Erasmus+

Embark on a journey through the unique experiences of Nouhaila from Morocco, along with Miriami and Luka from Georgia, as they spent a semester at the Polytechnic University of Valencia under the Erasmus KA171 program. From overcoming language barriers to embracing cultural immersion, these students candidly share their challenges and triumphs, offering valuable advice for prospective Erasmus participants in Valencia.

1. How has your experience been living in Valencia so far?

Nouhaila: I think it’s been just as I expected because the people were very welcoming, the cost of living is not too high, and people are very friendly. Also, I found some of my Moroccan friends here, and I also made friends from other countries. So it was a very good experience.

Luka: My experience living in Valencia has been very good. I have loved the vibes of Erasmus here, the sea, the beaches, etc. I’ve enjoyed every part of it. There are a lot of bikes, like ValenBisi, which I use very often. I love it.

Mariam: It is my first time abroad and I was very nervous about it, but I think Valencia is the best city if you want to live abroad because in general, Spanish people are very friendly and they are the best if you want to feel like you are at home. And Valencia is the best place.

2. What challenges have you faced adapting to a new country and culture?

Nouhaila: As for the challenges I’ve faced, I had to adapt to a new country and culture. I think the first one was the language because I couldn’t speak Spanish very well before coming. So, on my first day, I had a little bit of a problem, for example, when I go to the supermarket or when I want to buy something. I didn’t know Spanish at all, just the few words that I looked into Google Translate before coming. And for the culture, I really love the way that Spanish people are more relaxed and optimistic in the way they live, if I compare them to many European cultures.

Luka: Adapting to a new country for me has been pretty hard because of the cultural differences. Getting to know new people has been very hard because in Georgia we get along very fast, very heart to heart. But here, it was difficult, one of the reasons I think is because I haven’t participated in a lot of Erasmus activities, I think I made a small amount of friends.

Miriami: I came here with my friend, at first it is difficult to get to know a new city, but I think if you want to meet more friends I recommend going to Erasmus activities or meeting Spanish people because then you will learn more about the culture and the language.

3. How have you managed the language barrier? Did you speak Spanish before coming, or have you learned it here?

Nouhaila: I think I got the chance to live in a residence with some Spanish friends, so they both speak Spanish and English. At first, I spoke with them in English, and I tried to tell them to speak Spanish between them so that I would try to understand more. So at first, I made so many bad mistakes, but they were very helpful and patient with me. I didn’t know Spanish at all, and so far, I think I have made a very good improvement in my Spanish level.

Luka: The language barrier has not been that hard for me; Spanish people are very nice if you want to learn the language. It has been very good. I learned Spanish before coming with a private tutor for two months. However, I would like to practice more now that I’m here, but it’s a bit challenging because I’m shy.

Miriami: I think the most difficult part for me was the language barrier because when I came here I didn’t know anything in Spanish, but I had a Spanish course at the university and I had really good teachers who tried their best to prepare us for Spanish, so finally, it was not that difficult because of their help.

4. How do you think this Erasmus experience will influence your future academic and professional goals?

Nouhaila: I think this was one of my best experiences so far, because to be honest in the architecture field I always learned that Spain has very good higher education in architecture and Valencia is so beautiful. And the Erasmus experience was so awesome too. I got the chance to both develop my career and at the same time my personal life because I got the chance to get out of my comfort zone, meet new people, learn new languages, and be so much surrounded by good energy and good people. So it’s very good.

Luka: My Erasmus experience has been quite good. I think it has influenced me a lot, I learned some subjects that are not available in my country, but I think the biggest thing that I learned here was about personal growth because I am 19 and most of the people doing Erasmus here are 22 years old, but because I am 19, I learned a lot about myself and friends and where I want to live. One thing that I know now is that I want to stay in Georgia to live there. It doesn’t mean that I didn’t love the country, I do; it’s just that my home country is the best for me, at least.

Miriami: I think the Erasmus Experience was very beneficial for me. I have learned how to live alone and how to manage problems that you have in your day-to-day life. Erasmus is a really good opportunity to meet new people and also to learn more about yourself and other people’s culture. Moreover, academically because here at UPV there are very good and professional professors that try to teach you everything you didn’t know.

5. What advice would you give to other students considering participating in an Erasmus program in Valencia?

Nouhaila: I would say that they should consider it because it’s a very good decision in their life, but don’t let the fear of new experiences overcome you and hold you back from experiencing good things. So if you have a new experience, embrace it and believe that no matter what problems you have, you will always overcome them. I think this is one of the best pieces of advice.

Luka: I would advise them to participate in more Erasmus activities because it is a good way to meet new people. I think it is very important to participate and maybe try to learn time management before coming here. A lot of things integrated into a new country could be difficult to manage. I didn’t think it would be that hard, but it is still worth it.

Miriami: I would advise them to attend Erasmus activities. They post activities and trips on Instagram every weekend, where you can meet a lot of friends. So, I recommend going there. I tried to travel to other countries and couldn’t do it without their help. I feel kind of guilty because I would like to participate more