Housing: Living Outside of the City

After much thought, I changed my topic for my second post. Originally, I had written out my packing list and my motivations for what I brought. Then, I decided to write about something that I’m dying to share with you: my reasons for living far away from Madrid (the capital of Spain). I also hope that, maybe, by sharing my reasons I might encourage you to consider living a little off the beaten path.

-Okay, where do you live then?

Well, I live in El Escorial, which for those who don’t know, is approximately an hour outside of Madrid by train or bus. I know. That doesn’t seem far to the American imagination by any stretch, but when you don’t have a car, distances become much longer.

-Where is your school? Is it far?

Not at all. It’s about a half-hour walking from my apartment. And what’s great about my situation is that I get great exercise going to and from work.

-So, why did you choose to live there?

Well, I think one reason that’s obvious is the transportation cost and commute. Although I wasn’t particularly looking to cut down the former, I was the latter. I can still remember my father’s advice during the housing-hunt search: “After 30 some years of commuting, I can tell you, son, that you’ll have a much better time if you take the option to commute less.” And boy was he right! I spend at most an hour a day commuting. Also, by the same token, I don’t have to worry about running late to work because of problems with transportation systems or labor strikes.

-Okay, that’s all fine and well, but what if I’m placed downtown (in a major city) and I find a place near my school that’s not too expensive?

Well, you are the luckiest person alive! Do you mind sharing some of that luck? But all kidding aside, there are still many advantages to living a little outside of the action. For one, I don’t have to worry about a lot of pollution or noise. El Escorial is a small city in the mountains which is clean and mostly smog-free. Most of the noise comes from people chatting and the local music academy, not annoying car horns and endless construction. Although the city is a tourist attraction, the tourists leave at the end of the day. In Madrid, tourists don’t leave until they’re on a plane for home.

Another good reason is the nature and activities to do outdoors. It may seem weird, but I feel a strange kind of pride in the fact that, when people from Madrid want to get a little outdoorsy, they come to my city. And why not?! I have counted at least a dozen parks and pathways, three mountain trails, one golf course, and a huge nature reserve and lake nearby. That’s not to mention the lovely monastery that has its own fishpond, gardens, and unofficial bird sanctuary in its towers.      

A third reason is that it gives me space from the ‘American, English-speaking bubble’ that tends to form when you’re abroad. From my experience, it’s difficult to fully immerse yourself in the culture if your surrounded by American roommates. What’s even worse, in my opinion, is that people living in major cities tend to know English better than those outside of them (and they want to speak to you in English too), so if you’re interested in having a more local experience and less time spent conversing in English, you should consider living away from downtown. It’s a great boost for your language skills and personal confidence too!

And finally, the small-town vibe. I don’t know about you, but there’s just something about towns that gets to me. The ability to know everything that is there. The cashiers and bartenders who recognize you. The quirky, interesting legends that you hear. The different takes on national cuisine. The slower pace of life. Many things make small towns magical places, but I think that the most important thing is the people. So far, I know three people not associated with my school. One is my intercambio, and she has offered to get me into one of the major art museums downtown for free! The other two work at the local inn and have helped me with everything from finding my apartment to making calls about different WIFI coverages. As for my coworkers, they’ve helped me find deals in the local supermarkets and museums and have helped me make sense of the confusing trash-recycle policy in this town. One even offered to get me into the local monastery for free! It’s probably that which grabs me the most. The fact that people know who I am, have a relationship with me, and are willing to help me. It’s personability that I find missing in the major cities. 

In the end, your decision is yours. You must live with it. I also recognize the uniqueness of my situation. That is, being placed well outside of Madrid. However, that doesn’t mean that you cannot choose to live a little away from the city center even if you’re placement is in it. I find the benefits of living in a small town far outweigh those of a large city. I’m sure that you could too.