By Hannah Langan (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain).
2 days to go!
So, I’m going on my year abroad. I speak un pocito Español and I certainly don’t speak Catalan. I don’t know anyone there and I’ve never been to Barcelona before, actually I haven’t spent much time in Spain at all as it goes. This is all completely unchartered waters for me and I couldn’t be more excited.
My flight is in two days. I have been waiting to go for so long but, strangely, it doesn’t feel any closer now than it did a couple of months ago, I don’t think it’s really going to sink in until I’m there! Having said that, this week has been emotionally draining at times because I’ve had lots of goodbyes. Last night I met up with all of my friends for farewell drinks, they are all very sad to see me go but so happy for me. I’m absolutely dreading saying goodbye to my family. It’s really difficult knowing that the next time I will see them all together again is Christmas. Leaving everyone behind is genuinely the toughest thing about going, but I’m leaving for Barcelona so it’s not too hard to look on the bright side (extremely clever pun: intended).
Now, I took a very helpful Manchester student’s advice to come out a week or so early to find accommodation before uni begins. Except I extended that ‘week or so’ to I think around 3 weeks, accidentally of course. This has resulted in a mindset of packing for a holiday. My suitcase is composed almost entirely of summer clothes and hawaiian tropic. I’m not really considering winter just yet as an inevitability. I’m saving space by not packing towels or bed sheets because I can buy those when I arrive! I have scoured the internet for packing advice and the message repeated everywhere is ‘pack light!’ so I am! I’m stocking up on toiletries though and I figure that I can buy whatever else I need over there. As well as sending my friends extensive lists of things to bring me from home, in return for free accommodation when they come and visit me of course.
Ok so my biggest stress is where I’m going to live. I’m pretty terrified in all honesty. Apparently the norm for Erasmus students is to just come out a week or so before uni starts, look around at some flats, explore the neighbourhoods and decide where you want to settle. It sounds pretty easy and I’m possibly the most last-minute, least-stressed, chaotic person you will ever have the pleasure to meet but booking a one way flight with only 4 nights booked in a hostel is freaking. me. out. I’ll let you know how that goes.
Arriving…
A beautiful 3am start, my parents drive me to Heathrow and we have a departing coffee before I have to go through security. I was expecting uncontrollable tears but all I could feel was pure excitement that I was at long last jetting off on my year abroad! After a well-wished goodbye I headed to my plane, making a little stop to pick up some much needed Barcelona ray-bans. Also (on an unrelated note) I find putting ‘Barcelona’ in front of any item justifies the purchase, for example: Barcelona ray-bans. The journey was extremely quick and I’ve finally landed in the city I’ve been dreaming over for the last year. It’s 31 degrees and lets just say my sunglasses are getting put to good use.
The reality of being alone in a city I don’t know with no one I know has finally hit me. Ay dios mio. I won’t take you through my journey from the airport to my hostel but if I told you I have a history of getting on the wrong train and ending up really quite far away from where I’m supposed to be (including a different city), then you can imagine the ordeal I’ve been through today. In the end though, I made it to my hostel. I did it.
Upon arriving, I spent a considerable amount of time standing on the street outside my hostel trying to get inside, speaking through the intercom with my exceptionally limited Spanish and the receptionists’ non-existent English. When I was eventually buzzed in, with no thanks owed to anyones language skills, I made it to my room, completely exhausted. I indulged in a lengthy siesta (this part bears no cultural shock for me) and I shall be spending the rest of my evening sorting out apartments to visit over the next few days! Possible homelessness pending so I’ve got to get going.
To be continued amigos.