Daily Life in Madrid
On a typical weekday, I start my day waking up at 6:30 am to get ready for class. I take the metro to school, and it’s always packed with people going to school or work for the day. In between classes I like to eat lunch in the cafeteria at school, and I usually get a baguette francesa (a baguette with an omelet) and a café con leche (latte). On Wednesdays at 5:30 pm, I help tutor in English to two 10-year-old twins. It’s a fun way to not only connect with other Spanish speakers, but to also see how their schooling is different from elementary schools in the U.S. By the time I get back home it’s dinner time, which is usually around 9 pm for me. This is when I catch up with my host mom and watch TV together, which is always a nice way to end the day. Talking with my host mom has been the main way I’ve been able to engage with Spanish speakers and learn more about the culture because I’m able to have conversations based on the news and our daily activities.
The weekends are when I like to explore the city: I enjoy taking the bus to the city center to walk around, and I also like to participate in cultural and seasonal activities when they’re available. It’s also a great way to people watch and see Spanish mannerisms in action. One of my favorite things about studying in Madrid is the ability to walk around just about anywhere to see new sites and learn from other people, which is definitely something I’ll miss when I’m back in Wisconsin.
Izzy Gharib
Major: Economics
Hometown: Kenosha, Wisconsin
Program: WIP Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain