Deciding to study abroad is a huge decision in itself. But imagine being in your senior year of high school and choosing to earn your degree at a university half way around the world. This is the decision room-mates Krysti Coyle and Emelia made and they have no regrets!
Name: Krysti Coyle
Year: Freshman
Major: Undecided
HomeTown: Marshfield, Ma
How did you choose to attend Suffolk Madrid?
I decided to go to Suffolk Madrid full time because I always knew I wanted to live in Europe and figured that attending SUMC was my best option.
What is Suffolk Madrid Like?
The school is very small but the staff is very helpful and my professors are great.
What is the city and the nightlife like?
Madrid is unlike any other city I have ever been to. It’s beautiful and so much fun. Madrid is a city that never sleeps, so its always a late night when I go out. There is a large variety of activities to do during theday and at night. During the day I usually go for a coffee at a café and then I’ll go to a museum or hang around the city. At night you can go to clubs or really great bars. I’m usually hanging around in a somewhat dingy but cool area called Malasaña, there are a lot of great bars in that neighborhood.
Is it hard being away from home almost all the time?
No, I don’t have a hard time being away from home all the time. I keep in contact with my family and friends. It’s nice to live in a different city, and there is always something to do in Madrid so I don’t really think about home that often.
What are your career and life goals?
My career and life goals change all the time so i don’t have a definite answer for a career, but I know I definitely want to continue my education in Europe, master a couple of languages, and eventually get a job in Europe.
So far, what has been your best experience at Suffolk Madrid?
Its really hard to answer what my best experience has been here so far, but I think its probably the element of leaving home at 18 and having everything be a mystery. I had never been to Spain before let alone Europe and I spoke almost no Spanish so I was nervous at first, but it was the best decision I ever made. I have made some great friends, had some crazy adventures, and I have done some traveling. I think the experience as a whole has been spectacular so its hard to choose a favorite experience.
Would you recommend Suffolk Madrid to others? And what time of person would do well there?
Yes I would recommend SUMC to others. However, the person needs to be independent and be able to “go with the flow”. So many unpredictable things have happened to me here, so one needs to be prepared to be able to roll with whatever happens. If you want to travel SUMC is the place to be. Traveling is reasonably priced and our weekends start on Thursdays so you get a long weekend wherever you go. I would also caution people who want to attend SUMC to leave all your baggage from home behind and learn a few Spanish phrases before you arrive. Overall SUMC is a great place and I recommend it!
Name: Emelia
Year: Freshman
Major: Finance/Int. Relations
How did you choose Suffolk Madrid?
I had originally applied to Suffolk Boston, but after receiving a letter in the mail about Suffolk Madrid I took a chance and applied to be in the program.
How did you and Krysti become roommates?
Krysti and I happened to reply on the same post about first year students planning on going to Suffolk Madrid through the Suffolk Madrid Facebook page. After messaging back and forth for a while it was eminent that we would be roommates. From there we just requested to be housed together.
What has been your best experience so far?
I couldn’t really choose just one experience as the best so far because my time living here in Spain has been a great experience as a whole. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to meet people from around the world, spend weekends in European cities, try new foods, learn my way around Madrid (and it’s Metro), appreciate a new culture, and learn a new language.
Do you think you will ever attend the Suffolk Boston campus?
Yes, I was planning on returning to Boston for the fall of 2013 in order to continue my major.
What type of person would you recommend SUMC to?
I would recommend SUMC to anyone, honestly, as long as they are willing to adapt to a new culture and language and are looking for a one of a kind experience to look back on in the future. Madrid has been an amazing adventure for me, and I’m sure almost anyone would appreciate it as well.