Erasmus in Spain

Castellón de la Plana, Valencia, Spain

Jrisa was looking forward to going for Erasmus abroad, some years now. She took the opportunity to live alone for the first time and create a little new life before she goes back in Greece. 

Here are her impressions and pictures. And God save the Erasmus.

Name:     Jrisa Kommata
Age:        21
From:      Piraeus, Athens
To:         Castellón de la Plana,     Valencia, Spain
For:        6 months Erasmus  in Universidad Jaime I







1. Which were your top options and why you chose Castellón de la Plana?

All my options were in Spain because I've started studying Spanish and I really liked it. My first options were Sevilla and then Granada. Castellón I didn´t knew it before I come here and I chose it since I wasn´t accepted by first choices... But finally I think that I made the right choice.

Tarragona

2. Your motivation for following the Erasmus program.

I wanted to follow the erasmus program even before I got in the university.  I think that is a very good oportunity to meet new people, “discover” yourself, new cultures, learn new things and exercise the languages you know.










3. The first difficulties.

The first 3 weeks, maybe month, it was really difficult. Fortunately, I wasn't alone. I had met in Greece two more girls going to the same city, we just went for a coffee and booked the plane tickets together. I traveled with one of them and the first four nights we stayed in a hotel. The days after, we were searching for a home and we found one, not so close to the university, but in the centre. In the begging we were living with the guys from the previous semester for about one week. 
It was quite difficult for me, because back in Greece I live with my parents and here I had to organise everything about the house and also about the money, by myself. But as the days were passing the things were getting better. Regarding socialization, things were very easy. The guys that we were living together for a little, helped us a lot and we also met some Greek guys who also helped us to get used to the language, as well.



4. Your house. What do you see from your window?

Well, from my window I don't see anything interesting. Only the opposite apartment. But the house is really comfortable and the living room has 2 big windows, so it's very bright. This is what I like the most.


5. Your academic field and basic interest.

In Greece I study Social Anthropology, but here I study history and philosophy.

Spanish night

6. Your impression of the university.

The university is really good. There are buildings for each department separately, plus the building of the library and another one for sports. Also, the lessons are very good and the professors very helpful with us!

7. The food. 

The food here is really perfect! Paella (rice with barbecue meat or vegetables) is their traditional plate and I really like it.They have  some cheeses and jamón, which are a kind of cold cuts. They have also seafood, potatoes (patatas bravas) which has a sause (ali oli) with garlic and olive and the tortilla which is like our omelette. 

8. The people of the city.

The spanish people are very kind, they will help you with whatever you might ask and they are always happy! There is only one problem, the language. Most of them they don't speak English so you have to speak Spanish to communicate with them and this was a big problem the first days here.

Spanish men playing Greek rempetiko

9. Erasmus people.

The majorities of the erasmus people are French and German. There are people from everywhere
(France, German, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Finland, Turkey, America and Latin America, Austria, Australia).
Most of our friends are from the erasmus programme, not natives.

10. The best and the worst thing about the city.

The best thing about the city is that is a small city and you don't need to use the means of transport, but because of that, sometimes you don't have so many choices of doing new things.


11. A Spanish habit you have almost adapted.

Spanish people, wherever they go out for a long time, they have  a home-made sandwich to eat with them (bocadillo). I think that this is the Spanish habit I have adopted here.

12. How do you see young Spanish people face the economic crisis.

I think that the young Spanish people is like the young Greek people. Of course they are worried for all this situation, but they don't debilitate and they are trying to have fun, even they don't have enough money. I'd also add here that the life here,generally, is cheaper than Greece.





13. The most important thing you have gained from this experience, so far.

Everything. The friends I have made, the places I've seen... 
I believe that this experience made me stronger about learning how to live alone.


14. Where do you see yourself in the future.

Travelling and healthy!