This is MADrid!

Here has indeed been so mad: the crowded but easy-going city, awesome people around me, late school days, crazy student parties and all what I have experienced during these two months. And I mean in a good way. I can’t believe that now it is already a halfway of my exchange period!

Plaza de Callao
Plaza de Callao – Home plaza

My school days start the earliest at 15, which means that I have a lot of free time and I can sleep long. Well, at first it was like that, but not anymore… At the beginning of March I started Spanish course in the city center. It is every day one hour and lessons are very intensive. At least I learn fast! At university, I also have group works and one midterm exam becoming.

However, I don’t want to stress about school too much. Luckily my courses are quite “easy” but interesting. The cases, we are handling in marketing and international relations classes, are highly topical. What is new to me, compared to Finland, is that students participate enthusiastically in conversations during the lectures. There are often heated debates between students and teachers, and it’s entertaining to follow those emotional outbursts.

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Vicálvaro Campus
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Vicálvaro Campus

My normal day in here starts from Spanish class at 11:30. After that I have a couple of hours free time and then I go to university around at 15-16. I end my day at school at 19-21. My schedule is so different from that in Finland, but for me this actually works pretty well. I have definitely adopted a Spanish daily rhythm.

In free time I hang out with my friends. Usually we go for dinner or enjoy some tapas with sangria. There are many nice bars, pubs and restaurants so you will always find a place where to eat, and with a very low price! We have also participated in some ESN events, such as city tour, bowling and international dinner. The events that they organize for Erasmus students are a great way to meet new people from all over the world.

International dinner - Italian food
International dinner – Italian food

One of the best experiences was the Real Madrid match in great Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.  Football is like a religion here, and you should go to see the game to understand the importance of it. Although I’m not the biggest football fan, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. I recommend to everyone to go watch the game in Spain, even as an “once in a lifetime” experience.

Watching The Real Madrid game in Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Watching The Real Madrid game in Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

Sometimes I go for a jog in the beautiful Retiro Park. That is also a good place for having a picnic with friends or for sunbathing. I’m really waiting for the summer! In fact, last week the weather was very warm in here (+22 °C), though it’s getting colder again. But I’m still optimistic because I know that summer is almost here.

Beautiful Retiro Park
Crystal Palace in Retiro Park
Retiro Park
Retiro Park

I have also travelled a little bit here in Spain. I already visited in Cádiz and Segovia, and in the next two weeks I will go to Valencia and Barcelona. I really want to see new places, and travel outside Spain too, for example to Portugal and Morocco. My goal for the remaining part of my stay is to travel more, and I think it is perfect time now when the weather is warmer.

Roman aqueduct in Segovia
Roman aqueduct in Segovia
On the beach in Cádiz
On the beach in Cádiz

¡Adiós!

xoxo Krista

Comments

Hi!

I’m at the moment studying at URJC and I wonder what courses did you take if you still remember? You have any tips which of the courses were easy and what you shouldn’t take?

NNN

24.1.2016 21:04

Hola!

I had 4 courses:
– Public opinion & international journalism
– Relational, direct & interactive marketing
– Companies & international organisations
– Responsibility & corporate social marketing

All of them included group works and were related to my field of study. The last two courses were possible to pass without exam, just by being active in classes. I recommend to check out the timetables, because some of the classes are early in the morning and some in the evening. I wanted to make my school days simple and short so it forced me to change some courses.

Krista Varonen

26.1.2016 18:38

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