A Day-by-Day

The semester has been going by extremely fast; it feels like I arrived in Madrid just last week. As I begin my 6th week in Madrid, I have finally built a routine. Since being here, I have been able to truly slow down and reflect on many things about my life now, as well as the past and future. Before leaving home, I remember many people telling me that living in Spain forces you to slow down, and I did not believe them. As someone who is constantly on the go, I was very afraid of what would happen in Madrid, but it has honestly been amazing. 

My day usually begins with me waking up at 9 A.M. I have a longer commute to my classes compared to my home institution, but you can get from one end of campus to the other in about 12 minutes (or so I have heard). I get to breakfast around 9:30 A.M. and meet up with two classmates from my morning class. My breakfast is one of the main things that has been the same for me. Back home, I usually have hot coffee with a bakery item, which is exactly what my dining hall has in Madrid. After breakfast, I walk about two minutes to the bus stop. After getting on the bus, I transfer to the Metro. My commute takes a total of 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the time, but it is one of the best public transportation systems I have ever been on. I only pay 10 euros a month for unlimited rides, which is also significantly cheaper than other public transportation.

My classes are all very different, ranging from historical art to politics to environmental sustainability. The professors are all great, and most of them teach at universities in Madrid, and they all speak so highly about being able to teach study abroad students. One of the main differences that I have is that at my home institution, I barely have any tests. Most of my finals and midterms are long papers, but here I have midterm and final exams for all of my courses. Although I am a bit afraid of them (coming up soon), I feel that my professors have all prepared me for the exams. At the same time, IES Madrid has been very accommodating for individuals who might need test accommodations. 

Between my classes, I get an hour break where I heat my lunch that I get from my dining hall the day before. The food is delicious, and I enjoy it so much more than my home institution's dining hall (I am sorry Cafe Mac). I am usually done with classes around 3 P.M., and I make my commute back to my housing accommodation. Once I get back, I take some time to rest and rot in my bed. Then, I usually do some homework, and just recently I have been able to do some work outside in the courtyard, which is amazing. Around 8:20pm, my friends and I go to our dining hall to eat dinner. This is one of my favorite parts of the day, as I get to catch up with my friends and hear about their days, which are always different. 

Overall, I am enjoying Madrid, and I am excited to continue to discover more of this city - there is so much that it has to offer. Wish me luck with midterms!