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| Learn Spanish (Spain) - French (Brussels) | Work Abroad and Internship Programs in Practical Settings | Programas de Prácticas en Empresas e Idiomas |
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Practicalities and Idiosyncrasies of Life in Madridby Jill Arcaro-Gordon from Best Linguistic ProgramsTime to get used to the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of your new surrounding. When you come to live in Madrid, the burden of cultural adjustment will be upon YOU, and there will be significant changes to which you will have to adjust.  Spain is a western country with attitudes, habits, and a standard of living that is broadly speaking the same as in Britain and the US. This doesn't mean that you won't need time to get used to the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of your new surroundings, though. With this in mind, we will comment on the small oddities that will begin to strike you once you have settled down and the concerns that the majority of foreigners express before arriving. Jeremy Packer's book, Jobs and Careers Abroad put it well: "Everyone who moves to another country will experience, to a greater or lesser extent, a phenomenon known as 'culture shock.' Its effects ranging from elation to disappointment, according to the person, the environment, and the experience he or she has.” But do not fret! After a stage of assimilation and growth in self-esteem, you will then enjoy the positive aspects of the new culture and accept them for what they are. Accommodations Housing will probably be your first and main problem in Madrid. If you don’t come with something arranged, you will find accommodation; although, it may take awhile (one to two months in the winter) or cost you money (hiring an agency to find you a place). The cost for living in a Spanish family with half board (breakfast and 1 meal a day) is around 700 €. A room in a shared apartment can be found for around 400 € a month. Remember, you cannot really have an overall immersion experience without participating in Spanish family life where you will have the opportunity to learn about the culture and be able to practice Spanish. There are advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side:
The Family Concept in Spain In general families stay together much longer than you may be used to. It is common for three generation of families to be living together under the same roof. It is a way to increase the household income and to help one another. In addition, most young people don’t leave home until they marry, and if they leave home before marrying, it is often interpreted as a lack of love for their parents. There are legal protections to defend the family as an institution in Spain. Shops are closed on Sundays so that there is time to spend together; inheritance laws automatically assign one half of parents’ inheritance to their children and one forth to their spouse. Marriage licenses are complicated to obtain, obliging the couple to think about the step they are taking very carefully. Meals & Family Life: Helpful Hints Sitting down for a family meal once a day is very common in Spanish homes. Please be courteous and notify if you change plans.
Eating Out In general, Spaniards eat lunch anywhere from 1:30 to 3:30, and dinner is frequently at 10:00 at night. Some advice is to eat out at lunchtime rather than in the evening if you want a good menu at a cheap price. Waiters/ Restaurants Sitting and waiting should be observed as a comfort time to enjoy your company. Waiters will never ask you to leave. People go out to have a good time, so the noise level is high. Asking to take your left over food home with you (i.e. doggie bag) is virtually unheard of and often considered cheap. Tip by simply leaving your change or a few coins. Language Courses If you are serious about learning Spanish, try one of the private language schools where you are placed to your level, and you will learn grammar and practice speaking in a small class (4 to 10 students) with a minimum number of holidays. All the experts recommend the intensive language courses. This means around 4 hours of classes daily for a period of 2 weeks, minimum. The logic behind it is that it will give you a boost of confidence and a vocabulary basis to build on. The classes are comprised of European students which is a great way to meet people. There are often arranged excursions and other activities, like Thursday night discos, which are cheap and a compliment to the strictly academic. The classes are comprised of European students which is a great way to meet people. There are often arranged excursions and other activities, like Thursday night discos, which are cheap and a compliment to the strictly academic. Sign up for an interchange with a Spanish speaker. Arrange for more than one so that if you don’t hit it off with one of them you’ll have someone else. The Catalan Identity Catalan is its own language and therefore it is incorrect to say to Catalans that it is a dialect of Spanish. Some feel so strongly about their identity that they don’t consider themselves Spaniards. Greetings Spaniards are big on greetings and farewells. They place a lot of emphasis on physical contact. When men greet men, they shake hands, when men greet women or vice versa, they apply a light kiss on both sides of the person’s face. Conversations occur at a much closer physical distance than you might be accustomed to and it is considered rude to step back. Body Language It is considered bad manners to point with your finger. Nodding is not used as a greeting. In Store Lines Expect to encounter very informal lines with people pushing their way to the front. Many times, a person will enter the shop where there is a crowd and say, “¿Quien es la última?”. They want to know who is the last in line, and you need to say, “Yo” (me). Shopping Hours and La Siesta Shops are open the first Sunday of every month, except during the month of December when they are open 7 days a week for the holiday season. Most shops close for some time between 1:30 pm – 5 pm, so get what you need before they close, or after they reopen in the afternoon. Concept of Time Most Spaniards do not plan as far ahead as you do and many things are spontaneous, improvised. Concept of Noise The level of noise is much higher than you are most likely used to. Restaurants, even expensive restaurants, and public places are noisy. People are very talkative and socially orientated. They frequently go out in groups of 6 or 8. Concept of Service The concept of service in shops and offices and availability in business is very different. At times it might seem like everyone is out for coffee or in a meeting. This is why it is important to know people. People sweeping in a bar will expect you to move so that they can clean around and under the spot you are taking. Smoking Respect for non-smokers is limited. The “philosophy” is that smokers have their rights too. People smoke even where it is prohibited. Some restaurants and the have non-smoking areas and some public areas like Iberia flights and the AVE (bullet train) are non-smoking. Job Market There is unemployment in Spain so it is very difficult to find a