Why it's ok to hate your year abroad...

It's that time of year again; third years are packing their bags, desperately making the most of every last second of beach-time, tearfully saying goodbye to their new-found foreign friends and then wearily trudging through the airport towards the rain, wind and predictable greyness of home....or are they?

What if you can't wait to set foot back in old England? What if the sunshine, sangría and oh-so-sassy Spanish language have left you cold? Your suitcases full 3 days before they need to be, your return ticket in pride of place on your bedside table and all your waking hours spent dreaming of roast chicken dinners, rainy summer afternoons and being in a place where you don't need to consult a dictionary to buy a doughnut. The day arrives, you leap out of bed and are at the airport before you can say "adios amigo" because you, like a lot of other students out there, secretly hated your year abroad.

Maybe your job was rubbish, maybe your housemates were awful, you missed your friends/partner/parents/hamster or the sheer effort of having to speak in a different language was constantly getting you down. Whatever the reasons for not enjoying your year abroad the fact that you didn't have the best year of your life is nothing to be ashamed of and here's why:


1. Incredible levels of pressure

"Oh my god you're going to have the best time!" is usually the first thing someone says when you tell them you're going away for a year. Their heads are full of images of partying into the night, a new latino lover, long lazy lunches and endless sunshine. This is all very well but what noone tells the innocent little second years before they set out is that before all the fun can begin they'll need a flat to call home, a job/internship/study placement to satisfy their university and a few friends to hang out with.

This ridiculous pressure to be enjoying yourself ALL THE TIME leaves students with unrealistic expectations. Finding a flat, finding your feet at work and making friends can take anything up to a couple of months (in the case of friends sometimes a lot longer) and can be incredibly stressful. It's important for everyone to understand that, as well as having the potential for being a truly great experience, a year abroad is also often the hardest thing that any student will do during their degree.


2. It's not your fault

The majority of problems encountered on a year abroad can be solved - check out my previous post Taking Charge of Your Year Abroad.

There are some things, however, that are completely out of your control and can definitely ruin a year abroad. Maybe you've moved 4 times in 8 months and still can't find a flat not peopled by psychos, maybe you turned up to work one morning and were told it had closed down (happened to a friend of mine), perhaps you were overcome by crippling shyness or anxiety or maybe you just couldn't shake the terrible homesickness that seemed to be taking over your life.

If you tried to change your situation for the better but failed then there's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Yes there will be people who came back from travelling round South America boasting of their spiritual epiphanies, friends in Paris snogging on top of the Eiffel Tower and people who managed to find a job on Spanish television and became minor celebrities. There are also people, however, (and they often won't be so keen to shout this from the rooftops) who absolutely hated every single second of their year abroad with a passion. If you're one of these people it's absolutely ok.


3. It wasn't a waste of time

Whatever your feelings about your year abroad it was most definitely NOT a waste of time.

Firstly, you were away for at least 9 months, a few words of your chosen language must have filtered through to your vocabulary. You may be feeling ashamed of how little you've improved but don't - trust me, when you get back to uni you'll see how almost everybody feels the same way.

Secondly you learnt an incredible amount about other countries, cultures and most importantly yourself. There will have been situations when you had to stand up for yourself, overcome your fear and argue with a bank manager, organise a flat search alone on the other side of the world or simply become comfortable travelling solo hopping from plane to train to taxi. These experiences will help you no end in the future. The self-knowledge you gained will have an effect on your future choices. If you were thinking of a job that involved long periods of international travel but suffered terribly with homesickness then you may start considering other options.

The fact that you didn't enjoy your time away doesn't make you a bad person or even a bad languages student. We are all different, it would be ridiculous to expect everyone to have the time of their life while away, and you can still have fun speaking italian at a local exchange evening or on holiday with friends. Equally though don't let this experience put a dampner on all your future travel plans; you may just have better luck next time!

Right now though, it's good to be home...

If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below or tweet me @madridadrift, also don't forget to follow me on instagram for photos of all things travel

Beating Homesickness Abroad - The 10 Steps to Happiness!

If you're on a year abroad, or even just working/living abroad for a while, you may be struggling with homesickness. The first thing to realise is that this is totally normal! People get it to different degrees but whether you're perpetually bawling your eyes out under your duvet or just experiencing a faint twinge every time you spot a family photo on facebook this post is for you.

For me January was when homesickness really hit for the first time. Coming back from a lovely family Christmas, I was having issues with my flat in Madrid and was finding things incredibly stressful. If you too are feeling down in the dumps this January then I hope you take some of my advice on board and go on to enjoy the rest of your year away to the full!

1. It won't be forever

The first thing to realise is that you're abroad for a set amount of time. It may be a month, it may be a year, but it will eventually come to an end. Understanding this helps to put everything in perspective; you may feel absolutely terrible now, and be missing home like crazy, but know that when the day comes you will be heading right back to everything you left behind.

2. Decide to make the most of this time

Knowing you only have a set amount of time in your new country can help you to appreciate it more. Accept that you will eventually be heading home but think about the here and now. Would you rather be spending your year sitting in your room scrolling through facebook feeling terrible or out there taking advantage of all your new home has to offer?

Something that helps me whenever I feel rubbish is looking at it from an outsider's perspective.  Imagine you're the main character in a book. Think how you would feel as the person reading the book if all the main character did was moan to themselves and mope about. You'd want the character to accept that they were feeling crappy and DO something about it - this is generally the kick up the bum I need to take a step away from the duvet and back out into the world.

3. Set goals and plan your time

My third tip will help you do just that! Get hold of a guidebook to your city/country and circle all the cool things you want to see and do in your remaining time away. Think of all the places you could visit, the photos you could take and the food you could taste. You don't have to limit yourself to your year abroad country; hop on a coach, boat or plane and cross a border. Buy a calendar (this helped me so much) and make sure that you note down all the little things you're planning to keep you busy. It could be a language exchange in a local taverna, a trip to the beach, a night at the cinema or anything else that takes your fancy.

Planning your time gives you things to look forward to; make sure you note down if any family and friends are coming out to visit you! It also helps to fill your time with things you'll enjoy, gives you a sense of achievement and helps you to pack as much as possible into your year abroad.

Make sure to factor in time to complete any Year Abroad Projects or other work you've been set by your university - you really don't need a mad scramble in the last two weeks before the hand in date!

For more info on how to do this check out: Taking Charge of Your Year Abroad

4. Keep in touch with home

Just because you're on a year abroad doesn't mean you have to lose contact with your nearest and dearest. This isn't some sort of masochistic contest about who can survive longest without talking to their mum. Phone them up, Skype them, send them a letter or a parcel, there are so many ways of contacting your family and friends in this day and age.

Think about how often you feel happy communicating with people back home and do whatever makes you feel good. There can be times, though, when too much contact with home is detrimental. If your parents are flying out to see you every weekend and you're staying in to Skype your boyfriend every night you could be missing out on a bit of YOU time. Time you could be using to explore your new home, meet new people and enjoy yourself.

Plus it's always much more fun to have a conversation with someone if you've actually got something to talk about. Not much can happen that's phone-worthy in less than 12 hours...

Make sure to bring mementos of your family and friends with you for your new room. A few photo frames jazz things up nicely.

