Spanish Learning Community and Resources

❝ My Language Learning Journey ❞ / Laura Müllner 

Source: Pixabay

¡BUENAS! ✊

With the series ❝ My Language Learning Journey, ❞ we want to share stories of people who have participated in a mobility programme in Spain or Latin America. Through informal chats, they will tell us about their Erasmus experience, their language learning process, and curiosities about their host city. 

Today's protagonist is Laura Müllner. Let's read! :-) 

Hola, Laura. Could you please introduce yourself to the community? :-) 

HOLA, I'm Laura. I'm 20 years old and come from Vienna, Austria. At the moment, I'm studying European Economy and Business Management. Last semester, I had the opportunity to do an Erasmus exchange in Vigo, Spain, where I spent five months.  

Why did you choose Vigo? 

I had to choose from the partner universities of my home institution, and Vigo was the Spanish destination closest to the sea. 

Do you recommend Vigo as an Erasmus destination? 

Absolutely. It's a small city, so it's easy to move around and immerse yourself in the local culture. Additionally, the ESN (Erasmus Student Network) in Vigo is really nice. They organise numerous events that help you meet new people. I would definitely recommend it. 

What is the one thing you liked most about Vigo? And is there something people should know before coming to the city? 

Apart from the friendly people, I loved the coastline and the sea. The sunsets there are amazing. I would often go to watch them. As for what to know before moving to Vigo, I'd say just go with the flow and experience it for yourself. 

Did you know about Vigo before going there? 

No, I had never heard of it before. 

Did you have the opportunity to travel to different parts of Spain? 

Yes, I visited Madrid for the national Erasmus event and also explored Barcelona and Valencia. These were the larger cities I had the chance to see. 

What about Galicia? Did you explore the region? 

We did visit Santiago a few times and A Coruña. I also went to many small towns, but their names escape me. If you're in Vigo, I recommend exploring the surrounding areas and heading up the coast.  

What was the weather like? 

It was okay. I arrived in January, and it was much warmer than in Vienna. It's not excessively hot in the summer, nor is it extremely cold in the winter. From what I've heard, there are quite a few rainy days in winter, but overall, we were fortunate. 

Did you try any Spanish food? 

OF COURSE. 

HAHA, tell me more, please. What's your favourite? 

I think the dish I enjoyed the most was the Spanish tortilla. Yes, it's a simple choice, but I really liked it. We tasted many dishes. Although I'm not a big seafood fan, I tried Pulpo a la gallega, a regional speciality. I also had Paella in Valencia. 

Did you try Pimientos del Padrón as well? They are also from Galicia… 

Yes, we often made them at home with my flatmates, but it never quite matched the restaurant quality. 

Was it challenging for you to adapt to the new language or the new place initially? 

The language was a bit challenging, yes. Understanding Spanish was a little harder than I expected, but adapting to the place was relatively easy. I was accustomed to my Spanish teacher at my university in Vienna, who spoke slowly and used simple words. However, when I encountered real Spanish in everyday situations, like at the supermarket, it was a different story, HAHA. 

What was your daily language? English or Spanish? 

Mainly, English, as I spoke it at home with my flatmates and at university. 

What was your Spanish proficiency before the mobility and after? 

I hope I've improved, HAHA. I think I came with an A2 level, and maybe now I'm at B1. Let's see. I just took my Spanish exam yesterday, as part of my course. 

What do you think of OLS? 

I find it very helpful, but I wasn't aware of its existence for a long time. My university mentioned it, saying we had to take an English test on the platform to assess our proficiency. However, at the time, I simply rushed through the test, and that was it for me. So, I believe it's somewhat of an undiscovered secret for learning a new language. Additionally, I think it's quite beneficial after Erasmus because during Erasmus, you don't have much time, and you're constantly pushed to speak the language out there. But after the mobility, if you lack that daily exposure, I believe OLS can be quite useful. 

Would you recommend the Spanish community for those planning to go to Spain or Latin America? 

Absolutely. I find the articles helpful, particularly when they cover what to expect from Spain, as you're Spanish and the best source to know. 

Did OLS help you improve your language skills? 

I think it has helped me now. As I said, I didn't know about OLS before Erasmus, but I used it afterward, especially the Spanish B1 course, which was useful.  

So, what would you say to someone who's going to Spain and is a bit worried about not speaking the language? 

I can understand. I was nervous too, of course. But the Spanish people are really helpful. If they see that you don't understand, they'll repeat it or try to explain in another way. Maybe they don't speak English, at least not in Vigo, but they still make an effort to help you. So, it will be okay. 

