Studying in Spain: Useful Tips from Experienced Students
If your goal is to study in Spain, your main goal will be to acquire knowledge. However, this does not mean that you should ignore your comforts. Any trip to Spain should be enjoyable. Julia Capano, an American student who recently returned from a semester in Barcelona, offers tips on how to make your trip enjoyable and comfortable.
The first thing Julia advises is to gather information about the weather in the region of Spain where you will be studying. You can’t rely only on school geography. Julia points out that in Barcelona, a city in warm Spain, the temperature in spring can be only 10-15 degrees. Warm clothes will be necessary. Although students may have accurate information about the climate of Catalonia, many still do not take warm clothes with them, hoping to buy them on the spot. However, this can lead to additional costs.
Regarding clothing, Julia advises trying to dress in a way that locals do not mistake you for a tourist. It is better not to take with you things with large brand logos that indicate your foreign origin. It is also worth limiting the number of things, especially if you are planning a long stay in Spain. In the future, a student may want to buy current local fashion trends, and this will lead to the need to get rid of old clothes.
When planning your travel budget, you need to be realistic and take into account the exchange rates. It is important to ask yourself the minimum amount you will need. You should have some cash with you at first, so as not to be disappointed if you cannot immediately figure out how to use ATMs or transfer money in Spain.
One piece of advice that Julia recommends is extremely universal: be prepared for any circumstances! Including the so-called “pleasures” of acclimatization, which can manifest itself in the form of a cold or flu a few days after arriving in Spain, regardless of the season. Even if you consider yourself a person in excellent health, do not underestimate the viruses common in Spain, which can unexpectedly affect your immune system, which is not accustomed to them. First aid is essential to have on hand, as in Spain you can only buy a limited number of drugs without a prescription.
When going to Spain, it is worth keeping in mind that no matter how carefully you prepare, something will inevitably go wrong and disrupt your plans. However, you should be prepared for this and not let minor problems and annoyances spoil your enjoyment of the trip. Flights may be delayed or even cancelled, the apartment you booked may be less comfortable, and the people you meet may seem less friendly than you expected. However, it is important to remember that after a few months, all these problems will become insignificant and seem like trifles that are not worth paying attention to. And of course, they should not lead to the cancellation of your study plans and returning home. As a rule, after a few weeks, all problems are solved, and the new student begins to adapt to the new life. And all the troubles that he previously worried about become just material for funny stories that are pleasant to tell after returning home.
