How did you find out about Erasmus+ projects and what motivated you to participate in them?
Frank: I found about Erasmus + projects through my partner during a casual conversation about having to go for a holiday and making it productive. She was really excited to share her experience which seem to be more interesting when I found out it involved multiple nationalities in a non-formal educational setting. Erasmus + projects was the prefect way toenjoy a time out and still learn new things about places, people and their cultural background.
Alsu: One day, I was scrolling through Facebook, and I came across a post in a group about a project in Berlin. It caught my attention because I like Berlin, so I clicked on it to check the link and description. At first, it seemed a bit unreliable, and I doubted whether it was real since everything was free. Nevertheless, I decided to apply and sent in my request. I received a positive response, and that’s how I got introduced to these projects. Essentially, I decided to participate because everything was covered.
Share one of the funniest, most memorable, most unexpected adventures you experienced while participating in an Erasmus+ project.
Alsu: My most memorable experience from Erasmus+ projects was in Turkey, where we rented a boat and spent the whole day on it. We sailed around many locations and went swimming. There was plenty of delicious food, and we even learned Turkish dances. It was such a fun and enriching day. I would love to go back there someday.
Frank: One of my funniest and most memorable experience in a project was in Tavaskoja, tartu in Estonia. It held in a beautiful and peaceful location with about 30 participants all across Europe. We had opened discussion about the importance of communication. We had funny but interesting activities that created a safe space to bond which will always be a memorable experience.
How did participating in Erasmus+ projects change your approach to other cultures and international collaboration?
Frank: Erasmus + projects has provided me with a deeper understanding to approach the hows and whys about different views, opinions and belief system of other part of the world but most importantly, Erasmus + projects unlocked other diverse possibilities to explore and learn from.
Alsu: Participating in Erasmus+ projects allowed me to get closer to certain cultures which I had never encountered before. It didn’t necessarily change my beliefs, but it opened up new opportunities and let me hear diverse stories. For example, countries like Romania or Bulgaria felt very distant to me, but after attending a project, meeting people, and experiencing them firsthand, they became much closer. I’d say it really helps to build connections on an informal level, which can also be beneficial on a broader level.
Have you ever experienced any difficulties on your way to a project? If so, what kind?
Frank: The most difficult experience are common to the day of arrival in any project because its a challenge to travel long distance and trying to figure out the right route in a different country with a different language with respect to time. Every other day after the day of arrival comes easy.
Have the connections and friendships you made with other exchange participants stayed? (both foreigners and Lithuanians) How have these relationships enriched your life?
Alsu: The first project I attended left me with one connection that I still maintain to this day. It’s probably one of the most valuable relationships in my life. I’m very happy because it was my first project, and the experience was so positive. I met many great people. One strong bond remains with a member of the Lithuanian team, while the connections with members of foreign teams aren’t as close, but we still keep in touch. If I travel somewhere, we always make an effort to meet. Sometimes they even show me around their city, so those contacts have stayed, and I can always reach out to them. When you’ve once been very close, that connection lingers, even if you don’t talk daily. If you visit and write to them, that same feeling of closeness and familiarity immediately returns.
What was the biggest personal growth you felt after your Erasmus+ experience?
Frank: My biggest growth is self actualization.
Is it hard to coordinate projects with studies/work?
Alsu: Depending on which project I participated in and when, since I took part in many projects during the summer, there were no studies. When I was working, the job was quite flexible – I just had to ask, and they would let me go. There were no issues. Of course, I missed some classes, but it was possible to catch up.