My Arrival in Spain

I have officially been in Spain for a little over a week now! I can’t believe the time has gone by so quickly. I feel like I just submitted the commitment deposit yesterday. Although it has been a whirlwind, my time in Spain so far has been nothing short of amazing. When we first arrived just two days after New Years Day, we had a quick 2-day orientation. While most of us agreed that we wished the orientation was a bit longer, most of the people in the group made efforts to get each others contact information so we could all keep in touch. We all went out together to Cha Cha’s, watched a football game at an NFL bar, and we have multiple group messages!

      After arriving, we had some time to explore Madrid, which is what I have spent the last five or six days doing. I was mesmerized by the city at first. Though it was somewhat expected based on pictures, I was unaware of how beautiful the city is at night, especially with all of the Christmas decorations. We arrived at the perfect time, since in Spain they celebrate their final day of Christmas on January 7. The city is beautifully adorned with large trees, wreaths and hanging lights, and during the day it is just as beautiful. 

      Settling in has definitely been an adjustment, and I think every auxiliare would agree. It is difficult to begin making this adjustment when you still do not have a place to live and call home. It is also difficult before school starts, because routine is what helps with adjustment. 

      I will only briefly describe the “piso” hunt, as so many other blog posts are solely focused on it. I won’t lie, it’s not easy or fun. It takes a LOT of effort and hours spent searching on Idealista. My roommates and I personally wanted to see a variety of options, so we visited close to 7 or 8 places, as opposed to the average 3 or 4. Each piso had a sacrifice. The best location had the smallest rooms. One that had two huge rooms has a third room that was tiny. One room didn’t have a window. One piso had smokers. The list goes on and on. What is important is to go in with a list of what you absolutely must demand in a piso (a certain price range, a certain number of bedrooms, location, etc.) and be aware of what you are willing to sacrifice. In my head, since it is only for 6 months, I was willing to sacrifice a little more than those who are staying for a year – but to each his own! The good news is…we found a place, and moved in yesterday! I am within a 5 -minute walking distance to Sol, a great place in the heart of Madrid with tons of restaurants, shopping and nightlife. This means I can stay out until the wee hours of the morning without having to wait for the 6 am metro! 

      My first week in Madrid was exactly what I expected it to be  -- stressful, and an adjustment. Aside from finding a piso, we had to open a bank account, order our Abono cards (this is the card that allows youth under 26 to use the metro systems unlimited for a small price), figure out transportation to our schools, and try to make friends. It is a lot at once. But now that I finally feel settled and have begun booking trips (hi Amsterdam, Paris, and Copenhagen) I can confidently say that the next 6 months will be unforgettable.