Why did I go on an Erasmus?
My name is Tera, and I’m a student of primary school education at Charles University in Czech Republic. Before leaving for my Erasmus, I started to feel a bit stuck in Prague. It’s a beautiful city, but also very fast-paced, and at times it can get overwhelming. I started to feel like I couldn’t really move forward or focus on growing as a person. Also I always wanted to go on an Erasmus and this was my last chance to do so. I wanted to go to a place where things are a bit slower and different from Prague. So that´s how I have decided to go on Erasmus to Italy. You might have heard of the italian saying il dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing) which was exactly the vibe I was going for. So instead of choosing a big, busy city, I picked Padova, a smaller and calmer place where I hoped I could learn how to slow down and bring that feeling into my everyday life.
Why did I choose to travel green?
When planning my journey, I looked at all the options. Of course, flying would have been the easiest choice, but it wasn't necessary. I’ve always loved long trips, and I love planning these kinds of trips. If I had flown, I would’ve had to deal with weight limits, and overthinking what to bring. I packed some Czech snacks and food with me so the first days wouldn’t feel too overwhelming, and I’d have a little piece of home with me and honestly, they were kind of heavy, and I wouldn't fit in the weight limit at all. With the bus, I went straight to Padova. If I had flown, I would’ve had to go to Venice first and then take a bus (or two) after that, which just felt like extra stress for no reason. And as a broke student, I’m always trying to save money where I can, so the bus being way cheaper was definitely a big win. On top of that, I try to live in a way that’s kinder to the planet. I love thrifting, I recycle, I always try to travel with public transport, and I often prepare my own food. Overall, choosing a slower, more sustainable route just made way more sense to me—it was less chaotic, more intentional, and, honestly, kind of peaceful.
More than just a journey
The journey became more than just a way to get from one place to another. I’m someone who always says "I don’t have time for my hobbies" (which I have many of), so this felt like the perfect opportunity to do them all. I packed my book, my journal, yarns for my crochet project, and many more things. It gave me space to think, which was much needed before doing my Erasmus. I was about to leave behind my family, my friends, and start a six-month-long-distance relationship with a time difference. Also, I was about to build a new life in a new country from zero. That’s a lot to process. During the trip, I had time to sit with my thoughts, write in my journal, and reflect on my goals and fears. And honestly, it helped more than I expected. I got time to get my head straight, and after that it didn't feel that scary anymore.
The journey itself was calm and simple. I slept a lot, watched the landscapes through the window, wrote in my journal, read a bit, and ate plenty of snacks. There was no rush and no pressure, which is also the reason why I love long journeys. There is no other place to be than the bus. By the time I arrived in Padova, I felt more prepared and less overwhelmed since I got time to process my journey and think about it a lot. Starting this new chapter didn’t feel as scary anymore. In fact, it felt rewarding after the long bus trip.
Slowly living the il dolce far niente lifestyle
This experience taught me how important it is to slow down. I’m still trying to fully get used to it during my Erasmus, and honestly, sometimes it’s not that easy. I still have moments where I feel like I should be doing more, going faster, or figuring everything out immediately. But if I could tell one thing to anyone starting something new, it would be this: don’t rush it. Because sometimes the slower way really is the better one, even if it doesn’t feel like it at first.
Now that I’m living in Italy, I’ve started to slow down a bit more in everyday life. I get around mostly by bike, I go to local markets for food, and I try not to overfill my days like I used to. I’m also trying to be more patient with myself and not put so much pressure on everything I do. It’s not perfect, but I’m learning.
I think I’m slowly starting to live that il dolce far niente lifestyle, at least in my own way. And honestly, it feels like exactly what I needed. If you’re ever thinking about doing something similar—moving somewhere new, going on Erasmus, or just changing your environment a bit—I’d say go for it, but don’t rush through it. Let yourself actually live it, not just get through it.
