Destination Erasmus: Why Newcastle?

Newcastle is a city in the north of England where you find yourself in a different climate every day. I get up in the morning and I see clear skies through the window, though it's quite cold. When leaving class there is a light rain that by the end of the afternoon has turned into three or four clouds in the sky, along with a wind that turns your face to ice. In such crazy weather, the best things you can wear are a warm coat ready for the rain and some comfy, waterproof boots to protect you from the cold and the puddles. I would also add a pair of gloves and some nice scarf for cold afternoons. As for the snow, it seems to vary a lot every year. The first time I saw snow here in Newcastle was on the 26th October which nobody expected. In December it snowed again a few times a bit more regularly but this time it was expected as the temperature had started to drop below zero. Since then I have not seen another snowflake. As I understand, last year it only snowed two or three times so I don't know if it will snow much more now. The days here are very short and it is already starting to get dark at around 4 in the afternoon, but the mornings can be used to catch a bit of sun (on the days there is sun, of course).

My accommodation is a student halls of residence linked to Newcastle University called Castle Leazes. It is really big and there are students from all over the place. It houses as many English students as international ones. The private room is pretty good, although it doesn't have its own bathroom, just a sink and a mirror which is convenient. In my case, I chose the room without an en-suite bathroom because of the price which differed considerably when compared to the other residences, which did have their own bathroom. At the start it was a bit strange, but in the end you get used to it and you are glad that you saved some money. Castle Leazes also has a dining hall, which is good for those who don't get on too well in the kitchen, although you would have to get used to the English dining schedule. Personally, I preferred the option of being "self-catered", which means that you use the kitchen to make your own breakfast, lunch and dinner and you are in charge of keeping everything clean and tidy. The other option is to be "catered" which is the opposite. You would use the dining hall for breakfast and dinner and they also clean your room. This meant a rise in the price, which is why I went for the first option as I didn't mind putting in a bit of effort to clean a bit and I prepared my food alongside my flatmates. It ended up being easier and fun, and if I saved my money doing that, well then that was even better. There is a laundry room with a few washing machines, tumble driers and ironing boards to do your laundry whenever it is convenient for you. You can take a book, your laptop, or a deck of cards to pass the time with your friends while you wait.

For everything else, Castle Leazes is quite good. It is situated just next to Leazes Park, which is a pretty park with a lot of trees and a lake with ducks and swans. This residence is around 10 or 15 minutes away from the University and you can walk perfectly easily as there is only one street you have to go down. Personally, I really like Castle Leazes because it is in a natural setting surrounded by trees. When you first arrive at the halls you have to cross a kind of valley where there are cows which gives you the sensation of being in the middle of the countryside.

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Newcastle has two different Universities. One is Northumbria and the other is Newcastle University, which is the one that I had the study agreement with. At the start of the course there is a welcome session during which there are many and different meetings that you can attend to get information about every aspect. They explain how to open a bank account, how the university sports club works, how to use "Blackboard" (a sort of virtual campus where you can access all of the subjects you are enrolled onto), etc. The "Welcome Week" is handy for starting to adapt and to get all the paperwork sorted to start the course more calmly. To top it all off, the week is full of parties that international students from all over the world attend.

Speaking of parties, we Spanish students have realised that we aren't the party animals we think we are. Here most people go out partying nearly every day of the week, from Monday to Saturday. It seems crazy, but the advantage (or inconvenience depending on how you look at it) is that at 2 in the morning at the latest everyone is already going home. This way it is much easier to go to class the next morning. As they eat so much earlier, the parties start much earlier and finish, as I said, quite early compared to what we are used to in Spain. So, whichever day you choose to go out, you will find a lot of people out for the night. The most popular clubs among others are "Madame Koo", "Liquid" or "Club Trop".

If you really like shopping, you will love the huge shopping centre called Eldon Square which is in the centre of Newcastle. There are endless shops of every kind, along with restaurants and cafes. The most famous are Costa and Starbucks, which you can find all over the city to get a hot chocolate to fight off the cold and accompany that with a traditional muffin. The problem with these cafes is that their prices are higher due to their fame, so you could instead opt for any other normal place that has more affordable prices. I would recommend English pubs in which they serve typical breakfasts and lunches. There are some with 2 for 1 offers, and I personally like one which is called ”Three Bull Heads” which has a wide variety of very cheap dishes.

If what you’re looking for is to buy clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. your best option is Primark which is also well known in Spain, and in the UK it has similar great prices. In Northumberland Street (the most commercial street in the centre of Newcastle) you can also find some large department stores very similar to ‘El Corte Inglés’, called Femwick. In there you can find everything but it’s a bit more expensive. As soon as November starts they decorate the store fronts for Christmas, and it really is worth it to go and see them because it is really pretty. Metrocentre is another particularly big shopping centre to get to by some form of transport. You can go by taxi which would be the cheapest option and if you share the cost between friends it is worthwhile, or you can go by bus with a return ticket costing you around £3. 30.

Public transport isn’t too expensive if you make the most of the ticket you buy. To travel on the metro, you can but a day ticket for up to zone C (the furthest zone from the centre) and it will cost you around £4. 20. This ticket allows you to go to the Tynemouth Coast. It is a very pretty place with beaches and castles where you can get some really good photos.

For lovers of the king of sports, Newcastle doesn’t let you down as it is home to a Premier League classic, Newcastle United, known as the Magpies and after being established for 120 years counts among its trophies 4 Football League titles, 6 English Cups, a Community Shield and an Intertoto Cup. Newcastle United was established in 1892 after the fusion of two local teams: Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End. Their biggest rival is Sunderland AFC.

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The Magpies’ stadium is St James’ Park although nowadays for publicity purposes, is called Direct Sports Arena, as they do in many other stadiums in England such as Arsenal’s stadium which is now called Emirates Stadium. The structure of this is the typical structure of English pitches, with the public breathing down the necks of the players and creating an unbeatable and enjoyable atmosphere if you are a football fan. The last thing to say about the stadium is that is it in the centre, near to Leazes Park, Eldon Shopping Centre and 10 minutes away from Castle Leazes Student Halls.

We can say that Newcastle Upon Tyne is a nice place for those who like football and who want to enjoy a good afternoon listening to the roar of the Hooligans and enjoying the great environment that thrives here in the stadiums. Besides the money isn’t a problem as there are matches at very affordable prices.

Regarding the people of Newcastle, the vast majority are truly nice and friendly. Overall, in the shops and streets, if you need to find something or find out something they will always be willing to help you. The only problem that you may find could be their accent. At the start, even those who have a good understanding of English will find some difficulty or other in understanding them, but it doesn’t take too long for you to be able to manage. And for those with a lower level of English, the people here tend to do everything they can to understand you and to help you understand them.

To conclude, I have to encourage all of you who are considering going on Erasmus, and if you have the option to come to Newcastle, not to hesitate because it is undoubtedly worth it and going not just for one semester, but for the whole course allows you to learn and enjoy as much as possible. The Erasmus experience is one that changes your life and your way of thinking. It allows you to meet people from all over the world and to learn about their cultures. Above all, it makes you see how capable you are of looking after yourself. You will value what you have at home and you will realise that it makes you mature. There is no doubt that Erasmus is one of the best experiences that you can experience in your life.

If you have any questions about this city, don’t hesitate to ask me. I encourage you to come to Newcastle!

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