Hi, my name is Sydney Rathnayaka. I am a Junior Global Management major, also pursuing a certificate in Corporate and Community Relations at the University of Pittsburgh. At Pitt, I am a member of Tri Sigma Sorority and a Junior Analyst in the Smart Women Securities Club (SWS). This semester, I am studying abroad in Madrid through WorldStrides, a Pitt Recognized Program. I have officially been here for 1 week, and am currently in the middle of my first week of classes and adjusting to my new home.

I chose this program because it has always been my dream to study abroad in Spain, and it offers amazing opportunities and classes that support my major and certificate. I have always wanted to study abroad, and I plan to make the most of it! This semester, I want to learn as much as I can about Madrid and immerse myself in its culture. I hope to meet new people, experience new places, and grow my perspective of the world.

Universidad Antonio de Nebrija is an extremely well-respected university in Madrid, and even though I am only two days into classes, my experience so far has been amazing. All of the staff and professors are so knowledgeable and have incredible credentials, and they truly want to help us learn. The campus is located in the center of Madrid. The University of Pittsburgh campus is also extremely walkable, and in the middle of a city as well. My classes here in Madrid are a lot smaller than classes at the University of Pittsburgh, and there are no electronics allowed in classrooms, which may take some getting used to. I am excited to learn differently and see what I end up liking more! Most of the other students at Nebrija are from various parts of America, but there are students from other places as well. Everyone is friendly and inclusive, and I have been enjoying getting to know my peers.

My new neighborhood is very well-located and filled with history, activities, and interesting people. I live in the Argüelles neighborhood, which is known as one of the best-balanced places to live in Madrid. It is lively but not chaotic, and local but still central. It is filled with other students and young professionals, and is considered a very safe area to live. There are many local shops and cafes on our street that my roommates and I have been going to often, which has been making us feel more like locals ourselves. I live with 5 other girls in an apartment, only a 5-10 minute walk from campus. I have my own room, and I have been loving living in an apartment. Our apartment is extremely safe, clean, and has a great view. There is also a park nearby, which I plan to go on walks in once I figure out my schedule. Overall, we got very lucky with our housing situation, and I am so grateful to be living here!

So far, I haven’t had any issues adjusting to life in Spain. This has been my dream for so long, and I am so thankful to be on this semester abroad. Madrid is easy to navigate, and it’s such a big city that I’ve been able to find everything I can get at home here as well. My roommates and I have spent our first week eating tapas, learning the metro system, trying new restaurants, going on walking tours, and learning more about Madrid every day. Overall, this experience so far has been nothing short of amazing, and I can’t believe I get to live here for a whole semester!