LIVING SLOWER, SMILING MORE: A Glimpse into our daily life in Liberec

As our Erasmus semester in Liberec slowly comes to an end, I felt it was the perfect time to reflect on what our daily life looks like here,  especially compared to what we were used to back in France.

The biggest change? Our schedule is so much more flexible. We have classes on Monday from noon to 4 PM, and every other Tuesday. On Wednesdays, we attend lectures from 8 to 10 AM, followed by lab work from 12:30 to 2 PM. Thursdays are reserved for our project management course in the afternoon, and on Fridays, we have thermodynamics from 8 AM to 1 PM. Unlike the long, packed days we had in France (often 8 AM to 6 PM), here we actually have room to breathe.

After class, we usually go home, cook, relax a bit, and then head to the gym in the evening. If we have assignments, we often study together, especially when we need help understanding something. While the courses here aren't too difficult, we sometimes need to put in extra work to fully grasp the concepts, especially considering our current level of study.

Weekends are for groceries at Tesco, our favorite shopping center in town, or just hanging out together. Sometimes we treat ourselves to a meal at KFC, or go clothes shopping, simple joys that make us feel good. We're even thinking about planning a trip to Vienna, though nothing is confirmed yet!

Life in Liberec is peaceful and less stressful. People are generally kind and somewhat sociable, though a bit more reserved at first. The biggest challenge we've faced is the language barrier,  it's hard to find people who speak English in stores or around town. So we tend to stick to what we know, rather than trying unfamiliar options.

All in all, our experience here has been a refreshing change. We've learned to slow down, adapt, and enjoy the little things, a welcome break from the fast-paced routine we had in France.

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