Below is an overview of your Case Western Reserve University Orientation in Madrid. A more detailed schedule will be shared the week prior to departure.
If you're traveling alone and arriving in Madrid on Saturday, August 30, CWRU will arrange transportation from the airport directly to MiCampus. If you will arrive before August 30 or are traveling with family, CWRU will provide designated move-in times to help you plan accordingly.
Saturday, August 30
- If arriving August 30, there will be MiCampus check-in throughout the day. In the evening, you will have dinner on your own.
Sunday, August 31
- Arrival and MiCampus check-in will continue throughout the day. You will have the opportunity to participate in grocery trips, which are designed to help you become familiar with the local area and learn how to shop in Madrid. Parents can attend an informational session with CWRU staff in the afternoon. The day will conclude with a welcome event for all participants (attendees must RSVP here).
Monday, September 1
- The day begins at 10 a.m. local time with a welcome and introductions, followed by sessions on the orientation program, health and safety, and living in Madrid. After lunch, you will prepare for class registration on Tuesday and take a walking tour of Madrid, which includes picking up your MetroCards. If you have not done so, you must order your MetroCard; review the process here. In the evening, you will be free to explore the city to use what you have learned.
Tuesday, September 2
- We will have optional time set aside at 8 a.m. for any class-related issues, followed by class registration at 9 a.m. You will then attend sessions on academic expectations and an overview of your CWRU class taught by Damaris Punales-Alpizar, PhD. After lunch, the focus shifts to understanding culture through the Hofstede framework, a Barnga simulation and a discussion of Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) group results. You received an email from Dean Watkins to access and complete the IDI.
Wednesday, September 3
- Our colleagues at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) will begin the day at 10 a.m. with a UC3M overview led by David Gil, director of international Relations at UC3M, followed by a walking tour of the campus. After a midday break and lunch, the afternoon includes sessions on mental health and wellness, culture shock, and health and safety through case studies.
Thursday, September 4
- The day begins at 10 a.m. with team-building activities that will include the upperclass CWRU students serving as resident assistants, followed by a health and safety case study session. At 12 p.m., students will participate in a closing session before being released to explore on their own or participate in an optional trip to IKEA scheduled for the afternoon.