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When Your Semester Abroad Takes an Unexpected Turn

Laura WestphalErlebnis, 2026, Begegnungen, Culture Clash, Länder & Sitten Leave a Comment

When Your Semester Abroad Takes an Unexpected Turn

My Empowering Experience in Perugia
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von Laura Westphal
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31. Januar 2026

My turbulent start to my semester abroad and why I would still recommend it to everyone

For some students, a semester abroad is their biggest dream. Immersing themselves in new cultures, exciting encounters, personal development. It was also a long-awaited step for me as I prepared for my semester in Perugia (Italy). But sometimes things don't go according to plan, and that's exactly what I want to talk about openly and honestly in this article.

A promising start!

The official move-in date for the student residence hall was scheduled for March 1 at 10 a.m. To ensure I would arrive on time, I had booked a small, lovingly furnished Airbnb in Perugia for the night before. Full of anticipation, I got up early on the morning of March 1 and set off on foot for the approximately 30-minute walk to the residence hall.

Once I arrived, however, my euphoria was quickly dampened: the doorman didn't speak English, and my Italian skills weren't sufficient for the complex situation. My name wasn't on the list, and although I tried to reach my contact person at the university, no one was available on Sunday.

    Unexpected obstacles

    So there I was, standing on the street with my suitcases. A feeling of helplessness spread through me. After contacting my family and receiving some positive support and motivation, I rented another Airbnb for the night. The hosts were incredibly helpful, assisting me with the arrangements and even offering to look for alternatives when one accommodation was canceled at short notice. On Saturday afternoon, I finally received a response from my contact in Perugia: apparently, the supervisor who organized my accommodation had booked the wrong month, even though I had already paid for March. I was advised to extend my accommodation until Monday and then visit the International Office in person to work with the staff there to find a solution.

    A dormitory that wasn´t supposed to be one

    On March 3, after a long wait and many phone calls, I was finally able to move into a student dormitory. But what awaited me there was sobering: tiny rooms, sleeping spaces side by side with strangers, and conditions that were unacceptable. I also learned that the accommodation was only intended for one month. After that, I would have to find my own place to live. However, this was never communicated to me, and I was told that if I booked early, I would be provided with a room for the entire period. The whole situation felt not only disorganized but also uncertain. Many other exchange students I met there confirmed my experiences with regard to the difficult search for accommodation: some had been looking for apartments for months. One student even reported that he had to sleep in his car at first because affordable accommodation was scarce.

    The difficult decision

    After lengthy discussions with my family and in consultation with Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, I made the difficult decision to cut short my semester abroad. Miscommunication on the part of the university in Perugia, the housing situation, and the mental strain meant that I no longer wanted to put my health and safety at risk. However, the team at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences was understanding and supportive from the very beginning. Even before I left, we planned together how and when I could make up for the semester abroad.

    A new plan and new perspectives

    Back in Germany, everything happened quickly: the following week, I had a meeting with the university, where I received all the important information and registration details for the coming year. In the meantime, I looked for a job to prepare for my internship, I used the time to learn more about the courses, countries, and experiences of other students. To date, I have not heard anything more from the university in Perugia, but that's okay, because looking back, this turbulent experience was also a personal development.

    Not the end, but a new beginning

    Even though it seemed like a setback at the time, this experience strengthened me mentally. I learned that it's not the end of the world when something doesn't work out. There are always alternatives, other countries, new opportunities, and, above all, people who will help and support you.
    Sometimes a detour takes us exactly where we need to go.

     

    So, to all future exchange students:

    💬 Don't be discouraged if something goes wrong.

    A failed semester abroad doesn't mean the end of your dream – maybe it's just the beginning of a better story.🌍

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