Spring semester cross culturals kick off

EMU believes that students learn best when they are engaged, and cross cultural requirements supplement the in-class learning process. Within their cross cultural experiences, students must "engage" themselves as people in other cultures.

Christ engaged himself in a "cross-cultural" experience, by hearing, smelling, tasting, and seeing what it was like to live as a human being. This semester, over 60 students at EMU have chosen to engage in like manner in three locations: Latin America, the Middle East, and Washington D.C.

Jim and Ann Hershberger are leading 25 students first to Guatemala, where they will spend two months intensely studying the Spanish language and Guatemalan culture, especially the Anabaptist church in that country. In the final three weeks of that time, students will participate in a mission/service assignment. Then they will be allowed a week of independent travel, after which the group will spend two weeks in Nicaragua. They will finish the semester by returning to Guatemala, where they will have time to reflect on the significance of their experience.

On the other side of the world, 24 students in the Middle East will study and travel through the places in which Jesus Himself ministered. These places include Egypt, Sinai, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank, Greece and Rome. Linford and Janet Stutzman, seasoned travelers to the Middle East and many other parts of the world, will guide students as they focus on learning the rich history of those countries and the complex issues involved in the current conflict between the Jews and Palestinians. When asked about the potential danger for students traveling in an area of unrest, Director of Cross Cultural Programs Donald Clymer commented, "There is no guaranteed safe place anywhere in the world to travel, including across Mt. Clinton Pike from the EMU campus. We have nearly as many concerns about safety in Guatemala as in the Middle East." He said that the Middle East, however, receives much more media attention, and as a result is more on people's minds. Many steps are taken to insure the safety of groups, he said, and the cross cultural department has carefully written up a safety policy. The policy includes provisions for emergencies and evacuations/relocations in case of a dangerous incident. Students must check in with group leaders every day and are not permitted to travel on public transportation or go to crowded public places, such as discos or malls, which are likely terrorist targets. Clymer also said that despite people's perceptions of "increased danger in the Middle East," it continues to be one of the most popular choices among students for their cross cultural experiences. They have never had anyone withdraw from the program for safety concerns in the more than 30 years that groups have been traveling to that area.

The WCSC (Washington Community Scholars' Center) is hosting EMU students who chose to experience a different culture in the city. There are 10 students there this semester. In the program, students live in a common house where they share household chores and meals and learn the value of community living. Students engage in semester long internships and participate in seminars. According to the WCSC mission statement, they are encouraged to "grow in knowledge, skills, and moral and spiritual development, through community service, reflection and analysis."