Sometimes behind the beautiful picture there also can be drawbacks. We’re always picky about everything and can’t stand struggling with obstacles, but for better or worse, they are crucial. The very first experience is always of great significance. It doesn’t matter if it was frustrating, learning, or jam-packed with hurdles. Today, we’d like to share the story of our FRI member Leokadiia Shuhurova from Kyiv, who participated in the Erasmus+ Youth exchange in Portugal.
Was it your first Erasmus+ project, and were there any hurdles during the application campaign?
Yes, it was my first project, though I have wishy-washy impressions. No problems cropped up during the application campaign, but there was a tiny inconvenience. I had already started making some other plans back then.
What were your main tasks during the project?
All the participants were working on game production. It was dedicated to the main objectives of our program and related to the youth’s mental health. Then we played it together.
How, in your opinion, did the situation in Ukraine influence the way Erasmus+ projects are held?
When the Ukrainian team comes, then, of course, they emphasize what is happening in our country. I’ve heard that they mostly tried to avoid talking about the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions till 2022. Now, on the contrary, they raise this topic more often.
What did you like the most about the program?
I definitely enjoyed working with our Ukrainian team. We quickly hit it off with the Lithuanian team from the very beginning. There were two of them. They were our age, whereas the other participants were younger than us.
Were there any screw-ups?
There was an interesting situation with our organizers. One of them was almost all the time with us and managed the program, but when it came to some organizational questions, he would wash his hands of them.
Wasn’t the language barrier a problem for you?
It was hardly a problem. Especially easy for us was the communication with our teammates from Lithuania. As time passed, we stopped speaking in English and created our language. But, obviously, we mostly used English.
If you were to apply for the Erasmus+ project again, would you do that? Why?
Yes, but I need some rest, at least for now. There were enough drawbacks to that project. I need to recharge my batteries first in order to think about future projects.
As you can see, it’s impossible to do everything perfectly. Sometimes you should go through some frustrating experiences to understand what’s wrong and then move on. So don’t be afraid to test yourself, make mistakes, and hit it big!
By Anastasiia Shtupun