Valladolid - hot or not story

      Here i was, waiting for my first flight that would get me closer to the land that i always dreamt to put my feet on - Spain! I knew it would be a really long flight because honestly i was shaking thinking about getting into the plane and than being up in the air miles away from the ground. I was trying to keep it chill and just take what's best from that experience but nobody said it would be easy. The only thing that made me stay calm was the fact that i did not want to embarrass myself by panicking and acting like a psycho.

     Anyways, three hours turnt out to be much more shorter and much less unpleasant than i thought! It was actually the best ride i had in my life. Smooth, no traffic, no crazy drivers killing the horn, no holes on the way, no additional stops, just a smooth flight  on a sunny day! I could do that over and over again! I thought to myself that i would suprisingly prefer planes as a public transport than all the buses and trams. 

     Awaited landing on one of the biggest airport i personally have ever seen in my entire life (let's skip the fact that i have just never seen any airport before xd, well... just the one i set off from in Warsaw but it was a tiny little thing) finally came, fastly we took our luggage and got to the main bus station from which we took off to our new home - Valladolid, Spain. 

     One of our polish friends was already waiting for us in the city, she picked us from the bus station in Valladolid and helped us get to our flat. Exhaused after the whole day on the road, we immediately fell asleep to be able to rule the city the next morning.

     The next morning. Well, we didn't really rule the city because it was too hot! Like, i have never ever before experienced such heat that did not let the air flew through the open windows to fresh the flat out. I mean, it can be really hot in Poland but come on, only in Spain you wake up tired from the morning sun and you wait for the midnight just to take a walk around the city because only then you can actually breathe!

     Happily with the help of watermelons and tones of orange juices we got used to the new environment and we could finally go the University and do a little research about the classes we have chosen so we could change it in time. Believe me, it was a heck of an idea because some professors didn't really want erasmus students to attend their classes. 

     Chosing the subjects was not an easy task especially that we didn't feel like studying all the time. Fortunately our decision were approved, all the documents signes and we could begin our journey. 

     Days were passing by and we still were able to get lost in the city that was not big but Valladolid streets tend to make you feel like you're in somewhat of a labyrinth and though you seem to know every corner of it, you do not recognize the places you pass by everyday.

     On the autumn mornings, warm rays of sunshine wake you up crashing on to your windows, you get up with a smile on your face, put on a nice summer dress, take a sip of a fresh orange juice, go downstairs and in the moment you open the door to welcome the world, you freeze, you freeze from the morning spanish breeze and then you think to yourself: Why the heck i did not take my winter clothes with me...? Then you call your mom to send you a 10 kilo package with coats, scarves and two pair of gloves. 

     You see, north of Spain can seem hot from the seventh floor of a block of flats where the sun is always present, but not from the alleys of the city, covered with the shadows given by the buildings that do not let the sun sneak in to dress your skin. Remember to walk fast from you flat to your Faculty, that will definitely warm you up.

     Of course, there were those beautiful moments i forgot about it all, when travelling time came and even though i had to wake up with the sunrise, i was excited to see what else this country has to offer, especially that i could discover it with people that shared my pain and had this strong desire to go somewhere warm like Santander or Gijón or well known Barcelona. It was good to take some rest from my erasmus home and the smell of burnt chicken and enjoy the unexpected. 

     Sometimes, i tried to force myself to get up from bed with a positive thought no matter how cold it was, just to get to the closest bar and have a big piece of spanish tortilla de patatas with a slice of chorizo. H E A V E N in my mouth! If you have never tasted it or you even do not know what the heck i am talking about, check it out and maybe try to prepare it on your own! It is not that difficult and it is definitely worth wasting a little bit of time!

     Other times only churros could make me a little less depressed but too much of it would make me sick! Too much chocolate and salt put together can make you miss your well known cuisine!  On days like this, when we felt homesick (it happens to all of us, believe me), only polish kind of dinner could make us feel less depressed! Made with the ingredients found in a foreign store might not be as delicious as you would want it but it's still better than nothing! 
     After all the travels, good and bad days, parties and sunbathing on a "in the middle of the city" beach, time came for the worst - exams! Don't let the thought "exams abroad for erasmus students are easy" cross your mind! Ever! It was a complete nightmare! Okay, well, maybe i am exaggerating but... let me explain. Writing an 40 pages work just to pass one subjects?! It was like writing a thesis just in pairs! Obviously english exam was easy but the rest! Oh, there was just one professor that let us use our notes and photocopies on the final exam but he was the only one! Ok, i'm done expaling! GO and see on your own! :P 
     This is all just a tiny part of it all, of the whole "My Erasmus" book, an introduction chapter but i will surely not leave you with that so if you cannot wait for more, like, comment, share, subscribe and stay tunned. ;)

     Before i leave this topic, I have just one good advice for those preparing themselves to begin their Erasmus exeprience in Spain, take some coats people, because you might get surprised by the spanish winter ;) Yes, they have snow there! Can you imagine?! :P Oh and don't let your sending institution professors fool you, classes in Spain start at 8 am too!

      Finally, here are my answers to your questions. If you have some more, don't be afraid to ask in the comments, i will be very happy to help you :)

1.When were you on your Erasmus?

-It was two years ago on my second year in the University, September 2016. I stayed abroad for a year but i did not plan it at first but after the first semestre i decided to extend my residence.

2.Did you meet a lot of people while being abroad?

-I know a lot of you have this image in your head that while being an exchange student abroad you meet a lot of people, you party and travel and you do not really have a lot to study there but my case is different. Many students that come to study to a foreign country indeed have a lot of free time but just because they do not know spanish and spanish Universitied do not offer a lot of classes in english or other languages but since I came to Spain as a spanish philology student my schedule was crammed with classes. There was not muh time to go out and hang out with new met people but i tried my best, i could not waste an opportunity like that. I travelled with Erasmus people from all around the world, i was participating at language exchange meetings and i was also going for piano classes. Also the problem in my case was that i came to Spain with my polish friends so if you have a choice, go alone! ;P

3.How much money did you get from the scholarship and was it enough?

Back then when i was having my erasmus adventure, Spain was in the group of countries where you get 400 euros each month for scholarship, though i think now it's 450. Was is enough? Yes, but it depends how much you spend and on what because for some of my friends it was not enough at all. It is very significant how much you pay for the rented flat. I payed 170 euros per month and everything was included in that price but some of my friends payed even 300 euros or more. If you think about chosing a dorm instead of a flat, in Spain it is not a good idea because all the students' residences are private and they cost about 600 euros. 

...so when i payed 170 euros per month for the accomodation i was left with 230 euros and it was enough for me to buy food and go out with friends but it was definitely not enough to travel. It would be good to have come additonal money/savings or if you have a social scholarship in your country, the scholarship you get abroad is much higher. If not, you can find a job abroad, there are many offers for students.

4.Was it hard for you to leave the city you stayed at?

To be honest, it was not ;P Not back then, but now... now i miss it a lot!

5. Who was your best male roomie?

Of course it was Paco, Paco the Mexican, who burnt the chicken every time he fried it! ;P

PS. If you ever want to have a mexican flatmate, first ask them to cook for you, then decide, not the other way around ;*

Xoxo,

Anett Cristy Joane