Connecting Lives, Sharing Cultures

Experience the summer of your life!

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Connecting Lives, Sharing Cultures

SUMMARY

BIENVENIDOS - WELCOME

INTRODUCTION TO SPAIN

A. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE B. HISTORY

PROGRAM

C. YOUR PROGRAM IN MALAGA D. VISITS E. DAY TRIPS

YOUR ACCOMODATION F. YOUR SPANISH SCHOOL G. THE SPORT FACILITIES

SAFETY ASPECTS AND MEDICAL CARE

H. YOUR SAFETY IS IMPORTANT TO US I. MEDICAL CARE

WHAT TO BRING

J. CHECKLIST

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¡BIENVENIDOS! WELCOME! Everybody at AFS INTERCULTURA bids you a warm welcome! We are pleased to host you during our Intercultural Summer Camp and are looking forward to getting to know you. Soon we will be able to talk with you about your expectations, hopes and fears regarding your stay in our country, and we hope to provide you with information and suggestions that will be useful to help you have an interesting, enriching and rewarding experience. This program fosters the development of personal, linguistic and intercultural skills. We will focus on the following:

- Spanish language competence - Intercultural competence - Confidence building activities - Personal growth - Team building activities - Cultural awareness - Sport

Also several discussion groups will be proposed during these days where your opinion is important. Topics may be: freedom, career, religion, materialism, alcohol abuse, respect and independence. The effort in participating in those activities together with your fellows from other countries is what will make your experience special and unique. If you are ready to show concern for other people, to be open to new ideas and different customs, to be tolerant, eager to learn, look, listen and make yourself understood, then you are halfway there. Still, many things will be different and new. One month is a short time but if you are patient and understanding you will gain a lot. Please ask when you have any doubts. This booklet is a first introduction to our country and gives some helpful hints about how to deal with various matters. Read it very carefully and do not stop here! Find other sources of information, investigate. The more you get to know about our culture, the more you'll enjoy it. Everybody in AFS INTERCULTURA will be ready to help you whenever you need advice or guidance.

Make the experience a memory!

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INTRODUCTION TO SPAIN A. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE Spain has an area of 504,705 square kilometers. Its territories include around five sixths of the Iberian Peninsula (Península Ibérica), the Balearic Islands (Islas Baleares) in the Mediterranean Sea (Mar Mediterráneo), the Canary Islands (Islas Canarias) in the Atlantic ocean (Océano Atlántico) and two provinces (Ceuta and Melilla) on the northern coast of Africa. The Iberian Peninsula, due to its situation between two continents and two seas, has been the crossroad for various influences, physical as well as human; for this reason it has been compared to a miniature continent. This explains the contrasts in its land (high mountain areas, an immense central plateau over 200,000 square meters), forests and steppes, abrupt coasts and gentle coasts; in its climate (humid in the North, continental in the Center, Mediterranean in the South and East) and its population -different races, cultures and languages. Since prehistoric times, the influence from Europe on the one hand and Africa on the other, together with the contacts through the sea has given Spain a "special" character. B. HISTORY

Located between two continents and with a relatively easy access from the Mediterranean, Spain has been invaded and inhabited by an assortment of peoples through its history. The Greeks and Phoenicians settled in the Eastern and Southern coasts and the Carthagians in the Southeast. The Romans arrived in the 3rd century B.C. and were

capable of conquering almost the whole Peninsula, also achieving a deep romanization in every sense (language, culture, architecture, and politics...). After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Germanic peoples -Suevian, Vandals and Alans- occupied the Peninsula, and the Visigoths established a reign which would last from the 5th to the 7th century. At the beginning of the 7th century the Arabs invaded the Peninsula and they stayed until 1492, when Isabel and Fernando (Catholics Kings) expelled them. Eight centuries of Arabic colonization, together with the roman colonization, left a deep and permanent mark on the Spanish population. In the twentieth century Spain knew three political systems: a monarchy, two republics, and a dictatorship. The second republic finished in 1936 with the outbreak of the civil war that ended in 1939 with the defeat of the constitutional republican government and the victory of the insurgent military government (led by General Franco). So, Spaniards lived a dictatorship from 1939 until 1975 (when the dictator General Franco died). The transitional period into Democracy was from 1975 to 1978. In 1978, another Constitution was written, approved and sanctioned by the people in a referendum. 1978 is considered to be the beginning of our return to Democracy and the return to the Parliamentary Monarchy. The king is Rey Juan Carlos I (who received succession thanks to the agreement reached between his father Don Juan de Borbón (the entitled one to be the King in the succession line) and General Franco.

