Time flew by…

I already feel deeply nostalgic when I remember the excitement I had before arriving in Czechia. I could not wait to arrive, and now I am simply grateful for the experience.

Who would want it to come to an end?

I feel like home now…

After months of new experiences, discoveries across Prague and Czechia, and getting closer to Czech traditions and culture, it is now time to pack my luggage and say goodbye to the people I have grown close to - and to my beloved city.

I have already started sorting through my things while completing my internship at the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research, following my summer semester at Metropolitan University Prague.

Everything went so fast it is crazy...

Next year, I will begin a master’s degree in international relations back home. My Erasmus stay confirmed my desire to work in an international environment. Both my Czech university and my internship have helped me build my professional career.

I am happy to go home, see my people, and begin a new chapter. But I will miss Prague’s comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Studying and living in an international environment through Erasmus may happen only once in a lifetime, and I started to get used to this new lifestyle.

Speaking my mother tongue, communicating in English, and also learning some Czech was a real challenge.

How could I leave behind everything I have built here?

Erasmus was a time to leave my comfort zone and enjoy endless opportunities: travelling across Czechia and abroad, meeting new people, and making spontaneous plans together.

I may never feel exactly the same again, but I am forever grateful for the chance to experience it and to grow both personally and professionally in multicultural, energetic, and beautiful Prague.

I am not sad to let it go. I am deeply happy that it happened to me - to us.

What Erasmus Means to Me

Adaptability. Challenge. Confidence. Doubts. Independence.

That would be my definition of an Erasmus exchange.

You realise how unique this experience is and how many opportunities it brings. It is a real chance in someone’s life, which is why we need you to share your story.

Reflecting on your Erasmus stay and writing a testimonial means returning to your memories. Sharing your experience also helps promote Czechia - and Czechia deserves it.

Your story could help future students choose their Erasmus destination and discover whether Czechia is the right place for them.

Share What You Wish You Had Known

The Czechia Alumni platform is made for you.

Think about the information you wish you had known before arriving in Czechia: how to manage the administrative paperwork, what to bring in your luggage, how to prepare for university life, and what to expect during your first days.

Thanks to your testimonial, new Erasmus students can arrive feeling more prepared and confident.

Keep Your International Connections

Do not forget to keep in touch with your friends and the people you met in Czechia. You can stay connected through WhatsApp university groups, social media, and alumni services offered by your Czech university.

Sometimes, I feel grateful to have been born in the 2000s, because social media and messaging apps make it possible to stay close to Erasmus friends across borders.

These people also made me feel at home.

Now, it feels as though I could travel across the world and always have an international friend living somewhere nearby.

These connections can also become a valuable source of information about professional opportunities. Staying in touch might help you discover a job, an internship, or even a PhD opportunity in Czechia if you would like to return or extend your international journey.

Your Erasmus network may open the door to unexpected opportunities, collaborations, reunions, and friendships.

The Farewell Is Only the Beginning

An Erasmus farewell is not easy. Returning to your routine and everyday life can be almost as shocking as arriving in Czechia for the first time, far away from your home country.

But it is important to recognise that this is only the beginning of your newly established international network - both personally and professionally.

This experience will accompany you forever. It has become part of who you are.

Czechia is special, and it could become special for many new Erasmus students too.

Be part of Czechia Alumni. Share your story.

By Eloïse Pellerin, French Erasmus alumna and intern at Czechia Alumni