Housing & Meals

During the Pre-University Language Program at Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo in Santander, Spain, students will live in private single en-suite on-campus dorm rooms. The campus/dorm building is called "Las Llamas" and boasts robust 24/7 security. 

All rooms come fully equipped with bedding and towels. Students can pay for a laundry service that circulates every day. The service picks up bedding and clothing that students want washed and returns it cleaned. Students can also do their own laundry with pay-as-you-go washers and dryers which are also available in the building*.

Included in the program is access to the school cafeteria. The cafeteria is located on-campus and offers multiple food options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. The hours are:

•  Breakfast: 8AM-9:30AM M-F (9-10:30 on weekends)

•  Lunch: 1:30PM-3:15PM

•  Dinner 8:30PM-10:15PM

 All class schedules are designed with the meal times in mind. All students will have access to three meals a day every day. The cafeteria can accommodate most dietary limitations or allergies, so please let the Office of Study Abroad know what your needs are and we will pass this information on to UIMP!

*Students who arrive in Santander and find they want something that they did not bring (ie a different pillow or blanket, any item of clothing, any toiletry, etc) are encouraged to head into town where there is no shortage of affordable shops. We recommend the Corte Ingles, a comprehensive department store, for students looking for a 'one-stop-shop' to pick just about anything they may need!

Homestays present an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in Spanish Language and culture and become a member of your host community! In Alicante, most homestays are within walking distance to the city centre, so they're well located for exploring local cafés, bars, or the beach!

 It’s important to go into the experience of living with a host family with an open mind. All families are different, and your experience may very well differ from that of your peers. Avoid making snap judgments in the beginning and give yourself and your host family some time to get to know each other. Make a point of being available. Don’t get in the habit of staying in your room- it’s a hard one to kick and it won’t help you feel at home. 

Please note that you may not be housed in the city center. Welcome to everyday life in Europe! Most people do not live right in the center, and while there are a few families who do, you may be housed outside the center (still in the city) and need to use public transportation to go to school and to other locations. Part of studying abroad is learning to live like a local in another country, and most Spanish people routinely use public transportation to travel to school, work, etc. There are buses and a tram in Alicante that are very easy to use! 

Student Residences Are located extremely close to the Universidad de Alicante, which is a <20 minute tram ride away from city centre. Students who live in the student residences will need to use the tram or bus to get into city centre for nights out, the beach, and general exploration. 

While the student residences have a comprehensive meal plan, be aware that the food can be a bit repetitive, meanwhile in a homestay you have the opportunity to express your preferences and eat foods that you enjoy instead of whatever is being offered in the cafeteria.

We understand that not all students feel linguistically or emotionally ready for a homestay, and the student residences can be a great place to meet other Spanish students and international students, however, we want students to understand that while the location is convenient for classes, it might not be preferable for other parts of student life! 

In your HC study abroad application portal, there are many post-decision documents you need to complete. One of those documents is a Housing Questionnaire. Make sure you take your time filling out the questionnaire honestly since this is what we send to our on-site housing director to "match" you with a host family! In addition to the form in your portal, SSA will ask you for a more-in depth bio during the application process. Make sure to be thorough on all housing questionnaires! 

You can expect to receive information about your homestay placement approximately 2 weeks before your arrival date. This gives you ample time to connect with your family over email or whatsapp before meeting in person upon your arrival in Spain. 

Please do not be shy about communicating with on-site staff in Alicante and with the Office of Study Abroad in Worcester (emeade@holycross.edu). We are here to help you navigate any challenges or concerns that may arise with your host family. If you don't speak up, we can't help you! Please keep an open mind, and an open pathway for communication between you and your support network. On-site staff in Alicante are ready and willing to help you, even if that means changing your host family. This is very rare, but if it needs to happen, it most definitely can happen! 

Your host family will provide you three meals a day, but you should expect to face some adjustments when it comes to the timing and contents of meals. In Spain, the largest meal is typically eaten mid-day (around 2-3pm) and "dinner" is much later (and lighter!) than what you might expect in America. It's important to approach meals as an opportunity to learn more about Spanish culture, and to try new things! Make an effort to try any new foods your host family might offer you. You're allowed to not like certain foods, but it is considered very rude to not at least try new foods once! Of course, your host family will be alerted to any specific allergies or dietary requirements you might have. 

In student residences, there is a comprehensive meal plan, however, unlike American-style cafeterias, there will be specific windows of time in which you can access breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Be prepared for this cultural difference!

Yes! Your host family will do your laundry for you at mutually determined increments. Please do not do your own laundry. It is your family's responsibility to work out a "laundry plan" with their students! The student residences, meanwhile, have laundry services on site!