Program Description (938-2019-Spain-Morocco):

The ARAMFO Foundation, in conjunction with the University of Granada, is offering a field-based set of seminars that provide participants opportunities to intensely study one of the most interesting regions of the world, while at the same time being directly immersed in this captivatingly complex study area. The sub-regions of southern Spain and Morocco have combined to function as one of the world’s most significant cultural crossroads; serving as the geographical intersections of Europe & Africa, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and both the “Old” & “New” worlds. Accordingly, the cultural milieu of this region bares the influence of an eclectic array of cultural influences, including Roman, Moorish, French, African, Arabic, Roma, Muslim, Catholic, and Jewish traditions, among others. Overtime, and continuing through the present day, these diverse influences are manifest across the region in a variety of ways, including linguistic traditions, religious beliefs, culinary landscapes, political and economic norms, as well as through the urban landscape and other forms of the built environment. Engagement in the academic study of both southern Spain and Morocco will enable participants to become increasingly aware of historical geographical processes that connect these two sub-regions in fascinating ways. More importantly, the stereoscopic study of these two sub-regions at the same time not only addresses the historical past, but also offers opportunities to focus intense attention on current issues and topics whose significance is now being felt world-wide, such as the political, cultural and economic impacts of widespread migration and religious conflict.

A major highlight of the program will include an exploration of the recent Arche-paleontological discovery in Orce, a site known for its variety of vertebrate deposits and remains, and which is now considered to be one of the earliest sites of human occupation.

By offering a set of academic seminars focusing a set of distinct, yet interconnected topics, this program is open and relevant to scholars possessing a wide variety of interests and expertise, including but not limited to history, geography, sociology, anthropology, paleontology, linguistics, political science, religious and ethnic studies, economics, tourism, architecture, culinary arts, urban studies, and international affairs. These seminars would also be particularly relevant to scholars interested in African, European, and/or Diaspora studies.  The diverse collection of interrelated subject matter that serve as foci for these seminars should stimulate engaging debate and discussion from a variety of perspectives. Scholars can choose to attend and participate in any collection of these seminars (described below), and will also have opportunities to directly experience significant sites and places across the region included on the travel itinerary.

This uniquely designed program, offering interesting seminars at a prestigious university on topics significant to both the past and the present, while at the same time providing opportunities to immerse participants directly into the subject matter across a culturally fascinating region, promises to be intellectually engaging to any scholar interested in understanding the complexities of our ancient and modern world.  

Seminars offered at the University of Granada:

1. Migration/immigration. Topics covered are:
   1. The historical cultural interaction between Spain and Morocco (which is partially due to the long history of migration between the two sub-regions
   2. Concern for the recent influx of folks causing strain on the European Union.  In fact, comparisons are even made in the U.S. between what is happening in Spain and what is "perceived" to be happening here in the U.S.
2. Linguistic Diversity: The influence of Arabic on Spanish
3. Religion: The history and contemporary issues of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in Spain.
4. Architecture & Visual Arts - Moorish influence is pronounced throughout the two regions, particularly in regards to Architecture. 
5. Business between Europe and Africa. Blue Ocean is a model of leadership and entrepreneurship designed for large Multinational Enterprises. It is oriented towards making competition irrelevant by answering the key questions of raise, eliminate, reduce and create.   Blue Ocean model works by creating a new value curve for trading-off differentiation and low cost.   In effect, the firms descend behaviors and costs that are not adding value for a large mass of customers; and ascend behaviors and costs that do.  
6. Cross-Cultural Psychology. The seminar will focus on the installation of cultural values, with an emphasis on how stigma and stereotypes disrupt/reinforce health and well-being. Cultural similarities and differences between Spain and Morocco will be used as a case study to illustrate social relativism and the need for multicultural competencies across disciplines. Participants will gain a better understanding of interconnectedness, differences, and diversity in a global society.

Day 1: Depart to Malaga

Day 2: 
Arrive in Malaga. Transfer to hotel in Granada

Day 3: 
A full day tour in Granada

Day 4: 
9:00am to 12:00pm workshop at the University of Granada 
Half day trip to Cordoba

Day 5:
9:00am to 12:00pm Visit the Faculty of Architecture and then visit Orce (90 minutes from Granada) to see the new Arche-paleontological discovery in Orce 

The arche-paleontological sites of Orce are revealed, once again, keys to understand the first human occupation. The orceño deposits are characterized by the quantity and variety of human activities, combined with the great diversity of other vertebrate species that coexisted in a large lake converted, today, into ravines and ravines.

The Barranco Leon deposit receives the privilege of being the oldest human occupation in the European continent. In it, archaeologists record much of the variety of activities that our most remote ancestors would carry out: stone carving and the processing of herbivore carcasses. In Barranco León, dominated by two species closely linked to water, the hippopotamus and the tortoise, percussions have been recovered with which the hominids fractured other rocks to obtain sharp edges and also useful heavy elements with which to break bones to access the marrow that is. 

Day 6:
Early departure to Tangier Morocco.  
Half day tour in Tangier. Overnight stay in Tangier

Day 7:
Depart to Fez. Overnight stay in Fez

Day 8:
A full day tour in Fez

Day 9:
A half day tour in Fez. Traditional Moroccan steam bath (Hammams)

Day 10:
Early departure to Chefchaouen. Overnight stay in Chefchaouen

Day 11:
Early departure to Tarifa. Overnight stay in Tarifa

Day 12:
Early departure to Malaga for the final departure

The cost of the trip is $3,700. The cost covers:

• International flight from JFK
• Hotels with breakfast included
• The workshop program at the University of Granada
• Visit to Orce
• Certificate of professional participation from the University of Granada
• All transportation in Spain in a private coach
• All transportation in Morocco in a private coach
• Ferry between Spain and Morocco
• Entry fees
• English speaking tour guides to accompany the group in Spain
• English speaking tour guides to accompany the group in Morocco
• Welcome and farewell dinners without alcoholic drinks

Cost doesn’t cover:

• Any meals or drinks other than those mentioned above.
• Travel health insurance and tips

Payment schedule:

• $300 nonrefundable program deposit by January 1, 2019
• $1,700 by March 1, 2019
• $1,700 by May 1, 2019

Cancellation Policy:

The following cancellation schedule applies:

• 50% of the paid amount refunded 90 days prior to departure.
• 25% of the paid amount refunded between 89 and 76 days prior to departure.
• No refund within 75 days of the departure date.