Erasmus Experience in Salamanca (Spain), by Danny

Why did you chose to go to Salamanca (Spain)?

I had a friend who studied here last year and loved it and I always wanted to study in Spain so I figured might as well learn from the best well-known language institution in Europe.

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

I do not receive any money for coming here I have to pay for it, but the 1, 200 a year sure beats the 25, 000 a year back in the States.

What is the student lifestyle like in Salamanca?

Anything and everything you can imagine is here for everyone. For example: I live an athletic lifestyle, meaning I hit the gym 3 times a week for lifting and cardio and the other days I'm not in the gym I'm either swimming for cardio or I am rock climbing. I love to go out on the weekends, usually Thursdays and Saturdays the clubs are open usually until 6 or 8am and the bars are really cheap. Especially for all those coming from the US where the drinking age is 21. If you are over 18, you get to live the real adult life.

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

Yes.

What is the food like?

Amazingly different.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Salamanca?

Yes. I went through an agency, but the apartment I found is 30 seconds from the Plaza Mayor and extremely cheap each month with "todo incluido". Amazing. It was awesome being so close to everything.

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How much does it cost to live in Salamanca?

Around $650 per month, rent, four trips to the grocery store, medicine if you get sick or a cold, drinks if you go out with friends, and basic house hold things such as toilet paper.

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

There are language courses available to take. Most classes are taught in Spanish, of course, unless you take a specific class in English.

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

Plane to Madrid then train to Salamanca.

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

Paniagua you get a liter of alcohol for 5 euro, it also has really good music, then go bar hopping and finally hit the clubs around 3 when they become free. The nightlife here doesn't usually start until 12 or 1 and usually ends from most people around 6 or 8, although some last until 10 and at that point you might as well just go get breakfast.

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

Any corner café will do, I am personally a coffee person I take it black and I love testing out new places and finding the best coffees. The food and coffee are extremely cheap. Here some places offer coffee for 0. 80 and a piece of pastel for 2. 00.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There are no specific places. I would say the entire town is so enriched with culture, from the buildings to the plazas to each individual school. The cathedrals are absolutely astonishing.

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

Have fun and don't worry. Salamanca is probably the safest city in the entire world. You can go out at anytime of the day and there are always lights on and people around and everyone is so nice.

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