How is to be Erasmus in Edinburgh?
We continue our series of Erasmus city-guide with Alicia Benito-Martinez, an Erasmus pioneer who will run you through the wonderful city of Edinburgh. Discover Scotland, its traditions and the unforgettable experience of being Erasmus there!
It was back in 1997 and for the first time I was ready to leave Spain and embark on an adventure in an English-speaking country. It was the fourth year of my English Studies degree at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid and I realised that it was time to leave my grammar books aside and learn the language properly – I’d soon be out there in the real world!.
Accomodation: a flat in the campus... already booked!
I was lucky enough to visit my first destination of choice: Edinburgh, reputedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with a world-renowned University. Everything seemed extraordinarily well organised – I was sent a package well in advance with all information, and was offered a full-board flat within the campus so I didn’t even have to worry about accommodation (or cooking – a great relief !). Some of my friends shared a room, which was cheaper, or lived in flats outside the campus. I ended up living with a Korean, an American and a Japanese – a truly international experience from the start. I got some extra money working at the cafeteria, where the real hard work was understanding the dinner ladies’ strong Scottish accent...
University: learn Scottish dance!
Lessons were in English, of course, which I had to attend about three times a week and didn’t have to sit any exams, just write essays, so I had a lot of free time and endless possibilities, and I made the most of it: I took German lessons, attended workshops, plays, joined the university gym, learnt how to dance ceilich (Scottish traditional dance) and of course I socialised a lot! All one needed was an open mind and a willingness to meet new people – everyone had something interesting to say about their own countries of origin.
Don’t miss the Highlands and Loch Ness
I hired a small van with a few friends and spent five days visiting the Highlands – an absolute must. In the Isle of Sky we hired bikes and rode around, we visited Loch Ness (I saw the shadow of Nessie but no one believed me!) and enjoyed the surprisingly nice weather. Every single corner of the city is astonishingly beautiful, the castle, the parks, only a few minutes away from the King building’s campus – even Princes Street, the commercial area, looks out of a fairy tale.
Going out: my favourite spots
It is an old but young city, full of life – my favourite venues were Teviot and the The Liquid Room, which still exist. In fact, it is difficult to live in Edinburgh and not know where to have fun - there are plenty of pubs and clubs. The worst bit, as expected, was the weather. It was wet most of the time and at 4 pm it was dark already - if you plan to visit Edinburgh, you can’t let it rain in your parade…
My advice: Erasmus in Edinburgh is an unforgettable experience
I had not thought about my Erasmus year for a while, and looking back now I realise how important this experience has been in my life. It opened my mind, it made me more culturally and linguistic aware – I doubt I would be the translator I am today if I had not spent one year learning the language first hand - and well, I loved the rain so much that I am now back in the island…
As one of the oldest members of the « Erasmus Generation » I can only say: if you have a chance to study at Edinburgh for one year, don’t think it twice. It is an unforgettable experience.
on 21-10-2008 By Adriano - Erasmus city-guide
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Hi there..
How did you get there?..
I can't believe it but it's already more than ten years I left Dundee after completing my Erasmus Project at Abertays (Economics - Marketing and Sales). Time started already to delete names off my memory but I still remember all the friends from all over I met over there.
It was the 13th of february 1997, I was 21years old, my father took me in the early morning to the bus station of my village, he was as excited as me, I got on the bus carrying a backsack bigger than me and I was on my own way to the airport. Needless to say that at that time there was no low cost air-company so I had to take the plane from Torino to London then train from London to Dundee.
Everything went well but in London the train to the north starting from King's Cross had 5 hours delay because of a mechanical problem on the railways, I was supposed to arrive around 8 pm in Dundee, but actually at 8 pm I was still in the middle of nowhere in Northern England. So I decided to get off the train in Edinburgh and spend the night there. Out off the train station I started to walk down in Prince Street around midnight, it was windy and freezing cold, and I didn't know really where to go. I don't remember how, but I managed to find a youth hostel that was at the top of an old building with no lift and I don't know if that was close to a club or something but I remember I could hear rock music coming through the walls of the dorm.
Anyway I was so tired that I deeply slept and the following day I left for Dundee, by train again.
OK a new day... morning sun, I was there finally. I had just to find my way to the Uni from the train station. I took a look at the map and I decided to take a walk, I said to myself "ok if I get lost I'll ask".
I got lost and I asked a gentleman... well it was the first time I had to cope with the Dundonian accent, he was very nice he knew where Abertay University was but could not just understand a word and my school English and my Italian accent did make the conversation any easier. At the end I just pretended to get it right... "cheers lad!"
Finally I arrived at Abertay's main hall around 10 in the morning of a Saturday and the nice receptionist called Kevin- the warden of Tayworks, where I was supposed to share the flat with 5 others. I was so happy when I arrived in the room and I dropped my bags. Nobody was around in the flat and I went to the living room. I thought a bomb went off right there.... Lately I learnt that the guys just had a party the night before to celebrate the end of the first semester.
On the following monday I went to the uni and I met other Erasmus students from all over Europe: France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, they became my best friends for the rest of my stay inside and outside the uni.
Those were my first adventure days, the first time I was living so far away from home in a such a different country... a professional and life experience I will never forget.
When I came home back to Italy I was a different person, learning and working in an international environment helped me so much to motivate myself, to get in touch with different learning methods and think eurowide.
No good news for my dad that two years later had to take me again to the bus station of my village with other bags to see me leaving to get a job in Dublin, Ireland
Edinburgh is the greatest city I've ever visited!!!