During the preliminary intensive fortnight to welcome international alumni, students have the chance to visit to the most famous sites in Madrid and go on a guided trip to a near important city, while starting to get to know their classmates and share the experience.
Each term, a “Gastronomic Meeting” is organized to test and taste our culinary skills. Every student, Spanish and international, prepares a typical dish from their country or region of origin (something simple, no need to be a chef!) and we all gather for dinner and taste traditional food from other countries. At Villanueva we also like celebrating traditional festivities –the Sevillian April Fair, Christmas, Halloween, Saint Isidro…- with all the typical food, music, and customs related to them.
The university organizes sport championships (soccer and other sports) between students of different nationalities or students and staff, and promotes projects to be developed jointly by international and Spanish students - such as the compilation of a “university student guide” in different languages.
In short, it´s all about sharing and getting to know other customs and lifestyles.
At the end of the students´ stay at Villanueva, they are given an opinion survey on their “Madrilian experience”. This is what some of them said:
“My mind is open now and I have discovered a different way of living and thinking, no better or worse, but it has taught me a lot for my own life! “(Nicole, Munich, 2001)
“I´ve realized that you can work hard and enjoy life at the same time” (Remy, Paris, 1999)
“I wasn´t interested in History or Culture before, and now I´m going home I can´t wait to study the History and Culture of my country so I can understand it better” (Celine, Paris, 2001)
“I have experienced the importance of working with other people, with different mentalities and very diverse opinions…and getting good results from it”! (Wolfgang, Dresden, 2004)
“Madrid is fascinating! So alive and full of things to do…I hope it hosts the 2016 Olympic Games!” (Momo, Congo, 2009)
