My Semester in Madrid: A City of Parks and Sunsets Past Review
By A student (Rhodes College) - abroad from 09/01/2019 to 12/20/2019 with
AIFS: Madrid - Universidad Nebrija
The language barrier helped me to think differently and really understand how important it is to learn other languages and visit other cultures. I understood just how privileged I am for having grown up in a country where everyone is expected to speak English. It also made me want to continue practicing and learning Spanish, as well as other languages, because it truly changes your experience when traveling or living abroad if you can actually communicate with the locals. My abroad experience also taught me that eating alone, studying alone, and exploring alone is actually really fun, and my confidence in myself as a city-navigator and an adult grew immensely during my time in this program.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Madrid is a busy and bustling global city. That being said, belonging to the local culture is a little different because Madrid invites so many cultures. Integration in Madrid was fun and taught me that I can live in a global city on my own. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got sick twice during my program (both sinus infections). AIFS provides a healthcare plan so I didn't have to pay for any of my doctors visits. I only paid for the over the counter medicine I was prescribed. There are many English speaking doctors and clinics in the city and "pharmacia's" on practically every corner. |
| * Safety: |
Madrid is extremely clean and safe. The metro is well organized and secured. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I feel like one of the biggest strengths about my program was that we were in the heart of a major European city, which meant that you could opt-in and out of whatever AIFS excursions or activities that you wanted, and still had the option to go out and explore on your own as well. There is ALWAYS something to do in Madrid. Similarly, I liked how my program was immersed into a Spanish University that had not only other students in study abroad programs similar to AIFS, but also other international students who chose Madrid as their study location. I chose to live in an apartment over a homestay and I wouldn’t change my decision because I got to live with not only other AIFS students but also a girl from Norway and a girl from Italy which was great. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Madrid grocery stores are very cheap. I lived in an apartment and cooked breakfast and lunch for myself most days. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | No more than 70 euros. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you are living in an apartment with other students, coordinate group meals! It's a fun bonding experience and you all save money. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 102 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Talk to your friends in the language, talk to locals in the language, and change your phone to that language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish that I had traveled on my own a litte bit less and enjoyed Madrid on the weekends more. I was unaware that there would be many other Abroad Programs taking classes at Universidad Nebrija and I was pleasantly surprised that I made so many more friends than just those in my program. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
