It got me out of my comfort zone

I chose to participate in the Erasmus worldwide program in Bonn because it was an opportunity to study and learn from a university offering high quality education hence gaining valuable academic knowledge and skills. It was a chance to travel and explore Germany, broaden my horizon and get to know different cultures and traditions. It was a chance to foster my personal growth and development as it got me out of my comfort zone.

I obtained information necessary to plan my stay abroad from Erasmus coordinators from both my home university (Mzumbe University) and the University of Bonn. In addition I got in touch with a friend who was already participating in the program in Bonn to get insights.

I arrived at the cologne airport and was welcomed by a student assistant and taken directly to my dorm room. I arrived a bit late so I missed the welcome lunch that was prepared for the Erasmus students. The accommodation was okay as almost everything necessary for a comfortable stay was present. I just had to buy some personal stuff. Doing the laundry was the only challenging thing as the washing machines and dryers had to be shared by many residents of the dormitory.

I was sent a course list where I was able to choose the courses I wanted and prepare the Learning Agreement before arriving in Bonn. The biggest difference was the interaction and learning from discussions with people from different backgrounds and experiences. I was able to connect with other students in university classes.

Life in Bonn is pleasant but busy. It is a place with a diverse population and multicultural environment where you can meet people from different countries and cultures. It has a bike friendly infrastructure where you can ride your bicycle safely. It is a green city so you can spend some time in the alley and read books, visit museums and explore the botanical garden.