Spring 2011

Dear Friends:

In the vision of Baylor 2012, Imperative XI calls us to “emphasize global education.” Our mission is not only “to prepare our students for worldwide leadership

and service,” but to welcome others from around the globe so that we may learn from each other

within the context of a “caring community.” The Center for International Education not only

supports our mission and vision in this way, it has been an integral part of fulfilling Imperative XI.

The opportunities that the Center for International Education offers are shining examples of global outreach. Throughout the year, our faculty and students travel to more than thirty countries. This has afforded our students an extraordinary opportunity to study other cultures and learn from colleagues around the world.

In addition, CIE also offers other wonderful services to international students who choose to study at Baylor University. This past fall, we welcomed 491 new students to campus from more than 71countries. I was privileged to personally welcome many of them during a dinner during the first week of classes.

We understand “that [Baylor’s] sphere of Christian influence is the world itself; Baylor must prepare its graduates to enter a pluralistic and global society.” Our mission is reflected in the Great Commission, outlined in the Gospel of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” As a Christian institution of higher learning in today’s society, our mission is as important as it ever has been.

Baylor’s mission is clear – we are to “prepare men and women for worldwide leadership and service…” Baylor’s commitment to global education is unmistakable. We are grateful for the great work of the Center for International Education in fulfilling our mission.

Yours sincerely,

Kenneth Winston StarrBaylor University President

A Word from President Starr

Photo by Baylor Photography

A word from President Starr

Pasion por Espana

The journey of a professor

Sixteen years of open arms

Interview with the First Lady

A few notes on upcoming events

Get to know some athletes

A word from President Starr

Pasion por Espana

The journey of a professor

Sixteen years of open arms

Interview with the First Lady

A few notes on upcoming events

Get to know some athletes

To see what I have seen

A Parisian Semester

Learning through living together

London from two Baylor Bears

NASA:: a quest for connectivity

Introducing the CIE Bears

CIE under new management

Going Places contributors

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The Baylor Modern Foreign Language department has a reputation as one of the most challenging departments at Baylor.

Its courses have been known to stymie students as they fight through the for-eign language courses required for most majors.

A more exciting alternative to the on-campus courses is to participate in the wonderful study abroad programs avail-able at Baylor.

Among many programs offered through the university, the Baylor in Dénia, Spain program, led by Dr. Linda Mc-Manness, is certainly one of the finest study abroad programs at Baylor.

Since 1999, Dr. McManness has been traveling with students during the second half of the summer to Dénia, a small Span-ish town on the Mediterranean coast, in hopes of broadening not only the students’ knowledge of the Spanish language, but their understanding of culture and history as well.

A Baylor professor since fall semester 1990, Dr. McManness has now enjoyed 20 years of teaching students the Spanish language.

It wasn’t until nine years of her working in the Modern Foreign Language depart-ment that the Baylor in Dénia program was established.

Unique to other Baylor study abroad programs in Spain, Baylor in Dénia is

held during the second session of the sum-mer so students can essentially complete in one summer all four Spanish courses required to graduate.

“I taught the Baylor in Madrid program in 1998. On Parent’s Day that fall after we had returned, Dr. Fred Loa asked me if I’d consider teaching in Spain during second summer session,” said Dr. McManness.

Although she had never even heard of Dé-nia at the time, Dr. McManness tentatively responded positively to the idea and soon thereafter made plans with co-worker Dr. Robert Worley to visit Dénia in spring 1999.

“When we were leaving Dénia after our visit, I told Dr. Worley that we were going to be back with students,” said Dr. McMan-ness.

“He says I was more confident than he was about that, but at the time, he was going to be the director and I was just going to teach two classes, so I didn’t think I would have as much responsibility.”

Sure enough, that summer Dr. McManness and Dr. Worley brought the first 15 stu-dents to study in Dénia. The rest is history. A few years later, in 2003, Dr. McManness switched roles with Dr. Worley as she began directing the program.

Dr. McManness led the program with the help of Dr. Worley until 2009, when Dr. Alyson Irom took his place on the trip.

“My thoughts at the beginning of the program were that it was a lot of work and responsibility,” said Dr. McManness.

“Now, after doing it 12 times, I still think

Pasión por EspañaDr. McManness and the Baylor in Denia program continue to enhance the

understanding of Spanish culture

By Claire Turner

Delante de la residencia

that. I have to remind myself that even though I have seen everything many times, it is the first time for the students.”

She also notes that, by traveling to Spain each summer for 12 years in a row, she has been able to see the progression of the country and how that affects her program.

Wireless internet, for example, hasn’t always been an accessible tool to students.

Progressions like this have certainly made a difference in the study abroad experience for students, but she’s sure that no progres-sion will ever eliminate the excitement of the trip each year.

“My favorite memories could fill a book,” Dr. McManness said.

“We’ve had romance, including two mar-riages of people who met on the trip, sick-ness, stepping on jellyfish and sea urchins, a rat in the dorm and a record 114 degree summer with no air conditioning!”

Her memories include several hilarious sto-ries involving misbehaving students. They probably were not so hilarious at the time.

