Madrid Pre-arrival Information
Introduction
Before You Leave the US
Health
What to Bring
Arrival Information
Courses
Keys to Success
Program Wind-Up
Support Services and Emergencies
Personal Security and the Law
Cultural Differences
PLEASE NOTICE: This information is based on the pre-arrival packets provided to students in the past. Much of the information also applies to the coming semester, but some of the information is out of date.
FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION, STUDENTS MAY CONSULT THE PRE-ARRIVAL PACKET, WHICH WILL BE MAILED TO PARTICIPATING STUDENTS DIRECTLY BY EPA.
INTRODUCTION
This guide has been written with the input of students from different American University programs, material obtained from former EPA students, different manuals, statistics from "El Pais", one of Spain's most popular daily newspapers, as well as from the Director's own experience after having lived in Spain for over thirty years. Nevertheless, you will find errors or simply information which is not quite up to date as it should be. This is due, in part, to the fact that Madrid, like Spain in general, is a fast moving European city, and inflation as well as social change are inevitable, if not always welcome. Bearing this in mind, please use the guide as a source of general information and instructions concerning program norms per se, as well as different aspects of Madrid; and further, view the guide as somewhat of a reflection of the country itself since it has been prepared to give you a comprehensive look at many different aspects of the life you will encounter while you're here. Suggestions, criticism, and whatever other remarks you would like to make, are welcome because it is our hope that just as we attempt to help you in the program, your personal comments concerning your experiences or your own favorite places will be used to update the guide for other EPA students in the future.
You are especially recommended to go over carefully the information on what you should know and consider before you leave the U.S. and arrive in Madrid. Madrid is a fascinating and truly unique city. There is SO much to do, so much to see, i.e. many monuments and places to visit, and there are always so many different activities going on: book critiques, lecture series, poetry readings, art exhibits, and concerts. At the same time, it is a very tiring city with traffic jams, extremely long working days, some offices don't close until 8'00 p.m. Night time doesn't begin until after 21'00 for most people, and the dinner hour still remains at 22'30 for many. Literally, you can find a little bit of everything in Madrid. You will be able to try all sorts of different foods, some quite strange to Americans, things such as "calamares en su tinta", "boquerones en vinagre", etc. But most of all, living in Madrid will be an experience you will never forget and we hope to help to make it a most positive one. Madrid's mayor during the Socialist party government , Mr. Tierno Galvan, used to say that no one need feel like a "foreigner" in Madrid, referring to the unique hospitality the city offers to everyone. Pre-program information Pre-Program Information
Please read carefully and take note of the information and arrival instructions given below. If you have questions after reading this material, please contact the Educational Programs Abroad Madrid Director, Jennifer Catron, Esquilache 6, 4C 28003 MADRID; Telephone: 011.34.91.535.09.70. The e-mail address is: jcatron@bitmailer.net There is an answering service available to take messages if no one is there to receive your call. Friends and relatives may send mail to you care of the above address and it will be forwarded to you until you have your permanent address. Please give the above phone number to your parents so that in case of an emergency, they can contact you through the Director.
PREPARATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO SPAIN
PASSPORT - Make sure your passport has not expired.
STUDENT VISA - In order to participate in the Internship program, you must request and obtain a student visa through the Spanish Consulate nearest your home (see list of Consulates below) The process can take up to three weeks, so you must allow for sufficient time. Normally students are required to go in person to the Consulate so call beforehand to make sure of the most up-to-date regulations.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR STUDENT VISA - After you receive the certificate of enrollment issued by the Nebrissensis University along with the certificate from EPA Madrid Director, you can formally request the visa. You must submit the two certificates, your passport, two small photos and $30 along with your application form completely filled out. The visa is valid for three months.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IDENTITY CARD - Please request as well an International I.D. card through the study abroad office at your college or university, or through the Council on International Educational Exchange, 205 &. 42nd St., New York, New York 10017, telephone:(212)822.14.14. This card will enable you to receive discounts on entry to many museums in Spain as well as in the rest of Europe.
SPANISH CONSULATES IN THE U.S.
| BOSTON (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island)
Consulate General of Spain |
LOS ANGELES (Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and counties of San Diego, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, Inyo, Ventura City, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Kern and San Bernardino)
Consulate General of Spain |
| CHICAGO (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, North and South Dakota)
Consulate General of Spain |
MIAMI (Forida, North and South Carolina, Georgia)
Consulate General of Spain |
| HOUSTON (Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico)
Consulate General of Spain |
NEW ORLEANS
Consulate General of Spain |
| NEW YORK (Delaware, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania)
Consulate General of Spain |
SAN FRANCISCO (Alaska, California -except counties covered by L.A.-, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming, Washington, Pacific Islands possessions of USA)
Consulate General of Spain |
| PUERTO RICO (Puerto Rico, Islands of Culebra and Vieques, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Consulate General of Spain |
WASHINGTON D.C.(Washington,D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia) Consulate General of Spain |
HEALTH
HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY - Please check your policy to determine the type and amount of coverage you have at the present time. It is of prime importance that you be sufficiently covered, both for medical as well as for accident purposes. Please be prepared, upon arrival in Madrid, to inform the director the type and coverage your policy includes. While you are in Madrid, you will be covered by a personal liability policy which will protect you in case of damaging public property or injuring someone. Don't forget to bring with you documents concerning your health insurance policy, including proof that it is in effect. At the same time check the following excerpt from the PERSONAL HEALTH INVENTORY FOR OVERSEAS STUDY/TRAVEL from the guide with the same name written in 1996 by Judith Green, Director of International Student Affairs, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University and Joan Elias Gore, Director of Campus Relations, Council on International Educational Exchange. It was prepared to help students assess their present health situation and needs. Make sure you consider all relevant aspects. Please read it and act accordingly.
