Housing
Students in Sevilla are housed in private homes, with full board (three meals a day) in double rooms shared with another student from the UNC program. All houses are located within 30 minutes walk from the school. Families are carefully chosen by CINECU staff according to several criteria: friendliness and ability to receive students well and willingness to be communicative with them. Most families house students for economic reasons but are warm and thoughtful people.

The moment before going to your assigned house is, without a doubt, the most nervous part of the study abroad semester. You will be living in a house where your señora is in charge of providing for your needs and making you feel comfortable in your new surroundings. The morning after arrival you will have been briefed on your family prior to departure from the hotel and will leave in a taxi with your roommate. Your señora will be on the lookout for you.

Keys
You will be given a key to come and go in the house as you wish. Taking care of this key is an enormous responsibility and losing it would require the changing of the locks at your expense. .

Meals
You will have full pension (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Breakfast, prepared European style is very light, consisting of coffee and toast or cookies. You will probably need a small snack around 11:30 am to make it until lunchtime. Lunch is the big meal of the day and is served normally between 14:00 and 14:30 in the afternoon. The typical lunch consists of two plates. The first plate is light such as soup or salad. The second plate tends to be meat or fish (on occasion pasta). A piece of fruit or yogurt is a typical dessert. The dinner is normally prepared around 21:00 and tends to be less plentiful than lunch. A typical dinner would be something like a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and some potato chips.
It will be normal upon arrival for you to explain to your señora your eating likes, dislikes, and whatever allergies you might have.

Showers / bathroom
Normally, you and your roommate will have access to your own bathroom. You will be given a fresh towel. Your señora, as a general rule will expect you to shower no more than once a day. Perhaps there will be certain days where you will shower twice but, as a general rule, you should only shower once a day.

Telephone
It is possible to receive calls at your home but, please remember to advise your parents and friends of the time difference and to have your calls made at normal hours of the day. Students should not make outgoing calls from the house. It is highly recommended to acquire a cell phone (see Cell Phone in the Resources-Helpful Info section for more information).

Important things to keep in mind

Móviles (cell phones) are highly recommended. A cell phone will greatly increase the possibilities for you to contact family and friends at home and make your daily life a lot more comfortable while in Spain. Since it is not recommended that you make outgoing calls from your home, a cell phone is also the best way to communicate with the other students on the program.

Buying a Cell Phone

You will purchase a cell phone from one of four companies:

Orange
Telefonica Movistar
Vodafone
Yoigo

The websites of the companies above provide for information about prepaid phones or phones with “tarjeta”. Because you are a non-resident, these are the only type of phone that you will be able to get.  For approximately 20-30 euros ($25-$40) you can purchase a phone.  Part of that amount will include money toward making calls. The advantages of the “tarjeta” are that you may better control your consumption.  When you have used all the money on the card, you will simply put more one (recharge).  In most cases you are able to recharge your phone card at ATMs or in many stores.

All of these cell phone companies have stores near the school or near your homes. The offers constantly vary but are very competitive, so the difference in companies is really not that great. It is, however, important to keep in mind that normally calls within the same company are a bit cheaper than calls that go to another company. So, if you are shopping with a group of fellow classmates it would be wise to consider buying from the same company.

Please be sure to check all the details before purchasing a phone. Be especially careful to remember to ask the salesperson about the possibility of making international calls. All phones are able to receive international calls but, not all have the capability to make them.  However, you will probably not want to make calls to the US directly from your cell phone as it is usually very expensive.  At least one of the phone companies offer a phone card that you can purchase in order to make calls from your cell phone.

According to past students’ experiences, mail going from Spain to the U.S. is fairly reliable. Mail coming from the U.S. to Spain tends to take a week to 10 days, sometimes longer. Therefore, it is recommended to send packages of value or urgency via FEDEX, UPS or other mail couriers that have parcel tracking. If your package is not of material value or urgency, airmail is recommended.

Students should have their mail sent to:

CINECU
Att: Your name
Calle Plácido Fernández Viagas, 4
41013 SEVILLA
ESPAÑA

An intercambio is nothing more than two people from different languages and cultures getting together and helping each other out. During the course of the semester or year you will meet with this person or group of persons to discuss differences in culture and assist each other in various language exercises and projects.

