MIT Spain

Students > Spain Living Guide

Preparing for your internship in Spain

Once you have been matched with a host company or research institution in Spain, the MIT-Spain Program Coordinator will work with you to prepare your trip. Preparations will include signing an Internship Agreement, purchasing health insurance, purchasing airline tickets and assistance in finding housing in Spain (see below). You will also attend MIT-Spain training before your internship.

MIT-Spain Training

Interns are expected to attend several training sessions throughout the spring to familiarize you with Spanish culture and society. Topics of discussion will include Spanish politics, industry, research, current events and culture.

You will also be invited to the MISTI Gala Dinner in the late spring.

Practical Information

For additional tips on preparing for the practical aspects of your stay abroad have a look at the MIT-Spain WIKI site or see the version in PDF.

Other useful websites:

The Economist on Spain
Finacial Times
El Pais
El Mundo

 

Before You Arrive in Spain

Passport/Visa

All participants need a valid passport but only certain students need to apply for a visa before going to Spain. To obtain a passport please visit any US post office or go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/. Students in need of a visa will be informed separately by the program coordinator. They will have to apply for a visa at the Consulate General in Boston, 31 St. James Ave. Suite 905, Boston, MA 02116, (617) 536-2506. Before you go, please check the list of required documents at: Boston Spanish Consul Webpage

Once in Spain, you will have to go to the local police station (comisaría) to register and have your passport stamped.

If you are staying in Spain for an extended period of time, it is highly recommended that you register on-line with the American Embassy.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/registration/registration_1186.html

Health Insurance

Your MIT student health insurance covers you in Spain, but in case you use medical services you have to pay out of your own pocket first and then get reimbursed by MIT later. Therefore, the MIT-Spain Program strongly recommends an additional inexpensive health insurance for emergencies: Depending on your placement, the additional health insurance costs may or may not be assumed by your host institution. In the past, students have used the following website to purchase additional coverage at: http://www.imglobal.com/. The policy is called Patriot Travel Medical Insurance.

Rents

Depending on what host institution you are placed at, you may need to find your own accommodations. Many students choose to stay at a hostel for the first week while they check out the the different neighborhoods and can see the apartments firsthand. Rents vary considerably in Spain. They tend to be higher in the larger cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona, however in the high-season months, July, August, and September, apartment costs on the coast increase significantly. A great way to practice Spanish and meet locals is to share an apartment. Have a look at the following websites to check out apartment costs, both entire apartments as well as shared apartments. There are also websites for student residences and homestays:

Hostels

Barcelona

Madrid

Shared Apartments

All of Spain

Barcelona

Madrid

Student residences (Colegios Mayores):

Family Housing:

Weekly and monthly rental:

Money

When you work for a company, keep in mind that you are paid at the END of the month. Therefore, make sure to set aside enough money to cover your expenses for the first month. We recommend about 1000 Euro. Your American ATM card is the best way to withdraw some cash from your home bank account without incurring major fees. Currently 1 Euro is worth about $1.33.

When You Arrive in Spain

Setting Up a Bank Account

If your internship compensation is going to be transferred electronically, or if you will be paid by check in Spain, you will need to open up a bank account. It is best to open up an account at the same bank that your company uses, especially if you are being paid by checks, otherwise you may have to pay an additional fee.

Normal opening hours of banks and savings banks are from 8:30 to 14:00.

In order to open an account, you need a non-residence certificate and your passport. The former can be obtained from the Comisaría General de Documentación, by taking your passport and a photocopy of the passport. It can usually be issued in about ten days.

Barclays Bank will open an temporary account with only your passport.

Living Costs

The current strength of the Euro makes living in Spain a bit more expensive. Knowing about opportunities to save on food by shopping at discount stores like Día, Maxi Día, Sabeco, Carrefour, and Lidl, will help you with balancing your budget.

Commuting

Many Spanish cities offer subsidized monthly commuter passes, called "abonos de transporte". Anyone is eligible for this type of pass. Normally you need to buy the first pass at an "estanco" or Tobacco stand. You will need to show your passport as well as have a passport-sized photo.

Shopping Time

If you are used to "shopping around the clock" you may have to get used to the restricted shopping times in most stores in Spain. The large department store, El Corte Ingles is usually open from 10 a.m. to 10 pm. Many smaller stores close for a two to three hour time frame in the middle of the day from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. So beware if you were planning to go shopping during your lunch break! Overall, all shops are closed on Sundays. In Spain, Sunday's are a day to spend with family or friends, go to the beach, go on a hike, a walk in the park, or just relax.

