Autor: Thaddäus Hopsch

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.

Valencia Trip – (May 19st to 25th)

Monday
After a rough night’s sleep, I ended up getting up a bit later than usual. Once I was up, Timur and I dove into some organizational tasks, including scheduling a visit to a low-oxygen environment lab and getting some necessary paperwork in order. We also finally began working a little bit on our group project, which felt like a solid step forward.

Tuesday
The day started with a refreshing shower, and then Timur and I tackled more administrative stuff. We made some good progress on the project again. The big news of the day: we received confirmation that we’d be having a job interview on Friday for a position in our final week here. That gave the day a nice sense of momentum. I ended the evening with a call to my girlfriend and a relaxed vibe.

Wednesday
Timur and I headed out in the morning for a big grocery run. After that, we searched the city for a tobacco shop and eventually found a special store where we bought sunflower seeds for Jimmy and us. Once back home, we worked on the project again. I wrapped up the day with a long shower.

Thursday
I got up quite early and took some time to get ready for the day. Over breakfast, I watched an interesting documentary. Later on, I continued working on the project. A short power nap in the afternoon helped recharge me, and in the evening I had a great call with a good friend back in Berlin.

Friday
After a relaxed start to the morning, I spent some time watching my series and just enjoying the quiet. In the late afternoon, we headed to our job interview and met Luca from Argentour at the potential workplace. We were shown around, got a good overview of what to expect, and received our work schedules. Back home, I jumped into a gaming session with a friend (a fun way to end the day).

Saturday
The weekend began slowly, just the way I like it. After a short shopping trip and a phone call with my girlfriend, I settled in to watch the DFB-Pokal Final with Ruben. It was a good game, and afterwards I cooked up something tasty to finish off the night.

Sunday
We had planned a fun group activity, so after breakfast we all headed out for a round of bowling. The place also had a big arcade section, which we couldn’t resist. After a few games, we grabbed some food from KFC and took an Uber back home. I ended the day early, Monday was going to be my first official workday, so I wanted to be well-rested.

(I sadly had no pictures of this week)

Valencia Trip – (May 12st to 18th)

Monday

Monday was also quiet. I watched a great new movie and took it easy, still recovering from the muscle soreness from the hike.

Tuesday

Tuesday A Day in Valencia with Jacky What started as an easy day turned into an unexpected educational adventure. Jacky invited me to join her for a visit to the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. Instead of taking the bus, we walked over 3 kilometers through the city’s massive park. The walk was full of curious sights: strange sculptures, odd characters, and a dry riverbed that made me reflect on life choices. The destination looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. The futuristic architecture was amazing, though signage was minimal. Inside, we explored an interactive Leonardo da Vinci exhibition, a biodome with adorable animals, and a space zone complete with holograms and planetary weight stations. All that for just 9 euros – definitely worth it. It turned out to be a chaotic but fascinating day full of culture, science, and a bit of cardio.

Wednesday

Wednesday I wasn’t feeling very well, so I took it easy. I played games with some friends and had a nice phone call with my girlfriend in the evening.

Thursday

Thursday I was feeling a bit better but still tired. I spent the day watching some documentaries and catching up with friends from Berlin.

Friday

Friday Friday was action-packed. We had Paintball and Go-Karting on the agenda. We took two Ubers to the Paintball site and played three rounds, my team won two of them, which was awesome. Afterward, we went karting on an incredible track that even had a bridge and tunnel. I was the fastest in our group and took first place. We headed back home with good vibes and great music.

Saturday

Saturday I was pretty exhausted from Friday’s excitement, so I took it easy. I only went grocery shopping and took a short walk.

Sunday

Sunday Sunday was another calm day. I caught up with my parents, had a nice call with my girlfriend, and played some games with friends in Berlin.

Valencia Trip – (May 8st to 11th)

Thursday

Thursday, May 8 The day started with me giving some tech support to my girlfriend. We had actually planned to go bowling, but unfortunately, that fell through at the last minute. Instead, Timur and I went for a walk to the beach, where we enjoyed a meal at Burger King with a beautiful view of the sea.

Friday

Friday I spent Friday catching up with friends from Berlin and took care of some household chores. In the evening, I played some video games with a friend from back home.

Saturday

Saturday Ruben and I planned an exciting trip. We wanted to hike a mountain that we could see from our house. We took the train as far out of the city as possible and then grabbed an Uber to the base of the mountain. From there, we made our way up along a wild trail but luckily found the path to the summit. After a thunderstorm warning, we made our way down quickly and walked back to the train station. We even had to run the last few kilometers to avoid the storm. After that adventure, I enjoyed a relaxing shower and chilled for the rest of the evening.

Sunday

Sunday Still tired from the hike, I spent a very relaxed day at home, watching series, eating good food, and talking to my girlfriend.

Valencia Trip – Part 6 (May 1st to 7th)

Thursday

Thursday, May 1st was another public holiday here in Valencia which meant I could sleep in. Later in the day I went out to do some shopping and then called my parents to catch up. It was nice to hear how things were going back home in Berlin. In the evening I went for a quiet walk and had a long phone call with my girlfriend just enjoying the calm vibes.

