Government:
Located at the southern tip of Europe in the Iberian Peninsula, Espanya (Spanish pronunciation for Spain) is a Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy. It has been a member of the European Union since 1986. The king is Juan Carlos I, the prime minister is Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero a member of PSOE party (left). The country is constituted of 18 "Communidades Autonomas" that enjoy an autonomy to manage their own affairs (budgets, resources, local government, etc...)

Geographically, Spain mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with Gibraltar; to the north by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the northwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal. Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. The Mediterranean climate dominate the east and south of the country while more Oceanic climate is more prevalent in the Basque and Galicia. There are pockets of very dry areas of country with limited precipitation throughout the year.

Until recently, Spain enjoyed some of the most explosive growth among European countries. Since its inclusion in the European Union, Spanish companies have invested heavily in the modernization of their own country as well as Latin America and North Africa. Today, Spain is the ninth largest economy worldwide and the fifth largest in Europe. Along with Portugal, Ireland, and Greece, Spain has suffered the most from the economic crisis of 2008 especially in the real estate and banking industry. Unemployment is currently is very high compared to other members of the Union.

Spain with its pleasant weather and relaxed atmosphere, represents a good opportunity for international students. Spanish culture is rich with regional diversity. Along with the Castillan, there are three other official languages in the regions where they are spoken: the Basque, catalan, and Glaician. Many other foreign languages are becoming more comon due to the large immigrant population, most notably, Moroccans, Ecuadorians, and Romanians. There is a rich art and literature history in the country. Cervantes, Gaudi, and Picasso have left an everlasting mark in the world of art and literature, but the Romans and the Arabs have left treasures of architecture. The movie industry is also very active with Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz as some of the best known spanish imports to Hollywood.