Neli Goginava
Catholic University of Lyon (France)
Neli Goginava, student of Sabauni Law Master’s Programme, owner of the Erasmus+ academic scholarship. Neli studied at the Catholic University of Lyon (France) during the 2018-2019 spring semester. Neli tells us about her experience and impressions.
Sabauni gave me an opportunity to spend one academic semester abroad. I studied at the Catholic University of Lyon, France. In the beginning, I had mixed feelings of happiness and being nervous, I did not know what was ahead, what did the environment there look like and how I would manage to live alone but I still did not reject the opportunity and now I am happy to see that I made a right choice. When I arrived there, I immediately realized that my fear gradually went away. When I started studying, new people came to my life that made my presence in a strange environment more interesting. I am happy to communicate with many people from different countries of various cultures.
Before I left for France I was nervous about the different method of teaching and conduction of examinations that awaited me there. I worried about the issue in the first academic week but shortly afterwards I found out there was nothing to worry about and I would do anything. My course-mates and university administration were very kind to me and were always ready to provide me with any assistance. In my opinion, relationships and communication are of greatest importance when being abroad that can help you overcome all difficulties and you no longer free alone.
It is important to engage in an exchange program not only for you to get to know with a new culture but for finding a lot of skills in yourself you thought you did not have at all before. While studying in France I understood what it means to have a skill of logical thinking and decision-making in stressful situations. The need for resolution of your own problem independently assures you that you are much stronger than you thought.
From my point of view students should inevitably participate in exchange programmes especially when they seek new experiences and want to find themselves. I am very happy to have the European experience and came back with the desire to take part in an exchange programme again. It was a cultural experience for me to study in Europe. I visited several countries in Europe as well and developed my English level more. I also started to study French.
The different teaching method I experienced was another new experience and I believe all this will help me in career development.
In conclusion, Erasmus+ gave great opportunities to me but it would be harder to make this dream come true without Sabauni. I am happy that my university always tells me I make the right choices.