ICADE

In the beginning it was hard and at times very frustrating to communicate because I found I knew less spanish than I orginally thought. But VERY slowly I found myself getting more and more comfortable and that improvement still continues with me. Classes are the most frustrating part as my teachers speak very fast and it doesnt help that they also have horrible handwriting so reading what they write on the board is also a struggle. But like I said before gradually it improves and I find myself improving little by little. Today I feel I can sit through a class and at least get the larger part of what is taught in class. Socially, communication has not been as much as a struggle with the exception of the use of a lot of slang by spanish students my age. But I also find that they are more than willing and eager to teach you their slang if you ask them. Just be careful on when to use it! (i.e. NOT on a job interview or when talking to a teacher)

Madrid is a great city and it has been a fantastic experience for me so far.

Eating out gets expensive, try and cook more often than not. Don't blow all your money when you first get here because your so excited to arrive. There is a hopping nightlife every night in Madrid and it is very tempting to go out every night when you first get here. My advice would be to remember that nights at the bars come and go with not much intrinsic value. I'd rather have some of the money I blew at the bars these days for traveling.

I don't think ICADE has dorms but I think they will help with finding an apartment.

Make friends with Spaniards and they will lead you to the inside spots and cool bars that most "foreigners" don' see.