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PROGRAM

C. YOUR PROGRAM IN MÁLAGA

8.30 h Good Morning!

9:00h Breakfast

9:30h Morning Activities: Language

Class

14:15h Lunch

16:00h Beach / Activities

18:00h Sport / Intercultural Activities

21:00h Dinner

22:00h Evening Activities, night

games, free time

23:59h Good Night!

D. VISITS In addition to daily Spanish lessons from Monday to Friday, listed below are some of the visits in Málaga City offered during your stay…

- Picasso Museum - Walking Tour around the City - Visit to the Cathedral - Fort and Castle of Gibralfaro - Contemporary Art Museum - Historical English Graveyard - Nature Walks

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E. DAY TRIPS EXAMPLES (on Saturdays or Sundays):

We also organised some day trips for you…a great chance to have a deeper insight into our culture…

GRANADA “Alhambra” and Gardens of Generalife

Excursion to Granada visiting the world famous “Alhambra“. Once the residence of the Muslim rulers of Granada and their court, the Alhambra is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions exhibiting the country's most famous Islamic architecture, together with Christian 16th century and later interventions in buildings and gardens that marked its image as it can be seen today. The Palace and Gardens of Generalife was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid sultans of Granada. The palace and gardens were built during the reign of Muhammad III (1302-1309) and redecorated shortly after by Abu I-Walid Isma'il (1313-1324). The complex consists of the Patio de la Acequia (Court of the Water Channel or Water-Garden Courtyard), which has a long pool framed by flowerbeds, fountains, colonnades and pavilions, and the Jardín de la Sultana (Sultana's Garden or Courtyard of the Cypress). The former is thought to best preserve the style of the medieval garden in Al-Andalus. Originally the palace was linked to the Alhambra by a covered walkway across the ravine that now divides them. The Generalife is one of the oldest surviving Moorish gardens.

The present-day gardens were started

in 1931 and completed by Francisco Prieto Moreno in 1951. The walkways are paved in traditional Granadian style with a mosaic of pebbles: white ones from the River Darro and black ones from the River Genil.

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MÁLAGA & SURROUNDINGS Nerja and Antequera

Nerja has a long history, evidenced by the primitive paintings found in its famous Nerja caves, discovered in 1959. These caves are now believed to be just one entrance to a linked series of potholes stretching many miles into the mountains between Nerja and Granada, and which may yet prove to be one of the most extensive unexplored systems in Europe. The Balcón de Europa, a mirador or viewpoint which gives stunning views across the sea, is in the centre of the old town. Its name is popularly believed to have been coined by King Alfonso XII, who visited the area in 1885 following a disastrous earthquake and was captivated by the scene. Local folklore says that he stood upon the site where the Balcón now stands, and said "This is the balcony of Europe".

Antequera is located 45 km from Málaga and 115 km from Córdoba. The city had its origins in the ancient Roman Antikaria, although several sites located in the town attest that the area was previously inhabited. It has an extensive archaeological and architectural heritage, highlighted by the dolmens of Menga, Viera and El Romeral,

and numerous churches, convents and palaces

of different periods and styles. The nearby natural reserve of El Torcal,

famous for its unstable limestone rocks, forms one of the most important karst landscapes in Europe.

CORDOBA Mosque, Jewish District and Alcazar of the Kings

Today a moderately-sized modern city, the old town contains many impressive architectural reminders when Córdoba was the thriving capital of the Caliphate of Córdoba that governed almost all of the Iberian peninsula. It has been estimated that Córdoba, with up to 500,000 inhabitants in the tenth century, was the largest city in Western Europe and, perhaps, in the world. The Mezquita (Spanish for "mosque") of Cordoba is a Roman Catholic cathedral and former mosque situated in the Andalusian city of Córdoba, Spain. Originally built as a church, after the Muslim conquest the building was

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confiscated for use as a mosque and greatly expanded until it became the second-largest mosque in the world. It is regarded as perhaps the most accomplished monument of the Umayyad dynasty of Cordoba. After the Spanish Reconquista, it was returned to its original use as a church. Today it houses the main church of the diocese of Cordoba in Spain. The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (Spanish for "Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs"), also known as the Alcázar of Córdoba, is a medieval Alcázar located in Córdoba next to the Guadalquivir River and near the Mezquita. The Alcázar takes its name from the Reyes Cristianos or Christian Monarchs: Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. The fortress served as one of their primary residences.

