Packing up your life and moving to another country for a year can be a daunting, and even scary experience. However, it can also be a very exciting and fun adventure.

You are about to embark on an adventure at Escuela Superior De Español de Sagunto. Most of this adventure involves figuring out some things on your own and experiencing mishaps, but we decided to give you some packing guidelines and some helpful hints that we hope will make the start of your adventure more enjoyable and a little less stressful.

Think of it as a set of guidelines or suggestions, not rules. Enjoy and don't be afraid to try new things, have crazy adventures, and learn Spanish!

From,

Returned ACA students who know what you will be going through

DEAR FUTURE ACA SPAIN STUDENT,

Clothes: There are great sales at the shopping centers, and it is nice to buy new

things, so don't bring too many clothes.

Church clothes: It is relatively casual all year, especially in the summer. For

women, skirts with nice shirts or sundresses and sandals are fine. For men, polo

shirts and khakis are fine.

Flip-flops: There are community showers definitely in the men’s dorm and private

bathrooms for the girls, so bring flip flops! You will also need them for the beach.

Exercise: There is a gymnasium with sports, and there is an aerobics class. Bring

tennis shoes and modest exercise clothes. You will also have the beach down the road to go swimming, so make sure to bring a swimsuit.

Seasonal wear: A lightweight rain jacket, lightweight fleece jacket, waterproof

athletic shoes and quick dry base layers are great for traveling light and fast.

They have mild winters, but you might want to pack for everything in case you

travel to a cold place.

Dress code: You can wear what you want at the school—there is not a specific

dress code, but try not to bring expensive clothing or anything that requires dry

cleaning.

January February March April May June

41-60 42-63 46-67 49-70 56-75 63-82

July August September October November December

68-87 70-88 64-82 57-75 48-67 43-61

Average Low and High Temperatures in Sagunto, Spain (˚F)

International Student Identity card: Getting this gives you a lot of discounts while you travel.

School supplies: You can find whatever you need regarding school supplies at the local stores

501 Spanish Verbs book: Very useful and hard to find in Spain (not to mention expensive!).

Spanish-English dictionary: You will need this in class! Also expensive and hard to find in Spain. Often

times teachers allow the use of phones for this specific purpose

Bible: The university will give you a Spanish Bible, but you may want to bring a Bible in your own

language. It is also nice to have a dual-language Bible, but you should buy that before you go abroad.

Devotional book in English: This keeps your spirituality accessible and separate from the frustrations

of another language.

Devotional book in Spanish: This will help you connect your spirituality with Spanish and help you learn religious words.

Computer, iPod, webcam device: Skype is one of the most convenient ways to keep in touch with loved ones while you’re abroad. You may need to bring a computer for school assignments.

External hard drive, flash drive: You will need to make space for all the potential pictures and videos from your year. Having them backed up online can save a lot of trouble if these devices break or are lost or stolen. It would be a good idea to back up your files online.

Cell phones: It is best to buy prepaid phone and buy a SIM card for each country that you go to. If not, you can just bring your smart phone and use a googletalk or skype number, it may be cheaper, all you need is wifi.

Voltage converter/adapter: Voltage and outlets are different from the U.S. You can ruin your electronics if you don’t have a 220 volt converter and adapter.

Credit card: You need to have a credit card for some

airlines because they won’t take a debit card.

Bring snacks: Nutritious, compact snacks will be

useful when traveling; these can be bought in Spain.

Journal: You’ll want this to keep track of your

memories. You can also keep a photo journal of your

experiences.

Difficult to find and expensive: Batteries and shaving

razors.

Pictures from home: Put them on your dorm wall!

Your roommates and friends will love to see what your

family looks like, and the pictures will help with homesickness.

Daniel and Jonathan in the Spanish Pyrenees.

Feminine hygiene products: You

will be able to go to Carrefour on a

regular basis; you should not have

to worry about bringing a year’s

supply of products. But your

favorite brand names may not be in

stock. If you are bringing a year’s

supply of something, it would

probably be deodorant.

Blow dryer and flat iron: These

items may not work upon arrival due

to power adapter issues. If so, you

can buy them at Carrefour for a good

price.

Jessica and some friends enjoying a nice day in Spain

Internet: It can be unreliable. If you try to Skype, it can be difficult. It depends on how many people are using the Internet, so early in the morning and late at night are better.

Theft: be aware of your surroundings when in the city because there will be people that will want to take your stuff. Your rooms are key locked, but there is a possibility of it happening if you keep your door unlocked.

Small first-aid kit: Basic first-aid products come in handy for small emergencies.

Check your courses: Make sure you compare your courses with those of your home college and make sure that they will count for something when you get back.

Packages: Some people will receive packages and some will not. The mailing system is very

unreliable. There is no guarantee that it will make it. You may have to pay a duty when you receive

it.

Laundry: The laundry machines and hard water are rather tough on clothes and will slowly degrade

everything you own. There are a couple of washers/dryers. You can do one load free every week,

but if you need to do more loads, you have to pay a euro for each one.

Recreational activities: There is a recreational period in the evening where you can play

basketball, soccer, volleyball. If you are interested in playing these sports, bring appropriate gear

because there are tournaments where you can play against other teams from other schools and

churches. There is also a workout room that is pretty decent.