But, in retrospect, they provide her with great memories. The thought of leaving the program and missing out on all the fun times it has in store is not one that she en-joys thinking about, though she does have a plan to pass on the position to someone else in the future.

“I plan to be involved until I physically can’t go anymore or I can’t sleep on those hard mattresses,” McManness joked.

“No, my goal is to train someone to direct the program and then go every other year.”

Although she would like to remain in-volved forever, she has a few professors in mind who might be able to carry on her legacy with the unique program.

With 12 years of experience and count-ing, her shoes will surely be big ones to fill, though she is certain she will leave the pro-gram in good hands when the time is right.

Until then, Dr. McManness will continue to live the life we all wish we did, spending five weeks abroad each summer on the beautiful Spanish Mediterranean coast in Dénia.

Dr. McManness enjoys The streets of Denia at night-Tan hermosas!

great food with great friendsDr.McManness and Dr.Irom 2010

Neatly tucked away in the basement of Marrs McLean Science building, it’s an ordinary day as Chinese language Professor Hongli Wang plans her lessons for the day.

This is no ordinary professor.

After traveling 7,000 miles and 32 long hours, Wang, with her husband, Bruce, and her 9-year-old son, Michael, arrived in the U.S. on Dec. 30, 2010 to take part in a six-month exchange program at Baylor.

A few months into class, she faces both the joys and challenges of teaching internation-ally.

But how does a woman in China find her way to Waco, Texas?

Wang grew up in the small town of Tong-hua in the Northeastern province of Jilin, China, in a loving and encouraging family.

She was the daughter of a physician and an engineer, who inspired her to pursue her dreams of becoming a teacher.

Eventually, Wang found her way to Beijing University, where she’s been teaching Eng-lish for the past 14 years.

With a passion for traveling and experienc-ing new cultures, Wang decided to take part in an exchange program that led her to Baylor University.

“My university found the exchange pro-gram for me. Teaching both English and Chinese has taught me more about both languages,” Wang said.

A few months into teaching, she reveals that the transition from China to the U.S. has been quite enjoyable and informative.

“Most people are so nice and wonderful. It’s quite common to walk by and smile at someone you don’t know. Most Americans are friendly, helpful and make you feel at home,” Wang said.

Far from home, Wang has enjoyed her experience teaching at Baylor, but that experience hasn’t come without its share of challenges.

After teaching a few weeks, she encoun-tered a major problem: half of her students were unable to keep up.

“I had to change the class schedule. I was told to teach six lessons, but I’ve added a few more to help cover the basics,” she said.

“It’s a lot more work than the students expected. Also, the class schedule is scat-tered. I have class at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. It’s quite difficult to focus on some-thing in between classes.”

Passion is the driving force behind Wang’s teaching style. She succeeds in fostering a creative atmosphere for her students. Ac-cording to her, one of the joys of teaching in the U.S. is that the students are bright and creative.

“Students here are really creative. When-ever they learn, they always bring up new ideas. I really enjoy teaching them,” Wang said.

On the other hand, Chinese students are more accustomed with being fed informa-tion. The Chinese society is rigorously standardized.

The journey of a professorExchange program creates opportunities for Chinese language professor

By Rachel Moye

Dr. Wang teaches her son The importance of education

Photo by R

ache

l Moye

All classes, from elementary school through high school, are designed to prepare students for one entrance exam.

In the States, students are able to take college exams multiple times, but Chinese students only have one chance to excel on the exam that will determine their future.

“As a result of the standardiza-tion, students seldom bring up their own ideas. They lose creativity,” Wang said.

In order to cultivate a more creative atmosphere, China is currently undergoing decentral-ization and reducing standard-ization.

In contrast, the U.S. has continued toward a more standardized educational system. Wang believes both countries need to find a balance between the two approaches.

“We are at both extremes of the spectrum. It’s important that we try to learn from each other and walk toward each other,” Wang said.

Nurturing interest in the subject matter is Wang’s teaching philosophy. For her, it’s the most important aspect of teaching.

“As a professor, you must guide the stu-dents. They have certain interests so you have to guide them in the right direction. I’m a helper in the classroom,” Wang said.

By traveling through China and the U.S., Wang had a broad range of experiences in both the Chinese and American cultures. She believes many American students have misunderstandings and distorted views of the Chinese government and economic system.

Wang hopes to help correct those misun-derstandings.

“China is more like the U.S. than some might imagine. I live in modern Beijing. I don’t witness any human rights issues or read about them in the newspapers. Our government is getting closer to a democ-racy,” Wang said.

From Wang’s perspective, she has wit-nessed the Chinese government making steps for the better.

“Our Chinese government is only 62 years old, it takes a long time to handle things correctly,” Wang said.

From her perspective, China has already taken steps to help support the Chinese people.

“We are working on our problems. When the unemployed need more support, the government helps a lot. China has a huge population of farmers in the rural areas, and the government helps them grow their fields and educate their children,” Wang said.

Additionally, Wang made sure to address some of the myths about Chinese educa-tion. Many American students believe that the Chinese are 30 or 40 years behind in their perspective. She believes students should go to China to see what it’s really like.

