Past Review
By Sonya B (English Writing, Drake University) for
Universidad Antonio de Nebrija: Madrid - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Of course my experience was worth while. I learned about myself and learned a new way to interact with the world around me. I have changed but not drastically. I was aware of other cultures but now I have been immersed in one. My future plans have not changed a lot but I am more confident about doing uncomfortable things. I am also much more comfortable with being alone. I have learned about language, not just how to speak another tongue (almost) but also how much personality is based in your speech. Spanish people are much more brusque and much more brash. They will tell you if you have gotten chubbier or if you need to fix your hair. How refreshing. Europeans, as a whole, are much more honest people. The Spanish language does not have words used to talk around things. If they want something they tell you. If you order something and the restaurant is out they aren't sorry, they just say 'no we don't have that'. Eating alone is weird here, so bring a book if you do that. They don't separate checks so keep little change. Be careful who you lend money to. Learn how to demand things, it's normal here.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The grading system was strange to me because it was very easy to pass classes but it was horribly difficult to get above an 8.5. I felt like the teachers didn't understand how important it was for me to get "A's" for my GPA at Drake because many of the Spanish students were fine with just passing their classes. The teachers rarely gave out 9's which I understand you have to work hard for but I feel that I did work that deserved higher grades than I received. I think it would help to adjust the grading scale for transferring grades because I did work that would have awarded me A's at Drake but 7.5s and 8s in Madrid. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It took me almost a month to figure out my class schedule and the administration at the Berzosa campus was very unhelpful. They were very reluctant to let me sign up for the classes I wanted to take and were very slow at arranging things. The 'ability to get things done' was disappointing at times but then sometimes they surprised me and were very helpful. Signing up for classes was the most stressful experience of my study abroad experience. Often the administration did not have simple answers to my questions, for example "when does school end" and "when is my final". They seemed to not care (sometimes) or not have time to answer my questions. Often I had to ask many times to get anything done. I understand this is a bit of culture clashing for things are much more laid back in Spain but I think that at a University some things should be run more smoothly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a homestay for my first month and it was a great experience. However, it was very very expensive and I moved out after a month to share an apartment with other girls. I lived with 3 Americans (one I knew from my home), one Mexican girl, one Brazilian and one Columbian. My apartment was on Calle Alberto Aguilera and I found it through my friend from a different program. My address was 3 Glorieta Ruiz Jimenez. I would recommend it for students who don't mind living in a slightly dirty and slightly old apartment. It was fine for my 4 months but I would never ever live there for longer. <br /><br /> My location was fabulous, I lived at 15 minute walk from the city center. I had to buy some bed things but all kitchen appliances were provided. My host 'mom', or grandmother, was lovely and it was a fabulous experience. |
| * Food: |
If you know where to eat the food in Madrid is fabulous. However if you are not a fan of olive oil you won't enjoy it. If you like spicy food with lots of flavor you are out of luck. Eat at Cien Montaditos and get the patatas bravas everywhere. The grocery stores are pretty inexpensive but if you eat out the whole time you will be very broke. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The night life here is completely different and it takes some adjusting to. People do not hang out in the house or just 'sit', they are always doing something. Usually eating or drinking. Go to the cultural things which happen all the time. Pretty much walking anywhere in the street will lead to something cultural. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The city always felt safe to me but I'm sure you could find some dangerous areas. I didn't look for those. I did however hit my face on a wall and faint and got to go to a nice Spanish hospital where they took good care of me. My program did not assist me but I also didn't ask them to. The hospital was very helpful and everything worked out nicely. My program did understand my absence however and I didn't get penalized for missing class for my wounds. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | My hospital trip was unexpected. The transportation passes were around 50 euro/month so you have to remember to budget that in. The clothes and fashion is also different and you will want clothes. Also if you want 'culture' you have to eat out. Water is also expensive if you can't drink out of the tap. Toiletries and 'home goods' are much more expensive here so if you have room pack shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, etc for your whole trip. Girls bring tampons. They are frightfully expensive. I also had nice parents a lot of money so I was a bit spoiled. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced with my homestay 'mom' and with my roommates after I moved out of my homestay. Many of the Spanish students spoke almost flawless English which was very impressive. Intercambios helped a lot, meeting with Spanish students who want to help you speak Spanish and also practice their English. I used the 'host country language' daily at least out in Madrid but I feel like I only got so far. I can have easy conversations but once I start trying to understand Spanish people speaking to each other (not nice and slowly to me) it gets harder for me to understand. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | See above |
