GEO staff and Spain Open House guests in Segovia, Spain
GEO was pleased to host over a dozen visitors from all over the United States at our Spain Open House events from Oct. 26 until Nov. 1. Joined by GEO Executive Director Stian Eriksen, Senior Associate Director Hilary Lord, and Assistant Director of Institutional Relations Lisa Calevi, the group included guests from Depauw University, Lipscomb University, Milligan College, Oakland Community College, Oakland University, Purdue University Northwest, Texas A&M University, Union University, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Oregon and University of Portland.
The Open House events began in Segovia, Spain on Oct. 26, where the group was met by Segovia site director, Marian Rubio, for dinner and a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage city. Over the next couple of days, they visited the GEO Center and attended several classes, met with local faculty, and also had a chance to meet several homestay families. Of special interest was the chance to visit several local internship sites, such as SegoviaDirecto.com, a local digital daily newspaper, and La Gargola, a family-owned artisan shop in which students utilize their Spanish customer service capabilities.
The group on a night tour in Oviedo, Spain
On Oct. 29, the group bid farewell to Segovia and took the four-hour train trip to Oviedo, Spain, in the northwest of the country. They enjoyed a walking tour of the city and a welcome dinner with traditional Oviedo cider. The next day was packed with class visits, homestay visits, a tour of the GEO center and meeting the GEO staff, including the site director, Silvia Perez. Optional outings were also offered for films and museums, which abound in Oviedo. The final full day included a visit to the nearby city of Gijón and to local service-learning and internship providers, including the Red Cross and a horse therapy center.
It was a whirlwind and jam-packed week, and we hope it was as fun and educational for our guests as it was for all the GEO staff who attended. Special thanks to our Segovia and Oviedo staff for hosting everyone so warmly and making everything possible!