Advice for Students Studying Abroad in Toledo, Spain

1. GENERAL
2. Make sure your bank accounts are in order before leaving the country, it is much harder to fix things from Spain
3. Budget yourself.
4. Even if it looks like it is filled with chocolate, you should probably ask to make sure.
5. Figure out what you are doing next summer before you go, if at all possible. It is REALLY difficult if you completely change your mind and have to start the internship application process all over again, or for the first time.
6. Establish communication back home as soon as possible.
7. Don’t give up any food product for Lent. You’re in a foreign country with different food, and if you limit yourself, you are limiting a cultural experience.
8. You will probably forget and eat meat on Fridays during Lent when you travel. It’s okay, just pick another day to do it. It counts the same.
9. The Pope drinks Fanta. You should, too. The Pope does not combine Fanta de limon with rum (ron in Spanish) but you really should. He won’t judge you for this.
10. Calm down. There is a lot that can be learned from the Spanish “No pasa nada” philosophy.
11. Don’t be too dramatic. You will get in your house.
12. Just get on the bus. Or it will leave without you.
13. If you are running like a madman, waving at the bus, and it still leaves you behind, don’t feel bad. It happens to the best of us. Hopefully, this was not the last bus. That happens, as well.
14. Feel free to use the men’s room because there probably is no one in there, and there is probably toilet paper, unlike the women’s room.
15. If there are no handicapped people around, the handicapped restroom is also fair game.
16. Do not make eye contact with passersby.
17. When using a public restroom, check before you enter the stall if they keep the toilet paper dispensers inside or outside of the stalls. This is not as important if someone else is in the bathroom with you and can give you toilet paper, but still worth checking.
18. Toilet paper is a privilege, not a right.
19. Never tell a French man you go to No-ter Daym. No matter how nice he is, you will feel foolish.
20. There will always be opportunities that you will miss and wish you hadn’t. Don’t dwell on these and instead focus on the opportunities you did have.
21. Chupito = shot
22. Number 47 in the Fund vending machine (a chocolate covered cake made by Dulcesol) is delicious and at 80 cents, a great deal. However if there is one slot in the vending machine that does not work and steals your money, it is number 47.
23. Do not combine McBeers with cono KitKats. Keep them separate. Although, McBeers aren’t that good to begin with.
24. Make sure you have online banking. Your life will be so much easier. Investigate banks and credit cards that waive ATM fees.
25. Try to only spend money you actually have.
26. Don’t trust online weather prediction for Europe.
27. Be very nice to the cleaning ladies in the Fund. Stay under the radar.
28. Megavideo.com Use it. Love it. However, it has a terrible selection, so also try youtube. Your movie will be split into 11-12 parts, but it will be worth it.
29. The library in the Alcazar does not charge you for overdue books/movies, but puts you on check out probation. So, don’t worry unless you were planning on checking more stuff out soon.
30. Before you leave, your family should look into an international calling plan. That way, they can call your Spanish cell phone (receiving calls/texts while in Spain is free no matter where they are from) and it is relatively cheap.
31. Doner Kebap: awesome place. Everyone goes and gets the original Doner Kebap, but the felafel kebap is so much better and costs fifty cents less. The following morning people ask themselves: Why did I get that Doner Kebap last night? After getting a felafel kebap, I have never asked myself that. I still don’t know why more people did not follow my example.
32. SPAIN/HOST FAMILIES
33. Figure out, right away, when your family eats.
34. Don’t be afraid of trying new things, but if you are in a restaurant and have to pay for your food, you may want to stay safe.
35. Don’t go to an American restaurant in Spain, no matter how much you want to, unless maybe it is the Hard Rock Café in Madrid.
36. On that note, McDonalds in Spain is actually edible, unlike McDonalds in America. In a pinch, go to McDonald’s. For example, if you are in the fashionable (meaning, expensive) district of a town but really need food, McDonald’s is probably your best bet.
37. Be very careful if you get a haircut in Spain. When you see Spanish hairstyles, you’ll understand why this is necessary.
38. Spanish fashion can be weird. Only buy clothes there if you are sure.
39. Kiddie corner from the post office (in the opposite direction of Circulo), there is a whole in the wall bakery. It has giant brownies. About a month after you get to Spain, you will really appreciate these.
40. Talk to your host family. A lot. From the get-go.
41. Confrontation is not always necessary, but when it is, get it over with as soon as possible.
42. That said, try not to break things belonging to your host family. They may give you a bill.
43. If you think those Spaniards over yonder are having more fun than you, they probably are. Don’t feel bad about it, though.
44. TRAVEL
45. Go to the ATM before going on a trip. That way you can get out large amounts of money (300, 400 euro) that will last you several weekends. Leave most of this at home. This saves you money in ATM fees, and you won’t have to make people wait while you get money on a trip.
46. Reserve hostels well in advance, you’d be surprised how quickly they fill up.
47. Always check-in online and print up your boarding pass.
48. Make sure your backpack/suitcase will fit in the carry-on bin. Checking luggage is expensive.
49. Plan your weekends right away but stay flexible.
50. Don’t be afraid to stay in Toledo. There actually is stuff to do, and you’ll save money.
51. It may be advisable to bring your own toilet paper on trips. People will laugh at you, but you will be the last one laughing when you get to a bathroom and there is no toilet paper.
52. Don’t let your towel get stolen.
53. If you are in a bunk bed in a hostel and your stranger bunk mate comes back and taps your bed frame, MOVE. Just take my word on this one.
54. Bring a camera memory card larger than 1 GB. Eight is ideal, and they are not too expensive. You can go through a gigabyte in one weekend. Easily.
55. When buying cheap airfare, ask yourself, “Is getting a chance to sleep in a bed that night worth spending ten euros on a later flight?” It probably is.
56. Traveling alone may or may not be enjoyable. It really depends on where you go. No matter whether or not it is enjoyable, it is worth it to grow more independent.
57. Wear good walking shoes, but keep them out of the rain.
58. If traveling with a group for Semana Santa, split the cost of a checked bag within the group. It gives you much more room for your long trip. However, be prepared to lug that thing around. Giving it a name will make that part more bearable.
59. Don’t go to a beach town if it is raining or otherwise bad weather.
60. Alcohol in moderation is an adequate substitute for sleeping pills if none are available before boarding an overnight bus.
61. Wear an eye cover on an overnight bus.
62. Change into your comfy clothes before boarding your bus.
63. Quote from bus driver: “Usually when people get on the bus, they sit in the seat on their ticket. That’s why we assign seats”.
64. No matter how cheap/adequate a hostel is, if it is far from the city center, it will be a hassle. The extra euros are worth it and probably less than paying for a metro.
65. In Barcelona: It is quite easy to double up on entering a metro to save money. Here is some advice:

