Luīze Marta Ustupa attended Panthéon-Assas University Paris II from September 2023 to January 2024.

Why did you choose to go on exchange, and why specifically this university/place?

I went on exchange because I wanted to gain experience on how it is to live abroad, alone and also study there. I first chose the city - Paris and then went through the website of each university. Based on the information provided - this one seemed to be the most suitable option for me.

Could you briefly describe the university, courses, and community?

The university is very big, with multiple campuses across Paris. Their main focus is on law, therefore I quickly understood that the rest of the fields are neglected a lot by the administration. About half of the courses on the website weren't even offered during the enrolment process. Those that I chose though, were well-structured, interesting and led by experienced professionals.

What did you like the most about your exchange, and was there something you did not like?

What I liked the most about my exchange was the city itself and the endless opportunities it provided. Paris offers so much to see and do for everyone. However, I was unsatisfied with the administration at my receiving university.

How did you prepare for your exchange experience before leaving?

Before leaving for my exchange, I made sure to complete all the necessary paperwork. Other than that, I didn't do anything out of the ordinary to prepare.

Can you share any cultural differences or surprises you encountered during your exchange?

French people are very slow and everything related to bureaucracy is very very slow and unnecessarily complex. They are however a lot nicer than Latvians. I also liked their relaxed approach to life - sitting in a cafe, drinking wine and reading a book.

Did you face any language barriers during your time abroad?

No, I didn't face any language barriers during my time abroad as I speak French.

How much money was needed per month to live comfortably?

Including rent, food and additional expenses I would say around 1500 EUR (the rent alone was 1000 EUR).

Did you travel locally or to other neighbouring countries during your exchange period?

Yes, during my exchange period, I travelled locally to various regions and also visited places just outside of Paris, such as Versailles.

How did you handle homesickness, if you experienced it during your exchange?

I handled homesickness by having close friends and family come to stay with me and by frequently talking with them on FaceTime.

Did you participate in any paid work, internships or volunteer opportunities during your exchange, and if so, how did they contribute to your experience?

No.

How did the exchange programme align with your academic and career goals?

If you have participated in an exchange program, you automatically develop such skills as adaptivity, problem-solving, independence, etc. All of these skills are highly important in my academic as well as career path.

Did you have any interactions with local students or engage in activities outside of the university campus, and if so, how did they enrich your experience?

I interacted more with other exchange students, but occasionally also with locals. I have multiple friends from Spain and Sweden now.

Would you encourage other students to use this opportunity, and do you have any advice for them?

Yes, I would. However, please do the "due diligence" beforehand. Even if the country and city seem like a good option, always research the school you are applying for. There are different norms and standards in each country, therefore my advice would be to contact someone who has done his/her exchange semester in the respective university already and ask about this experience.

What is the best memory you remember from your exchange?

My best memory from my exchange was sitting by the Eiffel Tower with my friends, enjoying wine, chatting about everything, and waiting for the tower to spark every full hour.

Dāvids Andersons attended Universidad Austral from July to November 2023.

Why did you choose to go on exchange, and why specifically this university/place?

I was curious to explore Argentina both through cultural and leisure activities, but also via learning more about the local economics and doing business in an environment plagued with difficulties

Could you briefly describe the university, courses, and community?

The courses provided exactly what I expected and wanted to know about as described previously. The university, although an hour of commuting away, had great facilities as well as plenty of interaction opportunities with the local community and students. Very warm and welcoming reception by the incoming coordinators.

What did you like the most about your exchange, and was there something you did not like?

Generally, commuting to university meant early mornings, but it is a very minor issue compared to the exciting experience I had overall living in Argentina. Probably my favourite part was the affordable and vast travelling experience I had in Argentina and abroad to Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.

How did you prepare for your exchange experience before leaving?

Gathered all the necessary documents for the university and visa application, which was quite time-consuming and expensive since I also had to go to the Argentinian embassy in Helsinki since there is not a single embassy in the Baltic states. I studied a little bit of Spanish too before I went. Also had to find an apartment in Buenos Aires.

