My first two weeks in Madrid have been a great mix of exploration, culture, and adjustment. The city has a lot to offer, from the Prado Museum and Royal Palace to the lively Plaza Mayor and Retiro Park. One of the things I appreciate most is how easy it is to get around Madrid using the public transport system. It is very efficient and simple to use, and because I live near a popular metro station, I can go anywhere in Madrid within 30 to 45 minutes. Additionally, the train systems between cities in Spain are constantly running, and I was able to take a weekend trip to Barcelona with the other TAMU exchange students!
I’m currently attending UC3M, where the campus is always active with students spending time together. I am taking a mix of marketing and technology courses that are challenging but very informative. What is most interesting about UC3M is the number of international students is extremely high, and all of my classes are filled with people from all over the world. I love being able to connect with people from different countries and learn about our cultural differences. One major cultural difference I’ve noticed between the US and Madrid is how life here runs on a later schedule—shops open later, dinner often stretches past midnight, and the streets stay busy well into the night. It took me a couple of days to adjust to a later schedule, but I enjoy having more time later in the day to do things.
Madrid has been a welcoming and interesting place to live so far, and I’m looking forward to what’s next!