“The Chinese economy and universities are booming. All of the facilities are quite advanced. The facilities and professors are so wonderful. Some of them are world fa-mous. We are doing education at the same level as Americans,” Wang said.

Religion is another important topic of

education to the Wang family. Although her family comes from a nonreligious background, Wang believes it’s important to understand Christianity.

“My family and I read the Bible to improve our language. We want to know more about your faith and the roots of your na-tion. We love to read what’s in the Bible,” Wang said.

Through her experiences in the United States, Wang has learned the value of lov-ing others.

“I learned the word love. You have to love everyone around you. Love is a part of Christianity, but it doesn’t matter which faith you adhere to as long as you have someone to guide you to do the right thing,” Wang said.

“The whole world will benefit and be more beautiful.”

When she’s not teaching or researching, Wang enjoys spending time with friends. On the weekends, her family is busy meet-ing with friends, playing ping-pong at the SLC and swimming.

She will return to China to continue teach-ing at Beijing University in May 2011.

Hongli, Michael and Bruce Wang Photo by Rachel Moye

Lynn and Richard Segura are a couple of the warmest folks you might ever meet. So welcoming, in fact, that for the last 16 years, part of their daily lives has been devoted to serving as one of Baylor’s Welcome Fami-lies for international students.

Upon being ushered into the Segura’s pleasant home in Woodway, TX, you might not notice much out of the ordinary that hints to any exotic connections.

Step into the den and you’ll find a telling clue. An entire wall is covered with framed photo-collages with a hand-written year in the center, each an enduring memory to the students and families that the Segu-ras have taken under their wing as they adjusted to our culture during their time in the United States.

The Seguras were asked if they would like to participate in the Baylor Welcome Fam-ily program when approached by a friend four years after arriving in Waco.

Prior to living in Texas, Richard and

Lynn had lived all over the United States during Richard’s military career.

They have made their home as far west as El Paso, as far south as Key West and overseas in Grafenwoehr, Germany, where the first of their two daughters was born.

As they began their time as a Welcome Family, the Seguras had to balance their careers with the needs of the students as-signed to them.

The first two students that came to stay with them were French. Since then, others (all female) from Turkey, Japan, South Korea and China have added their photographs to the Segura’s wall.

“When they come here, they literally have two big suitcases and that’s it,” Lynn says, “so we help out and make sure they have everything they need while they’re here.”

Guest professors and their families have been linked up with the Seguras, including

one of Baylor’s current Chinese professors, Hon-gli Wang.

“Just a little while ago, we celebrated the Chinese New Year with Hongli and her family at our home. She’s here with her daugh-ter and husband and we wanted to give them a home-like experience,” said Lynn.

Hosting students and families from China has a special place in the Seguras’ heart. They have an 8-year-old granddaughter adopted from a Fuling orphanage where she was abandoned as a baby.

Visiting Chinese students enjoy playing with her, as very few have siblings due to the one/two-child policy in their country.

When international students arrive at Bay-lor they are housed on campus, usually in Brooks or North Village. If they wish, they can choose a “Welcome Family” before coming stateside.

“In the last few years we have been requested by girls who heard about us through their friends who got to know us,” Lynn explained.

“That is the reason all the students we’ve had lately have been from China.” Baylor has a working relationship with the Tsin-ghua University in Beijing that sends two students a semester to Baylor.

The Seguras have enjoyed showing their wards around Waco, taking them out to eat and encouraging them to make new friends and travel.

Sixteen years of open armsA local family continues to welcome foreign students into their home

By Ann Payne

Photo by Ann Payne

The seguras Surrounded by memories

Remembering old friends

Lynn and Rich-ard recalled one of their guest students who had a very spe-cial experience after meeting the daughter of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chap-

man.

“She said she had met a girl named Emily who had invited her home for the Christmas holiday in Tennessee, which got me thinking. I asked her what Emily’s last name was. Our stu-dent had no idea who the Chapmans were, but of course we let her go,” she said.

“When she came back to Texas after the holi-day, she’d had a great time and commented on all the ‘gold records’ around the Chapman house!”

Being a host family can also have perks when it comes to brushing shoulders with the famous.

“ Another student we hosted from Japan had a father who was the pilot for the Japanese prime minister, said Lynn. “While the prime minister was meeting with George W. Bush, we got to tour the inside of the plane!”

As far as the inevitable lost-in-translation moments that can occur when you open your home up to international students, any such incidents have been far and few between.

“Every student who has visited us has been pretty good at English,” says Richard.

“Their English is better than our Chinese!” he adds with a laugh.

After hosting students for 16 years, Richard and Lynn have adjusted to always being ready to lend a hand and to live out their job title as a Baylor Welcome Family to make Baylor’s international students feel at home.

“They appreciate everything you do for them so much,” says Lynn. “When it’s time to leave and go home, I always give them a Texas shirt.”

