UPDATE - Finally :-)

Hola!

I must admit that I have been really bad with updating my blog *shame on me*.
Since I am here, I have been so busy cause there is always something to do. Of course, the last week I did a lot of sight- seeing, most of the time together with two girls named Anne- Marie (Ami) and Ruth. Both are from Germany and also staying in Valencia as ERASMUS students. Ami studies architecture and just lives across the street - my room- mate Iván is her mentor and that's how we met. Ruth also lives around here, but studies medicine at the Universidad of Valencia.

• The city of Valencia: I love this city!! There is so many things to see! Wonderful places like Place de Ayuntamiento with its famous post office and town hall and of course "Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias" - you can check out the pics!! We have already been several times to the beach and I am slowly starting to get tanned :-) *yeah*. Of course, I should not forget all the great possibilities for shopping! There are two mall we have been to: El Saler and Nuevo Centro. Especially one store has attracted our attention, it is called "Bershka" and it is well- known in Spain and Portugal! Now, I am planning to visit a "Corrida" (Stierkampf) and a soccer match of Valencia CF!I am trying to get a ticket for the Championsleague match against Schalke - that would be so great!!:-P
  
• Apartment: I can be really happy with our apartment. My room-mate Iván is really nice and I was accepted immediately. On Thursday, Laura from Spain will be joining us. My room is pretty small, but it is okay... I can live with that ... I don't plan to spend my whole time in here anyways :-) The only thing which I don't like is that most of the aparment including kitchen and bathroom is a little bit dirty - especially the floor - I cleaned it several times but a few hours later everything is dirty again. Spanish people really do not have an affection for tidiness :-) But okay: as long as my room is allright and I feel comfortable, that's fine ... A really big advantage of our flat is the geographical position. All the bars and clubs where most of the ERASMUS people hang out are in spitting range, so I don't have to bother myself with trying to find a taxi or even get home earlier (the Metro closes at 22 or 22.30 pm). Also, a supermarket is just across the street and the Metro station is not that far either.
  
• Spanish way of life: Well, I still need time to get used to the "slightly" different way of life here:-) It is normal that dinner takes place between 10 and 11 pm which is really awkward for me cause I normally don't eat that late. Moreover, nobody goes out before midnight and between 3 and 4 am the clubs are totally crowded.
  
• University: Last week on Monday Katha and I went to our University (UPV = Universidad Politécnica de Valencia) where we met Katha's mentor María who was supposed to help us with the enrollment procedure. It was really hard to pick all the classes and make a schedule out of it. Normally, classes are taught in Castellano or Valenciano and sometimes also offered in English. You have to attend two parts for one class - a theoretical part and a more practical part. I am not sure but I would consider the so- called "Práctica" as a tutorial. I picked 5 classes but until September 30th I won't know if I can really attend all of them. Until now my classes are: Dirección Estratégica y Política de Empresa which will be in English, Dirección Financiera, Economía Espanola y Mundial, Economía de la Empresa 2, Emprendedores y Creación de Empresas - on Thursday, September 20, classes are about to start and I am excited to see if I will understand at least something :-)
• Sports: Can't do without! UPV offers a wide range of sports activities for everybody - for free!! I am planning to sign up for a fitness class and maybe a class which improves your condition. Moreover, I am already in contact with someone who is responsible for volleyball. The university has two teams - one is competing on a national level, the other one against other universities in the greater Valencian area. Tomorrow the "national team" is going to practice, maybe I will stop by ... cause at the moment I am still waiting for my package from Germany with my sports shoes:-)