A few months before starting at Durham, with the prospect of four years of Physics looming slightly dauntingly on the horizon, I decided I wanted to try something completely different before heading up North. Europe was cheap, and a language course seemed like a good way to meet people. I ended up choosing Spanish and flew off to Valencia with no idea what to expect.

I instantly fell in love with the place. The warmth of the people, chilled-out atmosphere and perpetual blue skies got into my head and refused to budge. After four weeks in the sun I had to come home but I kept thinking about how great it would be to actually live in Spain.

Fast-forward two years and, having bored my friends and family half to death going on about Spanish, and after months of badgering the Physics department to let me do Erasmus there, here I am…