“I truly thrived during my year spent on Erasmus+” Lauren’s Erasmus+ experience in Spain

A stay in Madrid is not complete without a boat trip at the Parque del Retiro. Relaxing but also a great workout!

Lauren Cusack undertook an Erasmus+ Study Abroad in Spain as part of her undergraduate degree at Trinity College Dublin.

I am a recent graduate of European Studies at Trinity College Dublin, majoring in Spanish and minoring in French. From September 2023 to May 2024, I spent the third year of my undergraduate studies on Erasmus+ exchange at Universidad de Alcalá in Spain.

What motivated you to do Erasmus+?
Having developed a passion for languages during secondary school, I was drawn to European Studies’ unique offering of a compulsory third year abroad. While the first two years of my degree were somewhat out of the ordinary given the challenges imposed by the global pandemic, I truly thrived during my year spent in Alcalá de Henares.

The opportunity to spend a whole academic year immersing myself in a different culture, improving my language skills and adapting to Spanish university life is an experience I will never forget. Living away from home for the first time also contributed massively to my personal growth as I brushed up on my cookery skills, adjusted to new challenges and formed an amazing international friend group which I will cherish for the rest of my life.

The impressive architecture of Universidad de Alcalá. Founded in 1499, this historic university has many famous literary alumni, just like Trinity College Dublin!

What were the highlights of your Erasmus+ adventure?
I had actually never heard of Alcalá de Henares before it was presented as an option for Erasmus+ and I am so glad that I decided to give it a try! As a small city located just 40 minutes from Madrid city centre by train, it provided the best of both worlds. Walking the streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site transported me back in time with its Roman ruins, medieval arcaded streets and rich history.

I got to fly in a tethered hot air balloon next to the Palacio Arzobispal, where Christopher Columbus first met with the Catholic Monarchs in 1486.

Alcalá’s claim to fame comes from being the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, author of the Spanish classic Don Quixote. My favourite memory has to be the Semana Cervantina – a week-long medieval festival dedicated to Cervantes with medieval-style artisan market stalls, live outdoor theatrical and musical performances, and actors dressed up in traditional costume.

From artisan crafts to jousting tournaments, the Semana Cervantina is not to be missed!

Alcalá’s literary legacy is also commemorated during the annual Premio Cervantes literature award ceremony, where I joined the crowds to catch a glimpse of King Felipe VI, Queen Leticia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. I lived in a student residence located just off the main square, so I was never far away from the action. I even had the luxury of being a 5-minute walk from my faculty, a welcome change from my usual 90-minute commute into Dublin city centre! My little studio room also came with National Geographic entertainment as I could see a stork’s nest from my window.

Did you know that Alcalá de Henares is home to over 200 storks with nests dotted around the city?

While there was always something happening in Alcalá, Madrid was right on our doorstep. I had the time of my life discovering all its museums and palaces, going to see musicals and concerts, wandering the busy streets and eating typical Spanish food.

The lighting of the Christmas Tree in the Puerta del Sol was a massive event, best served with a pincho de tortilla from a nearby tapas bar!

What is your best advice for making friends and networking?
My number one piece of advice to future Erasmus+ students would be to engage with your local Erasmus Student Network (ESN) section. Without a doubt, my Erasmus+ experience would not have been half as enjoyable if it weren’t for ESN Alcalá. Local volunteers made sure that our calendars were filled with exciting activities to get to know other international students and discover what Alcalá and Madrid had to offer. You can usually find your local ESN section on Instagram or Facebook and join their WhatsApp group chat to get to know people and ask any questions you may have before you arrive.

My friends and I enjoying a view of Gran Vía from the rooftops of Madrid.

Aside from events and trips organised by ESN, don’t be afraid to propose your own plans in group chats. Thanks to someone who suggested an evening stroll around the city, I met my best friend Amelia just 4 days after I arrived, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Amelia introduced me to her flatmates and our international friend group gradually took shape.

Together, we explored Madrid, went on daytrips to nearby cities (Toledo, Aranjuez, Segovia, Salamanca, Ávila, Cuenca) and took advantage of cheap trains and buses like Flixbus and ALSA to go as far as País Vasco, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla and Málaga. Erasmus+ gives you the perfect opportunity to travel and discover new places. Thanks to the programme, I have a guaranteed friendly face and expert local guide waiting for me whenever I travel to Poland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Portugal, Romania and France!

A weekend in Barcelona.

Is there anything you wish you had known in advance of your Erasmus+?
Adjusting to a new academic culture is definitely a challenge, especially when you are attending classes, completing assignments, giving presentations and doing exams in your second language. Nevertheless, it was great to be able to design my own timetable (Fridays off every week!) and engage with disciplines that I would never have had the chance to study at home. In fact, the topic of my undergraduate dissertation was inspired by a module I took in Spain.

Prior to choosing your Erasmus+ destination, I would recommend checking out the websites of different universities to research how student life varies. Even within Spain there is variation when it comes to assessment types and the number of hours you have each week. When choosing a university and then selecting modules, make sure to take into account what suits your learning style to give you a proper work-life balance. Think about whether you prefer end-of-term exams (note that in many Spanish universities, first-semester exams are held after Christmas) or spreading out the workload with continuous assessment. Depending on the university, your lectures may vary from 1-hour to 2-hour blocks and some may even offer you a choice between morning/afternoon lectures or ones that take place in the evening.

It’s also worth noting that Spanish universities don’t have the same student-run society culture as Irish universities do. There might be a few clubs such as choir, debating and sports but nowhere near the same variety as home. Therefore, it can be difficult to make friends outside of the Erasmus+ bubble, but you can always reach out to people in your classes or find other activities and clubs in your city. My friend and I ended up doing pilates classes at the university sports centre where we met lots of really funny middle-aged ladies who were true Spanish characters!

Tell us about the takeaways from your Erasmus+ experience and what you’ve been doing since.
Overall, I am extremely grateful to have had this incredible opportunity. I made so many memories and learned so much on both a personal and academic level.

My Erasmus+ experience has also benefitted me professionally. Upon return, I knew that I wanted to give back to my own university community, so I decided to get involved with Trinity’s Erasmus Student Network (ESN) during my final year. As President of the society, I oversaw the organisation of events for international students and the provision of various supports to integrate them into Irish life and culture. While my time at Trinity has come to an end, I am not yet ready to say goodbye to the ESNer life and am looking forward to my year ahead as Sections Manager of ESN Ireland.

Participating in your local ESN is the perfect way to prolong the excitement of studying abroad since you can maintain the feeling of an international community while seeing your home city through new eyes. ESN is now active in Trinity, UCD, Maynooth University, DCU, TU Dublin, University of Galway, DKIT, IADT, RCSI, TUS (Midlands & Midwest) and UL.

Each semester, ESN TCD was invited to attend Trinity’s welcome event for incoming international students.

Being able to experience life in a different country really opened my eyes to the possibilities available after graduation. In fact, my experience living abroad and the skills I have gained from volunteering with ESN have helped me to secure a place on a graduate programme based in Paris starting this summer. As I embark on this new adventure, I am sure that everything I learned during my Erasmus+ mobility in Spain will help me to settle in.

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All photos are reproduced here with permission from Lauren.

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