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After sending the letter about Erasmus for Scotland and Wales, so many memories of my time in Edinburgh have come back to my mind.
I thought I could share some of them to explain why I am so passionate about the Erasmus debate.
Why this programme actually matters so much to me.
I thought I could share some of them to explain why I am so passionate about the Erasmus debate.
Why this programme actually matters so much to me.
I studied political science in Berlin. I always wanted to go “abroad” and my uni had an Erasmus partnership with @EdinburghUni (my first pick was actually to go to Dublin, but that would have been much more difficult to do because there was no cooperation yet.)
So I applied for Edinburgh. There was a competition with interviews and all. I had been rejected from a lot of stuff before, so I was very nervous about it.
But it worked!
I was so excited and read all about Scotland and Edinburgh I could find.
But it worked!
I was so excited and read all about Scotland and Edinburgh I could find.
And even though I really thought I was well-prepared, arriving in Edinburgh...it COMPLETELY took my breath away.
The views, the buildings, the parks, the Castle, the light, everything. It is just so absolutely BEAUTIFUL.
I was truly starstruck.
The views, the buildings, the parks, the Castle, the light, everything. It is just so absolutely BEAUTIFUL.
I was truly starstruck.
(Obviously, you could argue that I am easy to impress growing up next to an oil refinery in the Ruhr area...but really if you haven’t been there already, go to Edinburgh. It’s amazing.)
I lived in a student house right in the middle of the city which was great.
I lived in a student house right in the middle of the city which was great.
I also really enjoyed moving to a “smaller” city than Berlin with a big university campus in the city center because you could just walk everywhere by foot.
Academically, it was a great experience to see the differences in teaching, approaching and discussing problems.
Academically, it was a great experience to see the differences in teaching, approaching and discussing problems.
While at the same time understanding how similar a lot of things were.
How much academic and scientific exchange there had already been, ideas flowing around and how valuable that is for critical thinking and researching.
How much academic and scientific exchange there had already been, ideas flowing around and how valuable that is for critical thinking and researching.
From a political science standpoint, it was fascinating to learn about politics in Scotland. The quite recent changes with devolution. The new powers. The Scottish parliament.
It taught me a lot about statehood and the many facets it has.
It taught me a lot about statehood and the many facets it has.
Also the stay massively improved my English. To understand different accents, slang, to feel comfortable speaking English in different settings - nothing I could have ever been taught in school.
To learn that people calling me ‘a lass’ did not refer to my sexual orientation...
To learn that people calling me ‘a lass’ did not refer to my sexual orientation...
As you can imagine, I also took advantage of the great night life.
Although it was tricky sometimes because Edinburgh really is/was 10 times more expensive than Berlin.
One of the things I really appreciated the most about living in the UK: There is live music EVERYWHERE.
Although it was tricky sometimes because Edinburgh really is/was 10 times more expensive than Berlin.
One of the things I really appreciated the most about living in the UK: There is live music EVERYWHERE.
So many pub concerts, so many artists, so much great music.
Also in Edinburgh, but even more so in Glasgow - which was only a 45-minutes train ride away.
Also in Edinburgh, but even more so in Glasgow - which was only a 45-minutes train ride away.
I also got to see a lot of the rest of Scotland. I visited the most beautiful Parliament in the world (afaik 
) several times, I got to know the @scotgp and @scotyounggreens. I met so many wonderful people, learnt so much about the world and myself...
) several times, I got to know the @scotgp and @scotyounggreens. I met so many wonderful people, learnt so much about the world and myself...
...and I probably became truly European there. I started working more on the European political level, understood multicultural exchange and why it matters.
And what this European project is all about.
I‘m sure I wouldn’t be an MEP today if it wasn’t for my time in Edinburgh.
And what this European project is all about.
I‘m sure I wouldn’t be an MEP today if it wasn’t for my time in Edinburgh.
It’s been almost 12 years now, but the year in Edinburgh really shaped my whole life since then.
I can never give back what this time has given to me. But I can promise to always remember it and try my best to be a good friend - to Edinburgh, Scotland and also the UK.
I can never give back what this time has given to me. But I can promise to always remember it and try my best to be a good friend - to Edinburgh, Scotland and also the UK.
There are millions of Erasmus stories - some similar to mine, some completely different.
Because it is much more than an academic programme. It funds youth orgs, vocational experiences, all kinds of exchanges, support for disadvantaged youth...
It’s simply still a great idea.
Because it is much more than an academic programme. It funds youth orgs, vocational experiences, all kinds of exchanges, support for disadvantaged youth...
It’s simply still a great idea.