5. Be proactive in your social life

This is perhaps the hardest thing to accept; living in another country where you don't know anyone, are not yet fluent in the language and are unfamiliar with the general way of life is a lot of effort. So much effort in fact that it's tempting, after your fifth meeting with a language partner where you talked about your love of basketball AGAIN, to just give up.

I was unprepared for the amount of effort it would take to socialise and make friends. True I wasn't studying so I knew I'd have to seek out friends my own age but it took me a while to accrue even a couple of those. I know before we left uni we were told that friends would just pop up while in a coffee shop or in the queue for train tickets...this unfortunately is often not a reality. What is a friend anyway? You may have to tone down your expectations. Someone to grab a coffee with and chat with in French for 40 minutes is much better than nothing.

Make sure to realise that YOU are the one that's looking for people to hang out with. All those Spanish dudes already have a little group of mates to call their own. This means that it's you who is going to have to make the first move. This goes for whether you're in Spain or the UK; if you want to get to know someone ASK THEM to join you for a drink, a trip to the beach, the cinema etc.

If you wait around to be asked you're going to have a long wait...

If you're looking for likeminded people to hang out with try Meetup.com. This website really helped me as the meetings are fun, often free and a great way to meet new people. Whether you like water sports or museums there are sure to be groups meeting up near you.

6. Do what you did at home

Just because you're in Italy/Chile/Spain doesn't mean you can't keep swimming/playing badminton/going to the theatre. If you love something keep doing it! I love reading so got a job in a bookshop and bought ten tonnes of books. My friend Annie loves films so would invite us all to the cinema to see the latest blockbuster. Another friend, Catriona, plays percussion so joined an African drumming group. Doing the things that you love is an easy way to boost your mood.

7. Start something new

That's not to say that you shouldn't view the year abroad as a time to start something new. Think of all the things you've maybe wanted to try but just never got round to because you didn't have the time or were embarrassed. I found a teacher, took up the clarinet and after a couple of months was tooting away happily. Then, free from the expectations of friends and family, I bought some leggings and went running for the first time.

Join a class, I found a photography one near me, it may seem scary at first but just go for it! I plucked up the courage to start clarinet after Christmas but wish I'd started earlier.

8. Treat yourself

This is for those times when you're feeling down in the dumps and need a little pick me up. Buy yourself something nice. It doesn't have to be a big something; I'm more than happy with a glossy magazine and a bar of chocolate. Take yourself to the theatre, go to the cinema, find a new poster for your wall or a new pair of shoes (there are often unusual shops in Europe that we don't have in the UK - take advantage while you can!)

This brings me to one of the biggest things I learnt while on my year abroad; it is NOT sad to eat a meal in a restaurant or go to the cinema alone.  What is sad is sitting alone in your room thinking how nice it would have been to see that film or taste that gorgeous food. If you want to do something and you can't find anyone to do it with you - do it anyway!

9. Invite people to visit you

What can be really helpful when it comes to homesickness is inviting friends and family over to visit you. It gives you something to look forward to and encourages you to get out more; how will you show them around if you don't know your new city?

If you're too far away for people to visit you, or your budget won't stretch that far, make sure to update them on what you're doing. One of the simplest ways of doing this is with a blog. Fill your time with exciting things and then fill your blog with photos and stories. This can do wonders to take your mind off any feelings of homesickness; it becomes a kind of project to focus on. Why not learn how to code or take a photography course to make your blog even better?

10. Don't compare!!!!

We've all seen them; pictures on facebook of classmates smiling in their boyfriend's arms in Cologne, snuggling with koalas in Australia and enjoying great nights out with a host of new pals. This, as we all know, is not an accurate reflection of someone's year abroad. Who's going to take a selfie of themselves crying because they got shouted at on a bus for not understanding?? NOBODY! What you're seeing are the edited highlights of other years abroad; life is not just an endless parade of sunny beaches and cocktails no matter which Caribbean island you're living on.

Take each day as it comes and celebrate each little personal victory with enthusiasm. Finally found your way to work without having to check Google maps? Get in! Went to your first yoga/pottery/tennis class and managed to keep up a 15 minute chat with a classmate in French/Spanish/Italian? Woohoo!

Recognise that we are all different; we all reacted to moving away in different ways. Refuse to accept this ridiculous pressure to have the "best year of your life" and concentrate on making your year as good as it can be. Nobody's year abroad will be the same as another person's. That's what makes this time so special; it's entirely down to you and your mindset as to how it will turn out. Decide to improve your situation, take advantage of the incredible country you're in with all its unique culture and history and step forward into February with a new sense of purpose!

Location, Location, Location - Where to live in Madrid

Choosing a place to live in Madrid on your year abroad can get confusing what with all the different areas of the city on offer. In this post I'm going to list the various central barrios or neighbourhoods and give a short summary of their main characteristics which hopefully will help you choose where to start your flat search!

In my time abroad I lived in 3 different flats in 3 different barrios so have quite a bit of first hand experience. I won't be going into any great detail as to the price of rooms in certain areas as this can vary but I'll give you a heads up as to the most expensive/cheap areas.

Here's a map of central Madrid with the barrios clearly marked:

 

 

Puerta del Sol/Gran Vía/Callao

 

This is the very heart of the city; Gran Vía is the Spanish equivalent of Oxford street and is often packed with traffic and people. This is not a quiet neighbourhood though the noise is generally traffic related rather than due to clubs/music. Fantastically well connected all the shops/restaurants/bars/cinemas you could want are within walking distance and being right in the centre it's tricky to get lost. Despite its central location though I wouldn't really recommend living in this barrio; too loud and too busy!

 

Malasaña/Chueca

 

These are famously popular areas for young people/students to find a flat. Madrid's self-proclaimed "alternative" barrios Malasaña and Chueca are not for those who like peace and quiet. Malasaña defiantly holds on to the Movida Madrileña spirit of the 80s and is full of trendy bars and clubs. Brilliant independent shops can be found here and there's quite an arty/alternative vibe. Chueca is the city's gay barrio - but don't let that put you off! Sure there are plenty of gay bars etc but the atmosphere is distinctly inclusive with a pretty chilled vibe in the day time and everyone ready to party the night away! Flats here can vary in price (and quality) quite a bit as they're mainly occupied by students and other young people.

 

Colón/Alonso Martínez

 

This barrio links the more edgy Chueca with the more upmarket Chamberí and Salamanca. This is a great spot to live due to its central location and relaxed atmosphere. There are some lovely squares here with plenty of places to eat and shop. Great transport links are also another plus with a cercanías stop as well as metro. Rooms are generally quite cheap especially around Alonso Martínez. The Glorieta de Bilbao is a huge roundabout where several main streets converge; if you follow Calle Fuencarral downwards you'll be in Malasaña and then Sol in no time.

 

Las Cortes/Letras/Las Huertas/Paseo del Prado

 

These areas have more of a traditional/historic vibe. There are still plenty of restaurants and bars (Madrid's most famous jazz bar Café Central is here) but the atmosphere is calmer than Malasaña/Chueca. Unfortunately, though, their proximity to Retiro Park and the Paseo del Prado with its world famous Prado Museum means that these barrios are some of the most expensive in Madrid. Not many students or young people manage to find accommodation in these areas due to the price.