SEVILLA Giralda, Golden Tower and Maria Luisa Park

The Giralda is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Seville in Seville, Spain, one of the largest churches in the world and an outstanding example of the Gothic and Baroque architectural styles. The tower's first two-thirds is a former Almohad minaret which, when built, was the tallest tower in the world at 97.5 m (320 ft) in height. It was one of the most important symbols in the medieval city.

The Torre del Oro (Spanish for "Gold Tower") is a dodecagonal military watchtower built in Seville during the Almohad dynasty in order to control access to Seville via the Guadalquivir river. Constructed in the first third of the 13th century, the tower served as a prison during the Middle Ages and as a secure enclosure for the protection of precious metals periodically brought by the fleet of the Indies. Parque Maria Luisa was built for the 1929 Exposición Ibero-Americana World's Fair, and remains landscaped with attractive monuments and museums.

Important note: Not all of these trips will be offered during your stay – they are samples and depend on the final participant’s number, weather conditions, logistics, etc.

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YOUR ACCOMODATION & SCHOOL F. YOUR RESIDENCE & SPANISH SCHOOL School: San Estinaslao de Kostka

The Spanish classes are within different classrooms and/or open air due to the good weather conditions in Málaga and depending on your Spanish level. The school has several facilities such as library and meeting rooms. Professional Teachers will be happy to guide you during the learning process. At the end of the Summer Camp you will receive a certificate of participation.

The residential school “San Estanislao de Kostka” is specifically conditioned to host AFS Intercultura’s Summer Youth Camp as well as other groups from around the world during summer time. This prestigious private school has all necessary facilities to host our group at a unique location close to the beach. During the rest of the year about 1.800 pupils are visiting this school. Its main building was built in the nineteenth century and officially opened in 1882. It was designed by the architect Jeronimo Cuervo. Within those 130years a lot of famous personalities have walked through the hallway such as the philosopher Ortega y Gasset, the writers Manuel Alto Aguirre o Antonio Gala as well as the famous painter Revello deToro, to name a few. Location: The school is located in Málaga’s residential area in the east part of the town – a quiet residential area surrounded by detached houses with private gardens and lined with trees close to the beach. Beach

School

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The complex consists of over 46,000 square meters of sports and academic facilities. It is located near the sea (less than 5 minutes to the beach) and just in front of Echevarría, a quiet residential area where there are all kinds of shops, supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and banks are available. The main building has a rectangular shape and three floors. Inside there are 4 yards and 6 galleries with large windows from which you can access the classes. All classrooms are spacious and bright thanks to the large windows Facilities: Dining room: The large dining room is on the ground floor with seating for over 400 guests.

Auditorium: situated on the first floor of the main building, this room has a capacity of 100 participants and counts on all necessary audio-visual facilities.

Dialogue Room: meeting room for more than 50 people, perfect for debates and intercultural activities, equipped with video projector and audio system.

Classrooms: on the first floor and accessed from the main galleries of the building.

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Bedrooms: located on the third floor of the building, accessed from the galleries which cross the main building. Well-connected and accessible with plenty of light and ventilation.

Lavatories: On each floor there are 4 modules of separated bathrooms (one per corner) and are cleaned three times a day.

Showers: The showers are next to the sports facilities outside the main building; they consist in several modules, 9 of them with 3 showers and a toilet for each module, along with locker room area and 2 other more with 7 showers and WC each. In total over 35 showers. Colegio San Estanislao de Kostka Avda. Juan Sebastián Elcano, 185 29017 Málaga España

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G. THE SPORT FACILITIES The Sport facilities are within the school ground and count with more than 4.000 m2. We will offer you several activities during the afternoon you can choose from such as:

- Soccer - Basketball - Minibasket - Swimming at the sea (will be offered several times per week) - Teambuilding activities

