Better Know a Country - Spain!

Mention Spain and you immediately conjure up images of fiestas, paella and sangrias. But few know about what goes on below that hedonistic surface. Beyond indulgent pleasures, Spain is a cultural powerhouse packed with a multitude of unique festivals, traditional practices and historical monuments. Home to the world’s most famous architectural masterpieces, Spain is a sensory overload for art lovers. As the second biggest country in Western Europe, Spain’s diversity is beyond imagination: stretching from the sun-kissed Mediterranean coastline through tumultuous mountain ranges to flat olive plains. Get acquainted with a country that you’ll eventually fall head over heels with.

What to expect while living in Spain

Learning the language. To integrate into life in Spain, it’s advisable to learn the language as you can’t really get by with English. It’s best to start taking Spanish lessons before moving to Spain, to have a good fundamental knowledge. For those who had learnt Latin American Spanish beforehand, you’ll find the accent in Spain very different from what you are familiar with.

Relaxing pace of life. Quality of life is very important to the Spaniards. As most of them will tell you, they work to live, and not live to work. When hanging out with locals, expect to be spending more time having a meal and enjoying your conversation, rather than rushing through it. You’ll be surprised that this is often the hardest thing for a foreigner to adapt to.

Diverse and great food. Contrary to most beliefs, Spanish cuisine is extremely varied – ranging from simple, small tapas to elaborate traditional platters. A menu del dia is the best bargain you can find in most restaurants: the three-course set lunch typically costs around 8 to 15 euros. Some of the staples include:

• Paella – Spain’s most famous dish. Yellow rice is cooked with seafood or chicken, and simmered for hours on a flat pan. You can find the best in Valencia, along the Spanish east coast.
• Tortilla de patatas (or tortilla española) – Simple omelette filled with cubes of fried potatoes.
• Jamón Iberico – The holy grail of Spanish cured meats, the Spanish ham is usually seen hung from bars’ ceilings in the form of a pig’s legs.
• Gazpacho – A refreshing tomato soup, served as a cold appetizer in summer.
• Sangría – Red wine mixed with fruits and rum, more popular among tourists than locals.
• Crema Cantalana – An egg-based dessert similar to the crème brulee.

Tips and advice for living in Spain

The streets of Seville

Relax and adapt to the laid-back atmosphere. Most Spaniards are friendly, open-minded and laid-back. Try to loosen up and relax. It’s also no surprise that customer service is less efficient in some places. Learn to adjust to such changes and you’ll find yourself adapting to local life much more easily.

Explore the country by bus. Although you can easily find cheap Spain flights, you’ll be able to see more of the Spanish countryside and rural villages by taking the bus. Bus travel in Spain is generally comfortable, efficient and easy. There is a lot more of authentic Spain to experience beyond the major cities.

Take part in local festivals. One of the biggest draws of Spain as a travel destination is its unique festivals, such as the biggest food fight in Spain, La Tomatina. Try to visit a city during these festivals and you’ll find yourself understanding a bit more of their culture and heritage.

If you can only travel to one place while you are in Spain..

.. Go to Barcelona! With Spain’s diversity and multitude of attractions, it’s really hard to pick just one place to visit – but if I had to, it’s definitely Barcelona. For the first-time visitor, Barcelona gives a great idea of what Spain is about: bright, contemporary artwork, a stylish beachfront boulevard, plenty of traditional food markets and an impressive historic quarter. Be sure to visit Gaudi’s stunning masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, that is still undergoing construction. Watch local street performance along La Rambla Street and enjoy a bohemian evening watching flamenco show at Plaza Gracia.

Map of Spain

Teach in Spain

Teach in Spain with Abbey

The Program: Abbey Road Overseas Programs in Spain
Where: Barcelona, Cadiz
The Lowdown: A Summer Study and Travel Program for American and international teenage students, based in several locations in Spain, France, and Italy, is announcing openings and continuous screening of candidates for positions at 3 levels: Resident Advisors, Program Coordinators, and Program Directors, for the summer of 2011. For all information and application instructions refer to our website. Please carefully follow the application instructions and do not contact us with individual inquiries, otherwise your application will be disqualified.

Study in Spain

Study in Spain with API

The Program: API at Pablo de Olavide University in Seville
Where: Seville
The Lowdown: API offers a comprehensive study abroad program at the fully accredited Pablo de Olavide University in Seville. Courses are offered in both English and Spanish. Transcripts are issued by the Pablo de Olavide University and are accompanied by an English letter of translation. API offers undergraduate students the opportunity to study during the fall, spring, and academic year in the Spanish Language, Business and Applied/Social Sciences program. Summer programs are also available.

Volunteer in Spain

Volunteer in Spain with GVI

The Program: Volunteer on a Dolphin and Whale Research Project in Spain
Where: Tarifa
The Lowdown: This project sees volunteers being trained to work alongside a team of scientists researching whales and dolphins in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain. The research has been ongoing for the last 10 years and the area is particularly important as it has some of the highest cetacean diversity and abundance in Europe. Research work includes sea based surveys as well as data entry back on land.

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Better Know a Country, Spain, Teach in Spain, Study in Spain, , Volunteer in Spain