Your Spanish host family

Welcome!

All of the host families are excited to have you in their homes.
When you arrive, make yourself at home and unpack your suitcase. You will receive a house key.

Types of families and homes

Single parent.
Traditional families with two parents and children.
Older women who live alone.
Retired couples.
All of the families in Madrid live in flats that are small to medium size. No one lives in a stand-alone house.

“Spain is different”

You may notice that in the Spanish home:

Spaces are smaller.
No clothes dryers.
Air-conditioning not common.
Smaller furniture.
Smaller refrigerators.

Bedrooms

Once a week the lady of the house will wash your sheets and towels.
The cleanliness of the room is your responsibility.

Those Crazy Foreigners!

It may be odd for Spaniards that some foreigners:

Sleep on top of the covers.
Do not open windows or doors to air out their rooms.
Spend a lot of time in their bedrooms.
Go barefoot and do not wear slippers in the house.

Meals

Breakfast and dinner are provided. Lunch is on your own.
Speak with your host to set a time for dinner.
If you are not going to be home, let your family know.
Talk with your host about what you can and cannot eat.
If you have to or want to eat special ingredients and food, you must buy them.

Communication

Your host wants to know you! (don’t be shy or let your lack of Spanish get in the way. That’s why you are here).
Mention your plans regularly (you are an adult, but they will worry about you).
Ask before inviting guests over.
Tell them if you are feeling ill (they can help get you to the doctor if you need to).

Norms

You have your own set of keys to the house. Make sure to take care of them (if you lose, you are responsible to replace the keys and locks – and it might be expensive).
The washing machine is included, so you can do your laundry once a week, but ask before using it.
There is no curfew, but respect that there people sleeping. Please be quiet when you come home at late hours.

Last note

We hope you have a wonderful stay and experience with us at TANDEM. If you have any questions or comments, just talk to Reception when you come to class.

Calle Marqués de Cubas, 8, 28014, Madrid, Spain.
+34 91 532 27 15

In the event of any discrepancy between the information on this website and that provided directly by our team, our team’s information shall prevail.

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