~ Back Ups ~ Other Students ~ Valencia Contact
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Ithaca College ~ Obtaining a Visa ~ Research
~ Insurance ~ Phone Plan ~ ~ Back Ups ~ Other Students ~ Valencia Contact |
I had a lot to do to prepare for moving to a new country and living abroad. Being organized in advance was well worth the effort, and eased some of the problems I initially encountered when I arrived in Valencia.
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Handle Administrative Details at Ithaca College Get the necessary forms from Ithaca College (application to study abroad, faculty recommendations, requirements for credit, petition for transfer credit/senior credit requirement waiver, study abroad affiliated program petition for assignment of credit, etc.). The Office of International Programs in Muller Faculty Center (607-274-3306) should be able to walk you through this process. There is a lot to fill out and get together, so starting early is a good idea. Obtaining a Visa US citizens planning on staying in Spain for longer than three months should have a visa. If studying at the University of Valencia, you can get a student visa to legally justify your time in Spain. If your permanent residence is in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Delaware, the Consulate General home page has information about the visa application process. Make sure you start early, as applying for and obtaining your visa can be very time consuming! |
 Mercado Central, Valencia |
 Falla displayed during Fallas Fiesta, March 15-19 in Valencia TuSpain is a lifestyle guide to Spanish living. |
Do Some Research on Your Own Researching the area, customs, culture, history, traditions, etc. of the area you will be living in will most likely make you feel more comfortable and excited about moving there. The following sites provided some good information about Valencia and Spain for me.
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Getting International Health Insurance Be sure to check with your health insurance provider to see if your insurance policy will cover you while living and/or traveling overseas. You may need to purchase additional coverage or get a separate plan while abroad. A good supplemental policy is offered by Hinchcliff in Ithaca. Also, Ithaca College students are required to get an International ID that carries a supplemental policy. The Office of International Programs (607-274-3306) has information about both of these programs.
Get a Phone Plan If friends or family are planning to call you on a regular basis from the United States, it would be wise to get an international discount plan added to your long distance calling account. It is much cheaper to call from the US to Spain than from Spain to the US, and my family and I found that the rates from the US to call me overseas were really quite reasonable. For a flat rate of $5 a month (international plan supplement), calls were as low as 9 cents on weekends!
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Back Yourself Up Make copies of all your important documentation (visa, passport, license, credit cards, acceptance letters, etc.). Carry these copies in different places in your suitcases, in your carry on bag, and also leave some at home. This way, if anything should happen to any of your important documents, you'll have copies and backups easily available. |
Contacting Other Students
Because I was coming to Valencia alone, I was pretty apprehensive and therefore wanted to know someone when I got there. I did some research about other schools in the US that had exchange programs with the University of Valencia, and contacted them to see if they were sending any students over. Upon arriving to Valencia, I found that I didn't really need to do this…it was super easy to meet other people. But if it makes you feel more comfortable, here are some contacts:
The University of Virginia has an overseas program hosted at the University of Valencia. This program, unlike the Ithaca exchange, runs on normal US semesters. During my fall semester, there were approximately 65 students, and during the spring there were over 100 participants from various universities affiliated with the UVA program. You can contact the Hispanic Studies department (to get further contacts or impressions) at (804) 984-7155 or fax the department at (804) 984-4025.
The University of Oklahoma sent a few students to Valencia while I was there. Their Office of International Relations was very helpful: Office of International Relations University of Oklahoma 640 Parrington Oval, Rm 212 Norman, OK 73069 Phone (405) 325-1693 Fax (405) 325-7387
Georgia College and State University sent one student for the entire year I was studying in Valencia, and an additional student for the spring semester. Dwight W. Call, Ph.D. Assistant Vice President for International Education International Services and Programs Office Campus Box 049 Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA 31061 Phone (912) 445-0875 Fax (912) 445-2623
University of Texas at Austin sent some students over to Valencia during the spring semester. University of Texas Study Abroad Study Abroad/International Office Drawer A Austin, Texas 78713-7206 Phone (512) 471-6490 Fax (512) 232-4363
Also, I often worked with a man named Vicente Andreu here in Valencia, who is a director of International Programs and a professor in the English department in the facultad de filologia. Vicente is very nice and helpful, and I'm sure would be willing to discuss any issues or concerns you might have. Vicente Andreu Beso Office Phone: (from the US) 011 34 963 983 423 Vicente.Andreu@uv.es
Two women in the ERASMUS office were extremely helpful and knowledgeable, as well. I would encourage you to contact them directly with any questions. Ines Fernandez Bas - Ines.Fernandez@uv.es and Concepción Cruz-reija Lopez - Concha.Curz-Reija@uv.es Oficina Relaciones Internacionales Calle Senda Senent, 11 Piso 2 Valencia, Espana 46003 Phone (from US) 011 34 963 864 180 Fax (from US) 011 34 963 864 117
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Have a Contact in Valencia If possible, having the phone number of someone you can call when you arrive may make suddenly arriving in a foreign city to live for 6 months a little less overwhelming. Whether your contact is a student, administrative person from the list above, or someone else you know, be in touch before you arrive so you will have someone there if you need their advice or assistance. Having a tentative plan will give you some guidance and direction, but also remember to be flexible (something I was initially very bad at). Remember that you are arriving in a different country, surrounded by a different language and culture, and things may not run as smoothly as you are accustomed to having them run. I definitely learned the lesson that relaxing and going with the flow instead of becoming frustrated and angry was a better way to deal with a crazy new situation, for myself and those I was working with. With a smile and a willingness to explore and learn, I did much better and grew to be extremely happy in Spain. |
~ Home ~ Overview
~ City of Valencia ~ As a Student
~ Before You Leave ~ Packing
Tips ~ Getting There ~
~ Settling In ~ Terms to Remember
~ Registering for Classes ~
University of Valencia for Ithaca College Students, developed
by Brin Tucker, Spring 2000
Last updated 6/15/04
