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To those who had only heard whispers of the program, the Erasmus experience meant going to another country to study for a year, learn languages, and enhance their CV. But for us, it was a parallel life where we could chase our dreams and momentarily forget about the weight of studies and adult life, making friends across the globe. Only those of us who have lived it can truly understand.

The next dilemma was deciding on the country we would pick: Finland? Seriously? But to us, it seemed like the most exotic and distant place from our homeland, almost like a magical realm beckoning us to explore its mysteries.

And there we came: Jyväskylä. It took us sometime to get to pronounce it. 

Yes, and even on the other side of the world, you meet up with a lot of people from your home country!

We got used to cold (we even considered zero degrees as the perfect weather for a good day) and got used to living in the middle of the forest; taking your shoes off right at the entrance; taking by surprise naked people jumping into the snow around neighborhood or beholding the dawn at 10 am and the nightfall about 3 pm; and just the opposite: the never ending light-day!!!!!!!!!! Even saying terve or kiitos became normal.

But also having lunch with so many different nationalities, writing essays in English or cooking typical food to your international roommates. 

Despite the long distance from our countries, Finland became HOME.

For sure, it was an extraordinary experience that truly left its mark on our lives. We had the opportunity to find ourselves and learn a new way of thinking andliving. Being Erasmus changed our way of feeling the world. Twenty years ago, we discovered that unbelievable situations can become part of your daily life.

Every day we ate surrounded by people from many different nationalities, and we learned tolerance. We developed a new language beyond our own, and we learned the essence of communication. We felt that we had more in common with people born thousands of kilometers away, than with our neighbors in our own country. And we learned that our way of feeling is not the only valid one. We realized that there is one world with endless ways to live in it, and we learned that every way is acceptable.

We also understood the strange dichotomy between living independently and feeling a helping hand nearby. Always. And we learned the more challenging life is, the more extraordinary people you find.

Returning to our lives was tough. Tougher than we could have ever imagined. Each item we removed from the walls of our homes in Roninmäentie, Myllyjärvi, or Kortepohja, and every suitcase we closed, felt like a piece of our hearts being left behind.

The magic had faded, and we had to return to the real world. While everyone welcomed us back warmly, longing for our presence, all we could focus on was what we were leaving behind. What others referred to “as reality” felt like a daunting challenge for us; we just couldn't seem to find our place in it.

We felt a sense of vertigo towards what awaited us, a feeling of emptiness. Our tales of adventure bored those who dared to inquire about our journey.

Months passed, and like chameleons, we adapted. We returned to our lives, but aware that beneath it all, the person we were here would always remain.

Finland made us reconsider old beliefs and taught us that magic exists: even the darkest night can be lightened in green colors; even sea water can be frozen and even sunlight never ends.

In a divided world we had the chance to live together and remove borders. And that made the difference: we embraced multicultural environment and became more and more open minded, just by sharing our daily routines and the university learning. Erasmus Programme taught us the idea of a global citizen: only one Europe made of friends, the Erasmus family.

During the last 20 years, we have been trying to keep the flame alive by meeting in our famous stammtischs all over Europe.

Meeting here and today is such a big gift and we are very proud to share it with our families. No matter how long time has passed, we get back in touch and restart our friendship as always.

And now, here we are together again. You know what? Several years after our Erasmus experience, Patri, Lore, and I returned to study a summer course at the Ģ��ֱ��. We were thrilled to come back, but... even though it was a wonderful trip, we felt out of place because you were not here. You, and you, and you, and you... worked magic 20 years ago.

To summarize it all in just one idea... there is none. Because really important things do not understand reasons or have explanations, and there are no words to put down each one’s feeling, so intense and deep inside our hearths. THANKS, just THANKS.

Thanks to those of you who organized meetings, sent summaries, called hotels or restaurants, or created spreadsheets. Thanks to all of you for still feeling that it was all worth it.

Thanks to the Ģ��ֱ�� for recognizing the importance of our reunion and for helping us organize this lovely event.

"Thank you all for coming".

So... here we go again... because... ONCE ERASMUS, ERASMUS FOREVER.