 

Operá/Palacio Real

 

This is the historic heart of Madrid where many of the oldest and most beautiful buildings are to be found. The royal palace is here surrounded by gorgeous gardens and cafes with terraces to sit out in the sun. The main theatre in Madrid is also here with world class drama and opera being performed throughout the year. Much more relaxed than the noisy Malasaña/Chueca but still very central these areas are only a 10 minute walk away from Sol and the Plaza Mayor. Not many students/young people live in these areas as their proximity to the Palace etc has pushed up the price.

 

La Latina/Austrias

 

A small, traditional barrio La Latina is perfect for eating out. The cobbled streets are full of tapas bars particularly Calle de Cava Baja which is famous for the best tapas in the city. Although still pretty close to more expensive areas like Operá this barrio is a little more affordable. One of the least touristy areas of Madrid, La Latina is a great place to witness true Spanish culture. In the day time this area is peace and quiet personified but in the evening it can get a little more lively especially along the more popular eating-out streets.

 

Puerta de Toledo/Lavapies/El Rastro

 

These areas are a bit further out from the centre but still very easy to get to in as little as 3 stops on the metro. Lavapies is the immigrant area of Madrid which can put people off but it's a great place to live for many reasons. Cheap accommodation, great multicultural food stores/restaurants and an interesting night life. In the daytime these areas are full of families and I often saw an African drumming group jamming away as I walked through. For the majority of my time away I lived in Embajadores, a smaller area within Lavapies, and absolutely loved it. El Rastro, Madrid's most famous flea market, is here which is also lovely to mooch around on a Sunday morning.

 

Moncloa/Arguelles

 

This area isn't actually labelled on the map above but it's the light pink section just to the west and north of Malasaña. Many of the students coming to study at Madrid's universities (eg. universidad complutense) lived here as it has such great transport links to the unis. This barrio has a really relaxed vibe with plenty of fresh air and green space; the Templo de Debod is a must see! It's also really close to Casa de Campo the huge green area to the west of the city which is great for walking/picnics etc.

 

Atocha/Retiro

 

These barrios are the closest to Retiro Park and as such are the greenest in the city. Though the majority of flats here are pretty expensive you can occasionally find a good deal. Having the fantastic park on your doorstep may be something you're willing to pay a little extra for! This is a more family focussed part of the city so if it's great nightlife you're after you might want to look elsewhere (though oddly Madrid's most famous club Teatro Kapital is here). Despite being further out of the city you can still hop on the metro and be in Sol in as little as 20 minutes. Atocha railway station is also useful to have nearby as it's where most trains that will take you to explore the rest of Spain will leave from. I lived here for a few months and although the park was right behind my apartment building the huge Paseo Reina Cristina was right in front. This meant that I couldn't really have the windows open because of the noise given off by 7 lanes of speeding traffic - something to think about.

 

Salamanca

 

Salamanca is without doubt the most expensive barrio in Madrid. Huge, wide streets are lined with luxury shops, restaurants and lounge bars. The people that live here are usually a little older having made a success of their careers and are now able to afford a swankier apartment. Also a very family oriented area of the city there are play grounds and designer kids shops dotted about. I was lucky enough to experience life here during my first month in Madrid living in my homestay and could see why it was so popular. Unfortunately, unless you've got quite a bit of money to spend, the rent on a flat here is likely to be just too much but with so many other great places to live in Madrid that's not anything to be disappointed about! 

 

I hope you've found this post useful; if you have any questions just comment below or tweet me @madridadrift. Once you've an idea of where you want to live check out my post on finding a flat which takes you through the process step by step.

 

Tips

• I focussed on the centre of Madrid for this post but there are plenty of other areas to choose from that are further out of the city.
• Have a think about where you're going to spend most of your time. If you only need to be in uni for a few hours a week you might not have to live right next door. In fact one of my friends was studying in another town, Alcalá, and chose to live in Madrid catching the train to uni a few times a week.
• If, like me, you want somewhere that is quiet at night so as not to lose out on sleep then make sure to check out the area you're thinking of on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night to see how loud it gets
• Don't get in a panic choosing between areas. Where you live isn't the be-all-and-end-all; think of your flat as a base from which to explore the rest of the city. Madrid is such a great place to live because although it's big enough to hold all the great shops/restaurants/museums/clubs etc. you could want it's still small enough to walk between them. If you find you end up living in an area that wouldn't really be your first choice it doesn't mean you can't experience the other barrios as they're often only a short walk away!

 

 

* The map of Madrid's barrios above was found on laurenonlocation.com

 

Taking Up an Instrument Abroad - My Clarinet Adventure!

In the last month of my second year at uni Evan Christopher, the famous clarinetist from New Orleans, and his band came to play at the Turner Sims concert hall on campus. As an anniversary treat my boyfriend and I went along and it was on that evening that my burning desire to play jazz clarinet came into being! After borrowing a friend's clarinet over the summer to enjoy a lovely birthday present of 4 lessons, I took the plunge and bought a second hand instrument of my own. Nestled in blue velvet my clarinet was then stowed in my suitcase to end up many miles away in Madrid.

The first few weeks of my time away were pretty hectic what with finding my way around the city, starting work and generally adapting to a life lived entirely in Spanish. Soon, though, I was eager to get going with my clarinet and did a quick google search to find my first teacher; Marcos. On a freezing cold November evening I walked the 30 mins from my new flat to Lavapies. This barrio is one of the poorer parts of Madrid and many immigrants have set up home here. During the day it's buzzing with colour and life; mothers play with their children, African drumming groups sit on walls jamming away while saris and sequins hang in shop windows.

At night, however, it's a different story... In the dark it takes on quite a sinister feel and I was glad when Marcos eventually turned up; albeit an hour late. A short, dark-haired young man with an impressive ponytail and a bouncing walk, he led me up the many flights of stairs to the flat his friend had lent him for the evening's lesson. (I hasten to add that I had let a great deal of people know where I was and what time I would be back - I wasn't taking any chances!)

I spent one of the most bohemian evenings of my life in that flat. After clearing the tiny sofa of its debris (magazines, clothes, an ash tray etc.) we began the lesson. It was news to me that the Spanish have different names for the musical notes than we do. Instead of A B C etc I was suddenly dealing with la, si, do, re, mi, fa and sol. After a long rambling speech about how the world of Jazz was a paradise that I had to get to by breaking down a huge metaphorical stone wall Marcos asked me to improvise for him. Improvise?? I tooted a few notes and saw him wince. He then asked if I minded if he smoked and we spent more or less the rest of the evening looking out over the rooftops and discussing how beautiful the moon was, how cats were the cleverest pets and the secrets of Madrid's incredible music scene. After explaining that this first lesson was free, he let me out into the icey night and I hurried home to my nice warm bed.

