Spain

Alcalá is known for its tapas routes, which consist of having a drink in a bar, which is always accompanied by a tapas, which you can choose or not. My favourite tapas is huevos revueltos con chorizo, and the most typical I've tried is pigs ears, the texture is strange but it tastes really good. An incredible place to eat is Calle Ronda De La Pescadería, where you will find a space composed of 4 regional restaurants that will allow you to try menus from these 4 regions. From memory there was the casa rural de Asturias, the casa rural de Castilla La Mancha, the casa rural de Cantabria and the casa rural de Castilla y Leon. My favourite was the one in Castilla la Mancha, where you can eat Migas (bread with meat), paella of course, Gachas (dish in sauce) or an incredible cocido served in 2 huge dishes.

The Madrid region offers an incredible range of transport options for all students. For 20€ you can travel anywhere in the Madrid region (not including the airport), and even to the city of Toledo which is the next region. In Alcalá we mainly use the bus, although the city is small and can be reached on foot. There is a Cercania station (C2 and C7) which connects Alcalá to Madrid in 45 minutes, or to Guadalajarra in 40 minutes. To get to Adolfo Suarez airport, bus 824 takes you there in about 35 minutes. But the city centre is very small and the university is spread over a small area in the city centre. On the other hand, a college is a little further away from the city.

I did not encounter any particular problems with the administrative procedures when I arrived at the University of Alcalá. They had an ERASMUS coordinator who was in charge of the individual reception of international students, I remember that I arrived in June to prepare my arrival in September and he had already welcomed me in his office with my father who had accompanied me. I was able to meet him again when I arrived and during the day of presentation of the university to the Erasmus students which takes place in the Paraninfo, place where the Cervantes prize is awarded.

During my year in Granada, I travelled several times. I was able to visit on weekends or holidays the whole of Andalusia, the biggest cities like Seville, Cordoba, Malaga, Cadiz, Jaen, but also beautiful places in the nature, villages, Ronda, Setenil de las bodegas, lost beaches, Cabo de Gata, the Sierra mountains, Gibraltar, Tarifa and the coast next to it, the olive fields, the caminito del Rey, etc! I also discovered that I like to travel alone. I went to Madrid for a few days, by "blablacar" it's not that far or expensive. I also visited the centre of the country, Toledo. I also went to the Canary Islands with a friend I met during my trip to Madrid. And I took the opportunity to go alone with my backpack to tour Portugal during the Easter holidays. This year really made me more independent and gave me the curiosity to travel and discover things by myself!

During my free time in Granada, I did many different things. I was lucky enough to stay for almost a year (11 months), so I was able to discover the region (and the country) when the weather was good (or even very good !!) but also when it was cold in winter. Yes, Granada is located very close to the Sierra Nevada mountains, at about 800m above sea level... So I did a lot of hiking (accessible by bus or we sometimes rented a car with friends): there are great places to run and/or walk with beautiful landscapes, in summer and winter. I was also lucky enough to arrive the year the ESN section was organising a lot of open mic in a night club. We were a whole group (the "erasmusicians") of international and Spanish people playing music ! It was really nice ! We rehearsed in parks, in a music studio, but also outside the city, at the Mirador San Miguel Alto (for me, the best viewpoint in the city where I spent a lot of time admiring, relaxing...), by the sea, etc. I also went to the sports sessions that the university offers (tennis, football, dance, and many others), I recommend ! Because you meet local students who are not necessarily close to the international world and so you meet different people and you can learn more about the local culture :) Because my goal was really to integrate myself as much as possible in the local life !

At the beginning of your mobility, the university will let you choose your courses. You have a lot of choices: I was in 3rd year and I could choose courses from 2nd, 3rd, 4th year. Register for classes as soon as possible !!! 1) You will have more choices 2) You will have the possibility to gather your courses on 3 or 4 days to have a long week-end 3) You'll able to choose course only in the morning so you can work in the afternoon if you want.

The weather in autumn is perfect for me : neither too hot nor cold. The winters are soft but there is a big difference in temperatures between the morning/ the night and the rest of the day (Sometimes 10 degrees celsius). So my advice is to bring a warm jacket that you can take off during the daytime.

Granada is one of the most important cities in Andalusia, where the local culture is flamenco! There are often shows in the streets. The women wear beautiful dresses and dance to the sound of guitars and castanets. There are even children dancing, it's so cute! You can't go to Andalusia without seeing at least one flamenco show!

