Crossing Borders

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“Crossing Borders” documentary film

Tuesday, November 15th at 7:30 in McQuade Auditorium With special guest, Director/Producer Arnd Wachter

Presented by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, the Office of International Programs and the Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations

“Crossing Borders” is a feature documentary that follows four Moroccan and four American university students as they travel together through Morocco and, in the process of discovering “The Other,” discover themselves. The film is a cross-cultural tool that is designed to empower by supporting the development of intercultural empathy and critical thinking skills and initiating dialogue between different cultures.

SPA 3750: Crossing Borders (aka Convivencia)

A Study-Travel Course: Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, the Office of International Programs, and the Center for Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Relations

Dates: May 21 to June 3, 2012

The Crossing Borders Study-travel course to Spain and Morocco, celebrates a period in history when Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived together in communities and learned from one another. Participants’ awareness of self and others will be enhanced by visiting Spain and Morocco, and by exploring the sites, art, and music of these three religious groups. As participants trace their footsteps, they will imagine what it was like to live in Medieval Spain as a member of this religious triad, tolerating one another despite various cultural differences. By visiting places such as the Jewish Quarters and synagogues, Muslim mosques and tea houses, and walled Christian cities and fortresses, students will observe for themselves how these diverse flavors still intermingle in modern Spain and Northern Africa. This inquiry will prepare students to translate “Convivencia’s”: tolerance, understanding, and appreciation, into their own reality. This community of learners will meet several times before the trip to explore the history and cultures of Medieval Spain and Morocco. We will spend 7 days in Spain and 7 days in Morocco and culminate our experience by discussing ways of bringing our enhanced awareness back to our own communities.

Download and print the Crossing Borders brochure.

Learn about Crossing Borders from a fellow student who blogged about the study travel course experience by visiting Words Can’t Explain; Convivencia 2011 by Liz Hopley.

For further information, please contact:
Lisa Cavallaro, World Languages and Cultures
cavallarol@merrimack.edu
Sullivan 202
978.837.5376