Anastasia Samylovskaya, from Moscow, is studying advertising, public relations and marketing at CESINE University Centre in Santander in the north of Spain. She shares some of her favorite things about living in Spain, and her advice for others planning to study abroad.
My first impression of Santander was very good: a nice and soft climate, beautiful buildings, just a gorgeous view of the sea, a clean city full of trees and flowers, and very outgoing and open people who were smiling at me all the time. Since then, every day in Santander convinces me how right my first impression was.
I wouldn’t say it’s really different here to where I grew up. The only thing is can’t get used to so far is that on Sunday everything is closed. But in other aspects I’d say the life is pretty much the same as in Russia, which is why it wasn’t so hard for me to adapt to my new life here in Spain.
Friends from around the world
Having said that, the people are different – that’s what I always point out. But it’s great because they always teach me something new, even though they don’t realize it! They help me grow as a personality by changing my attitude to a lot of things in a good way.
Santander is definitely a good city for students! There’s a lot of international students; it’s like a community of friends that are ready to help and support you if you’re going through a tough time. We enjoy spending time together and getting to know Santander by looking for new cool places to visit. Also we have the opportunity to talk to people from all around the world, and ask about their lives and cultures.
When I arrived I loved just walking around the city, discovering beautiful places like the parks and beaches. Now unfortunately I don’t have much free time due to exams, but later I’ll compensate by spending some time with my friends – always a lot of fun.
Enjoying Spanish beaches, cafés and style
It’s hard to choose a favorite place, because I have many! Alright, I’d go with the beach. It’s very beautiful and the view is just amazingly gorgeous. Every time I walk there it enraptures me, just like the first time I saw it. And of course I love the beach because it’s something we don’t have in Moscow.
I’ve spent far too much time in the shops here, but I just couldn’t help it. I was obsessed with cool Spanish style, new clothing textures and the variety of bright colors. Also I like the cafés that have an open view to Sardinero (the beach); it’s cool to sit with your friends in a nice place, chatting and drinking a cup of coffee.
The main challenge was the language. Even though I love Spanish, it was hard for me to speak it at the beginning. When I arrived my speaking level of Spanish wasn’t very high, so I used English as the main language to communicate – then had the challenge of changing from English to Spanish.
For those new to Santander, I think the most important thing is to be open to new people and new experiences! Don’t be afraid to communicate and find new friends because everyone is really lovely and outgoing here. It’s very important to enjoy the moment; the journey of studying in another country is an adventure you’ll never forget.