Eloise, a final-year student of Spanish and History at the University of Warwick, has just completed a nine-month Erasmus exchange in Zaragoza, Spain. In this interview, she shares her impressions of the city, her academic experience, and the cultural differences she has encountered, providing insight into life as an Erasmus student in northern Spain.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am Eloise, and I am from York, England. I have just finished my year abroad in Zaragoza, and back home, I study at the University of Warwick. At Warwick, I study Spanish and History.
Since when have you been in Zaragoza and how long will you stay?
I arrived in Zaragoza in September and I’m leaving at the end of May, so I will stay for nine months.
Why did you choose Zaragoza for your Erasmus exchange?
One of the reasons I chose Zaragoza was that I wanted to be in northern Spain; I don’t like heat very much (typical British!) so I wanted to avoid going south. I also think the history of northern Spain is very interesting. I looked at different cities and decided that Zaragoza was a city of good size. I live in very small towns, so I didn’t want to move to a large metropolis, but I did want the opportunity to explore a larger city. Plus, it’s very beautiful!
Did you know anything about the city before coming? How was it discovering it?
I knew a few things about its history, for example, the Roman history and, of course, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. I also researched a bit about the city’s most popular places. Once I arrived, I enjoyed seeing the more touristy spots.
What are you studying and in what language are your classes?
All my classes are in Spanish, and most of my subjects are history, since that is what I study back in my country. In the first semester, I took Latin and four history subjects that covered different periods, and in the second semester, I took a classical mythology subject, one in philosophy, and three in history.
What do you think of the academic level and teaching methods here?
The classes at the university were very different in Zaragoza compared to those in my country. In most of my subjects there, I have a one-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar (which is similar to a practical class), whereas here in Zaragoza, I have two two-hour lectures. The academic level is similar. I am about to enter my fourth year of university, and here in Zaragoza, I have taken courses from first to fourth year, and I found the level of the content to be similar. The evaluation methods are very different: in my country, in history classes, there are no exams, only assignments, which are essays of different lengths throughout the year. I found that here, exams focus more on the content of the modules.
Did you find it difficult to adapt to the language and lifestyle?
At first, it was a strange change. I have been studying Spanish for eight years, and at my university back home, I speak it for a few hours a week, so suddenly being surrounded by Spanish all the time was very different. However, I didn’t take long to get used to it. As for lifestyle, being a university student is quite similar in both countries, but there are other things that are very different, such as shop hours and meal times, which are quite different from those in England.
Do you feel integrated with the other students and the university community?
Yes, I believe that in class, Erasmus students are very integrated; I didn’t feel that others treated me differently. I made very good friends, both other Erasmus students from all over Europe and Spanish students. The only thing that sometimes made me feel different is that I attended classes from different years, which meant I saw many different people and didn’t share the same classes with them, but this was not necessarily a bad thing.
What are your favorite places in Zaragoza?
I think my favorite place in Zaragoza was the Parque Grande. There is a lot of nature and it is close to both where I lived and the campus, so it was very nice to go for a walk or sit down to read a book.
What places would you recommend to future students?
The Parque Grande is definitely one of them, and if you like history, I recommend the four museums of Caesarea Augusta. The forum and the theater museum were very interesting! I also think it’s great to walk through different parts of the city and see where the different ancient gates of the city were.
Have you had the opportunity to travel around Spain? If so, which city did you like the most and why?
Yes, during my stay in Spain, I traveled to Barcelona, Teruel, Valencia, and Madrid. I think my favorite is Teruel; the architecture is beautiful and my friend and I went hiking on the Rambla de Barranchina, where the views are incredible.
Did you notice any cultural differences between Zaragoza and your home country?
I think one of the main differences I noticed is that people in Spain seem more relaxed. In England, it’s rare to see large groups of people socializing during the day. This is probably partly due to the climate, which is much more pleasant in Spain, allowing for more time spent outdoors. It is also likely due to breaks during the workday. It’s a nice environment compared to England!
What has been your best experience so far?
I think my best experience has been traveling to different places. I have already mentioned my visit to Teruel, but I have also met friends who study in different cities in Madrid, and we have had a great time exploring and visiting galleries and museums.
Would you like to live in Spain or Zaragoza in the future?
Definitely, I would consider moving to Spain in the future, especially Zaragoza. There are some aspects of life in Spain that I prefer to England, such as the ease and cost of trains and coaches for traveling, the food, and the work-life balance, which certainly makes it a pleasant place to live.
What advice would you give to future Erasmus students?
I think the most important advice I can give to students from the UK is to start the visa process early. For many Erasmus students, this is not relevant because they can move freely within the EU, but in the UK, there is a process that takes several months, so it’s important to start preparing in advance!
