Hi! My name is Sam and I am about to enter the final year of my Spanish and Business Management course at Southampton. I have spent my year abroad studying at the University of Granada and it has been a year full of some of the most exciting and memorable experiences of my life. I had the chance to live in a city full of history, culture, and beauty. The year did not come without its challenges, and hopefully in this blog you will pick up some tips to make your own year abroad a success!
The Pre-Spain Struggle
One of the most difficult aspects of the year abroad took place before I’d even arrived in Spain. The visa process was incredibly frustrating and daunting. Many long days and nights were spent refreshing emails, reading government websites and wondering if I would ever actually make it to Spain. As I waited in a two-hour long queue for an appointment at the Spanish embassy in London, I wondered if all of this stress and worry would be worth it. If I knew at that point even a fraction of the amazing times I would go on to have, I might have waited in that queue for days. If you take one piece of advice from me, it would be to start the visa process as early as possible. It can seem scary at first, but you will save yourself (and your parents) a lot of last-minute panic!
Eventually I had all the boring paperwork sorted out, and a few weeks later I was at Gatwick airport with my whole life crammed into a suitcase. Saying my goodbyes to my family suddenly made everything feel real. An overwhelming mix of nerves and excitement came over me, as I knew that in just a few hours I would be pushed so far out of my comfort zone and forced to find my way in a new country. I realise now that this is one of the biggest opportunities of the year abroad. To build confidence, push your limits and to prove to yourself that you can do it!
Life in Granada
Arriving in Granada felt surreal. After just a few days I started to realise how lucky I was to be spending a year in this amazing city. Living in a city surrounded by mountains, with the coast just a short drive away meant there was never a dull day in Granada. There was always the option to hike in the Sierra Nevada, enjoy free tapas with friends, or simply stroll through the Albaicín (and fill up your camera roll with pictures from a mirador). Every day offered a chance to experience something new, and that’s what makes Granada so special. Of course, the Alhambra is the main attraction (and rightly so), but throughout the year I discovered so many amazing spots that make this city the jewel that it is.
Being able to experience Spanish culture was a real highlight, particularly festivals such as Spain’s National Day and Semana Santa. It was always so interesting to go wondering through the streets of Granada find what sort of celebrations were taking place. With the streets often filled with people celebrating together, these events were the best opportunity to appreciate the Spanish people and the relaxed and joyful approach they have to life. On the more sombre holidays, such as Good Friday, people gathered to view some of the amazing processions that snaked through the streets.
Naturally, life in Spain did not come without its struggles. Before moving to Spain I was a bit sceptical of my language skills, particularly due to the Andalucian accent, which I had heard so much about from people warning me of its difficulty. Unfortunately they were not wrong; it did take me a while to adjust to the accent. Constantly asking people to repeat themselves (something I became very accustomed to at the start of the year) may seem annoying, but most likely people will not mind and will be happy to help. It is the best way to build confidence, which I soon found out was the main thing holding me back in my Spanish speaking. As soon as you learn not to overthink it, you will find communicating so much easier. No one is perfect, you will make mistakes but that is a part of life and you need to make them to get better!
University
Of course, the year abroad is more than just exploring and trying new things. I also attended university and there were a few differences to UK university life that took some getting used to. Firstly, lectures were long, normally 2 hours, without much interaction. I found myself missing the student-led seminars we have in Southampton, with constant teacher-led sessions sometimes becoming a bit repetitive. It was often quite easy to gaze outside and the beaming sun and wish you were outside in it. However, the role of studying should not be underestimated when it comes to language learning. Having all lectures and assignments in Spanish was an intimidating thought at first, but after just a few weeks I started to trust my Spanish ability and adjusted well to studying in another language.
Beyond Granada
Arguably my favourite part of the year abroad was being able to explore the amazing country of Spain. Being in Granada, my travels focused around Andalucía. I visited some of its amazing cities such as Sevilla, Cádiz and Córdoba, to name a few. Outside of Andalucía, visits to Madrid and Toledo helped me to realise that each of these cities has its own individual charm, something that you can only discover by visiting and immersing yourself in the culture. Throughout these travels I visited some beautiful sights and certainly had my fair share of tapas! (Although nowhere can beat Granada on that front…).
I would highly recommend travelling around your country during the year abroad, if you get the chance. It gives you the opportunity to learn so much more about the country and experience the different cultures that it has to offer.
Adiós, Granada
Returning to the UK has been bittersweet. It’s true there’s no place like home, but Granada had started to feel like a home to me, and every day I find myself longing to return. My final piece of advice is to be yourself, push your limits and have fun!! The year abroad really is a once in a life time opportunity and I feel very lucky to have been able to experience it.
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