Perfect Experience for Independent Student

I couldn't have asked for a better experience living abroad in Madrid. That being said, I know that my experience here with Panrimo would not suit everyone. Panrimo provided me with the most amazing Madrid contact (Laura) who was always available if I needed help, and made the excursions culturally significant as well as fun. Madrid is a fantastic city, so I was surrounded by opportunities to get involved with other international students and the local community. Unlike most study abroad programs from the U.S., I was not part of a large group of American students and lived in an apartment with Erasmus students. This was great for me because I am fine with taking the initiative to meet people/socialize, but I can see where this would be out of some students' comfort zones. That being said, I think that one of the most valuable aspects of my experience has been the variety of different people I've met from all over the world--something that a lot of my friends in programs have missed out on. The living situation put me in the perfect location at the heart of the city.
One of the biggest issues I had with the program was Panrimo's 'Hispanic Studies' contact at the Universidad de Carlos III, who provided hardly any support. She made multiple errors in documents that were required for me to obtain my Visa, which led to the process being more challenging than it had to be. My classes at the Universidad de Carlos III were in English and not easy. Many of the courses I took were translated from Spanish and taught by professors who really shouldn't have been teaching in English. This communication gap in combination with the Spanish style of teaching definitely made advanced subjects harder. I was grateful to be able to continue my degree studies in Madrid, though, and it was fantastic being able to meet people in my major from all over the world.