Source: Pixabay

And what did you do when you faced situations where they didn't speak English? Did you start speaking Spanish? Were you able to communicate well with them? 

Yes, definitely. Whether it was at a restaurant or in the supermarket, I always had to speak Spanish. If I didn't understand something, I would ask, "Can you repeat that?" or "I'm not from Spain; can you say it again?" They were always quite interested in where you're from and what you're doing there. 

Is there anything culturally in Spain that has surprised you or even shocked you? 

Maybe not shocked, but the different daily schedule, like people going out and eating late. It was different to adapt to, especially during the first week. My friends and I from Erasmus were like, "Okay, the party starts at around 1:00. Usually, I'm heading home at 2:00." So, that was the only thing that required a bit of adjustment. 

So, it is very different from Austria? 

Yeah, for sure, HAHA. I think my grandma is eating lunch at 12 and dinner at 6:00. Spanish people eat at 10, you know. 

Did you like the fact that everything is later? 

Yeah, at some point, yes. It's more relaxed, if you like. We had more time. Also, in Vigo, it's like you're far away but still on the same time as in Vienna, so the sun is shining in the summer until 10, or even 10:30. It's really nice to have that much daylight ☀️. 

What was your favourite activity to do with your friends in Vigo? 

It's always difficult to pick one, but for sure I really enjoyed that we all lived close to each other, more or less. So, we could say, "Let's watch the sunset in 10 minutes," and we'd all go there and meet up. Or going to the beach after university, playing volleyball, and having food at the shore. We'd also get together before partying. There isn't just one thing. 

Did you party a lot?  

Yeah, of course, Spanish people always find a reason to party, HAHA. 

Did you get to meet or get to know Spanish people, or was it mostly Erasmus students in general? 

I was in class with mostly Vigo people, so yes, I got to know them, but in my free time, I mainly hang out with other Erasmus students.  

You were one of the winners of the first #OLSCommunityStories contest. Have you already completed your Interrail trip? 

No, I haven't done it yet, but I’m looking forward to it. Once I have some free time, I would like to do a nice round and visit all my Erasmus friends from all over Europe. 

We have launched the second #OLSCommunityStories contest. Would you like to travel around Europe by train for free? Click HERE ✊. 

What do you think of the Erasmus programme in general? 

I think it's one of the best adventures you can have in your life. So, for everyone who has the opportunity to go, I would say just go. You meet so many amazing people with the same mindset. 

Now, reflecting on your Erasmus experience, is there something that you learned? 

Yeah, there are many lessons you learn when you go alone to a foreign country. Just go with the flow, and everything will turn out alright, even if it doesn't seem so at first. Just enjoy it and don't overthink too much. 

Any tips to make the most of a mobility programme? 

I think if there's an Erasmus network in the city, and they have welcome days or welcome weeks, just join them as much as possible, so you can get to know people. It's one of the easiest ways to make friends. Look out for ESN. They also offer the opportunity to get a buddy, someone who helps you before you arrive, which is also very nice. 

Have you faced any challenges, and how did you deal with them? 

I had a problem with my flat for a short time. I couldn't see the flat before I arrived, so when I got there, it was full of mould because it had been raining a lot. It was very humid in my room, and I couldn't sleep there.  Fortunately, within a day I found a new flat, which was a relief. I spoke to another Erasmus girl in my class, and she had an available room in her apartment. It turned out to be a great solution, as she is now my best friend. 

Was it difficult to find a room, and how did you search for flats in Vigo? 

I think it's always a bit difficult if you're not there to see the apartments in person and just rely on what you find on the Internet. But, yeah, talk to the ESN people because they may know contacts from people who stayed there in previous semesters. You can also use internet websites or Facebook. 

Has being part of the Erasmus programme made you feel more European? 

Yes, I live in Vienna, which is in the centre of Europe. I never felt not European, but now, at least I know one person from every country. It's super nice. 

What are your plans for the future? 

First, I have to finish my studies. I have one more year left. After that, I would like to go abroad again, maybe do an internship or study something else. There are short-term Erasmus mobility programmes for a few weeks, and those sound nice too. Or doing some volunteering abroad. 

How would you define your Erasmus in one word? 

When you sent me the questions beforehand, I was thinking about what I could say. How can you sum up five months in one word, HAHA? I would say "amazing." It’s something to remember. There's adventure waiting for you everywhere, and you get to meet new people. 

If you were to go back in time and choose an Erasmus destination once again, would you still pick Vigo? 

Yes, I think I would still choose Vigo. I would do it again.  

Source: Pixabay