Reflections from Romania: An Erasmus+ Semester Abroad
Organizational Leadership student, Justine Baron, spent a semester in Romania (Spring 2025), as our first Erasmus+ graduate student scholar. Below are her reflections on her time away.
When I packed my bags for Romania after receiving the Erasmus+ scholarship, I pictured five months of balancing classes and service projects, getting lost on cobblestone streets, indulging in way too many pastries, and confidently mispronouncing Romanian beyond “mulțumesc.” What I didn’t anticipate was a five-month masterclass in becoming a better leader, a more grounded human, and a lifelong student of the world.
The Erasmus+ program has this beautiful mission: fostering cultural exchange, building collaboration across borders, strengthening personal and professional skills, and helping young people grow into more capable, curious global citizens. And honestly? Romania delivered all of that and more. The people were the heart and soul of everything. My Erasmus friends came from everywhere: Ukraine, India, Italy, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, and beyond. Together we became a wonderfully chaotic international friend group united by food, culture, and adventure. They pushed me to think differently, communicate better, and appreciate perspectives far beyond my own. Little by little, they helped shape the internal leader I didn’t even realize was developing.
What truly made the experience unforgettable were the Romanians, who welcomed me instantly with patience, warmth, lots of coffee, and stories about Romania’s history that helped me understand the soul behind its landscapes. They helped me navigate life in ways big and small, from translating conversations to recommending the best ciorba (soup) on cold days. Their kindness didn’t just make my life easier—it made Romania feel like home.
Volunteering at races became another unexpected chapter of growth. There’s something about handing out water at mile markers, cheering for runners in multiple languages, and coordinating with volunteers from different backgrounds that teaches you how to lead with clarity, enthusiasm, and humility. Those mornings taught me leadership in a way no class ever could. They strengthened my communication, expanded my empathy, and reminded me how meaningful it is to support others, lessons that now shape my work and daily life.
And then came the travel. Romania became my launchpad to the rest of Europe: Budapest with its dreamy architecture, Vienna with its royal energy, Rome with its ancient ruins and fabulous pasta, and Sofia which was the under-the-radar gem I still can’t stop talking about. Each trip nudged me further into becoming a more adaptable, curious, open-minded human. Every new city was a classroom without walls and every trip layered on new stories, new growth, and new “how is this my real life?” moments.
Navigating daily life abroad strengthened my confidence, communication, and leadership skills. I trust my decisions more, speak up more naturally, and show up for my team at work with greater clarity, empathy, and ease because of these experiences. Being far from home taught me how to step into the unknown and make it familiar. I’ve shared some of these adventures on my blog runsipserve.com, but the truth is, five months in Romania can’t be neatly captured in a single post. Every day I’m still discovering how it shaped me, but one thing is certain: it left me with friendships spanning continents, a renewed sense of direction, a deep love for travel and connection, and a braver, more adaptable version of myself who continues growing as a global citizen.
If I had to simply sum it up: Gonzaga and Erasmus+ sent me to Romania but Romania sent me back transformed. And I’ll be grateful for that for the rest of my life.