Madrid!

I studied abroad for the spring semester in 2015. I was a junior and a Spanish/Economics double major. I had already been to Madrid once, but only for a few days.

I really didn’t know what to expect going into the semester but I certainly landed in the right place.
The whole CIEE setup is great. Paco and the team are cool and incredibly welcoming. Paco also knows just about everything about everything in Madrid and is always willing to help! The good people at CIEE make you feel at home, plan group events to help you meet the other kids in the program, pair you with a host family, introduce you to the university, and help you pick your classes. I never had any issues and thought they did a great job.

I took five courses in Spanish to count toward my Spanish major. Some classes were harder than others but the workload is very manageable. My host family was great and I can't wait to see them again. Daily interaction and speaking Spanish with host mom, host dad, and host bro was definitely one of the most enjoyable parts of the experience.

Madrid itself is an beautiful place. People, culture, nightlife, food are all awesome. I traveled a fair bit throughout semester but definitely less than others because I was totally happy spending weekend in Madrid.

The experience is ultimately what you make of it. If you go in with an open mind, embrace trying new things, and are comfortable leaving your comfort zone, you will have a great time!