Hey Kids! I am starting this thread because I want to hear some stories about study abroad and also any tips that you guys can offer! In fact, they don't really have to be study abroad specific. I am preparing to leave in the upcoming weeks and I want to know the type of stuff that you guys forgot, so I don't make the same mistakes!
Please feel free to post more things you think I/we should know! What are some things you guys wish you knew going into such a program, or even just about Madrid in general? Issues of safety? Food? Stuff to bring?
They say "You don't know what you don't know" ...meaning that I don't even know what questions I _should_ be asking, so please feel free to just give some tips about anything! I really appreciate everyone's input! You guys rock! ;-)
Here are just a few more pointers. Don't expect effeciency as you would in the US. When I was in the Middlebury program, we had to hunt our books down ourselves and at first I bitched, moaned and complained, but it did help my Spanish in the end. Getting lost, asking for directions, asking about other bookstores, walking around and getting to know Madrid.
I don't know how your program will be, buI would gear myself to do the majority of my studying at home and not in a library. I'm quite sure that you can use the Complutense library, but ask ahead of time about the hours and whether or not it is conducive to studying.
As far as speaking Spanish is concerned, make an effort to speak it everyday. You will find plenty of opportunities to use it. Even when I did meet Spaniards who spoke English, they didn't want to speak it to me because thay knew that I was in Spain to speak Spanish. Once again, this type of situation will depend on the person with whom you are speaking.
Try Spanish cuisine. Go to tapa bars and see what tickles your fancy. Don't reach for McDonalds, Burger King or KFC at all. STAY AWAY FROM THEM. It's nice to connect with American food every now and then, but don't reach for it always. Spain has great cuisine and the fresh food is really a treat.
If you choose to live in an apartment, food shopping is an adventure in itself. I used to enjoy shopping in LAS VENTAS. my old stompin' grounds, and looking at the fresh produce and getting to the the owners of each individual stand and having brief conversations with them while the prepared my order. A TEAR IS COMING TO MY EYE RIGHT NOW. Memories in the corner of my mind.
Remeber that we can give some insight, but only you can prevent forest fires. No, just kidding.
You will have experiences that will be totally different from everyone elses. Make the effort and the rewards of your study abroad will be great.
Buen viaje y que goces de todo lo que Madrid tiene que ofrecerte.
Shawn
"Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down" - SONG OF SOLOMON, Toni Morrison
Posts: 1255 | Location: Richmond, VA but in MADRID now | Registered: 10 February 2002
From what I remember about Spain, the spaniards were very fashionable. I felt very out of place there in the summer wearing shorts and jeans. I am returning to Spain in September to study for a few months, and will leave most of my jeans at home! Anybody else have any pointers on living in Spain? I am looking forward to siestas again!
Liz
Posts: 7 | Location: Seattle, WA | Registered: 05 August 2002
As for a safety issue...don't walk through Plaza de Santa Ana late at night...I was in Madrid for a year and a half and many nights i walked home from clubs, friends, places etc.alone usually slightly drunk. I never had a problem (besides the occasional Limpia y Verde man yelling at me)...except in Plaza de Santa Ana...I was going to some bars in that area..."Las Huertas" near Puerta del Sol, awesome area...lots of small bars if you go check out Fontana de Oro and Mona Lisa...nice atmosphere at those places and loud music and lots of alcohol...anyways...i was with 4 friends...2 girls and 2 guys...we walked through the park and were jumped by a bunch of Morrocans...One friend spoke Arabic so he understood the guys...but they tried to steal my friend's wallets and fight them. The other girls and myself ran of course...but my friends did get away fine. But being the morons they are...they went back a few weeks later and same thing happened. Just walk the long way around the park.
Brooke
Posts: 5 | Location: Boca Raton, FL USA | Registered: 08 August 2002
Hey all, just wanted to slip in and tell you all a story of my first week here almost 7 years ago as a grad student.
This story goes to show that I was not always the all-knowing "jer" that I am today
Ok, I was 100% prepared (in my own mind anyway) to take on the school year in Madrid. I had borught my MAC Powerbook laptop that was fine in handling the higher Spanish voltage and I also treked over my Stylewriter printer to boot. Knowing that the printer was only manufactured for the 110 volts in the U.S.A., I bought both the famous "thingy to plug it into the Spanish outlet" (CLICK HERE) and a step down voltage converter to bring the 220V of Spain down to 110V so as not to fry my printer. The voltage adapter was agood one and it cost me $40 at Radio Shack. My first day printing a big fat paper in my apartment and knowing it would take a while, I decided to pop down and have a beer with a friend while the printer churned out the pages. I returned to my apartement within an hour or so to find my printer had stopped spitting out pages at mid paper and the power light was off. As I aproached the machine, I saw a black burn stain on the voltage converter Conclusion, the powerr adapter had fried and then the massive 220V proceeded to toast my printer as well. I was slightly pissed but 3,500 miles from the Radio Shack where I had bought the transformer (voltage converter). 7 years later i now know that there is more than one type of voltage converter, the one I had bought and a slightly more expensive one with a FUSE in it. The fuse serves to protect the appliance being used with the converter so that if their is a power surge or blackout, the fuse burns, cutting the supply of juice to the appliance (in my case, the printer) hence saving it. So, in that case you wouold only have to buy a 50 cent fuse instead of replacing a printer and a voltage converter.