Staying in Touch

by Phone

To call Spain, dial 011 + 34 (country code) + area code without '0'.

To call the United States , you can buy calling cards at the airport and at internet cafes called "locutorios." Most locutorios also have phone booths you can make inexpensive phone calls from. In Spanish cities; ethnic food stores also offer inexpensive cards.

Making phone calls in Spain can be quite expensive. Many students find it's best to purchase a local mobile phone and buy pre-paid phone cards. The largest companies are: Vodafone, Movistar, and Amena. All offer similar calling plans. Unlike in the US, where you are given minutes to make calls, in Spain, you are charged an amount for every call you make. So you want to pay special attention to how long your phone calls are as well as what time of day you are calling. It's quite common to communicate using text messaging which usually costs between 12 cents and 15 cents per message.

by E-mail

We recommend MIT web mail to stay in touch. Usually your host institution provides you with internet access. In addition, you can find inexpensive internet access in Internet Cafés in all cities.

While You are in Spain

Troubleshooting

Please address difficulties concerning your internship as soon as they occur. The MIT-Spain Program stands ready to address these problems before or during your internship. If you have problems with a particular arrangement in the department you are working in or the people you work for, please address these problems in a polite way right from the start with your mentor in the company. In addition, I will meet with you during the first weeks of your internship. You can also get in touch with me by e-mail, fax, and phone (aliciag@mit.edu) (617) 324-5494).

Dress Code

Dress codes vary from company to company, however, in general, Spaniards dress quite formally. Working for a bank obviously requires a more formal outfit than working in a lab. A good style to start your internship is "business casual". Once you get a feeling of how everybody else is dressed you can adapt to the "code" in your department. Don't forget to bring a suit and tie or skirt/dress for more formal events, such as meetings, receptions, and dinner parties.

Safety

The rate of violent crime is low in Spain. However, theft from cars is a problem, as is pick-pocketing. Visitors are advised not to accept help from anyone except a uniformed police officer, as there have been reports of thieves pretending to assist stranded motorists.

MIT-Club of Spain

The MIT Club of Spain is an Alumni Club. The current president is Marcelo Catala. You can contact the members at club@mitspain.com or find out about events at http://www.mitspain.com/ Those of you who will stay in Spain long-term are invited to become members of the club.

Traveling

You can find Spain's railway timetable at http://www.renfe.es; going by train is the best and most reliable mode of transportation. If you plan on traveling in Europe you should consider purchasing a Eurail pass. You can find information at http://www.raileurope.com. It is also very common to travel by bus. You will have to check the schedules with the local bus stations in the city you will be living in.

Before you travel, check out these airlines, as it may be cheaper to fly than take the train. Go to the following websites: www.edreams.es, www.despegar.com, www.rumbo.es, www.lastminute.com, www.easyjet.com, (click on "Top offers," and scroll down to find the better deals).

For youth hostels in Europe please check http://www.hostelworld.com.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Spain is famous for it's vibrant nightlife. In many cities, there is just as much traffic at 3am as there is at 3pm! Have a look at the local "Guia del Ocio" to find out about concerts, theatre, cinema, exhibitions, clubs, etc.

Madrid:

Barcelona:

Sevilla:

San Sebastian:

Pamplona:

Tarragona:

Electricity Converters

The standard voltage in Spain is 220 volts as opposed to 110 in the U.S. You can buy electricity converters in department stores, office supply stores, and at Radio Shack for your laptops, hair dryers, alarm clocks, electric razors etc.

Drinking Water and Food

The drinking water in Spain is safe and you can drink tap water without problems. However, it is very common to purchase bottled water as it is quite inexpensive. When ordering at a restaurant, make sure to specify if you want "agua con gas" or "agua sin gas" depending if you like still water or sparkling water. You can also ask for "un vaso de agua" which is a glass of tap water.

Spaniards are very proud of thier cuisine and traditional dishes which vary from region to region. Typical dishes include; tortilla española, patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and pulpo! Check out renowned Chef Mario Batali and Actress Gwyneth Paltrow's television series: Spain-On the Road Again to learn more about Spanish cuisine.

Risk and Release form

MIT requires you to sign a form acknowledging the risks associated with international travel. You must also provide MIT-Spain with a copy of your passport and visa if you have one. You can download the risk and release form here.

 

 

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