Everyone comes to Valencia with different goals and expectations in mind. To get the most out of my experience in Spain, I made it my mission to immerse myself into Valencia, a rich city full of history and friendly people. I decided that I was not going to speak English, nor spend time exclusively with my American colleges. I never left Spain once in the five months that I was there, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
There is no right way to branch out in a new city. For some it's through clubs, cooking classes, or signing up for sports. This depends entirely on your comfort level and is something that you should reflect upon before arriving.
Although this may seem daunting to some, my advice is to skip the group activities and head right into the city yourself. I went to a cafe my first Saturday night in Valencia and met the group of friends I spent the rest of the semester with. I wholeheartedly believe this is the most effective and natural way to meet people, since it is what locals of the city do themselves and isn't forced. This early into the semester, my Spanish was broken and intermediate at best. However, you'll find that the majority of people in Spain are willing to talk to you if you make the conscious effort.
You will be amazed by how much your Spanish speaking skills will improve if you spend your time almost exclusively with natives. All it takes is a friendly smile, a positive attitude, and a willingness to talk and get to know people. If this sounds like something you are capable of, I promise you that you will get so much more out of your time in Valencia, and hopefully, make lasting friends like I did. You will also grow as a person. Reflecting back on how I was at the start of the program, I am much more willing and confident to talk to new people.
I highly recommend going on the group trips with UVa, but these were some of the only times I spent with Americans. On thing that I wish I had done before going, is set out a guide of expectations for myself to better make use of my time.
Sam, Spring 2017: I went in to Valencia with a few simple goals in mind. For one, I knew that I wanted to challenge myself in a way that I haven't been able to before in my travels, and that was to integrate myself into a foreign city, meaning learning the language, customs, and meeting the people of Valencia. To achieve this goal, I did not travel outside of Spain. I rationalized that I would have the rest of my life to see and explore Europe, but living in a thriving Spanish city was a once in a life time opportunity. For that reason, I spent nearly every weekend in Valencia. That meant going out on my own to explore the city and meet the people of this beautiful metropolis.
I met someone my second weekend in Valencia, and that forever changed the course of stay. I was able to see the city through the eyes of a real Valenciano, having dinner in his friend's apartments, going out with a group of Spaniards, and traveling the Spanish countryside. The majority of my classmates chose to travel around Europe, and I remember being incredibly jealous at times when I heard their stories about seeing new and exciting cities. However, I cultivated something lasting; a relationship that wasn't just a fleeting moment in a new city, but rather something that I will hold dear for the rest of my life. It's also worth mentioning that I will forever have a place to stay in Valencia when the moment comes that I do return to this truly special city.
If I were to give one piece of advice to newly arriving students of the UVa in Valencia program, it would be to stay in this city as much as you can. Meet the charismatic, enchanting people of the city, because they will change your life in ways that traveling to a new city for the weekend simply cannot.