Can you share any cultural differences or surprises you encountered during your exchange?

A cultural difference is that Argentinians are warmer as people compared to Latvians, they have no problem conversing with strangers on the street for example and are more open/extroverted. Additionally, when it comes to meals (food itself is different), they like to eat dinner for example as late as 10 or 11 pm. They are obsessed with drinking a drink called “mate” which is a social ritual for them. Many aspects are different and it would take a long time to explain every minor thing.

Did you face any language barriers during your time abroad?

English is not common in Argentina, even in places where you would expect a lot of tourists. Therefore, knowing some basic Spanish and key phrases is essential, otherwise, you have to use translator apps, which is quite inconvenient for everyday things. Of course, in the university, the staff talked and courses were done in good English.

How much money was needed per month to live comfortably?

With around 1000 EUR a month, you could live comfortably, go out often for drinks or to eat, and travel around the country and abroad. Of course, now the economic situation has changed as it does have high volatility, so perhaps costs are now higher.

Did you travel locally or to other neighbouring countries during your exchange period?

I had 4 local trips via airplane, a trip to Uruguay via a ferry, and a flight to Rio de Janeiro. Local flights are pretty cheap so it is a good way to explore the vastness of Argentina with its’ many different sceneries and climates.

How did you handle homesickness, if you experienced it during your exchange?

Listening to Latvian music or watching or reading the news. Generally, the feeling was not hard to handle.

Did you participate in any paid work, internships or volunteer opportunities during your exchange, and if so, how did they contribute to your experience?

I did not, but the university did offer volunteer work in helping local poorer communities in building their homes.

How did the exchange programme align with your academic and career goals?

I loved the diversity of knowledge both cultural and related to my studies, which is something I strive for in my career as I would like to work in an international environment.

Did you have any interactions with local students or engage in activities outside of the university campus, and if so, how did they enrich your experience?

We had a campus day, where we played football against local students. We also had other smaller get-togethers with local students. Overall, it was a nice way to meet local people and learn more.

Would you encourage other students to use this opportunity, and do you have any advice for them?

I think this is a must-do experience. It was the best decision I have made during my studies here. Piece of advice- take this opportunity and be daring within reason. You can learn a lot about yourself and where you come from as well as the world.

What is the best memory you remember from your exchange?

Probably standing in front of the massive Iguazu waterfalls or the mesmerizing snowy mountains in Patagonia, or the picturesque scenery of Rio de Janeiro. No amount of pictures could ever capture that.

Richard Mõisaäär attended LIUC Università Cattaneo from September to December 2023.

Could you briefly describe the university, courses, and community?

LIUC was my 2nd choice and you only get 2, so it was my only option after the 1st, which I wasn't eligible for.

The university was supposedly in the top 3 private business schools in Italy. It was fairly easy and the courses didn't require much. The community of other Erasmus students was fine, the community in the city of Castellanza, where the university is located, was mostly elderly and non-English speakers.

What did you like the most about your exchange, and was there something you did not like?

The people I met. Didn't like the city/location.

How did you prepare for your exchange experience before leaving?

I bought my plane tickets and mandatory insurance.

Can you share any cultural differences or surprises you encountered during your exchange?

Italians are slow in every regard.

Did you face any language barriers during your time abroad?

Yes, but it didn't affect the stay too much.

Did you travel locally or to other neighbouring countries during your exchange period?

Travelled locally to 5 cities and abroad to Spain.

How did you handle homesickness,  if you experienced it during your exchange?

Didn't experience it.

Did you participate in any paid work, internships or volunteer opportunities during your exchange, and if so, how did they contribute to your experience?

I had to continue working part-time because the Erasmus grant was insufficient (especially considering you get 80% of it for your exchange). It didn’t really contribute much to the “experience” as I was working remotely.

Did you have any interactions with local students or engage in activities outside of the university campus, and if so, how did they enrich your experience?

