Erasmus in Kiel: My Journey from Expectations to Reality
Erasmus is an international student exchange program that allows students to spend a semester or a year at a university in another country. It is often described as one of the most memorable periods of student life: studying abroad, meeting new people, traveling and the opportunity to experience different cultures. As a student from Lithuania, I also decided to participate in this program and came to Kiel for the summer semester.
Before the trip, I had a pretty clear idea of what this experience would be like. I associated Germany with order, good organization and predictability, so it seemed that I would adapt quickly and without any major difficulties. Erasmus seemed like the perfect combination of studying and traveling, so I decided to take this opportunity. However, reality turned out to be a bit more complicated. Along with new impressions came difficulties finding housing, the stress of the first few days and the need to adapt to a completely new environment. That is exactly what made my experience in Kiel truly memorable.
The initial problem I encountered even before coming to Kiel was finding housing. At first, I thought that finding a room or a flat to rent for a few months wasn’t a very difficult task, especially if you start looking early. But in reality, it came to be much more difficult.
Most options were intended for long-term rentals, some landlords didn’t want to rent living spaces to exchange students for such a short time, and popular listings received a large number of applications. I had to monitor rental websites hourly, write dozens of messages to landlords and wait for answers, which I usually didn’t receive. This process came to be extremely stressful, given the upcoming departure date and I still didn’t have a permanent place to stay.
Other students faced similar struggles. One student from Lithuania shared: “It was pretty hard to find a flat in Kiel. At some point, I was scared that I wasn’t going to find one at all.” Her experience reflected the same uncertainty that many exchange students face before moving abroad.
At some point, uncertainty became one of the most unpleasant parts of getting ready for Erasmus. Instead of thinking about the journey and new experience, I had to deal with some practical issues. When the housing problem was finally solved I felt a great relief, but this experience taught me that Erasmus is not only about bright impressions, but also about handling difficult hardships on your own.
After coming to Kiel a new chapter of my Erasmus journey began – studying in HAW Kiel. First days were both exciting and interesting, because everything around me was new: campus, schedule, learning system and the atmosphere of the university itself.
The study process came to be a little different from what I was used to in Lithuania. Some classes are held in a format of ‘block seminars’, which was unusual to me. It took some time to get used to the new format, but it became a lot easier with time.
One of the most interesting parts of the first weeks was meeting new people. Erasmus unites students from all over the world, so everyday I had a chance of communicating with people of different cultures, learning something new and expanding my social circle. Precisely these new connections made adaptation in a new country a lot easier and became a huge part of the experience. One Irish exchange student shared a similar perspective: “Everyone I have met so far has been very friendly, especially the other international students. One really good element was how many events and gatherings were organised for us by the college, which really helped with making friends.”
Besides studies, discovering Kiel itself was also an important step in the journey. I knew very little about this city before coming here and imagined Germany through the prism of its big bustling cities. But Kiel turned out very different: more calm, cozy and closely connected to the sea. An Irish student also highlighted this aspect of the city, saying: “I really love Kiel. It’s a beautiful city and I love living so close to the sea.” With time, walking by the seaside, city streets and quiet green areas became a part of my everyday life here.
Another big advantage of being on Erasmus is the opportunity to travel. Thanks to convenient transportation, it was easy to visit other cities. During the semester, many students, including myself, traveled to Hamburg, Lübeck and other cities, which allowed them to get to know the country better and see just how different Germany can be. Erasmus also opened up opportunities to travel to neighboring countries, which made this period even more enriching. Traveling helped me not only see new places, but also gain a deeper understanding of German culture and European culture as a whole.
Although my Erasmus exchange in Kiel is still in progress, this experience has already turned out to be quite different from what I had expected before arriving. Along with new experiences came challenges such as finding housing, the stress of the first few days and the process of adapting to a new academic system. However, it is precisely these challenges that have made this experience more authentic and helped me see studying abroad from a different perspective.
Despite all the difficulties, Erasmus has already given me many new experiences and opportunities that would hardly have been possible in my usual environment. If students have the chance to participate in an exchange program, they definitely shouldn’t be afraid of this experience. It may be unpredictable and sometimes challenging, but that’s exactly what makes it so valuable and memorable.
