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HONORS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

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Basic Information
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Mohamed Elzarka
elzarkmd@mail.uc.edu
McMicken College of Arts and Sciences
Biology, Liberal Arts (Psychology, Spanish, Medical Science)
Spanish Immersion in Madrid
Global Studies
May 11, 2015
June 5, 2015

Project Information
1. Provide a detailed abstract of your proposed honors experiential learning project.
From May 11, 2015 to June 4, 2015, I will spend a month in Spain as part of a language and cultural immersion
program through the University of Cincinnati Department of Romances Languages and Literatures. The
immersion program will include an extended home stay in the company of a native Spanish family in Madrid,
classes at a Spanish language university, a UC faculty-led course on current pressing issues in contemporary
Spain such as health care, education, terrorism, religious practices, immigration and unemployment, and several
field trips to other famous Spanish cities. This of course, will be accompanied by the immersive experience of
being in a country as rich in history and culture as it is in learning opportunities for an entire month. As part of the
trip, I will be earning UC class credit for courses which include: SPAN3083: Spain Today, SPAN4001: Advanced
Grammar and Composition 1, and SPAN4002: Advanced Grammar and Composition 2 for a total of 9 credit
hours.
The purpose of my trip to Spain is multi-faceted. First and foremost, the trip will be an absolutely amazing
experience to explore an aspect of human identity which has kept a firm grasp on my imagination for some time.
From a young age, I have been absolutely fascinated by language and culture, and the intertwined role that they
play with one another. Growing up, I was surrounded by a multitude of languages. My mother and grandmother
conversed with me in Bosnian. My father spoke with me in Arabic. When together, my parents sometimes even
employed the French they still remembered from their schooling. In this way, I came to love language, and all that
it stood for. I was enamored with the power that language had not only to strengthen our ties to our roots and
where we come from but also to bring different groups together. I was perplexed at how language and culture
could be so distinct across geographic boundaries and yet how at its core, language was a universal that all people
shared, despite differences in their cultures. Such was my fascination with language that I spent hours on end
studying and learning as much as I could about as many different languages as possible. For five years, I took
Arabic Language classes at the local mosque. When my grandparents moved in with us nearly 5 years ago, I came
home each day after school and spoke with them only in Bosnian, so that my grammar and fluency would
improve. In school--starting from the eighth grade--I began taking Spanish language classes, culminating in a
perfect score on the AP Spanish Language exam in my junior year of high school and a seat on the executive
board of my high schools chapter of Spanish National Honor Society. Even here, at university, I am pursuing my
passion for language by continuing my studies as a Spanish minor student. My trip to Spain will be my first
extended stay in another nation where my fluency with the language will allow me to truly and meaningfully
interact with the local populace. I am especially excited for the homestay in which I will participate and how the
month-long experience will provide me with insight into daily Spanish life and customs. Through my experience,
I will be able to understand first-hand how meaningful language can be and will be able to truly see the ties
between culture and language about which I have so long read and studied.

