Guide to Madrid Culture
BY Daphne Chan
When choosing where to study abroad, we are given the following options which provide business classes: London, Madrid, Florence, and Prague. Madrid was my first choice because I wanted an experience vastly different from New York and Hong Kong (so I ruled out London), while still being in a vibrant and convenient city (I heard that Florence is a relatively more slow-paced city). And lastly, NYU Madrid’s class offerings aligned well with my academic plan. After a whole semester, I can confidently say I haven't regretted my decision and I have enjoyed Madrid a lot. I would like to highlight a few aspects of Madrid culture based on my personal experience, hoping that it will help those considering NYU Madrid.
Language
Spanish is widely spoken worldwide, so many Spaniards may not have a high level of English proficiency. In day-to-day interactions, people on the street and workers in stores often expect you to communicate in Spanish. Personally, I hadn't learned Spanish before studying abroad, but I started learning on Duolingo right after receiving my study abroad results. The five months of Duolingo proved helpful. Additionally, as part of the NYU Madrid program, we are required to take a Spanish class. One of the units focused on food, and I frequently encounter these vocabulary words when I go grocery shopping. Classes worked seamlessly with the immersive environment. Google Translate has also been useful, especially with its photo and recording function.
Friendliness
In Spanish culture, It is very common and important that you greet people when you enter and leave stores. For non-spanish speakers, mastering “hola/buenos dias/buenas tardes” for hello/good morning/good afternoon and “adios/gracias” for goodbye/thank you would be handy. It is also not uncommon to engage in conversations with Spanish locals on the street or in the metro.
Picture with the owner of Botín (Guinness World’s oldest restaurant)
Lifestyle
Meal times are pretty late here. Spaniards have lunch around 3pm and have dinner around 9pm. There is a wide variety of cuisines to choose from. I balance between trying out Spanish food (tapas, paella, Iberian pork) and having my comfort food (Asian food). When I make plans with friends, I always forget that most restaurants don’t open until 1pm for lunch or 8pm for dinner.
Paella (left) and Hotpot (right)
Football
In Spain, football isn't just a leisure, it's a cultural obsession. My marketing professor is a die-hard fan of Atlético Madrid. He said his family has always been team Atlético Madrid and he doesn’t want to see things related to Real Madrid. It is definitely worth it to go to a football match and experience the atmosphere, even if you are not a football fan. NYU Madrid organizes events to football games occasionally with tickets at discounted prices. Football fans can certainly take advantage of them.