My Erasmus Experience in Orlando, United States

Why did you choose to go to Orlando, United States?

The university I chose was in Orlando. The city itself didn't interest me that much, but my faculty chose the city for me.

How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

I didn't get a grant. The only option I had was to apply for a private student loan from a company like Fanny Mae or Freddie Mac, but since I'm not an American citizen and I didn't have an American cosigner, I ended up having to pay everything myself.

What's the student life like in Orlando?

It depends. If you go to a big university like UCF, it's excellent, since there are loads of people and there's a strong fraternity atmosphere, especially when there are football games on. If you go to a smaller university like Full Sail, your social life will suffer.

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

Not particularly. There are other more competitive universities in more interesting cities. Unless there's something particularly academic which appeals to you about Orlando, look at other options.

What's the food like in Orlando?

It depends where you go, of course. Above all, there are lots of fast food places. Prepare yourself for a procession of the most hyper-processed and extravagantly greasy food you've ever seen in your life. If you're not careful, fast food can be very tempting and you'll end up getting fat. There are other places like Cirspers and Panera, which aren't as expensive and sell healthier food. If you take the time to find some good restaurants, you can find really excellent places all along the price spectrum, from cheap, delicious Vietnamese restaurants to first class steakhouses on Park Avenue.

How did your find your accommodation?

Craigslist. Use Google Maps to calculate how far somewhere is from the faculty and from other places of interests. I had four options:

1. Sublet a room in someone's house. The main owner takes care of all the bills, and you just pay him or her. This option is most likely in houses.
2. Rent an apartment by yourself or with flatmates. This is expensive, and you'll need to pass credit and background checks. If you don't have any credit history in the United States or a social security number, this could end up being quite difficult. Finding a good flatmate can also be hard.
3. Dorm rooms at the university.
4. Disneyland. If you come to Orlando through Disney's international employment system, all your problems will be solved.

How much does accommodation cost? How expensive is everyday life in general?

Rent is high in Orlando, but not exorbitantly. The further downtown you live, the better prices you'll find, but you'll end up spending that saved money on transport. The public transport is terrible. If you want to cycle, remember that the heat is almost unbearable for ten months of the year and that it's a very big city. Consider buying a second-hand car as soon as possible so that you can get the most out of it during your stay.

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language class at the university?

There are lots of people who speak Spanish, especially in the service sector. Almost all government institutions have at least one employee who speaks Spanish. The better your English is, the easier your stay will be, of course.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Orlando from your home city?

The only realistic way of getting to Orlando is by plane. You can fly to Miami if you fancy visiting the city and then drive to Orlando, but it will take you another four hours and is quite expensive on the whole. Orlando's airport is great, it's easy to navigate and very large. Buy your ticket months in advance if you can, choose weekday flights (Mondays or Tuesdays are best) and check prices for different airlines. Orbitz.com is a good provider.

What are the best places for partying in Orlando?

All the good nightclubs are in Downtown. There's plenty of cheap parking available, and once you're there, you can go from club to club. At the weekends, there's a really good atmosphere and lots of people go out to have a good time. There have been a few incidences of violence and killings, but as always, if you don't go looking for problems, you'll be quite safe. Universal has a few clubs, but they're a bit far away and it can get expensive if you have to pay for a taxi to get back. My recommendations are Latitudes and iBar in Downtown, and Pulse if you're looking for a gay club.

What about eating out in Orlando? What are your favourite places?

They serve excellent Vietnamese food in Colonial (Road 50), and there are various other restaurants in that area, too. Park Avenue has some very nice places if you're up for spending a bit more, and the area is very pretty to walk through, admiring the well-dressed people and expensive cars. Mary's Burger in Downtown serves delicious hamburgers, and although it's a gay restaurant, you don't have to be gay yourself to go there.

What does Orlando have to offer in terms of culture?

The only culture in Orlando is Universal Studios and Disneyland. Prepare to exploit your credit card by buying thousands of things that you just don't need. The city is a tourist trap, so everything fun there is to do costs money, and a lot of it. Find activities to do, such as going to the water parks and walking in the Russian mountains, and repeat them until you're sick to death of them. It's worth buying an annual pass for Universal Studios, because the rest of the city is super boring.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Orlando?

If you're going to be staying in the city for over a year, buy yourself a car, no matter how basic the model (but make sure it has air conditioning). The city is designed for automobile transport, and the heat makes it hard to cycle about. You'll have to spend lots of money to keep yourself entertained, whether it be through trips to Disneyland, or to the Cirque du Soleil, etc., but the options you do have are, at least, world class. The city is boring, but there are some hidden gems. Discover and make the most of them.