Arielle Loren » NYU in Madrid

My New Home: Sevilla, Espana

Arielle — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:41:51 +0000

Hi Everyone,

So by now, everyone knows that I have moved programs from NYU in Madrid to the all spanish Universidad de Pablo Olavide in Sevilla. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT HERE.

Everyday, I wake up and walk to the city’s center and sit and read (in Spanish) before I have to go to class. There are a ton of beautiful parks within 10 minute walking distance from my house and there are orange trees EVERYWHERE. It seems to be always sunny in Sevilla.

My house is about a century old, it’s a typical old Sevillan home. It has four floors, two patios, two gardens, and a roof top terrace. The wall colors range from rusty red to yellow and the doors have a strong Arabic architectural influence. I have no internet, so all i do is read, write and watch spanish movies at home unless i go to an internet cafe. It’s a great way to concentrate, and I am loving the seclusion from techonology!

My university is like a typical suburban college campus, which I am not used to since I go to NYU which is of course in the biggest city in the U.S. But I love it. The Universidad de Pablo Olavide stretches across about 5 miles, has a full gym, great library, and tons of buildings. All the professors have been extremely helpful since I am in classes with all spanish students, it’s been a great and exciting challenge having to adjust from all the Americans speaking way too much English in my NYU in Madrid program to not being able to speak ANY English because all my friends are Spanish. I can literally count on one hand all my English speaking friends here!

But nevertheless, that is the update. My classes are going well, I’ll keep you all posted.

Love you guys!!!!!

Es la verdad, Estoy en Madrid (It’s the truth, I am in Madrid)

Arielle — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:46:56 +0000

It’s been approximately four days and I have NEVER spoken so much spanish in my life. My Senora (aka the sweet old woman I am living with) speaks no English, so my five housemates and I have all our evening conversations in Spanish and barely speak any English. It is truly the best thing I could’ve asked for and I have learned so many new words and expressions in the last week that are simply amazing. Additionally, no one in Madrid speaks English or desires to lol, so whether I am asking for directions, in the grocery store trying to find something, getting in a cab, ordering my food at a restaurant, talking with locals about Madrid, EVERYTHING is conducted in Spanish. Admittedly it is frustrating at times when I can’t think of a word, but after just four days I can DEFINITELY say that I will be fluent after five months of living here and traveling around South America for two months this summer. We haven’t truly gone too many places and I am trying not to look like a tourist by taking too many pictures, so unfortunately I only have a few to show you for your viewing. (Madrid is notorious for pickpockets, cell phone grabbers, and purse dealers). When I begin to travel around Spain over the next month and various parts of Europe I’ll be sure to snap a few so you can see what I’ve been up to though.

Travel list for this semester:

1. South of France & Paris

2. Greece

3. Morocco

4. Egypt

5. Germany

6. Sicily, Naples, & Capri

7. ALL OVER SPAIN (Canary Islands included!)

Las tias y yo (The girls and I…tia is slang for girl or chica en Spain even though it technically means aunt!)