More specifically, the experience will be an exceptional way to progress forward with my involvement in the
Spanish language and all that I have done and hope to do with it during my time here at UC. As aforementioned, I
have been enrolled for the past two semesters in SPAN3001 and SPAN3002. This, however, has not been the only
way in which I have focused my attention on the language. Over winter break, I was fortunate to travel to
Guatemala with Serve Beyond Cincinnati. While this trip was primarily service-based, it did afford me the
opportunity to interact with native Spanish speakers in a novel environment of which I had only previously read
in books. The experience was an absolutely fantastic one, and has left me wanting more exposure to other
immersive opportunities. Thus, even though participating in this trip to Madrid will complete my requirements for
the Spanish minor I am pursuing, I will not stop involving myself in Spanish language or Hispanic cultural studies
after I return.
This desire to press forward with my studies not only reflects my long term goal of understanding and interacting
with diverse groups of people and providing care and support to the underserved in Latin American nations as a
future physician, but also reflects my more contemporary passions. After spending my first year in the Center for
Exploratory Studies, I have recently decided on the majors which I will pursue over the course of the next few
years. While I will be completing my more science-focused coursework through a biology degree, I have also
sought out to complete a liberal arts degree with a focus on Hispanic Mental Health. Through the combination of
Psychology, Spanish, and Medical Science minors, as well as customized curricular and co-curricular
involvements, I will be able to focus specifically on the medical field which most interests meneurologyin a
population with whom I have developed a strong connection through my numerous involvements. This degree is
something that I have meticulously thought out and constructed, and is something of which I know I will be very
proud upon completion. It will include a Spanish service learning class in the medical environment, psychology
and public health classes that focus on understanding vulnerable patient populations, and another study abroad
experience in Peru with a class called Changemakers that focuses on how students and other young people can
create the change they want to see in the world through empowerment and involvement. Outside of the classroom,
I will continue my other honors experiences beyond their terms with a specific focus on my area of interest. After
I complete my internship with the Crossroad Health Center at the end of Spring 2016, I hope to return to the clinic
and work specifically with the Crossroad Counselors who make up part of the Greater Cincinnati Behavioral
Program. After having already translated for and conversed with Hispanic patients at the clinic multiple times in
just my first couple weeks of the internship, I have learned how interwoven socioeconomic status and health can
be, and how language and cultural differences can affect access to these aspects of life. With my work at the
center, which I hope to complete as part of my interdisciplinary capstone, I will work to understand disparities in
and provide access to mental health treatment--one of the most needed and least utilized types of medical careto
a group which is often precluded from numerous types of medical treatment due to barriers of language and
culture.
From my study abroad experience in Spain, I hope to develop and prepare myself for the pursuit of my passions
into the future. I look to establish a complete working fluency in the Spanish language after a month of
coursework and daily interactions with the people of Madrid. I seek to learn more about the issues of
contemporary Spain from the SPAN3083 course taught by Drs. Gutierrez and Bryant. (I will specifically focus on
those issueslike socioeconomic differences, medical infrastructure, and healthwhich both pertain directly to
my future interests and are addressed in depth during the course.) Perhaps more important than anything though, I
will use my time in Spain to meet new people, to learn in a whole new way about a culture I have learned so much
about in class, and to develop the type of cultural understanding that I hope will guide me far beyond my time as
an undergraduate and into my career as a physician dedicated to serve diverse patient populations.
Finally, I will be using my experience in Spain as a wonderful pathway to explore one of my strongest interests.
Through the field trips that will we be taking as part of the experience, especially the trip to Toledo, I will be able
to learn more about the Moorish influence on the beautiful Andalusia, an area that has been of great interest to
me for a long while. This area of Southern Spaina former melting pot of science, religion, history, philosophy,
and innovationis one of the major reasons why I first developed the interest in politics, culture, and religion,
that I currently have. Whether it is the research website that I put together in the eighth grade on algebra and other
scientific inventions native to the Golden Age of Islam during the 7th and 8th centuries in Spain and elsewhere
(http://89108074.nhd.weebly.com/), the Global Religion and Politics honors seminar that I took last semester, or
even the presentation which I recently gave to my Spanish class on the influence of Muslim rule in Spain
(attached to this submission), my many ventures into these nuanced and interrelated topic areas are derived from

the initial discoveries and fascination that I developed at a young age for this interesting and storied part of the
world. After my first-hand discoveries of the magnificent architecture, art, and history which call Southern Spain
home, I hope to return home and take distance learning classes online in disciplines like Human Geography,
Anthropology, History, and Political Science to continue my learning and interest with this area. To be physically
able to roam the city streets of Toledo and visit the many museums that house some of the most prized goods of
antiquity will be an unforgettable opportunity to supply this learning with real-world experience and completely
invest myself in this passion which has been such a large part of my life for so long.
As far as a time commitment for the experience, I will be in classes for six hours a day, with five days in each of
the four weeks during which I will be in Spain. Each weekend will feature guided travel to the cities outlined in
the following itinerary with our professors. All free time not in class or on a field trip will be spent exploring the
city of Madrid and meeting an array of new friendly faces.
Itinerary:
May 9: Leave the US.
May 10: Arrive in Madrid, meet host family, and move into new home.
May 11: First day of classes (including placement test for appropriate Spanish level).
May 11 to June 5: Every weekday from 9 to 3: Classes.
May 16 to 17: Travel to Toledo.
May 23 to 24: Travel to Segovia.
May 30 to 31: Travel to Escorial.
June 5: Last day of classes.
June 6: Leave Madrid.
June 7: Arrive in the US.
Clearly and thoroughly address how each of the following elements will be exhibited in your work:
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within the Honors Thematic Area (identified above)
Recognize the interdependence of world economies, political systems and the environment.
The interdependence of world economies and political systems is something with which I have a great deal of
familiarity due to my experience with globally-focused resolutions and themes while involved with the
Speech and Debate team in high school. Reading Newsweek every week and keeping abreast with breaking
issues across the world with PBS Newshour on a nightly basis kept me informed of the interrelatedness of our
world and its many nations. Thus, I have had some background in recognizing interdependence and globalism
as phenomena which have developed growing importance in our world. In Spain, I hope to study this first
hand by comparing the economic, political, medical, and religious realities of the nation with others that I
have observed in different nations. Using comparison points from the US, Guatemala, and Libya, I will
identify which similarities and differences exist between Spain and these nations with respect to these specific
issues, and with my learning will develop an understanding of how these different nations strewn across the
globe can be related and connected.
The economy, of Spain, for example, fascinates me for several reasons. First, it is somewhat of a mix between
the hardline, set-priced economy here in America and the fluid, bargaining-based economies found in Latin
American countries like Guatemala. Throughout my trip, I will undoubtedly be buying souvenirs, meals, and
daily necessities, and am interested to observe how my experiences during these shopping endeavors are
comparable to what one might experience when shopping in other nations. I am also interested in how the
traditional Spanish daily schedule might affect the economy in the nation. Based on the extensive instruction
on Spanish culture that I have received over the past six years, I know that Spain is a nation that really
becomes alive during the night around 21:00-22:00, which is very similar to what I observed in my previous
travels to Libya. I am excited to see if the economic realities of daily lifehow many people are shopping or
purchasing during the day vs the night, whether they are spending more at one time or another, which kind of
products are more often sold at what times, etc.are very similar to those of Libya because of the similar
daily life schedules. I hope to answer this question by conversing with shopkeepers and other business owners
during my free time on the trip. Doing so will not only provide me with answers to my specific questions, but
will also provide me insight into some of the other aspects of the Spanish marketplace which I might not have
considered. I also think that it would be valuable to discuss with these businesspeople their opinions on the
recent slouch in the Spanish economy, and get their opinions on whether this decline in productivity is due to
the general trend of recession that has permeated Europe for roughly the last 6 years. I feel that hearing these

