The comfort home

I’m not sure what motivates young people to leave home for the first time. For me that big step is similar to when you are waiting for the train. You are there alone with your luggage, train ticket and insecurities looking at the rails. And when the train finally comes, ready or not, you must get on it, you must take that big step that you can’t take back. The train starts moving with you inside: you’re now leaving your comfort zone.

Young people are afraid to leave different things, and the one that tells you that you’re getting older is moving away from home.

I am very lucky because my parents have always encourage me to live abroad, and from here, I want to thank them. When I first called them from Zagreb, they told me that by the tone of my voice they knew they have done the right thing by pushing me to leave Spain.

When they first gave me my Erasmus destination was in February, and I was supposed to be in Croatia by October of that same year. That gave me around seven months to get myself ready. Even in summer, I wasn’t aware of what it will mean Erasmus. In Spain we have a big tradition of Erasmus. University always comes with the idea of doing this program, and although many students and friends have done it before and always encourage you to go, the uncertainty of how will all be is the worst feeling.

Of course it’s scary, and of course taking steps is always hard, but no matter where you go, there are hundreds of people as scared as you are. And they will become your new friends, family, your new day a day. You’ll create a new place where you’ll feel safe and with no longer fear.

Now, six months and a lot of planes, buses and trains after, I feel that whenever I will come back to Spain, nothing will have really change; maybe my friend has a different hairstyle, my grandad two new wrinkles and my little brother is now taller than me. But I’m the one that have changed after getting out of my home, not them.

When I was coming back from Zagreb to Spain for Christmas after my first three months abroad, I saw it clear: I’m leaving home for coming back home.

So please, get out of your comfort zone, your comfort home. And for the question “what was my motivation for leaving home?” I guess that I’ve always love taking trains.