This case study focuses on the processes of adaptation that an Erasmus student, Angela, experienced during her study abroad period. The longitudinal study explores how she coped over time with the various adaptation demands that she faced in the different aspects of her life: social–personal aspects (friends and social life, daily life, language for socialisation) and academic aspects (courses, administrative issues, language for academic purposes). The data gathered involved pre-departure and post return interviews, weekly ‘diary-tables’ and monthly interviews while abroad. The findings show that Angela’s adaptive journey followed noticeably different trends in the personal and academic domains of her life, demonstrating clearly how adaptation can evolve at different speeds in these different domains, and can result in ups and downs throughout the sojourn. Even an aspect such as language was perceived differently in the two overarching domains. Further research is needed in order to identify whether there are more generalised patterns within these various domains, or whether the patterns are always subject to significant individual and contextual variation. Moreover, further qualitative research is needed in order to understand the reasons that lie behind the ups and downs, and the extent to which they seem to be idiosyncratic or predictable.