IMMUNIZATION - Spain does not require you to be vaccinated to enter the country. Sanitary conditions are good in the country nevertheless, if you plan to do some extensive travelling outside of the country and choose to be inoculated, do so with sufficient time before travelling to Spain.
MEDICATION - If you are taking any medication, try to bring enough to last you the entire period of your stay in the country. Bring a clear description of the medication from your doctor/pharmacist ready to showcustoms officials, if need be. All medication and vitamins should be in individual containers and clearly labelled.
If you are unable to bring enough with you, it would be helpful if you could bring a prescription in order to purchase it more easily at the local pharmacy.
If you have a medical or emotional condition which should, for your own safety and protection, be known to the director, convey it to her in confidence either before or on arrival in Madrid. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, try to bring an extra pair. Having replacements sent from the U.S. can create long and costly hassles with Spanish customs authorities. If you wear contact lenses, bring enough contact lens solution to last you the entire period of your stay abroad since it is much more expensive to purchase it in Spain than in the U.S.
WHAT TO BRING
WHAT TO PACK- Consider proper clothes for the climate. The weather in Madrid, for the most part, will be quite mild and moderate during your stay, though sometimes it is totally changeable and unpredictable. Madrid is more than 600 m. above sea-level. Below are the average maximum daily temperatures in Madrid month by month. When using this guide, bear in mind that these are averages; for instance the temperature can rise to over 100 F in Madrid during the summer and fall to the 20 F during the winter.
MEDIAN TEMPERATURES IN MADRID IN C & F - Maximum temperature yr. average: 42 C; Minimum temperature yr.average: 9.2 C. For the Fall and Spring you should bring an umbrella, as well as a raincoat, winter coat, and sweaters. For those students coming in the summer, remember that Madrid can be very warm, especially in July. Madrid is a great walking city, and even when you travel by some means of public transportation, you will find you spend much more time on your feet than in the U.S. You should therefore bring a couple of pairs of comfortable, durable walking shoes. If you like to hike, bring along a pair of hiking boots as well since the mountain range to the north of Madrid is a favorite place for hikers. High heels are rather impractical, though you may want to bring a pair for dress use.
Appropriate dress in the internship placements is largely dictated by the nature of the placement in which you are working though it is safe to say that for the male students, a pair of trousers and a shirt with sports jacket or sweater should be considered quite safe, and for girls a skirt and blouse or sweater. Slacks may also be worn. In a few places where the atmosphere is fairly informal, such as museums andpressure groups, both male and female interns can wear pretty much what they want within reason, such as jeans, casual cords, etc. though not tennis shoes (Even in discoteques, tennis shoes are not permitted). It isn't necessary to bring a vast wardrobe as long as it contains four or five outfits suitable for working in your placement; it is helpful to bring a fairly coordinatedwardrobe from which you can make many combinations, adding and subtracting layers as needed by the weather. Students are sometimes invited to attend special luncheons, dinners, cocktail parties, etc. in conjunction with their internships, so it is advisable for all students to bring at least one rather "dressy" outfit. All students should bring casual clothes for classes, evenings and weekends; it is not necessary to dress up even for most Spanish theaters and restaurants. You would be well-advised to make sure your valuable personal effects, such as cameras and expensive sports equipment, are insuredunder your parent's/guardian's exisiting homeowner's policy or separately. During orientation we will advise you on how to protect best your personal effects from theft, but it is a sad fact of life in any major city, including Madrid, that pickpocketing and petty theft are common. E.P.A.cannot be responsible for the loss or theft of personal effects such as money, clothes, cameras, sports equipment, jewelery, etc. You should leave your valuable jewelery at home in the U.S.
PACKING - Try to pack andtravel light. A good rule of thumb to follow is if you cannot carry it, don't bring it. Bear in mind that you will inevitably want to take home more than you come to Spain with and your luggage allowance is the same in both directions. Excess luggage and shipping costs can be very high. Soft-sided luggage is useful to bring because it expands for the trip home. If you bringt wo big suitcases, try to bring a smaller one as well to use for short trips around Madrid, preferably folded up and carried in one of your big suitcases.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES-Standard U.S. electrical appliances are incompatiblewith the Spanish electrical system, because both the current and the type of outlet are different. Should you plan to bring any appliances, you should obtain a voltage converter and an adapter before you depart the U.S. These can be purchased in Spain, but they are much more expensive. You will need a round plug for Spain. A word of caution: many Americans find that even with the proper equipment it can be difficult to use U.S.appliances in Spain, because converters can easily over-heat and short fuse. Some people find it easier and, in the long-run, just as economical to purchase the cheapest available Spanish appliances once they are here. Hairdryers can be purchased with dual voltage. You can use these in Spain witha plug adaptor, purchased in the U.S. or in Spain.
OTHER EQUIPMENT - It is advisable to bring a battery-operated travel alarm clock. You might also wish to bring battery-operated cassette players and radios, though you should check in advance with your airline to ensure that they will allow you to bring them onboard the aircraft. It isn't necessary, or advisable, to bring a typewriter. You need not bring computer equipment with you since you will have access to one at the Nebrissensis. If you bring an expensive camera, bring the bill of sale, or a copy thereof, to prove you purchased it in the U.S. In this way you will avoid paying taxes in Customs.
