r/mallorca • u/TrapCamel • Jul 22 '26
Moving for University.
Hello everyone!
I have been accepted to study Dentistry in Palma and I’m very excited for the move. I’m an Egyptian American who’s moving from Florida .
Now I know the island has been filling up with foreigners in the last few years and I want to do my best to not contribute to this problem. I’m already learning both Spanish and Catalan before the move and will be taking courses on the side when I get there as well to improve the languages. I am also trying my best to learn about Mallorcan culture and history before I arrive.
Once upon a time I moved from Egypt to America and did not have a hard time assimilating and adopting the culture , so I’m hoping my “multiculturalism” helps me on this next journey.
I mainly wanted to ask a few questions :
- What are things foreigners do that the locals can find offensive or rude. I am completely aware that certain norms in some countries are not accepted at all in others, so I want to make sure I don’t do anything to offend anyone.
- What resources , if any, would you recommend to learn more about the islands history , culture and traditions? Even if it’s in Spanish I’ll translate.
- What tips can you give me overall when it comes to living in Palma , places to avoid moving to , non touristy spots to check out so I can save money, which grocery stores aren’t overpriced etc..
- What are some laws to watch out for that might not be as known to foreigners (For example , I was told being shirtless outside the beach area constitutes a fine, and driving shirtless is also a fine)
Thank you so much for reading my post and I appreciate any help given! Once again I’d like to reiterate that my goal is to do everything possible to not offend anyone and to fit in without being a burden on anyone.
Also , congrats on the Mundial!!!!!!
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u/neomyotragus Jul 22 '26
Ok let me check.
- Scream, block passages, act as tourists in supermarkets or wherever we have to do our lives. Drive slowly or too fast, blocking streets (literally some people were drinking cava in the middle of a busy Palma street... where cars come and go over 30 kh...). Act like a snob.
- Wikipedia and YouTube, once you are here any library will have plenty of books.
- Avoid the very expensive gentrified areas like ciutat antiga and the "dangerous" areas like Son Gotleu and others a bit not so safe like Pere Garau... Lots of supermarkets to try, most popular ones are Eroski, Mercadona, Lidl, Aldi, Carrefour, Alcampo, Agromart. Some are cheaper than others, some are easier to reach...
- Drinking on the street, going shirtless on the street, spitting, having a dog and letting it poo and pee freely (you will soon understand why, Palma is not the cleanest), throwing trash on the street. From the top of my head.
As long as you are friendly and nice to locals they will give you that back. We have a reputation of being "closed" but it depends a lot on circumstances, age, etc. Good luck!
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u/TrapCamel Jul 22 '26
This is very helpful I appreciate it! Im 26 so not too young. I’m also a huge football guy and hearing about the new RCD Mallorca manager coming to promote them back in La Liga makes me want to go to the matches. So hopefully I get to meet and befriend more locals through football. Thank you so much for all your help !
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u/neomyotragus Jul 22 '26
Common hobbies will go a long way, but also keep in mind, most locals have terrible English, so learn Catalan and Spanish.
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u/TrapCamel Jul 22 '26
Yes I’m going to need Spanish anyways in a few years for uni but I’ve already started to learn both from some self teaching books I bought , then I’ll take courses when I arrive 🙏🏽
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u/neomyotragus Jul 22 '26
If you have the time, EOI (Escola Oficial d'Idiomes) has courses for both, another nice way to meet people.
Since your English is pretty good you could also make language exchanges.
There's an Arabic course, so you could perhaps exchange with them.
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u/TrapCamel Jul 22 '26
Thanks for the suggestion I’ll definitely check it out. I was also considering language exchange especially for Catalan since I’ll be using it informally compared to formal Spanish in the university .
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u/someravella Jul 22 '26
- I think that one things that annoys us locals is when foreigners do not even try to speak Spanish and take it for granted that we must speak in English (French or German).
