erasmus
Pan-Slavism, Slovio and Polish the 'status symbol'
The Slavic languages all have their roots in Proto-Slavic. Since the twelfth century, however, they have drifted apart. One of them reached its zenith in the seventeenth century: Polish
erasmus, belarus, tower of babel, alcohol, languages, esperanto, bulgaria
How an Italian boy became a ‘happiness coach’
Born in the land of ‘la dolce vita’, Bergamo-born Frank Ra, 32, travelled Europe before publishing a book on happiness. He offers his thoughts on spiritual scepticism, being a former erasmus student or ex-pat and how ‘no place is perfect unless we accept it with all its features’
erasmus, italy, depression, psychology, health, estonia, expatriates
When I was at the EU in the seventies...
For Europeans to find courage, we first have to be scared. So far it’s taken three big shocks to shake Europe into life: war in the 40s, an economic crisis in the 70s and the fall of the Berlin wall at the end of the 90s. The financial crash retakes the baton in the noughties. Time for the ‘euro-generation’ to take things into hand
erasmus, jacques delors, europe, josé manuel barroso, eurogeneration, politics
German tourists in Scotland: Scotch malt at airport and haggis for breakfast
German holiday-makers come to Scotland for a variety of reasons: for a sip (or several) of the water of life, to trace the steps of history in crumbling, misty castles – or simply because the flights to Iceland were too expensive. Whatever their reasons, a German's visit to Caledonia is often shaped by a few key food and drink experiences. Musings of a Scottish tour guide
erasmus, scotland, germany, food, gastronomy, haggis, lifestyle
Self-identification, multiculturalism and erasmus in the EU
In a world where the physical borders are a blur, no wonder the mental ones are blurring as well. With nationalists turning to the 'protection of Europe' rather than the 'protection of the homeland', it is fair to say that the erasmus generation is the face of future Europe. United within itself, far past the division to Germans, French, Poles, or Italians, it's an identity in its own right - even for me
erasmus, identity, angela merkel, thilo sarrazin, israel, youth, multiculturalism
German erasmus student on life in Istanbul
Who speaks English? Why don't men look me in the eye? Why do people still wear headscarves? A score of questions hit the European newcomer studying in the Turkish city
erasmus, university, mustafa kemal atatürk, turkey, religion and democracy, party, students
Study philosophy in Europe: France’s discern is UK’s ticket to top
In the collective (French) conscience, it’s a lunar individual who studies philosophy, disconnected from the modern world and who brushes aside finance and marketing books. In reality their anxiety for the future remains a young one, choked by the crisis and demanding whether Socrates or Aristotle can really still mean something
erasmus, university, philosophy, europe, school, students, society
Arno Jullien: 'erasmus should be obligatory to compare simple things in life'
He collaborated with Yann-Arthus Bertrand on '6 Billion Others', and he's back with Europalive. The 52-minute film from his travels in 24 EU countries over two months gives 'Europe a human face'. With no financial support, the 32-year-old from Cannes filmed the homeless to company execs to immerse himself in their perceptions, loves and hates
erasmus, documentary, cinema, europe, european media, european union, travel
University-educated flee and woo Lithuania: emigration and erasmus
An increasing number of students are asking professor Žilvinas Martinaitis at the University of Vilnius to let them take their exams at the end of May. This would allow them to go abroad - most popularly, to the UK, Ireland or Scandinavia - to work, and return with some extra money in October, a month after the official term start. Lithuanian and eramus students, professors and politicians explain the phenomenon
erasmus, eucrisis on the ground, money, university, labour, economical crisis, education system
Meet the Erasmus elite: bright stars in a global recession?
What do a loud-mouthed English ladette, a svelte Ukrainian vamp, a dashing Polish casanova and a bagpipe-playing Frenchman all have in common? Bar-stool jokes aside, they're all members of YRN - the association of European regions' youth network. About 150 people meet annually to discuss how to use Europe to hoist them out of the economic doldrums. cafebabel.com caught up with them in Paris this December
erasmus, paris, youth, eurogeneration, regions, travel, economic crisis
'Erasmus is about discovering Europe'
Like many an old advertising cliché, the erasmus student exchange programme offers a ‘dual action’ experience. After the culture shock, the parties, the multinational encounters and the adventures across Spain, come the trips to visit new found friends, in all corners of Europe. This new European consciousness keeps us coming back for more
erasmus, european identity, university, friendship, europe, seville, spain
Discrimination: finding a place to live in Paris
Real Parisians know it all too well; even they need several months and an agency, usually, to find a home within the city limits, on the commuter belt of one of the 20 Parisian ‘arrondissements’ (administrative districts). But then how do foreigners fare in the cut-throat Parisian housing market?
erasmus, flat hunting, university, paris, expatriates, students, society
cafebabel's most commented articles of 2009
Imlaq on the Israel-Palestinian conflict: 'cafe babel is biased in writing only about Israelis.' Bob on French language learners: 'Americans and Britons probably don't do much better than the French when it comes to languages.' Oriane about the extreme right in Europe: 'It’s a pity to throw nazillon in everywhere.' Georges on the Erasmus programme: 'Most of the french students are afraid.' Peter about parlorama.eu: 'Miss Koch-Mehrin is one of the worst - she’s never at parliament!' A small compilation of the best reader comments in 2009 - be sure to leave us yours for 2010! Happy new year
- Read the special edition cafebabel's most commented articles of 2009
- Eyewitness Israel: Gaza, war and the wall of incomprehension between Europe
- Why would you not do Erasmus?
- Parlorama.eu portal reopens despite EU politician threats
- Europe's far-right youth: '10 years ago we were 'Nazi losers'. Now it’s ok to be a Nazi'
- Take back your Portuguese worker: how racist is Europe?
- French citizens ‘Balkan-level’ skill at the English language
Scandinavia, new top erasmus destination?
In 2008, almost 13, 700 students on the 'erasmus' student exchange programme were drawn to countries in northern Europe. Finland, Sweden and even Norway aren't yet threatening Spain in its pole position as Europe's most popular destination, but they're generating an enormous amount of debate, between cliches and untruths. From student salaries in Denmark to Finnish e-courses, we tackle the young man or woman's Nordic myth
- Read the special edition Scandinavia, new top erasmus destination?
- Why Scandinavians do life better
- Sauna, an A-level in drinking beer: my erasmus semester in Tampere, Finland
- Young Europeans would like to be Scandinavian
- Fever Ray, Peter Bjorn and John: Swedish music right now
- University in Denmark is free for EU citizens, plus other fantasy-realities
- Flexicurity is Scandinavian example for European model
I quit Facebook - even Bill Gates did
More than 250 million people have registered themselves on Facebook. This spectacular number will soon be surpassed; the social network is growing at a rate of 5 million users a week. Nonetheless, the giant is not unstoppable. Its critics are also multiplying, and some are choosing to log off the network for the final time
erasmus, communication , internet, china, facebook, united states, blogs
Study in Sweden: an American on Swedish and alcohol for the cold
Living in what some of my fellow Americans view as a ‘socialist country’ of moral looseness and liberal idiocy, I can’t begin to stress where they are dead wrong. Sure, everything from the average American viewpoint is going to seem loose and liberal, but it’s not entirely the case. Testimony and tips
erasmus, testimony, culture, travel, america, uppsala, sweden
