Broadening Horizons – My Erasmus Experience

Thailand and I returned home with several invitations to go and visit my new friends from around
the world.
Also of great benefit to me was the programme of study I undertook whilst in Germany. I was lucky
to have relative freedom in the subjects I chose and I used this opportunity to deviate slightly from
my usual selection. Along with courses to develop my understanding of German and Law, my other
subject, I was able to take modules in History, Theatre and even Creative Writing. The History
course, in particular, was a pleasant surprise when I was able to understand everything the lecturer
was saying (in German) and emerge with a very respectable mark. It was not all plain sailing,
however, after I unwittingly signed up for a course on the technicalities of German Grammar
designed for native speakers! It certainly wasn’t easy but I stuck with it and managed to scrape a
pass, something both the professor and I were reasonably pleased with. I learnt some pretty
advanced things along the way too!
Living abroad has definitely given me things to think about. I would certainly now more readily
consider moving to live in Germany for a while and my already strong urge to get out and see the
world has been enhanced still further. I would thoroughly recommend an Erasmus year to anyone
who is considering it; the opportunity to do something amazing is there, so why not take it?