SUGGESTED READING - "Let's go Spain", Harvard Student Agencies, Inc., the single most helpful and widely used guide for Americans Spain, Lonely Planet, 1997
Other guides:
- Michelin,Fodors, the Blue Guide and Frommer's
- "The Face of Spain", classic recordof travels by Gerald Brennan, Penguin Travel Library, 1965.
- "Spain, CultureShock ", Maria Louise Graff
- " A guide to customs and etiquette. "
- "A Guide to Andalusia", by Michael Jacobs, Penguin Books
- "Between Hopes and Memories"
- "Iberia" by J. Michener, a distinct perspective on Spanish culture.
- "Or I'll Dress You in Mourning", by Collins and Lapierre
Tourist information can be obtained from any one of the Tourist Offices of Spain located in the U.S.(Check the Spanish Consulate nearest you for further information)
ARRIVAL INFORMATION
ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS - Summer (1998) -The dates of the summer program are June 1st until July 26th Since all transatlantic flights US-Spain are overnight, you will leave the US on the May 31st.
FALL - The dates of the fall program are from Monday, September 7th until the morning of December 13th.
SPRING - The dates of the spring program are from Monday, January 18th until the morning of April 25th.
On the first day of the program, you should go directly to the HotelMadrid, Carretas 10 (following see map and instructions on how to reach the hotel), telephone (001.34.91, 531.08.58). This hotel has been chosen for its installations, service, and location, right in the heart of the city. This choice of accommodations will enable you to take advantage of ready access to many of Madrid's most important monuments and museums which are located in this area. You will be staying in doubles or triples. All rooms have private baths.
EPA will pay for your stay at the hotel as well as provide you with a meal allowance (1.000 ptas. per meal) during the orientation period. The weekly accommodation refund will take effect when you move out of the hotel and into your permanent housing on Friday of the firstweek. The EPA Director will be on hand at the hotel from 11:30 until 13:30 to help you resolve any difficulty you may have; at the same time she will distribute program materials and go over different aspects of the program. (Seeorientation schedule p. 10 ).
EARLY/LATE ARRIVALS - If you plan to arrive in Madrid early and need help with hotel accommodations before the program begins, you may be able to stay at the Hotel Madrid, room availability permitting. No special rate can be assured. Please notify the Program Director at least three weeks in advance if you would like to stay in the hotel. Likewise, please notify the EPA office in New York or the Madrid Program Director if you plan on arriving after the program's commencement.
HOW TO REACH THE HOTEL MADRID FROM BARAJAS
Barajas airport is located about 10 miles away from Madrid.
BUS SERVICE - Barajas has regular bus service (a yellow bus which stops right outside of international arrivals, as well as at other strategic points). It will take you directly to the underground bus station in the Plaza de Colon. The bus fare costs 375 ptas. and, in comparison to taxi fares, is quite reasonable. From the city bus station you have ready access to taxis since there is a taxi stand in the station. You should expect to pay about 1.300 ptas. from the station to the hotel including a couple pieces of luggage (eachpiece costs 160 ptas.). Taxis are entitled to put a surcharge of 160 ptas. on Sundays and holidays.
TAXIS DIRECT TO THE HOTEL - This is an option as well but you MUST remember to be aware that there are illegal taxis so be sure to look for white cars with the corresponding number in black, above the right fender, and be sure to read the instructions on fares which are given on the wall in the airport, located just outside customs. An approximate amount you should expect to pay for a taxi from Barajas to the Hotel Madrid on a day with above normal traffic (Mondays and Fridays), such as Monday the first day of the program, will be about 3.300 ptas., though this obviously depends largely on the exact amount of traffic at any one given moment. Once again, remember that a flat fee will be charged for each piece of luggage. How to reach the hotel Madrid from Barajas airport
GENERAL REMARKS - The first week of the progam will be devoted to orientation at which time we will deal with program administration, housing, internships and living in Madrid. Cultural andsocial activities will also be included in order to give you the opportunity to get to know one another as well as becoming adapted to the city of Madrid. On the second day, Tuesday, at 08'45. you will be accompanied to the Universitas Nebrissensis (see map ), also known as the Fundacion Antonio de Nebrija, and by its initials UNNE, call Pirineos 55, telephone: 91- 311.66.02; fax:91-311.66.13. At this time you will have a language placement exam and spend about three hours at the university. This is a private university which has two campuses; the one where you will be studying is referred to as Dehesa de la Villa (name of the neighborhood as well as the park which is located in front), and the other is the Berzosa, which is located in Hoyo de Manzanares, about a half hour from the city. Take note of the university's location so you will be able to go there by yourself from the second day forward.
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REACH THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - Buses which will take you to the university are: 64, 44 (perhaps the one which takes you closest), 132, 127, 128, The metro stop nearest the university is the Metropolitano. The path to the campus is complicated though after using it a couple of times, it should not be that difficult to manage. When you leave the metro, exit from the side saying "Colegio Mayor". Go left on the first street (Menedez Pidal). Cross the first street and continue straight through a parking lot. After crossing the parking lot, go right up the street (Almirante Francisco Moreno). Continue on the left side of that street until you come to the first street on your left. Go left and then left again. You'll see a sign indicating the university. Walk up that street following it around towards the right. You will end up in front of the park Dehesa de la Villa and the university is right there.
As you know, you will have thirty hours of intensive language classes though these classes are not for credit. They shouldbe viewed as an opportunity for you to improve your grammar, conversational and writing abilities in Spanish. They should enable you to become familiarizedwith Castillian Spanish and the everyday language you will be hearing and using while you are here, thus perform better in your internship position and in general. You are encouraged to take the final exam at the end of these classes. At the same time you are taking the intensive language classes, it is a unique moment for you to explore the city.
