Valencia, Spain: Eyeopening, Bittersweet and Adventurous. Past Review
By Shannon C (Spanish Language and Literature., Ithaca College) for
University of Valencia: Valencia - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
If I could do it all over again, I would choose the same program and take advantage of all the opportunities. I would have got more involved. But it inspired me to get more involved and stand up for myself back in the US. I also on one side wish I went to Argentina or another country for one semester. But at the same time, I know alot of people that when they spend only one semester in a place, they leave as soon as they get used to it. I think it was the same for me. At first you go in with this temporary state, and you don't live as much there. And then in the end you loosen up and realize you are out of time. And you have to say goodbye to the people you just started to get to know a few months ago. You are glad you did, but wish you had much sooner. I also wished I saved more money and travelled more. I learned that everyone thinks differently from different parts of the world, or even from the country. I learned how to interact with people from all over. How to be more courteous, understanding, and tolerant. I learned to open up, realize that I do not know everything and there is always room for improvement. I realized how much of a community it was in Spain. It was very community oriented. And I wish I was a part of something like that. I realized the many rich cultures and languages that are in Spain, and in Africa(I met alot of Africans and had dinner with them on several occasions), even France. The diversity of Europe linguistically. It has influenced me I want to go back to Europe to see them all again and also to be more open here academically and socially. It has gotten me into architecture. I am in love with the mediterranean architecture. The style of houses and everything.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The difference between the US educational system and the Spanish education system are in two aspects. The amount of homework, partial exams, papers and projects in the US practically do not exist in Spain, all of your grade is dependent on the one final in the end. But I do like that you get two opportunities to take the exam. Secondly, the classes are very large and you do not get to know your professor very well (there are schools like this in the states also, but not my home university). Also, there is not much student interaction in the classroom. Whether it be work between the students, or talking to the teacher. Not many students ask questions. And when you do, you do not hold your hand up and wait to be called on, you simply interrupt. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I thought that this one guy Santiago in the Oficina de Relaciones Internacionales was really helpful and always did favors for me and always on time! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in an apartment in the neighborhood of Orriols/Levante. I lived with 3 other female students. One was from Alaska, one from Madrid, Spain and one from Genova, Italy. It was right across from gardens, a mall, a soccer stadium and the grocery store. And 20 minute walk from the university. It was close to the metro and the tranvia (light rail). It was a 10 minute ride on the light rail to the beach! <br /><br /> I did move just once. I lived in a different apartment before, but I could not trust my roommates! Drama ensued and I left. |
| * Food: |
I loved it. There were fruit/vegetable stands all over valencia with really cheap fruits and vegetables. I survived mainly on fruits, vegetables, and pasta. They also had an abundance of seafood. Eating out was the best, best paella at La Pepica which is near the beach (the far end--get off by Les Arenes tram stop). Also to try Fideua and Arroz Negro!! In Valencia, in the barrio of Benimaclet there is a typical Tapas place, it's a bar so you order a drink for maximum 2 euros (depending what you order) and you get a free tapa with that. I recommend this place, other places get really expensive. This place is cheap, and you get filled up and satisfied. It's called Montaditos Gratis on the corner of Calle Emilio Baro and Valladolid! 100 montaditos is also a favorite and is pretty cheap. I love the bakery shops. I wish we had more. Mercadona, Consum and LIDL are the places to go grocery shopping. For more diverse stuff, there is an Indian supermarket in the neighborhood of Amistat (close to the metro) and near the Estacion Nord Renfe train station there is an international quarter (where there are a few chinese restaurants and markets, and a couple latino markets also, and a couple russian markets). There is also an African store in Benimaclet, a couple blocks from the metro stop. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My program was an exchange and I was enrolled at the university there, we did not have any special programs. There were no planned trips. I did travel to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands for a week with my roommate, it was an amazing experience climbing sand dunes, stayed in a hostel for the first time, ate fresh fish and fruit, enjoyed being away from a laptop. I went to Barcelona and feasted my eyes on the works of Gaudi and saw the FC Barcelona stadium with a friend of mine from my home university that came over from her program (in Nantes, France). I also went to Xativa and explored a castle's remains for hours. When my twin sister and her boyfriend came to visit me for our birthday, we went to Sagunto and Alicante and explored more castles. In Alicante, we explored a castle a swam in the Mediterranean in the same day (while looking up at the castle)--you could never do that in the USA! I climbed the Torres de Serrano with my Mom when she came to visit me in the end. We also visited the Oceanografic (Europe's largest Aquarium). Also, IVAM-The modern art museum was amazing! (free on sundays, one euro for students any other day) I loved the Jardin Real (Royal Garden) which is huge and filled with flowers, a birdhouse and lots of trees, and fountains. Also the Museo de Bellas Artes is a must see--and free! I loved the plazas in the center of the city--great shopping, great architecture, great food, great fun. The many holidays and festivals-always parades in the center of the city. I experienced the loudness and explosiveness of Fallas and would gladly do it again. There are so many festivals, I loved the community interaction. Go and celebrate on the beach for San Juan, or the coming of summer! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I had a good health insurance program but I never had to use it. I got sick once but not enough to go to the doctor. Once, my glasses were broke and I got them fixed for not too much money. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I gave myself a limit on food to buy from the grocery store (20-30 euros a month) and then around 100 euros of spending for leisure during the month depending on what I did. Everything else went towards Rent and utilities. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Another student informed me of the cost of registration, so I was prepared for that. My only unanticipated expenses were losing my deposit and an extra month of rent when I was trying to move out of my apartment. So be careful with the landlords, they like to cheat you of your money sometimes! He said I would be doing damage to them by not being there, they went through two roommates in my room after I left. Also I didn't know that I would have issues with using my debit card on the renfe website nor on the vueling.com website, so I had to pay more for train and plane tickets. I had to go to the airport, and they tacked on a bunch of taxes to buy it in person. Also, they don't give tips in spain! That was something new, oh and no tax either. It was awesome! |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would say that you mingle with as many spaniards as possible, you will easily make international friends but alot regret not having spaniards to come back and visit and keep in touch with. Try to do a language partner exchange, that way you can practice your language and help someone else. Visit the pueblos outside of the city. Be open to any and everything. Save up money if you want to travel (it is harder to travel to certain places from Valencia though). Go to a soccer game and experience the madness of La Furia Roja. Go see a Flamenco show. Go to the Feria de Naciones and the Feria Sevillana. Learn to slow down instead of being an uptight American. Learn to loosen up. Live how they live. Go out for tapas. Go to do Botellon. Sign up for an internship. The type of student that would benefit most from this program is one who is open to learning, and also must have an already advanced level of Spanish. All courses are given in spanish (and Valenciano--some business courses are taught in English I hear). |
