ERASMUS CHANGING LIVES OPENING MINDS fOR 25 YEARS

Katja
Krohn
‘Overcoming Post-Erasmus depression’
Home institution:
University of Greifswald, Germany
Host institution:
University of Oviedo, Spain
Field of study:
English and American literature
Duration:
5 months (2007)
Studying abroad helped Katja Krohn recognise that she was both European
and German. During her exchange programme, so much was different – both
in relation to academic study and outside the university. ‘I had been used to
completing end of semester exams in Germany, but in Spain I was asked to
write assignments every two weeks. There were many cultural differences
including things like the time everyone had dinner. At first I found myself comparing
everything to Germany, but after some time I stopped.’
‘When I returned to my home university, I realised how much I had changed.
The feeling of being in an international environment had gone and I suffered
from a form of post-Erasmus depression, which only people who have been on
an exchange could understand.’ She then joined her local branch of the
Erasmus Student Network (ESN) to keep in touch with international students,
practice her language skills and develop her management skills. This led to
her becoming the Vice President of ESN Germany for one year and then their
national representative in international meetings.
She is now based in Brussels, having been elected to the position of Vice
President of ESN International. Part of this role involves ‘enabling students to
support other students so they can each find their way in new cultures and situations.’
She now works with many national agencies and this year expects to
visit most European countries before returning to her home university to complete
her degree.
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