Erasmus+ Journal (Issue 2) 2013/14
Nienke Hogenkamp, Netherlands: Graz, ohyeah!
The decision to go abroad was an easy one, the decision where to go even harder.
After changing my mind a couple times it was clear, mhoa, kind of clear, I would go to Graz.
I did'nt know anything about Austria or Graz at all. In my mind it looked like one big ski resort where it's always cold (even in Summer).
Ofcourse I'm a great student and I did a lot of research, NOT... So well prepered I left my house at Februar 19th, with in my suitcase a lot of warm winter clothes. Eighteen hours later I arrived at the main trainstation of Graz, you will think 19 hours, that's a long time. Yes, it was a long time, but that was because of my little bit to relaxed breakfast (I had more than an hour to transfer and I still missed my train, good job!).
But go on, I arrived (little bit later than expected) in Graz. BAM! Culture shock, it was not cold in Graz and there was no snow at all. I actuelly found out that Graz is not a big ski resort with blond heidi's who bring you liters of beer all the time and the people here are no big fans of the schlager musik, actually it is a nice city with a crazy wild west river (Mur), a lot of Kebap stores (cheap food, around 2 euro^^) and nice people!
In my first week we meet up with the Erasmus girls, we did some sight-seeing and discoverd our new living area for the next 5 months. After a week it was time to go to the PH (Pädagogische Hochschule^^), enrole for the courses that will fill up your timetable. This was not so easy for me, 30 ECT's, that's a lot of courses. Enrolling for the courses was more like one big puzzle for me and it took me at least 4 weeks to complete it in a perfect way.
But there is more, THE WELCOME WEEKEND. We said we should meet up with our buddies in front of the main trainstation at 15.15 or something. Good for me, because I live 1 minuut form the main train station. It was a big miracle, but I was on time, till I found out that I forgot my discount card. Mmm, I ran back home to get it, pfieuw, still on time. We were talking about that everybody had so much stuff with them, warm clothes, ski pants... ski pants... ski pants... Aha, I forgot my ski pants, so I ran back home again to get it. Clumsy me, but I made it on time and we did'nt miss our train.
While I'm typing this it's already the 12th of May, almost 3 monthes are already over and only 2 months left.
It's nice to see your self (and your self-confidence) grow while your here. The day I arrived I was a bit scared to speak in an other language (especially in German), I did'nt know people here and everything was new. Now, almost 3 months later I've made so many friend, my German and my Englished are so much better and Graz is feeling as home!
ERASMUS, OHYEAH!
GRAZ, OHYEAH!