First year at university away from home: 5 tips to help you deal with the change without stress

The academic year is now in full swing and life at Olarain is getting into its stride. In our corridors, students from engineering, Musikene, architecture, psychology and the Basque Culinary Centre meet high-performance athletes. It’s a real treat to hear impromptu mini-concerts on the piano in the hall and the shared laughter during after-dinner chats in the dining room.

Moving to Donostia / San Sebastián to start university is an exciting adventure, but it’s perfectly normal to feel a bit overwhelmed or uncertain during the first few weeks. Facing academic pressure far from your usual surroundings requires a period of emotional and personal adjustment..

To ensure this transition goes smoothly and you can enjoy yourself right from the start, we’ve gathered 5 practical tips to help you settle in with less stress:

1. Accept the settling-in period (and give yourself time)

It’s natural to feel homesick or overwhelmed during the first few weeks as you adjust to new routines and responsibilities. Don’t put pressure on yourself to have everything under control from day one. At Olarain, we understand that everyone’s pace is different, and that settling in successfully starts with listening, empathy and close support. We’re here for whatever you need.

2. Don’t stay in your shell: make the most of the communal areas for studying, exercising and socialising

Your single exterior room with its own bathroom is your sacred intimate space, but community life is built outside it. The communal areas are designed precisely to help you settle in and meet people from the very first week:

• For studying: You can concentrate in the quiet of the Toti Martínez de Lezea library or work in teams in the study rooms.
• For sport and unwinding: You have access to the gym, the sauna, the padel and tennis courts, or the tranquillity of the Japanese garden to relieve accumulated stress.
• For socialising: Conversation after meals in the dining room and the lounge and TV room are the meeting points where the great friendships of the academic year are forged. We also organise themed dinners almost every month, inspired by different places: the USA, Germany, Italy, India… And, of course, the Christmas dinner, which usually provides some memorable moments.

Extra tip: Don’t forget to sign up for the tournaments we organise at Olarain, such as mus, chess, football 7 or table tennis.

3. Look after your mental health and let us support you

Getting through your first year means striking a balance between academic performance and emotional wellbeing. Through the Olarain Care programme, you have the support of our psychologist on hand to guide you, mediate in communal living and offer personalised support to both you and your family.

In addition, we have our own staff on duty 24 hours a day to ensure constant care and respect in daily community life.

And be sure to take part in the talks we organise at Olarain, such as the one we enjoyed at the start of the academic year, led by Javier González Castellano, which taught us a great deal about how to lead our lives based on our strengths, passion and emotional intelligence.

4. Connect with your new environment. Go out and know it

Being in the heart of the Ibaeta campus puts you just a stone’s throw from your classes at the UPV, Tecnun or Musikene, and a short stroll from Ondarreta beach. Make the most of the network of cycle paths, head out for some outdoor exercise or use our own transport service to the Basque Culinary Centre and the University of Deusto, to get around the city comfortably and enjoy university life.

5. Enjoy Donostia in autumn

Autumn in Donostia, with its pleasant weather and plenty of things to do, invites you to get out and enjoy the atmosphere and start feeling part of the city.

• Take a stroll around the city: Donostia has parks where you can enjoy the colours of autumn. Visit the gardens of Miramar Palace, very close to Olarain, or enjoy the parks at Cristina Enea, Aiete Palace or Ametzagaina.
• Cycle route: Make the most of the city’s compact size by cycling along the bidegorri (cycle lane) to the Paseo de la Zurriola, the River Urumea, La Concha, the Paseo Nuevo… 
• Mount Igeldo and the funicular: You can walk to the century-old funicular and take it up to the vintage amusement park on Mount Igeldo. Did you know that the rollercoaster there is called the ‘Swiss Mountain’?
• Culture and seasonal events: Donostia offers a wide range of cultural activities throughout the year in its theatres, cinemas and cultural centres. Check out the autumn programme at the beautiful Victoria Eugenia Theatre or the Kursaal. You can also visit the Euskadiko Orkestra’s Miramón venue to enjoy one of its matinee performances. And don’t miss the Donostia Horror Film Week at the Teatro Principal in the Old Town, followed by a pintxos dinner after the screenings.
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  And if you’re looking for art…you must visit museums such as San Telmo, Chillida Leku or Tabakalera, or simply head out to enjoy art in the open air and admire works such as Néstor Basterretxea’s ‘Paloma de la Paz’, Jorge Oteiza’s ‘Construcción Vacía’ and Eduardo Chillida’s ‘Peine del Viento’.

At Olarain, we’re here to support you

For over 25 years, we’ve been a home away from home for university students, helping them to grow with the warmth and friendliness that define our residence. You can count on our team for whatever you need!