 

 

Unsurprisingly I didn't organise a second lesson... I wanted something a little more structured, something that involved actually playing the clarinet rather than sitting about smoking moodily and rhapsodising endlessly about jazz. My next teacher, Ricardo (pictured above with me), was just right. Luckily he only lived a couple of streets away and from my first lesson with him I felt like I was really learning something. Having worked as a music teacher in England for many years he was able to conduct our lessons in Spanish but use the English names for the notes. We started out playing pieces from my beginner's book and then later on he gave me the sheet music for a tango and easy blues piece. He was always very patient and understanding, even when I'd forgotten to practice...  and I began to really look forward to my hour's lesson every week. Having something regular in my diary helped me keep track of my time abroad and meant that if I'd had a bit of a rubbish morning Spanish-wise I knew that I'd have a good opportunity for conversation practice later. Ricardo was always jetting off to Berlin or London at the weekends to play in concert so we had plenty to chat about and I learnt lots of new musical vocabulary.

After having a lesson a week for around 6 months, minus holidays etc, I feel like I'm really making progress with my clarinet. Going from nothing to being able to play more or less any piece in my book (after a bit of practice) is a great feeling and having done it in Spanish only makes me feel more proud of myself.You're unlikely to ever have more free time to take up new hobbies or learn something new than while on your year abroad - take advantage of the time while you can!

Top Tips For Learning an Instrument Abroad

• Finding a teacher is obviously easier in a big city but don't despair if you're in a smaller town. Search online, on notice boards at uni or in local social centres and ask around - you may just strike gold.
• The teacher you have is of course the most important thing when learning something new. It's up to you what kind of teaching you favour but make sure to be safe. Whether you're taking lessons from a friend at uni or have found a teacher online make sure people know where you are and what time you'll be back.
• If you don't already have your own instrument then check out your uni's music department or local music shop. Often they have instruments available for rent.
• Prepare! Once you know what kind of instrument you want to learn it's a good idea to memorise some of the vocab you'll be using in French/Spanish etc. It just makes everything easier later on.
• Have a think about what kind of music you want to play. This is one of the first questions a new teacher is likely to ask you and it's so much easier for them if you say you like blues or country, for example, rather than just shrugging and saying "oh anything...". You're also more likely to enjoy practicing your new instrument if you're playing music you love.
• Have fun! Don't make this another thing to worry about while you're away. There's absolutely no pressure to continue with lessons if you're not enjoying yourself. Maybe take a break, find a different teacher or just grudgingly accept that this instrument isn't for you.

Happy Playing!

For those interested in Clarinet or Saxophone lessons in Madrid here are Ricardo's email address and website: fricard89@hotmail.com, http://www.ricardotejero.com/.

Combined Honours - Keeping Up Your Second Subject Abroad

As a combined honours student I knew right from the start that my third year would be spent abroad and that most of my energy during that time would be devoted to improving my Spanish. I was determined to fully embrace my new life in Spain but, with the prospect of a history dissertation looming on my return, wasn't prepared to just leave my other subject behind. Here's how I managed to keep up my history after I hopped on a plane and flew away to start my new life in sunny Madrid:

 1. Destination - I picked Madrid as my year abroad destination for many reasons; the ease of finding a job and the excitement of living in a capital city among them. Don't let the bright lights and shiny shop fronts of Gran Vía fool you though; Madrid has seen more than its fair share of history. The city is full of monuments to past kings and the battles of long ago - a walk around Retiro park or up through the old/royal quarter is a history lesson in itself. Being the capital also meant that most of Spain's national museums and art galleries were there ready to be plundered on a baking hot summer's afternoon. The bigger the city often the easier it will be to find resources to keep up your other subject.

2. Travel - If you've been placed in a rather out of the way location with British Council or simply couldn't find a job in a capital city - don't despair! A train ride into Paris or Berlin for a day spent sightseeing often isn't an impossibility. Who's to say that history is confined to a country's capital anyway? I was lucky enough to visit the south of Spain and journey through Granada, Córdoba and Sevilla - all places linked to momentous moments in Spanish history. Look at your home city as a base from which to explore the rest of your new country and everything it has to offer in terms of your other subject.

3. Work - I chose to take a break from studying on my year abroad and worked as an intern in a museum and then a leading high street bookshop. I know it's difficult, and you may have to work unpaid as I did, but if you know you don't want to study or teach then it's a good idea to try and get a job/placement linked to your other subject. Whether you study politics, english, film or archaeology there may be an embassy, bookshop, production company or museum out there eager to take you on. You'll never know unless you ask!

4. Study - Although I chose to work in Madrid we all know that a year abroad isn't totally devoid of studying. Most universities set tasks to keep us busy and cement our improving language skills. In my case this took the form of a 6000 word Year Abroad Project to be handed in in May. With free reign when it came to a topic for the essay I decided to tie in the history side of my degree. The resulting project on the Spanish café culture of the 1920s and its links to the avant garde movement had me writing a full length academic essay on a historical topic...in SPANISH. Something that definitely brushed away the cobwebs and required me to utilise all my old history research and analysis skills. If you can, definitely try and tie in your other subject to any work your university sets you while away.

5. Mix it up - Being combined honours students we're used to multi-tasking and bringing various different skills out of the bag at a moment's notice. The year abroad is the perfect setting to make the most of what the first two years of your degree have taught you. Why not subscribe to a philosophy journal in French? Join a historical re-enactment group in Germany, set yourself a goal to read the classics in Spanish or get up to date with politics on Italian TV? Whatever you do to keep up your other subject there's no better feeling than successfully combining your two skill sets, after all, as a combined honours student, it's what you do best.

(This article has just been published on thirdyearabroad.com to see the article on the website click here: http://www.thirdyearabroad.com/home/item/2656-combined-honours-keeping-up-your-second-subject-abroad.html)

Taking Charge of Your Year Abroad

A year abroad is a scary thing. Leaving my home country, my family and my friends behind to start a whole new life abroad entirely from scratch was definitely the most daunting thing I've ever done. Lots of things can happen while you're away that are totally out of your control and can make you feel small, weak and worthless. Maybe your flat-share is a nightmare, you fail an exam, you get your wallet/phone stolen or you get shouted at in a shop for not understanding...

The trick is to grab hold of the things that you can control and mould them to your liking! A year abroad is a fantastic opportunity to try new things, meet new people and explore the world. You're the one who has to live through this year so don't let a few sad/disappointing moments get you down; take charge of your new life!

Your attitude needs to be positive from the start; maybe you're a little disappointed with where you were placed by British Council but I can assure you that every destination has its pros and cons. The first step is to do some research on where you'll be heading and see what takes your fancy. Grab a piece of blank paper and a pen and write down anything that you want to do/experience on your year abroad. This has to be things that it's entirely down to you to achieve - don't write things like "make lots of new friends" or "become totally fluent in Spanish/French etc" as these are either reliant on other people or not easily measured/ticked off.

For example after reading a few guidebooks on Madrid I wrote:

Go salsa dancing
Go to a Jazz club
Practice using my Camera/photography
Start clarinet lessons
Visit Segovia and Toledo
Take up a sport
Keep a year abroad blog
Keep in touch with the other students from my uni

By setting these targets for myself it helped me feel like my time away was worth something - my first couple of months abroad may have been a bit difficult but at least I managed to visit my first ever Jazz club. After my original list was ticked off I started writing a new one every month with all the things I wanted to experience in Madrid before I came home. Not only did this mean that I was filling my free time productively and enjoying myself, it also helped me to keep track of the time I was away and ultimately got rid of my homesickness completely.

