Initially, I didn’t plan a second Erasmus+ mobility, but when the opportunity came again through my university and I found out that I was still eligible for another mobility, the crazy side of me said ‘Let’s do it!’. As a student, you are entitled to up to 12 months of Erasmus+ mobility per cycle, either to study or to do an internship. So I applied again and got a place in Athens, Greece, for one more semester when I was already in my final year.
Getting in touch with Greece
My first interaction with Greece was when I was a kid, but not with Athens. When I landed, my first reaction to the capital was a bit shocking but well-impressed at the same time: beautiful chaos. Athens is a treasure city when it comes to history, traditions, gastronomy and especially art and it is full of youngsters. Although I personally would not adopt their lifestyle, the Greeks know how to have a good time and appreciate and promote their origins. My favourite part was to get lost in the streets of Athens and get carried away by the street art: old and new buildings are beautifully decorated with various masterpieces, usually very colourful to liven up the Greek neighbourhoods.
I already knew how to get integrated faster in the community and how the Greek lifestyle worked. However, the new challenge for me was to be also responsible for my final thesis to finish my bachelor's degree. Academically, my Erasmus in Greece was challenging because I had to focus both on what I was doing for my studies in Athens and what I was doing for my bachelor’s degree back in my home university. Eventually, I managed to do both, so everything was possible in the end!
Final thoughts on Athens
Although, subjectively, I will say that Lisbon conquered my heart as an Erasmus+ student, Athens conquered my mind and I don't regret for a moment the choice I made when I applied again. It sparked a new interest that I want to explore, from the experience to its beginnings and improvements for future Erasmus+ students. Erasmus+ was all about growing up as a young adult: it made me more responsible for my actions and it gave me a strong desire to start searching more about Erasmus+ programmes and get more involved in this area.
