Erasmus+ Experience Report by Patrícia

I spent a semester abroad at the University ELTE in Budapest-Hungary during my Master´s programme. I chose to go abroad because I wanted to get to know Hungary better as it is a marvelous city full of culture, activities and nightlife. It’s exciting to be exposed to a completely new situation and to leave familiar surroundings. I wanted to explore the area of education in a foreign country so I could contrast with my acquired knowledge. I was also interested in how other universities create their degree programmes. The delicious food, the Danube River and the bridges of course also reasons that made me choose Budapest as my destination. If I’m honest, at first, I felt a bit scared, since I decided to go on Erasmus in the second year of the master’s program. Entering a university where all the students have been together for years is difficult, but I was surprised that my classmates and teachers made my adaptability to the university much more bearable. Not only did I learn a lot from my colleagues, but I also felt that they learned from me and that feeling is gratifying. They assigned us a very friendly coordinator. She always responded to all my emails quickly and was willing to help me with anything I needed. the university facilities were beautiful. The university had extensive libraries with books for all tastes. Some classrooms were too small for my taste. The teachers appreciated my presence and made me feel included during my stay. Teachers were inspiring, motivating and always well-prepared. Despite the fact that my specialties are German and English, I was able to attend classes in the Spanish Philology department and I fell in love with that department. The teacher guided me a lot and I felt at home. There were many activities such as parties, meetings, but I couldn’t attend any of them because I didn’t have much time. Unfortunately, they couldn’t give me a room in the residences because those rooms are mostly obtained by students who come from far away so it was hard for me to find accommodation, but I finally found it. I lived in the center of Budapest so I was able to visit a bit of this magical city. I finished my Erasmus season with an average of 4.8 which is a good result. I am very satisfied with my experience. I would recommend it to any student.