It's all very well making lists of fun things to do, I hear you cry, but what about the serious stuff? What if I hate my job, I have no friends, my flatmates are awful, my language isn't improving or I don't understand my lecturers? Well, the same positive attitude needs to be applied to these situations. After about 3 months abroad and a good few sleepless nights and teary Skype calls home I honestly remember sitting down and writing a list that began with

1. Make work less rubbish
2. Find a new flat.

My internship hadn't been advertised and when I actually turned up to the office I found I was being given hardly anything to do. This made me feel so useless and like it had all been a waste of time but I made up my mind to improve things and by making sure that I consistently asked for new tasks everyday I was gradually given more responsibility. Though I was also lucky in that my first internship only lasted 6 months and I managed to find myself a new one working in a huge bookshop on Gran Vía. Likewise, the first flat I moved into had seemed perfect but after a couple of months it was clear I had made a mistake; we all lived in fear of the landlady's daughter who would shout at us like children if we so much as left a bowl in the sink. I made up my mind to move and I did. I'm not saying any of this is easy, the month of flat-searching that followed was the most stressful time of my year abroad, but I'm so much happier now that I took charge of my own situation. I now live in a little flat in a great location with 3 lovely housemates and am loving the rest of my time here in Madrid.

If you're not happy with the way your time abroad is going - change it! I know this is much easier said than done (believe me I do) and sometimes downright impossible. But this article is about what is possible. If you're hating your time away for reasons outside of your control then there's not much that you can do but endure it. If, however, you can make a positive difference to how things turn out then take the plunge! Ask for help from your lecturer, find a new flat, stand up for yourself at work, join that new club or get yourself a fun language exchange partner - you won't regret it! The year abroad is about setting off on your own personal adventure and it's you who charts the course.

(This article has just been published on thirdyearabroad.com, to see the article on the website just follow this link -  http://www.thirdyearabroad.com/home/item/2642-taking-charge-of-your-year-abroad.html)

(Literally) Cool Places in Madrid

It's now the last week of June here in Madrid and the temperatures have soared. Once a fairly toasty 32 degrees the thermometer on the bus stop outside my flat now reads in the early 40s. This isn't lovely, sunhat and ice-lolly holiday weather this is lie down in a darkened room with a fan on at full blast and pray it cools down soon weather. You know things are getting serious when even the city itself can't take the heat and the plants shrivel while the tarmac melts into a shiny black mess. Things have gone beyond sitting in the shade with a cocktail - you need to be in an air conditioned space NOW! Here are a few of the places I've found that, while still providing some interest, will keep you from roasting where you stand:

1. Museums

 

 

One of the nicest ways to spend an afternoon is in one of Madrid's many museums. Depending on what you fancy there's something to suit everyone from ancient artefacts, to modern art, to books, or even waxwork celebrities. Though full-price tickets can often seem a bit steep there are options for students (make sure to take your ID card) and sometimes designated free opening times (check online for info). A couple of my favourites are the Museo Arqueológico Nacional and the Museo Reina Sofía.

2. The Cinema

When the heat is at its highest, round late afternoon, what could be nicer than sipping an iced drink in the cool darkness while watching the next box-office hit? Being a capital city Madrid has plenty of cinemas dotted around the place so they're easy to find. The two that I normally go to are Cine Princesa near Plaza de España and Cine Ideal just along Calle Carretas a little way back from Sol. Wednesday is the best day to go as tickets are significantly cheaper (around 5 euros instead of the usual 9 or 10) and it's something fun to do mid-week. You can check which films are available online; many show English Language films with Spanish subtitles (these are labelled VOS on the posters). Don't worry if the film you're desperate to see hasn't come out abroad yet, it generally will though sometimes a month or so later.

3. Indoor Shopping Centres

I can hardly believe I'm including this on a supposedly "fun things to do" list, I find shopping pretty stressful, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Throughout the year if I've seen anything I like in a shop window I've usually just let it pass...too much hassle. Now, though, as it's now or never I've reluctantly decided to take the plunge and GO SHOPPING! After my first disastrous trip round the centre of Madrid in the full heat of the afternoon I thought there had to be a better way and there is - indoor shopping centres! My favourite is Principe Pio. Here you can find all the main highstreet stores and many more without the baking heat and screaming children. What's more it's right next to the metro mouth for Principe Pio so involves barely a minute of sweaty walking between the air conditioned train and a shopper's paradise. As it's coming to the end of June most shops have got their sales on and I have to say that despite myself I had quite a good time mooching around here the other afternoon.

4. Madrid Snow Zone

If you really can't bear the heat any longer and are yearning to be far away where the breeze blows through the mountains and the pine trees are sparkling with frost then your best bet is to visit Madrid Snow Zone. This indoor ski slope is the closest you're going to get to the chilly north while stuck in Madrid. From about 35 euros you can hire all the necessary gear and spend about an hour and a half whizzing down on real, ice cold, snow. The journey to Xanadú, the out of town shopping centre that houses the slope, may be a bit of a chore in the heat but once your breath is forming misty clouds in front of you, you'll be glad you made the effort.

Those are a few of the places I've found to take refuge in during the hot summer here in Madrid but I just thought I'd end with a few common sense tips on keeping cool in the city:

How To Beat the Heat!

• There's a reason the Spanish take a siesta (they're not just being lazy). The heat gradually builds throughout the day until it becomes unbearable around 4-5 o'clock. Follow their lead and take it easy in the afternoon; planning on doing anything other than relaxing over a late lunch and staying inside until the heat dies down a little is just asking for trouble.
• If you're lucky where you're living has air conditioning. If not BUY A FAN! You won't be able to survive otherwise...
• Be sensible and take the precautions you would in England - wear a hat, slap on the sunscreen and carry water everywhere you go - there's nothing worse than getting a headache and feeling sick due to sunstroke.
• Stock up on all things icey! I'm talking ice cubes, ice lollies, ice packs. Half fill your water bottle the night before and leave it in the freezer; next morning you'll have a ready supply of chilled water. Leave a jug of water in the fridge to use throughout the day.
• Keep your windows CLOSED!! This may sound counter-intuitive; you want fresh air right? Not in summer in Madrid; the air outside is hotter than inside. The only way to keep your apartment cool is to keep the windows closed and the blinds down throughout the day. Then when you get back from uni/work turn on the fan and only open the windows when there's a noticeable drop in the outside temperature.
• When out and about you'll often see people, especially women, carrying wooden hand-held fans. There's some debate about whether these are worth it or not with some claiming the action of fanning yourself generates more heat than it avoids...but maybe have one in your bag just in case.
• Take the metro! Walking long distances through the city like we used to during the autumn and spring is out of the question now.

and lastly...

• Don't forget to eat! I know it sounds stupid but with the weather so hot most of us just can't face eating a big dinner or standing over the hot oven. Though it's summer you still need regular meals but, instead of trying to force down huge, hot dinners, eat little and often throughout the day. The Spanish have been dealing with this heat for centuries and thankfully have come up with some great cooling recipes. Why not give the refreshingly tomatoey andalucían Salmorejo or Gazpacho a try? These cold soups are delicious with crusty bread and a few slices of jamón.

