Mariam Kilasonia
Catholic University of Valencia (Spain)
Mariam Kilasonia, a Bachelor program student of psychology at Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University, studied the fall semester of the 2023-2024 academic year at the Catholic University of Valencia (Spain). Her stay was funded by the European Federation of Catholic Universities (FUCE).
As it is known, student exchange programs give the students various interesting experiences and help them develop personal and professional skills. “First of all, this program increased my self-confidence; I became more independent. I made a lot of friends and got to know foreign professors, who honestly shared with us the way of their success. In addition, I became more patient, communicative, and confident. Studying abroad with an exchange program is a kind of responsibility; since you represent your country, you have to introduce it to others in the right way, and doing it successfully increases your confidence." - Mariam Kilasonia.
Returning to Georgia, Mariam thinks that the lives of students in Georgia and Spain are drastically different. "These are two parallel worlds. I think all Georgian students should go abroad to see for themselves the difference between being a Georgian and a foreign student. Apart from the fact that there is a slightly different education system there, the attitude towards education and life in general is also different. Abroad, students are more independent, but in Georgia, for some reason, all students want a good life "served on a platter." I advise all students to participate in exchange programs, enjoy the learning process, and enjoy everyday life. However, before leaving, be sure to consider the amount of the scholarship and the standard of living of the host country to avoid unforeseen situations later.
Returning to Georgia, Mariam will miss the feeling of independence the most. I miss talking and laughing with Spanish students, walking a lot and discovering new places, and feeling that despite the many problems, I was extremely happy to have taken the risk."