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May 14th– June 25th, 2008

Join us in Santander, located on the Cantabrian Sea in Northern Spain.

Improve your Spanish skills and get the first course in the Spanish major.

Why study in Santander?

Santander is the home of Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP), one of two oldest and most prestigious universities in Spain to offer extensive summer programs.

The limited presence of English speakers during the target study period and the excellent quality of local Spanish contribute to your Spanish immersion experience. The city is considered a safe coastal city with a mild climate and located four hours form the French border, for convenient optional travel after the program ends. Santander is in a region renowned for natural beautiful mountains to the south, and the sea to the north.

Before arriving in Santander, we will spend two days in Madrid, visiting El Prado and the Royal Palace, we will visit El Escorial and spend two days in Toledo. Once in Santander, we will be taking excursions to Cuevas de Altamira, Santillana del Mar, Picos de Europa, and Salamanca.

Eligibility

Eligible students are UF students who either:

• have completed SPN 2200 and /or SPN 2201 or equivalent.
  
• present AP, IB, SAT II scores equivalent to SPN 2201.

Courses offered in Santander:

Students choose 6 credits from the following:

• SPN 2201: Intermediate Spanish II
  
• SPN 2240: Intensive Communication Skills
  
• SPN 2442: Intermediate Spanish for Business
  
• SPN 3300: Grammar & Composition I

Possible course combinations in Santander, depending on prerequisites completed:

2201 & 2442 (for students who have finished SPN 2200)

2201 & 2240 (for students who have finished SPN 2200)

2240 & 2442 (for students who have finished SPN 2201)

2240 & 3300 (for students who have finished SPN 2201)

2442 & 3300 (for students who have finished SPN 2240)

NOTE: Bilingual students cannot take classes in Santander.

For further information, please contact:
Susana Braylan
154 Dauer Hall
braylan@rll.ufl.edu.

*Application Deadline for programs and scholarships:

January 8, 2008 (Scholarships)

March 1, 2008 (Program)

Program Dates: May 14th - June 25th, 2008

Housing:

Students are housed in host families selected by ISA (International Studies Abroad- a study abroad service provider organization).

Three meals a day are taken with the host family and are included in the program cost.

Cultutal Excursions:

Excursions will be organized to a minimum of five cities: 2 nights in Madrid, Toledo, Salamanca; one-day excursions to El Escorial, Burgos, Bilbao, and Santillana del Mar.

Costs: $4,695.00

Tuition is the same for in-state and out-of-state students, which means it is cheaper for out-of-state students to study in Santander than to take classes on campus this summer.

It includes:

Tuition, room and board (three meals a day), medical health insurance, UF International Center administration fee, MEDEX emergency assistance coverage (Major medical health insurance coverage while outside of the United States is MANDATORY. Verification of major medical health insurance coverage that meets UF standards is required.), cultural and overnight excursions, daily tutoring provided by ISA, ISA on-site Resident Director.

Not included:

Airfare, personal expenses and books.

Financial Aid:

University of Florida students needing financial aid for study abroad should apply through UF Student Financial Aid Affairs.

For information and applications for these scholarships, come to the International Center at the HUB or visit online at http://www.ufic.ufl.edu/oss/financial.htm.

Tentative Itinerary for Santander, Spain: Coming in late February 2008

General Information for Students:

• Passport:

You will find all the information needed at the following web site. http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ Make sure that you have a valid passport. Passports need to be renewed every 10 years. If you already have one, it may be invalid. Check the date. If you need a new passport, remember that it takes 3 weeks to receive one.

• Airfare:

You are responsible to buy your own airfare ticket. There are several places where you can get discounts. Check with STA Travel - (352) 338-0068 (At the Reitz Union) (The world's largest student travel organization provides a full range of travel services for students. We believe that travel is an essential part of any complete education. Our staff of experienced travelers provides the advice you'll need when venturing into new lands and experiencing other cultures for the first time. STA Travel's worldwide network of over 500 Travel Help service locations can offer students peace of mind knowing help is always within reach should they need it while traveling abroad. We also offer additional low cost travel products, services, and friendly, helpful advice once en route.) or at www.travelocity.com

The sooner you buy your tickets, the lower the price you will find. You might want to have an open return date in case you make plans to visit other Spanish cities or other countries in Europe at the end of the program. Many students do this.