STUDENTI.D - After your language placement exam, you will be accompanied to T.I.V.E.,c/ Fernando el Catolico 88, to obtain an International Student I.D. Card if you don't already have one. At this time you can also ask about the Carnet Joven (International Youth Card) which entitles the bearer to discounts at a wide variety of stores, travel agencies, RENFE, and also gives access todifferent services all over Europe. Ask at TIVE for further details about this card.
COURSES
ACADEMIC PROGRAM - The academic class schedule in the fall at theUniversity begins on October 3rd and ends a little after EPA students depart.Spring semester begins on February 3rd and ends a month after EPA students depart. The summer language classes begin on June 4th. You have already chosen your subjects, but once in a while due to scheduling, students have changed one of their subjects so that they only attend the University two days a week instead of three, thus permitting them to work three full days in their internship position. For those of you enrolled in the Artin the Prado class, it meets several Friday mornings during the semester at the Prado. If you have difficulties with your scheduling, please contact the EPA Director.
COURSE OFFERINGS ACCORDING TO SEMESTER - Intensive language classes. General Spanish language (six levels), Spanish for legal and economic purposes, Conversation class, conversation culture class, class on Spanish culture.
FALL / SPRING - Grammar classes, conversation and composition, Spain and Spaniards, Art and civilization, Art in the Prado, Espana diversa, Spanish themes (social science/language course), Present Political Scene in Spain, (Fall) Contemporary Spain, Contemporary Spanish Novel, Spanish Theater of theTwentieth Century ( Spring), Figures in Spanish Literature (Spring only), Golden Age Literature (Fall only). Economics of the European Community(Spring), Economics and International Economic Institutions (Fall). Caution must be taken here concerning course selection because the University reserves the right to alter listings though generally-speaking the above mentioned are fairly certain.
DROP/ ADD COURSES - The deadline, established by the university, is two weeks after you begin classes. The home universities must be notified.
GRADES & TRANSCRIPTS - You will be given grades based on the Spanisheducational system, 0-10, which are converted into U.S. ones.
| Sobresaliente Sobresaliente Notable Notable Aprobado Aprobado,alto Suspenso,fail |
10 9 8 7 6 5 4-1 |
A+ A- B+ B- C+ C |
Back to Top
KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL INTERNSHIP
GUIDELINES FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERNSHIP - There are two main objectives behind every EPA internship:
1) That the student benefits from the opportunity to experience and learn about a chosen field in a foreign culture through active involvement on the inside.
2) That the supervisor and the Department/Organization etc. benefit from the unpaid assistance of the student. These guidelines are meant to help you meet these objectives, get as much as you possibly can out of your placement andmake a valuable contribution in the process. EPA has set up your internship and is always available to help you and your supervisor with any problems that may arise. However, you must appreciate fromthe outset that to a very large extent, the success of your internship is in your hands and that the more you put into the experience, the more you will get out of it.
ATTITUDE AND PROFESSIONALISM - The attitude you adopt and exhibit towards your supervisor, your colleagues and your work from the very earliest stages will largely determine the tone of your internship. EPA asks that interns be treated like entry-level professionals, so you must always act like a professional. Treat your internship as you would a paying job: this includes everything from punctuality - particularly at your interview, dressing appropriately, and dealing tactfully and maturely with the many different types of people and personalities you are likely to encounter.
TRUSTWORTHINESS AND DISCRETION - Trustworthiness and discretion are two key traits of a real professional. By proving your ability to keep a confidence, you will earn the respect of others and increase your chances of being given important and interesting assignments, and being included in upper level meetings. You should try to establish a good rapport with your supervisor and colleagues from the start. 'Good' does not necessarily mean that you will become close friends - it is far more important that you work well together -though you may also make some friends in the process. Almost every office has its own internal 'politics'. You may not be here long enough to fully understand the causes of these problems and you are strongly advised to avoid them altogether. You should have the confidence to form and trust your own options, without influence from colleagues. EPA believes that in each of itsinternships the work should be of an educational or challenging nature and that the intern must ultimately be given a level of responsibility commensurate with his or her respective abilities. Having said this, it is important to remember that in every internship, as in most entry level positions, there is a certain amount of routine, even tedious work. EPA, your sponsoring institution and your supervisor expect you to undertake this routine work willingly. A willingness to do this will be rewarded with greater responsibility and more interesting work later. You should also bear in mind that the type of work in any given internship is dictated not only by the needs of the supervisor, Department or Organization, but also by the skills and abilities of the individual intern. You must really prove yourself and your abilities at the outset as the supervisor determines where your strengths (and possibly your weaknesses) lie in order to determine in which areas of work you will be most useful and helpful. No one is perfect and no one expects you to be. You should always do your best work, but at the same time you should try to accept your limitations graciously and maturely. If your supervisor criticizes a particular piece of work, try not to feel angryor hurt; feel grateful that he is investing the time in you to really teach younew skills. At the same time it is important to bear in mind that your supervisor is not a full-time tutor. He has a full-time job to do and your role is to ease this burden. You should not hesitate to ask questions if you are unsure about how to proceed, just try to judge the best time to ask them. If your supervisor never seems to have a