Photo by A

nn P

ayne

Photo by Ann Payne

Photo by Ann Payne

Remembering old friends

a Collage on the Kitchen table

The first Students they hosted

On June 1, 2010, Kenneth Winston Starr, J.D., became the 14th president of Baylor University and his wife, Alice Starr, became the first lady. Standing beside such an impressive figure as Judge Starr, some may think Mrs. Starr would be overshadowed. But that is simply not the case. Mrs. Starr also has more than 30 years of experience in business, public service and charitable leadership. She formed Starr Strate-gies in 2005 to help nonprofit organizations and start-up companies manage public relations, marketing and fundraising. She has served on numerous boards for corporations and organizations, and has raised millions of dollars for nonprofits through strategic marketing campaigns. Now that Mrs. Starr is Baylor’s first lady, she has become an eager participant in the Baylor family. She and Judge Starr attend almost every home sporting event and tirelessly work to expand the President’s Scholarship Initiative. This summer, Mrs. Starr is traveling to Kenya with a BU Missions team to minister and provide care to African women.

What is the BU Missions Kenya Women’s Leadership Team? “A group of 15 undergraduates that is part of a team of 70 Baylor students going over to Kenya during the last two weeks of May. Our students will live close to poverty, yet in a unit that is safe and is guarded. This team will help women become leaders and grow in their faith.”

How did you get involved with BU Missions? “Melanie Smith, International Student Relations Coordinator, read that Ken and I had been to Rwanda and Uganda and how we loved helping the children and working with the judicial ministers and how we would love to do that at Baylor. She contacted me early last sum-mer to ask if I would lead a group of students with her.”

Which trip activity are you the most excited about?“I’m excited about all of the activities. Students will be learning about different leadership models. They’ll assist in the daily needs of an HIV/AIDS orphanage. They’ll also have the opportunity to work with churches, encourage leadership of social service agencies and mi-crofinance organizations and help women and children in the Kenya slums. I think working with the HIV-inflicted kids in the orphanage is going to be unbearably sorrowful, but yet so wonderful and spiritual for these Baylor students. I know they’re going to love doing that.

Also working with the micro-finance groups really excites me. Microfinance has really become important in Kenya, and Baylor has been right there at the forefront. There’s a Baylor graduate student, Edward Simiyu, who’s director of the Grameen Bank for Africa now, and he’s getting his PhD from Baylor. He’s been so involved in this program. We want to be as much help as we can in microfinance. We’re there to help and inspire.”

Why is the leadership team helping women specifically? Women in developing countries are the ones who end up supporting the families. It is the women who take care of the children and

find a way to support them. Women face HIV/AIDS, which is so prevalent, severe poverty and single parenthood. In these situations, women are willing to work hard and persevere with just a little help; with just a leg

up, they’ll make it. They are the ones that truly believe God will take care of them if they persevere.”

Were you involved in any of the trip planning?“My only two cents was, ‘let’s not just go and come back. We need to follow up.’ I think in the past, they have gone into these orphanages, developed these incredible relationships with these children and then they had to leave. What I would like to see is that after we leave, we keep up with them and write them so that they don’t feel abandoned. It’s hard to keep up because we get so busy, but we have to make an effort. I think we need to develop long-term relationships.”

Q & A [ ]The BU Missions Kenya Womens Leadership Team

By Claire Moncla

Photo by K

yle Bea

m

with the 1st ladyAlice Starr

Photo by K

yle Bea

m

BU Missions defines its mission as seeking to work actively in and around the world. Why is it important for Baylor students to be actively involved in the world around them? What will they learn?“They will never forget their experiences. They will never be the same as they witness this poverty, the humbleness, strength of character, the faith and the love of these women. I think the students’ own faith will be enhanced when they see people who have absolutely noth-ing and are faithful.

Students will gain an understanding of Africa as a place and a culture, and come to appreciate their own education. They will come to understand, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected’ and that will be an eye-opening experience.After this trip and after they graduate from Baylor, hopefully they will be motivated to meet the needs of the world; they won’t just stay in their own safe environments.”

Do you think BU Missions as a whole is a unique program, or have you seen similar programs at other universities you’ve visited?

“I think most schools have study-abroad programs with their own professors; very few schools have mission trips. If the students go on mission trips, it would be through a church or an organization like International Justice Mission (IJM). There may be some colleges, but I really don’t know of any besides Baylor that send their students out on mission trips sponsored by the university.

I also think there should be an endowment for this. I’d love to see us raise an endowment for international missions. Ken and I are very pleased to see that this generation of Baylor students is a global generation, and that students have the heart for service, not only in Waco or in their hometowns, but in the world. And we want to encourage that. Students at Baylor feel a connection with students around the world and want to be of service. Mission work will be a huge educational experience in their faiths.”

What past experience in missions have you had that will aid in your participation in the BU Missions Kenya Women’s Leadership Team?

“I was just in Colombia, in Bogota and Cartagena at a women’s conference. We support groups that help women who have no help and no hope get off the streets. We were only there for two weeks, but if we can even help one or two people at a time it’s worth it.

When Ken and I spent 10 days in Uganda and Rwanda, we went to displaced children’s camps. We saw squalor and deprivation, but also profound gratitude. It is a trying time when you face these crises that people face in places like Uganda. But I think we have enough compassionate students and leaders around the world that we can take care of the poverty. We must continue the relationships we build in these countries.”

