FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MURCIA

¡Hola a todos! This post comes to you from the beach! As you are reading this, I am relaxing in sunny Spain as I come to the end of my holiday with my family – just a casual 2 weeks before I move here for a year. The weather has been glorious and we’ve spent several days at the beach tanning and also getting roasted – as you can imagine.

We always holiday in the region of Murcia, which gave me the opportunity to visit Murcia city a couple of times and get a feel for where I’ll be spending my year.

Thankfully, I have managed to get an apartment sorted – I have my keys already and the first month’s rent has been paid. The apartment is located in the centre of the city, just off a square called Plaza de las Flores. I feel a lot less stressed now that I know I have somewhere to live and that it’s decent – it just needs cleaned up and my own touch put on the room and then it’ll hopefully feel more homey.

While I’ve been here I have also taken the opportunity to speak as much Spanish as I can, which thankfully hasn’t been an all out disaster! From ordering in restaurants and buying train tickets to enquiring about charcoal in the supermarket and chatting with the kids who are holidaying in the villa next door to us I have understood the majority of what was being said to me and better yet – they have also understood me! (Aside from the fact that our neighbours think my name is Shalon, but that’s a minor detail that we can overlook.)

Something I will say, however, is that people here talk very fast and it can be difficult to grasp what they are saying at first. Additionally, they tend to drop the ‘s’ in some words too. For example, when saying ‘me gusta,’ (Spanish for I like, pronounced may goo-sta) it would sound more like me guta (may goo-ta). Difficult to get used to but I’m sure it’ll become familiar to me soon enough.

In terms of the city itself, Murcia is absolutely gorgeous. It isn’t a huge city like Madrid or Barcelona (although it feels like it walking around in the blistering heat) but it is just as pretty. The most recognisable landmark in the city is the cathedral which is breathtaking. It was composed on the site of the oldest mosque in the city and is over 600 years old. It is situated in the Plaza del Cardenal Belluga which is lined with several tapas bars. This is the perfect place to enjoy a caña and a tapa.

 

Much like other Spanish cities, Murcia has plenty of winding little streets which are lined with shops. Of course, there are plenty of the same shops that we have at home but also others that we don’t – such as Lefties, Bershka, Ale-Hop and most importantly Sephora!

 

In addition to this, there are several large shopping centres just north of the city which are also incredible. Think Victoria Square times 10! There is a large Primark in one of these centres and also an Ikea right next door which will be perfect for when it is time to kit out my room.

As I previously mentioned, during the summer temperatures in Murcia soar and can reach up to 40° which is so uncomfortable. Many people often leave the city for beach towns further south in July and August to escape this. I have been assured that come September/October time the temperature does dip a little and is much more comfortable. I can imagine that it’ll definitely still be roasting compared to what we’re used to in NI!

 

As our holiday draws to a close and departure day creeps closer I’m becoming more nervous, but excited at the same time. I’ve enjoyed being able to explore the city and getting a feel for where I’ll be spending the next year of my life. I can definitely see myself enjoying a tostada and cafe con leche for breakfast by the cathedral at the weekends or sampling some tapas accompanied by a caña in La Plaza de las Flores in the evening to unwind after school.

¡Gracias por leer!

PRE-DEPARTURE PRE-OCCUPATIONS

When I think back to applying for university, one of the most attractive aspects of a modern languages degree was the prospect of the compulsory third year abroad. I remember thinking that it would be an amazing opportunity and one that I probably would not have availed of with any other degree. I also remember thinking that it would take what felt like a lifetime to finally come around. I was wrong, as it is now less than a month (18 days to be exact) until I move to Spain for my year abroad!

The thought of moving abroad is incredibly exciting, but also incredibly terrifying. I keep going between these two emotions but I think at the minute I am more excited than terrified. I’m continually telling myself it’ll all be ok but I’m not sure if I completely believe it yet. I suppose we’ll see when I get out there and it’s actually happening!

So, for today’s post I thought I would compile a list (I do love a good list) of things that are really worrying me and get it all off my chest!

1 – Finding somewhere to live

This really is my biggest stress at the minute. I just have so many worries with regards to accommodation – whether it be awful flatmates, a dodgy landlord or just if I’ll end up having to live in a complete dive in an awful part of the city.

