Madrid Filter: Help me find something interesting for my wife while we're here for 6 months.

January 16, 2006 9:34 AM

Madrid Filter: Help me find something interesting for my wife while we're here for 6 months.

We are living in Madrid temporarily for my job. She was thinking this could be a good opportunity to try something new: a theater class, a cooking class, work in a gallery, volunteer at an NGO, etc. Any ideas? She is in her mid 20s, has a background in literature, and speaks English, Spanish, and French fluently.

Although some salary could be nice, that's not a priority of a necessity. And, again, we're only here for 6 more months.

posted by BigBrownBear to work & money (3 comments total)

this happens where i work and there's an informal (and increasingly formal) support network run by the people already out here. so i guess it's obvious (sorry!), but you should ask round at your work.
posted by andrew cooke at 11:05 AM on January 16, 2006

I was just in the same situation with my girlfriend who worked over there.

For me there was plenty to explore in regards to art museums and the city in general. I love to take photos so it was a great opportunity. Transportation out of the city by bus or Renfe is cheap, so that also expands opportunities for exploration.

Obviously for a 6-month stay you and she definitely have a residence visa rather than just a 3-month tourist visa. With the residence card, it makes it easier to sign up for different things. If you both are EU residents then I don't believe ti matters.

For cheap classes in all sorts of things, she should find the barrio library, which offers lots of continuing classes. My girlfriend takes Flamenco classes but there is something there for everyone. Diferent barrios have different things going on and they are really only open to residents of the barrio.

She should take advantage of any research opportunities at the Biblioteca Nacional or the many other research libraries around town.

Without having a work permit, it will limit any temporary employment but she can keep herself busy with lots of other things.
posted by JJ86 at 12:40 PM on January 16, 2006

oh yeah, that reminds me - you might find it makes more sense for your partner to enter under her own credentials, rather than with whatever documentation is provided for both of you by the company. at least here, partners enter under some kind of diplomatic agreement that severely limits their possibilities, even though they are typically well qualified people who, if they came alone, could get work permits without any problem.
posted by andrew cooke at 12:56 PM on January 16, 2006