3rd week - uni, carnival, money lost

I'm still feeling very good here - unlike Vienna, this city is much more cozy and I don't feel the 2057 km as a big deal yet. Of course, it's not that hard since I didn't really have to study and there's a great program every day.

University

I managed to get all the courses I wanted at the university, and even have some choices. However, most people panicked a lot because they were afraid they wouldn't reach the minimum acceptable credit score or they have to take the exam in Valencian without knowing Spanish (here there are 3 languages: Spanish, Catalan, Valencian).

The changing session worked on a first come, first serve basis, meaning those who desperately needed it waited at the automated number dispenser from 6 in the morning. Then finally at 9, two teachers showed up and distributed time slots for any day of the week. Of course, those at the end of the line were luckier..
Since then we have attended a non-existent event, a delayed event starting several hours later, missed a Spanish dance class and another random missed university class.. But you can get used to the Spanish laid-back system

My Courses:
1. Finance: so far in two weeks they haven't said much new that I haven't learned at WU, I hope it stays that way :D

2. HR: takes this subject very seriously, we have to prepare for a bigger assignment/presentation every week. Fortunately, it's in English.

3. Geopolitics & Globalization: I will use it as an economic Spanish course. Quite interesting, but it has been explaining the same basic supply-demand relationship for a week and in the practical part we had to copy the data from an Excel table for 2.5 hours...

4. Cross Cultural Management: also in Spanish. Similar topics/theories came up that I have already studied before. In one lesson we listed for 2 hours who has traveled where.. there was a bit of contrast between Austrians and Spaniards.. (though I often hear Austrians saying 'I haven't traveled much, just Europe..')

5. European Union: economic policy in English, quite interesting. (I only have to do 4 subjects)

This week the Austrians and I signed up for a salsa course, but unfortunately it was a bit boring as we practiced the same basic step all the time and the atmosphere was not as relaxed and cheerful as I imagined. Besides that, I visited a Flamenco class (traditional Spanish folk dance) which I liked better :). But I don't think I want to go alone and buy expensive special shoes, mostly older Spanish women were there. With my French roommate, instead of the canceled Burlesque class we tried Funky (hip-hop style), it was also good.

By the way, I mostly bike if I want to go anywhere (similar to the Bubi system in Budapest), because it's much cheaper than public transportation.

I talked on the phone with the foreign trade department of the Budapest Austrian embassy and I can do an internship with them during the summer (for free), I'm glad it worked out. :)

At the beginning of the week, the roommates and I, along with 2 former roommates, went to a nearby Spa, it was wonderful, I rarely experience so much warmth around here. There were a few small jacuzzis and saunas. Then we had dinner at the Chinese place (where I had no choice but to pay for the all you can eat if I wanted to drink with the others), which was also exciting, I've never eaten Chinese food like this before. It tasted really good, I ate until I was bloated

We prepared a little cake and surprise for Julia, one of the Austrian girls from WU, for her birthday, but she was even more surprised when she came home and saw her mother, sister, and girlfriend at the door. In the evening they invited us and we had a great time celebrating in a very cool apartment they rented. It was a success, I'm glad we became so good friends with the people from WU.

We wanted to go to a 'sprachcafé', where we could practice speaking Spanish, but in the end, it was just us at the place, but I still had a great time. Then we went dancing. (5 students from WU, my French and Italian roommates, an Italian ex-roommate, and 3 Italian girls) - I mainly hang out with this group.

I expected a calm day on Friday, and in the evening we planned to go to Mya nightclub (which we couldn't do last week because I was sick). I went shopping with the Italian guy at the neighboring store (because the others were going to drink at our place) and when I was about to pay, I realized I didn't have my money with me. Daniele paid for my share too and I quickly went back to check, maybe I just left it in the apartment, but no. Unfortunately, I had to realize that it won't be here anymore, either I lost it (maybe I didn't zip my backpack properly and it fell out, or when I put it from the backpack into my jeans jacket, it fell out) or it got stolen (but I don't remember anyone coming so close). It had my IDs, bank card, EU card, apartment and room keys, and about 60 euros. I got quite scared, I had to realize that no matter how much I search the store/street/trash, it won't be found :( I informed the store's security guy to call me if they find it and let me see the cameras. I blocked my bank card, walked (in sweatpants and a thin jacket in the cold) to the police who spoke Valencian and I could barely understand why they couldn't do anything with me. Eventually, they gave me the number of the Hungarian consulate in Valencia who said they are obliged to call an interpreter so that I can fill out the theft report. Finally, I went to the national police (not the local police), and after 1.5 hours of waiting, it worked out. Then when I got home around 2 in the morning, I realized that all my roommates went out partying, no one can let me in, and my phone is about to run out of battery.. :/ (they misunderstood, they thought I can make a spare key now and that's why they left). In the end, the Italian came back, let me in, and went back to partying. Thank God, after another hour of waiting, I got into the (cold without heating) apartment. I'm glad I have such cool roommates :) The next morning I got a spare key and finally got into my room (where I still had cash, my driver's license, another bank card, so I could have been in a much worse situation).

On the weekend, we went to the neighboring city (2 hours by bus) to see the local Carnival in Vinarós. It was interesting how we froze in our two coats and they danced in just one costume. Everyone, from children to old people put everything out.. We had a great time, the carnival had a good vibe, with loud music and the 1-liter sangria we received from the Erasmus organization. Our bus went back at 3:30 in the morning, which was quite late, everyone was sleepy and cold. More pictures are up! ;)