personal accounts about a topic directly related to an issue involving interdependence will help me get a better
perspective on this learning objective.
With regard to the political system in Spain, I am very excited to visit the Royal Palace at the heart of Madrid,
which has been converted into a museum. I find it incredibly interesting that Spain has transitioned through so
many forms of government and yet still maintains a royal family. After watching Pans Labyrinth for Spanish
class this semester, I was actually particularly intrigued by the history of the Spanish government and how it
played a role in the daily lives of ordinary Spaniards over time. To prepare for my trip, I have already read
some resources that provide a more detailed picture of the history of the Spanish political system and have
enlightened me as to how the Spanish Civil War in particular affected many Spaniards. By traveling to the
Royal Palace in person, though, I hope to see how this transition in power happened in the real world. This
could be assisted, in my view, by also visiting the Museo Reina Sofa, which houses the famous Guernica
painting that Picasso painted picturing the war. If the opportunity to visit both museums presents itself, I feel
that it would be invaluable to examine the political history of Spain and its relation to greater events outside
of the country during the interwar period. During this period in history between the World Wars, it seemed
that events that took place anywhere in the world were pertinent to every part of the world, as made evident
by the funneling of fascist and communist troops into Spain at the time. By studying the nations political
history and relating it to concurrent global history, I hope to create an accurate picture of the roots of
interdependence between Spain and other nations in the modern day.
I am also hoping to be able to shadow in the emergency room of a Spanish hospital on at least one of the
nights that I am in Madrid. It would be incredibly eye opening to observe the similarities and differences
between the medical systems here in America and in Spain, and how they might be interconnected and reliant.
I recently pulled an academic medical journal research article entitled Intraneuronal beta-amyloid
accumulation in the amygdala enhances fear and anxiety in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice that was
written by Spanish authors and is actually one of the primary articles that I will be using to formulate my
project as part of the Biomedical Research and Mentoring Program this semester. I think that this highlights
how important communication across the globe from researchers in different nations can be. It also
underscores how interrelated and interdependent the research done by these professionals is. Similarly, an
undoubtedly enlightening experience will be sitting in an emergency room or even a doctors office across the
Atlantic observing how physicians in other nations may be similar or different from my own family doctor.
With this information, I can see which trends and approaches of doctors permeate societies across the globe
and may be able gain insight on how some procedures, medicines, or instrumentation developed in one nation
are heavily and importantly utilized in another.
Finally, I want to understand the interconnectedness and interdependence of religion when I travel to Spain.
Given Spains dark history with regard to religious persecution, I want to visit a mosque and perhaps a
synagogue while in Spain and compare them to the places of religious worship that I have been to in the local
area. This, I hope, will allow me to make comparisons between the two groups of institutions and to develop
an understanding of how the different economic, political, and social realities in the United States and Spain
may influence the practice of religion in these nations. It would also be interesting to hear from religious
leaders at these sites if they have strong connections with other religious leaders in different nations to see if
global interdependence extends to this aspect of life as well.

