What is your first worry when you arrive at a new Erasmus destination? Is it the language, the culture or the fear of fitting in? No matter the source of your nervousness, I found the tastiest solution – food! When you have barely set foot on the new ground, don’t understand a word in the local language, and have no one around, food becomes your first language.
The very first memory of arriving in a foreign country always involves a feeling of hunger after a tiring journey. Most probably, after leaving the airport, you also, just like me, find yourself in a small local café or restaurant in search of something delicious. I still remember the buzzing chatter of locals, the unknown but inviting cuisine, the hypnotising smell and the long menu that I could not understand.
First language lesson – ordering food!
Ordering food for the first time is like a quest that determines how fast you will adapt to the new environment and make the most out of small challenges during your Erasmus exchange. While the fear of being out of your comfort zone may seem to grow as you realise that you are already far away from your hometown, the desire to get that delicious food is even stronger. You quickly find yourself checking what other people are having. And, with great enthusiasm, using broken language and gestures, you try to order.
This moment becomes your first authentic language lesson. You may not get what you expected the first time, but you will always remember the smile from the person behind the counter who tried to make you feel at ease. From that day on, ordering food and visiting local shops can become tiny victories in trying to live and speak like a local.
Shared meals and one table
When Erasmus brings people from everywhere together, one of the easiest ways to connect is around a table with shared food, where you don’t have to know each other's languages. These shared moments may be even more valuable than memories involving sightseeing or fun parties.
No one can forget a crowded kitchen filled with people and various foods, a messy counter covered in different ingredients and dishes. Cooking together as exchange students is a one-of-a-kind adventure. We cook without fully understanding each other’s words, yet still follow each other’s lead. Someone may add too much salt. Someone might forget to turn off the stove. Someone may insist that this was the ‘authentic’ way to do it!
You do not need to be fluent in one language to enjoy food together. You connect with others just by showing up, tasting and sharing. While sitting around the table eating a shared meal creates an atmosphere full of accents, laughter and recipes that start with, ‘In my country, we usually…’
Food as comfort when words are not enough
There are days when every Erasmus student misses home. A small, creeping feeling of wanting something familiar appears when a foreign country becomes too much. On those days, food may bring great comfort when words or long-distance calls from home are not enough.
Finding your country’s cuisine in different countries can become your new hobby. Quite surprisingly, you may find yourself in a small place that serves your favourite dishes that remind you of home. If not, you may find yourself in the role of a chef whose job is to make the best dish that represents the original taste of your cuisine. Sharing these moments and your local food with other exchange students is a great way to connect and make the feeling of unease disappear.
When misunderstandings become memories
Of course, not every food-related interaction goes smoothly. The best stories come when you try to taste something exotic and new. You may discover flavours that you thought could never go together, creating a delicious mix, and your taste may completely change. Finding what you do not like is also part of the experience, especially when you order the wrong dish and end up with something completely different, like getting a savoury dish instead of a sweet one. You may even have to eat an extremely large portion when you thought it would be small.
These misunderstandings are what create memories and stories you tell once you go back home. They are not mistakes, but proof that you were trying, learning and slowly becoming part of the place.
By the end of your Erasmus exchange, you will realise how much you have grown. The key to a successful exchange lies in understanding that making connections is the only way to become more curious, open and less afraid of making mistakes. Connections can start with anything that all people share. Food, in its delicious forms, helped me do that long before I felt confident with words. We may forget the words we learned during our exchange, but we will never forget the meals we shared with others.
