Most people who have taken part in Erasmus+ say the same thing: they only wish they had applied sooner. It sounds like a cliché, but the reason almost everyone says it is because it happens to be true.

This isn’t an article about how beautiful the streets of Berlin are or how cool it is to meet people from 12 different countries. This is an honest explanation of what an international youth exchange actually provides and what it actually asks of you.

1. You learn how to communicate with people who think differently

It’s not about language skills, although your English really does improve when you use it every day outside of school. It’s about something else: when you live with young people from Poland, Spain, and Portugal, you quickly realize that they make decisions differently, argue differently, and perceive time differently.

At first, it’s irritating. After a week, you start to understand why. This insight is more useful than any communication course.

2. You see what self-confidence looks like before you have it yourself

Erasmus+ programs bring together young people from many different backgrounds. Some are very self-confident, while others are just as insecure as you are. But something happens when a person finds themselves in a new environment without their usual social support systems: they either shut down or they start to take action.

Most choose the latter, because the alternative is spending the week in a corner. It is one of those rare situations in life where circumstances push you forward almost physically.

3. The line on your CV is the last reason to apply

But it is still there. Employers in Latvia and abroad understand what Erasmus+ means on a resume. It’s not just “I went abroad”; it is proof that you were able to function in an unfamiliar environment, adapt, and complete a specific project or program. It will come in handy.

Just don’t make it your main motivation, because then you won’t get nearly as much out of the experience as you could.

4. You figure out what you want much faster than you would at home

Most young people think they are independent until they have to navigate an airport in a foreign country alone, manage a budget for a week, or solve a problem when there is no one nearby who speaks their language.

Erasmus+ is like a safe simulator for real life. You are responsible for yourself, but you are not completely alone. It is a chance to prove to yourself that you can handle things. And that feeling – that you can cope with the unknown – is much more valuable than any certificate you receive at the end.

5. You meet people you will stay in touch with for years

It’s not guaranteed, and not every group clicks in a way that leads to lifelong friendships. However, an international youth exchange creates conditions where friendships form faster than usual because the intensity is higher. You eat together, work together, and solve problems together within a limited timeframe.

Some of the people you meet will have a different perspective on work, money, or education than anyone in your circle back in Latvia. And that remains useful long after the program has ended.

Erasmus+ youth exchange programs are also available through organizations working with non-formal education in Latvia. If you’re interested in how to apply or what to expect from the selection process, you can check out Inspiria’s current projects.