Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Flights | Housing | Money | Cultural Program | General

Flights

Do I have to take the AIFS flight?
No. However, bear in mind that if you take the AIFS transportation package, you are also provided with round trip airport transfers as well as flights. You will be met at the airport on arrival and taken to your residence. At the end of the program, you will be taken to the airport.

Can I change my return flight once I am in Salamanca?
Maybe. For a fee and subject to airline approval and availability, you may be able to change your return flight. Only date changes are allowed; there can be no changes to the routing, and there will be an airline-imposed fee, which could be as high as $200. If you have a connecting flight in the US, you must check whether you are able to change that, as some cannot be changed.

Housing

Where will I live?
Students live in a shared homestay within a 20 to 30-minute walk to the AIFS Study Center. Accommodations are based on two students per room (another WCCCSA student of the same sex) and include three meals a day, seven days a week, plus a weekly laundry service. Students will share bathrooms and facilities with the host family. There may also be other foreign students staying in the same homestay. Homestay living immerses you in Spanish life, increasing your opportunities to experience Spanish culture first-hand and to practice Spanish daily.

Can I have a single room?
Single rooms are available for a supplemental fee. Students should contact the AIFS Connecticut office with individual requests (ssecki@aifs.com). Single rooms are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can I move into my accommodation before the program starts if I am arriving in Salamanca early?
AIFS cannot supply you with accommodation until the official start date of the program. However, AIFS staff can recommend reasonably priced hotels in the area.

Can I cook?
You will be provided with three meals a day, seven days a week so there will be no need to cook yourself. If you wish to cook it will be up to your homestay host as to whether they will allow you to, and it is something you can discuss with them once you have settled in, but no rebate will be given for meals not taken.

Who will be my host?
Homestay hosts vary. Some are older married couples whose children have grown and left home or young couples either with or without children and some are single people. All of them are carefully selected to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for you. On the AIFS program application form; you have the opportunity to express your preferences. If you prefer to live in a home with children for example, you can indicate this on the application form and we will try to accommodate your wishes.

Can I choose my own roommate?
Yes. Simply write the name of the person on your AIFS program application form and make sure your friend does the same. Alternatively if you decide to room with someone after your application has been submitted write a letter to the AIFS Connecticut office (ssecki@aifs.com) stating your roommate choice.

How do you allocate roommates?
We allocate roommates based on the information given on the AIFS program application forms filled in by every student. First we look to see if a student has requested a particular roommate and if they have we house them with that person. We then put students with similar routines together, i.e. those who get up early, go to bed late etc. taking particular care not to room smokers with non-smokers. Finally we look at the interests people mention on the application form and try to match them with those who share them. This is why students should always fill out the housing section of the application form honestly and with as much information as possible.

Are the homestays co-ed?
No. We always room males together and females together. If you have a friend of the opposite sex that you want to live near, indicate this on the AIFS program application form and we will try to house you near each other. Similarly, if you select the homestay option, you will be placed in a nearby home.

Is there a curfew?
No. All students have their own key and are free to come and go as they please. However, it is important to remember that if you return home late, you must take great care in being very quiet if your homestay family is asleep. It’s also important that you let your homestay family know your plans and whereabouts both for practical reasons and because they will worry if you do not arrive when expected.

Can I have overnight guests?
No. For security and insurance reasons, only authorised occupant(s) are allowed to sleep in the residences. Never bring a friend back with you to stay if your host is not aware of it.

Is bed linen provided?
Yes. Linen is provided and changed once a week.

Are towels provided?
No. You must bring your own towels.

Will I have to do my own laundry?
Your homestay host will do your laundry for you once a week. If you do not feel that this is sufficient and want your laundry done more frequently, you can come to an arrangement with your host, which will include an extra cost for you. If you find it more convenient you can go to a laundromat in Salamanca for extra washes at your expense. You will be advised of laundromats in the area once you arrive in Salamanca.

Will I be able to use the telephone?
Possibly, it depends on your homestay family. Phone calls are very expensive in Spain, even if you are calling a local number, so if you are allowed to use the telephone in your homestay family you must always use a calling card so that your family is not charged for the call. Please note that if you’re allowed to receive calls it must be no later than 11pm, make sure that your friends and family are aware of this. People do forget especially when they do not take into account the time difference. If family or friends do call you at your homestay do not speak for too long, your host or family members may wish to use the phone or are perhaps waiting for a call.

If you’re not allowed to use the phone there are numerous locutorios (phone booths often located within internet cafes) in Salamanca where you pay to use a fixed land line. This is an economic and convenient way of making international calls.

