“…the orientation was the best part of the Wells College Sevilla program. I learned so much from Prof. Gil who answered all our questions and kept us well informed. Not only did I see so many new things, but I learned the history behind it all….” 
                                                               S. Chaney, U of Dayton

“…I thought the orientation period was incredibly beneficial. It was a wonderful way to get acquainted with Spain, its history, its culture and its people. It gave us the chance to gradually immerse ourselves in the Spanish way of life, and we were able to develop friendships with other members of the program with whom we would share all our new experiences for the rest of the semester...”    J.Allen, Trinity U

“…the orientation trip was invaluable. The most attractive asset to your program.”
                                                               L. Ardell, Boston U

“…I thoroughly enjoyed the orientation period. Our extended travels made us the envy of all the other programs. It was also a good time to get to know the other people in the program…”                                               C. LeClair, U of MN

“…the orientation period really framed my experience in Spain. I felt like, instead of going immediately to Sevilla like one would go to a spot to vacation, I was able to create a foundation of knowledge and experience, through which I could better appreciate my semester. Besides being a useful introduction to the country in where I was to live, it was also a great time to meet friends that I would enjoy spending my semester with….”
                                                               Z. Kelley, Davidson College

“…I thought the orientation period was wonderful. It was great that we were able to travel around Spain before the program started, it allowed me to get accustomed to Spanish society more easily...”                                          H. Zucker, U of WI

“…I think that the orientation period was one of the Wells College program’s biggest strengths. In the two weeks of travelling, I was able to get to know the group and see/learn about parts of Spain I would never have seen on my own…”
                                                                J. Franzino, U of MI

“…the reason I chose the Wells College program was because its travel and orientation period prior to attending classes, and little did I know how truly grateful I would be for that time that we were given to get to know our fellow students, get more comfortable with the language/culture, as well as have time to travel throughout Spain. It was a well-planned and extremely well directed part of my overall experience with the program…”
                                                               S. Ellis, Yale U
 

(Please click on photo for larger version.)
 

Sample Orientation: Life and Culture in Spain
 

Day 1	DEPARTURE: Departure from JFK Airport in NYC via IBERIA AIRLINES to Barcelona via Madrid.
Day 2	BARCELONA:  Arrival at Barcelona’s Pratts Airport. Prof. Gil will meet you at the airport and we will be taken to our hotel. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visit of Guëlls Park.
Day 3	BARCELONA: Breakfast at our hotel. Morning visit of Gaudí’s Barcelona ( Palau Guëlls, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, y Sagrada Familia. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visits of the Parque de Monjuit and the Miró Museum.
Day 4	BARCELONA:  Breakfast at our hotel. Morning excursion to Figueras, where we will visit the Dalí Museum. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return to Barcelona mid-afternoon. Visit of the  Gothic Quarter & PicassoMuseum.
Day 5	BARCELONA-ZARAGOZA: Breakfast at our hotel. Early morning departure from Barcelona to Zaragoza. Noon arrival in Zaragoza. Lunch at a local restaurant.  Afternoon free.
Day 6	ZARAGOZA-MADRID: Breakfast at our hotel. Morning visits of the Temple of El Pilar, the Gothic-Mudejar church of La Seo, the Roman Forum and the Moorish Castle of La Aljafería. Lunch at a local restaurant. Late afternoon arrival in Madrid.
Day 7	MADRID:  After breakfast we will take a short ride through the heart of the city. We will visit the Prado Museum for a lecture on Spanish painting, followed by a visit and lecture in the Reina Sofia Museum of Modern Art,. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visit of the Royal Palace, with a walking tour of the Madrid of the Austrias.
Day 8	MADRID: Following breakfast we will travel to the Monastery of El Escorial, then to Segovia to visit the Roman Aqueduct, the Cathedral, and the Romanesque Church of San Esteban. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visit of the Romanesque Church of the Vera Cruz and the Alcazar. Late afternoon return trip to Madrid.
Day 9	MADRID:  Breakfast at our hotel. Day excursion to Toledo. Morning visit of the Cathedral of Toledo, Church of Santo Tomé where we will view and discuss El Greco’s most famous painting, The Burial of Count Orgaz, the synagogue Santa María La Blanca, Alcántara Bridge,  and San Juan de los Reyes. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return to Madrid late afternoon.
Day 10	MADRID-GRANADA: After breakfast we will travel south through the region of La Mancha following la Ruta del Quijote with visits to Consuegra, Puerto Lápice and Almagro. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Late afternoon arrival at our hotel in Granada.
Day 11	GRANADA: Breakfast at our hotel. Bus ride through the center of the city, visit to the Cathedral, the Royal Chapel, the Moorish Market Place and the Monastery of the Cartuja. Lunch at our hotel. Afternoon visit of the Alhambra Palace and the Generalife Gardens.
Day 12	GRANADA-COSTA DEL SOL: Breakfast at our hotel. Bus ride to TORREMOLINOS. Visit to the caverns of NERJA. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon free.
Day 13	COSTAL DEL SOL: Breakfast at our hotel. Morning excursion to the city of MALAGA . Lunch at our hotel. Afternoon free.
Day 14	CORDOBA-SEVILLA:  Breakfast at our hotel. Travel to the city of CORDOBA. Visit to the Mezquita, the Alcazar and the Barrio Judío. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visit of Medina Azahara. Evening arrival in Sevilla…followed by a week of on-site orientation.