Housing & Meals
During the pre-university program at Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo in Santander, Spain, students will live in dorms! All of the rooms are individual rooms. Included in the program is a full cafeteria-style meal plan than can accommodate most* dietary requirements.
In León, you will be placed with a host family that will not only provide you a room in their home, but also a "seat at the table"! Host families will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week. Meals are a great way to practice your Spanish and get to know your family! Overall, homestay experiences are a great way to immerse yourself in León's local cultural.
*Remember to let the Office of Study Abroad know if you have any specific dietary requirements!
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!
Why Host Families in León?
The Office of Study Abroad at Holy Cross views home-stays as an important element of any language-immersion program. Staying with a local Spanish family will give you important insight into every day life in León for its residents. It will also help your language acquisition as host families are an opportunity to practice your Spanish outside the classroom.
This is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself and become a member of your host community! 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 in León that are very easy to use!
You’ll learn to love your time on buses and trains when living in Europe. You’ll get to see areas of the city you wouldn't have otherwise seen, you get to people watch, you get to chat with strangers who will give you so many insights into your new home and host culture, and you’ll get to read a lot more (something we Americans driving in cars don't have the opportunity to do as much!)
DON’T FORGET PHOTOS! Your host families will be interested in where you come from: your family, town, friends, and school. Take pictures that help explain parts of your life in the U.S. These are great conversation starters when you don’t know yet what you have in common.
*It can be nice to bring a small gift for you host family that represents where you come from: handicrafts, chocolates/sweets/magnets/etc.
How will I get "matched" with a Host Family?
In your study abroad portal at sa.holycross.edu, there are many post-decision documents you need to fill out. One of those documents in 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!
When will I find out who my host family is?
You can expect to receive information about your homestay placement sometime in late July. You will have an opportunity to connect over email before meeting in person upon your arrival in Spain.
What to Expect for Food
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.
Does my Host Family Provide Bedding?
Yes- your room will be fully equipped with sheets, pillows, blankets, and towels. Your room will also have a desk for studying and a locking door for privacy.
Is Laundry included?
Yes, your host family will work with you to arrange a laundry schedule that works for your household!