6 Tips to Live by When Arriving in Madrid

Arriving in a foreign country can be stressul, take it from someone who has never lived abroad before. There are some steps you can take to feel prepared and make your time go more easily. 

1. Take advantage of the resources CIEE provides for you! I can't stress this one enough. Finding a phone provider, an apartment/piso, and navigating through the banking process can seem overwhelming. CIEE really does help prepare you for all of these and provides you with options to do as a group throughout the four day orientation. 
2. Be open to new things. Spanish culture is different from what most of us are used to. Get out of your comfort zone and you never know who you will meet/what you will learn. Don't be afraid to taste a new food you have never tried or go to a dancing class that you have never experienced. You came abroad for a reason!
3. Don't hesitate to ask questions! Spaniards are so understanding and so willing to help. They love when you try to speak their language and experience their culture. Don't be afraid to say, "como se dice xxxx," they wont look down on you or think you're dumb. This is something that took some getting used to for me but then I realized that they probably want to try and practice their English with you too! 
4. Being alone sometimes is OK! Unless you come here with a group of friends that you already knew from home, reality is you might end up walking around alone or eating lunch by yourself. This is TOTALLY normal. Don't feel like you have no friends and you shouldn't have come. You'll find your friends and support system, it's just going to take some time! 
5. EVERYONE is in the same position as you. Most people come here not knowing anyone and are trying to make friends. People who have the desire to live abroad typically are very respectful, openminded, and have similar intrerests as eachother. You don't need to worry about being an outcast or not fitting in. 
6. RELAX and BREATHE. This is going to be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Don't make it more stressful than it has to be. Everything will work out. 

The biggest take away from this post is that you should enjoy your time here in Spain. It won't last forever and is probably one of the last experiences you'll have before entering the work field back at home (unless you decide to stay forever, which, doesn't seem like such a bad idea).