Friday

On Friday my morning started a bit more abruptly. I got woken up early because we were getting a new washing machine delivered and the mold next to my bed was finally being removed. After all that chaos the rest of the day was much more relaxed. We watched Star Wars in the afternoon and later I started watching the Ted series and made for a cozy evening.

Saturday

Saturday kicked off slow and easy. I had a relaxed morning and then watched the Union Berlin match which actually went really well. Always nice to see your team play a strong game. After the match I went for a jog down to the beach which felt amazing. In the evening I headed over to the harbor where Ruben and Timur were at an open air party with a live stage setup. It had great energy. Later we ended up going to a private club with two Spanish guys we met there. One of them was a friend of Ruben. The whole night was super spontaneous and really fun.

Sunday

Sunday was another mellow day. After breakfast Ruben and I went shopping then I made some pasta and just hung out. In the evening I went into the city for a short trip with Jimmy Timur and Flo and after that I called my girlfriend to check in and catch up a bit more.

Monday

Monday May 5th was all about supporting my girlfriend. She had just finished her Abitur exam so I called her around lunchtime to talk about it and hear how everything went. In the afternoon I went grocery shopping mostly to get stuff for our evening barbecue. That night we grilled together on our terrace which was super nice. The weather was perfect and it felt like a proper summer night.

Tuesday

Tuesday was shopping day again. I did a big grocery run and had my girlfriend on the phone with me during it so it was almost like shopping together just from two countries apart. Not much else happened that day. I just took it slow and enjoyed the peace.

Wednesday

Wednesday was more active again. Around midday I went jogging and then took a long relaxed shower. We had actually planned to go bowling in the evening but those plans fell through last minute. Instead I spent the evening gaming with a friend from Berlin which turned out to be a solid backup plan. Just one of those cozy no pressure days.

Valencia Trip – Part 5 (Monday to Wednesday)

Monday

Monday was honestly one of the craziest days of the trip so far. I woke up to Jimmy yelling that we had no electricity. At first I thought he was exaggerating, but then I noticed my phone had no signal either. Turns out the entire region was affected, no mobile reception, no metro service, nothing. We later found out that Spain, Portugal, and even parts of France were hit by a massive blackout.

We tried to make the best out of the situation. We played some card games and just chilled together. Thankfully, I had a few episodes of Star Wars The Clone Wars downloaded, so we weren’t completely bored. Later, we walked to a small local store and found a line of people outside, clearly preparing for a long power outage. Inside, it was super eerie without any lights, it honestly felt like in The Purge. Luckily, by the evening, the power finally came back on and things slowly returned to normal.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, our supervisors Mr. Gierschner and Mr. Bavar came to visit us. I quickly cleaned up a bit in the morning before they arrived. We sat together and talked about our experiences in Valencia so far, the culture, the language classes, and everyday life here. After the talk, we all went to a restaurant to have some traditional paella. Ruben, Jimmy, Flo, and I decided to walk there, which took us almost an hour. After the paella, some cervezas, and of course Agua de Valencia, we all took separate Ubers back home. On the way back, we also stopped at the Consum near our place to do some grocery shopping.

Wednesday

Wednesday started off slowly, mostly because I accidentally slept through my alarm. After getting up, I had breakfast while chatting with my girlfriend, who was dress shopping for her high school prom in Berlin. Later in the afternoon, I went for a jog to clear my head. In the evening, or more like late at night, I called a friend back in Berlin to wish him a happy birthday and catch up a bit.

Valencia Trip – Part 5&6 (Monday to Sunday)

Monday

Monday was a super chill day. I went for a walk and continued watching the series I had started. Later on, I had a long phone call with a friend from Berlin, who updated me on everything that had been happening back home. It felt good to reconnect and hear some familiar voices again.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, I started the day with a shower and then went out for some grocery shopping. In the afternoon, I went for a short jog to clear my head. Later, I met up with Jimmy, Flo, and Timur, and we grabbed some food at a local pizza place.

Wednesday

Wednesday was cleaning day. I went out to do some more shopping around midday, and then Ruben and I got started on our cleaning duties. I vacuumed and mopped the floors while Ruben took care of the bathrooms. After that, I finally finished the series I had been watching, and the ending was absolutely wild. No spoilers, but damn.

Thursday

Thursday started off slow. I had a relaxed shower in the morning and got ready for the day. Timur, Flo, and I headed into the city to check out some souvenir shops and look for clothes. We didn’t end up finding any clothes, but Timur bought himself a Polaroid camera, and Flo picked up some souvenirs. I got a Valencia shot glass for my girlfriend, since she collects them. Afterwards, we went to Five Guys, which was really tasty. In the evening, we met up with the others at a bar and tried Agua de Valencia definitely a fun way to wrap up the day.

Friday

Friday was a very heavy day. Early in the morning, I received some verry sad news from Berlin, a close friend of mine had passed away. I spent the rest of the day on the phone with my girlfriend and other friends from home. We talked, remembered him, and supported each other. It was a quiet, emotional day, but im happy I had some people to share the emotions with.

