How to deal with Erasmus fears?

Erasmus is the experience of a lifetime as much as a huge leap into the unknown. Leaving your family, your friends, your home can seem frightening, all the more so as it is the first step towards adulthood and responsibilities. I have decided to make a list of the most common fears that students may have when they move to another country to reassure you that it will be worth it in the end.

1. Out of sight, out of mind? 

One of the reasons why applying for Erasmus is sometimes difficult is : leaving family and friends. Often, leaving is synonymous with forgetting, but it is not! Once you have started your new life you will soon realise that the loss will not be felt as much as you thought: you will realise that your time is limited and that you don't have time to miss your loved ones. You won't be afraid of losing them because the concept of "out of sight, out of mind" is more complicated than it sounds. If you keep in touch with each other, you won't drift apart, especially since with the distance and your different experiences you will have more to tell each other.

2. Financial responsibility

Whether or not you've managed large sums of money before, you'll probably be afraid of your financial independence. At first, you'll probably find yourself faced with unpredictable expenses, but don't worry! Over time, you'll gain more control over your money. The most important thing is to know what you want to be able to do in order to think about it: travel? Hobbies? Weekly errands? Spoil: you'll want to do it all. But you'll come out of this experience with a sense of accomplishment.

3. Language barrier

Lack of confidence in one's language skills is one of the main reasons why students refuse to participate in Erasmus. What a mistake! It is precisely this chance and this experience that should be used to improve them. Most of the people you meet there will be in the same situation as you. That doesn't prevent you from understanding each other perfectly (well, maybe not always...) and you will create magnificent and lasting bonds.

If you know a few words of the language of your host country, it's a good start, but don't stress if you don't, as it's a great opportunity to start learning.

4. Packing

Going on Erasmus means putting your whole life into suitcases (at last try). It's when you pack your suitcases that you'll realise that you're really leaving the family nest. It's also when you start to realise how much you have and how much you want to take with you. I advise you to start packing a week in advance by carefully analyzing what you want and what you really need. Don't worry, you'll be able to pack with just a little help from your mom. Then you'll arrive at your destination and you'll discover that there aren't enough hangers in your closet and you've brought too many things...

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You have nothing to fear: Erasmus is going to be the best experience of your life. Also tell yourself that every difficulty you encounter during this year will only make you stronger and more independent.