Erasmus or an internship abroad not only looks great on your CV, it also creates unforgettable experiences. To reassure the home front, students blog away. We're very curious what they have to say!
Evelyne Van Cleven – Newcastle, Great Britain
After a month it was time to explore the wider area with some Scandinavian friends. With a rental car we drove north and the first stop on our tour was Hadrian's Wall. Then we crossed the Scottish border and after a not so refreshing night in a youth hostel we ventured into Gray Mare's Tail Nature Reserve, a nature reserve where you can see a 61 m waterfall, but the physical effort was also breath-taking. (laughs)Yes, climbing 700 meters is quite a job for someone from the flat West Flanders! And those seasoned Scandinavians and thousands of sheep seemed to be hopping inexhaustibly and merrily up the mountain. At a certain point it really got a bit too steep for me and also too foggy and I even got a bit panicky, because the sheep were nowhere to be seen and the most experienced hiker informed him that he had lost his way. The descent went much better for me. When the panting had stopped and the fog had lifted, my jaw dropped in amazement: the gigantic lake and waterfall are a thousand times more impressive from a great height! This weekend in nature contrasted sharply with the vibrant day-and-nightlife in Newcastle. It made me happy, but I was still happy to be 'home' again.
Ine Mensch – Bergen, Norway
Since I first arrived here in mid-August, three seasons have already passed. The first weeks we could enjoy beautiful summer weather and we walked through the city in T-shirts, at the end of September the leaves started to change colour and on October 18th, the first snow. Now, winter is in full swing, which is clearly noticeable in the low temperatures: -5, -7 and it gets colder quickly. Last week, during one of our weekly mountain hikes, we were even able to cross the lake on foot, after a thorough check of course. The days are also starting to get darker. The sun shines two hours less every day than in Belgium and that feels very strange. Sometimes it seems like you can go to sleep again after noon. On the other hand, I can say that the sun has been out more often then at home. (laughs)
Sharon Desaever – Paris, France
Ah, Paris Lingerie and macarons - a decadent sweet - a baguette at the newspaper, a croissant filled with butter on the subway, Moelleux au chocolat or 'calory bomb cake' with hot chocolate: c'est la haute cuisine! I have already bought a few cookbooks to surprise friends at home like a true Parisienne and I also treat myself weekly with a discovery visit to the bakery. My roommate, who went out all evening, had told me before she left: 'There is still une tarte in the fridge that can be used, so if you feel like it, take it.' Apple pie! You don't have to tell me twice, so I warmed up the plate in the microwave, added a scoop of vanilla ice cream and started eating enthusiastically. But what a strange taste those apple pieces had, they looked like... mushrooms?! Gosh, I hadn't realized at all that une tarte could also be the salty variety, like a quiche. In the meantime, I'm juggling with such tartes aux mushrooms and believe me, I won't make that mistake again.
Here's an overview of just a few ISIC benefits
you can score:
Withlocals is a peer-to-peer marketplace connecting travellers with locals through unique travel experiences in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
If you're looking for the perfect hotel, apartment, hostel or treehouse – Hotels.com got you covered with its 300.000 properties around the world! Verify your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card and receive an extra 10% off online bookings, on top of the current on-site promotion.
Booking.com connects travellers with the world’s largest selection of incredible places to stay, including everything from apartments, vacation homes, and family-run B&Bs to 5-star luxury resorts, tree houses and even igloos. With a mission to empower people to experience the world, Booking.com invests in digital technology that helps take the friction out of travel. Available in 43 languages and offers more than 28 million total reported accommodation listings. No matter where you want to go or what you want to do, Booking.com makes it easy and backs it all up with 24/7 customer support. Best Price Guarantee. No Booking Fees. Save up to 15% with Genius and Get 4% Cashback with ISIC.
FlixBus is a company that offers transport in Europe. Use your ISIC on the FlixBus website and get 10% discount for your ticket.
Our exclusive programme, Student Club, is dedicated to offering you unparalleled opportunities, savings and more so you can aim for the skies throughout your educational journey.
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