relatively quiet period, ask if you can arrange a mutually convenient time when you can talk.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES - Many of you have already had internships in the US, and all of you know what they generally entail. The fundamental difference this semester will obviously be that while you are coping with all those new factors, you will also be coping with a whole new culture, new friends, new courses, and new housing. It is a great deal to adjust to all at once and the period of adjustment varies from one person to another. EPA and your supervisors will do all we can to make your settling-in period as smooth as possible, but without your usual US support system, you will have to draw on your own inner resources to an extent you've never had to do before. When considering the internship program specifically for Spain there are certain cultural differences to keep in mind: the entire concept of "internship" is less familiar here and so often the supervisor may seem hesitant to delegate much "work" to the student. He will need help from the student to gain confidence in thinking that he most certainly can count on him for certain tasks. When the student feels he is not DOING anything, the first thing he should consider is the nature of the entity where he has been placed, along with the hierarchy of the work scene. Next, he should attempt to put himself in his supervisor's shoes to see how he functions and the general dynamic of the staff. Quite often there is a lot of work to do but only a minimal few people are undertaking it. This is due to difficulty at the executive level in knowing how to delegate the tasks. Often it is due to the lack of willingness on the part of the general staff to take initiative. It is the student's responsibility to search for relevancy in his stay at the company. In the end, the main thing to remember is that either way there is something very important to be gained. Whether the student is able to DO or OBSERVE on the work scene will definitely be a matter of the supervisor and the student. A few crosscultural tips: Spaniards are as a whole more reserved than Americans, though sometimes superficially this may not appear to be the case. Don't mistake this reserve and formality for unfriendliness. Your supervisor has chosen to take you on as an intern and is anxious to provide an interesting and worthwhile experience for you as well as benefit from your assistance. It takes a great deal more time on the part of a supervisor to have an intern, especially in the early days than is sometimes immediately apparent. As you will note in communicating with Spaniards, apart from there being differences in viewing such concepts as time, space, etc. here are a few more:
1) Spaniards are less direct than Americans and speak in a more roundabout way. Requests which may seem to you to be as optional are, in fact, direct orders.
2) Spaniards tend to give less feedback than Americans, though, at the same time, often shun offering direct negative remarks. Here only the sensitive observant internship student will know exactly how the supervisor regards his work.
3) While your supervisor and colleagues may be genuinely interested in how things are done in the US, be extremely careful how you word your comments. Americans unfortunately have a reputation, often well-founded, for believing that the American way is the best.
PROBLEMS - Great care has been taken to place you in the internship that is most appropriate for you in terms of your academic background, relevant work experience, interests and future goals. However, because placements are searched for in advance of student's arrival based on the applications and supporting documents, it is absolutely impossible to plan for personality conflicts. These types of problems are relatively infrequent but could occur. Other types of problems, also fairly rare, can arise when a supervisor and student have different expectations of an internship, or simply a misunderstanding. If you have a problem in your internship, don't panic. By remaining calm and dealing with it maturely, either on your own or with help, not only will you most likely solve the problem, but you will also learn for future reference how to deal with the types of situations that you are bound to encounter later in your career. If a problem arises, take the following steps: 1) Talk to your supervisor. Try to determine if there really is a problem or just a misunderstanding. Communicate the problem as you see it and your needs as diplomatically, as yet firmly as possible. 2) If you and your supervisor cannot resolve the problem,the EPA Resident Director will take action to make any necessary adjustments. If it appears that you may have been placed in the wrong internship or that a personality clash will render your internship too stressful, you will be placed in another. However, placements are only changed after both the student andthe supervisor have made every effort to resolve the problems. Very few internships are changed.
COMPARISONS - While it is completely natural that you will discuss your internship experiences with each other, please try for your own sake to avoid the temptation of comparing your experiences at any given time with those of another student. Some supervisors give their interns a fair amount of responsibility from the outset while others make their interns prove themselves and their abilities before they are assignedwork of a more challenging nature. Internships move at different paces, and you may reap the benefits later rather than earlier. At the end of the program your supervisor will receive a request to fill out an evaluation or write aletter of evaluation on your internship performance. The letter follows the standard recommendation format, asking for a description of tasks assigned, performance of tasks, ability to work well with others, verbal and written skills, attendance and punctuality, etc. These letters are then forwarded to the relevant sponsoring institutions, or in the case of independents to the person listed on the application, along with the grades for the academic courses. Many students find these letters, or additional ones that they ask their supervisors to write, very helpful when they apply to graduate or professional schools or for jobs. You are all expected to work about eight hours each day you work, or a total of 24 hours weekly. You should ask your supervisor at what time you are expected to arrive, take your lunch break and finish. Some internships will be more flexible than others on this. In Spain the working day looks something like this: 8'00 - 15'30 or 9'00 - 14'00, 17'00 -19'00 (governmental institutions), 9'00-13'30, 17'00-19'00 or 20'00. The variety of different schedules in Spain at the present is quite complex. Where days off are concerned. One long weekend is often granted but above this, we think, is unreasonable. You are not here for that long and the main purpose of your program is the internship. Please do not put your supervisor in the awkward position of deciding whether to give you additional days off or not. WORK HARD AND ENJOY YOURSELVES!
