Getting to Know the Locals in Valencia

By Parker Gordon

Valencia is an extremely authentic city, which separates itself from the metropolises of Madrid and Barcelona. Flocks of tourists are nonexistent which are common sightings in the Catalonian capital as well as Madrid. Meeting locals is something I wanted to experience on a personal basis.  Everyone who engages in the FSU-Valencia program has his or her own passions and desires that brought them there in the first place. Some students choose to solely study within the FSU study center and partake in the nightlife Valencia offers. I, on the other hand had a thirst to absorb the language and the native Valencian’s values that separate them from us Americans.

If you are extremely passionate about the Spanish language and have the desire to really sense what a Valencian thinks, please take advantage of the Intercambio sessions that usually occur nightly at the beginning of the week. Intercambios are when you meet native Valencians or Spaniards in a real-life social setting to help improve each other’s language skills. These sessions provide a relaxed and comforting environment to meet locals on a first name basis while speaking a foreign language. Everyone present at these sessions is extremely open to meeting new people as well as critiquing your language skills in a respectful manner. Each day, I would apply something I learned in class into the real-life conversations that are provided in an intercambio session. In addition, if something puzzles you regarding Spanish, feel free to try and clear up any confusion you are having with a native Spanish speaker. These were truly the most rewarding part of my weeks in Valencia and were the best way to truly interact with the locals.

Meeting locals does require knowing some Spanish to help converse and navigate your way around the city. The best word to describe meeting locals is certainly, “proactive”. Besides intercambio sessions, you can head to the local soccer pitch or basketball courts and really experience the adolescent flavor of what Valencians are truly like. The intercambio session offers a mostly older crowd who are looking to improve their English speaking skills, while engaging in athletic activities shows what the younger people are like. In addition, the beach is always a tremendous hotspot to interact with the locals. Volleyball and soccer games are the norm when strolling up and down the Mediterranean coast in Valencia. Aside from the beach and the athletics aspect, cafes offer a vibrant atmosphere for some flowing conversation over a café con leche.


Please be proactive regarding your experiences in Valencia. Time flies and you really want to make the most of it. No one should ever feel unsafe or unwelcomed by the natives of Valencia or Spain in general. This is a truly amazing country with so much to offer and the FSU-Valencia program is among the best in the country!