My first week in SPAIN!

Hey guys, hope everyone has enjoyed their summer (which is quickly coming to an end!). So I am currently living in Spain and will be here for the next year and I wanted to share my first week with you. (But why are my eyes watery?)

So, I am here as an Erasmus student( since nobody seems to know what that is, it’s basically an exchange programme funded by the British Council through Universities for students to study/work abroad or you can Google it).

Prior to me coming to Spain, I had read on quite a few forums and even watched some YouTube videos about their attitude towards black people and it was mostly negative. Now I am not saying this is true or false, but I will share my experiences so far with you. I havenot been here long, but I have been out a few times, both day and night.

All my experiences so far have been good. My landlord was kind even to let me stay a week without paying my deposit first (lol), he also spoke to his parents about picking me up from the airport to my house in villaviciosia de Odon, a town just outside Madrid for half the price. They are the lovely couple I have ever met. They took me to the supermarket then checked up on me later that evening. When I did go out, anyone I asked for directions with the very little Spanish I knew and English was still able to help me if they knew. I have stares but from men (lol) and that’s about it. The only negative/racist (I think so anyway lol, might not necessarily be true because this is biased) experience is my neighbours’ dogs who seems to find me coming out of my house a reason to bark! And it’s such a little dog. And at night and during the day. And when that dog starts all the other digs start barking as well. (I think I’m surrounded by dogs which is not a good thing!)

My advice is, don’t believe everything you read on the internet or even see on YouTube (so cliché I know) because the experience is different for everyone. All you can do is pray to God that nothing bad/negative happens to you. And even if there was racism, don’t let something that stupid deter you from experiencing a new culture, lifestyle and potential opportunities!

Now for the fun part.

I suggest checking out couchsurfing.org before travelling to a new country. This site is great for meeting the locals or other travellers. I have been speaking to quite a few people (which strangely are men lol) and met a few people as well.  If you’re on an exchange programme or anything of the sort, make sure you check out any Facebook groups that may be or create one even! I have met so many people, we have been out and planning to go out. You will find people from around the globe! In the same position as you and everyone is ready to make new friends and start their experience wherever they maybe. And I met a guy who has been totally helpful with my moving here so shout out to him and it helps he’s cute too (LOL by the way Latino guys are too hot)

So to my family and friends back home, I am okay, well, safe, happy and getting darker lol.

To my new friends here and ones am yet to meet I hope we will have a great time here together and build friendships that will last a long time.

So my first week in Spain has been awesome and I’m so thankful for that! Here are some pictures of people I have met and things we have done. Until next time, hasta la vista

 

 

I should add I’m off to try and find Primark.. serious budgeting comes now! International student life.