I was an exchange student at Carlos III University of Madrid in Spring 2023. I chose a 50/50 split for my courses taught in English and Spanish since I already studied Spanish at UCLA. I was super busy and stressed when I filmed this because finals were coming up, and all of my courses were transferring back to UCLA for a grade. However, I still had a vibrant social life and had a lot of fun!

If you have multiple universities in Madrid to choose from, I would not recommend Carlos III. The 2-hour round-trip commute from the city center is a pain. Also, university life is quite lacking in terms of the availability of clubs and events, so I found it difficult to meet other students outside of my classes. It felt like I just showed up for classes and then went back to my flat. Alternatively, I've heard good things about the social life at Complutense University, plus it's in the city center.

Monday - 0:00
- Grocery shopping in Aldi, Lidl, local fruit shops
- Historia del Arte Español curso
- Welfare State class
- Work on final projects

Tuesday - 1:30
- Group project meeting
- Finanzas Digitales curso
- Security, Peace, and Conflict Resolution class
- Takos al Pastor

Wednesday - 3:37
- Welfare State class
- Historia del Arte Español curso
- Finanzas Digitales curso
- Weekly Wednesday salsa night + clubbing at Teatro Barcelo - You can get a free salsa ticket if you buy it as soon as Erasmus releases them (typically Tuesday afternoon/evening), and you can just stay in the club afterward for free. If you're interested in the open bar (starts at 12 am), I'd recommend getting a salsa night ticket to get into the club early because the line gets very long right before 12 am.

Thursday - 6:17
- No classes!
- ZenZoo (my favorite bubble tea spot in the city center)
- Thrifting - Aramayo Vintage, Humana
- Ivan de Vargás Library (the best public library in the city center with a nice study room that has plenty of outlets) - Arrive early or during mealtimes to get a spot because the study room fills up quickly
- Plaza del Callao
- Gran Vía

Friday - 7:42
- Chinese restaurant in Getafe
- Security, Peace, and Conflict Resolution class
- Social Sciences & Law Library

Saturday - 9:53
- WOSAP KPOP dance class
- Yatai Market - Thought the food was overpriced and not that good
- Pez Tortilla - Great tortillas!
- El Respiro - Best traditional tapas bar that I've been to. You order a drink and they give you a free plate of nice food.
- Chocolatería San Ginés - Must visit if you're in Madrid. Don't be intimidated by the long line; it moves quickly. Very affordable.

Sunday - 13:43
- El Rastro flea market - Most vendors accept cards, though some are cash-only
- Retiro Park - I love Retiro! Visited often to relax or exercise. Very beautiful.
- Amar La Mar - Pulpo and paella were good
- Trattoria Pulcinella - Favorite Italian restaurant in the city center—and I've tried multiple! Really enjoyed the Delizia Marì dish, which was flavorful but not excessively rich.