Going solo mode by ESR14 David Sotillo Núñez

It has been already 6 months since I arrived to the lively, ancient and history filled city of Urbino. This is not only my first time leaving my country behind, but it is also my first time living by myself, so jumping into this project has definitely proved to be a real challenge.

A time comes for all of us to become an independent adult and deal with all kinds of new (and sometimes scary, of course) issues and situations. And if that you add the fact that your known environment, people and even language change it can become a challenging situation to be in.

The biggest tip I can give to anyone is don’t be afraid to ask. And I mean in any situation you may find yourself in. Especially if you are a new to a city, of course you are not expected to know where things are or how anything works there. Being an introverted person myself, I usually struggled trying to approach people and asking the most basic stuff. However, something I learned is that people want to help. Even if you don’t share a common language, there is always a way to communicate and let them know what you need.
This tip basically applies to most of the situations you can get yourself into:

• Looking for a place to live in? Sure, internet is always a way to go, but you are already there. Why not look around and ask the locals? Why not check agencies by yourself? This is also a great way to start knowing your way around the place you are about to start living into.
• You want to know where to buy groceries or the best places to eat at your new home? Ask the locals, your roommate(s), your colleagues. You never know who will lead you to your go-to place for Friday night dinner.
• “Oh no, I have no clue on how to get from my place to another!” Public transport and the way it works is usually very different depending on the city (and, of course, on the country). But who will know more about it that people that use daily? Don’t be afraid to ask when the bus is coming, where do you need to jump in, or if that bus actually takes you where you want to go. For the record: I even had to ask how to validate a ticket when I already was inside the bus.

Once you overcome the, let’s say, external issues, you are only left to deal with yourself and your (in)ability to keep you alive. If you can manage your time and your housekeeping tasks, you are guaranteed to succeed in your solo quest to survive.

When moving from Barcelona (1.6 Mil Population) to Urbino (14.4 k Population) I already expected a big change, not only in the city itself but also in the daily life. And that is exactly what I got.

I now live in a quiet and beautiful walled city, surrounded by a landscape I never imagined.

Urbino from the city wall