On May 2, 2022, 15 students (one of which was attending online all the way from California!) met with Dr. Carrion and Dr. Joshi for orientation in order to prepare for the trip. We had a day filled with getting to know each other activities, guest speakers, an introductory lesson to international social work, some delicious snacks, & much more. We also discussed social justice issues and how the role of social workers has evolved over time in these communities.
One of our guest speakers was Professor Melania Macip-Billbe, LCSW who completed USF’s MSW program and is also from Barcelona, Spain! She was able to give us a lot of information about the history of Spain and why there may be conflict among the citizens. She was also able to give some insight on the populations and services that need the most attention. We were lucky enough to have someone who grew up in the Spanish culture because we were able to get some firsthand tips and advice about adjusting to the culture while abroad.
The other guest speakers, Jenny & Ariana, are previous students who attended the Spain Study Abroad trip a few years prior and were able tell us about their experiences as well as answer some questions we had to put our minds and anxieties at ease. At the end of the day, we felt much more informed and prepared for this trip and are (im)patiently waiting for our arrival in Spain! – Brianna Leigh
Social Work Study Abroad in Spain 2022: Alicante & Granada 