Of course! I didn't have a very busy schedule at university, and there are several organisations that run discounted trips for international students. During my 5 months in Granada, I took the opportunity to visit Malaga, Sevilla (during "las ferias"), Valencia (during "las fallas"), Murcia, Alicante and Cordoba. I preferred Cordoba and Sevilla, they are cities with incredible architecture, history and culture. I went to the Canary Islands too, to Gran Canaria and Tenerife, the landscapes are beautiful and I have great memories. But Granada will always remain number 1 in my heart, I will never get tired of the charm of its Alhambra. I have also travelled outside of Spain, to Portugal: to Lisbon and the Algavre region. During the school holidays I had there, I didn't go back to France but I took the opportunity to visit Morocco (Fez and the desert of Merzouga). The culture is so different from Europe that there are no words to describe this trip as it was so rich for me! I came back from my trip full of memories, with lots of images of beautiful landscapes.

In Granada, there is a tram/metro and several city bus lines that allow you to get around the city. But the best way (and the way I used the most during my semester there) is to walk! You can look up to admire the architecture, stroll through the small pedestrian streets or climb the stairs of the Albaicin to reach the mirador of San Nicolas and enjoy a breathtaking view of the whole city. What I liked best was walking on "el paseo de los tristes" where the view on the Alhambra is incredible!

There are many international student flatshares in Sevilla as well as flatshares with Spanish people. Living with locals is the best way to learn the language and culture. For example, you can look on the Idealista website!

There are numerous bike stations throughout the city, allowing you to get around day and night for only 30 euros per year. Better than the bus which doesn't run regularly, the bike will also allow you to do a bit of sport :)

With an average of 20 degrees in December and over 40 degrees in summer, forget about jumpers and umbrellas!

Finding a house in spain in not very complicated and not that expensive. As for Vigo, you can look on the websites : Mil Anuncios and idealista. Most of international students/ intern get a shared flat in Vigo. You can also contact ESN Vigo, they will help you get an accommodation. Some volunteers keep the contacts of many landlords that rent flat for a semester for international students. About prices, you can count between 200 and 350€ top per month. Most students live in the city center or around (the area between the city center and plaza america). I wouldn't advise to live close to the university. If you live in Vigo, there is buses that goes to the university campus (CUVI : Campus de la Universidad de VIgo) in around 30 minutes. The main bus stops are : Plaza España and Plaza America.

the rent of the room is around 500 €

They have many working groups and for some subjects these are more important than the final exam

If you want to get some height, take a mini hike and have the most incredible view of Málaga, which lies between the sea and the mountains, then you can go to Monte Victoria. It's almost an initiation pass haha. Erasmus people gather on this hill to listen to music, have a picnic, meet each other, and admire this city and its sea that stretches as far as the eye can see.

If you arrive in Málaga on a study trip or just visiting for a day, you can easily find people from all over the world in an area with international bars: Camden Lock and Bakkano. Once you have found this area, you will meet many people! A little tip: you can ask the bakkano for a chupito (shot) Erasmus (you will see the price is very very affordable). Life is very accessible and cheap in Malaga!

When you move to Spain for a while, you have to register with a Health Center - un Centro de Salud - where you can choose a doctor. This takes a few minutes and can be very useful if you have health problems. In Malaga, there are many Health Centers. There is one for each neighborhood. If you type on the Internet: "Health Center or Centro de Salud Malaga", you can easily find the one closest to you ;)

I spent hours in a museum called El Museo Carmen Thyssen. Its structure blends in with the houses, but it is in a place that you can't miss. It is a museum with many works by artists from around the world that illustrate Andalusian and Spanish life. Its collection and themes allow you to immerse yourself in the history of Andalusia and its traditions. It is a rare gem. The little extra: it's a complete and accessible shop if you want to leave with a small souvenir such as a bookmark. I found a wonderful book there!

If you want to eat a real Sevillian breakfast, this is the perfect address: Café Bar Er Tito ! Next to "Las Setas", an emblematic place in Seville, you can enjoy real 'tostadas' with freshly squeezed orange juice or coffee.

While I was in Salamanca for my Erasmus, and back from my Christmas holiday, I started having severe pains in my uterus and stomach and a high fever. Therefore, I decided to go to a semi-private hospital close to home for a first check-up and a gynaecological clinic for a second one. In the end, I was hospitalised for a few weeks for examinations and treatments due to an infection found in my bladder. Thanks to the insurance taken out through the university at the beginning of my mobility (compulsory and for a modest cost of 19 euros per year), the two private examinations were covered directly and entirely by it, as well as a rather expensive medicine. Therefore, I was very grateful to the university for making the insurance compulsory and thus guaranteeing me free access to treatment. But I am also grateful to my Italian health insurance card, also valid as a European health insurance card, which guaranteed me access to free hospitalisation in the public hospital. Hence, my personal advice is to check that your National health card (if European) is valid throughout Europe, or then obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before departure. From that day on, whenever I leave abroad and especially for long-term stays, I always take out insurance and find out about the local health system.

