I love Madrid. Past Review
By Janette C (English and Studio Art, Tufts University) for
Hamilton College: Madrid - Academic Year in Spain
Yes I am very satisfied with my study abroad experience. I loved Madrid so much that I decided to stay four more months, get a job and move into an apartment with spaniards I have never met. The culture is very relaxing and chill. it's definitely a place to have lot and lots of fun - you drink a coffee and chat with friends for hours or get drinks and talk for hours and then go out and clap and dance and yell with the spaniards. You have to go out at night because that's where all the fun is. Things go on till 7am and even past that. Spaniards love to talk and they especially love to talk to people who aren't spanish! I learned not to be awkward and to just throw myself into situations and be friendly and talk to everyone. It is very easy to meet people in Madrid. And there are so many beautiful places too. You could just walk around for hours! I learned how to be more comfortable by myself. My spanish improved immensely - I came back completely confident in started a conversation in Spanish with anyone.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes I took were really easy except for la conciencia social en Espana. The language classes were less intense than those i have taken at Tufts. Also we couldn't take all the classes we wanted, which I thought (in a 50 person program) was ridiculous. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There weren't enough program trips. The way in which the program works creates a very insular environment - it was just a house with a bunch of American students speaking bad spanish together. Unless you take the class with the internship you will not really interact with local spanish people in a challenging setting. We were also required to have all 3 meals with our host family, which was very limiting. (Even though I got along really well with my host mom) There were no intercambios with the Spanish students and the academic schedule made it very difficult to take classes at complutense. ( our semester finished a month before complutense's and the program told us to buy our flights the day after the progrma ended. Christine (one of the program directors) was an absolute GEM. Best director of the bunch - truly cared about each and every one of her students. I still keep in touch with her. This program was alright but not great; Christine was amazing; Madrid was amazing - but the classes and structure of the program didn't work that well. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Nice neighborhood, good food. Just a Host mom though - I would have liked to have some host siblings as well. |
| * Food: |
Good quality food usually. Sometimes strange things ie fried hot dogs for dinner... Also...excessive quantities of food. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Not enough program trips. We stayed at super fancy hotels (not worth it) and rushed through cities, and spent way too much time on the bus. We needed more day trips as well to outlying cities. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Christine was there and extremely helpful and caring. We had free medicare. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | We had all our meals at home. Going out for drinks isn't too expensive but restaurant food is very expensive. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Travelling is very very expensive! Flights are pretty cheap but watch out for the food costs, hostel costs, etc. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 21 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I learned most of my spanish outside of the school center. The spanish-only rule only worked for 2 weeks until it was just a bunch of Americans speaking bad spanish together. I improved a little speaking with my host mom but I improved the most when I decided to stay in Madrid for 4 more months and move in with Spaniards. Staying there for the extra time without the program (and the group of Americans) improved my spanish immensely. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you want a lot of close attention and be in a cozy american bubble, go for it - if not, this program could work for you as long as you take the initiative and throw yourself into spaniard-filled situations and meet people. |