Integrate yourself: CAS is an awesome school, but you will be tempted to spend most of your time

with other Americans. You will have to make a strong effort to spend more time with the locals.

Learn the basics: All instructions and classes are in Spanish from the start. You will be somewhat

confused and overwhelmed if you do not know some Spanish before you arrival.

Credit/debit cards: They are necessary for buying plane and train tickets. They

are great for emergencies. Make sure you’ve notified your bank because some

banks will freeze the card as soon as they see international transactions. Be aware

of fees for withdrawals and card usage in stores. Withdrawing a larger amount of

cash is more economical than withdrawing a little bit at a time. Ask your bank for a

card with a chip in it, these are more commonly used in Europe.

Exchange rate:

http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=EUR&To=USD

Exchanging money: Have some U.S. cash on hand when you arrive at the airport

as you will be able to exchange it for euros or francs at one of the money exchange

booths/banks located in the airport. There are also several ATMs at the airport.

Passports: Keep your passport with you at all times

while traveling. Do not leave it unattended. It should

be kept in a safe place while traveling and during

your stay at the dorms. Some trips may not require

passports as you will not be leaving the country.

Other important documents: Make sure you have

all your papers when you arrive and when you leave

Spain (passport, visa, birth certificate, etc.). During

the year make sure all documents are stored in an

inconspicuous, locked area. Make and keep copies of

all important documents.

Jessica admiring the exquisite architecture of the Alhambra Palace in Granada

Backpack: Have a good quality travel backpack.

Sleeping bag: Lightweight sleeping bag or liner.

Water bottle: These are actually hard to find if you are a brand loyalist.

Utensils: Have a lightweight spork, plastic knife, and plate with you to make “on

the go” meals. It is much cheaper than eating out all the time.

Misc: Air mattress, head lamp, quick-dry travel towel, light weight dry bags, small

travel alarm clock.

Emergency clothes: Pack a couple days of clothes in your carry-on

bag in case your luggage gets lost.

Go lightweight: Choose lightweight clothing. It will take up less space

and weigh less.

Bring a luggage scale on all trips: If you travel discount airlines

(Ryanair), you will be heavily charged if your luggage is even a few

ounces overweight. Use a backpack because it is more flexible when

stuffing it into overhead compartments.

Think ahead: Plan everything in advance. Trains are the most efficient form of travel and can be really cheap when you plan ahead. Book everything you can in advance. Hostels, hotels, and all travel tickets will generally be cheaper and more available weeks in advance.

Schedule it out: Triple check dates on tickets before buying them. Most of the time it is very hard or impossible to change and it will ruin your trip. Enjoy your travels, but be aware of your surroundings. Have a simple watch to keep track of time. Choose an efficient travel route, plan trips to multiple countries in the most direct route possible.

Do not over plan your trips: Choosing too many destinations is more expensive, more stressful, and less enjoyable than spending more time in a few places.

Hand sanitizer/toilet paper: Have hand sanitizer and toilet paper at all times.

Arrive early: Arrive at plane, train and bus stations at least an hour early. Two hours early is better.

Keep your mementos: Save all the ticket stubs, maps, pamphlets, and hard material you get. This will be invaluable to you when you want to remember your travels after you get back.

First aid kit: Put together a small first aid kit containing aspirin, Dramamine, anti-diarrhea medication, a small roll of athletic tape, moleskin, band aids, Neosporin, and butterfly closures. Airborne is always a great defense against colds.

Get enough sleep: Traveling tired is like driving tired; it is dangerous. You are much more likely to forget your stuff, an important stop, and directions if you are sleep deprived.

Explore everything: Cities are great, but over time you will see that they are a lot alike. Get out in nature and see the natural wonders of your destination. There will be fewer tourists, it will be more relaxed, and the views will be more memorable.

Think smart: While at the beach, stash your wallet or other small valuables in a clean empty sunscreen bottle. Similarly, put emergency cash in an empty chapstick container and always keep it in your pocket. It will not draw any attention and you will always have money on you just in case.

Skiing: There may be an opportunity to go

skiing, so take skiing equipment if you have it.

Campout: There is a school campout. You will

need a sleeping bag and some kind of sleeping

wear. It is in a camping area, but you will stay

in cabins.

Formal Dress Wear: There is one formal

night that is like a banquet where you dress up

with a shirt and tie/dress with heels. Jessica enjoying a beautiful view

Sheets

Pillows

A nice kitchenette with stove top and microwave

You will need to bring a towel and washcloth

Chloe, Camrie, and Megan enjoying a day out in Andalucía

Be nice. When needing to talk to advisors, teachers or even peers at the school it is more likely that they will help if you are nice first. Outside of school try not to argue with vendors; just smile, disconnect eye contact, and keep walking if not interested in their merchandise.

Be frugal. Everyone's financial situation is different, but the more money you can hang on to, the more confident you will be when traveling. Always try to find good deals and live cheap. Occasionally it is fun to splurge on a nice dinner, show or clothing item.

Talk to people. One of the best ways to learn about the local culture is by chatting with people on transportation, or in markets. They will have plenty of questions to ask you, too.