Suffolk University, Madrid Campus

Before coming to Madrid I already attended an intense spanish study in Costa Rica the summer before. Everyone at the university spoke english.. there were people there that spoke other languages, but I was rather disappointed that more spanish wasn't spoken around me. Likewise, there were mostly American students at the university that tended to stick together b/c of the unfamiliar surroundings. Likewise my roommates were American as well and we spoke mostly English in our apt. However, i feel that my roommates and I were challenged everyday- ordering pizza on the phone, grocery shopping (the products are different and in (spanish:) talking with our maid, going out for Tapas. I think living in the apt got us out in the community more -speaking spn- and the students who lived with families got most of their practice at home

If you stay in an apartment, they give you an allowence that really helps out. Also grocery shop-it can be an experience in itself.

There were no big suprises. Just set your-self on a weekly budget and stick with it if you don't have a lot of extra cash. We had an excellent exchange rate when we were there, so my money went quite a bit further in Spain than it does in the U.S. if anything I spent a little less than I thought I was going to.

Shop at the local "alementaciones" instead of the big chain stores.