Alice Starr & Melanie Smith

A few notes on the upcoming

Early Move In for Inter

national

Students,

Monday, August 15, 2011.

Don’t Forget This:October 30 is the deadline for spring 2012

exchange/affiliate programs

April brought a CIE trip for international students to travel to San Antonio for the Alamo, Riverwalk and go out for shopping and great food!

Qingqing Cao and other students made

origami cranes for a Japanese relief fund

at the PAWS Appreciation Reception!

Spring culture discussions are a great time to meet other international students!!!

Don’t forget to follow CIE on Facebook!!!

www.Facebook.com/BaylorCIE

“The San Antonio Trip was

really fun! I enjoyed it.”- Ellen Guo

Don’t forget Popcorn and Culture

every other Friday!

February 4: Dr. Lynn Tatum

“Islam in America”

March 18: Coach Grant Teaff

“The Value of Integrity and Honor”

April 1: Ryan Richardson

“Music in the USA”

April 29: End of the year party!!!!

Melanie SmithMelanie:-Smith :@Baylor.edu

Make room on calendar for: Shopping in June!

Six Flags in July!

Graduation in August!*Check newsletter for updates! PAWS partners Lucas Junqueira and

William Minnie at the Friday event,

“Popcorn and Culture” at CIE".

“The San Antonio Trip was

really fun! I enjoyed it.”- Ellen Guo

Photo by

Baylor Ph

otograph

y

Roberto Maytin

Photo by Baylor PhotographyMariah Kelly

Paris, France is iconic for its roman-tic culture, indulgent foods and rich history. Inevitably, it’s a city made for adventure.

Many American students choose to study abroad during their college ca-reers, hoping to satisfy a restless spirit.

Beyond the classroom, students can expand their understanding of other cultures and develop a deep apprecia-tion for history and how it has shaped the world today.

Embarking on a semester-long study abroad experience in another country is undeniably an adventure.

New surroundings, new customs, new people and, usually, a new language will certainly generate the term, “culture shock.”

Does this term deserve the negative connotation it so often receives? It takes a certain kind of person to leave all that is familiar for five months with an unknown future of new experiences ahead.

These people would likely describe the “shock” of a new culture as inspira-tional and liberating.

Luci Meredith, a junior at Baylor University, enrolled at the Paris School

of Business for the 2011 spring semes-ter. Luci’s interest in Paris and the French language began several years ago while visiting the city with her family.

“I loved everything about the city,” Luci said. She began taking French in high school and continued studying the language at Baylor.

The Paris School of Business is part of a group called the Paris Graduate School of Management. The group consists of five individual schools that have different campuses throughout the city.

International students largely com-prise the student body at the Paris School of Business, where Luci attends classes. All classes are taught in English and take place once a week for three hours.

“I have only met two other students from the United States so far; most of the students are from other European countries or Africa,” Luci said.

Her schedule includes Corporate Fi-nance, Negotiation Techniques, Euro-pean Marketing, Operations Manage-ment, and Advertising and Promotion.

Luci knew that studying in Paris for a semester, rather than a summer, would allow her to truly experience the culture and immerse herself in a new country.

“I have always loved traveling, especial-ly in Europe. I knew it would be hard to be away from my friends and family for an entire semester, but I have al-ways wanted to study abroad and travel to different parts of Europe,” Luci said.

Studying abroad for a semester, the student becomes a “local,” in contrastto a summer where students usually feel like visitors for the duration of the

trip.

The biggest adjustment for Luci has been the language barrier. Understanding French comes easier than speaking it, so conversations take a great deal of effort.

“I try to speak to people in French as much as I can, though a good number of people can speak at least some Eng-lish,” Luci said.

In addition to the challenge of a new language, the culture is very different from what she is used to.

“In Texas, we grow accustomed to people who are exceedingly friendly and outgoing,” she said.

“In Paris, the people tend to be more reserved when it comes to approaching or addressing strangers.”

“Each day is different; there is always something to go see or a new place to explore. I walk almost everywhere or

A Parisian Semester ....An American gal's change to adapt to the Paris way of lifeBy Natalie Walker

Luci Meredith

Luci Meredith

take the metro, which is a good way to see different parts of the city,” Luci said.

“While Paris is a very busy city, people do not appear to feel the pressure of time. The way of life seems less struc-tured because people are more relaxed

with their everyday schedules,” she said.

One aspect of the culture that Luci takes full advantage of is food.

Patisseries and boulangeries are on every street, even several on one

block alone. Markets, meat shops, chocolate shops and other specialty stores stay busy all day long. Fast food restaurants are few and far between.

“Food is very important and people are very intentional about exactly what they buy and where they buy it. I go to a bakery almost every day to get a ba-guette sandwich for lunch or try a new pastry,” Luci said.

“Cafés and crepe stands scatter the streets. People stop and sit for hours with friends or simply watch people walk-ing by. Cafés are among my favorite places to stop dur-ing the day with friends, or go for dinner at night and have a good meal,” Luci said.

Beyond the opportuni-ties to indulge in great shopping or divine French cuisine, though,

are moments and experiences with the potential to shape the

lives of students.

