I did my short-term Erasmus programme in Berja (Spain). I attended the local secondary school IES SIERRA DE GÁDOR during the week of 6 May - 12 May.
It all kicked off on 5.5. at 2.00. Flights from Prague were sold out and I had to fly from Vienna. So I took the train to Brno, changed buses in Brno to Vienna airport and after a long wait at the airport I flew to Malaga. My whole family was waiting for me there. On the first day we became very close, they invited me to lunch together and then showed me the various sights. After a two-hour journey, I arrived at their home around 10 pm.
The next day I could only get up at 7.30am because our school, which I attended with my brother Manuel, was about 10 minutes away on foot. This was nice as I normally get up an hour earlier. Berja is a rather smaller town and the school was also smaller compared to ours and more family-like. The classrooms are different, a bit smaller and the desks are exclusively one to one. There was a football and basketball court in front of the school where we spent a big break every day. Both the teachers and my classmates were very nice to me and willing to help me with everything.
In my free time, Manu showed me around the town, spending time with my family or friends. On Friday, Manu and I went to a neighboring town called Adra, where we spent the evening with his cousin and his friends, and on Saturday my family took me on a trip to a bigger town called Almería, where they gave me a tour and showed me the sights.
Overall, I enjoyed my Erasmus programme very much. I made friends for life and the stay met all my expectations. I would recommend the stay to anyone who doesn't want to miss too much school, but also wants to experience a new culture. It is an incredible experience.
We asked...
01
What experiences and highlights from your stay are worth mentioning?
My greatest experiences happened probably on the first and last day. The first day after arriving, we went to a family lunch at a restaurant by the beach and then we visited Malaga, we went through the important sights and I even saw Picasso's birthplace. On the last day, my family and I took a trip to the city of Almeria where my family showed me the sights, the Spanish Civil War castle and the local famous pubs.
02
What were your first impressions upon arrival to your family and school?
Upon arriving home I was thrilled with my stay. I was honestly a little sorry that I had to leave already, because I would have gone back immediately. I will never forget my host family. They were the nicest people I could have gotten. They even told me at the end that they wished to keep in touch with me. Overall, it was an incredible experience and experience and I am so grateful for the opportunity.
03
How did this experience affect you in terms of personal development?
This experience has helped me a lot in my English and Spanish language studies. By the end of the week, I felt that I was speaking English without any perception or thought, as if it were a normal thing, and I even understood Spanish more. But most of all, this experience showed me that I am independent and can take care of myself, and I value that the most.