Job Discussion Forums

[quisibo]

Hi All-

So I'll be leaving (from Canada) for Valencia (Puzol), Spain - teaching for the next school year.

I'm starting to think of what to pack, and I've got a few questions. Is there any place like Ikea out there (cheap, cool furnature)? Is there a dollar store (for household products)? And, should I bring my expensive laptop (I'd hate to lose it/break it), or can a I buy a decent laptop there for under $800USD? (or maybe I'll just use the school's computer).

P.S. Has anyone been to or heard of Puzol? I know it's very close to Valencia, but is there anything happening there?

Oh, And how easy/difficult is it to live on $15,000USD / year in Valencia (and a bit of traveliing)?

And one stupid questions - Can I pick up any hockey on tv (European or NHL - it's a Canadian thing)?

Cheers.

[IanN]

I'll try to help.

Firstly if you are going to be living in Puzol you may want to consider buying a car when you arrive. The public transport out that far is very bad. There is no Metro link so you have to use the bus if you want to come to the centre of the city. Monday-Friday there are only 10 buses per day and at the weekend only 2 per day. The journey time is about 45-50 minutes each way. I have only been to Puzol once and it is a little village and a big industrial estate. Aprt from that there is nothing there. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

There are many places to buy furniture but the nearest Ikea is in Madrid so isn't much use. We don't have any dollar stores here because we use the Euro but there are plenty of those shops.
You should be able to get a fairly good laptop for the money you want to spend, maybe a bit more. The only problem is that I don't think that you'll get any of them in Puzol.

If should be very easy to live on the amount you suggest as the cost of living is quite cheap here. For example a flat in the centre of the city will be about 450-500€. Obviously it will be cheaper in Puzol and I'm sure you won't spend much money going out.

I have no idea about hockey. Again I'm sure some of the bigger bars in the centre will show it if it doesn't clash with any (more popular) sports.

If you have more questions send me a PM and I'll give you my e-mail address.

Ian.

[Moore]

Computers are more expensive here than in the US, so if prices are the same in Canada as they are in America then get one before you come.

You could always try buying a scooter to get around on (cheaper, easier to pass the test), but the trouble with that idea (or a car) is that you have to be working legally in order to run one.

For the hockey you need get Canal+ and then pay to see individual matches with their pay-per-view system, so pretty expensive. Your best bet is to try to find a friendly Irish pub barman and try and persuade him to put it on.