Sorting Out a NIE (Spanish Insurance Number)

Once you've been in Spain for a little while and have sorted all the most pressing issues such as where you'll live and how you'll be travelling to and from uni/work, you'll want to get your hands on a NIE or Spanish insurance number. Without one you won't be able to open an account in most banks and apparently it's actually a legal requirement to get one before you've been living in Spain for 3 months so don't faff about!

I remember being told something about going to the police station to get one in an induction lecture back in Southampton but it's actually a bit more complicated than that. For a start you can't just go to any old police station... In this post I'll talk you through how I got hold of mine step by step - I hope you find it helpful.

Step 1: Making an Appointment

Like everything in Spain you can't just turn up with your documents and ask for what you want; you need to make an appointment online first.

Go to this website: https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/citar

You will need to select your province from the first drop down menu (in my case Madrid) and then from the second menu choose "CERTIFICADOS UE". The next page is terms and conditions, give these a quick read if you like and then skip forwards to input your data. This involves selecting "pasaporte" from the available documents (seeing as you won't have a NIE yet) and inputting your passport number and full name. After proving you're not a robot with one of those little letter test thingies you'll be taken to a page where it asks you to either "solicitar una cita" or "anular" an appointment you've already made. Select "solicitar una cita". The next few pages will take you through booking an appointment; there may be a choice of police stations or there may be just one and you may have to wait a while for a free slot. Make sure you select the FULL NIE that costs 10 euros and NOT the 9 euro one that means you won't have everything you need. Once you've got your appointment booked print off the confirmation email/print screen the page or write down the booking reference - you'll need it later! :)

Step 2 (optional): Getting the Bank Form Ahead of Time

A NIE costs money and you need to pay for it in advance at a bank and then bring the bank receipt as proof of payment to your appointment at the Police Station. Before you head to the bank though you need to go to the Police Station to get hold of the NIE form you'll need to take to the bank... bear with me people. For some this might mean a separate trip to the station and then the bank if they're quite far apart (hence why this step is optional) but in Madrid it can all be done in the same day. I'll explain exactly how I did this in the following few steps:

Step 3: Things You Will Need

• 2 copies of a document that provides a reason for you to be in Spain e.g. your work contract or your uni forms etc. Original and photocopy
• Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
• Your Passport and a photocopy
• Proof you have an appointment (this is where the printed off email/reference number comes in!)
• The 10 euros to pay for your NIE
• (Then later the bank receipt as proof of payment for your NIE)
• You may also be asked for a copy of your housing contract to prove you are resident in Spain.

Step 4: Appointment Time!!

You will need to set aside a good few hours or more to get your NIE. I took the whole morning off work and, due to the amount of waiting around, was glad I did!

Make sure to arrive at least an hour before your appointment time at the Police Station (in Madrid this was the Comisería General de Extranjería y Fronteras in calle Padre Piquer, 18). During this time you will need to ask for the bank form at the front desk, fill it in and take it to the nearest bank with your 10 euros. They will then sign it, stamp it and issue you with a receipt (guard this with your life!!)

Return to the Police Station with your receipt and all the other documents mentioned above.

Ask at the front desk for the EX-18 form (or ask for the NIE form - they're sure to understand) and fill this in while you are waiting. They will then give you your queue number.

When your number comes up it's your turn to get your NIE. The appointment itself was actually incredibly straightforward; I just handed my documents over one by one and after about 15 minutes I emerged clutching my little green card.

Now you are officially registered to live and work in Spain! Woohoo!

I hope this was useful; if you have any questions just leave them down below, fb me or tweet me using +MadridAdrift :)

Beggars - To Give or Not to Give

For someone that lives in a fairly small cathedral city in Hertfordshire, moving to Madrid was a shock in more ways than one. The sheer number of people I encounter on a daily basis is staggering. I was chatting to my Dutch/French housemate the other day and she joked that the people sharing her metro train probably outnumbered the inhabitants of her entire village!

All echelons of society are squashed together in one noisy, frantic, multicultural mess. This means that, while also sharing the pavement with impeccably coiffed women clacking along in high heels and business men in their loafers and blazers, you inevitably encounter those who are less fortunate. In a word - beggars.

At first Madrid's beggars made me feel deeply uneasy. This might seem a bit pathetic but bear in mind that these people are often terribly disfigured. There's the man in Sol with no arms who sits rattling a plastic cup full of change by holding it with his teeth. An awfully burned man with no fingers walks the train on my metro home every day calling "yo no tengo dedos, una ayuda por fa!". A woman with an empty eye socket stands at the base of the stairs to Sol metro trying to get the attention of passers by. These are just a few examples of the people I've encountered and there are many, many more.

I'm happy to say that after 6 months abroad I am no longer frightened by beggars but they still give me cause to think. I have never given one of them any money. I defend my actions by saying that it would be impossible to give money to them all and who am I to decide who is more deserving? This doesn't mean that I don't feel sorry for them though and I can't say that my heart doesn't sink when I hear "yo no tengo dedoooos" ringing through the train.

Most beggars are not aggressive in their asking; they simply hold out a cup of change. On the street it is easy to walk on by and I find that on the metro is where begging can feel the most awkward. Here many people look away or try to hide behind their tablet or smartphone which can cause the beggar to stop and be a little more persistent. It is entirely up to you whether you give money or not. If you decide that you'd rather not there is nothing to worry about - just shake your head and say no. I have never seen a beggar stop or make a scene after this.

If you're from London or Manchester you're probably wondering what all the fuss is about but let me assure any small town people like me that there's absolutely nothing to be worried about! If you're heading to a big city for your year abroad it's inevitable that you'll encounter the homeless, or people asking for spare change, fairly regularly. Begging, unfortunately, is a fact of life and whether you choose to donate or not it isn't going to be a problem that disappears any time soon.

Medical Matters

When on a year abroad the everyday sniffles and headaches that can crop up in England don't just disappear. What can make for an even bigger headache, however, is working out how to get hold of the medicines you need to get you feeling better.

A few weeks before Easter I came down with a horrible virus that affected my ears and throat even spreading to my eye in the form of conjunctivitis (super sexy...). I wanted to make sure it wasn't a bacterial infection but delayed trying to get a doctor's appointment because I thought it would just be a massive faff. In fact the opposite was true:

How to register with a Doctor/Make a Doctor's Appointment

Things you will need:

• Your European Health Insurance (EHIC) card
• Your Passport or NIE (if you've got it)

Find your local health centre/doctor's surgery and explain the situation in person at the front desk (you're an english student studying abroad who needs to be registered with a doctor as you'd like an appointment). In my experience the registration process should take about 15 minutes and you'll be assigned a doctor to see while abroad. I asked for an appointment that day and after waiting for about 30mins was seen by a GP.

Once registered you can make any future appointments over the phone.

I'm sure it's pretty obvious but make sure you swot up on the vocab you'll think you'll need regarding your specific complaint. It'll be a pretty awkward appointment if all you can do is point at parts of your body and mime pain...

Medicine

If what you have is mild or can be treated with a medicine that you can buy over the counter head to your nearest pharmacy. You'll most definitely have seen these on travels in Europe as they advertise their presence with enormous neon green signs in the shape of a cross. I've found the staff to be knowledgable and helpful with any questions I've had. In fact if you're not sure what you've got, or even if you need to find a doctor in the first place, paying a visit to your local pharmacy and asking the pharmacist is often the best thing to do.

