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.