PROGRAM WIND-UP
1. Financial obligations - In order for grades and the internship certificate to be sent on time to the universities, it is absolutely essential that all students meet their financial obligations before they leave, regardless of their nature: housing, telephone, gas, electricity bills, outstanding accounts at the University, return of library books, etc. If anyone has difficulty fulfilling this requirement, he should talk to the Program Director as soon as possible. Grades and internship certificates will be withheld from students not complying with their responsibilities. Students in independent flats should notify their landlords in advance of their intended departure dates to arrange for a final inspection of the flat, the turnover of keys and the refund of the "fianza". Normally, landlords and managing agents will not return security deposits until they are presented with receipts showing that all bills for which the tenants are responsible, such as telephone, gas and electricity, have been paid. Students should contact the Telefonica and the Gas and Electricity Company well in advance of their departure dates to request final meter readings and bills. To avoid any difficulties over the return of the "fianza", students should ensure that flats are left clean and in the same order and condition as they were when they moved in. Some landlords retain a small portion of the "fianza" towards the cost of general cleaning. However, any students who feel that their landlord is being unreasonable about how much of the fianza he or she wishes to retain should diplomatically but firmly stand their ground.
2. Journals - Near the conclusion of the program students should ensure that their journals and/or papers about their internship experiences are in order. These journals andpapers are to be submitted to the credit-granting university and colleges, NOT left with EPA. You should refer to your sponsoring institution's instructions on the submission of this material, but as a general rule you should photocopy it before sending it (in case it gets lost in the mail) and, if possible, mail it within the US once you return.
3. Internship evaluation questionaires - Each supervisor will be sent a questionaire (in the case of Rochester and North Carolina credit) and will be told that students possibly will request as well a personal letter of evaluation from them. In the case of Northern Illinois University student, a letter detailing responsibilities and performance will be requested. Basically request is made for a review of the work assigned and its execution, along with an evaluation of the student's professionalism, demeanor, ability to work well with others, level of initiative taken, responsibility, and reliability. Also reference is made to organization, verbal and written skills, attention to details, attendance and any other points revelevant to the placement. THIS FORM MUST BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR, who in turn forwards it directly to the credit-granting institutions where it is taken into account when grades and credit for the semester are assigned. EPA has an obligation to each student and to each sponsoring institution to ensure that the questionaire or letter of
evaluation has been submitted properly to the appropriate person or institution in the U.S.
4. Personal letter of recommendation - In addition to the form/letter explained above, some students request from their supervisors a "To Whom It May Concern" letter of recommendation. This is not part of the academic record, but rather is left to each interested student to request and should be taken with him when he departs. In the past supervisors have usually been willing to compose one of these letters in addition to the official form/letter, but this is a personal matter between the student and supervisor. Some students find that these personal letters of recommendation are particularly useful for their career placement files at their home institutions and for job, graduate or professional school applications. It is an EPA policy NOT to show students their supervisor's questionaire / letters of evaluation while they are still at the program site. Once students return to the U.S., they may request a copy from their sponsoring institution. Different sponsoring institutions have varying policies on the release of these forms/letters. EPA keeps copies of all forms of evaluation on file indefinitely, so students may write to EPA Madrid at any point in the future to request that a copy of the letter be sent to them, their campus career placement office, graduate and professional school admissions offices or to potential employers.
5. Grades/courses - It is important to meet all deadlines for the submission of written work in the academic courses. Students mailing papers should make a photocopy first and sent them "certificado con acuse de recibo" (registered with receipt); this procedure will come in handy if the papers go astray in the mail. In Spain generally speaking students do not receive copies of their exams so if a student's institution requires them, the student should speak to the Program Director about making a formal request of the same to the Nebrissensis. Extensions are only granted in very extenuating circumstances with approval from the professor and the University. Any student who seeks and receives an extension must understand that "incompletes" automatically turn to "F's" six weeks after the program's completion, in the case of work not having been submitted to the professor.
6. Transmission of documents - The forms/letters of evaluation and grades for students who come on the EPA program through one of the sponsoring institutions such as Albion, NIU, U. of the Pacific, Rochester, DePauw, UNC, Chapel Hill, etc. are automatically mailed to those institutions upon the student's completion of the program.
7. Program/course evaluation - The EPA Program Director must receive from each student the corresponding PROGRAM, COST, and HOUSING forms. It would be greatly appreciated if all students could either send the forms before the last Friday of the program or take them fully completed to the farewell luncheon on that day.
8. Certification of completion - EPA awards "Certificates of Completion" to each student upon his successful completion of the program. These certificates are not official documents to be submitted to the credit-granting institutions, but personal souvenirs for the student to keep to remind him of his internship in Madrid. Each student is asked to check his Certificate to make sure it is correct.
9. Post-program traveling - Students who plan to travel around Spain once the program has ended are advised to notify their parents of their travel plans to spare them any unnecessary worry. Students are free to leave messages with the director.
10. Luggage storage - Unfortunately EPA Madrid can not provide this service but perhaps the host family or landlord would be willing to store luggage for a week or so, though the feasibility will vary greatly from one instance to another depending on space available. As an option, the student should check with the Chamartin train station for details on renting locker space by the day. As mentioned at the beginning of the guide, Barajas airport provides this service as well.
SUPPORT SERVICES AND EMERGENCIES
SUPPORT SERVICES - The EPA Director handles all aspects of program administration and assists students in understanding and adapting to the Spanish culture. Efforts are made to help you in dealing with any problem which may arise in connection with any aspect of your stay in Madrid or with sickness, accidents, unpleasant news from home, etc. The director will seek expertise from a trusted person if need be. If a serious situation arises in which you are involved in an accident, hospitalized, or in danger of losing academic credit, the director reserves the right to initiate contact with your family, academic advisor, or home campus authority. Such an action would normally only be undertaken in consultation beforehand with the student. Remember that it is always better to treat what seems like a problem when it first appears instead of waiting until it becomes quite unmanageable. Difficulties with internships as well as those with the university courses should be discussed with the director who will attempt to give whatever assistance possible.You can almost always reach the Director during the week at one of the following telephone numbers: 91.535.09.70 (home phone, afternoons, though there is an answering service where you can leave a message if you wish); 91.583.86.03 in the morning from 8'30 until 15'00. The Director remains in contact with the Nebrissensis officials as well as with each internship supervisor throughout the semester and, in this way, attempts to receive feedback on the student's development.
