One of the first impressions that I had from the UC3M business school was that it felt smaller and more focused. The campus is smaller and so are the classrooms, making it an environment where open discussion is strongly encouraged and is not a heavy lecture-style class. There is also a large international mix of students in my classes with people from all over Europe, Asia, and the United States. Unlike Texas A&M, where the majority of my classmates are from the United States, here, there is no majority.
The city of Madrid is full of life. It feels like there is always something going on, reminding me of New York City, with buildings very close and everything being within walking distance. Speaking of, the public transportation in Madrid is amazing. It is so accessible and the preferred way of transportation here, which is very different from College Station, where you really need a car to get around.
The biggest difference in culture between Spain and the U.S. is the pace of life. In Spain, it feels more leisurely, and it seems that people emphasize enjoying the moment. All throughout the day, people are sitting together in the grass, grabbing coffee, and all around socializing and connecting. In the U.S., things are more fast-paced and structured. Another difference is the dinnertime. In the U.S., the common time to eat dinner is around 6 or 7 pm, but in Spain, dinner does not start until 9 or 10 pm. Once it turns night, everything closes, and people get ready for bed in the U.S. However, the night is when the city of Madrid wakes up. People will be out until the early mornings at around 6 am, resembling NYC as the city that never sleeps.
