About the Author
Omotese Victory Rowland is a pharmacy student and Erasmus recipient with a strong passion for public health and global development, particularly in advancing Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 13. She is committed to addressing health inequities through research, advocacy, and community engagement, aiming to bridge gaps in healthcare access and outcomes. Beyond her academic pursuits, Omotese enjoys creative and reflective writing, exploring history, traveling, and knitting. She is always seeking opportunities to grow, refine her research skills, and contribute meaningfully to her community.
You know that feeling when you receive a wrapped gift and you keep turning it over, trying to guess what is inside?That was exactly how I felt walking out of the VFS Global office with my passport sealed inside a brown envelope.I held it the entire way home, wondering what awaited me on the other side of that visa stamp.Looking back now, after completing my exchange program at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Poland, I realize I was carrying how much of a transformative experience Erasmus is. I still remember landing in Warsaw for the first time. The moment felt strangely familiar, almost like déjà vu. It reminded me of my first arrival at Istanbul Airport, the same mix of emotions, already missing my family, and the undeniable excitement of stepping into something new. People often say experience is the best teacher, but some experiences do more than teach. They become a part of you. My time in Poland was one of such experiences
Living in a different country gave me the chance to learn beyond the classroom. I discovered new habits, humour, and ways of thinking from the people I met. The conversations I had with friends from different countries reminded me that we all see things differently, what we value, and what has shaped us. It made me see just how multidimensional life truly is. One of the most unforgettable parts of the exchange was travelling from place to place.Walking through the majestic streets of Vienna, standing by the canals in France, and moving through cities I had only seen in photographs often felt surreal. I remember the moment when we got off the bus and I saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time. It was at that moment I realised how real this experience was; it all felt like out of a movie.The museums across Europe especially stayed with me. There was something powerful about seeing how intentionally history and art are preserved. Every room, every painting, every artifact felt like a conversation between the past and the present. Experiencing that level of dedication to cultural heritage unexpectedly made me appreciate my own culture even more.Travel also introduced me to the joy of food as a form of memory. It was an amazing experience being able to try different cuisines.Trying Belgian waffles in Belgium, Slovakian bread soup, and sharing meals with friends made every trip feel even more memorable.
Of course, not every moment went according to plan. One of the most memorable mishaps happened during my early days abroad when I forgot my passport at home and ended up missing a flight to Finland with my friends. At the time, it was frustrating. But sudden changes in plans like that taught me the value of being proactive and diligent.Travel has a way of teaching flexibility in real time. Things will not always go as planned, but you learn that you are capable of adjusting, recovering, and still finding joy in the experience.
When people ask about exchange programs, the conversation often revolves around travel, sightseeing, and social life. One of my greatest highlights was the academic experience itself.The classes I had with my professors, the energy of the lectures, and especially the fun I had in the labs made learning feel exciting and deeply immersive. There is just something about the journey that pushes you to want to be better in all aspects, to seek excellence especially after coming back home.
Often, people talk a lot about leaving home, but not enough about what it feels like to return.Coming back to the place you call home after months away is its own kind of journey. Home is the same, yet not the same at the same time. The streets are familiar, the routines are familiar, but everything feels different, foreign even. I remember when we were trying to cross the road and my friend crossed on the red light; I was so surprised at that time because my life for the past few months had been about abiding by strict traffic rules.
In many ways, the brown envelope I carried home from the visa office was more than just a passport. It was the beginning of an experience that changed how I see the world, how I understand people, and even how I understand myself
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