Possess global literacy, including knowledge of geography, history, current world issues and similarities and
differences among cultures.
The immersive experience in which I will participate while in Spain will be facilitated by a class taught by
two of the leading faculty in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Dr. Carlos Gutierrez and
Dr. Carl Bryant. These two professors, with extensive experience not only in instruction but also in leading
this trip, will be teaching a daily course that will discuss contemporary issues present in Spain today. With
topic areas that focus on Spains similarities and differences to the US, this course will provide me the
opportunity to develop a better sense of how geography and historyamong other thingsinfluence current
issues in that nation. By learning about Spain in Spain, I will also be able to bring my learning outside of the
classroom and develop experientially my global literacy.
Furthermore, during my time in Spain I will be pursuing the aforementioned project that deals with the
influence of Islamic rule on Andalusia. By exploring museums and architectural marvels, and even roaming
city streets, I hope to supply the learning I already have on the geographical and historical influences on Spain
with a better understanding of cultural similarities and differences. By comparing the nation to Arab countries
and other Western ones, I would like to understand from where certain aspects of Spanish culture are derived

and how the remnants of historical proceedings can account for the differences and similarities seen in
Spanish culture. Thus, by taking the initiative to explore with my free time this topic area, I will be able to
further my global literacy.

Interact with individuals from different cultures and express a sensitivity, appreciation and respect for the
complex range of experiences of diverse peoples
From the experiences with the members of diverse communities that I have already had, I know how
important the ideas of engaging in positive interactions with and developing appreciation and respect for
diverse peoples truly are. In fact, my recent service learning trip to Guatemala included this theme as the
major focus of my experience. From my involvement, I learned that reciprocal relationships filled with
respect help to create stronger bonds that can facilitate cooperation and success with community engagement
initiatives. With my trip to Madrid, however, I seek to develop a different perspective on appreciation and
respect for diverse cultures and peoples. Because my trip will focus on Global Studies as opposed to
Community Engagement, I will seek to learn how strong relationships built upon mutual respect can lead to
more than just effective partnerships. Rather, I will focus myself on creating bonds which provide for true
friendship and support beyond the extent of my stay in Spain. This kind of friendship, I know, is what can
provide for lasting reciprocal appreciation and respect amongst people with differences. By forming
connections that extend beyond a single moment but across a lifetime, a perpetual understanding can be set up
as conversation continues beyond the stay in a different place with different people. Thus, during my trip in
Spain, I will look to make close personal connections with the people that I meet. This will start with my host
family, who will assuredly prove a great gateway into understanding more about life in Spain. Whoever they
turn out to be, I am excited to meet and befriend the members of the family who are graciously willing to
offer me a place in their home for an entire month. I will take specific steps to ensure that I can form the kind
of bond with these people that I am looking for by taking the initiative to sit down with the family for dinner
during every night of my trip when I am available to do so. I will tell them about my own passions and
experiences and learn about the things that drive each of them. From this back and forth communication on a
near-constant basis, I hope to really feel connected with my host family and to have in them an ally and friend
even after my return.
In addition to my host family, I am very excited about making friends with the many different students who
will attend the university in which we will take classes. As per the program directors, this university is home
to students from across the globe who are interested and involved with Spanish language study. As such, a
very diverse group of people with a multitude of different life experiences will be present in the classes that I
take while in Spain. Each day of instruction, I hope to meet a new one of these students, and learn a little bit
about their life history and perspectives. Perhaps over some afternoon tapas or even an evening caf, I know
that taking the effort to get to know these students will prove very fruitful when coming to realize different
cultures can be appreciated and complex experiences and viewpoints from diverse groups of people can relate
and be understood.
Furthermore, I will take personal initiative during my free time on the trip to meet with and delve into the
story of the gitanosor gypsiesof Spain. Based on a classroom discussion earlier this semester, I became
very aware of the maltreatment and disrespect that this group of people suffers from, even into the modern
day. As later addressed in the section devoted to academic theories and readings, I have actually done a great
deal of research recently on this group of people and the hardships that they continue to face after a long and
discriminatory history throughout Europe. Because of the persistent racism that affects these men, women,
and children even in a Western and democratic nation, I think it is important to meet with them in order to
develop a more full picture of the range of experiences of diverse peoples in Spain. From my readings, I have
learned that the Roma, as most preferred to be called, often host shows and performances on city streets.
During my stay, I will attend one of these performances and then meet with the performers afterwards to
discuss their perspectives on life in Spain as a minority. When on the ground, I think it might be interesting to
also meet with those members of the Romani community who might perhaps be more integrated with current
Spanish culture. While I am unable to find any concrete opportunities that might be available to me over the
internet, I hope that once in Madrid, I will be able to find someone who might be able to direct me in the right
direction.

