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Newsletter 2: Gredos• Program kick-off: Volunteer Meet and Greet• Gredos: Getting There and Back• Expenses and Insurance• Accommodation• Place and Climate• Gredos
VaughanTown
00 / Años Escolares en el Extranjero – E.S.O & Bachillerato
Diferencia AcademicaHay muchas diferencias entre el modelo pedagógico / académico español y el de otros países angloparlantes (High School americano, IGCSE & A-Level inglés, Junior & Leaving Certificate irlandés). Si bien el nivel académico en España puede ser superior, el énfasis del modelo pedagógico en estos países es el uso de la educación en el día a día, un sistema que enfoca mas la puesta en práctica de los conocimientos de cada estudiante y su experiencia en el mundo real. Proyectos, presentaciones y prácticas forman gran parte de este modelo. Al estudiante se le da responsabilidad e independencia para hacer sus propias investigaciones, sobre todo en cuanto a los deberes se refiere, los cuales conllevan una gran importancia en el resultado final académico.
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The program unofficially commences with our special welcome tapas sampling for all of you the day before your program, Spanish style of course. This is your chance to meet all your fellow Volunteers, to socialize and relax before the program begins. Please RSVP your attendance. The meet & greet is quite informal, no need to dress in any special way. As soon as you feel tired or sleepy you are free to retire to your room as there is no official “end of meeting” time.
1. Program Kick-off: Volunteer Meet and Greet
Click here to see where the Tapas Reception will be held! The bus to Gredos will leave at 8:45 a.m. from Eurobuilding 2 (calle Orense, 69 Madrid 28020)
Our VaughanTown bus will take you to the charming, stately 4-star hotel in Gredos. The bus ride will be approximately 3 hours long with a coffee break in between.
On the bus, you will be accompanied by the VaughanTown staff and by some of the Spanish participants. The rest of the Spaniards will probably drive straight there in their own cars.
Here’s the schedule for the bus departure and estimated arrival times:
Madrid – VaughanTownDeparture: 8:45 a.m.Arrival: 12:00 p.m.
VaughanTown – MadridDeparture: 3:00 p.m.Arrival: 6:30 p.m.
*Arrival times are estimated roughly as they depend entirely on the punctuality of the participants, so please be on time!
We suggest you book your outgoing flight the day after the program, at the earliest as to avoid stress and rushing. If you must fly out the same day the program ends, please book your flight no earlier than 9:30 p.m. The bus will not make any special stops at the airport, bus stations or hotels on the way back.
2. Gredos: Getting There and Back
Vaughan Systems / 02
3. Expenses and Insurance The only expenses not covered by VaughanTown are your flight to and from Madrid and the accommodation for the night(s) you are not in the program. Our company will cover all costs once you board the bus for Gredos and until you say goodbye six days later. You will be covered by an accident insurance policy throughout the program. If you get sick, we will take you to a doctor, but our policy does not cover medical costs. For lunch and dinner we will be serving a 3-course meal with wine and water. The only expenses you may have once you’re on the bus to VaughanTown are in-between meal snacks, drinks, refreshments (other than the wine and water served during meals), or medication required from nearby village pharmacies. We would recommend by the time you board the bus, that you have a minimum of 30€. There are no ATMs (cash-machines) in Gredos, so please bring cash and keep in mind that Spain isn’t very “traveller’s-cheques” friendly.
4. AccommodationYou will be in a four-star, rural hotel with a breathtaking view of the northern face of the impressive Gredos mountains. The hotel was built on a 15-acre piece of land.
You will each have an individual room unless you specifically ask to share with another Volunteer (couples, etc…). Each room has the following:
• Telephone • Television • Safety-box • Air-Conditioning/heating • Hair Dryer • Heated Towel Rack • A special surprise for you to discover!
