Just Landed 9 - Entrevista con Juliet Lennon (Biology)

¿Dónde has pasado tu año Erasmus y qué has estudiado?

I spent my Erasmus year in Valencia, Spain. At Imperial, I study Biology but in Spain I had the chance to study other modules such as marine biology and environmental science subjects as well. 

Describe la ciudad y su Universidad (las clases, profesores, alumnos).

Valencia is a fantastic city, it is small enough to allow you to explore it and feel like you know it and it becomes your home, but as the third largest city in Spain it is still large enough to offer countless new experiences. The weather there is fantastic, there are many cultural experiences and festivals such as fallas which is an unforgettable experience and there is the beach as well! 

The University is very different to Imperial, the atmosphere is very relaxed and the work load is not as high which allows much more time to experience the culture and Spanish life. The students are friendly; all the Erasmus students studying biology had a Whatsapp group so everyone stayed in touch. Biology students also organised meals and nights out together outside of uni and always welcomed Erasmus students along. The teachers were friendly to Erasmus students but often did not provide notes or access to powerpoints so recording lectures is recommended or asking other students for their notes was common! 

¿Tuviste algún tipo de apoyo en España al llegar? (asociación Erasmus, tutores, etc)

Apart from the guidance given by the Spanish Department at Imperial, I had no other guidance before moving to Spain. Arriving in Spain, I moved into a hostel in the centre of Valencia, Red Nest, it was a really nice hostel and a great location. A lot of other Erasmus students were staying there at the same time so it was a great opportunity to meet others.

¿Encontraste algún tipo de problemas?

On the flight to Valencia, Spain I was extremely nervous and unsure about what was going to happen on my Erasmus year and whether I would enjoy it, aside from the nervousness, the actual arrival process was smooth, ryainair and easyjet fly cheap flights to Valencia from location across the UK and from the airport there are taxis and the metro that are both provide easy access to the centre.

¿Cómo conseguiste tu alojamiento?

I moved out two weeks before term started so I would have enough time to find a place to live and get settled in. There are rooms available all the time, especially in August/September so don’t worry about not being able to find a room. While staying at the hostel I searched online for accommodation on sites such as www.pisocompartido.com and www.idealista.com there are also Facebook groups for Erasmus students and I know other Erasmus students who while walking the city saw adverts and arranged viewing that way. 

From the online adverts I arranged viewings. I had an idea in my head of what I was looking for in terms of; price, room size, number of people living in the house, their nationality etc. and I was lucky that the first flat I saw seemed perfect. Three Spanish girls where living there, it was a central location Benimaclet which is a student zone and had easy access to the centre and to the beach as well as to the university campuses, it was ideal! 

I advise looking online to see what sort of price you would expect for a room to make sure you are not being overcharged, approx. 175 euros a month for a room in a shared flat was about average but prices vary dependant on what you want and if you live in university halls of residence it is much more expensive. 

¿Qué es lo que más te ha gustado de tu experiencia?

Now looking back on my Erasmus experience the year was a fantastic opportunity for me to take a year out of my studies in the UK, to be able to reflect on my first two years of my degree in a relaxed environment and it gave me the space to focus on what my future aspirations would be. During my Erasmus year I learnt to just live life and enjoy the experiences more. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to grow as a person; I met some amazing people and made some lifelong friends. 

¿Y lo que menos te ha gustado?

Being abroad can be a challenging experience and there are times when you may feel lonely or sad and I am lucky to have family and friends who I could Skype and who supported me through those moments. The key for me to overcome those lower moments was to keep busy, during my second semester I joined the university spinning classes and throughout the year I constantly organised days out on the weekends with other Erasmus students to museums, restaurants and attractions. I found the more I got out and experienced the city the better I felt and the more I enjoyed myself. 

¿Recomendarías la experiencia? ¿Por qué?

I think living abroad, especially at a young age is an invaluable experience and I would recommend it to anyone. Not only do you get to take a year out of your academic studies in the UK which helped me reflect on my experiences and decide on my future moves. In terms of the Erasmus experience you will have the opportunity to travel the country, try the food, hopefully have fantastic weather and make friends for life. It will also be an emotionally challenging experience at times but well worth it! 

¿Qué consejos le darías a futuros Erasmus que vayan a visitar “tu” ciudad?

I would suggest getting a local sim card for your phone as soon as you arrive in your new city as then you can easily keep in contact with all the new people you will meet and that way you won’t miss out on potential opportunities! I would also suggest listening to the advice of locals as they know the best spots to visit and definitely visit the centre of town but don’t be afraid to head out to areas such as Rusaffa and Benimaclet which are vibrant, there is a lot going on and have excellent cheap restaurants and bars. In Valencia, I suggest visiting the old town, the city of arts and sciences and walking through El Turia. 

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