Author: Lorenzo D'Amore
Future university freshmen and students already in the throes of a degree course, today we are going to take a closer look at a central theme of the Erasmus project: which are the best cities to go Erasmus in? Answering this question remains difficult after so many years, yet through a lot of feedback from thousands of students from all over the world, we have managed to identify some cities that might not help you in living the Erasmus experience to the best of your ability.
In this article we will therefore identify the 10 cities that Erasmus students found most challenging in 2024, in order to give you some ideas for a better experience in this new year.
Lisbon: Overrated city for Erasmus?
Problem: flat price too high
Lisbon is becoming more and more overrated and according to many is losing its appeal for a fascinating Erasmus experience. There are so many Erasmus students here that the price of rooms has become extremely high and expensive in recent years. In fact, the Portuguese capital cannot offer enough rooms for all of them, so landlords take advantage of this and keep the prices on the rise. If you have a limited budget, keep in mind that most of it will only be for accommodation and you will not have that much money left for easy living, travelling, going to restaurants.
London, Amsterdam and Dublin: when the cost of living influences the Erasmus experience
Problem: high cost of living
London, Amsterdam and Dublin are among the most beautiful cities in the world and welcome millions of tourists from all over the world every year. Yet in recent years many Erasmus students have complained about a problem common to all these three European capitals: the high cost of living. This has a significant impact on Erasmus students, making expenses for accommodation, food, transport and extra-curricular activities difficult. The high cost can limit the experience, often forcing students to make savings choices that may, in turn, affect the quality of life and cultural immersion of the study abroad experience.
Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul: when local culture does not facilitate integration
Problem: local culture and traditions
In Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul, the adaptation for an Erasmus student can be difficult due to a number of cultural and traditional differences compared to the West. The complexity and subtlety of social codes, norms of respect and behavioural expectations, often implicit and not always explicit, can be a source of disorientation. Differences in the interpretation of gestures, non-verbal language and everyday social interactions require significant adaptation that is not always immediate for those coming from a different cultural background. In addition, emphasis on respect for senior figures, family traditions and relational expectations may be very different and require profound adaptation to navigate the social context. Understanding formal and informal behaviour, social conventions and local cultural norms can be a rather long and sometimes challenging process.
Parigi e Monaco di Baviera: un difficile adattamento per la poca diversità linguistica
Problema: poca diversità linguistica
Paris and Munich, despite being among the most beautiful cities in the world with countless monuments and breathtaking landscapes, could pose challenges for international students seeking immersion in a linguistically diverse society. Indeed, the prevalence of French in Paris and German in Munich could make adaptation and interaction within the city more difficult, especially for those students unfamiliar with these two languages. This problem is characterised by a lesser variety of languages than in other European cities and this may limit your learning opportunities during classes at university and the possibility of interacting with people from different cultures and linguistic backgrounds. Furthermore, this problem found in these metropolises could lead to another negative consequence: fewer opportunities to practise other languages, and being in a less stimulating environment for the development of communication and intercultural skills.
Malmö and Brussels: when city glamour meets the underworld
Problem: crime
Malmö and Brussels, although very attractive cities due to their history and culture, may present some insidious challenges to Erasmus students due to a sometimes widespread perception of a higher level of crime than in other European cities. This is not to say that crime occurs in all neighbourhoods of these cities. however, safety is a purely personal factor: encounters with criminals or seeing several instances of theft or petty crime live on the air might instil in you a feeling of being in danger, making your adaptation to a different environment somewhat more difficult and insecure. Safe areas within these two northern European cities certainly exist, but some negative incidents, such as robberies or encounters with dangerous people, might influence your general perception of the city.
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