Alternatively you can make phone calls from the many public telephone boxes close to the Study Center. It is advised that you buy a telephone card, which you can use in pay phones to call home or friends.

Another option is to rent or purchase a cell phone when you are in Spain. Most cell phones work on a pay as you go system where once you have bought the phone you just buy top-up credits for calls so if you don’t make a call you do not pay. It does not cost to receive calls on a cell phone in Spain.

More information regarding purchasing and renting cell phones will be given to you once in Salamanca.

You can also arrange to receive calls at the AIFS office during office hours. The staff will also take urgent messages for you. There will be an emergency number where friends/family can reach an AIFS staff member if they need to contact you in an emergency situation.

Will I be able to use my electrical appliances e.g. hairdryer in Salamanca?
Only with an adapter and transformer. Appliances designed to operate in the US (110/120 volts) will not operate in Spain unless they are fitted with a dual voltage switch or used with a transformer. Also the electrical sockets are different in Europe so you will need an adapter plug to fit in the appliance. If you are unsure how to convert equipment, it is essential that you seek advise from an AIFS staff member before using it. It may be better to purchase an inexpensive hairdryer or travel iron of the correct voltage and plug once you have arrived in Salamanca instead of bringing one with you. You can purchase an inexpensive hairdryer for around $20 and a travel iron for around $25. Why not share the cost with your roommate?

Can I choose to make my own living arrangements instead of living in AIFS accommodation?
This is only possible if you have close friends or relatives living in Salamanca. There is a reduced fee for arranging your own housing, but the money saved will not be adequate to pay for housing you would find on your own in the short term rental market. If you wish to choose this option, you must first provide details of your relatives to the program co-ordinator at your school. You must also notify AIFS on your program application form that you do not require housing and provide a contact address in Salamanca to enable us to reach you in an emergency.

Can I change my housing option after I have sent my application form to AIFS?
No. We have to book accommodation well in advance and it is not possible to make changes after applications have been accepted.

Money

How much money will I need?
This depends on individual needs. However, AIFS recommends that students budget $600 to $700 per month for day-to-day needs. This allows for visits and excursions, but not extensive overseas travel or expensive purchases.

In what form should I bring my money?
You must bring an ATM card with you and know your four-digit number as this is probably the most efficient way of obtaining money. There are plenty of ATM machines in Salamanca. American Plus, Cirrus and star can be accessed from cash dispensers allowing cash to be withdrawn from a U.S. bank account if you have a card linked to one of these systems. You should check with your local bank for ATM capabilities in Europe and make sure you get a four-digit pin number before leaving the U.S.

You should also bring some Euros with you for your first few days in Spain.

Cultural Program

What events will be on the cultural calendar?
There will be a large variety of events on the cultural calendar, making use of all the resources Salamanca has to offer. Included will be visits to cathedrals, Spanish cinema, historical/cultural sites, a tapas tour etc.

Will there be trips?
Yes. Included in the program will be two nights in Madrid at the beginning of the program and one night at the end. You’ll stay in a centrally located hotel in Madrid in triple room accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. Your stay in Madrid includes a guided city tour and entrance to the world-reknowned Prado museum.

There will also be two day excursions from Salamanca. The first takes in the stunning cities of Segovia and Ávila where you’ll see a Roman aqueduct, fairy-tale Alcázar and eleventh century walls amongst other attractions. Your second excursion will be to a local Finca de Toros (bull farm) where you’ll see and learn about the bulls reared for bull-fighting in their natural habitat.

General

Passport
All citizens of the United States need a passport to be valid at least 6 months beyond the dates of the trip. If your passport is going to expire within six months after the end of your program, you should renew it immediately.

Do I need a Visa?
If you are a US citizen you do not need a visa to study in Spain. If you are not a US citizen you should check with the Spanish Embassy in the U.S. to see if you require a visa to visit Spain. All students should check to see if they need visas for any countries they may want to visit during independent travel. You can remain in Spain for up to ninety days. If you wish to remain in Spain for longer than ninety days you will be required to obtain an extension of stay from the Spanish immigration authorities. AIFS will be able to advise you of the procedure for obtaining your visa should you require one.

