Hello all, I've just discovered this fabulous site and have so many questions, I'm not sure where to start!

Here's my situation- I just found out that I've been accepted to the study abroad program in Madrid...the University of Madrid. The only thing is, I didn't apply to study in Madrid, I applied to study in Granada. I have several friends who studied there in the past and absolutely loved it. Not to say I've heard negative things about Madrid, I actually haven't really heard anything...until today. I have the option to appeal the decision to send my to Madrid, but after reading so many inspiring accounts of life in Madrid, I'm torn. So I guess I'm asking for some opinions, insight, I don't know. I've done quite a bit of research on Granada in the last few months, but know virtually nothing of Madrid. While it appears that my money will go further in Granada, I plan to travel extensively and it may benefit me to live in a more central location like Madrid. Is this true?

To complicate matters further, my boyfriend will be doing research in the Mediterranean and will be living with me intermittently during my stay. I've heard that this is fairly uncommon in Granada and it may be difficult to find roommates that are comfortable with this situation. I really want to live with Spanish people though, it's part of the experience. Money isn't an issue(to a certain extent), we're willing to pay more but, like I said, I really have no idea of social proprieties and such. Can anyone help to clarify these things for me? Thanks in advance! Lisa

Hi Llawlor, welcome to the board. Dillemas, dillemas

First of all, congrats for being accepted in Madrid.

Personally, Granadai s my favorite city in Spain (even a bit more so than Madrid ) but it is too small for me to live in.

I also feel that you will have just as good (or better) a time here in Madrid studying as in Granada, if I were you I would jump on the offer.

You are absolutely right, Madrid is the best city to use as a base if you plan to see all of Spain in your travels.

Also, keep in mind that if your boyfriend is going to be living with you "part time", odds are you will either need to get a place of your own or, if you rent a room on a shared apartment, come to an arrangement with the others who live there. I can imagine you renting a room and not telling them, then the boyfrined comes to live for a bit and I do not think that your roomies would appreciate the surprise. Be honest with them up front and come to an economical agreement in case they want you to pay more.

I do not think it is as uncommon as you may have heard for boyfriends and girlfriends to live together in Granada, it will have more to do with finding a place that has a room available big enough for the 2 of you, maybe even with a private bathroom.

If money is not much of an object, you would be better off getting a studio or 1 bedroom place on your own, no possibility of problems with the flatmates

When I was studying here in Madrid years back, I lived with 4 Spanish students and had a small room. My girlfriend at the time (hi Albertina ) had a major problem with her landlady and had to leave secretely when the landlady (who rented her the room but also lived there) left for work one day. Anyway, to make a long story short, I had asked my housemates if she could move into my room with me and they were very cool about it and did not even up my rent. What they really appreciated was the fact that I asked them first and there were no surprises.

En fin, come to Madrid, you will love it, you have my personal guarantee !

Saludos,
jer...

Thanks so much for the encouragement and advice! Of course, I never imagined springing a surprise on my roomates like a big, american boyfriend, I was mainly concerned with how to present the subject. Since I'm a city girl, I imagine that I, too, will appreciate living in a more metropolitan area. Does anyone have any experience with this school? University of Madrid is what it says on my pamphlet..located on the northern outskirts of Madrid? If I want to live toward the center of Madrid (and it sounds like I do, from what I've been reading), will it be difficult to get myself to school? Also, how is housing availability as far as renting a room in a flat? Are most rents month to month, or bound by a lease-(again, in a shared household, not my own apartment). Sorry if these subjects have already been broached! Thanks again Jer! Lisa

Hi llawlor, jer back again.

Hmmmm... it is very important for you to know if you are going to be studying at the "Universidad Complutense de Madrid" ( www.ucm.es ) or the "Universidad Aut�noma de Madrid" ( www.uam.es ). those are the 2 campuses that make up the University of Madrid but the 2 are very differnet in location. Can you get back to us on that so we can give you more advice on getting to school, choosing a place to live, etc...?

