If you had to describe your Erasmus+ experience in three words, what would they be?
My favourite experiences.
Do you have a favourite or most memorable project? Is there something that amazed you? Tell us more about this kind of experience.
I’ve had the opportunity to participate in six Erasmus+ projects, and each one holds a special place in my heart. However, two stand out the most: my experiences in Portugal and Sint Maarten in the Caribbean. This time I will share my experiences in Sint Maarten. Before this project, I had travelled to several countries through exchanges or on my own, but this was my first time leaving Europe and my first transatlantic flight! My teammate and I flew from Riga to Sint Maarten with a stop in Paris on the way there and in Amsterdam on the way back. Fun fact: it was my first time visiting the Netherlands too!
What truly amazed me during the project was the kindness of the locals. While I can’t speak for all European countries, I noticed a striking difference in how people in Sint Maarten interact compared to Europeans. The locals were always smiling and incredibly friendly, which left a lasting impression on me. We stayed at a community centre where locals who had lost their homes to natural disasters were being accommodated. In the evenings, young people would often gather at a nearby basketball court. That’s where I got to meet several peers who shared their experiences and were eager to learn about the cultures of the project participants.
As for Portugal, this project is particularly close to my heart because Portugal is my favourite country! I participated in this exchange with the “Tavo Europa” organization. Two teammates and I decided to arrive a couple of days early to explore and immerse ourselves in the country’s culture. This time together before the project started helped us bond as a team, which made a big difference during the exchange.
What was the strangest local ritual or tradition you have encountered? How did you react to that?
I am not sure if it was the strangest tradition, but as a first-time visitor to Turkey, it turned out to be interesting. No matter where I went to eat, Turkish tea was always offered, and sometimes even served for free in restaurants in Istanbul or at our project accommodation. The tea was served in their traditional glass cups. When the project ended, I was heading back with not only new friends but also having reached my tea-drinking quota for the month ahead.
What skills and knowledge did you gain by participating in the projects? How do they help you in your personal life or career?
It’s obvious that whenever I participate in a project, I need to communicate in English. I’ve noticed that after just a few days of the exchange, speaking English becomes much easier. In addition, there were different assignments for teams from each country as well as international teams, so I gained experience working in both settings. Different topics allowed me to choose the area which interested me most; there are quite a few places where you have to express yourself. For this reason, I improved my public speaking skills in a foreign language even more. Since I am studying Public Communication, the skills I gain during projects help me prepare for assignments and be a better student.
What are your plans now? Do you have any trips or projects planned?
Starting in September, it will be time to dive back into studies, but there will also be some trips in between. I have two more trips planned for this year: a holiday in Turkey and a project with ‘Tavo Europa’ in Cyprus. I’m looking forward to both of these trips, especially the project in Cyprus, which I haven’t been able to visit yet. It’s hard to predict what the future holds, but I hope it involves more than just one trip and one project.