Learning Spanish doesn’t stop once class is over. It’s a continual process. The more you can immerse yourself in the culture the more your Spanish will improve. CINECU is continually planning activities to promote this cultural immersion. This is a definite advantage of studying at EUSA. They have a large number of Tourism/Hotel Management students who need to improve their English and desire to have these intercambios.

Summer Program- Students will need to pack enough clothes for a month and a half and will need to take into account that it will probably be very hot.  You will probably only need to pack a one or two long sleeve shirts for the occasional chilly night out. For convenience, try not to pack too heavily. Space is not abundant in Spain and your room will probably be smaller than you are used to.

Semester Students- Whether Fall or Spring semester you will need to pack enough clothes for the four months or more and you will have to bring a winter coat. Contrary to legend it also rains here, so a rain jacket will also come in handy. Bring clothes that can be layered so that you can wear them when it is warm as well as when it gets cooler, or vice versa.

No matter when you study in Sevilla, you will need comfortable shoes!  You will walk almost everywhere so be prepared.

Sevilla weather can be classified generally as such:

January- moderately cold (minimum in 40′s maximum in 60′s) occasional sunny day
February – warm and sunny while in the sun, cool and uncomfortable in the shade. Many sunny days
March – sunny and warm, some pre-spring showers
April- sunny and warm, some spring showers
May – sunny and warm……many times hot
June- sunny and hot
July – sunny and hot
August – sunny and hot
September – sunny and hot
October – sunny, hot, and rains occasionally
November – sunny, warm, may rain, cold at night and in the morning
December – moderately cold (minimum in 40′s maximum in 60′s) occasional sunny day

The weather, as we all know, has become unpredictable in recent years and the possibility of changes is great (i.e. it could be cold and rainy in September). However, in Sevilla, it never freezes. It should go noted that houses are not as insulated as in the United States. Carpeting is non-existent in Southern Spain and the floors, usually marble or stone, can be very cold in the morning, so it is advisable to pack house slippers.  Slippers are also advised since Spaniards do not walk barefoot at home.

Hair dryers, curling irons, and electric razors can be brought over but to use them you will need to bring an adapter that can convert to the 220 V. electrical current. It should be noted that even with the adapter sometimes engine burnout can occur. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase these items while in Spain.

If you are on any type of regular medication it is advised that you bring enough of a supply to get you through the length of the program.

The best, safest, and most effective way to take get money is with your bank debit or VISA credit card. You will be able to take out money at most ATM machines and they will give you the exchange rate of that day without taking out a commission for the service. It is likely that your bank in the US will charge a fee for withdrawing money overseas, so be sure to check with your bank and credit card company regarding any fees they may charge.

Your card may not work in all ATM machines but these machines are in abundance and usually by the second or third try you can get through and get your money.

If your ATM or credit card is lost or stolen and you are out of money, you should contact your bank or credit card company immediately to have the old card cancelled.  You should request that a new card be sent via FedEx.  While you are waiting for the new card, you can have money transferred to you via Western Union. The amount should be small because the service they provide has a pretty hefty commission.

The current exchange rate favors the euro, so keep the exchange rate in mind when making purchases.  What you pay here with your debit or credit card will cost more when it is converted to U.S. dollars.

Safety and Health
Students will attend a series of orientation meetings with the Program Director and other CINECU staff regarding safety, medical and cultural issues. Students will be instructed on who to contact and what to do should they need medical attention, lose their passport, or a variety of other situations.

Travel outside of the U.S.
The U.S. Department of State provides information and online resources for U.S. citizens who plan to travel outside of the United States. The State Department website includes country specific entry, safety and health information. The page also provides special safety announcements, advisories and travel warnings issued by the State Department.

U.S. State Department International Travel Page includes Travel Warnings
U.S. State Department: Spain Consular Information Sheet Safety and Health Information
U.S. Consulate: Madrid

Another useful resource for information regarding maintaining your health while traveling is the CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC: Western Europe Travelers’ Health

Medical Insurance
According to the UNC General Administration, all students who study abroad are required to have good medical insurance coverage which includes medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.have good medical insurance coverage which includes medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. Therefore, by state regulation, the NC Department of Insurance has arranged for a comprehensive student health insurance policy, specially designed for students participating in international programs. This insurance policy is mandatory for students who will be participating on the UNC in Sevilla program. You do not have to sign up for this policy; you will be enrolled automatically for this coverage for the length of your program. This insurance covers you in Sevilla, in other parts of Spain, and other countries you may travel to outside of Spain. This insurance is provided by HTH Worldwide. Please contact the Study Abroad Office at UNC for more information.

