Erasmus Experience in Granada, Spain by Isabelle

Why did you choose to go to Granada, Spain?

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At first I asked to my course director which university in Spain he thought that was the best and with a similar system that we have (Visual Arts- Universidade do Algarve) and he said to me that there were two universities that were similiar, which were the Universidad de Salamanca and Universidad de Granada. So since I have a friend here in Granada I pick up Granada and also because it was closer to do the mobility.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

The scholarship it is 6 months long. I recived nothing, they said to me that there wasn't money enough but thankfully I worked all summer so I could save up some money and I could come to Granada.

What is the student lifestyle like in Granada?

The best that a student could have. Granada is such a charming city, the price of the clubs/pubs is ridiculous compared to Faro for example which is an poor city and there isn't to much to do.

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Would you recommend the city and the University of Granada to other students?

The city, yes. The University would depend. For any other carreer than Fines Arts, yes. The structure of the University it is impecable, the employes are polite and helpful.

About the Fine Arts, I love Bellas Artes in Granada, my main point as an sugestion for someone who is going to do Erasmus in Granada specifically in Bellas Arts, I would have to ask which carreer as an artist the person is planning. For example in my case as I said my course director recommended Granada as an University because it was similar to the one I study in Portugal "a little bit of everything" as I like to say. I already have studied Analogic Photograph, Digital Photograph, Painting, Draw but I have never specified in anything and in Bellas Artes in Granada it's the same, people study four years to learn the "master" of art, which it is Painting, Sculpture, and Draw...

So, yes, it depends on what you are looking for.

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What is the food like?

Amazing. Spanish food is nothing similiar to brazilian tradicional (my nationality). The Tapas, piononos, beer, ensaladas, paella, everything is exotic and tasty.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Granada?

A lit bit. Since the beginnig I wanted to leave close to the Facultad de Bellas Artes, which is a problem, because the Facultad it is far from the center of the city, it is located in La Chana which doesn't have to much else beside Facultad de Bellas Artes and the Instituto de Insformatica...

I seach in Uniplaces, Spotahome and Facebook groups. At the begging I found a place at La Chana with Spotahome I even made the deposit but the olders residents of the apartment decided at the very last minute to renew the contract, they (Spotahome employes) were impecable and helped me to get another apartment but as I said at the time (July/Agost) there wasn't to many apartments left. Well, there was apartments avalible but they aren't structured for student, stuctured I mean as a room with a table for studys, single bed, and some wardrobe big enough to put your season cloths if you're staying only for one semester as me.

How much does it cost to live in Granada?

Not too much, compared to other places and for being in one of the most beautiful and requested places of Spain. Would be 450/500 euros more than enough as in my point of view, but I think that it is such rhetoric question because it depends what kind of person you are.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

Yes and No. The people of Granada and the University are really helpfull in this point, if you are just trying to speak Spanish they will listen to you, doesn't matter how bad your Spanish is, but the thing is, i do know that no one is obliged to do this, but in my case I always begin the phrase in the following order "Sorry If I say something wrong, If I do correct me/ Perdoname sí yo digo algo malo o gramaticamente incorrectamente dime" but most of the people doesn't correct me even if I say so, but I understand that I think that it is for respect and would be a little bit boring correcting someone every five seconds, isn't it?

Yes, there are language course available at the University, but it cost a small fortune, for example in my case, I don't have a scholarship, a paid scholarship. It is 455 Euros if I'm not wrong for 60 hours of Spanish classes I think that it is a little bit too expensive for this amount of hours.

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What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Granada from your city?

The easiest and more economical way is by bus.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Granada?

For party I recommend "a must have" it is to go to the "Chupiteria", it is a place where you could go and take shots for 1 euro and there is more than 100 kinds of shots, and to dance you could go to the 'Scandalo' which is in front of Chupiteria you can go without paying the entrance and listen to reggaeton.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Granada?

Tapas, here in Granada there is a "system" that you ask for the beverage usually comes the food as well and you pay the price of one of them. I'm a little bit confused now, I'm not sure if it is the beverage or the food, but it doesn't matter. For example if you buy a beer you can ask a Tapa (you could say a small dish) of whatever you want, it depends on the place but usually it is 1, 50/2 euros.

Well, I feel a little bit fool now because I don't know the name of the place, but I can say that it is in front of Science University and all the decoration is green and there are really good burgers for a really nice price. Moreover, you have to try the tradicional candy of Granada that is Pionono, if you are a sugar teeth as me (high-five).

OMG I almost forgot, YOU MUST EAT CHURROS WITH HOT CHOCOLAT in whatever place you find in Granada, in Brazil it is "normal" to find churros, it wasn't something new to me. The Churros of Spain, the first time that i prove it was in Madrid it was pretty good but here in Granada are better because they are more crunchy and so yummy. (I still prefer churros from Brazil, anyway, sorry Spanish people <3)

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

La Alhambra, La Catedral of Granada* (*If you are an Art Student it is really interesting to go because there is painting of Rogier van der Weyden and some other that I think that it is worth to see), Calle the los tristes, Mirador de San Miguel from where you can see all Granada wich it is soo beautiful to watch the sunset. To be honest everyplace in Granada it's unique, you can see the influence of Arabic Arctheture etc etc

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Granada in the future?

Dear future student,

If you planning to come to Granada as an Erasmus Student, please do everything that you can to explore the city, talk with the people, eat diferent kind of dishes, dance every single of hit that you can reggaeton/flamenco/bachata, every s-i-n-g-l-e one.

Don't be as foolish as me, do NOT feel scared to talk with the people, doesn't matter if they does not understand you, try English, mimics, whatever it takes. Go party as much as you can in the begging the semester while it doesn't approach the exam time and don't f*cking dare to think that the most of the professors will take it easy on you because you are an Erasmus Student because that is lame.

If you want to live a life as an frat boy same as those frat boys of USA movies you can do perfectly in Granada, but if you are a person that it is more focoused on studies it's fine. Do not feel presure for not being an party person, you can hang out some time... Just take it easy to yourself, in every single way... you liver may or may not will say thank you hahah

Enjoy your Erasmus life the most,

Best reguards,

from akaward anti social art student, Isa xx