Valencia Trip – (May 19st to 25th)

Monday, 26th May 2025
I finally started working this week! Like I mentioned before, it’s at a gaming internet café where people can rent PCs or consoles to play.
On my first day, I met Oliver and helped reset a PC to factory settings, then reinstalled all the games that were needed. The place i worked on was very cill an had an relexing atmosphere.

Tuesday, 27th – Thursday, 29th May 2025
I kept working during these days, and honestly, I really enjoyed it. I helped build PCs and worked on different small tasks like cleaning.
Meanwhile, everyone else started preparing for the return to Berlin. They were packing, sorting their stuff, and getting things in order and clean.

Friday, 30th May 2025
It was our final full day in Valencia, and like most days recently, I spent the majority of it at work. Once I got back home, I began packing up my things and giving my room one last clean. It all felt a bit surreal like the whole experience was suddenly coming to an end faster than I was ready for. That night, I barely got any sleep. Even though I knew we had an early flight the next morning, my head was spinning with thoughts. I kept drifting through memories: the summer nights, the hilarious, unexpected moments that made the time so special. And yet, there was a part of me that was ready to go home back to Berlin, back to what I know, to my family, my friends, and the comfort of everyday routines I hadn’t realized I missed. Eventually, sleep came… just not for very long.

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Saturday, 31st May 2025
Departure day. We got up early and caught a taxi to the airport, all still half-asleep but aware this was it the last stretch. Right before we left, I took a final look around the apartment. It was quiet, almost too quiet, and I felt a strange mix of emotions. Looking back, these past two months in Valencia were filled with highs and lows beautiful moments, yes, but also challenges. Living in a new environment with different rhythms, sharing space with others, and adapting day by day… it wasn’t always easy. But it was worth it. The whole experience was unforgettable a chapter I’ll always look back on with a smile.

Hasta la vista, Valencia.

The final full week of my internship at PC-Box Valencia began with a mix of organization and repair work. On Monday, I spent the first half of the day sorting and labeling spare parts in the storage room – a surprisingly calming task. Later, I replaced a faulty power supply in an older office PC and ensured the system was fully operational again.

Tuesday marked the beginning of something big – literally. I started assembling a high-end gaming PC worth around €6000. Because of its value, every step had to be carefully documented. I prepped the case, installed the motherboard, CPU, and RAM, and began setting up the custom water cooling system. The pressure was definitely on, but it was one of the most rewarding builds I’ve worked on.

On Wednesday, I completed the hardware installation and moved on to cable management and final connections. Everything looked perfect – until we powered it up and discovered the Lian Li RGB fans weren’t spinning. They lit up, but didn’t move. A round of troubleshooting began.

Outside of work, though, things were less smooth. The cockroach problem at our shared apartment had escalated to the point where I’d had enough. I made the decision to book an Airbnb for the last few days – and honestly, it was the best decision I made the entire trip. Quiet, clean, private… finally a place where I could rest properly.

Back at work on Thursday, we dove deeper into the fan issue. After reassigning the RGB controllers and reconfiguring the setup, we managed to get the lighting effects working as intended. However, the LCD displays on the fans were still inactive. The investigation continued, with a focus on possible USB conflicts and cable routing.

That night, I returned to my Airbnb and just felt relief. Having a space that felt like my own – even just for a few days – made all the difference. I was able to finally relax, focus, and sleep without unexpected crawling guests.

By Friday, we had solved the last technical puzzle. It turned out the LCD fans needed a dedicated USB connection through an external hub, which had to be reconfigured manually. Once set up correctly, everything worked. We ran a final system test, documented the build from start to finish, and prepared it for delivery.

Saturday was departure day. After a hectic morning of packing and checking out, we headed to the airport and made our way back home. The flight itself was… let’s just say, an adventure – but we landed safely, and that’s what counts.

Now I’m back home – a little tired, but happy and honestly grateful. For the experiences, the work, the chaos, the people… and for finally having a shower that doesn’t have mystery insects in it.

Previously on “Kitchen Nightmares: Erasmus Edition”…

It’s time. The end. The final boss battle. The DLC nobody asked for, but everyone needed. My Erasmus journey is officially over, and all that’s left are the emotional scars, a few memes, and this last blog post. Let’s unpack this final chaos—literally.

