Housing

Living with a typical “familia sevillana” has its many advantages.  By observing and taking part in your family’s daily customs and practices, you will find yourself increasingly more immersed in the culture.  What better way to learn about a people than by sharing meals with them on a daily basis?  As one student recently commented:
“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?

The food in Spain is natural and delicious.  While the presentation may differ from American dishes, the prime ingredients are almost always familiar: chicken, beef, pork, fish, vegetables, rice, potatoes, pasta, eggs, etc.  While living in Seville you will have the opportunity to try a variety of new foods and dishes.  Most you will love.  Some you may not.  It’s all part of the experience.  The more open you are to it, the more you will enjoy it.
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.