Plans for an Erasmus in Wallonia

After spending time as a trainee at the Embassy of Wallonia, and as a student at the faculty of French humanities at ELTE University in Budapest, the next step is now quite obvious, to go to Wallonia with Erasmus. But how? And what are my plans once I am there? I'll explain them to you now. 

According to public opinion, the Erasmus programme is undoubtedly the most successful of all the European Union's programmes. It is not only the most successful programme, but also the only programme without criticism or negative effects. So, it was not surprising to see that the EU plans to double the programme's budget in the 2021-2027 budget period, an action very well received by all university students in Europe. 

Personally, not to participate in this programme was not an option. If the reasons given at the start of this article were not enough, there is still the fact that I have been a mentor at ESN (the Erasmus Student Network, an organisation that helps foreign students locally) for the past two years where I have had the opportunity to talk to many of the students who have come to Budapest from the European countries under the Erasmus programme (including some from Wallonia). What they told me was so persuasive that I didn't hesitate for a moment. I submitted my application with three places listed where I could imagine myself with Erasmus for a term: Montpellier, Nice and Liège. The results came after a month, I had been given a place at the University of Liège. I was so happy that a Walloon city had accepted me, that this happiness compensated for the bureaucratic procedures that accompanied this application. Although I don't leave for Liège until January 2019, I am already excited about this opportunity. 

With regards my plans, there are two major ones; the first is to gather materials and conduct research for my thesis which will aim to present the situation of the French language in Belgium from a linguistic and political standpoint. The second is to discover this magnificent country as much as possible and enjoy a profound experience of the Walloon culture and mentality. To live like a Walloon and share all my adventures here with you as well. 

To be continued...