Expectations [SUMMER]

Our students' expectations of study abroad can often be described in two ways. In the first way, students come to Europe with a "Spring break" mentality. Their experience is oriented towards themselves. They focus on how many countries they can scratch off of their bucket list, how many photographs will feature on their Instagram feeds, and how to do the least amount of work during their "time off.” The other group of students come to Switzerland to have an experience that will change their lives. This requires them to work hard, to stretch beyond their cultural boundaries, and to be intentional about building a life and a community that engages with the unfamiliar. 

Likewise, the attitudes of Faculty-in-Residence (FiR) often follow the same trajectories. Some come to Switzerland hoping for a summer holiday or time to write an article they have not been able to complete in Malibu. They dream of traveling with their partner/family and renting out their home in California to make some extra income. The summer provides a way for them to focus on themselves, their need for rest, and their own work. Other faculty come ready to invest in their courses and in the lives of the students and staff they live among. They make friends in the community, they rally a student community together, and work hard to intentionally make the most of every opportunity to engage with students and the surrounding community deeply. 

Though the first approach results in some level of personal achievement, it twists and commodifies the experience. With this view, the importance of a place or a community is only measured by how it benefits oneself. We become the object of our fascination. We become the focal point of our photos. Travel becomes a trophy, experience a means to a self-serving end. It is a shallow achievement, where little is invested or gained. 

The alternate approach also leads to a level of personal achievement, but fewer trophies. It invests much in the lives of others and sows seeds of transformation that will continue to bear fruit in our students and community for years to come. We discover that we become smaller and more grateful as we discover our place in a beautiful and diverse world. We think of ourselves less, find the value in others more, and discover a sense of abundant life in the community in which we live and those we visi

For our FiR, as well as our students, we believe that choosing the second approach will lead to the type of deep spiritual, intellectual, and personal transformation provided by the study abroad experience. As you think about your time abroad, we want to challenge you to prioritize your investment in students, care for the program, and personal transformation during your time abroad. This is especially true during the fast-paced summer term. Student relationships and the student community needs to be carefully cultivated. For many students, this will be their only opportunity to travel abroad, so we ask you to pour as much thought, attention, and love into creating a meaningful experience as is done during the academic year. If you do, this is the kind of experience that will continue to bear fruit in your life, and the lives of all the students under your care, for a lifetime!