An amazing summer in Madrid! July 16, 2023
By Rani B (Spanish and Politics, Brandeis University) - abroad from 05/17/2023 to 07/09/2023 with
Boston University: Madrid - Madrid Internship
I gained many friends at BU and also learned so much about Spanish culture and the Spanish workplace. My Spanish improved so much I am very proficient, and I will never forget all of the places I traveled in Spain (9 different cities other than Madrid!).
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. |
I think that my internship and my Contemporary Politics Class were the perfect balance of being challenging and at a similar pace to my classes at Brandeis. My coworkers at my internship understood English but we primarily spoke Spanish, and my Politics class was fully taught in Spanish. This really helped me to improve my Spanish in a welcoming manner. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The BU Madrid Office was almost always available and gave great advice and a comprehensive orientation and crucial information. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a host family, and they will place you with the best fit, and I think my host family was the best fit for me, they were so lovely and gracious, accommodated my vegetarian needs, and my family did not speak English so it was truly an immersive experience that allowed me to improve my Spanish. |
| * Food: |
I am vegetarian (do not eat meat or fish), and my host family was great in feeding me full, nutritious meals. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
After getting accustomed to everything, I acclimated quickly to the local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My program had all of our health information very well coordinated as there was a doctor that we were all regularly referred to, and medicine was easily obtainable. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Madrid, even very late at night, and I rarely ever feared for my safety. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved the structure of my program, I had my internship and class Monday-Thursday, with my internship during the day and my class in the evening. Then with my 3 day weekends, I could travel to nearby Spanish cities and enjoy time there with friends. It allowed me a ton of freedom and independence and enough structure to feel fulfilled and like I was doing something meaningful to advance my career and education. My program also gave cultural reimbursements! So I could do a bunch of touristy things and get money back for those tickets, varying on the price. |
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) |
I was able to live on a student's budget pretty easily in Madrid, it certainly took some budgeting and I think I went over because I wanted to splurge, but things in Spain are pretty cheap. I still recommend saving up so that you can enjoy lots of things and splurge a bit too :) |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Unsure |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Find other students!! Any student anywhere is looking to save and there will be student discounts anywhere you travel. |
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 |
My program encouraged me to use Spanish, but I could also switch to English when I needed it. However, most people in Spain do not speak much English, so Spanish is essential. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 106 level Spanish Course at Brandeis |
| 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? | Listen to some Spanish songs and try to learn the lyrics to practice your accent! And get as much repetition as you can |
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? | Be strategic with your weekend trips - you only have so much time! I recommend making a bucket list, that helped me to organize myself. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
