By Ruth Isioma Innocent
The dream of studying abroad has always felt like a beacon for me; a distant goal that guided my attitude towards my academics and fueled my ambition to excel. I have always day dreamed about my life in a foreign country.
When the opportunity for the Erasmus exchange program arrived at Veritas University, in collaboration with the College of Social and Media Culture (AKSiM), it felt as though the universe was finally aligning with my aspirations. I was at the edge of my seat in the conference hall listening to Professor Lizut explain the Erasmus plus program and its requirements.
The journey began with a surge of adrenaline. I called my parents to inform them about the program and they gave me their full support. I then threw myself into the application process: securing recommendation letters from some of my lecturers, sponsorship letters from my parents and maintaining the stellar grades that defined my academic career.
The final interview at the Directorate for Advancement and International Collaboration was nerve-wracking, but I tried as much as possible to express myself and speak eloquently while answering all the interview questions.
Serving as the course representative of my department taught me leadership skills I also needed to qualify for the interview. I was then sent a message after a few days that I had qualified for the Erasmus scholarship. Being selected as one of the top five students among so many bright peers was the validation I had been chasing.
The whirlwind that followed, signing learning agreements, requesting visa interviews, securing travel insurance, and finally getting those flight tickets, was quite stressful. However, I was excited as each process was a step closer to my dream.
My parents were so proud they threw a farewell party for me to celebrate with my friends. Saying goodbye was the hard part, having to leave my friends and my family for a period of 4 months brought tears to my eyes.
The departure day at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport was a beautiful blur. Surrounded by my parents and loved ones, I was joined by my fellow qualifiers. The presence of Sister Kathleen, Miss Blessing, Mr. Ben Agande, the Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications of Veritas University, and the Veritas Media team made it feel like a grand mission. We posed for photos wearing our official school shirts and jackets.
However, travel is never without its plot twists. The flight from Nigeria to Ethiopia, a journey of roughly 4,400 kilometers was just the beginning. Upon arriving in Ethiopia, we were told our connecting flight to Vienna was overbooked.
What could have been a disaster turned into a strange adventure as the airline put us up in a hotel, covering our food and stay. We were eventually allowed to board the next day for our flight to Vienna which lasted for over six hours. By the time we arrived Austria, navigated the massive Vienna airport and caught our final flight to Warsaw, I was exhausted but ready for Poland.
Of course, the travel gods had one more test, our luggage did not arrive with us. We filed our complaints, but as we walked out of the airport the sight of a student from AKSiM holding a brightly decorated “Erasmus” sign made all the weariness melt away.
The two-hour train ride to Toruń, where we stood the entire time, was a small price to pay for the adventure ahead. When we finally reached the AKSiM dormitory, I was amazed. My room was spacious, complete with a cozy single bed, a modern shower, and all the storage I could need. Having a fridge, freezer compartment and a kitchen felt like luxury.
Life in Poland brought immediate culture shocks, like the quiet of the Sundays when stores are required to close in respect of the Sabbath day or the absolute necessity of respecting the zebra crossing. Transportation in Toruń was made easy through an app called Jakdojade where you can get the schedule of buses, trains or trams close to your location. I missed the bus a few times but I quickly got the hang of it. I felt myself growing more independent by the second.
After three long days, our luggage finally arrived, and once my mentor helped me open a Polish bank account and receive my scholarship grant, I felt like a true resident. I spent my first grocery trip stuffing my fridge with local goods, ready to start cooking.
The dorm’s recreational rooms became my favorite spot. I have met students from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Ukraine, Kosovo, and Georgia, creating a colorful tapestry of global friendships. We meet up to talk about our family and friends back home, share culture practices and languages. We also play card games, computer games, pool, watch movies and go out together to explore the city.
At the university, meeting the Rector over lunch made us feel like honored guests. Exploring Toruń has been an amazing experience; from wandering the Old Town and visiting its rich museums to standing in awe of the statues and historic architecture, I have fallen in love with this city and its food, too.
Academically, studying abroad is everything and more I thought it was going to be. AKSim dormitory has lecture rooms so students do not have to leave the comfort of the dorm to go all the way to the main campus for classes. These lecture rooms are equipped with televisions, projectors, computers and Wi-Fi routers for online classes. Whether I am in a lecture room right in the dorm, attending online classes or at the main campus, I’m constantly challenged to be a better student.
In my audio-visual class, I am learning the magic of green screens, mastering camera shots, and blending audio in Adobe Audition. For my Radio and Drama documentary class I have leant to write scripts for radio and drama and even performed them for my class mates to watch, I have also acted mimes and other dramas where speech is prohibited but we are allowed to make use of sounds to create meaning.
I spend some of my afternoons wandering outdoors to capture the sound of the wind, rustling leaves, and bird calls for my drama assignments. At the radio studio, we record our radio programs broadcasted for the school community.
The Polish professors here encourage me to represent my country with pride through presentations and assignments based on Nigeria’s international relations with other countries, Nigeria’s political structure and how to provide solutions to it’s global and economic problems. Learning about Polish language and culture in class has deepened my respect for this country. From being invited to speak about my Erasmus journey on Polish national TV (TV Trwam) alongside a friend from Namibia, to visiting the breathtaking sites of Warsaw on a group trip, this experience has been everything I dreamed of and more.
Now, as I look at the calendar, I realize I have one more month left in this beautiful country, and honestly, the excitement is bubbling up all over again. I feel like I have only just scratched the surface. There are still so many corners of Toruń I am yet to explore, new local events waiting to be discovered, and so many more stories to hear from the incredible people I have met. I am fully committed to making every single day count. I cannot wait to dive into new adventures, attend more cultural gatherings, and soak up every bit of Polish magic before my time here concludes.
Beyond the adventures still waiting for me in this final month, there is a growing, warm anticipation in my heart for the journey home. I am absolutely bursting with stories to share from the technical skills I have mastered in the studio to the life lessons learned while navigating foreign transit systems and diverse cultures.
I cannot wait to sit down with my course mates and friends at Veritas University to pass on everything I have learnt while encouraging them to chase their own international dreams with the same passion that led me here. The thought of reuniting with my family who have been my biggest cheerleaders from day one fills me with so much joy. I am heading back not just with a transcript full of knowledge, but with a heart full of memories, a broader perspective on the world, and a renewed energy to contribute to the media landscape back home in Nigeria.
This exchange has been the adventure of a lifetime, and I am so ready to bring all that magic back to those I love most. This experience has been so much more than just an academic exchange; it has been a profound personal transformation and I am savoring every single remaining moment.
Ruth Innocent, a 300 Level students of Mass Communication Department, Veritas University, Abuja is on Exchange Programme in Poland.
