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Cheap as patatas fritas: Madrid for less
Tuesday, 17 January 2012Budgeting for a year abroad on a shoe-string is standard practice, but these tips are by no means money-saving survival tactics for those trying to live on the cheap: they are original ideas to help you spice up and make the most of your time in Madrid. They just so happen to save you some céntimos too. Enjoy!
Published in Spanish-speaking -
Marvellous Madrid
Tuesday, 10 May 2011Lisa studied Hispanic Studies at the University of Sheffield from 2005 to 2009. When the time came to consider her year abroad destination she took a gamble and chose two cities she had never visited. These were Madrid, where she spent nine months working as an English Teacher in a language academy, and Coimbra, Portugal’s infamous university town, where she completed a language course at the University of Coimbra and enjoyed a long, hot summer before returning to Sheffield for her final year.Published in Spanish-speaking -
Culture Shock: Madrid
Tuesday, 30 November 2010Culture shock affects us all. It’s hard not to be changed by your experiences in a foreign country, considering you’ve uprooted your whole life to more exotic climes. I’m currently spending my year abroad in Madrid, Spain, and I have also fallen prey to bizarre Spanish customs and rituals. We’ve all heard the stories about continental bureaucracy and the mañana culture; but deep down, it’s the little things in the big city that really stand out...Published in Spanish-speaking -
Modern Madrid
Sunday, 06 June 2010Madrid, Spain - welcoming, small, lively, fun, beautiful
If it weren't for my year abroad, both my level of Spanish and my career path wouldn't have improved as much as they did - I got some really goof work experience in marketing whilst I was there. My initial difficulties were in finding accommodation and with contract issues for my work placement, especially as I found that I was consistently given the wrong information by the British embassy. But all in all, once I’d organised myself, Madrid was one of the easiest places to settle into. With two major universities and Erasmus students round the corner, it’s easy to make a fresh start. The social life was an important factor in what I was looking for. As I worked hard, if it wasn’t for the lively number of bars and clubs, it would have been much harder to meet anyone. I didn’t do a course out there or anything, I went into work and sat at my desk from 9 til 5, but it's a small world and after a few phone calls to friends, I started meeting people for drinks and quickly made a lot of acquaintances. Erasmus students there are all in the same boat; very rarely are there any who already have family and friends there, so people are very patient and welcoming and eager to be friends. Although after a while you realise which ones you actually like, the whole experience is refreshing.
Published in Spanish-speaking -
Madrid
Wednesday, 12 May 2010City of Modern Living
Slap bang at the heart of the Iberian Peninsula is the very vibrant and bustling city, Madrid. Since 1563, this mesmerising metropolis has been Spain's capital and quite rightly so, being the epicentre for parties, panache and progressive political movements (the 80s la movida punk movement gave birth to artists such as Almodóvar, amongst many others).Published in Spain
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Extracurricular classes on your year abroad in Spain
Friday, 25 November 2011Spain is known for its dancing, its passion, its cooking and its sense of theatricality. If you are one of the lucky few who’s made it to the Iberian peninsula, you should think about taking out some extra classes to help you get to grips with this captivating culture. Whether you’re working or studying, there is bound to be something to suit your tastes and timetable. ¡Arriba!
Published in Extracurricular Activities -
The Madrid Top Ten
Friday, 04 February 2011Overwhelmed by Lonely Planet? Roughed up by Rough Guides? Taking time out from Time Out? Here is Zoë Proud's definitive guide of the top ten things the guidebooks gloss over vis-à-vis Madrid according to the madrileños...
Published in Spanish-speaking -
Madhouse Madrid
Tuesday, 13 July 2010Madrid, Spain - big, exciting, beautiful, cultural, never-sleeping
Madrid is such a big, beautiful city and you never run out of things to do or places to go. There is always an adventure to go on and something new to see! At first the size of Madrid can be quite overwhelming and the university quite disorganised - once you have settled into the Spanish life-style of 'mañana, mañana' it is a lot easier. When I first arrived in Madrid I was rather overwhelmed by the size of the city and found it hard adapting to life there. However, I settled in quickly and got used to the fast-paced, exciting lifestyle that the Madrileños enjoy. It's all about the siestas and then fiestas. Café con leche and tapas in the evening is a real ritual here. You will eat dinner at 9pm, drink cocktails at 11pm and go dancing at 2am. The nightlife in Madrid is an experience in itself.
Published in Spanish-speaking -
Baby steps
Wednesday, 14 April 2010Right, so it really hasn't been long since I've chosen where I want to go and I've only just given in some forms to do with the placement but I am so excited! :woohoo: I know it's 5 months until I have to go but :whistle: I am really looking forward to it, plus I have time to do a bit of research about Madrid, maybe talk to some students who are there before I go.
Published in Travel Journal -
Multicultural Madrid
Tuesday, 29 December 2009Madrid, Spain - buzzy, lively, exciting, fun, cultural
Madrid is a fantastic city – the best city in Europe! There is an amazing variety of things to do, see and enjoy and excellent nightlife. The work I found was interesting but after 10 months of limited responsibility I was more than ready to leave, but I’d recommend that you stay in Europe instead of going to other Spanish-speaking countries and find work; the experience is unbeatable for the CV and the Erasmus Grant and salary really help with the finances. I had to move house very quickly as I hadn't realised that the accommodation I had sorted before leaving England was a very long way out from the city centre but the most important thing is choosing the people you live with - they are crucial to your language development. Stay in a hostel (Red or Purple Nest are perfect) while you are ringing landlords and looking at rooms in flats. Only live with Spanish or Latin American people, preferably students who you can go out with etc. and you’ll be surprised how quickly you pick up their expressions and accent! Have a really open mind and do not be shy otherwise you will struggle.Published in Spanish-speaking
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