AFS intercultural learning activities will be held after the sport sessions several times per week. As you can see, the program is packed with interesting activities, from intercultural learning to sports activities but don’t worry – some leisure time for you will be “reserved” to relax during your stay! Comments from former participants: “My Spanish has gotten a lot better. Talking to Spanish people has also helped a lot. I love the weather and the beach and I have made many friends and the counselors are great. The economics speaker was entertaining for me because I am going to study economics in college. We have done a lot of fun group activities with the monitors, which is good because they are a lot of fun. I have really enjoyed getting to know all the people from different countries and I love all the new friends I’ve made…”

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SAFETY ASPECTS AND MEDICAL CARE H. YOUR SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US Please bear in mind the Camp Rules as stated in the document “AFS Summer Camp Rules”. Read it carefully together with your parents and provide it to the Staff or AFS Camp Monitors upon arrival. Monitors will provide you with emergency phone numbers upon arrival and give you clear instructions how to proceed in case of emergency. Nevertheless, you have 24hrs access to the Monitors. DON’T LEAVE THE GROUP ON YOUR OWN AT ANY TIME and follow the Monitor’s instructions. Leaving any of the locations on your own will jeopardize your participation on the program.

PLAY SAFE AND YOU WILL ENJOY YOURSELF Spain is a safe country but you need to take care of some issues. We Spaniards take a few precautions. Follow our advice and you will have a thoroughly enjoyable trouble-free holiday.

On the street: Keep an eye on your belongings.

Take special care of your handbag or wallet in crowded places Protect your video or camera at places of entertainment.

Avoid street gambling stalls. They are a fraud. Steer clear of easy business propositions. They could well be a swindle.

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I. MEDICAL CARE AFS provides you with a medical ID card, which can be used to certify that you have medical expenses covered, and also for emergency assistance in case AFS support network cannot be reached. You will be receiving your AFS Medical Program Verification Card upon arrival. TAKE THIS CARD ALWAYS WITH YOU! On the backside you will find information “How to contact” the AFS National Office in case of emergency. Nevertheless, the licensed Monitors of the AFS Summer Camp will be there to help you should any medical incidence occur and provide you with the necessary assistance. Your AFS medical ID CARD lists the 24-hour phone number, to which a doctor or hospital can call collect to confirm your medical coverage when our national office is closed or when a true medical emergency exists. Also, if you run into a medical emergency and cannot contact AFS, call the numbers stated on the ID CARD for immediate help and provide: 1. Your First and Lastname (Tell them you are an AFS Participant) 2. A phone number where you can be reached 3. A description of the problem or emergency Once again, the monitors of the AFS Camp will be available 24hrs and take care of you. The mentioned procedure above is for any unusual circumstances only. Upon your arrival a monitor will be assigned to you. All the European Union citizens should apply for the social security transfer and receive free medical attention and reduction in medicine prices. Please get the EUROPEAN HEALTH CARD and take it with you during the program.

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WHAT TO BRING

J. CHECKLIST For your personal expenses: Money: Even though the general expenses are covered by AFS, we recommend you to bring aprox. 150 Euro in cash for your personal expenses. You may wish to buy some additional beverages, gifts for your family or toiletry items during your stay. We recommend you to change the money in your home country before departure as currency conversion may be unfavorable at the airport or local banks. The residence offers you also to use a washing machine that costs 4 Euro/per use. For the luggage: You should bring the following items with you:

A small backpack for daytrips Plenty of Sunscreen Sunglasses Camera Beach towel Bath and hand towel Personal hygiene items (comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap) Medication (if needed) Lip balm Mosquito repellent/ After bite Sportswear:

Underwear Short and long pants Short and long sleeved tops Sweater Sport clothes Rain poncho Bathing suit Baseball cap Pyjamas 2 pair of sport shoes 2 pair of water sandals

It is suggested that clothing be marked with participants initials in order to avoid loss. All participants who are taking medication should bring enough supplies to last throughout the period of the camp. Participants are responsible for self administration of their medication. Internet connection may be available at the Residence but restricted. If you decide to bring your personal laptop, camera, cell phone or any other electronic item, please bear in mind that AFS Intercultura España will not be responsible for any loss or theft of personal belongings.

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ALL WE CAN DO FOR NOW IS WISHING YOU AN ENJOYABLE AND UNFORGETTABLE STAY AT OUR

AFS SUMMER CAMP!

Looking forward to meet you soon!

AFS Intercultura España C/ Augusto Figueroa 3, 5º

28004 Madrid phone: +34 91 523 45 95

fax: +34 91 523 55 30 email: info-spain@afs.org

web: www.afs-intercultura.org