself in Slovenian culture outside of the classroom. As I strolled through the capital city's lovely streets, Ljubljana, I was enthralled by the city's fusion of old-world architecture and energetic vibe. I was deeply affected by the vibrant riverbank cafes, the well-known Triple Bridge, and the magnificent Ljubljana Castle. Especially for the sunset, Castle is perfect option with friends and drinks. Due to the city's substantial student population, it had a vibrant youth that added to its allure.

The chance to interact with people from all around the world was one of the most amazing parts of my Erasmus experience. To promote intercultural exchange, the university's Erasmus Student Network (ESN) arranged a wide variety of programs and events which also includes organizing trips abroad. These events, which ranged from foreign cuisine festivals to cultural exchange nights, offered a venue for forming relationships and discovering various traditions to highlight the wide variety of our group. Thanks to these events, I made good friendships with Slovenian students and were eager to promote their culture and traditions, as well as with other Erasmus students.

For accommodation, there are student dorms mostly available for every student. To be localized both culturally and to make friends easily dorms are the best options always. I have stayed in Dom D in Kardeljeva Ploscad. It is a kind of home 2+0. You have 2 bedrooms for 4 people and a kitchen and bathroom inside the room. In May, there are student festivals just in front of the dorms which you can also watch from your window.

There are so many place-to-go in Slovenia such as the gorgeous Lake Bled which is encircled by snow-capped mountains, Triglav National Park where you can hike between undiscovered waterfalls and breathtaking views, Piran where you can feel the Italian atmosphere while swimming. If you finish all places for Slovenia you can also travel outside of Slovenia on the weekends with cheap flights via WizzAir and RyanAir from Venice or Zagreb mostly.

Pharmacy Education at Ljubljana University

Ljubljana University is the only university that has a pharmacy education program in the country. In terms of education, my experience at the University of Ljubljana highlighted the stark educational differences between Turkey and Slovenia. One aspect that particularly surprised me was the close relationship between students and instructors, allowing for enjoyable interactions outside the classroom. Additionally, the pharmacy education I pursued revealed why I had previously found laboratory courses in my home country less efficient.

There are significant differences that I believe my friends, especially those participating in the Erasmus program, should be aware of, particularly in my field of study. Let's consider the pharmacognosy course as an example. During our Erasmus laboratory sessions, we not only studied plants but also examined the herbal products available in pharmacies, conducting practical research in the process. This approach helped us put our theoretical knowledge into practice. In every course I attended, emphasis was placed not only on theoretical understanding but also on its practical application. In contrast, back in Turkey, we mainly processed plants using slides, whereas, in Slovenia, we had the opportunity to examine a wide array of plants displayed in jars. This hands-on experience enabled us to independently explore and solidify the information provided.

Another pharmacy course, pharmaceutical technology, stood out due to its practical approach. Unlike the memorization-oriented education I experienced in Turkey, this course in Slovenia focused on methods that allowed us to retain what we learned more effectively, particularly in preparation for our future roles as pharmacists. We were granted the autonomy to use the devices commonly employed in Slovenia, offering valuable experiences applicable to our professional lives. While the Turkish counterpart of this course involved manual transaction-based problem solving, the Slovenian curriculum incorporated Excel spreadsheets that would be extensively used in our future careers. By interpreting the results and simplifying complex transactions, students gained a deeper understanding of the subject matter and its practical significance. Lastly, for medical devices availability and permission to use by students were at the more efficient point than in Turkey, unfortunately.

Being an Erasmus student in Slovenia was so precious for me as a person who would like to be both in nature and. It is a small country but you can feel many advantages of it most importantly feeling at home away from home thanks to the familiar faces and kindness and sincerity of both locals and other Erasmus students. The only thing that I regret about my experience was not choosing my exchange period for 9 months. If you are going to Slovenia for your Erasmus Exchange, I am sure that you won’t regret choosing it! Enjoy!

Written by Aybala Imer

Hi Everyone! Welcome to my page!