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Packing? A nightmare montage. One thing after another, shoved into bags like I was playing Tetris on hard mode. Every time I thought I was done, boom, “Oh look, another charger I haven’t seen since week 2.” And of course, the Great Hairdryer Drama of Departure Day™. Apparently, I’m Satan himself for not personally handing over the holy blow-drying artifact… that I shared for TWO MONTHS. Sorry I forgot it on the table. You know, the place where it was FREE TO TAKE. Next time, bring your own damn wind cannon.

We cleaned our room like the responsible gremlins we are. Everything else? Ignored. As promised in Blog Episode 14. I stand by my artistic statement: “That mess ain’t mine.”

Keys returned. Goodbye note? Nope. Just my lingering passive aggression.

Then we waited… and waited… and cursed the agency because our taxi driver ghosted us harder than my last situationship. Just when we were about to call an Uber and cry into our carry-ons, boom, he appeared. Kiki. Real name: Enrique. Spanish taxi legend. Cracked jokes, played bangers, gave “cool uncle energy.” Honestly, the perfect farewell.

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Airport Arc – Spain Edition

Check-in? Fast. Boarding pass? Digital supremacy. Security? An actual boss level. Way worse than in Germany. Had to remove every single electronic item into separate boxes like I was Marie Kondo-ing my soul in public. BUT—I survived. Even earned some good karma: helped an elderly woman in a wheelchair who was on our flight. She was sweet. People were kind. I felt like a background character in a heartwarming airport movie.

Pilot gets on the mic like, “Wow, you people are fast. We’re taking off early.” And for the first time in this journey, I was genuinely excited. Home was calling.

Memo to future me: Download more YouTube videos, you idiot. Watching music videos from 2011 on airplane Wi-Fi is not the move.

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Arrival: Heimatland.exe

Luggage? Arrived faster than my will to leave did. I snagged a taxi home and—plot twist—met the coolest woman ever. Liane. Sixty-five years old. Long silver-blonde hair. Blue eyes. Full glam. Red nails. Flowy dress. Motherly aura with a side of “I’ve-seen-some-things.”

She grabbed my suitcase like she’s been training with The Rock and casually asked if she could “duzen” me. I said hell yes, and then she proceeded to drop her entire John Wick x Barbie backstory: 40 years in the chauffeur business, drove limos for politicians, did personal protection, was legit revived after dying once, and somehow is still nicer than 80% of humanity. I told her she’s the coolest badass I’ve ever met—and I meant it.

Made it home. 70 Euros poorer. Greeted by my mom and a plate of spaghetti that tasted like victory.

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So yeah… that’s a wrap.

The Erasmus saga is over. Unless my Ausbilder magically says I missed an entry—in that case, I’ll just fabricate some wild side quest about fighting raccoons or discovering a secret beach cult.

Until then…

Peace out, nerds.
Mic drop.
Fin.

More Videos, pictures and Gifs on my Tumblr Blog: https://afib-in-spain.tumblr.com/

Monday, 26th May 2025
I finally started working this week! Like I mentioned before, it’s at a gaming internet café where people can rent PCs or consoles to play.
On my first day, I met the team and helped reset a PC to factory settings, then reinstalled all the games that were needed.
On the way home, I looked up and just took in the sky. It was one of those calm, beautiful evenings that made me pause for a second.

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Tuesday, 27th – Thursday, 29th May 2025
I kept working during these days, and honestly, I really enjoyed it. I helped build PCs and worked on different small tasks.
Meanwhile, everyone else started preparing for the return to Berlin. They were packing, sorting their stuff, and getting things in order.

Friday, 30th May 2025
Our last full day in Valencia. I spent most of it at work again, and when I got home, I packed my suitcases and cleaned up the room.

I couldn’t sleep much that night, even though we had to get up early for our flight. I was thinking about all the memories from these past weeks.
I kept thinking about the sunsets, the warm nights, and the funny, random moments we shared.
But at the same time, I was also really looking forward to going back home.. To Berlin, to my family, my friends, and just that familiar feeling of being back in your own space.
Eventually, I did fall asleep… just not for very long.

Saturday, 31st May 2025
The day had finally come. We all woke up early to catch our Bus to the airport.
Before leaving, I took one last look at our apartment. It was strange to think it would all be over in just a few hours.

Looking back, the time in Valencia was beautiful, but also sometimes exhausting. You really underestimate how long two months can feel when you’re in a new place, with new routines, multiple people, and a different pace.
But in the end, it was definitely an adventure. One I won’t forget.

Hasta la vista, Valencia.