3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)

A. This project connects to my academic goals in that it will allow me to secure a strong foundation for my planned liberal
arts degree with a Hispanic Mental Health focus. As I mentioned earlier, the trip will not only serve as a way for me to
hone my fluency skills so that I will be more adept in my future Spanish-language endeavors, but through coursework and
individualized experiential learning, will also enable me to learn more about Spanish culture specifically and about
cultural understanding and cultural competency in general. Moving forward from my experience, I will enroll in
SPAN3052: Medical Spanish Service Learning and OLHR2011: Changemakers in Peru as part of my interdisciplinary
curriculum for the liberal arts major. I hope to use my experience in the Spain Today course taught by the UC faculty on
the trip and my own previously discussed individualizes initiatives to help guide my initiatives while working in these
classes. In both courses, a strong fluency in Spanish will provide for a better and more rewarding experience. In addition,
the Changemakers course is specifically addressed at students who seek to make fundamental and beneficial changes and
empowers them to do so through instruction in organizational leadership and global societal issues. I will use the
knowledge I gain from the Spain Today course about contemporary issues around the globe and the insight I hope to
receive from studying the interdependence of global cultures to guide my focus area of change for this class. Along the
same lines, I hope to utilize my experience in the emergency room and/or doctors office while in Spain to help provide
perspective on my future experience in the Medical Spanish course. I feel that this will be a wonderful opportunity for me
to prepare for involvement in this service learning opportunity in a Spanish-language setting, even if it is not one that is
necessarily reflective of the situation of Hispanic patients here in Cincinnati. In addition, completing the study abroad
experience in Spain will contribute to academic growth in that it will present me with a minor in Spanish.
On a personal level, this trip will also provide me the great opportunity to explore a passion that I have had for a very long
time. My fascination with the Golden Age of Islam and the advancements in medicine, astronomy, religion, philosophy,
and so many more fields in Spain has been a recurring and ongoing interest. With the exploration I have done into the
topic and the many readings and research articles I have scoured through, I have only grown my interest over the years.
To finally be able to visit a place, albeit briefly, where I can see with my own eyes the history laid out before me will be
an unforgettable and incredibly rewarding experience.
Looking to the future, the immersion in Madrid will also serve to bring me closer to my professional goals. When I
eventually become a physician, my goal is to focus part of my energies on those underserved communities which do not
have adequate access to healthcare. Because these underserved communities are often barred from receiving a great deal
of the healthcare they need due to socioeconomic status and language differences, it is important for future physicians like
myself to prevent these inequities from taking place by learning the languages of those who we are likely to serve. As an
intern in the Crossroad Health Center, I have seen for myself how valuable the ability to communicate across language
can be, and am a firm believer that as we make our way into the future, having a strong language background will be a
necessity for future doctors. Spending time in Spain in an immersive linguistic experience will build the skills I need to
one day become a physician that can communicate with patients in multiple languages and thus accommodate an
increased number of patients in a way that makes them feel comfortable and safe. With this, barriers to care can be
removed, and my goals of serving diverse and underserved patient populations can be realized.
B. I have chosen a multitude of resources that will help prepare me for my learning in Spain. The first of these is a
dissertation published in 2006 by Christine Ryan called The Impact of the European Union on Spain. This unique piece of
literature provides an open window into the relationship that Spain and the European economic block had before the
recent recession that began in 2009. In this way, it is able to examine the concept of economic interdependence in a
different context than the one with which I will be asking the business owners I hope to meet on my trip about their
thoughts on Spain in the context of a larger Europe. This is why I chose the resourcebecause it allows for the
consideration of a different perspective of the relationship between Spain and the nations that join it within the European
Union in a more economically favorable time. Having this other perspective as a baseline upon which to build with
current considerations from locals in Madrid will help to properly adjust my understanding moving forward. From the
dissertation, I will be able to see how the perceptions of interdependence have changed throughout time as times move
from good to bad and back again. This will prove invaluable, I think, as what I learn from the dissertation will allow me to
further the conversations that I have with local shopkeepers and others about interdependent economies after I hear their
viewpoints on the current economic situation.
To study more on the political history of Spain with particular attention on the Spanish Civil War, I have decided to read
the novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. When reading this Hemingway classic in high school, my focus was on literary
devices and stylistic choices. Now, I will reread the book with a focus on using it as a gateway to understanding more
about personalized experiences in the Spanish Civil War. The reason as to why I have chosen this resource is in its

