There are several different living situations that you will probably be offered through your international study program. One of the most popular forms, especially when studying in a country with a different language is living with a host family.
This is an option that I strongly recommend to any student who wants to get the most out of the Spanish culture and also to learn the greatest amount of Spanish possible. In a host family you will most likely receive your own bedroom, or possibly receive a roommate who is also studying here in Spain.
A few points to know prior to living with a host family are some of the norms. As similar to most families in the United States it is always expected to greet the family when entering or leaving the house. This is only a small matter to remember, but means a great deal to the families here in Spain. An important issue with the citizens of Spain that is respectable, but very different than the American society is their awareness of energy and water. The families most likely will only use a light in the room that they are in at the time.
It is a good thing to remember to make sure and turn off the light to your room, bathroom, or wherever you are before leaving. Also, water is something that is used with much more care than in the United States. Showers can be taken daily, but are expected to be short and only about 7 minutes or less. Many times you may be asked to turn the water off and on during the shower, only using it to get wet, and to rinse the shampoo and soap. This may sound strange, but it is due to the fact that Sevilla hardly ever receives rain. Do not worry, you will get used to it quickly, and might even enjoy getting ready in a shorter amount of time.
In Spain there is a large difference in time schedules than in the United States. One way this can be explained is through the difference in their eating schedules. Breakfast is a meal that is often eaten on the go, much like the United States, due to being in a hurry to work or school. The area that is very different from the United States is the norms for eating lunch and dinner.
Normally, lunch is eaten between the hours of (14:00 – 16:00) Spanish time, or better known as 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Dinner is normally eaten during the hours of (21:00 – 23:00) or 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. This is a big difference for most Americans, but will probably be something that you will end up enjoying better. It allows you to get many things done during the day, and can normally get your homework done prior to dinner. This way, many nights you will have the ability to relax or go out for an adventure after dinner. Another reason for the later time schedules for meals is due to the infamous ´siesta´.
The siestas were created due to the extreme heat in Spain which occurs during the months of April to September. The hours of the siesta are during the hottest time of the day, and give the people the ability to eat lunch and get out of the sun. Nearly 60% of the businesses in Sevilla close during the hours 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. The siesta times for businesses are slightly different, but always fall in the early part of the afternoon. This is a time for lunch and for some people a nap. After the businesses reopen, they normally stay open until 8 or 9 p.m. This is also a reason why the meals are eaten later in the evening.
In the Spanish culture it is also much more normal for the children of a family to live in the house with their parents until getting married or possibly moving to a different city. It is extremely normal to have older brothers and sisters living with your host family. Many children live with their families into they are in their thirties. This is also something that may seem strange, but can possibly turn out to be beneficial. They normally know there way around the city and can help you to become more familiar with Seville, they sometimes have cars, and more often than not will end up being your new friends.
Dorms/Residencias:
There are many different possible dorm situations for you to experience. The students that I currently know living in the dorms enjoy the freedom of being on their own. They have the choice of staying in a single or double room. This is a way to have more privacy than living in a host family. The only drawback of course, is you will not learn as much Spanish living in the dorms unless you make the effort to meet and have conversations with some of the Spanish students who will be living in the same dorm facility. Through the majority of the study abroad programs here in Sevilla, there are meals included in the cost of living in the dorms as well. They have a kitchen with a dining room, and also have a cleaning staff, and night security. Also, you may want to check into the situation for your particular dorm, because some of them maintain strict rules on allowing opposite sex visitors. Not all of the dorms have this rule, so it is definitely something to look into if this is an issue that is significant to you. Also, most of the dorms are similar to those in college campuses across the United States and offer community restrooms. You may be able to pay more to receive a private restroom, but almost always the restrooms are shared by the people living on a particular floor.