We were advised by uni not to rent somewhere if we’d only seen it on the internet, which I think was good advice. I have been in contact with several landlords over email and they keep saying that all I have to do to secure the apartment is transfer a deposit. This just doesn’t sit well with me because some of the required deposits have been up to €300. I don’t feel comfortable with transferring such a large amount of money to someone I have never met in a foreign country.

Murcia is a student city, so I was worried that the flats would fill up quickly with students coming to the city for uni. Thankfully, I am going on holiday with my family the last two weeks in August to a village which is only half an hour away from Murcia. While we are in Spain I am going to make a few appointments to see some flats and hopefully find somewhere decent before they are all snapped up at the beginning of September.

2 – The practical things

At the start of second year at uni we had dedicated classes in both French and Spanish to help prepare us for doing some practical admin things (such as a phone contract, banking and wifi) when we get there. All I can say is thank god for these classes as I probably wouldn’t have thought or known about having to do some of these things!

I think the most difficult part for me will be getting the NIE. The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is essentially a national insurance number for foreigners in Spain. You must have one of these if you intend to work, sell property or have any other economic interest in Spain. It is also required to set up a bank account and pay utility bills. There is so much paperwork that you have to present at a police station within your region to get a NIE. And of course, all of this must be done en Español.

The other things that I have already mentioned are a bank account and a phone contract. Now that I think about it I think these will be relatively easy to come by and I’m not as worried about them as I was at the beginning of the year.

3 – The standard of my French slipping

As I mentioned in a previous post, I study French and Spanish at uni. I decided to spend my year abroad in Spain because Spanish is definitely my weaker language out of the two. That being said, my French obviously still needs work as I am nowhere near fluent. I am worried that the standard of French I have got to in the past few years will slip and I will regress instead of progress. I’m not sure what I should do to ensure this doesn’t happen but have thought about maybe taking up a French class at the Escuela de Idiomas or trying to find a French-English intercambio (an exchange to help practice both languages). Whichever one I decide to go with I will keep you updated!

4 – Being homesick

This is the one that I don’t really want to admit, but kind of have to. I am really worried about being homesick. I am a total home bird when it comes down to it – so much so that I don’t really like staying in other people’s houses. I have never lived out of my family home before so this year will definitely be interesting. I like my home comforts and surroundings that I’m used to and that’s that.

I’m so close to my family and friends that it’ll be so strange not having any of them round the corner. Thanks to modern technology I know that they’re only a phone call or FaceTime away but it’s not really the same as actually being in their presence and spending time with them. I just keep telling myself that this is an opportunity that I probably won’t get the chance to experience again and that I really have to make the most of it. I also keep telling myself that it is only a 3 hour flight between Belfast and Murcia – it’s not that far away.

I am not planning to go home at all between September and Christmas so if I can get through that, the longest stretch is over. In saying that, some of my family do have trips to come and see me planned so I think I will manage somehow!

¡Gracias por leer!

BEING A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY: THE NORTH COAST EDITION

One of the things we’re most guilty for in Northern Ireland is not appreciating the country we live in. We are definitely ignorant to the fact that there is so much to do and see here. This summer, I had hoped to see and do things I hadn’t done before heading to Spain for a year. With that in mind, my friend Nicole and I decided to take a day and see some of the must see sights around the north coast. We had planned to go to the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and either Mussenden Temple or Dunluce Castle. We were only successful in doing one of these, which was the Giant’s Causeway, but at least we still have the other options to do another time!

The Giant’s Causeway is Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site and is maintained by the National Trust. It boasts incredible views over the North Atlantic Ocean and is surrounded by grassy cliffs. When we arrived at the Giant’s Causeway the weather was slightly overcast and as we made our way down to the causeway itself it started to rain. Typical! But in the words of Nicole: ‘It wouldn’t be an authentic experience if it didn’t rain!’ Thankfully, the rain didn’t last too long and by the time we were down at the stones it had subsided completely.

 

 

 

I think we went at a good time of the day as it wasn’t too busy and we could spend as much time as we wanted taking photos without worrying about being in other peoples’ way. The views at the Giant’s Causeway really are breath-taking and it was great to be able to just walk and take them in. As we were walking round, we overheard a tour being taken in French. The tour guide was so animated and enthusiastic – he really seemed to bring it to life for those in the group. Being the Francophiles that we are we couldn’t help but stop and listen – we were even slightly tempted to latch onto the group to listen to the rest of it!

