Participating in the Erasmus program was a step I had long dreamed of, but also a little hesitant about. Going to a different country, leaving behind my familiar routine, and starting everything from scratch seemed challenging at first. However, this process turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. I arrived Zagreb on 21st of September and had lots of memories there for 4 months.

 I studied as the only international Psychology student at the Faculty of Croatian Studies, which disappointed me about getting only one Psychology course. However, I was able to get courses from related fields, which made everything easier. Academically, Erasmus gave me a different perspective. The way classes were taught was different from my home university, so adapting, following classes in a foreign language, and expressing my ideas fluently in academic language was challenging at first, but over time it changed my approach to learning. I realized I could express myself more comfortably and made significant progress in this area. The professors' caring and helpful attitudes also supported me in this regard. It was easy to communicate with them when something confused me, and their understanding made me feel safe.

 The Erasmus experience contributed not only to my education but also to my personal development. Living in a different country, organizing daily life in different culture, and learning to cope with problems I encountered gave me great self-confidence. I had the opportunity to travel to 8 countries, including Croatia, and doing some of these trips solo allowed me to get to know myself better. The knowledge I have gained about different cultures broadened my perspective on life and things in general.

Finally, this experience in general, showed me how instructive it is to step outside my comfort zone. Although it was very difficult at times, over time Zagreb felt like my second home. Looking back, I can say that Erasmus gave me not only memories but also experiences and awareness that will stay with me for a lifetime.

And I would like to end this with some Croatian phrases that I have learned: Doviđenja. Hvala. Volim Hrvatsku!