Study abroad/Erasmus worries

bleach94

Hey guysn! So I'm in second year in college and will be going to Paris for my Erasmus year in September. I'm going alone which will be good go my French but also a little daunting.
At the moment I'm stuck between living in student accomm near my college or house sharing. Student accomm would be good as I will be living with students (many of whom will be attending my college), have my own little studio and be close to college. However, there's no communal kitchen or anything so it's hard to know if I actually will make friends. Also, my college is in the suburbs, which is quieter and with less fun things to do.
Private accomm has the advantage of living with other people which would quel any loneliness, but I'm still a bit daunted by trying to find random people to live with seeing as I've never lived away from home.

Can anyone offer any tips or advice?

orthsquel

I haven't done an Erasmus year but... what does the college in Ireland and in Paris normally advise to Erasmus or foreign students? Do you know what renting privately in France is like for students? I know a lot of the colleges and unis here in their student support services section generally have a guide for foreign students on what each type of accommodation is like and what to do if they have problems with accommodation.

I'd look into if I was privately renting in a house share of random people (and not necessarily students) what supports there would be for me as a student in taking up a tenancy for a year - and what a typical tenancy agreement would be like, how long would it last - what rights I have, who could I turn to if things went wrong with the landlord or other tenants or if there was a problem and if should I find myself at some point for whatever reason without a roof over my head if there is any support from student services, or am I on my own, and if there is any responsibility on an Erasmus liaison officer to look after me, or do I sign that right away in a private tenancy as opposed to student accommodation whereby if there was a problem with anything in on campus student accommodation, there was always someone to go to to sort it out, even if my grant or something got delayed and couldn't pay right away the rent.

With student accommodation on campus is there any communal area like a common room or specific hall where people can congregate and socialise?

Does the college have something like an Erasmus society where anyone on an exchange can join and get together for social activities, particularly on weekends or during holidays?

Regardless of what you are renting, my experience of house shares has really depended on my own attitude and the attitude of house mates. Even if you were living on campus say with communal areas, other student house mates may not even be around to make friends or be at other people's houses, or busy in the library, or working part time. Same with in private rental, just because you share a kitchen and a bathroom, doesn't often mean much more than house mates and tolerating another house mate, and doesn't automatically result in friendship as some times people do see people they live with as nothing more than house mates.

bleach94

orthsquel wrote: »

I haven't done an Erasmus year but... what does the college in Ireland and in Paris normally advise to Erasmus or foreign students? Do you know what renting privately in France is like for students? I know a lot of the colleges and unis here in their student support services section generally have a guide for foreign students on what each type of accommodation is like and what to do if they have problems with accommodation.

I'd look into if I was privately renting in a house share of random people (and not necessarily students) what supports there would be for me as a student in taking up a tenancy for a year - and what a typical tenancy agreement would be like, how long would it last - what rights I have, who could I turn to if things went wrong with the landlord or other tenants or if there was a problem and if should I find myself at some point for whatever reason without a roof over my head if there is any support from student services, or am I on my own, and if there is any responsibility on an Erasmus liaison officer to look after me, or do I sign that right away in a private tenancy as opposed to student accommodation whereby if there was a problem with anything in on campus student accommodation, there was always someone to go to to sort it out, even if my grant or something got delayed and couldn't pay right away the rent.

With student accommodation on campus is there any communal area like a common room or specific hall where people can congregate and socialise?

Does the college have something like an Erasmus society where anyone on an exchange can join and get together for social activities, particularly on weekends or during holidays?

Regardless of what you are renting, my experience of house shares has really depended on my own attitude and the attitude of house mates. Even if you were living on campus say with communal areas, other student house mates may not even be around to make friends or be at other people's houses, or busy in the library, or working part time. Same with in private rental, just because you share a kitchen and a bathroom, doesn't often mean much more than house mates and tolerating another house mate, and doesn't automatically result in friendship as some times people do see people they live with as nothing more than house mates.

The problem with Paris is, with it being such a big place, accommodation is pricey and hard to find. Student accomm is always oversubscribed, and getting anywhere private that is both reasonably priced and not a shoe-box can be tricky if you leave it late. My International Officer at college says that the Paris college will assist me, but according to most people I've spoken to who have gone to this college, it seems like you're kinda on your own. I haven't discussed with anyone, either in college or over email to any landlords, what my entitlements are as a student/who I can turn to if things go wrong/everything else you said above.
There is a specific Erasmus committee that are supposed to be great with organising events and stuff, so I guess that's something. I'm just doubting now if moving to Paris alone having never previously lived away from home is a good idea

Dick phelan

Hi OP i just came back off my Erasmus in Prague and it was honestly the best 3 months of my life, I'd advise you go to the student accommodation, Being with other students was better i found because you were never out of the loop regarding anything that was going on socially with the Erasmus society ect and it was also where most things like parties happened., Don't worry about going alone, while i went over with someone else the majority of people i made friends with came alone but honestly within a few days it didn't matter because the thing you find is people on Erasmus are generally very friendly and will want to make friends with you as much as you with them, I'd advise you get in touch with the international office or the Erasmus society in the college, they should be able to help you sort out on campus accommodation and will make sure your with other Erasmus students. I totally understand your worries i had them myself before i went on Erasmus but honestly you'll have an amazing time and meet tons of people from all over the world, while going alone is daunting within a week you won't even notice because from my experience the international students and Erasmus society tend to stick together and become very close. I wish you well OP try not to get to worried just get in touch with the international office and they should sort you out with anything.

Dick phelan

I know people who went on Erasmus who didn't have accommodation going over, if you don't have somewhere permanent before you go, you will meet other Erasmus students in the same situation but don't panic it worked out fine for anyone i know who went on Erasmus.

Rubberchikken

from the point of view of peace of mine, having all the facts helps. so talk to whoever organises this in college. try to find out all that's involved. i don't think that just going to paris on the off chance of getting accommodation is the way to go. i also think that being with other students would be preferable to a house share with people who maybe working etc.

it would be more fun and you'd have more in common with other students.

from what i've heard of the erasmus students in our local colleges, they mix well with each other even those who came alone. support in numbers probably but they also seem to fit in well with the local students.

wishing you all the best.

orthsquel

bleach94 wrote: »

I'm just doubting now if moving to Paris alone having never previously lived away from home is a good idea

I don't think it makes a difference where you are moving to (in terms of another country), or moving out for the first time, as it all depends on what your outlook is and how you perceive moving. Yes it's daunting, especially when you're moving out of home for the first time, but if you set yourself in the mindset that it's an opportunity to start new, challenge yourself on survival skills and give yourself a chance without massive expectation or pressure on yourself, it won't matter if you're moving to Portumna or Paris or anywhere else in between as the process is the same. People do get homesick living a few hours away in another county or in another country and that's normal and expected if you do, because you're out of the comfort zone and out of familiarity, as well as away from those you rely on. The main thing is that you acknowledge that it's possible you'll get homesick and even just having contact with home can pick up your spirits but bear in mind that while you're gone, all you'll be missing is the normal every day routine and familiarity.

I would suggest that if you feel you're going to struggle or you're not sure how you will cope on your own, for the first time, make sure you have some goals set out for yourself of what you want to achieve while in Paris, get connected with the Erasmus committee and people in it, a lot of other students will probably be able to relate and you can support eachother, and make sure you have support at home and while in Paris.