At the end of the term, students are distributed a form that asks them to rate professors, methods and materials, following the same system which is used in the United States. Students also have an opportunity to make a general evaluation of the program on another page that asks them about the quality of accommodations, meals, excursions and other activities.

How can I meet other people in Valladolid?

You will meet many other people in the Universitas Castellae. You will get to know your family and the people they introduce to you. Universitas Castellae plans “intercambios” with selected Spanish students so that you have additional opportunity to practice Spanish with a native speaker, and Universitas also organizes regular mixers in various cafes and social venues during the first weeks of the course.

What else can I do in Spain?

Valladolid offers a full program of recreational and cultural activities (ceramics workshops, theatre, regional dance, concerts, performances, etc.). It hosts the Cinema International Festival (SEMINCI) in October, and it has one of the most impressive Holy Weeks in the world. Also renowned is its “Virgen de San Lorenzo” festivity in September, where you can see bullfights, enjoy food and wine stands on the streets, concerts and many other cultural events. Students often take advantage of the opportunity to travel throughout Spain and Europe on their own during academic breaks and between semesters. Valladolid offers many facilities to travel by bus, train or plane (it has its own airport close to the city) to any part of the country. Valladolid is an important distribution area for people and merchandise in the Northwest of Spain. It is also a connection point with the middle of the country (Madrid), France (through the Basque provinces) and Portugal (Oporto and Lisbon). If you travel by plane, you may fly to Paris, Belgium, Barcelona, London, Palma de Mallorca, and other destinations depending on the season. For more information on any of these options, you can go to the Casa de Cultura, in the calle Torrecilla.

Do I have access to computers?

Yes. Universitas Castellae offers access to a computer lab with many units, word processing programs and electronic mail. Students have an ample schedule for computer use during the day. Also available is a printer for copying important documents. All Universitas classrooms and buildings have WiFi.

What can I do if for some reason my host family and I don’t get along?

The staff of the Universitas Castellae will do its best to place you in a family that suits your needs and expectations. If something in your housing situation is not right with you, speak immediately with your host family. If this does not solve the problem, consult with Eva Higuero and she can relocate you with another family if necessary.

What are the Spanish people like?

To give you an idea of general attitudes among the Spanish people, here are some observations, although of course there are exceptions.
Spanish people are generally friendly, helpful, and individualistic. They enjoy conversation and giving advice. They often consider it their duty to correct mistakes. Appearance is important: the Spanish are concerned with clothing. Men usually dress conservatively, avoiding flashy or bright colours. Women try to be stylish and children are dressed as nicely as possible.

The family is very important in Spain. The average family has two children. The father is traditionally the undisputed head of the home, while the mother makes the decisions behind the scenes (and in that sense could be considered the true head of the household). Generally the mother is responsible for caring for the house and the children.

Spain has historically been a Roman Catholic nation and 99% of the people are baptized members of the Church. All aspects of Spanish life are influenced by deep-rooted Catholic traditions, even though these days observation of faith is less obvious than in the past.

What is the food like?

Breakfast is a light repast of coffee or hot chocolate, bread and jam (or pastries called churros when one eats breakfast in a café). The most substantial meal is the comida, served at about 2:00 p.m., and it includes soup and/or salad, fish, a main dish and fresh fruit. Wine and bread usually accompany this meal. At 9:00 or 10:00 p.m., a less substantial meal, cena, is served. When you eat meals at your host family’s table, it would be appropriate to try all the food served, even if just a little bit, out of appreciation and consideration for the cooking of your host mother.

What other fun things can I do in Valladolid?

There are soccer games on TV, which become a real social occasion in the bars where many fans tend to crowd and watch the match. Valladolid has at least a team in the First Division in many sports (soccer, basketball, handball…). People often play board games and cards in the bars. You can attend bullfights, which are considered more art and social ritual than sport.

The discussion meetings in cafes and bars are called tertulias. People enjoy just walking about, talking and visiting with friends until around midnight.

How can I travel throughout Spain and the rest of Europe?

In Spain, you can take advantage of RENFE, the national train system. Trains and buses connect most of the cities and rural areas in the country. You can buy bus tickets at the Estación de Autobuses or Estación Campo Grande (train station) in Valladolid. To travel through Europe, purchase a Eurorail pass. You also have the chance to reserve tickets by Internet.

Other interesting things about living in Spain

The weather in Valladolid, which is a city situated on a mesa, is dry. Valladolid has cold winters (temperatures can reach 5 degrees Celsius below zero) and hot summers (between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius). If you are planning to come in winter, you should bring warm clothes (November is usually a rainy month, so it would be convenient to have appropriate rainclothes). Spring has a really nice weather, with temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius; fall is usually colder, although temperatures are usually between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius until November).

Spanish electricity has a different voltage, so if you are going to bring your own electric appliances, you can buy a converter in Spain (they aren’t expensive and they work better than United States converters).
Schedules in Spain are different than American. Stores usually open from 10.00 to 14.00 in the morning, and from 17.30 to 20.00 in the afternoon. During the summer, Spanish people usually have “siesta”, which is a short nap after the main meal. On Sundays (which is an important celebration day), stores are closed. But, there are some big malls open the whole week. One of the most important department stores is “El Corte Inglés”, located close to the Plaza Mayor, in the middle of Valladolid.