“Mañana” is one of the first words you learn in Spanish. At first, it just means “tomorrow.” But as you become more immersed in the culture, you soon discover that “mañana” is the jokey go-to response when you ask someone in Spain to do something. That said, I think the “mañana” culture is more complex than simply being laid-back. In fact, I’d even argue that Madrid often feels like the exception. There is indeed a dynamism and sense of urgency by nature of it being the capital city here that I appreciate. Barcelona, with its Mediterranean rhythm, does admittedly have more of the stereotypical mañana, or demà, rhythm. In general, while a slower pace might not suit me personally or at least not in the long term, I am not here to criticise culture. There’s something quite special about a temporary change, especially to one that prioritises relationships over deadlines and social wellbeing over ticking boxes. One minute you find yourself in Spain feeling frustrated that nothing is getting done at your pace. On the other hand, you find yourself taking a step back to appreciate it before it is all but a memory.

“There’s something quite special about a temporary change, especially to one that prioritises relationships over deadlines and social wellbeing over ticking”

However, what I do wish would wait until mañana is the rain. The past few weeks have been unprecedented, but, according to the forecast, we are on our way out. Still, I’ve tried not to let the weather dampen my spirits. Last weekend, I made a cultural expedition to Valencia to see Les Falles, the famous festival where giant satirical sculptures are paraded and then set on fire in street celebrations. In official terms, it’s an awe-inspiring display of art and heritage. In reality, it’s kids of all ages setting off pyrotechnics in the street. It was amazing to escape the capital, experience another part of the peninsula, and catch up with fellow MML friends, especially since I funded the trip with a college travel grant.

In Cambridge, I used to complain about the eight-week terms and the long six-week holidays. Why compress everything into such an intense two months, only to leave us lingering at home afterward and working boring part-time jobs? But now, it is no surprise I find myself missing that structure. Transitioning from a highly social, purpose-driven university term to an unstructured home life was always jarring for me. But here in Madrid, now that I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with work and the city, I’d love a proper break. While Cambridge students deserve a good six week rest for the work they put in, I do envy them from afar. I’m still going to classes, with no change in pace in sight yet, only to be rewarded with a mere one week holiday at the end. It’s swings and roundabouts, but experiencing two university systems does make me wonder which cohort has it better.

Picking your modules to study at university is an issue of personal preference. Firstly, some people take the easier path during study abroad to enjoy their time away from Cambridge and have greater chances of scoring higher: choosing classes in their second Tripos language, studying familiar content, or just opting for modules with lighter workloads. Other people take a slightly more challenging route, with the hope of preparing well for their finals. I opted for Catalan, Spanish translation, and Spanish linguistics. On paper, it doesn’t sound too bad because it is less content than Cambridge. On the other hand, it is skillfully different: translation is a fourth-year paper, and I’m the only English native in the class. As for linguistics, it’s fascinating, possibly the most interesting module I’ve ever taken but it’s equally a challenge. It’s good preparation for finals, no doubt, but it hardly feels like a year off. I’m working as hard as I would be for Cambridge papers just to keep up. 

“I don’t regret my choices, but I admit I might have underestimated just how intense it would be”

I don’t regret my choices, but I admit I might have underestimated just how intense it would be. There's a tendency to fall into the naive belief that because Cambridge is objectively one of the toughest academic environments out there, everything else will feel easy by comparison. This is untrue and it definitely does not mean that studying elsewhere is effortless, especially when you're doing it in a second language. This difficulty made me realise that it’s helpful to stay in touch with your DOS and your tutor for academic and personal issues. Even though you’re not in Cambridge, they are still there for you.

University might be my purpose for being here, but it constitutes just one part of my life abroad. Thankfully, as people start planning their visits to Madrid, the weather is finally picking up – just in time for me to show the city in its prime. As much as I’ve enjoyed my trips within Spain and visiting other places, I’m excited to see familiar faces visit Madrid, not just for the company, but also because I can ask them to bring a few essentials from the UK. I’ve been dying for squash, so I’m looking forward to when my parents come so they can bring some – and of course I’ll be happy to see them too. A small taste of home in these final months will make all the difference.

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