Are you interested in travelling to Spain and Morocco for study abroad next September?
This Global Seminar takes you to an Islamic Palace, the most visited site in all of Spain, known as the al-Hambra. In Spain, we watch whirling Flamenco dancers, eat tapas, visit the Cathedral of Isabella de Catolica, stay in homestays in the lovely city of Granada.
Even while touring three of the most famous cities in Spain and taking in art at the famous museum, the Prado, our conception of the region will be challenged by an intriguing novel called Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, which explores how illegal immigrants from Morocco experience Spain.
Crossing the Straits of Gibraltar by boat, we will then explore the connections between Spain and Morocco from the Moorish cities of Tangier, Meknes, and Marrakesh. We will stay overnight at the lovely ocean-side town of Asilah, in order to ride camels on the beach and wander in the markets. In Morocco, we will read about Islamic women and their experiences when crossing to the Western world. To top it off, we visit the Moorish baths, the souqs, the house of an imam, the tomb of Ismael Moulay, and take a horse-drawn carriage through the ancient sites.
Our third novel draws us into the city life and political tensions of Arab Spring, in a page turning, thriller about a young man, trapped in a scheme as a suicide bomber, and trying to get out! The city of Marrakesh will be explored on foot as we see snake charmers, live monkeys, market hustlers, dancers, and acrobats in the famous city square.
It is an unforgettable trip, which will challenge your ideas about Europe and the Islamic world, even as you are immersed in its wonders.
The deadline for this Sept 1-21, 2015 program is coming winter quarter! There is a Spain Morocco info session on November 11 at noon, and the application is due February 1, 2015. Or contact Dr Kimberly Segall right away to have coffee and discuss the possibility(segalk@spu.edu)!
It is Upper Division English credit, Exploratory Curriculum Humanities B, Ways of Engaging, and elective credit for the Reconciliation Studies, Women’s Studies, and Global Development minors.