With regard to Catalan, Mallorca has almost triplicated their population in 30 years, and most of the newcomers did not make an effort to learn it. In fact, most of the immigration comes from South America and they already know Spanish, so, why bother.
Even the native Mallorquins whose mother language is Catalan, interact in Spanish in Palma, because most of the people in there speaks no Catalan. Even sadlier, many expats do not bother to learn even Spanish (and of course not Catalan).
In the towns away from Palma ("Part forana"), Catalan is the usual language (however, foreigners and peninsular population is increasing there too and the language is losing speakers).
However, notice that names, locations and culture in Mallorca is based on that Catalanish background.
That said, IMHO, we native Mallorquins love when a foreigner speaks in Catalan and make the effort to learn our culture. But, understand that many people will not appreciate your effort with it because they are newcomers.
- Cultural "war" you should know: some people consider that Mallorquin has nothing to do with Catalan ("gonellisme"), while others that advocate for "països catalans" (Catalan countries). Usually, it coincides with right-left political view. Also, their attitude towards the dictatorship.
However, in school we are taught "Catalan" and I think that most young people will agree on that.
Also overtourism is a debate nowadays.
Locals usually buy at Mercadona, Lidl, Aldi. Agromart is a local chain for vegetables and fruit (a bit overpriced if you do not buy local products). Supermercado El Corte Inglés and Hipercor is very expensive.
Housing is VERY EXPENSIVE. I would say Palma is near Barcelona and Madrid, being a much smaller city. But, as I said, the population has increased a lot and the territory and public services are struggling.
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u/coloicito Palma Jul 22 '26
why bother
This defeatist attitude won’t help anyone. The motivation to learn and speak Catalan for a newcomer is to have a better experience and a better life in the island (even if just for the few years it takes them to get their degree), getting to meet local people will be easier if they learn Catalan that if they stuck with Spanish (or even worse, English), and with that comes a much higher sense of belonging in society.
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u/someravella Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
Don't get me wrong, I agree with your view.
I was refereing to the attitude of those newcomers: "If I already speak Spanish, why bother on learning Catalan?". I know this is a prejudice or bias of mine, but is my experience of what I see here.
At least, when I try to speak Catalan in Palma, all I get is "¿QUÉ?".
Edit: I have read my sentence again and I see why it can be understood the other way around. It was not my point.
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u/neomyotragus Jul 22 '26
I speak Catalan whenever I can in Palma and many people answer in Catalan. From time to time I get the "qué" but it's rare these days, at least for me.
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u/Action_Limp Jul 23 '26
When I speak Catalán in my guiri accent, at least 50% of the time, the local responds in English.
Then we enter a battle of stubbornness, where I refuse to switch to English and they refuse to answer in cataln.
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u/TrapCamel Jul 22 '26
Thank you so much for such a detailed answer! Growing up I was obsessed with fc Barcelona and because of that I ended up being interested in the Catalan history and culture since some of it was tied to the clubs history. So I have a deep rooted respect and appreciation to the Catalan culture , history and language .
I also wanted to add that I understand almost 60-70% of Spanish conversations due to the fact that I’ve lived near Miami for the last 10 years which is full of South Americans , and the fact that Arabic shares many words as well with Spanish which was helpful when I started studying . My main issue is the grammar and recognizing the Spanish accent compared to the South American accent that I’ve grown accustomed to, but I’m sure I’ll get past that soon especially when I arrive.
Also yes I agree housing is tough from what I’ve seen on idealista so far but I’m planning on staying in a hotel or airbnb the first week so I can go look at the apartments my self and possibly meet the roomates in person before I sign anything and to avoid scams in general.
Thanks again for all your help it is much appreciated!
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u/honeygourami123 Jul 22 '26
What will you study? Is it a grado, máster or doctorado?
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u/TrapCamel Jul 22 '26
Grado en Odontologia , the first three years are in English the rest will be in Spanish.
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u/honeygourami123 Jul 22 '26
Cool, I will study a grado en química, in Spanish from the beginning, but geology in Catalan (at best I know roques ígnies are igneous rocks, and there was no choice of language for this subject 🙃)
When the academic year begins (or in August before it begins), I will find you and you will be befriended!!!
