Zagreb as my Erasmus destination has been one of the best decisions of my life. I didn't know it when I first arrived but this place has held many memories that I will never forget.
17th September was the day I first arrived and I was lucky to be welcome by the city with a sunny day that let me see Zagreb with bright colors. Some days passed by, and I first went to the university, in my case the Faculty of Croatian Studies or as it is called here the Fakultet hrvatskih studija. There, I met all the other international students (we weren’t a lot and that was precisely what made it special) which was something I am really grateful for; as until that moment I had only met students from Spain (my home country). This faculty gave me the opportunity to spend time with 8 marvelous students from different nationalities which was absolutely enriching for my experience.
Regarding the classes, I took the courses that were most related to my degree in my home university and I believe it was really interesting to attend classes in a different language and to have access to courses I think I could have never had back in Spain.
Luckily for me, I was admitted at the Cvjetno Naselje students’ dorm and this allowed me to live the full experience that national students have here; by going to the menzas and attending the same common spaces such as the “living room”. I had never shared a bedroom before and I was quite nervous about it, however my roomie made everything easier for me, and I am not only talking about the basics of living together.
I got to know some spots that became almost like a ritual such as Nokturno; the favorite restaurant of my friends and I, and Bunker, the club in which we enjoyed going out.
But most of all, one of the things I value the most is having been able to travel to so many places in such a short amount of time and with people I didn’t know before I arrived, but that are now essential for me. I will forever keep in my memory that trips to Rijeka, Brussels, Bled, Prague and Rome among others.
Zagreb was my first choice, I didn't know why then but I know now something really special was waiting for me in this city, with a lot of learning along the way. And, as someone really wise said “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”.
Lucía González Alonso :)