personalized aspect. The novel tells the story of a single man and his relationships with others during a turbulent time in
Spanish history, and in this way gives an individualized perspective as to the impacts of the war on Spaniards and others
fighting through the war and its aftermath. I hope to use the novel to facilitate my learning while in Spain by taking the
perspectives presented in it as a lens through which to view my experiences in the many museums and palaces that I will
undoubtedly visit on my trip. While I have chosen other resources that give perhaps a more structural and tangible
understanding of Spanish political history, having this novel and the personal story presented therein will remind me of
how much the war impacted and impassioned everyday people at the time and how much the historical information I will
be learning during my trip really means on a more personal level.
For a more technical and historical understanding of the war and its political ramifications, I have also decided to read The
International Context of the Spanish Civil War. I have chosen the book, which consists of a series of essays by leading
scholars that examine the political and ideological contexts of the war, because of its debate-based nature. I find it
interesting and worthwhile to hear different perspectives on the same issues, and will be using the alternative explanations
and explications provided in the book to develop a more unbiased understanding of the war while at the same time
learning about its place in the context of other global developments before, after, and during. This will in turn allow me to
have a better understanding of the interrelatedness within the world then and also to how this interrelatedness has led to an
interdependence and coming together throughout history into the modern day. I will use the resource to supply my
learning in Spain with a well-versed background in how the history of the nation was affected by and continues to affect
the outside world as well as the country itself.
In order to prepare for my endeavors in learning more about the Islamic influence on Spain, I have chosen to view the
BBC Documentary An Islamic History of Europe. From my previous research on scientific advancements in the
Muslim World, I am acutely aware of the beneficial and insightful nature of BBC documentaries like this one and the
great deal of context and subtext they can uncover. By focusing on the aspects of culture and history which have
influenced Europe to this day and uncovering a time when emirs and caliphs ruled Spain and Sicily, the critically wellreceived documentary will be a wonderful and enjoyable way to learn even more about Islamic Spain. I know that
viewing the documentary before making my trip will help to provide me with some of the background I will need to truly
make the most of my immersive experience. I hope to utilize the documentary not only to help me select important
historical sites to visit while in Spain, but also to visit these sites with a knowledge base that can make being there a more
meaningful, contemplative, and reflective learning experience.
I have also selected a resource that deals with my desire to better understand the Romani people as part of my preparatory
experience for Spain. This website, http://romanilives.eu/ , is an initiative that aims to portray the lives of European
Romani people in the XXI Century, fostering debate about the situation of the biggest ethnic minority in Europe and
creating opportunities for them to reflect about their own situation and future. While discussing this ethnic group and the
discrimination they face after reading Gitanos by Rosa Montero in class, I was appalled as to how such blatant racism as
charging more for entrance to a communal swimming pool could still be seen in modern Europe. Thus, I have since taken
the initiative to explore the culture of this people and the historical and modern day persecutions they have had to face.
Romani Lives has been the greatest asset to my learning because of the way in which combined historical and
contemporary perspectives are utilized to tell the story of the Romani people and their place in modern Europe. With
photo and video resources that allow access into the life of Romani people today, the site has given me a good
foundational knowledge of the ethnic group and their history. I hope that on my trip to Spain, it will also afford me the
opportunity to better connect with the Roma that I meet, as I will have some background knowledge upon which to rely
when conversing with these individuals.
To learn more about the city itself, I have also opted to read Madrid: The History, by Jules Stewart, was selected because
it is the major historical depiction available of the city. Delving into a Castilian Madrid and exploring the ciudad
through the periods of the Spanish Empire and the Spanish Civil War all the way into the modern day, this novel will
provide the holistic context necessary to understand and enjoy the city on a deeper level. While it would be a great
experience to spend a month speaking Spanish and enjoying my time in Madrid, having the base understanding of the
development of the city and the historical significance of its many monuments, museums, palaces, and barrios will enable
me to enjoy the experience as an active participant. I will utilize the learning I received from reading this book to perform
more well-founded reflections on my experiences in Spain by having meaningful connections that I can make between my
daily experiences and the history of the city.