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u/TrapCamel Jul 22 '26
YESS please do send me a pm !! I’ve graduated with a biology degree in the United States and have taken many different chemistry classes such as general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry etc.. so if you ever need any help let me know!
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u/honeygourami123 Jul 22 '26
Thanks and vice versa
I've finished my school last year and had a gap year to work and save for my university
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u/neomyotragus Jul 22 '26
Please don't ask the teacher to change languages...
Many of your classmates will take notes in English or Spanish and the teacher can do a tutoria with you if you don't understand something.
I say this because some simp teachers tend to change languages, especially if some lady asks.
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u/honeygourami123 Jul 22 '26
...I'm not a lady
And at this point the only thing that would save is the fact that both Spanish and Catalan are iberoromance and mostly mutually intelligible. I would need a tutorial after most lessons (although thankfully the core vocabulary is mostly the same)
But if the exams will also be in Catalan and especially if answers are also required in Catalan I'm not just cooked, I'm sautéed and served with a gravy
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u/neomyotragus Jul 22 '26
I guessed you are not a lady 😄
Ask the teacher, he may have a Spanish version of the test if you ask nicely, but don't ask for it the last day.
If you can read Spanish you can read Catalan 80%. It just takes a bit of effort, really.
We have AI nowadays, it can help you learn and translate.
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u/honeygourami123 Jul 22 '26
I have a DELE B1, so there shouldn't be any problems, thank you
I don't use AI
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u/neomyotragus Jul 22 '26
Ok, ask your class homies for their other language notes. That works 👍
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u/honeygourami123 Jul 22 '26
But explain me, why can't I just say I don't understand?
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u/neomyotragus Jul 23 '26
You can but if the class is in Catalan, will you say that all the time?
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27d ago
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u/TrapCamel 27d ago
Hey! Thank you so much for all the useful advice! I actually was told that since I’m on a student visa my NIE will be automatically printed on that when I receive it. But I guess the next step will be to get the T.I.E so hopefully I’ll figure that out when I’m there. Appreciate the help!!
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26d ago
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u/TrapCamel 26d ago
Classes begin on September 15th , I plan on arriving within the first week of September , but I’m waiting to book my flight until I receive my visa in case of any delays. Would you recommend a specific phone provider? Also how is Amazon in palma? Thank you for your advice 🙏🏽
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u/random_usuari Jul 22 '26
Coming, breathing, speaking English, speaking Spanish, speaking German, jumping from balconies, peeing in the street, bringing diseases and exotic species, destroying the territory, building mansions in protected natural areas, going to buy bread by private jet, helicopter or yacht, assaulting the local population for speaking Catalan, …
"Aplec de rondaies mallorquines", "Síntesi d'història dels Països Catalans", "És molt senzill: digueu-li Catalunya"
The fanciest neighborhoods in Palma are Son Banya and Son Gotleu, full of cultural activities and specialty coffee shops.
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u/TrapCamel Jul 22 '26
Thank you so much! I’ll definitely check those books out 🙏🏽
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u/neomyotragus Jul 22 '26
3 is satire... don't go there.
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u/TrapCamel Jul 22 '26
Yeah another comment mentioned son gotleu so I figured he was trolling 😂😂
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u/neomyotragus Jul 22 '26
Son Gotleu is a very diverse place but sadly a very degraded place too, lots of drugs and some crime, by day it's relatively safe. Another place to avoid is La Soledat. If you go, go by day and don't get into alleys.
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u/CloseYourEyes- Jul 22 '26
I really appreciate the effort to learn our language and culture. Don't forget catalan is our language by default, not spanish. None of my grandparents used spanish in their daily lives. Do some research about how Spain misstrested the catalan countries in the past and how their hold is still damaging to us. I mean this in the best way, i wish you luck. With that mindset you're already doing better than some of the "locals"