And just like that, we’ve reached the end of our Erasmus+ adventure. This is the final blog entry from my time in Valencia. We didn’t plan anything big for the last few days, just focused on packing and giving the apartment one last clean before our flight tomorrow.

These two months have been an experience I’ll carry with me for life. It wasn’t all sunshine and lollipops, of course. Living with eight people in one apartment came with its own set of challenges, especially when you have the smallest room, right next to the kitchen. And yes, that’s also where the “raccoons” live (aka our night-owl roommates), who love to cook and make noise at 4 a.m. Closing the door meant no air, opening it meant getting blinded by light and kept awake by noise. I could probably fill pages with all the things that didn’t work in that flat… but instead, I’d rather focus on the good parts.

One thing I truly appreciated — especially as a woman — was how confidently the girls and women here dress. There’s such a strong sense of freedom in how they express themselves, without fear of being judged or stared at. In Germany, I often feel like many hide behind their clothes or get unwanted attention when dressing more openly. Here, it just felt normal.

Another thing I loved: the metro. It’s clean, secure, and only accessible with a valid ticket. There are security staff everywhere, which makes such a big difference. And honestly, people here are just… warm. I was amazed by how easily strangers strike up conversations, like they’ve known each other for years. Every time I sat on the metro, I saw someone chatting casually with someone they just met. That openness is something I’ll definitely miss.

I’ll also miss the beauty of the old town and the peaceful sunrises we got to experience. But despite all the good memories, I’m really looking forward to going back home, to my bed, my friends, and of course, my cat. And finally getting some proper sleep again!

Goodbye, Valencia. It’s been real.

Our final week was mostly about keeping calm and reminding ourselves that we’d soon be back home. Let’s just say the apartment didn’t get any bigger over the past seven weeks. But the temperatures definitely went up — on average about 10 degrees warmer during the day.

As if that wasn’t enough, we also had some unexpected guests. Cockroaches started showing up at night, and we did our best to keep them out with every method we could think of.

Big adventures weren’t really on the schedule anymore. From this point on it was more about survival mode. Just hold on until Saturday, get to the airport, and fly home.

Yes, I’m repeating myself when I say that everyone is ready to go back. We’re all looking forward to some peace and quiet and our own four walls.

Still, these seven weeks in Valencia were a great experience for me.

I met some new people and discovered some beautiful places.

Even though it was a bit exhausting here and there, I would absolutely do it again the same way.

Peace out.

The week at PC-Box Valencia began with hands-on tasks and a steady workflow. On Monday, I handled incoming customer PCs – documenting their arrival, checking for visible damage, and performing initial diagnostics, especially for devices that refused to boot. It was all about the first impression: a quick check, a sharp eye, and a calm approach.

Tuesday was more in-depth. I reinstalled Windows 11 on a gaming PC, updated all drivers and the BIOS, and set up client-requested software like Office and Steam. Once the system was up and running, I ran several stress tests to ensure everything remained stable under load – no blue screens, no thermal throttling. Solid.

On Wednesday, I tackled a dusty monster of a PC. After disassembling the case, I used compressed air, brushes, and patience to remove layers of dust. I also replaced the old case fans with new ones. To quantify the results, I measured temperature differences before and after cleaning – and yep, it made a noticeable difference.

Thursday focused more on planning than action: I created a component list for a new build based on the customer’s budget and usage goals.

By Friday, it was time to bring the build to life. I assembled the two PC from scratch, took care of clean cable management, installed the operating system and essential programs, and ran a full test before preparing the final documentation for handoff. Smooth, neat, and fully functional.

After work, I hopped on a train to Madrid with Florian. Once there, we kicked off the evening with some sightseeing:
Palacio Real – massive, majestic, and giving full royalty-core.
Plaza Mayor – charming but pricey, especially the coffee.
Puerta del Sol – the literal heart of Spain.
Parque del Retiro – ducks, rowboats, sunshine, and serious nap potential.
Gran Vía – crowded, chaotic, and full-on city life.

Our Airbnb was a blessing: quiet, clean, and actually comfortable. A soft couch, real towels, and a floor that didn’t stick? Luxury. We grabbed food, kicked back, and watched anime like two very refined gentlemen.

On Saturday, we explored the trendier side of Madrid – first through the cool cafés and vintage shops in Malasaña and Chueca, then at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, surrounded by confused tourists and die-hard fans. We also passed through Madrid’s high-end fashion district, where the only thing I could afford was the air conditioning. In the evening, we caught the train back to Valencia – tired but full of new impressions.