Works Cited
Espana, et. al. (2010). Intraneuronal beta-amyloid accumulation in the amygdala enhances fear and anxiety in Alzheimer's
disease transgenic mice. Biological Psychiatry.
Hemingway, E. (n.d.). For Whom the Bell Tolls. 1940: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Instituto de Cultura Gitana. (2013). Retrieved from Romani Lives: http://romanilives.eu/summary
Johnson, G. (2009). The International Context of the Spanish Civil War . Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Montero, R. (2013). Gitanos. In V. G. Serrano, A que s! (p. 68). Boston: Cengage Learning.
Omaar, R. (Director). (2005). An Islamic History of Europe [Motion Picture].
Ryan, C. (2006). The Influence of the European Union on Spain. Salve Regina University's Senior Theses.
Stewart, J. (2013). Madrid: The History. I.B. Tauris.
4. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity
My unique contributions to this project are numerous and impactful. As I mentioned previously, I will be taking
multiple steps through individualized initiatives during my free time to step beyond the confines of the program to
explore Spain and the areas of its history and culture that most interest me. I will, for example, be interacting with
local businesspeople and shopkeepers to develop an understanding of the economic situation in Spain in the
context of the larger European Union. Similarly, I will take special trips to museums and attractions outside of the
scope of the class that deal with the political developments and historical underpinnings of Spanish society and
culture. I will arrange for visits to doctors offices and hospitals, and to minority group places of worship like
mosques and synagogues, in order to further examine interdependence with regard to these issues. I have also
taken the initiative to learn about the Roma people and will spending some of my time getting to know them and
their customs and traditions while hearing about the persecution that they face.
In addition to independently taking initiative in these areas, I have also developed initiative by systematically
devising a plan for a liberal arts major that is centered in large part around this experience in Spain this summer.
After having researched and compiled a curriculum that would best fit my personal interests and professional
goals, I was able to incorporate this experience as a foundational one that will set the stage for my future success.
As far as previous experiences that I bring to the table, my familiarity with the interrelatedness of Islamic and
Spanish culture and my previous research and presentational experience with this topic will undoubtedly not only
benefit my learning, but will also allow me to give new knowledge to other students on the trip, and in this way
facilitate their learning about Spanish culture as well.
5. Reflection
During my time in Spain, I will be maintaining an active blog on which I will be able to catalogue my sentiments and
reflections for each day of the trip. I really enjoyed this form of reflection for my previous study abroad experience in
Guatemala, as it not only allowed me to think critically and meaningfully about each days experiences, but has also left
me with a lasting set of active reflections to which I can look back when seeking to relive an aspect of my experience. In
the blog that I will keep for this immersion program, I will seek to blog actively in both English and Spanish, in order to
keep up with my fluency while in Spain. The reflections that I have will also be substantial and significant. As opposed to
simply having a few bullet points on the days experiences, I will take the time to write out my thoughts at the end of each
day in a substantial and detailed way. Through my reflections, I will seek to develop my understanding in the
individualized initiatives that I have undertaken and will post with my reflections resources and summarizations of
conversations that I had which helped lead to some of my learning. Additionally, in the discussion I will have on my
reflections for each day, I hope to highlight in particular how the people with whom I interacted and the activities with
which I engaged helped me to develop in my pursuit of the learning objectives I have set out for this experience. I will
also chronicle events and places which sparked my interest and which could potentially lead to my personal, academic,
and professional development, in an effort to have a resource to refer to when considering how to best bring the learning
experience that I have in Spain back with me.
Some of the questions that I might use to prompt my reflection on the trip include:
What have I learned about the interdependence of nations across boundaries? Have I observed anything today
which has shown me that the interconnectedness of the world spans beyond country borders? If so, what
specifically about this experience or observation inextricably ties together Spain and Spaniards with other parts of
the world and their people?
o Has my experience in the marketplaces and restaurants of the city shown me examples of the way in
which Spains economy mirrors and contrasts with other economies across the globe? Have my
conversations with locals given me new insight into the way in which our lives our connected, despite
living on opposite sides of an ocean?