In addition to these amenities in your rooms, the hotel is also equipped with the following amenities subject to additional fees which VaughanTown participants are entitled to a 50% discount:
• Basketball Court • Paddle tennis • Tennis Court • Indoor Swimming Pool • Small Gym • Large Jacuzzi • Sun Deck • Dry and Wet saunas
You can find some information in Spanish on the hotel at:
http://www.izanhoteles.es/en/hotel-barco-de-avila/hotel-izan-puerta-de-gredos/home
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5. Place and ClimateVaughanTown takes place in a village called El Barco de Ávila, in the province of Ávila. This is in the Sierra de Gredos mountain range and is located 150 kilometers or two hours directly west of Madrid, not too far from the Portuguese border. The northern face of the central Gredos range possesses a continental climate with relatively dry temperature
extremes. Although the average temperatures are quite accommodating, there can be cold fronts with wind that can chill you to the bone. Therefore, always be prepared for the cold, especially in the evenings and early mornings. Please see the table below for average highs, lows and rain-fall averages:
Month Avg. high for the day Avg. low for the day Avg Rainfall Days
Fahrenheit Celsius Fahrenheit Celsius
January 48.2 9 30.2 -1 12
February 53.6 12 32.0 0 9
March 60.8 16 35.6 2 10
April 62.6 17 39.2 4 14
May 69.8 21 46.4 8 13
June 80.6 27 51.8 11 7
July 87.8 31 55.4 13 5
August 86.0 30 55.4 13 5
September 77.0 25 50.0 10 8
October 66.2 19 44.6 7 14
November 55.4 13 35.6 2 13
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6. Gredos
Contact Information:The telephone number at Gredos is country code 34 number 920 345 171. The fax number is (34) 920 340 884.
The address is:Carretera de los Llanos S/N05600 Barco de ÁvilaÁvila, España
Food and mealsThe dining room in the hotel can easily accommodate our entire group in one sitting. All the meals will be hot and served by waiters. Breakfast is at 9:00 a.m. and consists of a buffet with typical Spanish and continental breakfast dishes. It will be free seating for all the meals assuring each table has two Volunteers and two Spaniards. Lunch and dinner are 3-course meals that feature typical Spanish food, served with wine and water. If you are a light eater, you can simply tell the staff, through the Spanish participants, that you would like a green salad and nothing more or only a banana, for example. The restaurant has a bar that serves beer, wine, soft drinks, and mixed drinks all day long and well into the night. You will pick up the tab on your own in-between meal snacks or drinks. Concerning alcoholic beverages, please bear in mind that nothing beyond light social drinking will be permitted.
If you have any dietary restrictions, we need to know so we can plan with the hotel kitchen accordingly. We are able to accommodate vegetarians and special diets, but we need to know in advance.
Tap water and food hygieneThe tap water everywhere in Spain is drinkable and it even tastes better than many bottled waters. You may not be used to the taste of the tap water, but it is perfectly drinkable. It’s very rare for a visitor to get sick in Spain because of the food or water. Please don’t be afraid to eat anything or drink water from any normal tap.
Phone callsIf you want to make a phone call, or be reached, the best time to do so is from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., as you will probably be in your rooms resting or having a siesta. Here is the phone number again: (34) 920 345 171. You can use your calling cards
and your 800 cards (in Spain they are 900 cards), but be careful with the phone calls you make as you will be charged at the end of your stay.
Internet ConnectionThere is DSL access in every room, but you would need to bring your own laptop AND cables (CAT-5 or similar) to have access. There is WiFi in the lobby. If you absolutely MUST have Internet access during the six days in Gredos, the we highly recommend that you come to the program with your own equipment. Voltage220V. Please make sure you bring converters for the standard 220V European electric current (the two pronged circular plugs).
LaundryThere are no laundry facilities on site. The hotel has its own laundry service, which usually takes a day or two. You will be responsible for the cost, so be sure to pack enough for the duration of the program. By the way, there are no irons or ironing boards in your room.
HealthThere are first-aid kits in the hotel. In case of any illness or accident requiring medical attention, we will take you to Barco de Ávila (5 minutes away). If there is a true emergency, we will take you to Salamanca or Ávila. Finally, as stated previously, you will be covered by a health and accident policy while participating in the program, including the bus journey to and from Gredos.
Feet, Legs and Lungs (Very Important!)You will walk a lot during this program. One Spaniard gave a speech on the last day of his experience saying: “Over the past six days I have learned 110 kilometers of English.” You probably won’t walk 110 kilometers, but you could easily end up walking 60 kilometers. Now, if you prefer to sit in the lounge or out on a bench and talk to your corresponding Spaniards, that’s perfect too. But still, it is wise to bring comfortable walking shoes.
