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Study abroad
There are two study abroad
programs available to Spanish students at MTSU: The Murcia
program and the KIIS program.
1) Study abroad
program in Murcia, Spain
General information
GETTING TO MURCIA
You are each making your own travel arrangements to Madrid
and Murcia, and should be arriving in Murcia by early afternoon of Monday, June
1.
After you get to the Madrid airport, the first thing you will
do is get your bags and pass through customs. You should change some money into
pesetas there also. I recommend getting $200 cashed to carry you over the first
days. You need your passport to exchange money.
Next go outside the main level of the airport and get a taxi
or a bus to the train station. The fare will be about $5 (bus) or $30 (taxi). If
several of you travel together, you can pool resources.
When you get to Murcia, take a taxi to your dorm (Colegio
Mayor Azarbe or Apartamentos de estudiantes en el campus de Espinardo).
When you get to the dorm, identify yourself as part of the Curso de Español
par a Extranjeros group. I will have arrived ahead of you and will have
arranged your room assignments. You will proceed to your rooms and are free
until the following day (June 2) at 9:00 a.m. when we will meet at the main
entrance to the U niversidad de Murcia.
IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION
PACKING
Airlines allow you to check two pieces of luggage but each
may not exceed 62 inches or 70 pounds. (I suggest you bring only one suitcase
which you can manage yourself.) You are also allowed one piece of carry-on
luggage with a maximum s ize of 45 inches; it must fit under the seat in front
of you. Pack as lightly as possible; leave room for things you may bring home
from Spain. Please pay attention to these luggage regulations. People with
overweight baggage have to pay hefty penalties.
FILM
Plan to bring the film you will need from home, since film
and film developing are very expensive in Spain. You can either buy pre-paid
envelopes here to be mailed to the U.S. from Spain for developing or bring lead
film bags for protection when passing through customs and security systems.
CREDIT CARDS, BANKING AND MONEY
In Europe you can use American Express or any other major
credit card (e.g., Visa, Mastercard). You cannot cash personal or cashier’s
checks. Carry your money in traveler’s checks or use your credit card. Banks
are open mornings, sometimes until 2:00 p.m. and never on weekends. You
always need tour passport for cashing a traveler’s check. I recommend bringing
traveler’s checks in small ($20 or $50) denominations and changing only what
you need to cover a few days’ expenses. Avoid ending your trip with too many
pesetas.
For the Murcia Program, I recommend around $800-1000 spending
money; probably more if you plan to do extra traveling during the time of the
Program or buy many gifts. Plan your money carefully. You will need to bring
money for*:
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Tips
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Meals on Saturday nights and Sundays
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Books and supplies other than textbooks
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Personal items
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Extra travel, excursions, admission to cultural events
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Gifts
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Travel expenses after the study program ends
* Don’t be caught off guard. Keep
records of your expenditures to be sure you have enough money. Be prepared to
pay roughly the equivalent of what things cost you in a major American city.
Public services are generally cheaper, but clot hing, shoes, books, accessories,
etc., may be higher than in the United States. Furthermore, your daily
excursions to bars and discotecas can eat up cash.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR VALUABLES
Use your common sense as you would in any city in the U.S. Do
not walk alone late at night in deserted streets looking like an affluent
tourist. In fact it is best if you don’t look like an affluent tourist at any
time of the day. Leave expensive jewelry at home. Throughout your stay in
Spain, but especially in Madrid, be very cautious with your passport, credit
cards, traveler’s checks, cash and airline tickets. Keep your money in a money
belt or money pouch that you can conceal under your clothing. Women’s shoulder
bags are not very recommended. Photocopy the first two pages of your passport
and keep them in a safe place in case you have to get yours replaced.
WHAT TO BRING
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In general:
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Don’t buy a new wardrobe before you go. (Save the money for your
trip!). Bring your favorite clothes –familiar, comfortable things such
as what you would wear to MTSU summer school. You can wear almost anything
in Spain but you’ll b e happier not wearing short gym shorts; longer
shorts are fine. Jeans are popular for attending class. Bikinis are fine
at public pools.
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Bring washable clothes. Dry cleaning is not always reliable.
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Ideal luggage setup is:
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One large suitcase which you can manage to carry by yourself and
which you will check at the airport
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One smaller carry-on which will fit under the airplane seat.
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Things to bring in your purse or carry-on luggage:
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Money
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Traveler’s check
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Airplane ticket
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Passport
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A change of underwear, socks and toiletries in the unlikely event that
your checked luggage is delayed.
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Other things to pack:
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Enough clothes for ten days.
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Casual wear, including a sweater or lightweight jacket.
