When I first got to Madrid, I spent most of my time apartment hunting and walking around the city. I was walking through different neighborhoods every day, taking the metro, and slowly figuring out how everything connected. This process ended up being how I started learning my way around the city and got comfortable getting around on my own.
At the same time, I started to feel comfortable in my everyday life. Finding where to get coffee near my place and learning which grocery store I liked seemed like small things, but they made a big difference in how I settled in. Creating new routines and habits made Madrid feel less overwhelming and more livable.
Once I got more comfortable, I started paying more attention to how people around me live their own daily lives. One memory I still think about was watching a big Madrid soccer game surrounded by locals. Everyone stayed focused the entire time and reacted to every moment of the game, which made it interesting to watch from an outsider’s perspective. I felt like I was experiencing a genuine part of the culture here.
When school started, my routine changed a lot. Instead of my short walk to class at UT, I get to school every day by using the metro — once I learned the metro system, though. Getting around the city felt much simpler, and living in the Sol area made it easy to get everywhere else.
My classes have also been so different. They’re longer than what I’m used to, which took some adjusting. Sitting in class for long periods of time requires more focus than I’m used to back home; even though I’m still adjusting, it’s been interesting to see how academics work in another country and compare them to my experience at UT.
Outside of class, I’ve been able to explore more of Spain. One of my favorite trips so far was a day trip to Segovia with my new friends. We didn’t expect the snow and were completely unprepared with sneakers and no gloves — I honestly didn’t even know it snowed in Spain. Even though it was freezing cold, the experience turned out to be one of the most fun days I’ve had so far. Seeing Segovia in the snow made the city feel a little unreal, and I’ll always remember it.
I also traveled to Barcelona with friends and stayed in a hostel for the first time — that was a new experience for me, but it turned out to be really good. Sharing space with other people and exploring a new city together pushed me outside my comfort zone in a way that still felt natural.
Some of my favorite moments in Madrid have been the small ones. Walking through parks, exploring different areas, and learning the city in my own way. Studying abroad so far has been about taking things one day at a time for me. I’m still settling in, but each day feels more familiar, and I’m so glad to be here!
This blog was contributed by Andrew Galindo, Global Ambassador for Spring 2026. Andrew is a College of Liberal Arts Junior participating in an exchange program at Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain.