a) Make sure no one is looking

b) Double up, not triple. Never triple.

c) It is not advisable for two guys to double up.

d) Do not feel guilty, especially when you see all of the natives doing it.

1. Do not trust Rick Steves’ maps. Ever.
2. If your hostel isn’t even on the map, don’t try to walk back there. The 5 euro cab ride is worth it if it helps you avoid wandering the streets for an hour and a half, especially when your feet already hurt and it is past midnight.
3. Trains in Spain cost twice as much, but are infinitely nicer than buses. Your call.
4. When planning a trip, if you think you will have to spend the night (or part of it) in an airport or train station, check to ensure that that airport or train station is open all night. For example, the Madrid Barajas airport has a delightful 24-hour café near the Ryanair and Easyjet check-in counters, but Rome Ciampino and the Lourdes Train Station close.
5. It is new for Ryanair that non-EU citizens can check in online, so you will need a visa check. Simply go to the ticket counter (not the check in desk), wait in the short line and get two stamps on your printed out ticket.
6. Don’t count on Dublin city buses to get you to the airport, especially on Sunday.
7. When making a hostel reservation, double check the map to make sure they really are where they say they are.
8. Don’t make hostel reservations at 12:30 am the night before you leave for a trip. You will forget to check the map.
9. Traveling alone may be necessary, especially at the end of the semester, especially for UCLM kids. Stick to smaller cities, preferably with religious importance (ie Lourdes) and not cities where you will want to go out drinking (ie Dublin).
10. There is nothing wrong with traveling alone when necessary, especially at the end of the semester when you’ve gotten good at traveling.
11. If you are anywhere near a mountain range, it will be colder than you expect. If you are anywhere near a large body of water, it will be rainier than you expect.
12. UCLM kids: plan trips together, early on in the semester. Stick together or someone will be left behind.
13. Take boatloads of pictures. And pictures of boatloads, if you feel the urge.
14. When Anthony Travel tells you that you should arrive to the airport at least three hours early for your return flight, they are lying. If you listen, bring a LOT to do.