Dress CodeMany Volunteers send us emails concerned about what to wear during the six days and we always say the same thing: bring comfortable clothing! You will be doing a lot of walking, so good shoes are necessary. However, walks will not be over any rocky terrain, so if you’re comfortable with slippers, sandals or loafers then that will be fine. No heavy duty outdoor gear is required. In general, casual wear is quite common, although some participants bring a nice outfit for Thursday, the last night of the program. The Volunteer meet-and-greet is casual as well. Even during the summer, we suggest you bring a light jacket or sweater for the evenings.
SmokingSmoking is prohibited in the public areas of the hotel, the restaurant, lobby and your rooms. If you are a smoker, please bring your own supply of cigarettes to last the duration of the program.
DrinkingLight, social drinking is okay. Spaniards are not heavy drinkers. Of course there are the odd alcoholics here and there, but their alcoholism is usually due to drinking half a bottle of wine per day for 30 years straight. It’s not very common to see a drunken Spaniard. Don’t be overwhelmed by the free wine that is on the table at every meal. You do have to be clear-headed afterwards.
PartyingSpaniards are famous for their love of night-life and their ability to stay out into the wee hours of the morning. We’ve had a lot of fun healthy partying in every program we’ve held up to now. Different people get together, both Spaniards and Volunteers, to play games, go for walks, or just end up chatting under the stars or in the lounge. We do not recommend staying up so late that you can barely make it to the breakfast table, but the incredibly rich linguistic atmosphere achieved in these late night gatherings makes us reluctant to prohibit them. Therefore, the only advice we can give is the following: have fun, enjoy the rich human and cultural mix, but keep your head on your shoulders. If someone is clearly losing his or her edge because of the festivities, we will be forced to ask them to leave the venue and the program.
That’s it for now dear friends. We hope this newsletter answered some more of your questions
but remember, you can always email us ([email protected]) with any further queries.
And as Don Quixote said to his trusted squire, Sancho Panza: “Amigo Sancho, there is nothing more prized in this world than freedom. Without it all great things accomplished come to little joy.”
Let us remember the wise words of our noble knight and remember also that our Spanish visitors, who need so much to extract from us the essence and vitality of the English language, must endure the frustration and lack of freedom that comes from not being able to freely express themselves on the international stage. These professional adults, accustomed to winning contracts and achieving goals in their native land, suffer tremendous embarrassment and frustration when seeking the same abroad. They despair of their English, but they’re good folks and you’ll enjoy their company immensely.
That’s it for now.
Regards,The VT team
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Vaughan Systems / 06
Contact usIf you would like us to clarify anything please feel free to contact us via email ([email protected])
MadridC/ Orense, 69. 1ª planta28020, MadridTelf: 91 133 58 31Email: [email protected] FM ArapilesC/ Arapiles, 1828015, MadridTel.: 91 444 58 46Email: [email protected] FM BarcelonaC/ Gran Vía Carlos III, 86. Torres Trade, Torre Este08028, BarcelonaTel.: 93 339 86 87Email: [email protected] SantanderC/Hernán Cortés, 1, 1-B39003, SantanderTel.: 942 31 49 95Email: [email protected] FM ValladolidC/ Las Mercedes, 347006, ValladolidTel.: 983 22 80 16Email: [email protected] FM VigoC/ Oporto, 1936201, VigoTel.: 98 644 27 24Email: [email protected] FM ValenciaC/ Chile, 1346201, ValenciaTel.: 96 389 17 37Email: [email protected] FM BilbaoAvenida Lehendakari Aguirre, 2648014, BilbaoTel.: 94 646 61 16Email: [email protected] ZaragozaAvenida Jose Anselmo Clave, 5550004, ZaragozaTel.: 976 11 09 76Email: [email protected] 96.0 FM
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In any event, Vaughan Intensivos Residenciales reserves the rights to modify, for organisational
reasons, the location where VaughanTown programs are ultimately held, proceeding, in said cases, to
inform participantes of the change and the new location as soon as posible.
VT-GREDOS-2016.03
©Copyright 2012 Vaughan Intensivos Residenciales, S.L., con domicilio social en C/ Orense, 69. 28020 Madrid, Inscrita en el R.M. Madrid, Tomo: 23.175, Folio: 177, Sección: 8ª, Hoja: M-415365, Inscripción: 1ª.- C.I.F. B-84820919
