Housing
Your Cultural Immersion Begins with Housing
Your housing experience will be the most exciting, educational and maturing adventure of your life. It is in the home that you can most benefit from the opportunity of living the language, and learning the culture of Spain.
Knowing the great importance that housing plays in the learning process of our students, the ICS very carefully selects each of its homes and residence so that you will not only learn as much Spanish as possible while you’re in Seville, but so that each housemother and her family will go out of their way in making you feel more than comfortable in your home away from home.
All student housing in Seville is in private homes. Some are with families and others are residence-like.
HOMESTAYS
For Andalusians, the family is of paramount importance. In addition, they are known historically for their open, easy-going manner and great tolerance with foreigners. For these reasons and many more it is easy to understand why most ICS students sign up to live with a Spanish family during their stay in Seville. Like most students, you too will feel accepted as another member of the family.
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“The highlight of many days in Sevilla was the afternoon meals and several hours of conversation with my Spanish family”.
All ICS families live in either the same small neighborhood of “El Porvenir” as the ICS is located, or at a short walking distance. Like other Europeans, most Spaniards live in apartment buildings. Some may be as modern as any U.S. apartment. Others may be remodeled from an original communal villa built decades or even centuries ago. Each has its own charm and advantages.
While living with a Spanish family much of the closeness you eventually find will depend largely on how much integration you would like. Our housemothers are kind, pleasant and generous. There are few things they love more than an interested student who inquires about life in their beloved city. The more you show you are interested in her city and culture, the more effort your housemother will put in trying to make you feel at home.
The families who work with the ICS can consist of a married couple with or without children; a single woman (separated, divorced, widowed) with or without children; or an older couple whose children generally don’t live at home. Carefully consider the following questions as a guideline when choosing the type of family with whom you wish to live for your semester in Seville:
• Would you prefer a lively family with many members or a household that is more calm and quiet?
• Would you prefer that there be young children, older children, or no children at all?
• Do you have pet allergies?
RESIDENCE-STYLE LIVING
In this style of housing there is just one housemother or a couple who lives with you and takes care of your daily needs. You will have a roommate or a housemate of the same sex. There can be up to four students living in the same house. Although this arrangement is more for the student who prefers less one-to-one contact with a Spanish family, you will probably develop such a close relationship with your housemother that she will feel like family by the time you leave Seville. How much interaction you have with your housemother depends on you.
To see the different possibilities that ICS families and residence-style living offer, it is best that you contact ICS Housing Director, Ms. Gina de los Santos, at housing@ics-seville.org, once you begin preparations for your semester in Seville.
Student Residencies
(*Only available during summer term)
Palm Studios is located a quick 15 min walk to the ICS on beautiful Avenida de la Palmera, next to the prestigious Albaydar secondary school and near the Reina Mercedes University of Seville campus. Students can also use public transportation if they prefer not to walk.
Student Residence Housing Amenities
There is wifi and A/C throughout the premises.
Students rooms are cleaned once a week and sheets changed by maintanence.
Although Palm Studios offers various room options, the only option in the ICS program fee covers is the Standard Twin option. Students may request a specific roommate.
Students staying at Palm studios will also be able to enjoy:
- 24 hour reception services
- Gym
- Roof top pool
- Recreative common areas/out door patios
- Study lounge area
- Activities organized by Palm Studios (workshops, movie night etc)
At Palm Studios, students will live in a double occupany studio apartment without meals included. Each studio apartment has a fully equipped mini kitchen with stove, washer and dryer, dishwasher, oven, microwave and necessary kitchen utensils. Each studio apartment comes with a private bathroom for the two students to share. There is also a larger kitchen in a common area to share with other residents where students can prepare meals as well as a breakfast bar downstairs with free expresso. Students should budget approximately 200€ for food (more if you plan to eat out a lot).
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Meal hours are different in Spain than those in the U.S. Breakfast is a small meal of toast or pastry and coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Lunch is served between 2 – 3 and is the largest meal of the day. Dinner is served after 8:30 or 9 and is a light meal.
Snacks are not served between meals. If you wish to purchase foods not served by your housemother, ask where you can store them.
In general, our housemothers are very flexible and will always try to adapt to your personality and schedule.
DIETARY REQUIREMENT
If you have a specific dietary requirement, please notify the ICS Housing Director at least one month prior to arrival so that she can attend to that request. Most Spanish families are not used to cooking meals that are vegetarian, non-gluten, vegan or basically anything different from traditional Spanish cuisine.
HOUSING DEPOSIT
A $100 refundable rent deposit is included in the total amount you pay for the semester tuition. If there is no damage caused by you to your room or homestay it will be returned to you in cash during the last week of the program.