On this shining sunday here in a beautiful city in Poland, I would like to share my (totally) the best moments in my life; having my Erasmus experience as Erasmus+ exchange awardee.

My name is Ayesha, I came from a country far in the east, more than 15 hours sitting on a plane, called Indonesia. Since I was little, never come to my mind of what is europe? How does it looks like? Does Europe exist in real or just in my dream? I don’t even have a single audacity to dream of studying and stepping my feet in this continent, Never! But you know what? 10 years after, i finally arrived here, studying here, as Erasmus student in Poland which its never feels real to me at all!

It all started with my journey when i flew from Indonesia to Turkey for pursuing my bachelor degree, where i got my chance to go for Erasmus+ programme.

During some days before my departure to Poland, i did having such a hard time. It will be my very first trip to Europe continent without any Idea accompanied with the fear of facing different condition and culture. Eventually, i couldn’t sleep well for 2 weeks before my flight! Ugh!

After many hard times of dealing with my mental and physical preparation, I found myself sitting near the Vistula river at the heart of Torun city, one of the most historical city, where Nicolaus Copernicus was born. I could not believe, its been my second week in my Erasmus journey and i enjoyed it so much!

I am pursuing my Erasmus programme in Nicolaus Copernicus University with the warmest teachers, staffs, and professors i’ve ever meet in my life. At the first day of my stay, I was introduced to the Torun’s culture with its routinity by the help of my lovely mentor from Erasmus Student Network of Torun.

I am having a really enjoyable adaptation during my stay. I started to meet some friends from many countries, different ethnics, and diverse background. For example, i met a girl from my country neighboor; philippines to far west Spain as my roommate. Moreover, the Erasmus office actively providing us many activities for students that allows us to stay touch to each other, such as palm tree workshops in the Easter week! It was a really good chance for me to see the culture that i have never seen before, its not really exist in my country so i am happy to see how polish people actually celebrated it!

This beautiful city that I stayed, Torun, is just depicting my childhood dream of seeing medieval buildings with stone paved. Obviously, I spent most of my time walking and strolling around the old town of Torun, such as the riverside of Vistula, the house of

Nicolaus Copernicus, the ruin of Teutonic Castle and the market square. Other than that, i have my faculty buildings in the old town where the University held a project called “Welcome Cafe” for International Students to talk and get to know more about Polish culture.

My Erasmus journey is truly like a big window for me, i am beyond grateful to be able to see all the things that i thought it just exist in my dream. Being here in Erasmus also allowed me to experience the beautiful result of the big decisions i’ve taken in my life, to step out of my comfort zone!

Thank you for this opportunity, Erasmus! I got my other second home full of happiness and moments to cherish forever.

Written by Ayesha Safiya

I'm Hakan, a 24-year-old student studying politics and economics at Ankara University. Participating in the Erasmus program in Timisoara, Romania, was my first time traveling outside of my home country, and it was both exciting and nerve-wracking to experience a new culture.

As soon as I arrived in Timisoara, I was struck by the diversity of the people I met. I found myself surrounded by individuals from all over the world, each with their own unique cultural backgrounds and experiences. Through my interactions with my international friends, my perspective on the world expanded, and I gained a deeper appreciation for different cultures.

One of the most valuable aspects of my Erasmus experience was the opportunity to attend various events and learn about education culture in Romania. I was able to participate in cultural festivals and attend lectures and seminars on a range of topics. These experiences not only helped me gain a deeper understanding of Romanian culture and education but also allowed me to connect with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.

Adjusting to life in a new country wasn't always easy, but my international friends made the transition much smoother. They were a constant source of support and encouragement, and I felt like I had a second family away from home. With their help, I quickly became acclimated to the local customs and way of life in Timisoara.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my Erasmus experience was the opportunity to travel to different places. With my newfound friends, I was able to explore the surrounding areas and visit cities I had only ever dreamed of seeing. These experiences helped me grow as a person, and I gained a greater appreciation for the diversity and beauty of the world.