Find out the name of the medicine you're after in Spanish/French etc as it's often different to the English name.

CHECK THE DOSAGE!! - Before you take any medicine check the dosage on the pack to avoid accidentally taking too much.

In Spain, for example, Paracetamol can be found in packs of up to 40, 1g tablets whereas in England each tablet contains around half that amount. The maximum amount per dose is 1g but if you're used to taking 2 tablets it's easy to see how you could accidentally take double that.



IMPORTANT
This post is designed to give general advice to future students on their year abroad about getting hold of medicine while away. Of course if you have a long standing or serious health condition that requires certain medicines or care then you must consult your doctor before going abroad.

If there's a medical emergency and you need an ambulance phone the EU Emergency Number: 112

Finding a Flat - Accommodation in Madrid

 

One of the first major things we have to worry about when embarking on a year abroad is where we're going to live. It might seem very daunting to start with but the process of finding a new home is fairly simple and there are plenty of different types of accommodation to choose from.

I know it can seem tempting but something I really wouldn't recommend is trying to sort out a new flat over the summer while you're still in the UK. In order to make sure you have the best experience possible it really is a good idea to wait until you arrive in Spain/Madrid so you can visit the flat before you agree to live there and give it a proper once over. What is definitely an essential summer holiday task is organizing a place to stay for while you are searching for a flat during the first phase of your time abroad. If you're lucky this could be the home of a family friend or relative who already lives in the city you're heading to but if you're like the majority of us it will end up being a hotel, hostel or homestay. Each of these options has its pros and cons but the one I really would recommend is a homestay.

During my first 3-4 weeks of living abroad I lived in a homestay with a Spanish lady called Isabel. The advantages of this were enormous. Firstly, it can seem like you're in a desperate rush to find a flat at first and that you're wasting your time in a hostel or hotel. Being in a homestay meant that I knew I was going to be there for around a month and that I could use that time to search for flats in a more relaxed way while still having an "authentic" spanish experience. Secondly, it can be really lonely, not to mention expensive, living in a hotel room on your own whereas I always knew that there would be someone at home to chat to in Spanish. Isabel also proved really helpful as on my first day she took me to the city centre to show me round and I could ask her any questions I might have about living in Madrid. For some people a homestay may be exactly what they want for the entirety of their year abroad; there are many different types of "family" to take you in from middle aged couples looking to rent a room to full on families with several kids and accompanying pets. For me however, I knew that I wanted to live with a group of people my own age and so set about finding a flat.

Getting Started - What You Will Need

The first thing that you will need in order to get started on your flat search is a phone that is set up to work abroad. See my previous post: Getting Started With a Spanish Mobile

I know it may seem scary that in your first week abroad you'll be expected to start talking to random spaniards on the phone but trust me this is the only way you'll ever start making progress with your search. It really isn't enough to fire off a set of whatsapp messages hoping people will get back to you - phone them up and organise a viewing then and there! (See advice on this below)

After you've got your phone sorted you need to find some flats that you're interested in viewing. There are plenty of places you can look to find adverts for available rooms.

1. www.idealista.com - this was my favourite website for flat searching. True it has its limitations but it's free to use, has a filtered search option for prices etc and has a map of the city that allows you to search in specific areas.

2. www.easypiso.com - this website was less useful but many friends have said it helped them. You create a little advert for yourself telling people who you are and what kind of flat you're looking for and wait for people to get back to you. Be warned you will be BOMBARDED with emails!

3. Paper Adverts - In Spain when people have an available room in their flat they often stick up little paper adverts on notice boards or lamp posts with a few details and their phone number to tear off. If you're studying at uni check the student notice boards regularly and, if you know whereabouts in the city you want to live, go for a wander through the streets noting down any adverts you find to call later.

4. Your "Network" - Make use of EVERYBODY you know when looking for a flat. You might be thinking that in the first couple of weeks you're unlikely to have a huge bunch of friends but I'm not just talking about your bosom buddies. Slip it into casual conversation with everyone you meet at work, uni or in social situations; a quick "I'm looking for a flat at the moment, do you know of any available ones in this area?" could prove very fruitful.

Contacting People

Once you've found a flat you think looks good and have a phone number you're itching to call, it can be helpful to write out a little script just to help you feel a bit more confident (I hope you don't think this next section is a little patronising but all I can say is that when I first arrived I would have liked a bit of help with this)

When Spanish people answer the phone they are likely to say "Sí", "Díme" or "Digame" and wait for you to speak.

First confirm who they are by saying something like "Hola ¿estoy hablando con ...........? once they've confirmed who they are just go straight in with explaining why you're calling, don't wait for them to say anything else...long phone pauses are awkward and dispiriting....

I've found a good phrase to begin with is -  "Hola, te llamo porque he visto tu anuncio para una habitación en idealista.com ¿la habitación todavía está disponible?

If it is, organize a viewing with something like "¿puedo venir a verla? or ¿podemos organizar una visita?

They'll often ask you your name and how long you're planning on being in Madrid (or the city where you are) so it's a good idea to have an answer prepared for general questions like this.

If you have any make or break questions for them this is the time to ask them, before you travel all the way to the viewing.

Viewings

Try to go with someone you know when viewing a new flat but often this is impossible or just not practical. If you go alone make sure you tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back.

Flat viewings are often pretty brief affairs, sometimes you can turn up at 5pm and be done by 5.10pm. This means it's perfectly feasible to organise several viewings in the same day to maximise your search.

Bear in mind that sometimes online pictures can be a bit deceiving. Don't be disheartened if you get to a flat you thought would be amazing and it turns out to be less than great - there are plenty more flats in the sea!

Contracts and prices etc.

In Spain finding a flat is a much more casual affair than in England. Some landlords don't have a contract for you to sign and ask for the rent each month in cash. This may seem pretty dodgy but it's fairly normal and it's up to you to decide whether you want to do this or not. Other landlords will ask you to sign a contract for however many months you're planning on being abroad. This is often fairly flexible though and as long as you tell them a month in advance that you're planning to leave (i.e. if you find a better flat or just don't like it there anymore) then you'll be able to get your deposit back and get out before the end of your contract. Some contracts are not this flexible, however, and it's up to you to make sure you ask before you sign to make sure you understand what you're getting into.

Personally I would not recommend signing a contract that you are unable to get out of with your deposit intact. You really don't know someone until you live with them and if after a couple of months you're not enjoying your situation it can be a bit of a blow to have to leave without your deposit (which is usually a month's rent).

In terms of prices there's something for everyone. I know that madrid is a capital city but at the moment I'm paying 300 euros a month plus about 25 euros of bills on top of that. True this is exceptionally cheap but on average you can expect to pay anything between 350 and 450 euros a month. There are more expensive rooms out there though for those with more luxurious tastes!

Your Flatmates

I know that the year abroad dream is to live in a flat with a group of lovely natives and become fluent in Spanish (or whatever language you study) in the shortest time possible. If you manage to find a flat like this then you're all set. If you don't, however, it really isn't the end of the world. Obviously it is a good idea to live with at least one spanish person to get some practice in but if the spanish dream is proving elusive it really is ok to live with other European or English students. All this means is that you're going to have to put a bit more effort into your free time. Go to language exchange groups, organise one on one intercambios, chat with your colleagues or uni students over coffee etc. If you really TRY to speak Spanish you will and the fact that the people you say "hey" to in the kitchen every morning are English won't make much difference.

