Greece

Social work professor Efrosini Kokaliari leads groups of students back to her homeland to learn about the delivery of social services there, and to immerse themselves in Greek culture. They visit psychiatric institutions and senior citizens' centers, and speak with local social workers and patients.

Students can earn three credits for participating, but the experience is much more valuable than just the academic credit.

"Social work is very much about cultural competencies," said social work major Natalie Hill. "It is very important to understand other cultures and how they affect the clients we work with."

"It is a great learning opportunity for all of us - a real cross-cultural experience," says Efi. "It is really the only way to understand the importance of cultural differences."

"International travel is important, because it helps you understand how extensive cultural differences can be," Natalie said. "It will help us be better social workers."