From what you say above, it would seem that you will be at the "Universidad Aut�noma" and not the "Complutense". Can you confirm?

I studied at the Complutense as do most foreigners so that si why I ask you to find out which you will be at.

Saludos,
jer...

When talking about where to go to study, no one says a word about SALAMANCA. If being in a big city like Madrid doesn�t appeal to you very much, Salamanca is an option to bear in mind. And you will find no accent at all. I am spanish and I sometimes find it hard to understand people from Granada

Hey binko, I agree with you about the accent in "Gran�" : I think that many people are scred off by the huge # of foreign students who study in Salamanca proportional top the population. Heck, in the summertime it is next to impossible to meet Spaniards there

It is beautiful howevert and is also a great place to use as a jumping off point for travel throughout Spain

Thanks for the addition.

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. In my opinion, the 4 major destinations for studying Spanish are Madrid, Salamanca, Seville and Granada.

I even registered spanishinmadrid.com , spanishinsalamanca.com and spanishinseville.com about a year ago for a future project I am planning for the web

I will be studying at the Universidad Complutense. As for Salamanca, it wasn't even an option for me-the school I attend here only offers study abroad programs in Granada and Madrid.

Sooo...back to my original question, seeing that I'll be at the universidad complutense, please advise as far as what neighborhood(s) to live in. I've been checking out the casas compartidas in segundamano, but don't know one neighborhood from the next. A few that have been recommended to me: Moncloa, Arguelles, Alonzo Martinez. I've searched here for info on these areas, but haven't really gotten much. What do you think?

Hi again llawlor.

Since you confirmed that you would be at the Complutense I was also going to recommend the areas of Moncloa and/or Argg�elles.

They are VERY student oriented areas and you can even walk to school if you like or take a 10 minute bus ride. The Alonso Martinez area is much more removed fromt he Complutense than the first 2 and it is a further commute but it is alos a nice area.

The positive thing about Alonso Martinez is that it is easily walkable from the city center while if you live out in Moncloa it is a long walk to Sol and the center.

Public transportation rules here in Madrid as you can see on my TRANSPORTS PAGE so getting around is not going to be a problem but when the Metro closes at 1:30 am and the busses stop at 11:30pm you will only have the "buhos" or night busses to get you out to Arg�elles and Moncloa from the center.

There is a lot of nightlife in Moncloa, Arg�elles and Alonso Martinez so that is not anything to worry about but keep in mind that Arg�elles and Moncloa are areas where the crowd is often the teenieboppers age.

Saludos,
jer...

What other areas would you suggest that are closer to the center? I know, I really need to get a map soon but even then, I wouldn't have much insight into them. I'm not that thrilled about living among "teenieboppers" so it looks like it may be better for me to search in other areas. Thanks again!!

Hi llawlor, �OJO! I never said that you would be living among teenieboppers but rather that Moncloa and Arg�elles are areas where a LOT of them go out. The residents in those areas are college students of all ages.

Do try picking up a map of Madrid, I recommend the Streetwise Maps ( www.streetwisemaps.com ) as they are thye best and the one on Madrid will show you the entire center (although not the university).

Also, the Bilbao area is one of my favorites in Madrid and is not too far from the Complutense.

Saludos,
jer...

Hi ATLgirl0509,

I hope you see this as Jer closed your thread. How serious are your food allergies? If you have gluten sensitivity or can't handle dairy you might find it easier living in Madrid as there are more stores that provide these types of speciality foods. I don't remember the name so hopefully someone else will know which store I mean, but there is an amazing natural food store right by metro Canal. It has a tree as it's symbol. They have a grocery store with dry goods like gluten free pastas, whole grains and cereals, dried fruits, books, vitamins, and yoga supplies, another shop two doors down with fresh foods like tofu's, dairy free cheeses, and meat free products, plus many more. In-between the two shops is a cafeteria/ restaurant that I think is vegetarian.

Cheers,
Bonnie