Orientation
The Skidmore in Spain program begins with the pre-departure orientation held on the Skidmore College campus in Saratoga Springs, New York, during the semester prior to studying abroad. Typically, our Program Director visits campus each semester to lead the pre-departure orientation and meet with the students individually if needed.
Non-Skidmore students or Skidmore students that are not available to attend the in-person pre-departure orientation will be invited to join virtually or will be invited to an online, make-up orientation by program staff.
Once in Madrid, students will continue with orientation. These first days will consist of ice-breaking/group activities and presentations/discussions about program guidelines, host families, security and intercultural adaptation. Orientation activities will continue into the first few weeks of the semester.
Activities
Excursions and cultural activities are an integral part of the Skidmore program. The program staff in Madrid plan activities to help students explore Madrid as well as other parts of Spain.
Each semester, we offer 2-3 overnight excursions for students to join. In the past,
we have visited the medieval Castilian towns of Pastrana and Sigüenza; the Andalusian
cities of Granada, Úbeda, and Baeza to study the remains from their Arabic past; the
wine country of La Rioja situated along the Route of Saint Jacques; the Renaissance
towns of Cáceres and Trujillo; the medieval city of Guadalupe; and the Roman ruins
in Mérida. These guided trips are led by experts and serve to expose students to some
of Spain's historic and artistic treasures found off the beaten tourist track.
Because we strongly believe in the benefits of independent exploration, we encourage
our students to take advantage of the many cultural opportunities available throughout
Madrid. To this end, the program will subsidize a variety of extracurricular activities
and cultural travel for students. In addition, the program center courses will include
co-curricular activities to supplement the students' coursework.
The Program provides a monthly list of cultural activities in Madrid that students are encouraged to attend with their Spanish friends or host-family. These activities include visits to art exhibits, theater and dance productions, Spanish films, Spanish concerts, and lectures.
In addition, students are encouraged to pursue extracurricular activities of their choice. Students can request reimbursement for extracurricular activities, travel within Spain or activities related to Spanish culture. The guidelines for reimbursement will be provided during the onsite orientation in Madrid. The amounts listed below can be used as a guide but are subject to change.
- Up to 250€ reimbursement for extracurricular activities (gym membership, classes at private academies, glassblowing, dance & cooking classes, etc.)
- Up to 190€ reimbursement for travel within Spain (flight, train, and hotel costs)
- Reimbursement for program approved cultural activities related to Spanish culture (plays, art exhibits, movies, museums, monuments). There is no limit to how many activities you can request reimbursement but there will be a limit to the costs that can be reimbursed for each event.