MORAL: IF BRINGING A VOLTAGE CONVERTER, BUY ONE WITH A FUSE!!!!
Hey spainchiquita, the Plaza de Santa Ana has been remodeled and as far as I know is a pretty safe Plaza (although it used to be less so before the remodeling).
Are you sure you are not confusing it with the Plaza de Tirso de Molina which IS riddled with loads of shady characters?
Just wondering since they are not far from each other, thought maybe you may have gotten the 2 confused.
spainchiquita, take your jeans with you, it's very fashionable in europe right know, but preferebly light colored, almost white jeans, and they have to look like they been used a long time, the trashy style are once again here
Linda
Posts: 51 | Location: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: 23 May 2002
yes, take your jeans, but pair them with strappy sandals or high heels ladies and you will fit in just fine. Speaking of fitting in, make sure you "just fit" in your jeans. Meaning, the style here is the tighter the better.
Dizzy Devil, one of the best pieces of advice that I can offer you, that helped me "un mont�n".. was to seek out Spanish friends and avoiding those (Americans and other foreigners) who wish only to speak English. One thing that you should do as soon as you get here is post a cartel announcing intercambio native English for Spanish. List some of your interests, age and phone number. You will be inundated with calls from Spaniards who would like to practice their English in a non threatening environment while helping you with your Spanish. Who knows, maybe an attractive madrile�a will call you up!
I have to agree with Chica 100%. Stay away from Americans and learn all of the Spanish that you can.
This semester, I am taking a French class to get back into my French and my friend Felcia and I have vowed to speak French to each other all of the time.
It can be done. You will find that your Spanish will improve 120% when you speak it each and every waking moment that you have. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and open yourself to new experiences.
Buena suerte,
Shawn
"Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down" - SONG OF SOLOMON, Toni Morrison
Posts: 1255 | Location: Richmond, VA but in MADRID now | Registered: 10 February 2002
I agree on the Jeans thing, I wear them almost every time I go out.
I could also not agree more on the stay away from speaking English idea but would add that it is not only hanging out with Americans that will hurt your Spanish but also a lot of Spaniards may want to only speak English with you. Make sure you meet in the middle and if you are going to practice with them, it should be mutually beneficial.
The intercambio idea is an age old practice here and I concur with Chica 1,000,000%, I highly recommend it. That's how I met my super duper attractive madrile�a ena
Staying away from Americans and other native English speakers is not anti-American at all nor is it rude but rather a way to immerse yourself in Spain and all things Spanish.
As Redwood so perfectly put it in tonights chat...
quote:
"Don't lose sight of why you are in Madrid to begin with"
The one thing I found difficult when I spent my semester in Spain was balancing getting my school work done/going to class and doing all the traveling that I wanted to do. Thre result was not doing as well in school as I maybe otherwise could have, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.
Another way to help with the language is to listen to the radio and watch tv. Of course, this doesn't substitute for talking with real people, but it's a good supplement. When I was in Leon, Beverly Hills 90210 was huge (it was called Sensacion de Vivir, which I never quite understood). It was 2 seasons behind, so the people I lived with thought it was really cool that we could tell them what happens later on.
Remember, you can't see everything in one trip. Assume you will return. (Rick Steves)
Posts: 143 | Location: Green Bay, WI USA | Registered: 16 April 2002
Hey QuePasa, I too had the study -vs- travel conflict during my year abroad here so I made a lot of short trips and saw loads and then backpacked all of Spain and part of Portugal for 2.5 months in the summer when school let out
YES! I remember "Sensaci�n de vivir" as well, what a title translation! I recall that Melrose Place (also called Melrose Place" in Spain) was also huge here and 2 or 3 seasons behind as well. My 4 Spanish roomates used to love it and make me tell them what was going to happen in future episodes And god forbid one of them missed an episode, they would corner me and make me tell all (as if I could remember).
You know, I never understood the way they translate titles in Spain. Some they leave in English, some they translate directly, and some they make up new names that don't seem to make sense. The best one I ever saw was for the Disney movie "The Aristocats", which they translated into "Aristogatos". I think that lost something in the translation.
Remember, you can't see everything in one trip. Assume you will return. (Rick Steves)
Posts: 143 | Location: Green Bay, WI USA | Registered: 16 April 2002
Brian
Conclusion, the powerr adapter had fried and then the massive 220V proceeded to toast my printer as well. I was slightly pissed but 3,500 miles from the Radio Shack where I had bought the transformer (voltage converter). 7 years later i now know that there is more than one type of voltage converter, the one I had bought and a slightly more expensive one with a FUSE in it. The fuse serves to protect the appliance being used with the converter so that if their is a power surge or blackout, the fuse burns, cutting the supply of juice to the appliance (in my case, the printer) hence saving it. So, in that case you wouold only have to buy a 50 cent fuse instead of replacing a printer and a voltage converter.
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
