“I'm sure I'll come back one day and think back to the wonderful time I had here with a smile.”
How it all began…
At the beginning of October 2018, I started my trip to the most visited city in Spain, where I completed the fourth internship of my International Business studies at itelligence completed. As I had already been working for the partner company in Germany for more than two years, the change was not difficult. The internship was quickly planned through phone calls and e-mail contact. I was even lucky enough to meet some of my Spanish colleagues at our Innovation Summit in Berlin beforehand. However, it was my first time in Barcelona. Thanks to previous stays abroad (including in Spain), my Spanish was good enough from the outset to communicate with the locals, although you have to bear in mind that a lot of Catalan is spoken in Catalunya. However, this was never a problem, as all Spaniards also speak Castellano.
I decided against a comprehensive insurance package and used my European health insurance, which easily covered all medical and hospital costs incurred during my stay. However, the doctors often speak little to no English, so I was glad I knew Spanish.
Getting used to the office was very easy for me
The colleagues were always nice and helpful (as were all the other Spaniards I dealt with). I was given the opportunity to attend various training courses and meetings and even got to know SAP Spain, whose office is right on the beach. The view from my desk at itelligence Spain was also fantastic and could not be compared to the one in Bielefeld: A view of the sea and the famous Sagrada Familia – constructed by the famous architect Gaudi, who had a huge impact on Barcelona. A tour of the office, which is located on the 19th floor, also offers a 360-degree view of the capital of Catalonia.
Barcelona is a city that has an incredible amount to offer ...
… history, culture, sights, parks, beaches, nice restaurants and bars. However, settling in here can take a while, as the housing situation is very complicated and the city itself is extremely large and “anonymous”. Free walking tours can help you to quickly get to know the city better in an interesting way and also get a few local insider tips.
Erasmus life is very lively ...
… and you’ll never get bored! I have already spent an Erasmus semester in Bucharest, but it was a completely different experience. The student network in Barcelona is huge and there are events and parties every day (mainly in the evenings and at night). I mainly took part in Erasmus excursions, which gave me the chance to discover Andalusia (Seville, Cordoba, Cádiz, Málaga, Granada and Gibraltar), as well as Valencia, the canyon in Mont-Rebei, the desert of the Bardenas Reales, Girona, Besalú, Figueres, Montserrat and other beautiful places in Spain. Spain has an incredible variety of landscapes and cities to offer!
Travel with Erasmus
As expensive as living in Barcelona is, traveling with Erasmus is cheap and you meet very interesting people from many different countries. I not only got to know other Germans, but also students from Greece, Turkey, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Spain, England, Lithuania, Finland, Brazil, the USA, Costa Rica and many other countries, some of whom quickly became friends.
Every Tuesday, Exchange Student Network (ESN) organizes a language tandem where students from all over the world come together in a bar to speak in the languages they are learning or simply to make new contacts in English. I took part almost every week and quickly became part of the student network even without studying and made lots of contacts.
Some tips for an easy start (also applies in part to other cities)
- Erasmus Facebook and Whatsapp groups
If possible, join lots of groups on social media channels before you go abroad to find out what you can do and where you can make contacts so that you can make friends quickly. I can highly recommend Facebook, as there are lots of groups there that offer initial tips on finding accommodation and events, and with a bit of luck you will be invited to join a few WhatsApp groups at the beginning that will keep you up to date with the latest events.
In addition, every Erasmus student I’ve met is open and always willing to include you. So you don’t have to worry about that at all. - Erasmus organizations and opportunities
Contact organizations dedicated to Erasmus. I am a big fan of ESN. The network exists in many countries and cities and welcomes exchange students with open arms to give them the best experience abroad and really make your Erasmus the semester of your life. It is exclusively “run” by students and is therefore perfectly infected with the Erasmus spirit, because it is really not about profit, but about the experience abroad. They also offer a membership card that gives you discounts at various airlines, restaurants, sights and stores and often even allows you to take part in trips and events at a lower price.
In Barcelona, there is also “Erasmus Barcelona” (Shaz), HappyErasmus (also organized by students) and many others. They often organize events at the beginning of the semester to get to know other students and the city. They also offer inexpensive excursions to other cities in the country, sometimes even across national borders. - Foreign language
Unfortunately, Spanish is almost a must in Spain. Although Barcelona is a big city and I know many students who got by without Spanish, it can’t hurt to know the basics, because I was often (especially at the beginning) dependent on the help of others and it was very rare that the other person spoke or understood English.
It is usually possible to enrol for language courses at universities or other institutes at a reasonable price. I myself preferred to spend my time in other ways and improved my Spanish in other ways. What I can highly recommend, however, are language tandems, because they are free of charge and you also make contacts and friends quickly. Of course, you can also improve your basic knowledge with OLS. - Housing
Housing is very expensive in Barcelona, relatively speaking even more expensive than in other major cities (such as Madrid). Erasmus shared flats where you live with fellow students are ideal. However, finding something like this in Barcelona is very difficult. There are many portals where you can search for a room, such as Roomster, Uniplaces, EasyPiso, Idealista and many more. However, you should be careful how reputable the ads actually are. Airbnb is overpriced, but it can also be difficult to find something on the other portals, especially if you have special requirements.
I don’t recommend booking from Germany for your entire stay, but for a maximum of one month (even though this can be complicated) to keep the option of moving open. I know a lot of students who have changed apartments here. I myself was lucky enough to find my second apartment via various “Barcelona Flats” groups on Facebook and was able to live in the right neighborhood near Plaza Espanya at a reasonable price. The advantage is of course that you can view apartments before you move in. That’s why many people advise you to spend the first few nights in a hostel to look for an apartment (this only works if you have enough time, of course).
If you don’t know your way around, avoid the Barrio Raval at all costs. This neighborhood should be avoided, especially at night! - Take care of your things!
Many locals told me this on my very first day, which quickly makes you feel a little unsafe in the city. However, Barcelona is actually a big city like many others. The city is largely safe, you just have to watch out for pickpockets, especially in the tourist areas such as las Ramblas. - Memories
It may not be for everyone, but I can still highly recommend it: A travel blog. It’s a bit of work, but it keeps the memories fresh in the near and distant future and is especially useful if you travel a lot in the country. I have met several students who record their memories in the same way. If you have any further questions, please contact the International Office.
My personal conclusion
Even though I initially had reservations about doing this experience alone (because an Erasmus internship is a completely different experience to an Erasmus semester), I am very glad I took the plunge and would do it again and again! I have to admit, it wasn’t always easy and especially at the beginning it was difficult to get along with students if you don’t know the city and don’t have any points of contact. But it was definitely an opportunity that I would recommend to anyone, because I learned a lot, both at work and in Spanish and about the culture and the country itself.
I also had the opportunity to learn a lot about other cultures through the contacts I made and hope to see again in the near future. But you can also develop incredibly on a personal level!
I will always remember my Erasmus experience in Barcelona, even though it could never replace my first Erasmus stay in Bucharest. I’m sure I’ll come back one day and think back with a smile to the wonderful time I had here.
