I cannot believe how quickly my Year Abroad has gone. This time last year, I was preparing for my big move abroad, and now I can say I’ve lived and worked in Bordeaux and Alicante. I study French and Hispanic studies, so I split my compulsory year abroad between France and Spain. At first, splitting the year abroad was daunting because it meant two visas for two different moves and placements, but looking back now, it was one of the best things I’ve done!
I have always commuted to Liverpool, so I knew that this year was going to be the biggest jump yet. Yes, there have been so many ups and downs, but wow, I'm glad I was able to have this experience. From those initial Year Abroad meetings, I’ve always wanted to teach abroad. Studying was never an option for me, as I was so set on working. The job search can be overwhelming, but luckily for me, I was able to use University connections to find my placements. For France, I applied to a company called Language Connexion France for their English Language Teaching Assistant placement, and within a month of applying, I had my placement in my top choice city, Bordeaux. Then for Spain, I used the University’s potential Year Abroad jobs list, and I was fortunate to obtain a placement as a teaching assistant in an international school in Alicante.
Those first few days in Bordeaux, I was a bag of nerves, but once I had settled into my accommodation and found my feet at work, I grew to love it, and I really do miss it. The school I worked at was amazing, and I loved my job. In terms of Bordeaux, I absolutely adored the city and truly felt at home. Not only did my confidence, independence and teaching skills grow in Bordeaux, but my French language skills also developed, and by the end of my placement, I could confidently hold a French conversation without doubting myself.
I did feel slightly better prepared for my placement in Alicante because I had a slight idea of what to expect. Once again, I have so many amazing memories from working in Alicante, but one of the best parts about living in Alicante was living by the beach, as spending endless weekends in the sun at the beach was ideal. The city is full of history, and I was fortunate to be able to experience many of the celebrations and traditions which are special to the city, and this is unforgettable! I also gained so much valuable experience at work, as it was such an incredible school that I certainly feel a lot more prepared for my next steps after university. Of course, initially it was nerve-wracking to speak Spanish again after 4 months of focusing on my French, but it didn’t take too long to settle back in, and now I do feel even more confident in Spanish.
I truly had a positive year abroad experience, and I am so grateful for all the opportunities I had as well as for the amazing people I met. My biggest tip is, prepare and plan, but also sometimes just go with the flow. There will be tough times, but usually the good outweighs the bad, and I learnt that if I threw myself into these situations and tried my best, I ended up loving it!