The day has finally come and I don't know whether I'm super scared or excited. I left my house yesterday afternoon to travel up to Sunningdale, near Heathrow, with my boyfriend who was dropping me off at the airport this morning. I arrived at the airport at 7:30am and after an emotional goodbye, I am now waiting in the boarding area for my flight at 9:40am that's now only half an hour away.
I've never flown on my own before, and although I am super nervous, I am very excited to see the girls again as I haven't seen them for a few months as well as being so excited to start exploring our new home!
When I arrived I met Kelly at the airport to get a taxi together to the house. After the 30 minute taxi journey from the airport to our new house, we arrived at about 3:30pm. Holly and Jasmine were out buying essentials and Lucy wasn't arriving until later that night, so we had plenty of time to unpack and organise our new rooms! We spent the whole afternoon unpacking and then went to buy all the bits we couldn't fit in our suitcases.
There were so many things which needed doing before arriving so I'm going to write a list of things to consider and sort out before you go!
Things to Consider:
1. Who are you going to live with?
Although I was lucky and knew all the girls from Coventry University so found accommodation with them, since moving here I have spoken to so many people who have regretted not getting to know their potential housemate before applying and signing moving in forms. I would definitely recommend joining Facebook and WhatsApp groups to find housemates so you can get to know them first.
2. Living in the city centre or by UEM?
We chose to live in the city centre, even though its more expensive, we felt it was the right decision. We didn't want to miss out on the nightlife and being able to wonder to the centre. Although the commute to uni is about an hour, we are only in 3 days a week and the journey is included in the Albono Travel Card.
3. Where to live in the City Centre?
I am living in Lavapiés, near Sol which is very central, and I think it's the perfect location. We are close to 2 metro stops, Lavapiés and Tirso De Molina, as well as a bus stop. One thing I would definitely suggest is to make sure you're near a metro especially if you do get an Albono Travel Card.
Things to do:
I sorted my travel insurance just before I moved and it was one of the best things I done. One of my friends from Twickenham University who moved to Madrid got her phone stolen 2 weeks after moving here which wasn't insured and she went weeks without any contact and had to pay hundreds for a replacement. However, I then also got my phone stolen while on a night out and luckily I did have insurance, as since being here we've all found out that pick pockets are everywhere and getting your phone stolen is VERY common. Losing all the data from my phone was so irritating and the whole situation was very stressful but my phone was replaced and I was only charged an excess fee. Although it initially seems like a lot of money to pay out at once, it is 100% worth it; from personal experience, even for peace of mind.
I've mentioned this card a few times now and it was worth every penny, it costs students €20 a month and includes unlimited travel on all buses, metro lines and trains. Also make sure you order it before you arrive, as many students had to wait up to 10 days after they ordered it then had to pay for their travel to and from university which costs about €10 for a return each day!
3. Getting a Revolut Card or Santander Bank Account:
I have a Revolut Card which is similar to a debit card but you can spend money abroad with no fee's as well as being able to track your spending and getting the best exchange rate. The only issue is the charge if you wanted to get cash out an ATM. This is why I would also suggest opening a Santander Account as there are hundreds of Santander banks here and with a Santander card you can withdraw money with no charge.
4. Apply for a Student EHIC:
A student EHIC card is important to have if you're in another European country for more than 6 weeks,unlike the normal EHIC card which only coves you for up to 6 weeks abroad at once. Also it can take up to 2 weeks to arrive so make sure you apply at least one month before you leave.
5. Empadromamiento and NIE Documents:
Finally, once you arrive in Madrid then you need to apply for both of these documents to legally live and work in Spain. You have up to 3 months to apply. However, I suggest to try to do them as soon as possible so you don't forget or run out of time. They are compulsory!
Comentários