{"id":4091,"date":"2019-10-05T21:03:58","date_gmt":"2019-10-05T21:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/?p=4091"},"modified":"2022-04-13T15:42:20","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T15:42:20","slug":"traveling-out-and-feeling-real","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/traveling-out-and-feeling-real\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling Out and Feeling Real"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I have never been as excited and yet nervous for anything in\nmy life as I was to be flying out to Greece. I was ready for authenticity, the\nlocal experience, everything that the other Erasmus students I\u2019d talked to\nbefore described! I was ready for it to feel real. And yet, I was standing at\nthe gate, waiting to go into the airplane, and it still didn\u2019t \u2018feel real\u2019. When\nI was sitting on the plane with my parents and it just did not \u2018feel real\u2019, I\u2019ll\nadmit, panic started to set in that it wasn\u2019t real enough. Even two weeks in and\nsometimes I still feel just like I\u2019m on holiday in a city that\u2019s to be my home\nfor nine months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">\u2018Feeling Real\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may be thinking, why does she keep carrying on about \u2018feeling real\u2019?I\u2019m going to be honest, its my way of simplifying a bigger issue. There\u2019s a pressure, well-intended though it may be, to make this new city Your Home. People beaming from the advertisements, proclaiming that they spent a semester in Australia and it\u2019s now a second home! This does create an expectation that it\u2019s easy to acclimate and for someone who is nervous about moving abroad it is like a safety blanket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m not saying that I dislike it here! I\u2019ve met amazing people, had fabulous experiences, ate food that was beyond words! I just wish that there was a less pressure to be acclimated and fully here in such a short time. There are a few tips that I have if you\u2019re also struggling with feeling acclimatised like me. (These are just my opinions and what has worked for me \u2013 please feel free to comment any other tips or corrections!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>There are no rules for how much is right to call home. Some people will say \u2018I didn\u2019t call home for the first month! It\u2019s what got me through!\u2019 and some will say \u2018I called home every day, every night, and this helped me get over the separation.\u2019 Neither are wrong! Don\u2019t feel pressured by what other people are doing, there\u2019s no guarantee it\u2019ll work for you! Try what feels right, change if it doesn\u2019t work! No shame.<\/li><li>If you\u2019re given the chance to learn a new language, take it! Most EU universities give you the opportunity to learn the local language \u2013 which has obvious advantages \u2013 but learning a new language encourages you to focus in a way that regular courses may not. Learning a language is generally more intensive, and combined with having smaller classes, this really helps when making friends.<\/li><li>It sounds obvious but one of the most important things is to try and make where you\u2019re living feel homelike. Simple additions like pictures, lights, your own personal touches make it feel like you\u2019re coming home when you arrive. I\u2019d also advise that in the first week, have a day in. Just spend the day in your new living space. You could clean, watch TV, snack all day- it doesn\u2019t matter. We all have these days at home! Just because you\u2019re abroad it doesn\u2019t mean you have to do something every second of the day. Taking the time to relax and acclimatise to my new environment really helped me feel like my apartment was home.<\/li><li>The last point isn\u2019t an excuse to stay in all the time though &#8211; do try and join in with activities planned for you! ESN events (if you\u2019re within the EU) \u2013 or just student activities in general, help you to integrate well with local cuisine, language, and culture whilst having fun. I definitely didn\u2019t take advantage of as many of the activities offered as I now wish I had!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I promise I\u2019m not judging anyone for how they spend their Erasmus journey. If you\u2019re feeling happy, you\u2019re doing it right! Now I don\u2019t know if anyone needs to hear this, but honestly? If you\u2019re having a good time, or at least doing what you need to? You\u2019re doing great. My last tip, basic as it could sound, is to reach out to people. I&#8217;d advise trying events to meet people, or going to places you liked back home &#8211; similar interests are easy to find if you go to familiar places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> Someone new, someone from home, someone random. You can help, be helped \u2013 just do it. You won\u2019t regret it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This post is as cheesy as can be, I probably oversimplified issues that are affecting so many people, it isn&#8217;t the best written work I&#8217;ve ever done \u2013 but when I thought about the post I needed to see a week ago, this came to mind. I\u2019ll leave you today with a picture from the beach trip I went on with my ESN group \u2013 ESN AUTH \u2013 because a week into my placement I found my happy place, and it\u2019s in the ocean in Thessaloniki. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019re doing great, you\u2019ll have a\ngreat time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thea<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/10\/file-2-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4093\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/10\/file-2-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/10\/file-2-450x338.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/10\/file-2-768x576.