An Erasmus is a great opportunity to experience new culture and grow as an individual. It provides the platform to develop friendships and sense of independency, outside the realm of everyday life. It arises at an important time of life where one is still forming opinions and judgments about society and can have a profound impact on an individual’s perspective and future goals. Change can help reshape values and beliefs, something every student should be open to. For me, the semester abroad exposed me to a whole new way of living, broadened my horizons and encouraged me to strive for the very best in every facet of life.
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions”
(Source: Wikipedia)
Location
I was privileged to attend the University of California; Santa Barbara on a semester long Erasmus during my ‘sophomore year’ (as my American friends would say). The long arduous journey was rewarded with an incredible few months staying in the town of Isla Vista, biking distance from the university. For me, UCSB captured everything college should be. The laid-back party culture is complimented with academic excellence, a balance which gives UCSB an excellent reputation across the States. The school’s vibrant extracurricular life is helped by the endless sunshine the state has to offer. As a result, I got to undertake an array of new activities from surfing to lacrosse, allowing myself to be challenged in new ways. I would thoroughly recommend students to apply to UCSB. That being said I have heard excellent reviews from many colleges across the USA so don’t limit your choice!
Friends
I was initially quite apprehensive about the trip as I was not the only person from my course chosen to attend UCSB. I was going to be living with my classmate Jack whom I did not know too well. However, once we touched down the excitement was unbearable, and we gelled imagining what the coming months held in store for us. Living in a shared house in the student town of Isla Vista gave us an incredible foundation. We were at the heart of student life, a lot different to living at home with your parents! Our four housemates were all in their junior year and incredibly welcoming. In our first few days they showed us around the campus and downtown Santa Barbara. Jack and I learned all the local food and socializing hotspots which were budget friendly (an important factor). This allowed us to settle in nicely and feel confident heading into the first day of lectures. The business school in UCSB is significantly smaller compared with Quinn. This led to a tightknit group of students attending all our lectures and it did not take too long for the Irish voices to stand out (It would have been a lot sooner had I not banned Jack from wearing his local GAA jersey everywhere, nothing worse). We developed great friendships with our fellow classmates who stemmed from all over the USA. I found it fascinating hearing about everyone’s diverse backgrounds, a welcome change from the bubble of South Dublin. Having bumped into fellow Irish on Erasmus in UCSB. A few of us decided to set up an event on social media arranging a meet up. One Saturday afternoon the sun cream was in full flow as students from UCC, UCD and Trinity all gathered on UCSB’s private beach. The craic brought a sense of home all the way to the West coast. Whether you’re travelling alone or in a group, there are ample opportunities to make friends so do not worry. The Americans are over friendly, and you can never escape the Irish!
Travel
The opportunities to travel were endless. Having come so far from home to a beautiful part of the world, Jack and I were keen to explore as much as we could. Our ability to do this was aided by the fact we only had 3 modules to complete compared with the usual 6 back home. Our planned trips to up and down the coast with our fellow Irish to San Fran, Santa Monica and San Diego enraptured the laid-back lifestyle that exists in the state. With an abundance of sights to visit, the sense of adventure was never ending. However, California boasts some incredible mountain ranges which developed my passion for hiking. Having been introduced to the outdoors through my friend Chad, the sheer beauty and sense of freedom experienced converted me into an avid outdoorsman. Many afternoons were spent climbing the local Santa Ynez Mountains just outside Santa Barbara. Weekend trips to Big Sur, Sierra Nevada Mountain range and Yosemite National Park were complimented with great trails, food and fun, the highlights of my American adventure. Whether you’re interested sports, academics or creative arts, UCSB has something to offer you. The transport infrastructure across the state is cheap and reliable so there is no excuse not to travel.
Skills Obtained
As mentioned before, Erasmus is an incredible learning opportunity that goes way beyond the classroom and for many of us it is our first experience of living away from home. It allowed me to develop as a person away from the pressures of academia and promote a sense of maturity in other aspects of my life. I transformed my domestic and interpersonal skills by living in a shared house. Though everyone was great friends, a certain level of respect and etiquette towards each other was required to ensure a smooth operation. Constantly socialising with new people and forming friendships with those from alternative backgrounds was challenging to me at first. Establishing common ground is a skill I had to learn overtime and will benefit me in my future endeavours heading into an ever-increasing diverse workforce. I learned the importance of budgeting and managing finances. At times this was not easy, bland meals became somewhat of a regular occurrence at the end of each month. This was for the greater good in order to maximise trips and experiences that I could not achieve back home. On a less academic note I learned to never dye your hair at home and always trust the professionals. My attempt to get blonde hair resulted in a ginger tone, a failure that haunts me every time I look back at photos.
Looking back, I can confidently say the Erasmus was the highlight of my college experience so far. With only a few months left till I graduate; I am rest assured it will not be topped. At the drop of a hat I would return to UCSB so if I have not convinced you to embark on an Erasmus by now, I can only hope you will not regret your decision.