Spain: Policy, Law, and Regional Autonomy in Europe Spring 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS COUNTRY OVERVIEW .......................................... 3 General Information ............................................ 3 Climate and Geography ...................................... 3 Local Customs .................................................... 4 Diet ..................................................................... 4 Safety, Security, and Health ................................ 4 Homestays .......................................................... 5 Other Accommodations ....................................... 5 Transportation ..................................................... 5 Communication ................................................... 6 Phones and E-mail .............................................. 6 Mailings............................................................... 6 Money ................................................................. 7 Visitors and Free Time ........................................ 8 PACKING GUIDELINES ......................................... 9 LUGGAGE .......................................................... 9 Clothing Guidelines ............................................. 9 Computers and Other Electronics ....................... 9 Gifts .................................................................. 10 What You Can and Cannot Obtain in Country ... 10 Alumni Contacts ................................................ 10 PACKING LIST ..................................................... 11 GENERAL ......................................................... 11 Women ............................................................. 11 Men ................................................................... 11 Travel Documents ............................................. 11 Health/Toiletries ................................................ 11 Other Important Items ....................................... 11 Optional ............................................................ 11 SIT Study Abroad - 2 Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 9/25/2019 COUNTRY OVERVIEW the right to self-government. These autonomous regions have a strong historically constituted sense GENERAL INFORMATION of identity and language and exercise their right to Spain is a colorful and beautiful country built on a self-government within the limits set forth in the generous foundation of art, culture, history, and constitution and their autonomous statutes. politics. Bilbao, the program base, is the largest city in northern Spain and is home to roughly 400 thousand people in the metropolitan area. Bilbao is CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY also the main urban area in what is defined as the Bilbao is located in what is known as “España Greater Basque region. Verde”, Green Spain, and is a lush region in Northern Spain that stretches along the Atlantic coast from the boarder with Portugal to boarder of France. Its proximity to the Bay of Biscay gives Bilbao a temperate oceanic climate, with precipitation occurring throughout the year. This climate helps green pastures and forests thrive, providing a landscape similar to that of Ireland, Great Britain, and the west cost of France. The rainiest season is between October and April, November being the wettest. Snow is not frequent in Bilbao, although it is possible to see snow in the surrounding mountains, During the nineteenth century and the early during the winter months. twentieth, Bilbao was the second most industrialized region of Spain, after Barcelona. The city relied on Bilbao, Spain: iron, steel, and shipbuilding as major exports. As the AVERAGE HIGH/LOW TEMPERATURES (°F) industrialized economy declined in the early twentieth century, Bilbao is now transforming into a JAN FEB MAR APR MAY service city known for its art, food, culture, and 56/41 57/41 61/43 63/45 69/51 architecture. This revitalization process was started by the building of the iconic and admired Bilbao AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC Guggenheim Museum on the Nervión River in 1997. 78/60 76/56 70/52 61/46 57/42 The Basque country, officially the Basque Autonomous Community, was granted nationality status within Spain in 1978. Spain is a diverse Edinburgh, United Kingdom: country integrated by different contrasting regions AVERAGE HIGH/LOW TEMPERATURES (°F) that show varying economic and social structures, as well as different languages, and historical, JAN FEB MAR APR MAY political, and cultural traditions. According to the 45/34 46/34 50/37 54/39 59/45 Spanish constitution, the Spanish nation is the AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC common and indivisible homeland of all Spaniards, 66/52 63/48 55/43 50/39 45/34 which is composed of nationalities and regions to which the constitution recognizes and guarantees SIT Study Abroad - 3 Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 9/25/2019 LOCAL CUSTOMS diet seriously when selecting your program of choice. Your admissions counselor is a great Spaniards are in general very welcoming. For a resource in better understanding the local diet. foreigner it will be easy to establish a personal rapport with them by showing interest and being The main meal is lunch, breakfast is usually much friendly. Off course, despite that, it is necessary to lighter than in the states. However at mid morning take into consideration local cultural customs that Spanish usually go out to a bar or a café to get a might differ from your own. coffee and a tapa. In Spain meals are commonly later than in other countries, lunch being many times In Spain they like keeping the family close and way after 2pm and dinner sometimes as late as 9 or family life is very important, so expect to be invited 10 pm. In Spain a significant amount of meat is to some family and friends’ events. Whatever time of consumed, especially pork and the famous “jamón.” the year, Spanish like to go out and have drinks and tapas as a very common and systematic social way Note: if you have special dietary needs, including of interaction and keeping in touch with their friends. allergies, please inform our office prior to the start of Social life is very important for them. your program. We will advise you on realistic expectations about avoiding or incorporating certain There are distinct boundaries between the private foods within the program context. and the public often expressed in a different sense of personal space; for example, greetings and good byes are expressed, as in other parts of Europe, with two kisses, one each cheek. Lack of “political correctness” from the US perspective in referring to people with distinct physical characteristics or behavior use to be quite common, but is changing rapidly. All North Americans and Europeans, for instance, are called “guiris,” however this should not be understood as an insult. DIET Special Diets: SAFETY, SECURITY, AND SIT Study Abroad provides experiential learning HEALTH opportunities where students become embedded in Maintaining good health is critical to having a their host community. As such, we strive to successful semester. To help you do that, we have accommodate serious food allergies where possible, provided Health Guidelines and Requirements for but simply cannot ensure that all dietary restrictions your program. or non-medically mandated diets can be It is very important that you read the Health accommodated. Guidelines and Requirements document as early as Students are encouraged to participate in the local possible and examine it with your medical provider. food culture as a central aspect of daily life. By The guidelines include recommended trying to replicate your diet at home you may miss immunizations; a suggested calendar for out on an important part of your host culture. Due to immunizations and other prophylaxes; and valuable the unique living and learning community central to information on how to avoid exposure to common all SIT programs, we cannot separate food and carriers of disease. eating communally (including with your host family) from the program experience. Please consider local SIT Study Abroad - 4 Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 9/25/2019 Students are thoroughly briefed on safety your own culture and come to a deeper considerations during in-country orientation and are understanding of both. updated throughout the semester if and when Family structures vary in every culture. SIT Study circumstances change. For information regarding Abroad values the diversity of homestay families, safety and security, emergency communications, and your family may include a single mother of two SIT policies, health and personal property small children or a large extended family with many insurance, and general program tips, please read people coming and going all the time. Additionally, the Safety, Security, and Health document and please bear in mind that, in many countries, the idea Student Handbook. of what constitutes a “home” may be different from Remember that while you are a student in a cultural what you expect. You will need to be prepared to education program in your host country, you are adapt to a new life with a new diet, a new schedule, also an ambassador for your home country, home new people, and new priorities and expectations. institution, and SIT Study Abroad. We ask all Each program’s homestay coordinator will be students to abide by all policies and guidelines in responsible for placing students in homestays. order to help maintain those important relationships These placements are made first based on health as well as their own safety and wellbeing. Failure