Erasmus Experience in Huelva, Spain by Olivia

Why did you choose to go to Huelva, Spain?

As an English native speaker, I didn't want to go to anywhere too touristy or commercial and felt that Huelva would give me more opportunities to speak Spanish with local, native speakers.

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

I spent the whole academic year in Huelva, however you can choose to spend only one semester. I highly recommend spending the whole year there as you can really see the improvements over the course of the year and make firm friends from various countries. The money received to help with living costs depends on your home university and government schemes. I also did some babysitting to earn some extra money.

What is the student lifestyle like in Huelva?

The student life is incredible in Huelva. There are weekly activities organized by ESN, always fun and different. There are plenty of cheap bars depending on the day of the week and a variety of music and atmospheres to suit all tastes. The main student hub is the La Merced area. This is due to the La Merced building, numerous cheap bars and restaurants being in close proximity.

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

The city is by no means as beautiful as its neighbouring Sevilla but being within 20 minutes to the beach is a real bonus. Sevilla is only about an hour or so on a relatively cheap and regular bus ride and Portugal is not far either if you are planning a weekend away. All the main attractions in Huelva are walkable and I always felt incredibly safe walking around the streets (even at night). I was mainly based in the El Carmen campus, which is huge, but is easy to navigate around and has many good services.

What is the food like?

The food in Huelva is incredibly cheap! A tapa can start from 0. 80 cents and won't be any higher than 3. 50 euros. The province is famous for its 'chocos' which is fried cuttlefish. I would also highly recommend 'espinacas con garbanzos' and 'carillera'. You can also get a delicious breakfast of tostada, zumo y cafe for between 2. 00 - 4. 50 euros depending on the bar's location.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Huelva?

I did find it difficult to find accommodation in Huelva but that was because I was on my own and was determined to live with Spaniards. As an English native speaker, I felt that if I lived with other Erasmus students, they would talk to me in English which would not benefit my language skills. If you are happy to live in a group of Erasmus students, however, it is very easy to find very cheap, central accommodation through ESN.

How much does it cost to live in Huelva?

The cost of living in Huelva is very, very cheap. My flat was only 150 euros per month plus gas, electricity and internet which averaged about 40 euros extra. Transport is very cheap but not always reliable. The price of food in bars, restaurants and supermarkets is good value too. I also recommend 'chinos' for things like coat hangers and kitchen utensils as although they are not great quality, they are very cheap and will suffice for a year.

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

I will have to warn those going to Huelva that the Andalusian accent is very difficult to understand at first. Los onubenses admit themselves that they eat their words and don't pronounce the s sound so it does not sound like the Spanish you learn at school or university. However, there is an excellent Spanish course taught by local, native speakers starting at a beginners (A1) level to expert (C2) level which I recommend taking part in despite the small fee.

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

From England, I flew from Birmingham International to Faro airport, then got a bus from Faro to Huelva. Although this is very cheap, there are only 2 buses a day at very annoying times so it is best to double check that the flight times correspond with the bus. Otherwise, you can fly to Seville from most major English airports, but this will be an awful lot more expensive.

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

The main Erasmus bar in Huelva is called Mombasa and there are many events there every week. Along the same road is New York City bar and Lone Star which both have excellent drink deals but very different atmospheres. Just around the corner is a tiny bar called 100 chupitos which as the name suggests serves 100 different types of shots at a very good price. The main clubs are Sala Ego, La Casona White and Buddha. Most clubs open around 1 or 2 and stay open until 6 or 7 so pace yourself!

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

My favourite restaurant in Huelva is called Zarate which is opposite The Red Lion pub. The restaurant is expensive in terms of what else is on offer in Huelva but in comparison with English prices, it is fantastic value for money. If you are on a budget, the cheapest and most relaxed restaurant is called La Taberna which is very close to La Merced campus. Here you can get a tapa for 0. 80 cents and a whole bottle of wine for 3 euros! The most famous and busiest restaurant in Huelva is La Bonilla which is just of the port with beautiful views of the river and good value, tasty food with a lively atmosphere.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

In Huelva itself I recommend seeing the statue of Colón and there are many beautiful churches. In the province there is the huge natural park nearby. Also, Palos de la Frontera and Moguer are very quaint Spanish towns which have a history linked with Christopher Columbus and fun attractions all year round such as a Medieval fair.

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

Take advantage of the time you have there! Try to speak to the Spanish students in your classes as although the Erasmus activities are loads of fun, my most memorable and valuable experiences were with the native friends I made along the course of the year. So get involved in Semana Santa and El Rocío instead of always drinking in the Irish pubs and speak as much Spanish as you can! Buena suerte.