We strongly advise that you maintain a U.S. health insurance policy while abroad. Once you return to the U.S., the UNC Study Abroad Insurance Policy will no longer be in effect.

Seeking Medical Assistance in Sevilla
In Sevilla, there are two clinics that you will go to if you don’t feel well. During orientation the program staff will give you more information on the location and operating hours of these clinics. At these two clinics, you simply have to show your HTH insurance card without having to make a payment up front.

NOTE: A printable insurance card will be available on your study abroad webpage. Please print out and keep this card!

At all other medical facilities throughout Sevilla, Spain, and Europe, you will have to pay up front and claim a reimbursement. For specific information concerning the coverage, please refer to ‘Insurance Info’ on your study abroad webpage.

Seville offers many advantages as a study abroad location. One of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Seville has a rich history of diverse cultures – from the Romans, to Visigoths and later 700 years of Arab civilization. Seville is the city of bullfights, flamenco, and the opera Carmen. As a result of the development of the 1992 World’s Fair Seville is also a modern city with great venues for sports, music and the arts. Geographically, Seville is also an ideal location as a base for further travels. Just over an hour to Cadiz, Europe’s oldest city and great beaches, Seville is also a short distance to Portugal, as well as other cities in Andalucia such as Granada, Cordoba and Malaga, on the Mediterranean coast. Only two and a half hours by high-speed train to Madrid, Spain’s cultural capital, Seville is the perfect place for a semester or year abroad study experience.

LSCS, or Language, Society and Culture Studies program, offers classes for students wishing to improve their Spanish and understanding of culture through classes with other program participants and CINECU’s professors at the EUSA campus. In the SAS, or Specialized Area Studies program, students wishing to improve their fluency and advanced knowledge of Spanish attend classes at the EUSA campus as well as at the University of Seville’s campus. The classes at the University of Seville are regular university courses taken with native speakers. For more information on the specifics of each program please visit the LSCS and SAS program pages.

UNC in Sevilla students are housed in private homes, with full board (three meals a day) in double rooms shared with another student from the program. All houses are located within 30 minutes walk from the school. Families are carefully chosen by CINECU staff according to several criteria: friendliness and ability to receive students well and willingness to be communicative with them.

All students must have at least a 2.9 cumulative GPA and have completed at least 4 semesters of Spanish to be eligible for the program. Specific requirements for each program vary according to the program level. For more information on requirements please visit the specific program pages.

Students may apply to the programs through the Study Abroad Office at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Students on the UNC in Sevilla program will receive UNC transfer equivalency (TREQ) credit. With the approval of the Study Abroad Office and other UNC departments, classes on the program may be approved to fulfill major, minor, or general education requirements. Please consult the credit information link on the UNC Study Abroad website and the Equivalencies page for each program for more information.

Non-UNC students-As institutions differ in their course offerings and evaluations it is highly recommended that you check with your advisor or department before enrolling to ensure that course credit will be issued.

If you have any questions, please contact the Study Abroad Office at UNC.

Classes for the LSCS and Seville Summer programs are taught on the EUSA (School of Tourism) campus. Classes for the SAS program are taught on both the EUSA campus and the University of Seville’s campus.

Students enrolling must already have completed a minimum of college level Spanish courses, at least 4 semesters, ensuring a basic knowledge of the language and grammar. Students do not need to be fluent in Spanish before arriving, but rather will work on perfecting their language and grammar skills while attending classes in Seville.

Because the emphasis at CINECU is to teach students about Spanish language and culture, classes in all programs will be taught in Spanish. For more information of class offerings see the LSCS, SAS, or Summer program pages.

The Helpful Information section contains some recommendations for packing for your trip.

Yes. Cultural visits and excursions are included in the program. For a list of program excursions and visits see the Academic Calendar and Course Schedule pages for each program.

Medical insurance is offered through the program. For more details on your coverage visit the Safety and Health page.

CINECU offers a modern computer and technology room on the EUSA campus with internet access on over 25 computers. Cyber cafes are located throughout Sevilla, some open 24 hours, for students wishing to connect when the computer and technology lab is not open.