February : discovery of Valencia
When I arrived in Valence, I discovered « summer in winter ». From Normandy to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the temperature shock was very pleasant. I hadn’t seen so much sunshine in a long time. I immediately liked the city, its colors and its much more relaxed atmosphere than in my home country and in Germany, where I lived for two years. After a few weeks here, I’m really starting to feel at home in Valencia. It’s amazing how special this city is. It’s great that the people are so friendly and that there’s always something to do. Being so close to the sea is also very important to me because, coming from Normandy, I love swimming even in cold weather!
Since I’m going to do a volunteering in the museums of the city of Valencia, I started by visiting the Fine Arts Museum, and I was very pleasantly surprised! It’s a free museum with a wide variety of works (paintings, sculptures, art objects etc.) and a very interesting choice of display and presentation. It offers a chronological visit through the evolution of art in Valence and the region. I particularly enjoyed the 19th century sculptures room, with many works by Mariano Benlliure, as well as discovering the paintings of Joàquin Sorolla, a famous local painter… In short, a great visit! Afterwards, I had the opportunity to visit the Historical Museum of the city of Valencia, the Casa Benlliure, the Rice Museum and the Natural Science Museum, where my volunteer work will take place.
Walking through the streets of Valencia, I quickly became immersed in the Spanish way of life. Mealtimes are different from what I’m used to, with Spaniards having lunch and dinner later than my usual noon and 6.30pm. What I like best: tapas and bocadillos! I’ve also already had the pleasure of tasting tinto de verano and agua de Valencia on a sunny terrace, an experience normally unthinkable for me in February. I can’t wait to discover even more specialities, especially paella valenciana and horchata with fartones.
My most recent experience was a visit to the hairdresser, which was fun, if a little confusing. The language barrier made communication difficult, but the hairdresser was very accommodating. That said, fortunately one of my Spanish-speaking flatmates came along to help me. In the end, I came out with a haircut I liked and a smile on my face. But it also confirmed to me that I need to improve my Spanish quickly.
After these first few days of discovery, I’m getting more and more impatient to start my volunteering at the museum. I can’t wait to go behind the scenes, meet all the museum staff and get involved in the projects. I’m sure it’s going to be a really rewarding experience. I’m also looking forward to attending the Fallas, although I’m very apprehensive about the noise and crowds. It sounds like a unique experience, so I don’t want to miss it. In the meantime, I’m continuing to explore the city, enjoy the sunshine and savour every moment of my stay in Valencia. I’ll definitely have a hard time leaving this place!