Studying abroad has notably become a decision that grows and enriches the lives of its embarking students. Free-dom in discovery opens the mind to the vast and peculiar variations from one place to the next. Realizing these variations and their extent commences the deep appreciation and humility of a world traveler.

Luci, along with thousands of other stu-dents who will choose to study abroad, will fondly recall her experience abroad with gratitude and sentiment.

Photo by Luci Meredith

Les Rues de Paris

Luci Devant la Tour Eiffel

Through close interaction to other cultures, it is possible to broaden a student’s ability to learn much about other cultures.

Students who live in Brooks Col-lege’s global Community Living – Learning Center learn about other cultures from one another on a daily basis.

“Some foreign students want to live in Brooks so that they can continue to use the language,” Rosalie Barrera, program director of GCL-LC said.

Anyone is eligible to participate in the Global Community Living-Learning Center. Currently, there is a 3-to-1 ratio of upperclassmen to underclass-men.

Next year, the ratio will be 2-to-1. There is no GPA requirement, but there is a one-year contract. If, for any reason, a student wants to get out of the contract, Baylor works closely with the student to rearrange living situations.

Barrera said most participants are re-cruited from modern languages classes and from among international students.

“The program is for students who re-ally want to immerse themselves in a language,” Barrera said.

The GCLLC began in 2008 with 27 students and, in the past two years has grown to 44 students, increasing by 63 percent. Next year the center is expect-ing 56 members.

“Eight different languages are repre-sented in the GCLLC.When we find international students, we introduce ourselves and tell them we want to

break bread with them,” she said.

“We also find students in the class-room, especially in modern foreign languages. International students have also helped us get the word out about the community by going back to their home countries and telling them about the program. We also recruit from Baylor’s premieres,” Barrera said.

There are 20 different majors repre-sented within the 40 students participat-ing.

Learning through living togetherA look at a program that overcomes geological and cultural boundaries

By Caroline Scholes

Jeremy Hyter, Dominik Thomas, Michael

Desroisers, and Austin Kuhlman paint flags

of other countries to educate others about

native traditions, and their cultures.

20

Jeremy Hyter, Dominik Thomas, Michael

Desroisers, and Austin Kuhlman paint flags

of other countries to educate others about

native traditions, and their cultures.

“One hundred percent of our stu-dents are internationally-minded; that’s important,” Barrera said.

The cost for the program is the cost to live in Brooks College pus a $100 programming fee, which provides support for student programs.

“One of my favorite memories is when we spent class time painting. Each group got different topics, such as food, clothes, religion - my group got music,” said Angela Weber, sophomore.

“We decided to draw flags from around the world and then write the word music in each different language around the flags. I really enjoyed that class period,” she said.

“I think it is more fun to learn about other countries through paintings and actually doing hands-on things like that,” Weber said.

Patrick Ancira, Jay Olivares, and Chris Morris paint “Frida” as part of an

excerise to enrich their understanding of other cultures.

Ke’leigh Sapp, Kimberly Gibson, Audrey Richardson and Debbie Thomas paint

“The Splendor of Language” to share their passion for their native languages.

Every semester, several Baylor students leave the United States to study in the United Kingdom through the Foundation for International Education (FIE) program in London.

As written on the Baylor’s website, the Baylor FIE program is a perfect oppor-tunity for students in majors requiring an internship.

The non-profit organization sets up internships in most fields of study: Business, Communication, Econom-ics, Fashion, Film and Digital Media to name a few. Four years ago, the program started with 10 students and has now grown to about 20 students every fall.

Wendy Moore, the coordinator of semester abroad programs at Baylor University, said that most students reported that the program helped them to stand out among other job candi-dates.

The participation in the program helped them to get jobs after gradua-tion.

“When employers see that the stu-dents have not only studied abroad in London but that they also worked, completed projects, and participated as a team member at an organization in London, they become very curious about our Baylor students.” Moore said.

“I think this pro-gram does every-thing that Baylor wants out of a study abroad!”

She added that some students joined the program with the hope of being hired by international

organizations after they graduate; for others, the Baylor FIE program con-firmed some directions in their life.

Last fall, Senior Kaylen Puckett and Ju-nior Lainey Gordon joined the Baylor FIE program.

Both reported having an enjoyable time studying and discovering the British

culture.

London through the eyes of two Baylor Bears

By Jessica Foumena

“I could go from seeing mummies

at the British Museum to seeing

Lichtenstein at the Tate

Modern...then the day was capped

off by searching for a pub that

might show baseball until three

in the morning.”

Lainey Gordon & Kaylen Puckett

During their time in London, these two Baylor students lived in the heart of downtown London and were given a Britrail pass and Tube pass for travel within and around London.

Gordon described her experience as “educational” and “cultural.”

A marketing major with a concentra-tion in non-profit, Puckett was an intern for the fundraising department at Providence Row, a homeless charity on the east side of London.

“I was able to help them raise over $28,500 through a carol service, out-door collections, and Christmas dona-tions from local businesses.”

On the other hand, international stud-ies and economics major Gordon had a different experience with her intern-ship.

