One year in Erasmus: backgrounds and tips.
If you've already read my article about Cardiff, you must know that I've been in Erasmus in the United Kingdom for one year. Actually my year abroad just finished a few days ago. I want to write about this amazing experience while it's still fresh, and give you as many details and tips as I can.
I left on the 20th September 2017. I took the plane from Geneva, to London and then I had a train to Cardiff.
My first tip would be about your luggage. Be careful on what you take, I took so many t-shirts and shorts and never wore them. Cardiff is the rainiest city of the UK : bad idea. I didn't even have a big coat for winter and therefore had to buy one on the premises. My luggage was already 23kg (maximum weight possible) : also bad idea. Firstly: it's so heavy to carry around. Secondly: you surely will buy stuff on site and then have to take it back.
​
Once in London, I had to take a train to reach Cardiff. My friend and I saw Cardiff University logos at the airport : actually the staff of Cardiff Uni was present and they offered to future students to take a coach, going directly to Cardiff Uni. We considered this staff as our lifesavers to be honest because our train wasn't direct and taking it with our massive luggage would have been a nightmare.
​
If you're going in Erasmus in the UK and in a big University, the situation will probably be the same, some of the staff will be present in Heathrow, London, to welcome the future students. You will automatically be helped.
We arrived in Cardiff and were directly led to many information points in the Uni. Firstly you will have (so many) goodies. I came in Erasmus with no pen at all and left with a whole drawer. (Another tip would be to take at least one pen). Then you will be directed to your accommodation. Over there they will give you your house key and letter box key, and you'll also have to fill in some insurance papers. You will be assigned to a General Practitioner (GP). And then you're free to begin your new life! Don't worry about these few steps, a lot of people are present to assist you.
Once you arrive in your accommodation : settle in.
Go to Primark and other shops where you can find everything you need. You won't automatically think of everything essential to live comfortably during one year : saucepan, frying pan, Tupperware, cutlery, plates, but also desk lamp, bins... Make a list before you go to remember indispensable stuff to buy if you want to avoid many journeys to the different shops (like me).
I planned an Ikea trip with the University (yes, Cardiff uni offered several trips to Ikea (which was a bit far from the centre). You only had to sign up.) I bought the cutlery, plates, mugs, bowls, and some fairy lights over there. Then I bought the towels, bathroom rug and kitchen utensil in Primark and Tesco (less expensive).
​
Another very important aspect that you can forget is to customize your room. You will be in this room for one whole year, it is important to decorate and personalize it. I printed some photos of my friends and family before leaving. You're always happy to see familiar faces in an unknown environment. Put some fairy light, some pictures and it will change your room.
​
My room was tiny, it was 9 m². I found it small and sad at the beginning. Then I customized it with stuff I had in my luggage and some other things I bought in Cardiff (like the poster of London). From this moment, I enjoyed to be in my room. I really liked it then, it was my place.
The amount of work is very low compared to Uni in France. I had only 10 hours of class per week!!! I didn't spend more than an hour per night on my homework (a bit more for my exams of course). I saw a lot of notions that I had already seen in France. British politics was the only class a bit complicated (you can see this thanks to the snapchat).
​
It is important to find other things to do because of the few hours of class, otherwise you will be easily bored. This year I've studied twice more than usual because I decided to prepare by myself some selective exams in France to enter a prestigious business school. The most complicated was to split my working time for both parts.
My friends and I went out a lot, Cardiff is a very active city. You can easily find low prices activities for students. For example the cinema is only 2.90£ which is just a bit more than 3€!!! There is also a cinema in 4D which is about 9£.
​
As I left with two French friends, I had to find other ways to speak english.
​
There are a lot of societies available in Uni. Chose one you like and try to enter it. I wanted to play Basketball this year, so I went to the tryouts and joined the 1st team of the Cardiff ladies basketball team. It was an amazing experience, even if my team-mates were way more experienced than I was. I found another way to speak english with 3 practices per week.
The other good thing is not to live with your -same-mother-tongue- mates. We spent all our free time together but I was very glad to speak English everyday with my flatmates.
​
Erasmus has originally been created to allow people to study in another country but also to discover fully its culture. Travelling has to be a part of this amazing year. I did so many trips with my friends this year, we've been to Bristol, London, Oxford, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Durham, Alnwick, West Lulworth... So many beautiful destinations to embrace the culture.
​
A lot of alternatives exist in the UK to travel cheaply. The long one is the coach, there are several buses companies such as Megabus or National Express which allow to travel across the UK for a few pounds. For instance I went to London for 5£. This possibility might be very long according to your destination, but the price stays a very good advantage. The short solution is to take the plane, which is very often less expensive than the train. You can find cheap flights thanks to this website https://www.skyscanner.fr/ . For instance I went to Edinburgh (and back to Cardiff) for less than 30£.
Christmas is (still) my favorite time of year. The celebration in the UK is very different from France. I think British people enjoy Christmas as much as I do (which means a lot). You can find Christmas markets in France and a few decorations, in the UK it is the same, x1000.
​
If you want to fully embrace the culture, you have to live this! Erasmus or not, Christmas is the perfect moment to spend time in the UK. Of course my favorite city for this experience would be London (you can clic here to read my article about London under the Christmas lights), but Cardiff is also amazing. I had the chance to visit Manchester too just before Christmas and it was an incredible experience.
This year abroad has been very rewarding for me. I've met incredible people, made new friends from all horizons, visited a beautiful country. I've had the chance to experience a new way of learning and a different educational system. I also improved my English a lot!
Erasmus is an incredible opportunity that every students should catch.
​
Thanks for reading!
Lau xx
July 30th, 2018