Did I spend a portion of today connecting with the material from which I learned about Spains political
past or Madrids history? Have any new experiences shifted my understanding of a political issue or
historical dispute from one line of thought to another? If so, why?
o Have I observed today any indications of interconnectedness between health in Spain and health
elsewhere in the world? Did I learn about the universality of health and physicians, or did I perhaps note
differences in the doctor-patient relationships or standards for health here in Spain. Even if I am not in a
clinical setting, how did my regular daily experience influence my acknowledgement of health through
observations of consumption and lifestyle choices?
o What new insights have I gained from my involvement and visitation of religious institutions here in
Madrid? Have I learned what substantial changes have affected the religious landscape from religious
leaders and how these leaders connect with other leaders across the globe? If so, what do I think of the
perspectives that these leaders hold on the issues of discrimination and interdependence?
What novel perspectives did I gain today about cultural awareness and understanding? Have I become a better
citizen because of my acknowledgement and appreciation of the culture of others?
o How have my interactions with my host family contributed to my learning? Do I yet feel that I have
created the significant bond which I outlined as one of my goals? What specific steps can I take in the
coming days to improve upon my relationship with this family?
o Which new students have I met today? What kind of new things did I learn about the culture, upbringing,
or personal history of these students? Have I connected with these students based around a mutual love of
the Spanish language, despite cultural differences? What other things unite us together?
o Have I met any Spaniards, Roma, or other people with unique experiences? What have I drawn from my
conversations and interactions with them?
What have I learned about Islamic influence on Spain? How has my experience physically exploring the country
contributed to a more in-depth learning?
How have my experiences today brought me closer to achieving my objectives with the liberal arts degree that I
am pursuing? Similarly, in what way did my experiences shape me into a better future physician today?
o

Alongside the daily written reflections that will be featured in my blog, I hope to have one picture each day which I feel
was the most important captured image of my experience for that day. I will of course still feature the many other pictures
that I take on my blog, but I really believe that it will be valuable to pursue this method of nonverbal reflection in my
selection of the photograph which means the most to me on a daily basis.
I will also be cataloging my academic experience in Madrid by posting completed assignments from the courses that I will
be taking to my learning portfolio. I know that doing so will help me see my growth and progression in the language, and
will ultimately allow me to reflect as to the improvements in fluency that I have made as a result of my involvement in the
experience.
6. Dissemination
I will disseminate my experience in multiple ways. First and foremost, I look to present my experience and the
continued action I will take after it to a Gateway to University Honors class in the fall semester. As a recently
inducted Honors Ambassador, I really look forward to sharing my passions with younger students while encouraging
them to find their own and model experiences around them as I did. This presentation will be of particular relevance
because of the multi-faceted aspect of the trip that I will be taking. Rather than simply talking about a trip that I took,
I will be able to utilize my experience as a small part of the overall passion that I have for diversity and culture and
linguistics paired with other experiences and involvements which show how honors experiences truly do connect to a
multitude of fields and can really be shaped and crafted into something especially meaningful on a personal level.
I also hope to disseminate my experience to freshman and sophomore level Spanish classes, to encourage students in
these beginner courses to stick with the language and cultural studies with which they are involved. I am very aware
of how hard learning a foreign language can be for some students after serving as a volunteer Spanish language tutor
in high school. The many benefits that can be reaped form doing so, however, should serve as a deterrent to quitting
with the learning process. I want to make an impact by going into Spanish classrooms and showcasing to students
how engaging, insightful, and fun putting a foreign language to practical use can be. Hopefully, through my
presentation, I will be able to convince students that they should stick with language study, even if it is hard for them,
because of the many great opportunities available if one does.

10

Finally, I want to present my experience by holding an online question and answer forum through my learning
portfolio blog relatively soon after my return trip. I will not be able to complete the aforementioned experiences until
a few months after my return, so I would also like to have a dissemination activity that can occur quickly after my
arrival back home, as I will be fresh off the plane with excitement and insight that should be taken advantage of and
shared as soon as possible. For the forum, I will create a Facebook event and invite all my friends to ask me questions
about my experiences abroad through the comment feature on my blog. I will make an effort to quickly and succinctly
reply to these comments and to post my replies on the blog for all those who wish to see them to have access. I think
that this will be a great way to connect with those people with whom I am the closestas they will most likely be the
ones asking me questions about my tripas well any individuals who I may not know but who would still like to
learn more about my experienceas these people will have access to the posted replies on my blog and can read
through them as they wish.
7. Project Advisor(s)
Dr. Carl Bryant
Director of Romance Languages
carl.bryant@uc.edu
8. Budget (if applicable)
Airfare:
Tuition:
-Incl. books & supplies
Accommodations:
-Incl. 2 meals every day
Additional meals:
Ground Transportation:
Additional Costs:
-Incl. insurance, field trips, etc.
Estimated Subtotal:
Less UC International grant:
Estimated Total:

Dr. Carlos Gutierrez

Director of Spanish Immersion in Madrid Program
gutiercs@ucmail.uc.edu

$1,500
$2,500
$1,000
$130
$60
$825
$6,015
-$500
$5,515

Cost breakdown received from Dr. Gutierrez, Program Director