She worked for the Conservative party in Kensington, Chelsea, and Fulham.

During her internship, Gordon an-swered phones, entered data, sent out information, and proofread docu-ments. Further, she was very pleased to attend two memorable events.

“My job came with two very cool perks,” she said. “One was that I at-tended the Autumn Ball and the other was that I witnessed a session of Prime Minister’s questions.”

Both students reported immersing themselves well in the British culture and learning more about the British lifestyle.

“I had the ability to walk to Hyde Park to visit Kensington Palace, or the Albert memorial,” Gordon said.

“In one day I could go from seeing mummies at the British Museum to seeing Lichtenstein at the Tate Modern and then the day was capped off by searching for a pub that might show baseball until three in the morning.”

Puckett confirmed Gordon’s enthusi-astic experience when she said: “We

were able to feel like we belonged in London and were not just tourists on vacation.”

She added that they were able to see the “real side of London.”

“We saw the fathers taking their kids to school, we got to eat and talk with the locals at the pubs about UK news and gossip, and we were able to go to local festivals and concerts,” she continued.

“Everything came back to a balance of educational and cultural but it was always fun,” Gordon concluded.

Referring to future plans for the Bay-lor FIE program in London, Moore said that Baylor hopes to expand this program and offers more study abroad options with the internships.

“Hopefully this program will continue to grow and we will continue to send our brightest students on it,” she said.

For more information about the Baylor in London FIE program, please contact program coordinator Wendy Moore at Wendy_Moore@baylor.edu

“I was able to help them raise over $28,500 through a carol service, outdoor collections, and Christmas donations from

local businesses.”

Lainey Gordon & Kaylen Puckett

The 2010 FIE gang!

The Center for International Education provides amazing opportunities for its students ranging from social events to study abroad to exchange programs.

Baylor prides itself on embracing its international students and provides services to ensure a smooth transition and an administration that cares deeply for them.

Ms. Melanie Smith, International Student Relations Coordinator, coordi-nates two programs within CIE.

The “Welcome Family” program is implemented to connect Baylor inter-national students and Waco families in friendship.

PAWS (People Around the World Sharing) assists Baylor international students and U.S. students in meeting each other through cultural exchange.

“It is a joy to be with these students and to see the world through their eyes as they learn, interact and enjoy the education that Baylor is offering them,” said Melanie Smith.

She also coordinates the Baylor Adopt-A-School program with Waco ISD, which brings international students into Waco schools to share their cultures and experiences in their countries with

local students.

It is a way that Baylor welcomes and connects international students to cam-pus, helping them become involved with Baylor life and make a positive impact on their overall experience.

This past January, the Center of Inter-national Education gave its students the opportunity to visit NASA in Houston, Texas.

The purpose of the trip was to travel to major cities within the state of Texas, exploring resources and points of inter-est that instill Texas pride.

Among those places, is of course, the campus of NASA. With many of the students’ majors geared toward engineering, biol-ogy, computer science, and pre-med, the mission control center was the ideal place to visit.

They were able to go through training simulations and also get information about possible future employment with NASA.

Jenny Mekaiel, a junior majoring in Psychology from Melbourne, Australia, was eager to share about her trip.

NASA: a quest for connectivityBy Carrington Franklin

Joydeep roy, india & Tunde agboola, Nigeria in front

of the Apollo Exhibit.

“We learned more about what they do there and about all that’s involved with setting up a space mission. It was pretty cool how they showed us the control room and such,” she said.

“After seeing movies like ‘Apollo 13,’ seeing the control room in real life was pretty intense and made me sort of appreciate the hard work they do even more,” said Jenny.

“I got to touch a moon rock. That was a new experience!”

“The trip also allowed me to connect more with other International students whom I probably wouldn’t have

otherwise had a chance to bond with.“

Maria Traetta, an English major from Argentina, also attended.

“The trip was really interesting. I was able to learn many interesting things and I loved going to the marine city. It was beautiful. Melanie took care of us all the time. She was awesome, as usual,” said Maria.

The Center for International Education urges international students to attend trips like the one to NASA in order to better connect with one another and

Baylor faculty and staff.

Events and opportunities are also made easily accessible to the students.

“The CIE staff was excellent. Melanie is probably the nicest person I’ve met here,” said Jenny.

There are many more coordinators in the Center for International Education like Melanie Smith who sincerely care for their well-being and connectedness to the Baylor community.

Evan choi from china gets to touch actual rocks from the first mission to explore the moon, as well as view exhibits of lunar moules.

There’s no need for a common lan-guage on a soccer field.

There’s one physical goal, located at the opposite end of the field, and there’s one mental goal, to come together and make a name for a newly made team.

The Center for International Educa-tion is proud to now be represented on both the basketball court, as well as the soccer field.

This is the first time any international students have attempted to establish intramural teams, and intramurals have been offered on campus for quite some time now.

Intramurals, as if you didn’t know, are a community builder.

Sports encourage students emotionally, physically and mentally, and serve as a bridge againstbarriers like a difference in language or culture.

Not even a year had passed for sopho-more DK Sun from Binzhou, China, before he approached Student Rela-tions Coordinator Melanie Smith about forming a team.

