Housing
Students will be placed individually with Spanish families in Valencia. All
meals will be provided for students. When you go on a day excursion, you will
notify your family at least one day prior to the excursion and a sack lunch
will be prepared for you to take with you. Living with host families enhances
the language acquisition process and reinforces the cultural immersion experience.
Students have often expressed that living with families can be one of the
most significant parts of an off-campus program. In fact, many students maintain
contact with their families long after the end of the program.
Valencian families are selected very carefully and with widespread consultation between the program leaders and our housing liaison in Valencia, and we maintain contact with the families throughout the program. If you encounter difficulties or problems with your family, we expect you to inform the program leader immediately. If the situation cannot be remedied or mediated, housing changes can be made.
Housing on excursions is in hotels.
Helpful
Hints about Family Living in Spain
All families will be somewhat unique in style and daily functioning but here
is a list of some things (big and small) to be aware of and to think about:
- Water is more expensive (particularly hot water) in Europe in general so one bath/shower a day is probably okay but two may raise some eyebrows.
- Laundry will be done but try to wear clothes "one more time" just for heck of it. Most laundry is hung to dry so don't expect clothes done for you in 2 hours.
- Try to be as helpful as you can in the house but understand if there are some things people really don't want you to help them with such as, perhaps, the laundry or the cooking. Again, this is part of getting to know your family.
- Be courteous with people's work schedules. Implied in this is watch noise levels late at night.
- Be clear about food likes, dislikes and dietary needs. For example, to say that you are a vegetarian may not make much sense (to say you don't eat meat may not either) but to say that you don't eat chicken or ham or blood sausage will be understood.
- Do not walk around barefoot in the house. Wear socks or slippers or shoes of some kind.
- Always let someone know if you are not going to be home when you "should be." This means mealtimes, in for the night, things like that.
- House norms in general: find out what they are!!!
A Note
about Meals
Breakfast (desayuno) is usually what would be called a continental breakfast
in the US. The main meal (comida) is served mid-afternoon (2-4pm). It is big
and it is usually a family affair. Supper (cena) occurs sometime between 9-11pm
and is usually casual (often left-overs) and not as substantial as the midday
meal. You will also often see people in cafés and bars eating an midmorning
snack (almuerzo) or midafternoon snack (merienda). By the way, greetings and
the way we divide the day revolve around eating times. Buenos días
works for a greeting up through the comida hours. Buenas tardes functions
until you go home to eat your cena. Buenas noches will work after cena
(for example, if you go back out for a movie).
