Juli Osepashvili, an international student from Georgia, is studying at Windesheim until the summer. For WIN, she is reporting on her experiences.
Zwolle, a charming city in the Netherlands, became much more than a study destination for me- it became my second home. As an Erasmus student, arriving in a new country without family is never easy. Everything is unfamiliar at first, the language, the food, the way of life.
But slowly, something beautiful happens: the city begins to feel like yours. You find comfort in the quiet streets, the rhythm of student life, the local markets, the university halls and even the weather. You start recognizing familiar faces, falling into daily routines and creating memories that will stay with you forever.
Eramus hometown sickness
What no one prepares you for, though, is the goodbye. The most bittersweet part of Erasmus is not the beginning, it’s the end. Just when you fully settle into your new life, when you start calling it home, you have to leave. That’s when “Erasmus hometown sickness” begins.
It’s not just homesickness in reverse. It’s the ache of knowing you’ll never walk the same routes to class, sit in the same classrooms, or live in the same student house. You’ll miss your daily rituals; biking through the city, watching sunsets in the park. And more than anything, you’ll miss the people, the friends who became your family during your short but intense journey together.
Chapter that shaped me
Zwolle isn’t just a place on the map for me. It’s a part of my story, a chapter that shaped me. Every Erasmus student carries a city in their heart, a place that reminds them of growth, challenge, freedom and joy. For me, that place is Zwolle. Leaving is hard, but it means you found something special. And no matter where life takes me, Zwolle will always be my Erasmus hometown.
