WELCOME !! CULTURAL CENTER We are delighted to welcome you to Madrid, Spain’s capital city. This letter is intended to help you prepare for Madrid and settle in when you arrive. STATE CAPITAL It will be complemented by a full welcome on arrival. Madrid Population 3,2 Madrid—the Spanish capital since 1561—celebrates itself and life in general around the clock. A vibrant crossroads, Madrid has an infectious appetite for art, music, and food. Today, it is a cosmopolitan, modern urban center that fiercely preserves its traditions. MILLION +30ЛљC C SUMMER 5ЛљC C WINTER Madrid has one of the healthiest climates in Europe thanks to its close proximity to the mountains to the north and northeast and Toledo (south and east). Pure air flows into the city from almost all sides! Due to Madrid’s high altitude of 650 metres, it experiences quite different temperatures in the summer and the winter. Towards the end of July, and throughout August, it can get very hot with temperatures sometimes reaching 40 degrees Celsius (100В°F). Night-time temperatures remain around 18 degrees Celsius (64В°F). However, the climate in Madrid is very low in humidity, therefore making the high temperatures easier to tolerate. September is a pleasant month, with temperatures back down to around 25 degrees Celsius (77В°F). October is also still fairly warm with an average daytime temperature of 20 degrees Celsius (68В°F). The weather in Madrid is predominantly dry, but that doesn’t mean that rain can be ruled out! Especially in the winter months. Do bear in mind that these temperatures are averages, and the weather may fluctuate from the normal >> Day dresscode >> ID In general, Spanish people like to dress well and look good. During the day, you will see that some people make an effort even just to go to the gym! Nevertheless, every neighbourhood is different and there is no need to make an extra effort. Madrid has many tourists and Spaniards are used to seeing different cultures. The most important thing is for you to feel comfortable. You are NOT required to carry your actual passport with you while you are in Spain. You MUST, however, carry some sort of identification, such as a driver’s license, at ALL TIMES. >> Conversion Rate Please click this link to see a real time exchange rate between the Euro & US Dollar: http://www.xe.com There is an ATM at the airport and all over the city so there’s always a place nearby where you can withdraw Euros. >> Work dresscode >> Transport Depending on the sector, work dresscodes can vary between either relaxed - casual trousers, even jeans and t-shirts- or very smart- full suit and tie. In the finance sector, even in the heat of July, boys will be expected to wear a shirt and tie and girls to dress smartly in trousers, skirt or dress. Madrid has a very strong public transport infrastructure making it easy to travel throughout the city 24 hours a day. As our Madrid team works closely with all the companies we partner with, they will be able to advise you about the appropriate work dresscode for your internship and tell you what your colleagues will be wearing. >> Evening dresscode As with any other place, in Madrid you can find both relaxed or smart bars and clubs depending on which neighbourhood you are in. If you would like to experience a typical, big Madrid nightclub, then bring something smarter and formal shoes otherwise you won’t be able to get in. The underground system is easy to use and there are maps in every station clearly stating which direction to go in. There is also a ticket station with an employee and you can always ask them the best route to take. Busdrivers are used to being asked where to get off, even by Spaniards! If you don’t speak Spanish you can simply say вЂ�hola’ plus the name of the place you need to go. Sit near him so he can see you and he should tell you when you arrive. There are plenty of licensed taxis in Madrid and they are easy to take as you can stop them anywhere on the street. There have been some cases where taxi drivers try to trick foreigners by taking a longer route, so if possible, try to work out the route or the time it should take and look alert. >> Drinking Water Tap water in Madrid is delicious and completely safe to drink. >> Money Matters How much money do you need? Madrid still remains cheaper for tourists than many major world capitals. Eating out in a nice, midrange restaurant shouldn’t cost much more than about €30 per person, although you can do it for a lot less, especially if you partake in the weekday lunchtime menГє del dГa, a fixed-price, three-course set lunch that costs around €10. Transport -metro, city buses and even taxis- is still absurdly cheap and it’s also possible to visit some museums at no cost >> What you may not bring to Spain >> Arrival & Contact Information When you arrive in Madrid you will need to show the immigration authorities your passport and nothing else. If asked your address in Madrid you can say Lagasca 121, 6D, Madrid. >> Airport pickup We will pick you up from Madrid’s airport, Madrid Barajas. You will be picked up by our driver on arrival in Madrid. Do not worry if your flights are delayed – we are in constant contact with the airport so this will be taken into account. You will be greeted with your name on a board and driven to your accommodation where a member of our staff will be waiting for you. PAY ATTENTION If you are coming from outside the European Union, please be aware that there are some restrictions on bringing in certain goods from abroad. For example, meat or meat products, milk or dairy products cannot be brought into Spain. Company Address Lagasca 121, 6D, Madrid, 28006 Capital Federal. Sums of money in excess of €6,010.12 must be declared. Currently, people aged