Arriving in Madrid

Guest blogger: Jordan Hainsfurther


Stepping off the plane in a country you've never been in and where English is rarely spoken is a surreal experience. After an 8 hour flight from Chicago I finally arrived in Madrid not knowing what lay ahead of me. The first day was a little rough as I had to adjust my body to the new time zone (7 hours ahead of Chicago). My flight left at 4:40 pm and arrived at 8:30 am. I immediately set off for the hotel my friend and I had booked and opted to take a cab as opposed to the subway considering the amount of luggage I had. I thought I had an accurate idea about the cost of the cab but I was either very wrong or got ripped off because he could tell I had never been to Spain and that my Spanish was not the best. I believe it was the latter. Either way flustered when I got to the hotel I gave him the money and got out. I took a little nap as I waited for my other friend to arrive a few hours later. Once he got there it was time to explore! We had arrived approximately one week before orientation thus two weeks before classes started.

The first two days we had to accomplish a lot of house keeping items such as getting a subway pass, Spanish cell phone, moving into our apartment and getting groceries. Of course none these were easy tasks. Taking the subway even 3 stops with two huge suitcases and a carry on is no easy chore. Once we were all settled it was time to begin site seeing. I opened my Trip Advisor app and quickly saw there were so many things to do. We had heard from many people to go to the royal palace. I could not dream of what I was about to see. The Spanish royal palace dwarfs the White House.  Please see the attached picture. There are over 3000 rooms of which we saw a mere 20. Back in the day the king had separate rooms for lunch, dinner, special events, sleeping and even getting dressed. Unfortunately no photos are allowed inside the palace but each room is adorned with spectacular ceiling frescos, unbelievable chandeliers and amazing sculptures. It is truly a site to be seen. My favorite rooms were definitely the throne room and the dining salon. This table must hold at least 70 people. After we exited the palace we moved on to plaza mayor, puerta del sol and the Prado museum. Each just as amazing as the next.

The following day we took a day trip to Segovia which is an hour north of Madrid by bus. Segovia is an amazing city with cobble stone streets and an ancient aqueduct designed by the Romans. In addition there is a spectacular cathedral (see attached picture) along with a castle the king used for relaxing years and years ago.

Finally, let me tell you a little about the Madrid nightlife. I must preface this by saying lunch is eaten normally anywhere between 2-4 and dinner not until 10 or 11 pm. Spaniards go out very late. The first club I went to, Kapital, did not get busy on a Thursday until about 3 am. Kapital is one of the many amazing clubs Madrid has to offer but the city also has amazing bars on every corner. One of my favorites is el chapandaz also know as the cave bar because of its interior decoration. They specialize in a drink called el leche (the milk). The milk even comes down from the ceiling.

That's my experience in Madrid so far but I'm only two weeks in. I expect much more in the coming weeks and months. I have trips planned to Oktoberfest, Prague and Amsterdam thus far. In fact, I'm writing this on my way to Barcelona.

Adios y buena suerte,
Jordan Hainsfurther

Study Abroad

Guest blogger: James Couturier

Studying Abroad is something special… An important moment in your student life. It is the moment of many “first times”: it is the first time you leave home, the first time you live on you own, the first time you come to a new country for such a period of time. And what can be a better place to study abroad than New Orleans? I made this choice because I wanted to discover a different side of the United States. And I am really happy with my choice!
As a matter of fact, I am going to tell you what it is like to be an exchange student in New Orleans and I will try to give a quick view of the spots I go in my everyday life.

The first good thing that happened to me is that I arrived the day before the BCS National Championship game between Louisiana State University and University of Alabama. Trust me, if you’re thinking of coming to study in New Orleans, you will need to understand the rules of football.

Furthermore another thing that surprised me when I arrived to New Orleans and also to Tulane, is the kindness of the people in this city. It is incredible to see how friendly and welcoming the people are in New Orleans; in restaurants, in the street-cars, at Tulane, in the street… everywhere. The other day, I was shopping and a woman who worked there told us the best places to listen to jazz. Every time, people find out you are not from New Orleans and they help you find your way and  give advice. If they see you are lost and looking at a map, they will help you.

It will be difficult to talk about New Orleans without mentioning Mardi Gras, the craziest, longest, coolest party in the world. I have been hearing for almost a year “Mardi Gras is great, Mardi is going to be one of the best moments of your life”. And you know what? This is true. It is incredible to see so many people enjoying the exact same moment of the year, seeing all those costumes, all those parades. I learned that almost 2 million people come each year to New Orleans for this event. I found it magical to see all those people throwing beads and decorated shoes, and also watching all the cheerleaders and bands from so many schools and universities.  As everyone told me, it will definitely be a moment that I will never forget.

The “Big-Easy” is also a city full of history, especially for music. Certain people will consider New Orleans as the “Mecca” of Jazz and Blues. You have the possibility to listen to music everywhere. Maple Leaf is a fantastic place for music.  You also have the famous French Quarter. People play in the street but there are also famous music clubs such as the Preservation Hall or the Maison Bourbon Jazz Club.

Finally, the best thing about studying abroad is that you have the opportunity to meet so many great people from all around the world. You make some friends and enjoy the moments you spend with them either in class or during parties. I am sure that I will see some of the people I met here again even after I leave New Orleans. It is enriching to discover new cultures and new people.

Definitely, studying abroad is a something special and I think every student should take advantage of it because it is one of the best moments of my life. But studying abroad wouldn’t be the same if it was not in New Orleans.