Erasmus experience in Murcia, Spain

Why did you decide to go to Murcia, Spain?

This city was recommended to me by my Erasmus tutor. As a matter of fact, my professor had taught at University of Murcia for two years.

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How long was your scholarship? How much grant money did you receive?

At first, the scholarship was meant to last 7 months, from September to March, but as it came to the end of February I decided to stay there for longer, so I requested an extension for an additional 4 months, making the total length 11 months, from September 2008 to July 2009. The amount of money received doesn't correspond to the destination city, but is decided by the State of Residence. For Italians, furthermore, the amount of money changes from region to region. I live in Italy, specifically the region of Lazio, and I had a monthly subsidy of 200 euros, which I was given in two installments.

How was student life in Murcia?

The local university and Erasmus environments were fantastic. The city is very small so you end up getting to know everyone, be they Spanish or not.

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

Absolutely yes. My Erasmus experience was definitely the best of my life. After I finished studying there, I went back to Murcia many times for leisure visits.

What is the food like in Spain?

Spanish cuisine is very similar to Italian. The basic ingredients were pretty much the same, which was generally good for me. I definitely missed mozzarrella and parmesan cheese, but their cuisine is, in my opinion, excellent.

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How did you find accomodation?

I lived in two different apartments. I found my first residence whilst in Italy before going to Murcia, thanks to the "Vivir en Murcia" programme. The house was wonderful but a little far from the university. In reality it was only a 10 minute walk, but seeing as my faculty was in the centre of the city, where there were so many student flats, I decided to relocate at the start of the second term. I found my second accomodation by myself, I lived there for 4 months and I spoke Spanish very well, so at that point it was very simple to find another place to live.

How much did your accomodation cost? And what were other general expenses?

My first rental payments were 270 euros a month. The house had 4 rooms, but only 3 were occupied. There were two bathrooms, one with a shower and the other with a bath tub, a very big lounge and a lovely kitchen. The apartment was on the 6th floor with a lift and caretaker. Included in the rent was: electricity, gas, water (which is very expensive in Murcia) and a cleaning lady who came once a week. The rent for the second apartment was 193 euros a month. In this case electricity, gas and water bills were paid separately, (usually 14/15 euros a month), and there was no cleaning lady, however, the flat was more central than my first accomodation, being about 3-4 minutes from the La Merced university campus. It had 5 rooms, all occupied by girls (I was the only non-Spanish resident, the others were all Spanish), only 1 bathroom, a large and well stocked kitchen, a big lounge with three sofas, a television and a balcony.

Generally the cost of an apartment in the city centre is around 200 euros a month. Naturally it costs less to live outside the city.

How was the language? Did you attend any courses at the university?

When I arrived in Spain, I didn't know a word of Spanish. After only a month I could speak, write and understand it without severe difficulty. A month before the end of my Erasmus I registered at a private language school (paid) to obtain a valid certificate in Italy. I was recognised to be at a level similar to B2 (on a scale that goes from D minimum to A maximum). The university offered free language courses but they started at the beginning of the Erasmus semester.

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What is the cheapest way to get to Murcia from your city?

I live in Rome. The cheapest route is from Rome-Ciampino to Valencia (I always fly with Ryanair). Then you can travel by bus (15 euros) or train (17 euros) for a 3 hour journey to Murcia. My decision between bus or train was based on the luggage I had with me. The train station was actually far from the city centre (in El Carmen neighbourhood) whereas the bus station was much closer to the centre.

Where are the best places to go out in Murcia?

There are infinite places for all tastes: pop, rock, reggae, gay and lesbian bars, standard clubs or more alternative places. There is truly something for everyone.

And eating in Murcia? What are you favourite places?

There is a large Turkish community in Murcia, so there are many local kebab shops that are both cheap and very good. For typical cuisine there are dozens of places I could recommend. I practically never ate at home, because it was so cheap (I'm talking 6-8 euros) to eat well.

And for a cultural visit?

Murcia is very small, but it has a beautiful cathedral connected to a bell tower that you should visit, and numerous baptisteries and churches; there is the neighbourhood of El Carmen, which is the oldest and most magnificent area, there are numerous museums, there is a beautiful acquarium, a fantastic zoo, and during the year there are shows and exhibitions on the main street, Calle Alfonso X el Sabio (such as wine and food, artisanal products, textiles... ) Also, one of the main squares, Plaza Santo Domingo, allows a different artist every month to decorate the whole area with statues and other objects.

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Any advice you want to give to future students going to Murcia?

All in all, the city of Murcia is quite small. Living there for several months, I ended up knowing all the Erasmus students there. I strongly advise avoiding foreign students (especially those from the same country as you) so you can be fully immersed in Spanish culture. Be careful with the police, they may give you the run around and then ask for your documents. Don't drink alcohol in the streets, you will have many problems. If you're going to study at the Espinardo campus, you'll find it's very far from Murcia's city centre, practically in the outskirts. In this case it would be a good idea to find a house in the centre of Murcia, and catch the bus or tram to campus for your lessons. If you end up living in Espinardo, either get a car or be isolated from the world. A good time to be in Murcia would definitely be the Tuesday after Easter. There's a festival called "El bando de la huerta" which is fantastic (although alcohol has blurred most of my memories of it). Good luck everyone!