Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)

I found my language and communication experience to be totally enriching. I lived among 4 Spanish speaking people everyday, which enable me to pick up the language more quickly. A lot of students found it difficult to communicate with people on an administrative level, or on an intellectual level. I agree that this may be difficult at first, but after one month it should feel easier. At least for me it did. In the end it all boils down to you and your confidence level. You have trust what you know, and you have to have confidence in yourself as a good communicator in a second language. Once you get over this hump, everything starts to become more clear.

Madrid or Barcelona? Madrid!! Party, people, fun, culture, museums, arcitecture, friends, you will find all here!

You must travel! To Granada, Toledo and Cordoba. If you can, to the north of Spain (I could't) like Bilbao etc.. I went to Lisbon too which was beautiful. Have a great time and don;t let anything get in the way!

They give you a little help, but I heard that the housing they offer (apartments, the residence halls are mostly for Spaniards) rooms without windows etc.

my senora was wonderful. The food and the facilities were just fine. I am very glad I can now say that I have lived with a host family.

Make sure you invite some friends to visit you during the year. It's always nice to see some people from home while you're here. Still, do NOT leave your heart in hour home country. Your heart should be here because this can be the time of your life. Do NOT go home during your exchange (except for Christmas). Spend the money of a plane ticket home on a nice trip in Spain or Portugal so you feel even more at home.