There were events for the exchange students such as sports, dinners, and parties that I took part in. They did enrich the experience.

Would you encourage other students to use this opportunity, and do you have any advice for them?

I would, but do not pick LIUC and take a long hard consideration over your financial possibilities for the stay.

What is the best memory you remember from your exchange?

A couple of other exchange students remembered my birthday, and we celebrated by eating cake together.

Katrīna Danenbergsone attended Utrecht University from September to December 2023.

Why did you choose to go on exchange, and why specifically this university/place?

I love the Netherlands, and Utrecht University has a great location on the map of the Netherlands.

Could you briefly describe the university, courses, and community?

A great community, everyone is very understanding and open, also met many Latvians while being there.

What did you like the most about your exchange, and was there something you did not like?

Loved the people and bicycle culture, didn’t like the rainy weather.

How did you prepare for your exchange experience before leaving?

Spent most of my summer before the exchange semester with the closest people and family.

Can you share any cultural differences or surprises you encountered during your exchange?

People in the Netherlands are riding bicycles everywhere, which was an unusual cultural difference during my exchange.

Did you face any language barriers during your time abroad?

Not any.

How much money was needed per month to live comfortably?

Much more was required to live comfortably in the Netherlands compared to Italy, although Italy is notably less expensive. I heavily relied on support from my relatives to manage financially.

Did you travel locally or to other neighbouring countries during your exchange period?

Yes, I visited my coursemates in Milan during my exchange semester.

How did you handle homesickness, if you experienced it during your exchange?

Did not experience any homesickness.

Did you participate in any paid work, internships or volunteer opportunities during your exchange, and if so, how did they contribute to your experience?

No.

Did you have any interactions with local students or engage in activities outside of the university campus, and if so, how did they enrich your experience?

I participated in the welcome week where I met the majority of my Erasmus friends.

Would you encourage other students to use this opportunity, and do you have any advice for them?

Yes, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

What is the best memory you remember from your exchange?

My fondest memories from my exchange are undoubtedly the Amsterdam Dance Event and the unforgettable bicycle rides through the city.

Erik Laur attended TalTech University from September 2023 to January 2024.

Why did you choose to go on exchange, and why specifically this university/place?

I chose to go on exchange for personal reasons I don’t want to disclose

Could you briefly describe the university, courses, and community?

The university features a wonderful community, with a beautiful campus and interesting courses.

What did you like the most about your exchange, and was there something you did not like?

What I liked most about my exchange was the sensible lectures. They treated us like grown-ups, which made the study process a lot more pleasant. As for dislikes, there wasn't anything significant that I didn't like.

How did you prepare for your exchange experience before leaving?

Didn’t have any specific preparation.

Can you share any cultural differences or surprises you encountered during your exchange?

I didn't encounter any notable cultural differences or surprises during my exchange.

Did you face any language barriers during your time abroad?

No.

How much money was needed per month to live comfortably?

Around 1100 EUR.

Did you travel locally or to other neighbouring countries during your exchange period?

I did travel locally to Tartu to meet with other local students during my exchange.

How did you handle homesickness, if you experienced it during your exchange?

Haven’t experienced any.

Did you participate in any paid work, internships or volunteer opportunities during your exchange, and if so, how did they contribute to your experience?

Yes, I participated in paid work during my exchange, which significantly contributed to my financial security.

How did the exchange programme align with your academic and career goals?

The exchange program aligned very well with my academic and career goals.

Did you have any interactions with local students or engage in activities outside of the university campus, and if so, how did they enrich your experience?

Yes, I interacted with local students and engaged in activities outside of the university campus. One memorable aspect was partying together, which added a fun and social dimension to my experience.

Would you encourage other students to use this opportunity, and do you have any advice for them?

Absolutely, I would highly encourage other students to seize this opportunity. The university offers a fantastic community and Tallinn itself is a stunningly beautiful place.

What is the best memory you remember from your exchange?

One of the best memories I have from my exchange is a party I attended with local students.