• What to bring:

It is cold at night, bring a jacket. Bring the least amount of clothing (you may want to do some shopping), but make sure that you have some warm clothes, good and comfortable shoes for walking, and your favorite sunblock.

• Weather:

The climate is very mild and humid throughout the year with an average temperature of 66F in August and 49F in December. It is important to know that the weather in the north is very inconsistent and unpredictable. For those who want to spend time sunbathing and relaxing on the beach, Santander is probably not the ideal location because summer usually only lasts from mid June to mid September (May might be still cool). http://www.eurobeaches.com/spain/santander.gif

• Money:

ATM machines are available everywhere, Travelers Checks are not advisable, VISA/MASTERCARD are accepted almost everywhere.

• Food:

During your time in Santander you should definitely try some of the delicious dishes of the traditional Cantabrican cuisine. Pulpo (squid) as well as Cocido Montañes (a sort of stew) are an absolute must and on almost every menu in the many restaurants and Tapas Bars of Santander. http://webs.ono.com/usr046/taps/pdf/10.pdf (NOTE: pdf format)

• Sports:

The active sports and outdoor fans will not be disappointed either. In the summer the nearby "Picos de Europa" resort is the perfect spot to do all sorts of mountain sports (mountain biking rock climbing, trekking, rafting, paragliding, etc.).

Surfing is very popular with the Sardinero beach catching quite good waves in the winter and the Somo opposite (30-minute boat trip) for most of the year. Nearby, Liencres picks up a bigger swell and further along the coast beaches such as Los Locos, Langre and nearby Noja can be worth checking out depending on the day.

The golf course on the cliffs is a public one and relatively reasonable (green fee: Euro 20). The course has 9 holes, is short, and not very demanding. Nevertheless, the spectacular view over Santander and the sound of the waves clashing onto the cliffs is exceptional. The course in Pedreña (home course of Severiano Ballesteros) is one of the most beautiful ones in Spain but, unfortunately, unaffordable for students.

• Social customs:

1. Hours/schedules: Perhaps because of the mild climate and the long hours of sunshine in Spain, Spaniards tend to get up later in the morning and stay out later at night than the rest of their European neighbors. Shops and businesses are usually opened from 9 or 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and from 4:30 or 5 p.m. to 8 or 8:30 p.m. It has become increasingly common though for businesses to stay open through the traditional 'siesta' hours. Business establishments are usually closed for a day-and-a-half per week, most often Saturday afternoon and Sunday, while many shops close only on Sunday. In tourist areas, in summer, business hours are often expanded to 10 or 11 p.m. with stores open 7 days a week. Restaurant hours are quite varied, with the norm being from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for lunch and from 8:30 to 11 or 11:30 p.m. for dinner. In summer, these hours are often expanded, with many establishments offering continuous service, and still others serving food until very late at night. Bars are usually open all-day and close late at night. In general, the nightlife in Spain is quite intense, and the bars and discotheques stay open long past midnight. In summer, they often stay open past 3 or 4 p.m. In big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, for example, there are many places that stay open until dawn, even in winter.

2. Tipping: Tipping is a great tradition in Spain. While practically all establishments currently include a surcharge for service, it is still common to leave something of a tip. This custom, common in bars and restaurants, has extended to hotel porters, theater ushers, and taxi drivers, though in none of these cases is it obligatory, nor will anyone recriminate a client for not tipping.

3. Dress: There are no special norms in Spain with respect to dress. It is always a good idea to consult the weather forecast pertaining to the respective area of interest beforehand. In Cantabria evenings tend to be cool even in summer so you should bring some warm clothes and raingear. On a related matter, perhaps because the nightlife is such a great part of Spanish culture, it is not necessary to dress formally for dinner or the theater though the Spaniards dress more formally than most Floridians.

• Pharmacies:

Pharmacies hours are established by each town's City Hall, though such establishments are generally open from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Besides this set schedule, however, a series of pharmacies are required to remain open on an 'on call' basis as well. All pharmaceutical dispensaries provide a list of addresses of the establishments that are 'on call', with the nearest ones clearly indicated. This list is also printed in the daily newspapers.

• Banks:

Bank offices are open for business from 8:30 am to 2:30 p.m. Monday thru Saturday, except in the summer months when they are closed on Saturdays. Some branch offices are open in the afternoon.

For parents only:
If parents have doubts and feel the need to talk to Prof. Susana Braylan for more information, they could email her at braylan@rll.ufl.edu. She will be happy to answer any questions.

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