job, especially for non-residents. Lock Doors Make sure to close and lock doors and gates properly- it may seem silly, but many locks here seem to have tricks to them. So try them out before you get locked out. Conservation Help to conserve electricity, water, paper, telephone and gas. Having a beer in a bar is cheap but these items are more expensive here than you think. Telephone Calls They can be somewhat expensive in Spain; however, if you have extra credit at the end of a call, you can make another call without depositing coins. As for international calls, the best thing to do is to go to an international call center called “locutorio”, of which there are many. You don't usually have to wait and it will save you loads of money. There's one in Puerta del Sol, below the open shop advertising Kodak products. Cellular Phones These have become the norm and can be bought for almost the value of the calls that goes with them. The ones with cards are popular because you spend what you pay for and there is neither a contract, nor a monthly bill. They offer you independence and security. Cell phone numbers always begin with a 6 and have 9 digits like all other European Union phone numbers. Watch out when you call one of these numbers; the longer you talk the higher the cost, but you can send text messages for 15 cents. Transportation Travelling around the city is really easy, unless you have a car. The metro and bus systems are well priced and convenient, as well as being very safe. Taxis are apparently among the cheapest in Europe. Metro If you think you are going to travel a lot by metro and bus, buy an “abono transportes” (transportation pass) 37,15 € or 24,45 for under 21. This lasts from the first day of the month to the last and will save you a lot of money as you jump around from bus to metro with an unlimited number of rides. The one you will need will depend on where you live and how old you are. If you live in the A zone, buy the A pass, if you have to take any green buses, you will have to start looking at B1 (a little more expensive). If you ask in an estanco, which is where you buy your abono, they will tell you. You will need a passport-sized photo and a copy of your passport if you are under 21. Alternatively, you can buy a Metrobus pass for ten journeys, (5,80 €) and of course a single ticket (1,15 €). Be careful, the single tickets that you buy in the metro cannot be used on the bus! The last metro is at 2 in the morning, so if you miss that you have to get a night bus, the buho, (meaning owl) which leave from Cibeles (where the central post office is) or Moncloa starting at 1am until 6am when the metro starts again. For more informacion, including maps see: www.metromadrid.es Machismo For Women An unaccompanied woman will probably hear the flirtatious comments many men will call out, such as mi amor or guapa. It is annoying, but not threatening. As a general rule, women should try to be more formal in their interaction with men they encounter in everyday situations as sometimes men mistake friendliness with an interest in forming a deeper relationship. Machismo For Men Remember machismo implies being a gentleman. It is nice if you give your seat up on the bus or metro for a senora, help to carry things, let others though the door first, etc. Free Time Madrid is a great place to spend free time, because, if you want to, there are innumerable things to do. Whatever you're into, there's going to be something for you in all price ranges. Spaniards are very gregarious and social. They are crazy about soccer and bullfights. Trying to understand the crowds reactions at a bullfight is interesting. Cinema There is a highly respected school of actors who train to dub movies, but it still does not make up for the fact that their lips don't move with the words! There are also many cinemas that show films in v.o.s., which means original version subtitled in Spanish (version original subtitulada). It is custom to tip the ushers in many cinemas and theaters. Health
Past participants on our programs have reported feeling safe in Madrid which is not threatening compared to London or New York; people are constantly out in the streets, the metro is well policed and used by everyone at all times, and on the night buses, everyone is usually thinking about going to bed. That is not to say that a minimum precaution isn't necessary, a certain amount is sensible. You have to be very careful of pickpockets of which there is a plague, but if you're careful where you put your purse or wallet, this won't be a problem either. Be Aware of Your Surroundings!
This can be a complicated process, so be sure to start early. There are visa service companies which you can pay to handle the process. All North Americans have 90 days as tourists with no visa requirement. If you want to apply for a student visa, you will need a certificate of admission from the school you are going to attend. The Spanish Consulate will give you a 90-day visa, which must be extended upon your arrival in Spain. Now you are about to learn exactly why it is best to avoid, whenever possible, Spanish bureaucracy. Ken Layne in his article, “New Year's in Madrid: Red Underwear, a Dozen Grapes and Great $25.00 Meals” says, “Most people I know living and working in Spain are doing so under the table, leaving for a brief trip every 90 days. This works for the short term, and landlords won't request residency paperwork, but those without EU citizenship who plan to work indefinitely in Spain are in for a Kafkaesque experience. One American friend, Alexandra, has been working at a Barcelona advertising agency for over a year. She is fluent, is well qualified, and has the full backing of her employers - and she's been trying to get the right papers since 1998.” To extend your visa, you must apply for a Tarjeta de Estudiante. The police station in Madrid that specializes in issuing visa extensions for students is located on the Calle Madrazo, 9. (Metro stop Sevilla on line 2) They are open from 9 am until 2 pm Monday through Friday. One word of caution – do not expect to arrive at 9 am and have your paperwork processed; in most cases, lines form outside of the police station as early as 6 am, although getting there at 7 am will most likely still get you a spot. Once the police station opens, the officer at the door will start handing out numbers; once the numbers for the day are taken, the remaining people in line must come back another day and wait again. The following is a list of the documentation required for the extension of your visa. Should you have any question regarding the visa paperwork, you may get general information by dialing 900-150-000 which is a free recording of general visa information. (All 900 numbers are free). For specific questions, go the 1st floor of the police station on Calle Madrazo, 6 between the hours of 9 am and 2 pm or from 4 pm to 7 pm. To obtain a Tarjeta de Estudiante bring both the original and a photocopy of:
Seguro Médico (Health insurance) Past participants presented a photocopy of their insurance card and translated it into Spanish. The Government will require that documentation in English be accompanied by a translation in Spanish.
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