EMERGENCIES: MEDICAL SERVICES - If you, or one of your fellow students, becomes seriously ill or suffers a wound, cut or broken bone, etc. take a taxi to Urgencias at one of the SEGURIDAD SOCIAL hospitals such as: LA PAZ, EL CLINICO, DOCE DE OCTUBRE, or GREGORIO MARA=D1ON and call immediately the EPA Director, regardless of the time of day, at 91.535.09.70 (or at her office phone). Do not call the student's parents. After the doctor and the director have shared information regarding the student, the student's family will be contacted. For everyday illnesses the following services should be used. Unidad Medica Anglo Americana Monday through Friday 9'00-4'00, Saturday 10'00 - 13'00. (English speaking doctors) c/ Conde de Aranda 1tel.:91.435.18.23; fax:91.577.94.99. 28001 MADRID (quite near the Plaza de la Independencia, Metro Retiro, salida calle Lagasca) Payments must be made either in cash, with a major credit card, or with a Spanish bank account. The receipt for any service paid should be sent to your insurance company for coverage. From its early days at the British American Hospital, this group of more than 20 doctors offers U.S. students 24-hour general and emergency medical attention in English and Spanish.
Cost per visit: from 8,000 ptas. House calls: from 12,000 ptas. Dentistry: fillings may run from 8,000 to 10,000 ptas. English speaking HELPLINE - Helpline is an English speaking telephone service to help with questions about Madrid or to talk to someone in confidence. The lines are open every night from 19'00 to 23'00. The number is 91.559.13.93.
PHARMACIES - Pharmacies are easily identified by a white sign with a green cross. Their hours are the same as other shops, 10'00 to 2'00, and 4'30 = to 8'00 p.m. on weekdays and 10'00 to 2'00 on Saturdays. Some pharmacies are open during lunch time though the general schedule is as stated. Spanish law requires that a certain number of pharmacies remain open 24 hours a day (Farmacias de guardia), including Saturdays and Sundays. A list of these "farmacias de guardia" with their corresponding addresses is posted daily outside each pharmacy and is published in the local newspapers. Most products are kept behind the counter and you will have to ask the pharmacist directly for cough medicine, pain killers, etc. Though this practice may seem intimidating or an invasion of your privacy at first, pharmacists are generally quite helpful.
LOST OR STOLEN OBJECTS - You must make a formal statement explaining the incident at the police station nearest your home or nearest the area where it took place. Passport: in order to obtain a new one, you must go directly to the US Embassy, Serrano 75. Tel.: 91.577.40.00. Schedule: 9'00 -12'30, 15'00 - 17'00, Monday through Friday. You must present three 2 x 2 (inches, or 5 x 5 cm.) photographs with light background. You can have your photo taken there at a coin operated machine. You must also present the police officer's report of the loss, as well as a photocopy of ALL PAGES of your passport. The general lost and found office is located on Plaza Legazpi, 7. Telephone:91.588.43.46. Objects left in taxis:91.588.43.44.
PERSONAL SECURITY AND THE LAW
PERSONAL SECURITY - Although Madrid is much safer than many large American cities, it has crime. Normal safety precautions should be followed. If you are out late at night, it is always better to travel in pairs or in a group. However, remember that "late" in Madrid is later than "late" in the U.S. It is not uncommon to meet for dinner at 21'00 or 22'00 or enter a disco past midnight. If traveling alone late at night, you would be wiser to take a taxi than to take a bus or the metro. Do not take any unnecessary risks. All cities have their dangerous sections. In Madrid, these are the areas of Chueca and Malasana and all the back streets behind Gran Via. Exercise more caution if you go into these areas. The best rule of thumb to follow is "Do not do anything you would not do at home".
THE LAW - All foreigners in Spain are subject to the same laws as a Spanish citizen. Please be prudent in your activities and abide by the law at all times. In the event of a legal problem, please call the director immediately. You have the right to consult with the U.S. Consulate Officer. It is wise not to make a written or oral statement until you have talked to the officer. The Embassy will provide you with a list of lawyers if necessary.
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS - Spanish usually include drinking alcoholic beverages as part of their eating and social life. The legal drinking age is l6 years old. Despite the perceived liberalness of the role of alcohol in Spain, normally you will not see a Spaniard drink to excess. You should not either. It reflects poorly on you if you arrive home drunk. Please do not do so. If you drink to excess, you run the risk of placing yourself in a position where you do not control your actions. This is dangerous both to your health and to your safety. In a drunken stupor you leave yourself vulnerable to street crime and other unpleasant possibilities. It goes without saying that consumption and distribution of all drugs (hash or "chocolate", marijuana, extasy, etc...) is illegal in Spain. If caught, you will be subject to the laws of Spain. There is little anyone from the U.S. (or the Director) can do for you under these circumstances. Please do not take any unnecessary risks or trust anyone offering you illegal drugs. The above information is very important if you are travelling outside Spain, especially to Arab countries.