over 18 are allowed to carry 200 cigarettes, or 100 cheroots, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of rolling tobacco and one litre of drink (over 22 percent alcohol by volume), or two litres (under 22 percent alcohol by volume). Perfumes are also limited to 50g of perfume and 0.25 litres of eau de toilette. Support -Thalassa de Burgh-Milne (Madrid Director): +34 672 107 572 We look forward to having you with us! The direct number for emergency services in Madrid is 112 (our version of 911). >> Here are some useful phrases to use at customs: I am missing a suitcase I am American/ Spanish/British “Me falta una maleta” I am staying a month “Me quedarГ© aquГ un mes” This is my bag “Esta es mi I do not have maleta” Here is my anything to declare “No tengo nada que declarar” -Soy norteamericano/ espaГ±ol/inglГ©sGood morning -Buenos diasMy address is... A baggage cart “Un carrito para maletas” -Me llamo PedroI am staying six weeks I am visiting Madrid for the 1st time Es la primera vez que vengo a Madrid. I am here to study Spanish “Estoy aquГ para estudiar espanol” “Me quedarГ© aquГ seis semanas” I am staying here a few days “Me quedarГ© aquГ unos dГas” “Aqui tiene mi pasaporte” How many suitcases do you have? “¿CuГЎntas maletas tiene usted?” -Mi direcciГіn es... My name is Peter passport - My documents “Mis documentos” A carton of cigarettes “Un carton de cigarillos” A bottle of wine “Una botella de vino” These are my suitcases “Estas son mis maletas” I am on vacation “Estoy de vacaciones” A bottle of whisky “Una botella de whisky” EXPECTATIONS & PREPARATION >> Madrid Madrid is a wonderful city and, although quite traditional in some aspects, it is also very modern. Lots of cafГ©s and bars have wifi, there is phone signal even underground and there are ATM’s on practically every street. The city is very well lit at night and there are always cars and people around so it feels very safe. In the centre where the tourists go, you have to be a lot more aware of pickpocketing just as you would be in your home town. Pickpocketers assume that if you are in that area you are a tourist and therefore you have things to steal such as phones, camaras and cash. Don’t expect Spaniards to be overly polite. In Spain it is not common to say please or thank you. It is a different culture and it is not considered rude. Instead of saying вЂ�please could I have’, it is more common to say вЂ�give me’. This is surprising and offputting to foreigners, so remember that they are not being aggressive towards you. >> Housing We provide various types of accommodation in Madrid in order to be able to offer you what you are looking for. Whether you are sharing with fellow students or living with a Spanish family, please be considerate of others at all times. Parties are not allowed in any of our accommodation and noise must be kept to a minimum after 11pm at night. Shared flats are equipped with wifi, basic furniture and a weekly cleaning lady as well as a 24 hour phone number for any emergencies related to the accommodation. >> Location Our principal consideration is your security and so we place you in accommodation in the safest and most central neighbourhoods. You will be near public transport and less than 45 minutes away from your office. >> Housemates You will be sharing your accommodation with other flatmates and sometimes you will be sharing with other students from the Intern Madrid programme. >> Public transport Public transport in Madrid is excellent. The underground system is one of the best in the world and buses are frequent and on time. Taxis are also relatively cheap in comparison to other capitals and they are a good option if you are returning home after the underground has closed. >> Punctuality & Society Poor punctuality is quite common throughout the entire country and can occur in both social and even business occasions. Do not be surprised if your work colleagues are impunctual. Also, do not be surprised by different standards of political correctness. It is recommended to adjust your standards of what you might normally be offended by. Spaniards are generally warm, lovely and friendly people but to foreigners they can sometimes seem a bit aggressive and rude. >> Security As with all capital cities, you need to keep an eye open for pickpockets who have invented a variety of ways to steal your personal belongings. Even though you will be living and working in less touristy areas, it is a good idea to always keep your wallet and phone hidden and be aware of people getting too close to you. Apart from these petty thieves, Madrid is a safe and well lit city with relatively little crime. In the event that you are threatened, remember that your safety is more important than your possessions. Our staff in Madrid will inform you about all safety issues once you have arrived and will be on call in any emergency situation. >> Arrival Induction & Welcome Pack In case you arrive in Madrid after 11pm Spanish time your welcome pack and induction will be given to you in the morning the next day. You will be picked up by our driver at the airport as normal and let in to your accommodation by the other people who live there. They will be expecting your arrival. Using and improving your Spanish level Do take improving your Spanish seriously. You will get so much more out of your time in Madrid if you make a concerted effort. We thoroughly recommend taking Spanish classes especially before but also during your internship. Once you have basic Spanish, you will find your work colleagues far more willing to speak with you in the Spanish language. As with everything, be proactive and search for every opportunity to improve your Spanish!
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