Universidad de León (UL)

At the beginning, I recognize that I was difficulties to understanf because of the rapidity of talking. It was too dificult when I had to go the administration because it is a specific voacabulary. Since the beginning, I decided to talk only in spanis because I was there for that. So with the other foreign sutdent, we taked in spanish sometimes we mixed french words to define a english word then to find the spanish word that we wanted to say. It was funny. My level was better but when you are only with forign people like you, you used to ouse the same words, it is like a vicious circle. So my levet was stagnating. But, I had the opportunitis to meet spanish people and they became my friends, I improve my spanish level considerally.By the way, I used to the accent, the words which make the difference, the expression and I had the chance to have a friend who took the time to explain me some aspects of his culture, it was mi "padrino" during this trip. One times per week, w organised a meeting, one hourwe were talking in french and do some gramar execises because he was studied french, and the second hour, we were doing the same thing but in spanish for me. Now, in my home university, I study the specific business vocabulary to perfect my language.

When you go to Spain or another country abroad, you must bear in mind that it is an opportunity to improve your level in language, you must avoid staying with people who are from the same country. You will fall in a trap. So, you heve to speak with foreign people and spanish...and speak, a lot , a lot, because it si thanks to this way that you will be fluent. Secondly, you have to adapt you to your new country and not the contrary. So you must be prepared to make a lot of efforts during this year. You must understand a culture, a way of acting of native people. Sometimes, you would not be agree,it is normal but you must understand.You must to be open minded and tolerant. By the way, you will make your integration. Then, be careful, at the beginning , you need to have a time of adaptation. Generally, it is one month or less. It depends of the person. It is better to share a appartment with other people. It costs less and spanish students are used to practising in this way. Spanish are not really preoccupied by the time. You must be patient. To travel, they have a good red for buses. It cost less and it is rapid. So, that's all, have a good year !!!

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It was a great experience. First, because I learned a second language and despite of this aspect, I learned to live in other environment, to be flexible and adaptable. Moreover, more than an universatary experiences, I learned to live with other people, other culture and thanks to that,now I am more open minded and it was also a good experience to know me more, to see how I react in a new environment,to know what I really wanted to do in my future. It was real personal enrichment.

In Spain, Parties take part of the culture and it mixs with the religion. That's why, in Leon, you can't miss the week of Easter, because during one week, every day you have religious processions and for the night you have big parties in all over town with different theme. There is also the Leon's parties. It is three days where you make parties to celebrate the town : Leon. It occures at the end of June. Moreover, Leon is famous because is one of the important point of the St Jacques de Cpmostelle's walk. THe town have a huge catedral. If you to go to parties, all the bars are concentrated in neighbourhood called the Barrio Humedo, contrary to other town in Spain.Each bar has its music and you go to place to place duting all the night. If you go to Leon, you must taste the specialites of pork butchery. When you are in Spain, you must go to the tapas. You go to bar to bar with your group of friends and you drink and eat specialities of the region talking with your friend. It is real convivial moment. Then,if you like to travel, you must go to Barcelona, to visit various Works of Gaudi. Madrid is famous for is museums. Each region as France has its espaecialities. If you want to make ski o to walk through the montain, you must go to the picos de Europa. I discovered during one year a rich country.