While on Erasmus in Salamanca, I was able to attend two events emblematic of the city's tradition. Arriving in early September, I directly came across the Salamanca Fair. This festivity, celebrated in traditional clothes, is surrounded by religious events, fireworks, concerts, shows in the streets and venues throughout the city, food stalls, a medieval market, workshops, bullfights and a fair with fluorescent lights, rides, music and food. A celebration in true Spanish style! The casetas (tents) offer excellent tapas and pinchos. Every day there is a tapa of the day served with a caña (small glass of beer) or a glass of wine for only 2 euro. Una delicia! Another event I attended was the Nochevieja universitaria, an event that originated in the 1990s with the aim of being able to share New Year's Eve with university classmates, but in an early way, since at the end of classes everyone would return to their own city to spend Christmas. The celebration takes place on the penultimate Thursday of December, in the city's main square, Plaza Mayor, where at the stroke of midnight the crowd gathers to eat 12 jelly beans instead of the traditional lucky grapes. A tradition not to be missed if you are a student in Salamanca! Arriving in early September, I directly came across the Salamanca Fair. This festivity, celebrated in traditional clothes, is surrounded by religious events, fireworks, concerts, shows in the streets and venues throughout the city, food stalls, a medieval market, workshops, bullfights and a fair with fluorescent lights, rides, music and food. A celebration in true Spanish style! The casetas (tents) offer excellent tapas and pinchos. Every day there is a tapa of the day served with a caña (small glass of beer) or a glass of wine for only 2 euro. Una delicia! Another event I attended was the Nochevieja universitaria, an event that originated in the 1990s with the aim of being able to share New Year's Eve with university classmates, but in an early way, since at the end of classes everyone would return to their own city to spend Christmas. The celebration takes place on the penultimate Thursday of December, in the city's main square, Plaza Mayor, where at the stroke of midnight the crowd gathers to eat 12 jelly beans instead of the traditional lucky grapes. A tradition not to be missed if you are a student in Salamanca!

Founded in the 13th century, Salamanca is the second oldest university city in Europe and is seen as one of the most beautiful universities in the world. Getting lost in the narrow streets of the city and admiring its monuments made of Villamayor stone, a light beige sandstone, was my favourite pastime. As a first stop, I went in search of the small frog carved on the large entrance wall of the university. Apparently, according to legend, if you manage to find it, you will be blessed with good luck and pass all your exams (which actually happened ;)). Then, another mandatory stop is Plaza Mayor, the city's main square, a magical place that is almost deserted in the morning and quite crowded in the evening, with students and families coming to admire and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the illuminated arcades and balconies. Finally, a place of the heart where I went to relax, think and find some inner peace was the riverside, connected to the city by the famous Roman Bridge. From there, it was possible to admire the majestic cathedral of Salamanca and meet many companions by chance. It was probably not only my favourite place!

Living in Madrid is not that pricey, but you have to be careful to control your budget. The most expensive thing in Madrid is probably the rent. In fact, the average price for a room in the city centre is between 400-600 euros. Personally, I paid 490 without bills, and about 520 with bills. In the peripheral areas of Madrid you can also find accommodation from 300 to 400 euros, but obviously there will be fewer facilities than in the centre. The monthly transport card is only 20 euros for those under 26 years old (Abono Joven) and you can take all metro, buses and trains throughout the metropolitan region of Madrid. If you are over 26 years old, the price of the monthly card starts at 54.60€ and increases depending on how many zones you add to your purchase. However, if you live with or near your friends, you can share an Uber or Cabify at very affordable prices. Eating and drinking out in Madrid is probably the most convenient thing. Tapas and cerveza are an almost daily appointment for Spaniards. For example, a place to enjoy bocadillos and cerveza at student prices is 100 Montaditos, which on some days has an 'everything for 1€' promotion. For my monthly shopping I spend around 100€, trying to go to cheaper supermarkets such as Lidl, Dia and Mercadona. Going out in Madrid can be surprising. In fact, there are many clubs with free entry especially for Erasmus students and more chic discos, where entry is around 15€.

Having arrived in Madrid in early 2020 to pursue my master's degree, I started looking for a flat on-site. In fact, several people had told me to go in person to visit the flats before renting them. This is because you can find many scams and the photos often do not reflect reality. After about ten visits, I finally found the flat that fully met my expectations. In fact, apart from having a large, well-organised and furnished space, I shared the apartment with two international flatmates (an American and an Argentinean). Despite the fact that my experience in Madrid was short-lived due to the onset of the pandemic, I can say that I lived that flat to the fullest. Located a few steps away from the La Latina district, more precisely in Puerta de Toledo, the movida area, the city markets and the main square were within a maximum 20 min walk. A quiet area with parks and gardens where you can relax after a busy day at university.