MIND YOUR BUSINESS+

Mind Your Business+

When my application was accepted, I was overjoyed! I got into a week-long exchange program Mind Your Business+ in Luxembourg, fully funded by the Erasmus+ program! My joy and anticipation grew, but I also had concerns: can I handle it? I was afraid that this topic would be too difficult for me and that I would have trouble communicating with others in English.

I didn't let fear deter me; I decided to go all in and plunged headfirst into a new adventure. Every day we had interesting lectures focused on the 'Design Thinking' business method, ice-breaking games, and shared moments. For the first two days, I felt very insecure: I had to remember many names and couldn't connect with all participants – only meaningless short conversations. I was also very tired from the overwhelming amount of new information pouring over me. Yes, things don't always go as smoothly as we'd like. Sometimes I had to ask people multiple times, and it took me longer to express my thoughts. I saw many amazing people, but I didn't have the courage to approach them and start a conversation. In other words, it was difficult for me to use English in real life.

However, the organizers helped the program participants find common ground: they assigned interesting tasks and exciting games that helped us get to know each other better. I remember on the first day, we learned a Luxembourgish folk dance so we could show it to the locals in the village. It was incredibly awkward! But we managed, and as a thank you, they gave us a piece of delicious cheese. Before I knew it, I gradually started to notice that it was becoming easier for me to talk to people in English. And soon, the 'strangers from day one' turned into my good friends and acquaintances. During the week, we had so many interesting and diverse experiences that despite the language barrier, we grew closer and engaged with each other.

We also received very unusual tasks. For example, as the Slovak team, we performed a skit about how business is done in Slovakia and so on. The most important task was a special project for which we were divided into groups. I was in a group with girls from Romania, Greece, Italy, and Luxembourg. Our task was to develop our ideas from start to finish and then present them to the other program participants. It was an incredible 'cool experience' – learning something new and immediately putting it into practice, feeling like a real entrepreneur! During the program, we stayed in very beautiful accommodation located in the middle of a picturesque village. The courtyard had a football and volleyball court, flower beds, a gathering place by the fire, and outdoor tables where we could enjoy afternoon coffee or watch the morning sunrise. From our room window, there was a view of the forest, over which the bright sun rose every morning. In the village, we felt an atmosphere of comfort and peace – believe me, it's a better place for intensive study! And we also traveled around the country, as we had some free time for travel. First, with friends, we visited two nearby villages – small, cozy, and fairytale-like. And a whole day was allocated for a walk around the capital! Moreover, one of the participants lives in Luxembourg and was able to not only show us the most interesting places but also tell us many fascinating facts. After all, there's nothing better than seeing a city through the eyes of a local! So we explored the city far and wide, walked a lot through the streets, took photos, and bought local souvenirs. A pleasant bonus was that public transport in Luxembourg is free! The most interesting entertainment during the program for me was the daily cultural evening. It's always interesting and exciting to learn something new about the culture of other countries, especially from the people who live there. Participants from each country showcased their traditions, customs, told interesting stories, and showed videos. We constantly danced, played unusual, interesting games, and also tasted dishes from various cuisines. In just one evening, we could taste Turkish coffee along with Italian pastries and then dance Greek dances! Our Slovak team also prepared an interesting presentation about Slovakia. We tasked the other participants, for example, to draw a map of Slovakia and things they associate with Slovakia on the map. Then we all sang songs in Slovak. It's no surprise that most foreign participants found Slovak very difficult, but despite that, they liked the songs. After such wonderful evenings, everyone learned something new about each other, and we gained valuable experiences and knowledge.

It was only on the last day, when I analyzed the entire past week, that I realized all my pre-trip worries were unfounded. I spent an unforgettable seven days on the Erasmus+ exchange project Mind Your Business+, where I learned a lot about entrepreneurship and the possibility of building my own business from scratch, and I also met amazing people who became great friends to me. I know I would have missed out on many experiences if I hadn't decided to apply for this great program! I'm glad I didn't succumb to fears and doubts and took this decisive step. It seems to me that we shouldn't think that something new and interesting is too difficult or hard to achieve. We must always move forward, follow the idea, dream, or goal we choose. By gaining new, interesting experiences and communicating with like-minded people, we broaden our horizons and get more and more opportunities to build the future we want. So never be afraid, just do it. A step forward!