Despite the challenges I faced, I emerged from my Erasmus experience as a more confident and independent person. I learned that stepping outside of my comfort zone could be intimidating, but it could also be incredibly rewarding. I gained a deeper understanding of different cultures and made lifelong friends in the process.

Overall, my Erasmus experience in Timisoara, Romania, was a life-changing journey that I will never forget. It taught me the importance of embracing new experiences, stepping outside of my comfort zone, connecting with people from different cultures, and broadening my understanding of education culture and lifestyles.

Written by Hakan Gürkan

The Erasmus Student Exchange Program in Milan, Italy during the spring term of 2022 was an incredible and unforgettable experience. Milan, known as the fashion and design capital of Italy, offered a vibrant and culturally rich environment for students from all around the world. This summary aims to capture the essence of the program, highlighting cherished memories and experiences.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with warm Italian hospitality and quickly settled into our new surroundings. The Erasmus community was a diverse group, comprising students from various countries, each bringing their unique perspectives and backgrounds. The multicultural atmosphere fostered an environment of learning and cultural exchange, which greatly enriched our experience.

Academically, Milan proved to be an excellent choice. The renowned universities in the city provided top-notch education, and the Erasmus program ensured seamless integration into the local academic system. The courses offered were engaging and intellectually stimulating, covering a wide range of subjects. The opportunity to learn from esteemed professors and interact with fellow international students expanded our horizons and broadened our understanding of different academic disciplines.

Living in Milan itself was a dream come true. The city exuded elegance and style at every corner, with its grand architecture, stunning art galleries, and fashionable streets. Exploring Milan became a daily adventure, as we wandered through the historic districts, such as Brera and Navigli, soaking in the rich history and vibrant atmosphere. The iconic Duomo di Milano, a magnificent Gothic cathedral, never failed to leave us in awe with its intricate details and breathtaking views of the city from its rooftop. Milan is also famous for its art, architecture, and food. Students had the chance to visit famous museums like the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Leonardo da Vinci Museum. Food was undoubtedly a highlight of our experience in Milan. The city offered an array of culinary delights, from traditional Italian pasta and pizza to mouthwatering gelato and creamy cappuccinos.

The weekends presented opportunities for further exploration, as we embarked on adventures outside Milan. We took advantage of Italy's excellent transportation system and visited nearby cities like Florence, Venice, and Rome. Each destination had its own unique charm and cultural treasures, leaving us with unforgettable experiences and a deeper appreciation for Italy's rich heritage.

But it was not just the sights and sounds that made our time in Milan special; it was the people we met and the friendships we forged. The Erasmus program acted as a catalyst for meaningful connections with students from all over the world. We bonded over shared experiences, late-night conversations, and the thrill of discovering a new city together. These friendships transcended borders and will undoubtedly endure long after the program.

As our Erasmus journey in Milan came to an end, we were left with a treasure trove of memories. We had grown personally and academically, becoming more open-minded, adaptable, and culturally aware individuals.

In conclusion, the Erasmus Student Exchange Program in Milan during the spring term of 2022 was an enriching and life-changing experience. From academic growth to cultural immersion, the program offered a unique opportunity to explore one of Italy's most vibrant cities while forging lifelong connections. Milan will forever be remembered as a city of dreams, where memories were made, and horizons were expanded.

Written by Bora Arslan

Did you say Erasmus?

That sounds like an amazing experience!

Erasmus+ is indeed a fantastic opportunity for you to broaden your horizons, explore different cultures, and make lifelong connections. It provides a platform for personal and academic growth, fostering understanding and appreciation for diversity.

Through Erasmus+, you can study, train, volunteer, or engage in various educational activities abroad. The program promotes international mobility, enabling students to immerse themselves in new environments, learn new languages, and gain a deeper understanding of different societies.

The chance to visit beautiful cities in Europe and experience local cultures is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the Erasmus+ program. Each city offers its own unique blend of history, art, architecture, and traditions, providing a rich and immersive experience for participants. It's an incredible way to expand one's perspective, challenge preconceived notions, and develop a global mindset.

My last say is "Once Erasmus, Always Erasmus !"

Written by Hasan Canbulat 

I participated in the Erasmus + program in Maribor, Slovenia between October and February. Maribor is a small city a little far from the capital city of Slovenia. Life in Maribor was usually calm, and the city was beautiful, especially its nature. Before going there I had no friends or acquaintances who went to Maribor for Erasmus so I was clueless about a lot of things. At first, it was hard to adapt there but after a few days, I was all fine. Seeing other Erasmus students experiencing the same things as me was a relief, and I think it helped us connect quicker and at a deeper level.

I studied at the University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business. In the period I was there, the University of Maribor had more than 200 Erasmus students and most of them were from my faculty. Because of that, pretty much everyone whom I took classes with was also an Erasmus student. In some of my classes we worked on group projects, which I enjoyed very much. I think this environment made the group projects a medium for socializing with other international students.

With the Erasmus + program, I found a chance to travel to many countries and met amazing people along the way. Slovenia shares borders with Italy, Croatia, and Austria. Because of its location, it was very easy to travel to other countries. I choose to spend a good amount of my time and energy on Erasmus while traveling, which is exhausting from time to time, but definitely worth it. I have learned plenty of things both from the process of traveling and the countries I have been to. I feel like aside from moving to another country, my travels helped my personal growth a lot. I was able to experience different holidays, cuisines, and cultures while traveling, and those experiences are valuable to me.

Being constantly in an international environment taught me a lot about other countries, not just about their cultural values and way of living but also their way of thinking. Moving to another country is not always easy. Even though such disruptive change seems like a scary thing, it is worth going through all those processes. In that sense, my Erasmus experience made me step out of my comfort zone and explore what is beyond it.

Erasmus Lessons

Changing the country that you used to live in is not always easy, especially for a minimum of 4–5 months. The Erasmus program is an opportunity to do that during university years. Bureaucratic processes with universities and countries can be long and difficult to cope with, but at the end a new world is waiting for ‘’Erasmusians’’.

Every person has his/her own story about this life changing program. This article was written based on personal experience.

‘’Where is my home?’’

The ‘home’ is not just made up of walls. It takes some time to say home, to call a place where we just started living a ’home’. This process depends on what we feel towards locals or neighbourhoods or our friendships or problems or memories... When we feel ourselves adapted to the place we live in, the Erasmus experience is moved to a different point. We learn to build a life from the scratch. When it is time to return to the country we came from, it is possible that a bitterness will occur. In the near or distant future, we have another house where we have moments that we will remember with good or bad sides if we cross our path again. Learning to experience language and culture in a different place away from family is an invaluable life experience.

Openness to New Cultures

Erasmus program increases the diversity. Listening to different perspectives on the same issues can be difficult, even for the people who see themselves ‘humanist’ at the beginning. In time, it is possible to see that differences are richness and there is a chance to learn by living. It is also possible to make our own generalizations by seeing how inclusive the generalizations about countries and societies are.

Which Rules

While settling in another country, facing with daily life is not a thing that we can see while just touristic visiting for a few days. Rules of dormitories, flats, academic life or even crossing the road... They might be different from our previous life. Adaptation process can be hard. However, as young people, we were already knew that. Different life brings different rules. Adapting to them definitely improves our quality of life.

Discovering Your Limits

Erasmus is convenient in terms of seeing our situation mentally and physically. This happens in different ways. When we are faced with racism or homesickness, we learn how to deal with it. We can see physically how many kilograms we can carry while going on holiday during weekends with backpack. What is more, how much croissant-sandwich is enough to not starving? How much money we can save for the next day?
It is a step for civilization that people who start learning about this multicultural and multilingual life at a young age will use their perspectives and skills to look at things from a different perspective in the rest of their lives.