U.S. EMBASSY AND CONSULATES - The United States Embassy and Consulate are located on calle Serrano, 75 (Barrio de Salamanca, Metro Ruben Dario or Nunez de Balboa ). The phone number is 91.577.40.40. Please call for office hours. The United States Embassy Barcelona: Consulate General Via Layetana, 33-4 08033 Barcelona Tel: 93.319.95.50 Sevilla: Consulate General Paseo de las Delicias 7 41012 Sevilla Tel.: 95.423.18.85 Valencia: Consular Agency Ribera 2 46002 Valencia Tel.: 96.321.69.73 Bilbao: Consulate Avda. del Ejrcito, 11-3 izda. Edificio "San Pedro de Deusto" 48014 Bilbao Tel.: 94.435.83.20 Mallorca: Consular Agency Jaime III, 26 entresuelo 2, H-1 07001 Palma de Mallorca Tel.: 725.051 or 722.660 Las Palmas: Consular Agency Franch i Roca, 5-5, 13 Tel.:928. 271.259 or 928.222.552
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
CULTURE SHOCK/ADAPTATION - "Culture shock is simply the phenomenon whereby you as an integrated being seek some kind of balance", indicates Felix Moos, professor of anthropology at the University of Kansas, in an article written sometime ago. "Therefore, when you're in another culture, you have a "shock" because you're caught off balance. Finally you get cultivated in a new situation, and you get caught again when you return home". Moos goes on to explain that the process whereby an individual grows up and adapts to his country's own culture is called"enculturation". "Acculturation", on the other hand, occurs when the individual comes into contact with a foreign culture. When we consider what a U.S. university student goes through mentally when he comes to Spain to study, lives in a family or in a residence, and participates in an internship position, we immediately see that the process of his adaptation is terribly complex and the student must have PRACTICE, PATIENCE, AND BE MOTIVATED, want to fit in, in order to carry out best his goal of participating in a program of this type. We must first think of the three distinct situations in which he will have to become adapted in order to feel comfortable and make those around him comfortable as well in the relationships involved. From the beginning, since the student has to reach the Hotel Madrid on his own, instead of being met at the airport, he will be experiencing interaction with Spaniards. Living just for four nights in the center of a big European capital city such as Madrid quite possibly may pose quite a feat in itself. Later, the student must become familiar with other ways of doing things in the home situation, whether he lives with a family or shares an apartment with Spanish students. Later he will notice the differences between the Nebrissensis University and his home university. He will soon learn just to what extent how different things are in Spain on his very first day in his internship position. Experts who have carried out studies concerning the emotional curve the person experiences describe the different phases: the first, the honeymoon stage, before the student comes he begins to dream about how things will happen..., the second, the "shock" when the person arrives and discovers that much of what he was dreaming about, was simply that, an idealized vision of himself in the other country. The third phase takes place when the individual adapts superficially to the new situation. He becomes more familiarized with his immediate environment, begins to study and have personal relationships with Spanish people, and above all, he begins to see himself in another light taking a look at his weaknesses as well as his strengths. When the student stops comparing the two cultures, his own and the Spanish one, and begins to live within the second one without constantly passing judgment on everything and everyone, he becomes truly adapted to the country. No one can guarantee an American student's success in his experience in Spain, but the EPA program provides the student the opportunity of interacting with different key people who will help offer the proper perspective so the student can explore further his expectations and live through in the best way possible his personal frustrations and ambitions.
SPANISH CULTURE - It is difficult to generalize about the Spanish culture because there are numerous cultures and subcultures within Spain. In order to facilitate your view of what to expect we can point out the major differences, between a generalized view of North Americans as compared to a generalized view of Spaniards. We can point out these differences categorizing certain ways of dealing with different aspects such as TIME, SPACE, NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION, CUSTOMS and overviewing certain major VALUES. In general we can say that the Spanish culture has undergone major changes in the last twenty years. The change from a dictatorship to deomcracy has shaken the roots of Spanish values in many ways. In general, Spain was mainly a traditional culture with values largely related to the Catholic church which is the predominent religion of the country. However having the State impose the religion on its citzens has produced the counter effect of having the people move away from religion.
TIME - One of the basic stereotypes which has been prevalent about Spain is that it is the land of "manana", meaning tomorrow, and that Spaniards take the "siesta". As in the case of all stereotypes, this is a wide generalization that does not hold; what is true, however, is that Spaniards have a different way of conceptualizing time. With the exceptions of big cities where life is as hectic as in big cities anywhere else, time is to be enjoyed, spending time socializing, enjoying oneself and making the most of it. Although rapid changes are evident due to communication with other cultures, this particular concept shows how the daily schedule is segmented. The Spaniard generally begins his working schedule between 08'00 and 09'00. The exact time he wakes up depends largely on the means of transportation he has to take to get to work. There is a basic difference though in what breakfast consists of: Spaniards have what is called a "continental breakfast", i.e. coffee/tea and toast; though only now is orange juice coming into the picture for breakfast. Often it is drunk as a dessert. The labor law allows for a 20 minute break mid-morning for a cup of coffee and most public offices have a cafeteria so that employees can take this break.
LUNCH - Is between 14'00 and 15'00 and it is the main meal of the day, for which the time alloted can vary between one hour in most multinational firms to 2 1/2 hours in other national firms. The "siesta" is no longer as common as it used to be and especially not common for those living in big cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. Basically it is reserved for small children and elderly people.
PLEASE NOTICE: This information is based on the pre-arrival packets provided to students in the past. Much of the information also applies to the coming semester, but some of the information is out of date.
FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION, STUDENTS MAY CONSULT THE PRE-ARRIVAL PACKET, WHICH WILL BE MAILED TO PARTICIPATING STUDENTS DIRECTLY BY EPA.