My experience in Madrid!

here was a specific reason I chose to study abroad in Madrid: to learn Spanish. I realized that I liked Spanish a lot, and decided to take a summer course at an institution in New York to improve a bit quicker. There, a met a fellow student who told me that she had studied in Barcelona for a while, and that it had definitely helped her improve. That's when I decided I wanted to study abroad in Spain through NYU.
The program definitely met my expectations. Taking two courses fully in Spanish was definitely challenging, but so different from what I was used to back then. Even if sometimes I didn't understand half of the things the professor was talking about, it helped me step out of my comfort zone and really use other skills to make out what she was saying, and even respond to her. It also forced me to review material and constantly practice, as I knew that being clueless in class was not an option. The professors there were so helpful and so eager to help us accelerate our Spanish skills, and I truly believe that these Spanish courses I took in Madrid were one in a lifetime opportunities.
As for socially, it was exactly how I heard it was going to be. Based on some Google-searches, many people who had studied in Madrid wrote that everything was mostly at a slower-pace than it is in New York City, and that the people are extremely friendly and amiable. And this was true. Whenever I was lost or needed help using the ATM machine, all I needed to do was ask a local Madrileno and he/she would be so willing to help out. The night life is amazing, as it seems like everyone is partying together in one huge group (especially at local bars). With so many places to go with a metro station always somewhere nearby, it was so exciting to go to new places to try Spanish cuisine. I loved the break for the fast-paced city so much that even now, I yearn to go back for another semester.