Written By Gürkan Gümüş

The Positives And Negatives Of Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is once in a lifetime experience where you get to see another European country, experience their culture and study in a university in that country. It sounds like a dream, it may sound as if nothing can go wrong but you should always keep in mind that it is an experience with both positive and negative effects.

You are in your home university, you are thinking about packing up your stuff, but first you need to make your “Transcript of Records” This step can be stressing even by itself, checking the subjects and finding their equivalence is important if you don't want to re-take some of the courses when you return back. It can be very frustrating to re-take an important course even though you technically passed.  I do not remember how many times I had to print out this document. Thankfully I do not have to do this in a near future *phew*

Probably one of the most exciting feeling is to pack up your luggage. Choosing clothes to put inside the luggage, looking at YouTube tutorials for efficient ways to fold them, so you have more space, looking at the weather when you have your flight, weighing your luggage over and over again to make sure you do not exceed the limit... You may feel as if everything is set when you are done with it however before packing your stuff and buying your plane tickets always keep in mind that every country has a different visa process. One country can give your visa in a week while in another country you can wait months to receive it. This can change by how many documents they require, how many documents that are in process and if they changed a condition recently. So always keep in mind that everything is not going to go as you planned. Do not get upset easily, this is also an experience so enjoy

The moment you step on the plane your Erasmus+ experience is going to start, so buckle up for an emotional roller-coaster. While on the plane do not get surprised if you see people around your age and excited as you are, they are also on their way to their Erasmus+ experience. On my flight there were at least 10 people like this, do not be shy and go say hello! For me the best part of Erasmus was the first weeks after my flight. You are on your own on a different country, you are trying to learn how to survive and everything is happening so fast. One moment you are searching for a public Wi-Fi to text your parents and the next you know you start acting like a local, know which place is the best to hang out with your friends and know when the next event is.  These little things make you realise that you have another place that you can call “home”. These experiences are priceless, everybody is going to say that too but like I said before Erasmus is an experience with ups and downs. You can experience some unfortunate things that can even make you want to go back home. I thought about all kinds of stuff that could have happened to me during Erasmus, some happened some did not (thankfully). There were times I felt like I was not going to be able to handle the situation, with “Covid-19” and lock-down I thought about returning back. In the end after looking back I am glad that I did not. The things that worried me during my stay seem funny to me now. I spend a lot of time with my friends in the dorm, we tried everything to entertain ourselves and I believe that my bond with them became stronger during the quarantine. Plus I have a cool stamp on my passport which says “Emergency Situation Covid-19”

During your stay you are going to be able to meet people from all parts of the world and get together with the locals as well. This means being exposed to all kinds of new cultural values and even new languages. One word, one dish, one holiday you have can be very new and exciting for some people and for some people you might realise they have something similar in their country too. The excitement in their face when they recognize something that is also done in their country is priceless. You get together to do fun activities for some holidays and eat all kinds of different food made by friends. During my stay I had friends who could bake and cook all kinds of delicious meals, even tried their experimental food. We spend a lot of time together and learned some new words in their language too. One of the hardest part is coming to the end of Erasmus, you know you have to say goodbye to your friends and watch them take the bus but one thing you do not know is how hard it is going to be. It makes you realise that this adventure had ended and makes you feel empty after they are gone. However, we made promises to visit each other, and hopefully we might in the near future.

Written By Elif Güleç

                                             Why Turkish Culture Rocks

  As in many other countries, Turkey has its own characteristics. And if someone asked me what comes to my mind when saying “Turkey” I would definitely answer “Tea”. If anyone thought the British were the biggest tea drinkers, they just haven't lived in turkey yet. Seriously, here tea is drunk in liters! Walking along the streets you can see small tables not only next to cafes, but also next to hairdressers, shops where uncles sit, drink tea and leisurely communicate with each other. You will be offered tea everywhere. Also, some cafes here offer tea for free. For me, as a tea lover, its one of the nicest things to experience in a new country.

  From the above it can be understood that the Turks are not particularly afraid to allocate a lot of time for tea. Here, people don’t live according to a certain schedule, no one is in a hurry. That gives a sense of calmness and harmony and reduces the likelihood of stress. Even in big cities like Ankara people don’t move quickly without noticing anything around. Moreover, people here are very attentive and polite to passer-by. That is another thing that makes Turkish Culture rock – their helpfulness. I still remember the day I just arrived to Turkey and had lots of challenges to be passed. After my endless calls to my friend with a request to help solve another problem, I heard on the phone: “Listen, you’re now in a country where every passer-by will gladly help you and then pour some tea for you.”. And she was right. In Turkey it is not scary to be alone because in their culture it is customary to help each other. Sometimes it comes to comical cases when you ask someone for directions and they point to a random way just not to seem unhelpful.

  In the end, it’s a sin not to mention their food culture. Turkish cuisine is one of the biggest cuisines of the world. Here, the table is set more varied for breakfast than during a gala dinner. It is so varied that there is a choice even for vegans. I, being vegan, did not have to search for a suitable dish and monitor the ingredients for a long time which made hanging out with friends in cafes more pleasant. Living in Turkey also added a few favorites to my list such as chi kofte and sarma. This is a small part of what can be said about the culture of Turkey, as it is very rich. One should definitely visit the country to really understand the culture and feel its atmosphere.

Written By Zarina Zholdoshova

WHAT DID I LEARN FROM ERASMUS?

Erasmus was always a thing that I want to experience. Learning new cultures, having new friend, travel to new places, and much more… In my 3’rd year of university, I went to Santander, Spain for Erasmus. It was an amazing experience for me, I learned so many things during my Erasmus mobility. I want to share a few of them with you.

I NOTICED OF THAT I’M STRONGER THAN I THOUGHT

 I couldn’t find a home to live in at the beginning, They stoled my money, my phone fell into the water and needed to be repaired, I was in a country where the high population doesn’t know how to speak English, I found a home, then quarantine started and my friends wanted to return back their countries. Guess who was homeless again  But you know what? If I had a chance, I prefer to live these again. I learned that in one way or another, life continues and I have to keep living. No matter how to finish that day. As long as time passes, you are one step closer to better days.

DON’T AFRAID TO MAKE A MISTAKES

I was going to English courses since I was a kid. I learned so many things as a theory, but there is one thing that I learned in Erasmus which different from the English courses I went to; MAKE MISTAKE. Use wrong words, make a sentence with wrong tenses, talk slow, don’t remember the word you want to say… This is how you will learn true ones. Believe me, nobody will judge you. You are an Erasmus student there and there are more students who are excited to meet you around you. You have a good opportunity to talk, to improve your grammar, to make friends and of course to make a mistake. Use this opportunity :)

STAY IN THE MOMENT

During my Erasmus process, I lived so many challenges and I was stressed about many things. However, I understood that my stress won’t help anything. As I told you, life continues; If I can’t live the moment right now, when will I live it again? So, I started living the moment. I met amazing people, traveled to amazing places, learned amazing things about my degree, and I understood that this is Erasmus with that way; that's why I am in here. There are many challenges you will live but don’t need to be stress that much. Without thinking about your problems just for a while, Try to meet new people and learn their culture, try to learn their languages, to taste their foods, to listen to their music, to explore new touristic places, to learn different opinions about your degree. This is Erasmus, live it!  

 I was not regretting even a second for doing Erasmus. Every passing day, I learned new things and I can clearly say that It changed my life and my perspective about life. I strongly recommend you to have this experience.

Santander, Spain

Written by Setenay Alpay

ERASMUSDutch humanist and theologian who was the leading Renaissance scholar of northern Europe; although his criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church led to the Reformation, he opposed violence and condemned Martin Luther (1466-1536)More (Definitions, Synonyms, Translation)