This document describes the author's experience participating in an ERASMUS+ exchange program in Northern Italy. The author was anxious about having to use English exclusively and live with a host family. However, the experience turned out to be life-changing as the author was able to work with students from other countries on projects and get to know their everyday lives beyond stereotypes. The cultural barriers melted away as the students found many common interests and bonded over everyday things like school, music and food. The author returned home with new friends, experiences and knowledge that would stay with them for life.

1. My first experience Erasmus+
A once in a lifetime experience
The idea of spending a few days in a foreign country,
having to attend workshops in English, actually having
to use the language almost exclusively for your
everyday needs, and living in a house hosted by a
family, is something that can put almost everybody in a
state of anxiety, verging to stress and daunt.
Nevertheless, that is exactly the idea of the
participation in an ERASMUS+ project, and the very
thing that makes this whole experience a once in a
lifetime thing, one of those moments in life you keep
referring to until your old age.
We set out for a town in Northern Italy we had only researched in Maps, for the purpose of
working together as a group with pupils of our age, living with local student families and
getting to know the way of life of not only the hosting country, Italy, but also of the other
participating countries, namely Germany and France.
We were met with much more than what we had bargained for.
It is a shocking revelation to actually
see that whatever preconceptions
one might have all their lives about
the everyday life, the school, the
hobbies and habits and the ideas of a
country is so quickly and so totally
uprooted and eliminated, once you
actually meet people like you, not
politicians or celebrities, but actual
schoolchildren and their teachers, exactly like you.
The things that we have in common, our interests, the things that relax or stress us are
strong enough to override the barrier of language or religion. Every day, little things like
school subjects, computer games, music, shopping, and food have the power to put to
shame all the “serious” stuff. After a while you stop seeing the country, you even stop
consciously speaking the language, you see the person you have to work with, the project
you have to see through, the task at hand.
Coming back home we carried in our cabin bags
only some souvenirs that the limited amount of
weight allows us, but in our hearts we carried the
experiences, the new friends, their faces, their
voices, their songs and jokes, their smile. We carried

2. new knowledge on practical and technical matters, teaching methods, learning experience
and ideas along with the warmth of the hosting country, Italy of indescribable grace and
beauty. Thank you for the once i n a lifetime experience.