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One dressy outfit for special events.
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Bathing suit.
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Comfortable walking shoes. You will walk almost everywhere you go.
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First aid item (aspirin, sunburn lotion, bandaids, etc.)
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Prescription medicines.
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A copy of your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription in case you need
to replace them.
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Small tape recorder, camera, film, sunglasses, non-electric alarm clock,
can opener, pocket knife, pocket calculator.
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Sewing supplies, toiletries, soap, kleenex, etc.
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Maps of Spain and Europe, small dictionary, address book.
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A photocopy of the front pages of your passport, which you will need to
get a new passport on the spot.
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Photocopies of all credit cards you bring.
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Record of traveler’s checks numbers in which you will record when and
where each check is spent.
Don’t bring: electric appliances (hairdryer, iron,
etc.) Electric current in most Spain is 220 volt., unlike the U.S. 110 volt. You
need an adapter to regulate voltage. It is better to buy these inexpensive
electric items in Spain.
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Your baggage:
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Lock your luggage and keep the key in your pocket or purse.
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Mark your suitcase in some distinctive way, such as a bright ribbon or
tape, so that others cannot confuse your bag with theirs.
GETTING ALONG IN SPAIN
Your hope is to learn to cope and to function within another
culture. To be most successful in this, you must be flexible and try to feel out
your hosts. People who do this best come to Murcia with a realistic
understanding of themselves and their home culture and live with an open mind
in Spain. It is easier if you make the adjustment to what is new and different
rather than expect Spain to adjust to you as visitor and guest.
You will not carry or deal in any illegal drugs because:
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It is too risky and MTSU cannot take responsibility if you disobey the
laws regarding drugs. Even the Spanish or American embassies and
consulates are virtually powerless to help if you violate a drug law
abroad. Penalties include long-term imprisonment.
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The Academic Director will send you home at your own expense. Always
consult with the Academic Director about a problem however big or small.
THE LIVING EXPERIENCE IN MURCIA
Rule #1: Anyone leaving Murcia for any time and for any
reason except any planned group excursions must notify the Academic Director.
GETTING IN THE FRAME OF MIND TO LIVE IN SPAIN
Before going to Murcia, read about Spain –history,
geography, politics, etc. Read travel guides (Fodor, Michelin, Birnbaum,
etc.). The following are just a few idiosyncrasies of Spanish culture:
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Spaniards often take a siesta or rest between 3-5 p.m., and
stores are closed during these hours. Businesses reopen around 5:00 or
5:30 and remain open until 8:00 or 8:30 in the evening.
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Making long-distance phone calls is time consuming and costly. You can
expect to pay $20-$25 for a three-minute call to the U.S. during peak
hours. It is cheaper for your family and friends to call you from the U.S.
if you can arrange a mutually accepted time.
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The best way to deal with piropos, comments men sometimes make to
women, is not to acknowledge them and to continue walking.
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Greetings among men are handshakes; women who haven’t seen each other
will embrace and kiss each other, first on the right side and then on the
left.
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If a Spaniard invites you to eat at his/her home arrive in good time
(though not early) and praise the meal without overdoing it. If you arrive
at a home when people are eating, even though they invite you to join
them, politely ref use with "Que aproveche, muchas gracias".
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Palabrotas or tacos (swear words) are inappropriate in
mixed company.
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Dutch treat is not a Spanish custom. Usually Spaniards will take you out
and it is your responsibility to reciprocate by taking them out another
time. Always pay for the taxi, meals, snacks etc., if you invite people to
join you.
AFTER THE PROGRAM ENDS
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Confirm your flight by calling a travel agent three days before the flight
leaves. Individual arrangements are your own responsibility.
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If you plan to travel after the program ends, make as many arrangements
beforehand as possible, such as purchasing a Eurailpass (Der Tours,
1-800-416-8687 sells Eurailpasses for Spain for around $228). Reserve train
seats; have currency for your immediate needs for each country before
leaving the previous country.
OTHER IMPORTANT REMARKS
Spain is about 6 hours ahead of Eastern time; 7 hours ahead
of Central time. This means that 1 p.m. in Nashville is 8:00 p.m. in Spain.
The peseta/dollar exchange rate literally fluctuates
daily. As of now, you can probably count on about 150 pesetas to $1.00.
The program has been a great success, and I expect it to be
even better this year. I adore Spain, and if past experience is an indicator of
the future, you will too. I will look forward to seeing you in Murcia on Monday,
June 2.
¡BUEN VIAJE!
Nuria Novella (nnovella@mtsu.edu)
2) The KIIS program
Please visit its official
website at www.kiis.org for more information.
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