Some time ago I went to University CEU Cardenal Herrera in Valencia. I spoke almost no Spanish and had no idea where Moncada was. Why CEU, you may ask? Well, really, it was a coincidence. Now I can say that it was the most influential decision in my university life. That is to say: it ended up being a very lucky coincidence!
As I studied Journalism at Høgskulen i Volda, Norway, CEU Valencia was a perfect alternative to do my Erasmus+, with all the equipment they have there and all the different subjects. After speaking with different professors and the International Relations Office, I enrolled in Graphic Design and Photography, Visual Communication Techniques, Radio Theory and Technique and, of course, Spanish for Erasmus+ sudents.
Luckily I had good class friends who helped me when I had trouble with homework and with the biggest challenge: the language. Everyday I improved a little more and a little more – it helped a lot seating in the front row in class, because from there I could follow the movements of the professor’s lips (he spoke very quickly). A memory that is always in my head is when my teacher said in class, speaking of the radio: “Vocalization is very important and, in addition, to pronounce the words very clearly. For example, look at Karol – remember that I was sitting in the front row – She would not have understood anything if I had not pronounced the words correctly!” Suddenly the class turned around, I put my hand up and said: “Yes, it’s true, I swear!” And my classmates started laughing. This is a good example of one of the most important things I learned from my Erasmus: when you learn a new language you cannot be ashamed or scared, but you have to have a lot of “self-irony“.
WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE YOU CAN NOT HAVE SHAME, NOT FEAR, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF “SELF-IRONY”
I really loved subjects related to design and I studied them with great enthusiasm. As we do not have Infographic subjects integrated in our Journalism career in Norway, it was very enriching for me to be able to do them in CEU. And as I said at the beginning, my stay at CEU Valencia influenced my career, a lot …
I was doing my internship at VG, which is the most read newspaper in Norway, not as a journalist – but as an infographic designer.
Thanks to my stay in CEU Valencia I detected a new professional activity in Journalism. In this article I have talked a lot about my university experience, but the most important thing that I take away from my stay in Valencia is something that goes deeper.
WHAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO FOLLOW ME IS THE WONDERFUL LANGUAGE THAT I HAVE LEARNED, THE MEMORIES OF SPANISH CULTURE, RELAX DAYS IN THE PARK OF TURIA, TIMES WALKING (AND LOST) in THE STREETS OF THE CITY AND ALL THE FRIENDS THAT WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART
If you’re thinking if it’s worth going on an Erasmus+, I swear that YES. I’m just going to tell you one more thing: Do it, without thinking!
Greetings from Volda, the most beautiful place to go to Norway as an Erasmus+ student.
I hope we see each other!
//: Karoline Buer
Karol mentions in a special way the International Coordinator, Cecilie Wilhelmsen, and she leaves us her e-mail address: [email protected]
She adds: “I do not know if I told you already, but they offered me work for the whole summer in VG !! I am very proud, because I did not apply for this job, because I did not think I had enough experience”.
Good luck, Karol, and a strong hug from University CEU Cardenal Herrera and Valencia, your home!