My name is Jihan, and as a Student Ambassador for StudyinRomania, I recently had the incredible opportunity to serve as a speaker at the Erasmus Generation Meeting (EGM) 2026 in Split, Croatia. It was an unforgettable experience, though the journey there was anything but simple!
A chaotic start
Our journey began on April 16th, and to put it lightly, it was a bit chaotic. My colleague and I were originally scheduled to fly from Bucharest to Split via Munich. However, an airline strike forced a last-minute change, and we ended up taking a much longer route through Istanbul and Zagreb. The drama peaked in Zagreb; due to a technical issue, we were kept waiting inside the airplane for an hour, resulting in a total delay of 1.5 hours. We finally arrived in Split at midnight on April 17th, unfortunately missing the opening ceremony.
Energy and enthusiasm
Despite the exhaustion, the second day of the meeting was where the real adventure began. Walking into the venue at Gripe Hall, I was struck by the electric atmosphere and the energy of students from across the ESN network. The venue was filled corner-to-corner with chants and enthusiasm that truly filled my heart.
One of the highlights was visiting the ESN Expo, where students from different countries showcased their cultures and home nations. It was a beautiful display of international diversity. I also took the opportunity to conduct interviews with the participants, capturing their stories and excitement, which made me feel even more connected to the global ESN community.
Taking the stage
On the third day, I had the honor of being a speaker for the session “Get to Know & Work with Your (International) Skillset” alongside Study in NL. It was a privilege to explain the StudyinRomania Student Ambassador program and share my own reflections on international skills with participants from across the ESN network
Exploring the beauty of Split
After my session, I explored the city of Split. It is a captivating place with beautiful seaside views. I fell in love with the city and enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner to celebrate.
Homeward bound
On April 19th, we began our trip back to Romania via Frankfurt. This was an unforgettable journey, and I will always miss the Erasmus Generation Meeting and the city of Split.
See you on the next journey!