Lu’s Erasmus Experience in Alicante, Spain

Why did you choose to go to Alicante, Spain?

For everything really. It’s a beautiful city with a good climate and stunning landscape, it hardly ever rains and the beaches on the Mediterranean coast are gorgeous. It also has a lot of diversity in the activities it offers such as cultural events, nightlife, and gastronomy all year round. During university term time the city is full of students from all different parts of the world (yes, yes, there are lots of people from the U. S., Latin America, Asia, and I even had friends from the north of Siberia). But in the holidays it doesn’t quiten down as the students leave; on the contrary the city becomes full of tourists who take advantage of the beach.

You can learn a lot about different cultures here, and you will never be bored because the people in Alicante love to party. There are always important events on (at least one a month), and if you are religious, or you’re just interested in history or socialising, there are lots of parades where people dress up in costume and eat typical Spanish food and drink lots of beer. On the other hand, there is a wide variety of architecture to visit, from old buildings (like the beautiful castle that sits on top of the city), to newer buildings recognised for their architecture (like the University of Alicante campus). Without a doubt I fell in love with this city and I would like to live there again in the future. I definitely recommend living there, it is really captivating!

How long was your scholarship? How much money did you receive for support?

My scholarship lasted the university year, and it was an agreement between the University of Alicante, Santander bank and my university, the University of Argentina. Alicante University granted me with free scholarship and the Santander bank gave me €8, 000 in two instalments. The first €4, 000 when I arrived in Alicante and proved that i was enrolled at the university, and then the other €4, 000 later in the year.

What’s the student lifestyle like in Alicante?

Incredible. The University of Alicante received lots of foreign student throughout the year, from all over the world, and it is good because you are all in the same boat. You are all away from your family but you make the most of the experience because you’re all in the same situation. So your friends will be your new family and you will also see that the university provides a lot of help too. On the Spanish courses at the university they organise activities to get to know the city and there are also associations like ESN which organise parties and also arrange trips to different parts of Spain at a really good price, so you can make friends quickly through these.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Alicante?

Of course, yes! For all the reasons I’ve just mentioned, it is simply an incredible experience! The university has one of the best campuses in Europe and from my own experience everything there was really good. During my masters I met people at the university who were experts in architecture and urban planning, so I could speak to them and even consult them with regard to my thesis. This was really great for me because in Argentina I only dreamt of meeting these people as I just read their names in books.

What’s the country’s food like?

It’s really good and varied. If you go to the port you can eat fresh fish every day (advice: if you like cooking your own fish go to Mercadona when it is closing because they sell the fish cheaply as it is the end of the day hehe).

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Alicante?

No it wasn’t. On “easypiso” it was really easy to find something. There is also student accommodation at the university which is good, but I preferred to look for a flat to share with other students in the centre of the city. You have to travel to get to the university every day but that isn’t a problem because the buses come every 5 minutes. If you live in San Vicente (the town where the university is located) it is complicated to go out at night in the centre at the weekend because there aren’t many buses to get back to your accommodation at the end of the night. There are also big parties in the centre of the city.

How much does it cost to live in Alicante?

I spend about 750 euros a month and with that I live really well. I paid about 200 euros a month for a room in a shared flat in the centre of the city, plus bills (about 50 euros), and then with food and other things for the flat I would probably spend another 150 euros. The rest would be for going out at night and travelling to other parts of Spain.

How’s the language? Did you go on a course at the university?

In my case this wasn’t necessary because I’m from Argentina and I speak perfect Spanish. But my flat mates were German and Italian and they did the courses at the university where they improved their Spanish a lot.

What’s the cheapest way for you to get to Alicante from your hometown?

From Argentina you can only get to Alicante by flying and it is never cheap. I had to save a lot to pay for it because my grant didn’t cover it.

Which places do you recommend for nightlife in Alicante?

On the port there are lots of clubs but I love El Barrio (the old town - so called because it’s the oldest area in the city). There are lots of little bars of different Spanish styles (Andalucian, Catalan, Cordoban etc. ) where you can try different tapas and really good cured meats. There are also lots of bars where you can go for a drink with your friends. My favourite bar was Jagger (or Route 66 as it was previously called). I also recommend “La Sede”. The owner is really friendly and makes shots in the colours of flags in dessert glasses and thousands more. He also takes photos with customers which he always saves and puts on the wall so you will see me in there; )

What about eating out in Alicante? What places do you recommend?

El Albaicín, El Andaluz y 100 Montaditos are the ones I visited most. But there are loads more!

What about sightseeing?

I advise that you visit the city’s tourist office because they offer lots of guided tours. I am an architect and so in my case I liked these tours, but that may not be for you if you don’t like old buildings and churches. I also recommend visiting the castle, and you can find out which days and times they show theatrical performances as they are very good and you can learn about the history of the city.

Source

Source

Do you have any advice for future students in Alicante?

Guys, from the first day live each moment as if it were the last! Make the most of the university and the classes as they are really good, but also make sure that you go to the beach and go out at night. Get to know ESN and make friends from different countries (above all, to practice your Spanish, don’t just go out with people from your country because you don’t want to leave Alicante without being able to speak Spanish). I also recommend visiting the nearby towns and cities as they are very beautiful.