Crossing Borders

Application deadline has been extended to January 24th, 2013.

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

Course fulfills a humanities, WLC, or JCM minor requirement.

Program Dates:

May 22, 2013 - June 4, 2013

Price:

$3,300

The cost of the course Crossing Borders has been substantially reduced due to a generous donation.  “The donation is to support this effort, which is consistent with Merrimack’s vision of providing student engagement with different cultures and religions, afforded by the study-travel course “Crossing Borders” (aka Convivencia).”  

Includes:

• Round trip airfare from Boston to Spain
• 13 nights accommodation (double occupancy) including 4 night home stay in Morocco
• Breakfast plus 1 additional meal each day in Spain. All meals included in Morocco
• 24 hour emergency services
• Insurance for the duration of the program
• Round trip train and boat journey across the Strait of Gibraltar
• Tickets and entry fees for activities are a part of the course

Fundraising options are available through the JCM relations office, contact Joe Kelley (kelleyjt@merrimack.edu) for more information. 

Watch this student video to see what it is like to experience “Crossing Borders”.

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.