Afbeelding
Study programme
For the semester abroad, I mainly chose courses in International Business and Finance. This was quite challenging at the beginning as I did not have any prior knowledge in some of the courses, but I chose them out of interest, and I learned a lot during the semester. I really liked the option when going on exchange to also be able choose courses that are different to your studies.
Another challenge I faced or just something I was not used to from NHL Stenden was the exam period. Here in Valencia, we had a test in every course at the end of the semester, which was quite some work in a short period of time. However, totally manageable and it turned out well.
Free time
Now, coming to the better part of the Erasmus, the leisure time. Valencia is a very lively city with lots of things to do. Probably the most important thing when coming to Spain, the beach. Valencia has a really nice beach front as there are no high buildings, as in most other coastal cities in Spain. Many restaurants with authentic Valencian food can be found at the promenade and just walking there on a warm summer evening is super relaxing.
If you are new to the city and do not know people yet, just go to the beach for the evening and join one of the groups. The Spanish, Latin and Erasmus people are all very open to new people. Following the promenade, you come to the port. The Valencians meet there to skate, dance, drink and do lots of other activities.
Going on with the Turia park, a former river that got transformed to a park and stretches more than 9 km through the city. Here you can find anything, literally anything. If you are into gymnastics, yoga, acro-yoga, running, bachata, salsa, zumba, climbing baseball, rugby, football, combat sports, working out or simply meeting friends for a picknick, you will find a group that you can join in the park. If I did not mention the activity that you particularly like, no worries, you will definitely find it there!
Coming to the heart of the city, the historic centre is absolutely beautiful with many little streets and plazas to discover. There are many museums, the cathedral, bars, cafes, and restaurants and not to forget the mercado central, the biggest indoor market in Europe.
Also, the mountains are very near the city and within half an hour with the bus you can go outside the city for some stunning hikes. There are some places that are very well known for rock climbing and others for the rivers that stretch along between the mountains, I totally recommend going on some hikes!
Another highlight of mine is the food. The Mediterranean diet is very rich and diverse, and I discovered many new dishes I have not heard before and even learned how to cook paella.
I could go on and on talking about the city and its diverse neighbourhoods, but I just recommend doing your Erasmus here and discover it on your own, there are always new things to see and do.
Lastly, I would recommend planning in some time after the Erasmus to travel a bit around Spain. Personally, I rented a van and went to Andalusia. I highly recommend visiting Málaga, Marbella, Sevilla, and Granada.
Even if my experience might has been restricted by Covid-19, I enjoyed every single day and I am curious how the city’s nightlife is when everything is open. I hope I could give a little impression of the city and if you have any questions about your exchange in Valencia, do not hesitate to contact me!