What should I take with me?
Not too much! Rooms in homestays will be small and you will also be sharing with another student (unless you request a single room). Just bring what you believe will be necessary for your stay – this doesn’t mean 10 pairs of shoes! If you are on medication you should bring enough to last for the program as well as a prescription in case you lose any. You will also need to bring towels although as they are bulky items, many students prefer to bring only one and buy additional inexpensive ones from a market in Salamanca. The weather in Salamanca will be cold so you should bring plenty of warm clothing. It is best to bring clothes that you can layer so that they are appropriate for all weathers. You should also bring a raincoat and possibly an umbrella. You will do a lot more walking than you are used to so you should bring comfortable shoes. You will not need much dressy clothing. More detailed information about what to bring will be provided at the pre-departure orientation meetings, which we strongly advise you to attend.

Are meals provided?
Students living in homestays are provided with three meals a day, seven days a week. Breakfast usually consists of cereal or a small cake or biscuits and coffee. Lunch is eaten between 2pm and 3pm and is the most important meal of the day, typically with three courses. Spaniards eat late! Dinner is served between 9pm and 10pm and is usually a light snack such as a sandwich. It may take a little bit of time to get used to Spanish food and their hours of eating. Please note that if you have any special dietary needs e.g. vegetarian, write this on your program application form and we can let your homestay know in advance.

What is my mailing address?
Name
C/o AIFS
Colegio Unamuno
Avda. Reyes de Espana, 25-27
37008 Salamanca

We advise that your mail should be sent to the Study Center and not your homestay families. There are mailboxes at the Study Center where mail and messages from AIFS staff, other students and faculty will be left for you.

How should people contact me?
You can receive mail as indicated above and you can also receive faxes free of charge at the AIFS Study Center. The fax number is 923 27 14 18. To send a fax from the US, your friends/family should dial 011 34 before the number. You can also send faxes to the US from the AIFS Student Services office. Prices will be given to students upon arrival.

If people wish to call you they should call your homestay, but please remember no calls after 11pm and don’t spend too long talking on the phone. You will be provided with the name, address and telephone number of your homestay family prior to your arrival in Spain.

How will I travel around Salamanca?
You walk! Salamanca is a small city and nearly all places can be reached by walking. However, there are regular bus services that you can use and there are plenty of taxis.

Will I have access to a computer/e-mail?
There is a computer lab at the AIFS Study Center, which can be used for either word processing or e-mail/internet access during school hours. There are also many Internet cafes in Salamanca costing approximately 1.5 €Euro per hour. Further details will be provided on arrival in Salamanca.

Can I buy textbooks and course related materials in Salamanca?
You can buy paper, files etc in Salamanca, but we do advise you to purchase your textbooks in the US and bring them with you. Salamanca does have an English bookstore, but it is doubtful they will have the exact edition that your faculty requires. They will also be more expensive than your campus bookstore. Your campus store may also buy back your books when you return. Enquire when you make your purchases.

What happens if I get sick while I’m in Salamanca?
If you need to see a doctor while you are in Salamanca, you should contact the AIFS staff who will make an appointment for you. An AIFS member of staff will accompany you if you want. All students have the AIFS medical insurance, which is valid for the duration of the program. You should carefully read the insurance form sent to you after your application is accepted, as there are some conditions, which are not covered. The main exclusions to the policy are pre-existing conditions, self-inflicted injuries, pregnancy testing, abortion or related complications and mental or nervous disorders. This is not an exhaustive list so read the insurance carefully. There is a deductible of $50 per accident/illness on this policy.

When you arrive in Salamanca, you will be given details of the insurance policy procedures. You will need to pay up front for any treatment and medication you receive and then claim it back minus the $50 deductible.

What sports facilities are available in Salamanca?
There are several gyms in Salamanca and a couple of indoor and outdoor (during the summer) swimming pools. There is also a large park for those who like to run and some basketball courts. Student Services can look into other sporting facilities for students who have specific interests.

Can I work when I am in Salamanca?
It is illegal to work for money in Spain unless you have a work permit. If you do want to stay and work after the program you will need to apply for a work permit before you leave the US. It cannot be done once you are in Spain.

Will I meet Spanish students?
Yes – if you want to. Salamanca is a university city and has a large population of students, not only from Spain, but also of many other nationalities. You will often see on the notice boards in bars students who wish to have a language exchange. Not only is this a great way to meet Spanish students, it’s also a great way to improve your Spanish.

Can I contact the Salamanca Student Services staff for information before I leave for Spain?
Yes. Your information packets provide details of how to contact the AIFS office in the U.S. at 800-727-2437 ext 5090. The staff there will be able to answer questions on deadline dates, flights, billing or whatever questions you have. For questions about Salamanca, e-mail the student services staff at studentinfo@aifs.com