Rough Homestay but Great Academics; Love Madrid Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I felt that the courses offered by the program were both interesting, and truly helped me to adjust to my life in Spain.

On-site administration of your program

The in-country administration were absolutely wonderful. They were always available for any questions and concerns, as well as just to recommend fun things to do. All of the professors were equally wonderful. My expectations were absolutely met. The only issue I had is that the computer resources of the in-country institution were extremely lacking. Unlike the other U.S. Universities that shared the building, our program was the only one that did not have a computer lab for its students. Also, the building was not entirely wireless so bringing our own laptops to use was not always entirely possible or helpful. However, this is through no fault of the administration.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in the Ventas area of Madrid on Calle Bocangel. <br /><br /> The location of my housing was not a problem (although it would have been nice to be a bit closer to the center of town) and I felt that it was extremely safe. It truly had a neighborhood feel being that it was a bit farther away from the center of town, which was nice, but I was not particularly close to my classes and certainly not close to the areas of nightlife. I felt that my host mom treated me and the other students I lived with as somewhere in between guests and clients. None of us ever felt totally comfortable.

My housemates and I were extremely disappointed with the food. We felt that we were often served the cheapest foods possible and we were not often exposed to traditional Spanish foods. The meals were unbalanced and unhealthy (for example, it would not be uncommon to have spaghetti for three meals in a row). Additionally, one of the students living there was a vegetarian and our host mom did not approve of that lifestyle and often took shortcuts in preparing his food (such as serving him dishes that were made with beef or chicken stock).

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I loved the quality of life in my host country and plan on returning after I graduate. I traveled through many different regions of Spain, all of which were quite memorable, but I truly love Madrid the most and want very much to go back.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I feel that Madrid is overall a very safe city, although like anywhere else one must use common sense and always be aware of his or her surroundings. I did need to go to the doctor a few times, and my program made the appointments for me and was very useful in that regard. The city's healthcare system was wonderful. When I needed antibiotics, they were very easily attained and much less expensive than in the U.S.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I practiced the language with my host mom, as well as with Spaniards that I became friends with. However, the most helpful thing was simply hearing the language constantly and picking up on what I heard native speakers say. I did need to use the language in everyday interactions. Many people spoke English, although it was often at a fairly basic level and my Spanish was better than their English.

Select all that apply

• Apartment

Select all that apply

• Americans

Select all that apply

• Americans