And lastly.....

Things to note:

The spanish are fairly lax in their use of the words "chica" and "chico" which in our minds would suggest a person round about our own age or younger. Just be aware that a flat of 4-5 "chicos" could mean that some or all are over 30 (which may not be a bad thing - don't dismiss a flat just because the people are older they may be really nice!)

Be prepared to spend most of your free time in those first few weeks looking for a flat. Apparently the average time spent searching in Madrid is 18 days but this can stretch to much longer if you're only organising a viewing every couple of days.

If after some time in your new flat you've unfortunately decided that you don't like it and want to move, make sure you've sorted a new place before you tell your landlord that you want out. I cannot describe the sheer stress of the frantic search that you're forced to take on once you've got a deadline after which you would theoretically be on the streets (or more realistically in a hostel or hotel for a bit). JUST DON'T DO IT!! :)


I apologise for the length of this massive post! As always if you have any questions regarding accommodation or anything else to do with year abroad or Madrid feel free to leave them in the comments below.

How to Get Hold of a Railcard

"The public transport is amaaaaazing!" - It's one of the first things that you get told about living in Madrid. Everyone raves about how cheap it is to get around the city on the bus or metro and compared to the UK this is definitely true. The cheapest way to get around is by buying a railcard or Tarjeta Transporte Público/Abono Transporte and charging it up every 30 days. This sounds easy enough but remember this is Spain and anything that involves the slightest amount of paperwork can get complicated... Fear not! For I am here to talk you through the process.

When you first arrive in Madrid (we're talking literally the first day or so) you'll want to get a 10 trip bus and metro ticket. You can buy these for around 12 euros at all metro stations from the machines at the entrance. This will tide you over for the first few days while you start your new life in the city. You'll soon want to upgrade to a transport card though as I was getting through 2-3 of these tickets a week.

There are 2 main ways that you can get the card:

• The first is carried out entirely online with forms to fill in and documents to scan and send. You'll also need a permanent address for the new card to be sent to you; this can take a couple of weeks or so.
• The second way is to make a prior appointment (una cita previa) online for a meeting at one of the transport offices in certain stations. This means that at your appointment you'll be given the card then and there.

I chose the second option as I was looking for a flat and knew that my address would soon change. After 2 weeks of paying squillions for the metro (ok slight exaggeration...) I also wanted my card as soon as possible.

You can't make an appointment in person at the station it must be online or by phone. You'll also need to specify what kind of card you're after - as I was under 23 I asked for an Abono Joven. The city's public transport network is split into zones with zone A being the city centre and anything outside of that being zone B1, B2 etc. You'll need to check whereabouts you'll need to be travelling to before you make your appointment so you can specify a zone.

I had trouble with the online form that needed to be filled in to book an appointment so ended up phoning the office and making my appointment that way. Make sure you have your passport number and mobile phone number handy. There is an enormous demand for appointments so be prepared to wait at least a few days and up to a week or more for a slot.

Things to take to your appointment:

• Your passport
• A photocopy of your passport (they refuse to photocopy anything in the office)
• A passport photo (often they will take this for you in the office but it's better to be safe than sorry; the machine could be broken, if it's a smaller office it may not have a machine etc.)
• 4 euros for the card

Once you've been to your appointment and are clutching your newly bought card, you'll want to top it up so you can start using it. Just take it to one of the machines in the station, select the type of card you've got (there are cards for adults, those over 65 and those under 23) and pay in the required amount. An Abono Joven is a little cheaper than an adult card at 35 euros a month. After you've topped it up you need to start using the card within 10 days. The 30 days it lasts for start on the first day that you use your card.

The card is valid on the metro, cercanías lines and buses within the zone that you've specified.

https://www.tarjetatransportepublico.es/CRTM-ABONOS/entrada.aspx

Getting Started with a Spanish Mobile

Once you arrive in Spain one of the first things you'll want to do is get your phone sorted. If you don't have a Spanish SIM card giving your number out to new friends or getting started on a flat search is so much more difficult and expensive. There are plenty of networks operating in Spain; the largest of which are Movistar, Vodafone, Orange and Yoigo. I have friends that use these networks but the service I chose is a much smaller one called Tuenti which is provided by Movistar.

In my first week I spent so much precious time faffing about because I didn't really know what I was doing. I honestly went to at least 7 different Movistar stores and failed at getting a SIM at each of them for various reasons. I don't want this to happen to you so just follow these steps to take the stress out of getting a spanish SIM.

1. Have a phone ready for your new SIM. Some people buy a really cheap brick phone in England to take abroad as their posh smartphones are tied into English contracts. Whatever you want to do make sure that the phone you take is unlocked meaning it will accept a new SIM card. Being the technophobe I am I had only just joined the 21st century before I set off so had a new unlocked smartphone all ready and waiting.

Something to bear in mind is that EVERYONE in Madrid uses WhatsApp so you may want a phone with internet access.

2. Go to the Flagship Movistar store on Gran Vía. I faffed about for days going to small stores that told me they'd run out of the SIM I wanted, didn't stock SIMs as they were inside the Corte Inglés or that I needed to create an account online beforehand (absolute rubbish). Go to the main store where they'll have everything to hand - if your Spanish is rusty there'll also be someone ready to help you in English.
 
Things you will need:

- Your Passport
- 25 Euros (in cash or card it's up to you)

3. Ask for a prepaid Tuenti SIM (Una tarjeta prepago de Tuenti). In Spain you can't get a phone contract for any less than 18 months. As the majority of us are going to be abroad for around 9 months a prepaid plan is the best option.

For 7 Euros a month Tuenti offers:

- 1 GB of data
- 50 minute of Vozdigital (Vozdigital is essentially a way in which people who have a Tuenti SIM can talk to each other over the internet via the Tuenti App)
- It costs 18.15 cents to establish a call (within Spain) but then the first 30mins are free. You could hang up at 29 mins and redial meaning that an hours phone call has only cost about 37 cents (sneaky!)

You pay 25 euros to get the SIM card and the first month's payment is taken away leaving you with the excess as credit. So for the first month you would have 18 euros worth of credit to make phone calls with etc. The next month's 7 euros is automatically taken from your remaining credit. Once this is all gone you can top up at any ATM or inside Movistar stores.

Once you've put the SIM in your phone I'd wait 10-15 minutes inside the store to check that it's working. Make sure you have WIFI disabled when you try to access the internet or you may think it works when it doesn't...this definitely didn't happen to me... In the end I had to get the settings on my phone changed by one of the engineers so it would accept a foreign SIM.

In Movistar stores and on their website you'll be able to find other slightly more expensive options that offer more data/minutes etc. Unfortunately as foreigners buying the card using a passport as ID the only option available to us is the 7 euro plan.

As I said there are plenty of other options but this is the cheapest and most practical one I found. I hope this has helped you if you're wondering how to go about getting a SIM on your year abroad.

The flagship Movistar store is located at Gran Vía, 28.