I've now been back in the UK for just over a week and yet Austria feels like a lifetime ago. I did jump straight back into life here, which was a conscious decision - I didn't want to be moping around thinking about life in Vienna when I should be getting on with life here, so after, what will hopefully be my last stop over in Heathrow for a long time, I arrived back in Scotland with my mum in tow. Our flight to Edinburgh had been a bit more exciting than usual due to the fact that we shared it with a number of politicians including Menzies Campbell, and BBC journalists, who I presume were on their way up for the European Elections.
As soon as I got to Edinburgh I immediately moved into my new flat, which I have my wonderful flatmate, Michael, to thank for finding it and sorting out all of the admin as the rest of us jetted around the world, and it is absolutely amazing! I started work again on Monday the 8th - in the same summer job at the National Wallace Monument, and it felt like I'd never left. Hardly anything has changed. I know that that unsettles a lot of people returning home as they feel that they've changed but nothing else has, but it was actually quite comforting. I think it helped that everyone there was really interested in hearing about my year abroad, it's good to be able to tell other people about it and realise just what a great opportunity it was. I sometimes forget just how much I've done while I've been away until someone asks me 'so, how many countries did you visit?' or talks about how they've always wanted to go to a Viennese Ball and I can tell them that I've been to one.
To briefly mention the European elections before I try and summarise this amazing year, I think that Erasmus has definitely broadened my knowledge about European politics and I couldn't believe just how apathetic the British people were and how little campaigning there seemed to be. In Austria there were posters everywhere and you knew exactly who was standing and what their policies were, whereas in the UK you had to do a lot of research just to see who was running. I can't say I was surprised when the BNP gained their first two seats but it did disgust me somewhat - especially as it was a pattern which was seen all over Europe. Austria is particularly conservative and their far-right party, which took an anti-Muslim line for the elections also gained ground.
It's really difficult to summarise just what I've taken from this year. It has definitely allowed me time and perspective to think about what I want to do later. It has also affected how I make important decisions; taking into account what my friends and family say but ultimately making an independent decision. Before we started our Erasmus year we were told all about the qualities we would gain and how we would be more independent, confident and open-minded and I was always a little doubtful as to what I would gain from the experience, but I have gained far more than I could ever have imagined. I've made some amazing, life-long friends, visited so many different places, experienced a completely different culture first hand and gained valuable teaching experience.
Erasmus has been one of the best experiences of my life and I think that everyone should take the opportunity to live and study or work abroad if they can.
