“While my golden year has ended, it was really just the beginning of a golden life” Kate’s Erasmus+ Experience in France

St. Patrick’s Day in France

Kate Regan undertook an Erasmus+ Study Abroad in 2023-24. She went to EM Strasbourg Business School in France as part of her undergraduate course at the University of Galway.

In September 2023, I was lucky enough to spend a year in Strasbourg under the Erasmus+ programme. Given that this was my third year of International Commerce with French at the University of Galway, I studied business modules through French throughout my two semesters abroad, which neatly combined the two components of my course and pushed my language skills to the next level.

I chose Strasbourg because I had never been to the east of France before, and after listening to my classmates’ presentation, I was intrigued by its unique and distinct culture. Compared to the other sites in the south and midlands, Strasbourg vividly stood out to me as being an undiscovered gem, and I immediately wanted to find out more.

How did you prepare for your trip?
If there’s any downside to pursuing an Erasmus+ (and trust me when I say that I had to dig deep to think of one), it’s the large quantity of administration that comes alongside it. Between registering for both my home and host universities, compiling all the relevant documents for my CAF (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales – housing assistance) application, and setting up a French bank account, I had my work cut out for me before even setting foot in France, as well as upon my arrival!

Outside of these obligatory preparations, I did some research on the area I was due to live in – Observatoire – and created lists of supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, pubs, and outdoor spaces in the vicinity. I also investigated potential hobbies that I could take up both within the university and outside, and noted some enticing travel destinations within Europe.

The Berlin Wall

To be honest, once I arrived, I rarely consulted these lists but instead found myself wanting to wander around and discover new places the old-fashioned way. The beauty of the Erasmus+ mobility is in the adventure and the unknown, and I therefore wouldn’t worry too much about being one hundred percent prepared in advance. At the beginning, I’d advise to maintain level expectations, keep an open mind and be patient in settling into the location.

What about the language barrier? Do you have a favorite word or phrase in your host country’s native language?
For the duration of the programme, I made a huge effort to speak French, pushing myself to get a part-time job, join a sports team, and attend exercise classes at the college sports centre to increase my immersion in the language. In conjunction with my French modules at university, and the casual day-to-day affairs in public spaces, these initiatives proved effective in improving my fluidity and ease with French.

Of course, learning a foreign language is never without challenges, and my natural anglophone accent meant that I would often be spoken to in English rather than French. I found the pronunciation of certain sounds difficult, and there were words that I couldn’t differentiate from one another. Alas, I quickly got over myself and consistently reiterated that although I was never going to speak like a French person, I had the adequate skills to communicate successfully, and that was all that could be asked of me. This realisation gave me a refreshed appreciation for people learning English as a new language back at home, and my passion for language learning was renewed as such.

I fell in love with the way that the French greet and see off one another. Saying hello to my classmates at university with ‘coucou’ or ‘salut’ was so much fun, and I found these phrases to be incredibly upbeat and affectionate. Additionally, I am obsessed with the dramatic sound of ‘oh là là!’, which appeared to be appropriate for a multitude of contexts. Embracing the French language in every-day life added such casual magic to my days and got me thinking about living in France long-term in the future.

Exploring green spaces!

What did you enjoy doing in your host country?
First and foremost, I cannot talk about my Erasmus+ experience without mentioning my involvement in the Strasbourg Gaels, the local Gaelic football team. Attending training sessions up to three times a week and participating in tournaments at the weekends made up a huge part of my routine, and as somebody who does not naturally gravitate towards team sports, it is safe to say that I had a ball!

Forming relationships with both French and Irish people from various walks of life on this team was invaluable to creating a home-like community in Strasbourg and having the opportunity to use my French while playing my national sport was extraordinary.

Left: Gaelic Football Tournament in Toulouse
Right: Strasbourg Gaels end-of-year weekend away in Lemberg

Outside of the GAA, I started ‘escalade’, or rock climbing, with the university club and subsequently dipped my toe in numerous exercise classes such as yoga, body dance, Zumba and piloxing. These were great ways to expose me to the French language without the intimidating activity of speaking aloud myself, and I was delighted to make full use of the college’s facilities.

In a social context, I thoroughly enjoyed the events organised by the Strasbourg Erasmus Student Network as they provided me with the chance to branch out from my Irish gang and meet international people my age. Between pub quizzes, hikes, and the weekly Aperasmus gathering during second semester, I was never stuck for something to do, and I ended up making amazing friends from these engagements.

Attending Oktoberfest in Munich

How would you sum up your Erasmus+ in a few words?
I always refer to my Erasmus+ experience as golden, and this word sums it up effectively. Having the privilege to focus solely on cultivating my profile all through the year made for a truly enriching era, and I became a more well-rounded and enlightened individual as a result. From a personal development perspective, I challenged myself to venture beyond my comfort zone in learning languages, making friends and pursuing hobbies.

Completing a half-marathon in Madrid

More importantly, I had an absolute blast amid all this learning, ticking off bucket list destinations across Europe and getting to do it all with my newfound best friends. In essence, I believe that while my golden year has ended, it was really just the beginning of a golden life.

Celebrating my 21^st birthday at Europa-Park

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All photos are owned by Kate Regan and reproduced here with permission.

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