#nyumadrid

[teamnyuglobal]

Awesome first afternoon in Spain. Toured and had a great lunch at Real Madrid’s home pitch, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Real Madrid plays tomorrow night for the Champions League final and we are pumped that we will get to watch the big game in the squad’s home city.

[teamnyuglobal]

Muchas Gracias to Professor Carlos from NYU Madrid for the walking tour of the city!

[thisisnyu]

“Finally I am here, far outside my comfort zone, without my family, friends or native language, and I am learning I am not quite as independent as I once thought.”

mooreatakesmadrid:

independencia

Step outside your comfort zone and you will learn new things about yourself.

As long as I can remember, I have considered myself “independent”- and I have been proud to self-label with that adjective. In elementary school, I never needed my parents to remind me to do my homework. As I grew older, I continued that pattern- making sure I knew how to plan my school schedules in high school, planning out my drivers ed so I got my license the first day I was eligible, interviewing for jobs as soon as I turned 16 so I no longer needed to turn to my parents for spending money, figuring out college applications….

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[thisisnyu]

“Adjustment means that I am living out this dream and I am succeeding.”

mooreatakesmadrid:

El Ajuste

I have officially been living here in Madrid for one month today. A month is an interesting amount of time because it is significant but also insignificant- enough time for habits to form, but still only a very small part of a year (8.3%, but who needs to be exact?).

It feels like I have been here for much, much longer than a month; and sometimes it seems as if I will never return home. However, an upside to the time I have spent here is that I have adjusted, more or less. I would not say I am comfortable, for I still feel very much alone and on guard at times. But I am now used to the hours that stores are open, and know where I can buy cold milk. My Spanish is strong enough that some mistake me for una madrileña (although my blue eyes still get intense stares many times daily). The metro system makes sense to me. My frustration in not having people here for me has subsided, for the most part. I might not be incredibly happy or comfortable, but I am in a routine.

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[thisisnyu]

“I think it’s the little everyday things that you take for granted, that end up being the hugest differences.“

mooreatakesmadrid:

agua

One of the most rewarding things about living in another place is the experience of acknowledging what you take for granted at home. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and time without certain things you took for granted can certainly make you appreciate them in a new way.

I never imagined one of those things to be water.

Don’t get me wrong-of course there is water here. Although we’re currently experiencing a 100-degree heat wave (and an entire lack of humidity or any moisture), there is still water- but no one seems to want, need, or use it.

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[thisisnyu]

“There are certain places you just fall instantly fall in love with.”

mooreatakesmadrid:

Amsterdam

There are certain places you just fall instantly fall in love with. For me, Amsterdam was one of them.

I’m sure that my love of the city came partially from my need to escape my little Madrid bubble for a bit (crazy how I could already need to escape a new place), and partially from my ability to finally speak freely with someone who knew me, but regardless I loved it.

Upon arriving at my friend’s dorm on Thursday night, a girl outside asked me if I could help her put a couch onto a cart. My first (New York) instinct was that, of course, she wanted to steal my bag! I hesitated but felt awkward as I continued to wait for my friend, and the girl continued to very obviously need help. Eventually I admitted, “yes I’ll help you…but I just don’t want anyone to take my stuff.” She laughed and promptly assured me, “You must not be from Amsterdam. No one takes things here.” Still a little cautious, I kept my bags on my back while I helped her lift the couch, but no one stole my things

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[thisisnyu]

“Language didn’t matter anymore. We all understood one another. “

sarahmayeveryday:

Beauty in Challenge

I once gave a woman directions in broken Spanish for the Uptown R train from the Port Authority. “El tren amarillo, calles con grande numeros en el norte, va a Times Square, aquí, allí…” I did my best and I’m fairly certain we understood each other and she got to her destination.

This was months ago, probably last November.

It wasn’t until today that I fully grasped just how overwhelming the experience must have been for her - the Port Authority/Times Squares Stations are huge, and every train and its brother stops there. There is plenty of signage, but if that signage is in a foreign language, it only aides to the mass confusion of the station.

It’s a challenge.

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[thisisnyu]

“This first week in Spain has been—a shock.”

okayake:

SEPTEMBER 1ST: WAKE UP MR. WEST (Madrid)

Subtle Kanye reference, no? Swizz Beatz would be disappointed in me.

¡¡¡Hola hola hola!!! ¿¿¿Que tal???

Yes ladies and gentlemen back home, I am officially fluent. No, I’m actually really not (is this explanation sentence really necessary?) But, I have picked up a few phrases, more than just my go-to “No se.” or “No hablo.” or “No comprendo.”

This first week in Spain has been—-a shock. The people (Madrileños) stare (potential HuffPo article to come about it soon? ;) ), they’re nicer, kinder, compassionate, and more caring than I’ve seen from a homogenous population (I probably should provide more context to this but once again, tbd ;) ), and they’re just EFFORTLESSLY PRETTY AND REALLY TOO COOL FOR ME.

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