Still not decided about European mobility ? Are you getting ready to leave and wondering what to expect during an Erasmus Plus program? Are you feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension? Don’t worry, you’re part of the large European community (not to say family) that’s trying this adventure. Here’s a selection of advice from those who have experienced it before you.
That’s what the Erasmus Plus program is all about: thousands of people united by the unspoken bond of “European mobility”! So what can you expect during an Erasmus Plus program? Emilie, 28, from Tours, France, starts right off: “I would have liked to have been told more about what to expect.” This Frenchwoman has chosen Madrid as her adopted city for a semester. An experience she fell in love with, which led to an extension of her internship and a job offer she turned down because of the pandemic.
She continues: “When we think of European mobility, we have a vision of ‘Pot Luck’, which is now outdated. Quite simply because, over the years, the world we live in has changed, both economically and culturally.” It is worth noting that Emilie is part of this generation, fed on images from Eric Klapisch’s now famous film. In a nutshell, a picture painted of Europeans with no complexes, in love with the city of Barcelona and going through life’s trials and tribulations together. Here are a few recommendations from Emilie:
- The rising cost of living is now being felt in the majority of major European cities: before you leave, find out about possible subsidies, and don’t dream of a bohemian life on the spot.
- Be sure to prepare your professional or study plans carefully, as you can quickly lose your footing if you’re over-focused on your festivities. In the case of European mobility, sending schools and organizations will ask you to account for your work.
- Think in advance about the type of accommodation you want to invest in: shared, self-catering, company accommodation, hotel or hostel. In the eyes of our interviewee, this is a crucial choice!
A few tips: Erasmus+
- How to manage your internship budget : https://mobitrainee.com/erasmus-comment-bien-gerer-son-budget-de-stage/
- How to obtain an Erasmus grant: https://mobitrainee.com/en/how-to-get-an-erasmus-grant/
Personal life: what to expect during Erasmus Plus
When we ask candidates about their European mobility plans, one topic regularly comes up in conversation: that of the “couple”. It’s a consideration that’s uppermost in the minds of all those questioned, whatever their nationality. All it takes is a Google search to realize the scope of the subject: “going on an Erasmus trip as a couple” is one of the queries favored by Internet users. What can you expect on this subject during an Erasmus Plus program?
Ilaria, an Italian jobseeker, went to Paris for a six-month internship and found herself faced with a dilemma. Her partner, on the other hand, wanted to go to Malaga for a various European mobility project. After trying to build a joint Erasmus Plus project, the couple decided to go their separate ways, in different countries. And the final word? “We’re sharing from a distance all the richness we’re experiencing in Spain and France! Our plan is to try out each other’s cities, and then decide on a place to put down our suitcases for the long run.” And what if the solution was plural mobility?
The serenity of healthcare
Internship in the EU: Health cover for students
https://mobitrainee.com/couverture-sante-stage-a-l-etranger/
Ilaria, our Italian student in Paris, stresses a crucial point that she hadn’t thought about before her departure. Sacrosanct health! “In Italy, social security coverage is very poor compared with a country like France. I didn’t have the reflex to order a European health insurance card, and it caught up with me,” she confides. Hospitalized just a few weeks after her arrival, Ilaria had to find out about European health cover. “The latter is fantastic, but you mustn’t forget to take the plunge – it’s vital!” And as you know, peace of mind when you’re on the move, whether you’re a student or in working life, requires a bit of informed reading! So now you know what to expect during an Erasmus Plus program.
Find out more: How to set up an Erasmus + international mobility internship
https://mobitrainee.com/en/how-to-set-up-international-mobility-in-erasmus-internship/
The evolution of the Erasmus+ program between 2021 and 2027
https://mobitrainee.com/levolution-du-programme-erasmus-entre-2021-et-2027/
