Erasmus Experience in Santander, Spain by Paul

Why did you choose to go to Santander, Spain?

I'm a surfer at heart! I chose Santander because it is a city by the sea, and one of the few big cities in the north (Bilbao - a bit further from the sea plus Gijon - and I was told a lot of good things about this place).

Nature, nature, nature!

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The north because that's where the waves are the nicest and also because as I came in my done-up van, I wanted to be close to France.

There was (and may still be) a ferry from Saint-Nazaire (my home) to Gijon.

Be careful, the climate is on the whole the same as in Brittany (France), with a little less rain, and about 2/3° warmer. But it's not the South eh;)!

And Spain in general... for the change of scenery, the discovery of a new culture, its landscapes.

How long does your stay last? How much financial help do you receive?

6 months. September - mid-February. I would recommend going in the summer even though the amount of tourists can be a pain.

As for the amount of help... I do not really know since I haven't had the second part of my loan yet. A little more than the French APL, around two-hundred and something euros a month.

How is the student atmosphere in Santander?

Being an Erasmus student doing an internship, I have, to my biggest regret, not been able to enjoy much of this atmosphere. Working over 40 hours a week and preferring, I admit, surfing, and it's too much hassle to park my car in town.

Nevertheless, the few evenings that I did spend there and from what I heard or saw, the atmosphere seems very good and dynamic. Very multi-cultural (Spain, the number one Erasmus country! )

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

• The city... For its nature side yes!
• For architecture etc... This is a pretty ugly city, apart from a few classy or nice neighbourhoods.
• From the little I saw of the university, it looked very good to me.

How is food in this country?

Restaurant: 9 € first course / main course / dessert.

The Spanish eat two dishes instead of one main course (unlike in France). The dishes have less work put into them than in France but it is still good, although they put a little too much fat. But a good tortilla is the perfect choice!

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The times of meals are also quite different as you know...

Did you have any difficulties finding accommodation in Santander?

No, but the quality of the accommodation isn't always great.

What is the cost of living in Santander?

So, it is always said that Spain is cheaper than France but after six months here, my wallet totally disagrees.

• Telephone / Internet: you have to spend twice as much if you want the same level of service (maybe even more). But 10 € a month for 1GB and WhatsApp worked well for me :)
• For housing it is a little cheaper but the bills are much more expensive which makes the total cost equivalent if not more expensive than in Spain.

How is learning the language? Have you been to language courses organized by the university?

It was difficult for me because I had a tiny A1 level in Spanish and I was more in my internship company than in class. We did not speak much in the company, and I didn't get to meet a lot of people (with more than 40h / week, it's hard to do anything else).

I registered on Babbel, it's very nice and not very expensive!

I will leave Spain with a small B1 level that I'll try and improve with my Spanish books.

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

I was driving because I have a can which is all kitted-out.

But carpooling/sharing rides remains the cheapest way to travel. Otherwise there is a plane with a quasi-obligatory stop in Madrid but it is still rather expensive. By train I do not know.

Ferry (Gijon) is the best option, but unfortunately it is not operating at the moment.

What places would you recommend to party in Santander?

There are plenty of nice bars in the center of Santander. But as I said, I prefer to party in the waves :)

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And for eating out in Santander? What are your favorite places?

And again, there are nice little bars to eat all over town. I'll let you discover them yourself, I have no preferences.

Restaurants: Sal y Mandarina, not far from the university, in the business district in Albericia.

And what cultural visits would you recommend?

I didn't do any. But I have heard there is a sea-museum, and also the Magdalena Palace which both look interesting.

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A tip for future students in Santander?

¡Buena suerte! (Good luck, in Spanish!)