Already the team captain of the CIE Bears basketball team, he encouraged others to form an intramural soccer team.

“He really motivates students. He saw the opportunity to form another team and he took it,” Smith said.

Many of the young men who are on the basketball team joined the soccer team as well.

“We play [and practice] at the field be-hind the BSB on the weekend. Many international students come, guys and girls,” Sun said.

Not all of the students on the team are international. Students like Jared Brim-berry, from Eagle River, Alaska, and a friend of the international students, joined for the fun of it.

“I love meeting students from across the globe and I just got invited by a friend on the team to join,” he said.

“The team works together great. It’s mostly scrimmage, and practice is relaxed and fun. Everyone is extremely encouraging and the great players cover for us not-so-great players,” Brimberry said.

Most international students on the

Introducing the CIE BearsThe international students band together to create intramural soccer

and basketball teamsBy Kristina Ballard

Photo by Kristina Ballard

team don’t feel the presence of a barrier at all.

“I feel high language barriers when I study, but there are almost no language barriers at soccer games. We focus on practicing shots,” said Noboru Suzuki, junior from Japan.

While the team’s total years of experi-ence don’t add up above 10 years, they all are pretty confident.

“It isn’t about winning and losing. We hope to make more teams. That’s just more friends to make,” Sun said.

Some students have never played be-fore, like Geoffrey Varin, senior from France. The fact that he is both learn-ing and playing the game for the first time doesn’t deter him from having fun.

He, too, feels that team members have no trouble in getting along and commu-nicating well on the team.

“I don’t have any problems commu-nicating with the other members. We have a [Facebook] group that helps to keep in touch with the team,” Varin said.

Although the members of the team are here at Baylor, they do not allow them-selves to forget about home.

Varin, from France, plays because it reminds him of home, as soccer is very popular there.

Seonghyeon Kim, a senior from South Korea, strives to emulate his favorite soccer player, Ruud van Nistelrooy, a famous Dutch footballer.

Most touching, however, is the concern Suzuki feels for his home country.

“[Each] game is special. While I pray that more people who are suffering from the serious earthquake in Japan are rescued and can get enough water, food and blankets, I play soccer to-night,” he said.

Photo by Kristina Ballard

The CIE Bears basketball team,

2011

The CIE Bears Soccer team, 2011

Photo by Kristina Ballard

In reflecting on the past four years and trying

to identify the high points of my time as the

director of the Center for International

Education, I find it difficult, if not impossible

to choose.

First, it has been a distinct privilege to have

been associated with such a wonderful and

hardworking collection of people who staff

CIE. Then there has been the chance to

experience the excitement and growth of the

Baylor students who have studied abroad.

Finally, I have been so impressed

by the courage and dedication of the

international students who have left family

and home to study at Baylor in a strange,

new country. I guess that, on further

reflection, the very fact that the choice is so

difficult underscores what a wonderful

opportunity I have been given to serve

Baylor and our students in this capacity.

I only wish I could personally thank each and

everyone who helped make the experience

so fulfilling.

CIE is under new management

28

Mike Morrison

As Interim Director of the Center for International Education, I readily admit that I assume the mantle of Mike

Morrison with very mixed feelings. As I have observed him in this role for the last four years, I have been

continually impressed with his administrative ability, his diplomatic skill, his penetrating and reasonable analysis

of oftentimes complex and difficult issues, his fair and balanced decisions, and his effective leadership ability that

has shaped a genuine and effective team spirit among the CIE staff. His is a tough act to follow! Yet at the same time, I am excited about the opportunities, the challenges, and the potential for growth for the

Center in its ongoing responsibilities to meet the needs of Baylor students—those who have left homes and

families on far away shores to pursue their studies in Waco as well as those who in their desire to expand their

own educational horizons look beyond our own shores to enhance the global dimension of their academic

experience. At the very core of Baylor’s Mission Statement is a global commitment “to educate men and women

for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a

caring community.” Obviously, integral to fulfilling this mission is the work of the Center for International

Education. As I assume this position, I pledge that the CIE will remain firm in its commitment to serve Baylor

and its students, both here and abroad, in pursuing this vision of worldwide leadership and service.

Naymond Keathley

CIE is under new management Thank you contributors!

I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, CIE for allowing me creative

reign over their magazine. I am proud to be part of its founding members, but

even more proud that I was allowed to be a solo editor on the second issue.

But I didn't do it alone. My second set of heartfelt thanks goes out to my

fantastic professors, Carol Perry and Larry Norwood, who handed this project to

me in the first place! I could never have been granted this opportunity without

the both of you!

I would like to thank those without whom this magazine would not be filled

with interesting and engaging material. I appreciate all of you for handling

my frantic emails and Neurosis. This magazine DEFINITELY wouldn't be pos-

sible without all of your skillful writing and beautiful

pictures.

Finally, thanks to my husband for dealing with the late nights, my dad for

saving my life and magazine after a computer virus and my mom for

emotional support.

You all are wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you enjoyed

the magazine.

May you always find yourself pointed in the right direction,

toward the brightest possibilities in life.

Kristina Ballard-Tyagi