 

 

When we were finished here, we took the scenic route round to Portrush. I really love driving round this way because the view of the sea is so nice, even if the road itself is quite narrow and windy.

Of course, no visit to Portrush is complete without a stop in at the Ramore winebar. The atmosphere in this restaurant is great and the food is also excellent without being too pricey. Their chilli chicken pasta and winebar burger are two of my favourite dishes and their salted caramel and chocolate cheesecake is to die for! One thing I will say about this place, however, is that it gets busy very quickly. It opens for lunch at 12.15 and within half an hour the restaurant is usually full. If you are paying a visit for a spot of lunch definitely arrive early – it is one not to be missed!

Following our lunch in the Ramore, we had intended to do Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge but found ourselves nearly out of time. Instead, we decided to go on a walk to help work off our lunch. We walked up a pathway called Ramore Head (where the Ramore winebar gets its name from) and again were met with stunning views. Portrush on a clear day really is amazing and I feel really fortunate to live so close to such a fantastic spot.

After this, we drove round to the West Strand and walked along the promenade to get some coffee. Despite it not being the warmest day, there were still plenty of people on the beach and several groups of surfers catching some waves as well. We stopped for coffee in a little café called Koko, which has a large outdoor seating area that looks out onto the beach. This café is a favourite of mine as the atmosphere is so relaxed and their prices are very reasonable. Their slogan is ‘Great Coffee, Great Views’ and they aren’t far wrong!  Shortly after, we decided to head home after a really enjoyable day.

When was the last time you did something touristy in your home country? Leave me a comment below!

Thanks for reading!

MY FIRST BLOG POST – Hopes for my year abroad

Welcome to my first blog post! For years I have toyed with the idea of starting a blog but have never had anything overly interesting to share about my life. However, in September I will be moving to Spain for my year abroad so what better time than now!

During my year in Spain I will be working as an English language assistant in a Spanish primary school and living in the beautiful city of Murcia, which is located in the south east of Spain. I have visited the region of Murcia several times with my family while on holiday and I feel very lucky to be going somewhere that I’m already slightly familiar with.

I have created this blog with the intention of documenting my time in Spain which will hopefully include a lot of travelling, observations about a different culture and any thoughts that I am able to shape into a coherent post. I really enjoy reading other peoples’ year abroad experiences and following what they get up to so I wanted to have somewhere to share my own experience.

To start things off, I thought I would compile a short list of hopes I have for this year – a mini bucket list if you will!

1 – Travel more

As previously mentioned, I really want to travel as much as I can this year. I feel like it would be a wasted opportunity if I didn’t make the most of spending the year in mainland Europe where I will be able to visit so many other countries quite easily.

I love travelling and visiting new places – it is always on my mind and I think I have a genuine fear of not having a trip in the works or booked. That being said, I haven’t been to many countries. When I really think about it I have only been to France, Spain (including a few of the Canary and Balearic Islands) and some parts of the UK and Ireland.

So, I want to maximise my time abroad and explore a lot of Spain (namely Madrid, Valencia and Seville) as well as France, Portugal and Germany.

2 – Improve my Spanish

This is a very obvious one. The main reason for choosing to spend my year in Spain was to improve my Spanish. Even though I study French and Spanish at uni, I have only been studying Spanish for 2 years and I feel my level of Spanish is significantly lacking in comparison to my level of French.  There is no better way to learn a language than immersion and as I am going to be living in a city that isn’t visited by many tourists I won’t be exposed to as much English as I would have been had I been placed in Barcelona or Málaga. Here’s hoping that I return in June bastante fluida!

3 – Gain more confidence

Number 3 on my list pertains to the previous point. Confidence is a big part of speaking a language and it is something I struggle with. Despite the fact that we are always told not to worry about making a mistake or risking sounding silly while speaking a target language, it is something I worry about constantly and it ends up holding me back. In the back of my mind I am always asking myself ‘What if they laugh at me?’ or ‘what if they don’t understand me?’ I hope that during my year abroad I will be forced to speak Spanish enough that these doubts won’t even cross my mind after the first month!

Aside from this, I would like to gain more self-confidence in general. I don’t want to sound like one of those people who are all ‘I spent the year in Europe and I found myself’ but I would like to come back from my year abroad cultured and exuding confidence.

¡Gracias por leer!