Student Assistance Apartments While the majority of our students select host family accommodations, there is always the option to choose to live in a shared apartment with other international  students.  Living with other students not only gives you a little more freedom and independence, it will also likely expose you to other cultures from all over the world!  Our students come from more than 20 countries, and chances are you could be living in an apartment represented by 3 or 4 nationalities! You have always the option to rent an apartment ust for yoursel   Spanish Schedules Schedules in Spain are most likely very different from the schedules that you are accustomed to in your home country.  The grand majority of stores in Spain open in the morning and close for the siesta between 2pm and 5pm, leaving the uninformed traveller scratching his head looking for something to do.  During the siesta only tapas bars and restaurants will be open. Every Sunday the majority of stores and public office buildings are closed as well.  The eating schedule in Spain differs greatly from that of most countries.  Breakfast is more or less at the same time however, lunch is usually eaten between 2 and 4pm and is the biggest meal of the day.  Dinner is eaten much later than in most countries, usually between the hours of 9 and 10pm.  Tourists who go out any earlier to eat dinner will usually find themselves alone.  The same is true with Spanish nightlife which always begins much later.  Most bars begin to draw a crowd around midnight, and dance clubs do not even open on the weekends until about 2 or 3am! Which meal plan is the best? When living with a host family you will need to select your meal plan.  When deciding on the right meal plan, we usually recommend half pension which is 2 meals per day.  This plan covers breakfast and lunch, leaving the student free to explore Ronda’s many tapas bars and restaurants for dinner.  We recommend this option because going out to eat at tapas bars for dinner is a very big part of the Spanish culture.  You will probably also desire to go out to eat with your fellow classmates and the Spanish friends that you make.  The 2 meal plan gives you the freedom to do as you chose with dinner. Student Visas If you are a non EU resident planning on studying at P.I.E.E. in Ronda for longer than 3 months, you will need to apply for a Spanish student visa.  This can be done at the Spanish consulate that serves your area.  In the United States there are 9 Spanish consulates each one serving 3 or more states.  Most of the consulates require you to apply for your visa in person.  Once you are accepted as a student at P.I.E.E. will we mail you an acceptance packet that contains all of the required documents you will need to apply for your visa.  Please remember to allow sufficient time for the consulate to process your request for a visa as it can take up to 2 months to receive it (along  with your passport) back in the mail.  Also, some locations will not accept the application earlier than 90 days before your planned departure date for Spain.  Check the online website of the consulate that serves your area for more in depth details. Arrival to Spain Insurances/health problems?   Remember to bring medical insurance coverage that will cover you while overseas.  If you desire, we can provide you with medical insurance coverage through a national provider here in Spain, with an average cost of 50 euros per month.  This insurance covers medical assistance but does not ncover hospitalization expenses. EU citizens should bring their European Health Card Laundry Students who select to live with a host family will receive 1 load of white and 1 load of color laundry per week, free of charge.  Those students who live in student apartments will have access to their own laundry machines and will be able to use them when they desire. Clothes and money to bring In Ronda be prepared for both hot and cold weather.  Spring, summer, and early fall months can stay very hot and dry.  The winter months, from November until March usually warrant at least a warm coat and a scarf.  Keep in mind that the winter months also see plenty of rainfall as well.  That being said, plan accordingly the type of clothing that you will bring for your time here. A common mistake that many students fall prey to is packing too many clothes into their suitcase. Travel light!  When you think you are travelling light enough, that's your signal to take even more out of your suitcase.  While you are here you will have plenty of opportunities to buy new clothes and souvenirs, and you'll want the space in your suitcase to bring it all back home with you. You should be prepared to land in Spain with euros already in your pocket.  Fifty to sixty euros should be enough to get you started and still leave you with some extra in case the need arises.  Remember to have this amount of money in small bills of 5 or 10 euros, since you will need to pay for bus/train tickets.  Once you arrive in Ronda, there are plenty of ATMs and banks where you can access your bank account and withdraw money.  We recommend that students withdraw money in large amounts due to international service fees of 3 to 4 euros per transaction.  It is always cheaper to withdraw 200 euros once every week than it is to withdraw 20 every other day.  Shuttles from/to the airport P.I.E.E. offers a shuttle service from the airports in Málaga, Jerez, and Sevilla to Ronda should a student so desire.  The cost of the shuttle service to Ronda is 130 euros from Málaga and 150 euros from Jerez and Sevilla.  This option is available to you on your application form. Weather in Ronda In Ronda be prepared for both hot and cold weather.  Spring, summer, and early fall months can stay very hot and dry.  The winter months, from November until March usually warrant at least a warm coat and a scarf.  Keep in mind that the winter months also see plenty of rainfall as well.  That being said, plan accordingly the type of  clothing that you will bring for your time here. Along with obtaining your student visa, planning your arrival to Ronda seems to be one of the most taxing tasks that our students encounter.  The best, and most recommended way to arrive to Spain, and then to Ronda is via the airport in Málaga.  It is the closest airport to Ronda.  The airport in Málaga serves almost all international flights, including discount flights from Ryanair that come from the UK.  Once you arrive at the airport there is a shuttle bus that will take you directly to the main bus station in the center of the city.  From here, there are busses that leave for Ronda on an hourly basis (with a 2 or 3 hour exception during the siesta) which take 1 hour and 45min to arrive. The direct bus from Malaga to Ronda is currently only 9.27 euros. If you are planning on arriving from another airport, there are almost always busses and/or train options available.  A word of advice is to not take a taxi from the airport to Ronda; it could cost you upwards of 180 euros!  A bus or train from Sevilla, Jerez, or Granada will cost at most 20 euros.     January     February      March     April     May          June          July       August    September    October     November December Average Hig Average Low    15C/59F   15C/59F  17C/63F  19C/66F 22C/72F  27C/81F  32C/90F  32C/90F    28C/82F    210C/70F  16C/61F   13C/55F 5C/41F     5C/41F     5C/41F    6C/43F 10C/50F  13C/55F   15C/59F  15C/59F   14C/57F     11C/52F     7C/45F    5C/41F Hotels for your visitors If you receive any visitor during your stay in Ronda, here you can find hotels available for their lodging http://www.turismoderonda.es/ronda/consultaseng/listadoalojamiento.htm C/ Marques de Salvatierra, 8    Ronda 29400    Spain Telf/fax: +34-952 873265      info@rondapiee.com   Home About PIEE Course Description Academics Accommodations Location Student Assistance Student Life Spring Summer Fall PIEE Calender Scholarships Instructors Syllabus Course credits Your first day Online level test Help us to improve Spanish host families Shared Apartments Living in a Spanish family Ronda How to get to Ronda Study centre Map of the town Living in apartments Spanish Schedules Which meal plan is the best? 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