'Erasmotypes' by Kyriakos

After spending some time with Erasmus people, one can notice the infinite and diverse cases of various students, people, characteristics and generally talking, personalities participating in this programme. I mean the fact that Erasmus brings together people from all over Europe with different cultural backgrounds guarantees this simple fact.
Anyway, despite all these considerations in addition to the definite uniqueness of the human psyche, I will actually take the risk and argue (based on my personal experience) that there are some universal types of Erasmus students that share more or less the same traits and attributes and every semester or year they (re)appear. Sometimes it is even rarer... They can appear once in the history of Erasmus but still, I will make the effort to include as many as possible.

Erasmus Homus Studius: These people come for Erasmus but nobody really knows who they are. They probably appear in the first welcome party and then maybe in the last goodbye party. It is always impressing to meet them and to understand why the f... they came for Erasmus. i.e. In the goodbye party: 'Hey, who are you? I'm .. I'm erasmus... Huh?'

Erasmus Foreverus Drunkus: This case is about people who are basically forever drunk. They are the soul of the parties and a must for all the events. Yes, they can be a problem for the organisers but come on... they deserve it! They never say no (especially when it comes to alcohol). Cannot deal with difficult situations and can get aggressive at moments.

Erasmus Foreverus Alonus: This is a sad case. What is worse than being wasted but nobody cares for you. You are there in a quite corner, far from the fun, sleeping as always. They have some explosive moments of stardom but then they fall like a falling star. Forever alone...

Erasmus Casanovious: What else to say? They combine perfectly the words Erasmus-Orgasmus. Not necessarily good looking but they have that irresistible something. Constantly changing flowers like a crazy bee flying around...

Erasmus Ninfomanus: Girls that usually drink a lot. They never talk a lot but their eyes say a lot. No rules or 'I have a girlfriend' apply to them. Actually 'I have a girlfriend' makes them even more dangerous. Be aware.

Erasmus Soberus Serius: No alcohol, no nicotine, no nothing... Never quite understood how an Erasmus cannot at least have a drink. Amazing cases usually golden hearted but confused. Necessary for taking control of the wasted students and fix f.cked up situations (talk with the police, deal with drunk bf/gf fights, help the people finding their way to the bus).

Erasmus Outus Grupus: This refers to a group of Erasmus students that actually form their own group and stay away from the rest. They start attending the parties but slowly slowly they disappear in their own small groups. Quite sad as they finish Erasmus without meeting a lot of people and without living the Erasmus life as they should.

Erasmus Distantus Relatious: They come for Erasmus while in serious relationships. Always with the cellphone in hand -sending sms or calling their bfs or gfs-. Dramatic situations like crying, shouting and anger explosions are a usual phenomenon. Unfortunately the majority breaks up. The ones who manage it, go back even more in love. Good luck.

Erasmus Cheatus Secretus: This is a subcategory of Erasmus Distantus Relatious. Everybody knows they are in a serious distant relationship but strangely they have a parallel relationship in Erasmus. When the bf/gf visits, everything goes back to normal. Nobody knows anything and nobody talks. It always feels quite weird to meet the bf/gf and act cool no?

Erasmus Starus Starus: The most unique and rare case of a student. It combines a bit of everything (except the previous three). She/he is loved by everybody and she/he is missed the most after Erasmus is finished. Charismatic leaders, comedians, dancers, drinkers, party animals etc. She/he is never forgotten. Has no prejudices at all and she/he can handle calmly all f.cked up situations even if she/he is totally wasted (in contrary with Erasmus Soberus Serius).

I dedicate this to ALL the Erasmus people I've met all these years in Cyprus -ESA members the most-. Thank you for everything!

To the crazy nights that will never be forgotten...