Name: Luke Bonnici
Age: 21 years old
Course: B.A. (Hons) Geography

Why Erasmus?
Erasmus is the best thing that could ever happen to university students! It’s simply university abroad ... you experience two different universities, two countries and have twice the fun!!

Was this experience useful for your life and for your career?
Absolutely! It was a great life experience. I learnt how to fend on my own, studying and taking care of the rest of the things at the same time. Erasmus not only exposes you to new ideas but gives you the opportunity to make many new friends and attain new (and important) contacts.

Has the Erasmus Programme changed your perspective towards life? If yes, in what way?
It did in the best possible way! I now know what it feels like living abroad and how things function as well.  

How was Erasmus beneficial on an academic level?
Erasmus left me with many academic contacts I could have never attained if I stayed here in Malta. Not only, but I also learnt new skills, which were never taught here in Malta and revised others. Not only, but Erasmus encouraged me to seek further academic studies abroad after I finished my degree here in Malta.

What did your experience while on Erasmus have to offer more than that gained from an academic point of view?
While studying at Liverpool Hope University I attended a couple of important conferences, one of which was the Big Hope: Global Youth Congress. It gave me the opportunity to meet people from around the whole world and experience a truly multi-cultural society for a week or so.

Did you feel like home away from home while studying abroad?
Of course. I never felt home-sick! Abroad I had everything I needed ... even friends weren’t a problem. While I was abroad I made some really good friends, some of whom I still keep in touch with nowadays!

Mention one thing you will never forget.
Everything ... that’s one thing no? Well if I had to narrow it down to only one thing I’d say the lovely time I spent with my flat-mates.

Mention one embarrassing moment.
Once I was cooking and the over went up in flames! I was making fun of one of my flat mates telling her she didn’t know how to cook and just a moment later my food went up in flames! I ended up eating rice and curry....

Mention one funny adventure.
Of these I had many, but the best one was when we ended up the Sefton sand dunes and were almost lost amongst all that sand, grass and sand dune plants. After we found our way back all our clothes and shoes were full on sand!

Mention an object which reminds you of your experience while on Erasmus and its significance.
My Erasmus experience was in Liverpool, so every time I listen to a song by the Beatles (especially Penny Lane) I remember about Liverpool and all the good times I had over there. Penny Lane was on my way to University and it’s such a simple place (and song) that thinking about it reminds me of all the good times I had! Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes ....