Interview with Helena Beceiro Cagiao

Interview with Helena Beceiro Cagiao

1.Can you introduce yourself? (Name, age, faculty/university)

My name is Helena, I'm 22 years old and I come from Spain, concretely from the University of Santiago de Compostela

2.If you’d have to use one word to describe your Erasmus experience, which word would it be (and why)?

Liberating. 

Here I've been able to live more freely. Because of covid restrictions in Spain and some personal reasons regarding to that, I was not doing much back home except studying. Being in another city always makes you hurry up and explore what is out there

3. What was your first impression of your host country/city? Would you choose it again?

It was not my first time in Mostar but I felt safe and would definitely choose it again.

4.What did you learn?

I learned about other cultures, Yugoslavian history, other ways of education, I improved my English and even learned some words in the local language

5. What do you tell people when they ask you how was your Erasmus experience? Would you do it again?

That I'm very happy and in peace. There hasn't been a single day in which I had felt regret for coming. It has been the best decision for me this year

6. What was the most memorable experience that you had during your stay?

Making amazing friends that I'll carry with me forever.

I remember once we were in Jablanica and got lost in a three-hour hike. The weather was extremely hot so, instead of walking all the way back, we tried hitchhiking for the first time in our lives. Such an unforgettable experience

7. What would you have wanted to know before going on Erasmus?

That everything is going to be alright, whatever problem or difficulty is less in Mostar and worries go away with burek and yogurt

8. Do you have any advice for other students?

Just don't doubt about coming here. It's a very cheap place, if you come from whatever European country is going to be a huge cultural shock, you'll learn so much, Bosnian people are so chilled and relaxed they would pass it on you. 

We couldn't travel much because of covid but it's such a well-located country to visit Montenegro, Croatia, Serbia...

Also, maybe flights are a little bit expensive for flying here but instead of going to Sarajevo, check tickets to Dubrovnik or Split and then look for buses to Mostar. It helped me save so much money!