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I have never been as excited and yet nervous for anything in my life as I was to be flying out to Greece. I was ready for authenticity, the local [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":1723,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[268],"tags":[440,42,448,65],"class_list":["post-4091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-europe","tag-advice","tag-erasmus","tag-new","tag-tips"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4QQbz-13Z","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":389,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/hello-from-regensburg\/","url_meta":{"origin":4091,"position":0},"title":"Hello from Regensburg","author":"Mark Sweeney","date":"August 3, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Hey! I\u2019m Mark, a third year Pharmacy student here at Cardiff. My Erasmus adventure began one cold October morning, when Heledd, from the Global Opportunities Centre, came in to give a talk on the Erasmus programme. The programme allows students to spend time studying or working abroad, though Cardiff University.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;European Placements&quot;","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/08\/IMG_7061-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/08\/IMG_7061-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/08\/IMG_7061-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/08\/IMG_7061-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/08\/IMG_7061-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/08\/IMG_7061-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":307,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/erasmus-the-first-few-days\/","url_meta":{"origin":4091,"position":1},"title":"Erasmus: The first few days","author":"Chlo\u00eb Hathway","date":"January 3, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The first week of the year abroad is possibly one of the most challenging and daunting of your life so far, but don\u2019t let that put you off! Although it was difficult and stressful, it was also a huge learning curve, and is well worth working through as you reap\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;European Placements&quot;","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":160,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/the-city-of-leuven-how-did-it-plan-out\/","url_meta":{"origin":4091,"position":2},"title":"The city of Leuven &#8211; how did it &#8216;plan&#8217; out?","author":"Wendy Maden","date":"August 28, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Wendy Maden, final year student on the BSc City and Regional Planning, reflects on her experience of studying abroad through the Erasmus programme Wendy, third from the right, pictured in Leuven with friends made while on the Erasmus programme. Wendy stated: \"This photo summarises Erasmus quite well: Swedish, Italian, German,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;European Placements&quot;","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wendy Maden Erasmus","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2014\/08\/Wendy-Maden-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4884,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/nuevo-pais-nuevos-amigos\/","url_meta":{"origin":4091,"position":3},"title":"Nuevo pa\u00eds, nuevos amigos","author":"Millie Roberts","date":"October 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Making friends on your year abroad - whilst maintaining social distancing! One of the most nerve-wracking thoughts before your year abroad is making new friends... in a new language! For some, perhaps this isn't a new experience, but for me, the only times I had spoken Spanish in conversation was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;European Placements&quot;","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/10\/6D421EF2-A0C5-49E5-8E91-9DF31F4C2A06-150x150.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/10\/6D421EF2-A0C5-49E5-8E91-9DF31F4C2A06-150x150.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/10\/6D421EF2-A0C5-49E5-8E91-9DF31F4C2A06-150x150.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/10\/6D421EF2-A0C5-49E5-8E91-9DF31F4C2A06-150x150.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/10\/6D421EF2-A0C5-49E5-8E91-9DF31F4C2A06-150x150.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1184,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/taking-it-easy\/","url_meta":{"origin":4091,"position":4},"title":"Taking it easy","author":"Chloe Walker","date":"October 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This week has been quite different to the last. Having acquired a nice little cough and cold I have\u00a0taken it easy this week. I really feel like I am here for the long haul now rather than for a short holiday and I must admit that it is quite a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;European Placements&quot;","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"IMG_0219","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2016\/10\/IMG_0219-1-450x338.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1118,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/campus-timetables-and-lectures-in-nantes\/","url_meta":{"origin":4091,"position":5},"title":"Campus, Timetables and Lectures in Nantes","author":"Susannah Hadden","date":"September 14, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Having been in Nantes for almost two weeks prior to the start of lectures, I was really excited for them to begin, but as Monday grew closer I started to get a bit nervous too. I spent hours on Sunday trying to compile my timetable, which I've since had to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;European Placements&quot;","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"meta_box":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1723"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4091"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4091\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4094,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4091\/revisions\/4094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}