Sunday brought a fun change of pace. We went bowling, cheered each other on through chaotic frames, and then hit the arcade. There’s something timeless about racing games and button-mashing showdowns that makes you forget everything else for a while. We played a few rounds, laughed a lot, and let the day wind down slowly. After that, we headed home – tired, content, and ready to face whatever comes next.

Ah yes, welcome back to another episode of Jacky Loses Her Sanity in Real Time – featuring everyone’s favorite side characters: Dirty Dishes, Passive-Aggression, and a surprise cameo by Jerry the Cockroach and His Filthy Friends.

So, what’s new this week? Not much… just the usual descent into madness. I had what the experts call a „crashout“, aka that moment when your soul leaves your body after cleaning the kitchen for the 20th damn time – and somehow, the dishes still multiply like horny gremlins.

Let me paint you a picture: every plate in existence was chilling in the sink like it’s Coachella for dirty dishes. So I did what any unhinged saint would do – I cleaned it all. Wiped the surfaces. Blessed the counters. Even did a TED Talk on why we don’t use the demon-possessed dishwasher, because it literally makes things dirtier.

Next day? The dishwasher was full. Again. Of course. So I repeated myself like a broken record with trust issues.

Then came The Leak. Oh yes. I was finally eating – a rare moment of peace – when I noticed a mysterious brown liquidoozing out of the trash bag like it was auditioning for CSI. It smelled like trauma and looked like a failed science experiment. Ruben, bless him, offered to take out the trash and kindly asked Thaddäus for help. Twice.

And Thaddäus? My man decided it was the perfect time to go play football. And when I dared to suggest maybe he helps out a little, I got hit with:

„You can do it yourself“
„You talk as much as the day is long“

Excuse me?? EXCUSE ME??

If audacity were a currency, this guy could buy Twitter.

But guess what? I cleaned again. Even the cursed dishwasher. AGAIN. I wiped the hellspawn goo. And then I had my villain origin speech:

“I’m not your mother. If I were, you’d be grounded, beaten with a chancla, and sleeping next to that trash bag.”

And now? I’m done. DONE. I will not touch a single toilet streak, dried love stains, or your leftover burrito bits on the shower walls. Nada. I only wanted a clean kitchen so leaving would be easier. But nope. I’m tapping out like it’s WWE and I just took a folding chair to the face.

And just so you know – I will pay back Mrs. Freaney for the deposit she kindly fronted us. Because after the state this place is in? The landlord’s gonna need holy water and a flamethrower.

Oh, and Jerry? Our pet cockroach?
He brought FRIENDS.
They’re hosting a cockroach rave in the drain outside bathroom two. And yeah, in Spain, cockroaches are normal. But not when your apartment looks like it starred in The Ring.

Last fun thing? I got watched by a praying mantis while I was showering. Girl had front row seats. Might as well start selling tickets next time.

Mic drop.
Jacky out.

More audacity and cockroaches here on my Tumblr Blog: https://afib-in-spain.tumblr.com/

This is my second-to-last entry before heading back to Berlin. On Tuesday, my boyfriend and I took a trip to Madrid and spent the entire day walking around — nine hours straight. We were already completely exhausted after just three, but kept pushing through.

Madrid was a beautiful city with a strong sense of history. Almost every restaurant or shop had a sign proudly showing something like “since 1940” or even older, which added a lot of charm to the city’s atmosphere.

The heat, though, made things tough. It was 31°C with clear skies the whole day, and the sun drained all our energy. We had to take breaks every 20 minutes just to sit down and cool off. Despite that, we made it through and wrapped up the day with some classic tapas and a refreshing glass of summer wine.

The following day was all about recovery!

Friday was my last day at work, and… let’s just say the farewell was a bit anti-climactic.
When I had to leave, Rafa was stuck in a meeting, so we didn’t even get to say goodbye in person.
Tobi and I had gotten a little farewell gift, but we only managed to give it to Christina and one of the other interns directly. I did write Rafa a goodbye message though. I hope he got it and knows how much I appreciated the experience!

On Sunday, we finally did something as a whole group again. We went bowling!
The place looked like a tiny American theme park. I may have broken a nail, but hey, at least I knocked down a bunch of pins, so I’ll call it a win.

It’s starting to feel real now… Our Erasmus adventure is slowly coming to an end, and while I’ll definitely miss parts of it, I also can’t wait to sleep peacefully again – goodbye, Oropax, it’s been real.