Saturday

Saturday started off a bit lighter. In the morning, I went for a short walk and did some shopping with Timur. I also had a long, comforting phone call with my girlfriend. Later, Timur and I ordered Burger King and had a relaxed afternoon. In the evening, Ruben Timur and I heard loud music nearby, got curious, and decided to check it out. We stumbled upon a big outdoor stage with a crowd and live music. It turned into a spontaneous party night. We stayed for a while, talked to lots of people, and had a blast – even with the language barrier, which honestly made things even funnier.

Sunday

Sunday was very quiet again, just what I needed. I had a nice, long call with my girlfriend and helped her with some studying. Later, I cooked myself a simple but delicious meal – pasta with tomato sauce and sausages. In the evening, I had a group call with a few friends from Berlin to stay in touch and keep those bonds strong.

Valencia Trip – Part 3 (Thursday to Sunday)

Thursday:

Thursday was a bit more on the quiet and personal side. I spent some time reconnecting with people back home in Berlin. In the morning, I had a nice long phone call with my parents. I told them all about what I’ve experienced so far and how life here in Valencia feels different compared to Berlin. After that, I caught up with two friends from Berlin as well. It felt good to stay connected and share what’s been going on. Later that evening, we decided to bake a cake together, the perfect cozy end to a chill day.

Friday:

On Friday, I had a relaxed breakfast before heading out with Ruben and Timur. We took a new path to the beach, one that Timur and Jimmy had discovered earlier. The walk was nice, and once we got to the beach, we just soaked up the sun and chilled. We even stopped at a Burger King that had a view of the ocean, kind of surreal. Afterwards, we went to this massive supermarket that honestly reminded me a lot of Walmart. Total chaos, but kind of cool.

Saturday:

Saturday started with a light breakfast and a bit of series watching, my usual morning vibe lately. Then I headed into the city with Ruben to meet up with Jimmy, Timur, and Flo at a toy store. Yes, a toy store, because why not? After that, we went to an Asian restaurant for lunch, which was super tasty. Flo headed home early, but the rest of us continued wandering around the city, grabbing a few cervezas and cocktails along the way. Great energy, great company.

Sunday:

Sunday was the definition of chill. We didn’t do much at all, just recharged and took it easy. In the evening, we all sat down and watched the second part of Star Wars together, the perfect way to close out the week.

Valencia Trip – Part 3 (Monday to Wednesday)

Monday

Monday started slow. I slept in since I didn’t have a placement for my internship yet. After finally getting out of bed, I took a nice long shower and made myself some tasty food while watching a series. Super chill vibes.

Later in the day, I went grocery shopping with Timur and Jimmy to stock up on some essentials. The rest of the day was pure relaxation. Sometimes you just need that reset.

Tuesday

Tuesday was all about taking it easy again. I basically spent the whole day eating and relaxing, no shame in that. I also got some laundry done and hung everything up to dry. The Valencia sun does the job pretty quick. In the evening, I went for a jog, about 5.5 km along a dried-up riverbed near our place. The views were nice and the air was warm, perfect for a solo run with niche music on your headphones.

Wednesday

After waking up, I went on a big grocery run to refill the fridge. In the afternoon, Ruben and I hit up a basketball court nearby and played for a while. After that, we checked out a calisthenics park and did a little strength training session there. On the way back, we stopped by Lidl to grab a few things and then had a chill, quiet evening at home.

Valencia Trip – Part 2 (Thursday to Sunday)

Thursday

Thursday started off pretty easy we didn’t have to be at Spanish class until 10 AM, so I finally got a bit more sleep. After class, I went grocery shopping with Timur, Jimmy, and Ruben to get everything we needed for a group dinner.

After shopping Timur and I went to Decathlon to buy a football, and I also grabbed a pair of sunglasses because the sun here is way too bright. When we got back to the apartment, Jimmy and Ruben had already finished cooking. Perfect timing! We all sat down and had dinner together, and in the evening, I went on a relaxing walk. I ended up exploring a dried-up riverbed near our place, super peaceful and a bit surreal.

Friday

On Friday, we had our final Spanish exam, both a written and speaking part, and it actually went pretty well. To thank our teacher Jesús, we got him some flowers and took a group photo together, because it was our last day of class.

To celebrate, we went to KFC. The rest of the evening was super chill , later on, I went out for a beer with Ruben and Timur at a bar. A nice little way to end our Spanish school week.

Saturday

Saturday was all about rest. I slept in and literally did nothing for most of the day, which felt amazing. In the afternoon, I went for a jog to a basketball court Ruben had told me about, the whole trip was around 5.5 km. After that, I just relaxed, kicked back, and watched a Marvel movie. Simple, perfect day.

Sunday

Sunday was another slow start, I slept in again (I’m sensing a trend here). Around 2 PM we met up with Herr Maier at the beach and had a few cervezas while enjoying the sun. Later, Timur, Jimmy, and I ordered sushi, and I ended the evening binge-watching a series.