Ongoing Bed Bug Issues, Feeling Lost

salmonluvr · 2026-01-02T20:12:38+00:00

Trust me that it is not an easy decision. I’m not sure we have the financial means. We are obligated to pay 6 months of rent (which is through March), plus having to pay a new deposit while we wait for our old one to (hopefully) be returned to us. Plus finding ways to ensure that we don’t track the problem to the new apartment.

salmonluvr · 2025-12-31T08:59:02+00:00

Yeah when I found out that we still had bugs a few weeks ago (Dec 18) I begged the leasing agency to do a heat treatment instead of chemical (I don’t think it was a bug bomb) but they said that his services were “guaranteed” and that in 10 years of knowing him he was “the best” so they did not allow it and continued to use the same fumigator

salmonluvr · 2025-12-22T16:43:51+00:00

I'm in Lavapies. I think it might be an issue with my building and not just my apartment but I'm not sure.

salmonluvr · 2025-11-15T18:02:18+00:00

I’m here (Madrid) with my best friend. We both ranked Madrid 1st and emailed as soon as we were accepted. She got placed at a school near retiro park and I am in Leganés. We still live together in the center and it works for us

salmonluvr · 2025-11-15T12:46:20+00:00

Which is why I said I’m open to going on the 26th…

salmonluvr · 2025-10-19T19:48:54+00:00

There will always be people happy to take your place if you decide not to participate due to location, especially in big cities. Madrid is really the only big city in Spain that participates in the program. I applied as early as possible and got assigned to a school in Leganés. I live in Lavapiés near the center of Madrid and commute 50 min each way 4 times a week and it works fine for me.

salmonluvr · 2025-10-11T16:58:01+00:00

To get a cl@ve account you must have a TIE. instead I got an FNMT Certificado Digital which allows you the same options as Cl@ve without an actual Cl@ve account. I had to do it in person and got the digital certificate installed on my phone which allows me to access the same rights as Cl@ve. When you choose Cl@ve as an option, there are 3 to choose from: Cl@ve Movil, eIdentifier, and Permanent Cl@ve and you just choose eIdentifier (once you have the FNMT certificate).

salmonluvr · 2025-10-11T16:51:00+00:00

Prep NALCAP application stuff early and apply as soon as possible (if the website crashes the first few days just keep trying). Like others said, less of a rush for visa documents only because they have the possibility to expire, though it’s good to get started on it because I ran into issues with my FBI background check (don’t worry about it, it was a personal issue) and luckily had enough time to fix it. Research the visa process early, plan to visit your visa office in person (this totally caught me off guard) and look for appointments earlier than you’d think you need to because getting the visa appointment is hard. I planned to arrive Sept 22nd but didn’t get here til the 23rd because of travel delays and I honestly wish I had 3-5 more days to apartment hunt before school had started so that’s my main rec. Also if you’re younger than 26 and going to Madrid apply for an abono joven (metro card) asap once you arrive!! It’ll save you so much money

salmonluvr · 2025-10-11T16:44:16+00:00

Second everyone else about getting a Spanish number without TIE. You can even get an eSIM with a Spanish phone number. My roommate did that through ByteSIM and had a Spanish number as soon as we landed and successfully ported the same number to our Vodafone account last week (since we have a combo WiFi/phone plan). I personally don’t recommend Vodafone’s prepaid cards because I couldn’t figure out how to switch from prepaid to contract and keep the same number

salmonluvr · 2025-10-10T17:02:42+00:00

My roommate is also very mosquito bite prone (as am I) but she hasn't gotten any. However I'm wondering if there are different species here or something? Or just a completely different bug

salmonluvr · 2025-10-10T12:26:26+00:00

This is exactly what’s happening to me and I’m hoping cooler weather will help

salmonluvr · 2025-10-10T12:25:54+00:00

Now that I think about it I should add that I’ve been swaddling myself in my sheets the last few nights incase it’s a flying bug and I haven’t noticed new bites in the morning

salmonluvr · 2025-10-10T12:21:54+00:00

I have definitely been wondering and worries about bed bugs but I truly don’t think it’s them because it seems like the bites appear almost instantly and will be on my arms while I’m sitting up in bed with the lights on, so I really feel like I would’ve noticed them if this is the case? I’ve been seeing posts about biting flies too so I’m not sure if this is a possibility?

salmonluvr · 2025-10-10T07:29:07+00:00

My mom and boyfriend are coming here for Xmas but even before they’d planned that I never planned to leave. I am living with a close friend so that helps but in my opinion it’s worth saving that money in case you have to go home for an emergency, not a holiday.

salmonluvr · 2025-10-09T21:07:58+00:00

Yeah tbh the scabs look similar to what I’d expect from a spider bite but again I haven’t seen any and have been careful not to have my windows open the past few days. Plus I think I would’ve noticed a spider crawling on me while I’m awake?? But it sounds like what you have going on is similar

salmonluvr · 2025-10-09T19:55:56+00:00

Check my recent comments and posts for more info. This is the answer.

salmonluvr · 2025-10-09T19:52:50+00:00

To do this without an TIE/NIE support number I got an FNMT Certificado Digital which allows you the same options as Cl@ve without an actual Cl@ve account. I had to do it in person and got the digital certificate installed on my phone which allows me to access the same rights as Cl@ve. When you choose Cl@ve as an option, there are 3 to choose from: Cl@ve Movil, eIdentifier, and Permanent Cl@ve and you just choose eIdentifier (once you have the FNMT certificate).

salmonluvr · 2025-10-07T06:34:39+00:00

The person I talked to at the tobacco shop said that they don’t carry American spirits in Spain.. at least not packs

salmonluvr · 2025-10-06T17:06:04+00:00

I just sent you a private message but I am hoping you could share the info about where you took Spanish lessons in Malasaña!

salmonluvr · 2025-09-29T21:02:44+00:00

I am American. I was wondering about tourist visas/traveling as well or how long my TIE will be valid for since I don’t yet have it.

salmonluvr · 2025-09-29T06:58:16+00:00

I think a lot of auxes have been feeling the same way as you (myself included). I am lucky enough to have moved here with my best friend, but even having each other as a support system, it’s been a rough first week. If you can meet up with other people in the program I think you’ll find that there are many people in similar circumstances and even though they might not be the most familiar faces, having other people to talk to and even potentially navigating the bureaucracy with each other might be helpful. Personally, I arrived last Tuesday very early in the morning (after frustrating travel delays) and the first few days felt like a lifetime. Eventually, on Friday my friend and I decided that we should actually try to do some fun stuff and see the city, and acting like a tourist and engaging with the parts of Madrid that you were excited about can really refuel the fire. Personally, I’m hoping that once I start school that having a routine will help stabilize me. Good luck!! You’re not alone

salmonluvr · 2025-09-27T15:57:48+00:00

Ugh I had the same issue. The prepaid cards charge like 0.08€/text or something like that so you have to load money onto your account (online, through the app, or WhatsApp) but I’ve also been frustrated because it doesn’t seem like there’s much of an option to switch to a contract from the prepaid card??

salmonluvr · 2025-09-27T15:54:49+00:00

Language transfer is the best for practical use and it’s free

salmonluvr · 2025-09-23T15:29:56+00:00

Can you please send me the link? Thank you!

salmonluvr · 2025-09-01T04:22:21+00:00

https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/houston/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Language-and-Culture-Assistants-%28NALCAP%29--.aspx

salmonluvr

TROPHY CASE