Don’t Wait Until You Feel Ready: My Erasmus in Istanbul

My decision to participate in the Erasmus programme was made on somewhat of a whim; I didn’t originally plan to do it at all. But my best friends were going, I was already almost halfway through my degree, and who knew if I’d get the chance again to literally get paid to study in another country? After being persuaded by my friends, I sat down at my desk and got to work.

My first order of business was choosing which country I wanted to go to. Easy, right? Wrong. With over 30 options in Europe alone, plus opportunities in Asia, Africa, and South America, I was spoiled for choice in schools that supported my programme (Liberal Arts in Social Sciences). Did I want to stay in Europe, where it was more familiar? Or did I want to branch out and experience something completely different? Big city or small town? Hot or cold weather? What about the school itself? Living costs? Safety? Food? Public transport? Student life? There were so many things to consider.

Though it was a bit stressful, I did love diving into each country during my research and imagining what it might be like to study and live there. Plus, I had a lot of support from my professors and the staff at TLU, who were always happy to help with my decision-making and questions I had. And finally, after days of careful thinking, a couple of meetings with the Erasmus coordinators, and pages upon pages of notes, I settled on my Erasmus city: Istanbul, Türkiye.

"If I could give one piece of advice to anyone who’s thinking about doing an Erasmus exchange, my advice is this: Don’t wait until you feel fully ready to go, because you probably never will."

And what a decision that would turn out to be.

In February 2026, I packed my bags and set out to begin my journey at Boğaziçi University. I didn’t know very much about Türkiye at all, and here I was, about to trade my somewhat quiet life in Tallinn for a city with almost 16 (!) times the number of people as the entire country of Estonia. I remember being excited, but at the same time, this felt like the craziest side quest I’d ever done.

One of the first things I realized about studying abroad was how much you learn outside the classroom. Of course, you’re there to learn from lectures and get credits, but the extent of my learning went beyond what I read in textbooks. Experiencing the everyday life of being a university student in Istanbul was truly unique and really opened my eyes to how different, yet similar, people can be, no matter where they come from. I was allowed to experience a culture completely different from my own, in a way that I couldn’t have learned from just reading a book or visiting as a tourist. I began to notice things that we don’t even think about in our regular day-to-day. Social customs, mannerisms, everyday routines, food, language, and the way people interact with each other. Things that seemed unfamiliar to me at first gradually became natural in my everyday life. Now that I’m back in Tallinn, I still find myself smiling and saying hello to the shopkeeper every time I walk into a store, even when they don’t say hello back every time.

Another thing Erasmus teaches you is independence. Even if you’ve moved abroad before (like I had), being in a completely different country forces you to navigate a new world on your own. You’re responsible for figuring things out for yourself and finding solutions to problems you might have never had back at home. Sometimes, even the most meticulous planners just have to figure it out as they go. How do I get a metro card? Is there a student discount? How do I get to the transport bureau? What even is that? While it can get stressful, you eventually do settle in once it gets familiar and feels more like a home. Soon enough, you’ll be calling yourself a local and can confidently say you’ve conquered public transportation in a foreign country.

Then, of course, there’s the social aspect of Erasmus.

Being in an international student environment is such a unique and fulfilling experience. Suddenly, your social circle is no longer limited to people you grew up with, who speak the same language as you, and who come from the same culture. Suddenly, you’re spending time with people who have an entirely different perspective on life, solely because of where they came from. Things about your everyday life back at home that seem normal to you might be an eye-opening and entirely new thing to someone else.

There’s also something remarkable about the friendships you form while studying abroad. I can confidently say that the friends I made during my Erasmus exchange are some of the best ones I’ve ever had. All of us went through the same process of navigating a new country and being away from home, and because of that, we really understood and leaned on each other. We built connections that are hard to explain to someone who has never gone through this experience. Even though our exchange has now ended and we live all around the world, we still remember each other’s birthdays and drop an inside joke here and there in our group chats. I got to build close friendships with people who I might not have ever come close to crossing paths with otherwise, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.

Perhaps one of the biggest lessons Erasmus taught me was learning how to step out of my comfort zone. Even just applying to go was nerve-wracking, but to actually dive into it fully on my own was intimidating, to say the least. It’s easy to fall into daily routines and get used to the comforts of familiarity. But studying abroad forces you to think differently. To go beyond what’s familiar to you. You begin to realize that you’re so much more capable than you realize. That you can do difficult things on your own. You become more confident in yourself and your abilities. You become more open to new experiences. And not only that, but you also get the opportunity to learn from people whose experiences and lives differ from yours.

Of course, Erasmus is not all sunshine and rainbows all the time. There are difficult days. I went through homesickness, academic struggles, and a bit of loneliness at times. Living abroad isn’t a permanent holiday, and it’s important to acknowledge that. But even through the few tough times, you come out of the experience knowing how to appreciate the exciting moments while becoming better at getting through the more difficult moments.

And eventually, you realize that the place you once considered unfamiliar and intimidating suddenly feels like a second home, even long after you’ve left. Though my exchange ended months ago, I still hold Istanbul close to my heart, and I know I always will.

Looking back, I think that’s what makes the Erasmus experience so hard to put into words. It’s not just about going on a long holiday or putting a cool thing on your CV. It’s about the person you become along the way. It’s about discovering new interests, new people, new perspectives, and realizing that the world is so much bigger than you might realize.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone who’s thinking about doing an Erasmus exchange, my advice is this: Don’t wait until you feel fully ready to go, because you probably never will. I didn’t even think I would do it at all because of how overwhelming it seemed at first. But sometimes, the best decisions are the ones that take you somewhere you never originally planned to go.

So, if you’re wondering whether Erasmus is worth it, it’s a resounding yes from me. I finally understand what those people meant when they said, “You’d just have to experience it to understand.” And if you have the opportunity to go, I genuinely think you should.

Read more about Erasmus opportunities here and remember: the best stories begin the moment you step out of your comfort zone!