Universidad de las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC)

I spent the first month listening and saying very little.I was getting to grips with understanding first of all and I was shy at speaking Spanish. I amazed myself how quickly I became fluent. I put it down ot having avery active social life and making good friends among the locals. I spent more time with the locals than other erasmus students aprt from one girl who came from my university. It was nice to have someone if the frustration of not being able to fully express myself in Spanish got to me. We joked about it and it helped me to get on with it. Socialising, parties: that was the best studying I did!

Buy in Las Palmas, Tourist resorts in South seemingly cheap, but much cheaper in the North of Island. Local supermarkets ( 'Hyperdino') are much cheaper than larger commericial shopping departments such as Corte Ingles ( however good quality).

Hope my personal experience has helped your survey. Are you going to help me find a job now??!! No seriously, Save as much money as you can before going. While abroad, take the opportunity to do a little bit of travelling. I would recommend getting involved in the Uni magazine, social projects around the Uni arranged by the students. More opportunities of engaging in the langugae and culture will make you feel like it is your secon home. Find out the cost of living, cost of living before you go. I didn't do much research in that respect. Yet I really landed on my feet. It was a pleasant surprise to find out how cheap it was.(Choose Las Palmas: Living on a small island and the opportinuty of travelling to neighbouring islands appealed to me.) What you bring over you will have to bring back. Allow for the fact that you tend to accumulate things over the course of your stay. Go over with the intention of having the most fun you can. remeber whatever happens, it such an experience. What seem to be bad experiences will be remebered as part of the adventure. Don't get bogged down with mundane everyday life. Be aware of the time frame and make the most of it! Again as I mentioned before, having a thriving social life and living as a local made it for me.

Although I had to find my own accommodation, there are advertisements/signs all over the Uni campus. it was very easy to find an apartment to share with other students.

El guincho (bar for stds. mainly) Asadero in San Matteo organised by Uni.students.