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Settling in at the Universidad de Sevilla
Hey! My name is Lauren. I study Politics and Spanish at UOM and I’ll be sharing my journey of my year abroad in Sevilla, Spain. To help those who will be doing study or work placements abroad in the future, I will be sharing the trials and tribulations of moving abroad from the perspective of a student, a foreigner in Spain and as a vegan (in a country where this is admittedly challenging at times). So far, it’s been exciting and stressful to say the least. Seville is a beautiful city and everyday I’m seeing why so many people have told me that it has a special feel for them.…
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6 Tips for Moving Abroad
By Annabelle Henderson, ESADE University, Spain As I near the end of my year on exchange, I have some tips and advice that I think would have been helpful to have heard before I went away: 1. Prepare Well in Advance Getting organised early is essential. Some documents, like visas, often require additional paperwork just to start the application process, so it’s important to research requirements as soon as you know where you’re going.For example, I studied in Barcelona for a year, and even though I didn’t move until August, I had to start gathering documents by March — five months ahead!It can also be really helpful to reach out…
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Exploring More of Spain in Madrid
By Annabelle Henderson, ESADE Business School, Barcelona, Spain After spending over two months exploring the beauty of Barcelona, my friend and I decided to explore more of Spain and visit the capital: Madrid! Neither of us had been to Madrid before but were excited for our new adventure. We went for 2 nights and flew from Barcelona airport, which was only an hour or so flight and fairly inexpensive.
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Football and Festivals in España
By Annabelle Henderson, Esade Business School, Barcelona Living in Barcelona has so far been an unforgettable experience, especially with the incredible food, culture, and vibrant city life. There’s always something happening, and I feel so lucky to be living in such an energetic place. Recently I have attended lots of festivals and done many cultural activities.
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Arriving in Barcelona
By Annabelle Henderson, Esade Business School, Barcelona I have been in Barcelona for just over a month now, studying at Esade, and I am having so much fun! To tell you about the last month, firstly, I arrived towards the end of August, a week before starting my exchange at the university. I had no idea what to expect and didn’t know anybody else in Barcelona when I arrived. But, I was excited about my new adventure and exploring a city where life is so different from that in Manchester.
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Being a ‘guiri’ in Seville
Bethan Watkins – Universidad de Sevilla ‘¿Oye tío, por qué hay tanto guiri aquí?’ was a phrase I heard that stuck with me for days after. I was in a bar in the centre of Seville with a group of other friends from the UK, when some locals began laughing and chatting about us in Spanish, unaware that we could understand them.
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South of Spain
By Aleksandra Budd, Madrid, Spain Valencia If you’re dreaming of sun, sand, food, and architecture, then Valencia is your place. From beach bars playing Reggaeton to pools and a vibrant party scene, they’re full of summer fun and relaxation. The popular Malvarrosa Beach and El Saler Beach offers a beautiful and serene backdrops. Known for its iconic dish, paella, Valencia boasts the authentic flavours of this rice-based delicacy, made with fresh seafood or tender meats, and infused with aromatic saffron. Head over to the The city of Arts and Sciences and get a feel for one of Spains 12 treasures. Almería Almería is a city that embraces its close proximity…
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The Festival of San Isidro
by Aleksandra Budd, Madrid, Spain The Festival of San Isidro is a week-long celebration in Madrid honouring the city’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. The festival occurs between the 6th -15th (the 15th being the official feast day) and includes numerous and varied events and activities such as: concerts, music, procession and parades.
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Bilbao & San Sebastián
By Aleksandra Budd, Madrid, Spain The north of Spain tends to be overlooked. Most people think of the South as the holiday destination, but the North has an abundance of gems. If you’re in Madrid it’ll take around 4-6 hours by bus to get to the North of Spain, specifically the Basque region, but its well worth the journey. The region is full of history and boasts a unique culture and language that is distinct from the rest of Spain. Bilbao and San Sebastian are my favourite northern cities in Spain’s Basque region.
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Madrid’s Mountains
by Aleksandra Budd, Madrid, Spain Despite my research, I didn’t know that Madrid is surrounded by mountains. Known as Sierra de Guadarrama, the mountains lie just outside of madrid, an hour by bus. If you have a student travel card, the journey is free. There are a few buses that stop near the mountain; the 682, 684, 685, and the 688. Summer or winter the mountains are filled with beauty and adventure.
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First Impressions
By Hannah Langan (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain). The University – Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona This uni accepted me as an erasmus student on the 10th of May this year and I hadn’t heard a word since. So after a couple of weeks I was beginning to worry something had gone wrong. Based on what I could find on the internet, term started on the 2nd Sept but when I eventually got some information (by going to the international welcome point at uni) I discovered my course didn’t start until the 16th. Don’t get me wrong, those extra days of freedom were bliss but I would say this university is…
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¡Hola España!
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…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
