The summer reading season is here! Check out these book recommendations from North Park faculty, staff, and students.
The summer reading season is here! Check out these book recommendations from North Park faculty, staff, and students.
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Announcement, Blog, Stories
Axelson Center hosted nearly 130 attendees representing Chicagoland nonprofit organizations at its 鈥淔ocus on the Important鈥� conference.
Nonprofit Professionals Receive Advice from Chicagoland鈥檚 Major Funders
CHICAGO, June 13, 2017鈥�Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at 色情论坛 hosted nearly 130 attendees representing Chicagoland nonprofit organizations at its 鈥淔ocus on the Important鈥� conference. The engagement-themed agenda鈥攑acked with practical tips on getting the most out of human capital, the importance of relationship-building, and collecting the right kind of data for sound decision making鈥攆eatured an entrepreneurial keynote speaker, moderators, and funders.
Keynote speaker Jacob Harold, President and CEO of GuideStar is a social change strategist, grantmaker, and author. Attendees absorbed best practices on collecting and utilizing data while Jacob lectured on 鈥淒ata Scaffolding for Philanthropy 鈥� Information and the Marketplace for Good.鈥�
Lisa Brown Alexander, President and CEO of Nonprofit HR followed with a session on employee retention; she offered strategies for leaders to keep employees engaged.
The afternoon panel, 鈥淒o Funders have a Secret Sauce?鈥� was facilitated by James Parsons, President of The Brinson Foundation. Engaging discussions ensued from panelists:
The funders participated in a lively conversation about a range of topics, from the nature of the funder/grantee relationship to the role of foundations in addressing the budget woes in Illinois. They fielded questions during the Q&A on trends for grant opportunities, elements of successful collaborations, and views about sustainability.
The 鈥淎sk a Funder鈥� sessions held at day鈥檚 end provided attendees with brief appointments to speak with funding representatives, including:
Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at 色情论坛 hosts conferences, workshops, custom trainings, and a BootCamp for New Nonprofit CEOs that offer learning and networking opportunities. The mission of the Center is to enhance the performance and effectiveness of organizations and individuals in the nonprofit sector through education, service, and resources.
North Park is Chicago鈥檚 city-centered, Christian University.
Author onlinemediaPosted on Categories Stories
This is a student blog post submitted by Leah Emerson C’18. Leah is a Psychology and Advertising double major.
This is a student blog post submitted by Leah Emerson C’18. Leah is a Psychology and Advertising double major. Pictures featured in this post were taken by Leah.聽
For as long as I can remember, a goal of mine has been to visit all seven continents before I die. When it came to Asia, my first thoughts were always things like, 鈥淚鈥檇 love to see Thailand,鈥� or, 鈥淗ong Kong would be amazing.鈥� I knew that Taiwan was a country, but it has never been a country that crossed my mind when I thought of the places I wanted to visit. Not because Taiwan wasn鈥檛 interesting or worth my time, but because I just didn鈥檛 know enough about it. Yet, here I am writing about my first experience in Asia that took place in鈥攜ou guessed it鈥擳aiwan! Life is a funny thing.
The context of the trip is a Keystone course offered by 色情论坛 entitled 鈥淐ulture and Ecology of Asia.鈥� The course is exactly as it sounds. It is two weeks long and focuses on teaching students of all backgrounds about the culture鈥攃ustoms, societal norms, food, etc鈥攁nd the ecology鈥攍iving organisms and their surrounding鈥攐f Asia, and more specifically of Taiwan. The trip was led by Dr. Timothy Lin and Dr. Linda Vick鈥擠r. Lin specializes in the more 聽cultural aspect of the trip, as he is a Taiwanese native, and Dr. Vick specializing in the ecological aspect鈥攖eaching us about the unique organisms and living things in this unfamiliar part of the world.
This trip was more than just a class where we gained factual knowledge. It was an experience that we got to make our own. Throughout the two weeks we were there, we did more than sight-seeing. We did things that pushed us beyond what we are accustomed to which gave us the opportunity to see and experience the world, and engage with people in a way we didn鈥檛 know possible.
my biggest take away from this trip was this: mindset is everything
We spent one day at Tunghai University, North Park鈥檚 Taiwanese partner school. During our stay at the University, each of us were paired 聽with a Taiwanese student from the university, and we spent the whole day with them. We talked with them and compared our lives, cultures, experiences, and so much more. It was things like that, having simple conversations, which really opened 聽our minds and created great learning experiences鈥攁nd many new friendships!
One of my favorite parts of the trip was traveling to the countryside of Taiwan and seeing all the rice fields. While we were there, we had the chance to eat dinner in a Taiwanese family鈥檚 home. The father was previously a professional chef in Taipei (the largest city in Taiwan), but due to health reasons, he and his family had to leave and move elsewhere. They decided they wanted to live a simple life, so they moved to the countryside and began farming. While in their home, he prepared somewhere between 8-10 courses for us to enjoy, all of which were grown and farmed locally, and his two little daughters and his wife served us the food. Afterwards, he came out of the kitchen and spoke with us (in Mandarin鈥擠r. Lin translated). He told us his story and answered questions we had. It was such an incredible and special experience, and the food was even better!
As much as I learned in the two weeks, my biggest take away from this trip was this: mindset is everything. It plays a crucial role when it comes to our outlooks on life. I left on this trip challenging myself to keep an open mind, and a willingness to try new things. I came home two weeks later with an entirely new perspective. That open-mindedness ultimately opened up my world. This hands-on learning experience allowed me to learn things about the world, myself, and others that I wouldn鈥檛 have learned otherwise; for that I am thankful.
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, Stories
This is a student blog post submitted by Rachel Weaver C’19. Rachel is transfer student majoring in Biology.
This is a student blog post submitted by Rachel Weaver C’19. Rachel is transfer student majoring in Biology.
After months of anticipation, we are finally in San Salvador, The Bahamas!! This all started in the Johnson Center at 色情论坛. The first part of our Marine Biology course was spent in the classroom where we got to know each other and the marine creatures we are spending so much time with. We learned about different species of fish, coral, and invertebrates and how to recognize them in the field (don鈥檛 touch the bearded fireworms!). We practiced identifying the Caribbean fish at Chicago鈥檚 own Shedd Aquarium to test our abilities. In the Shedd鈥檚 Caribbean Reef Tank we got a glimpse of many of fish we had been studying in depth within the classroom; we were impressed by how much we could recall after such a short time.
If we thought fish identification skills were hard, picking out our snorkeling gear and choosing which colors we wanted was even tougher. With this difficult decision made, we used our new gear well in advance of the trip, practicing our snorkeling skills in a local pool. We developed the myriad skills needed to snorkel successfully and safely, including surface dives and mastering breathing through our mouths instead of our noses (it sounds easier than it is . . . try it for an hour straight).
Those who were feeling adventurous took the opportunity to become certified to scuba dive down to 60 feet deep. Getting certified was exciting and only took two weekends to complete. Our first open water dive took place in the 50 degree waters of Haigh Quarry, also affectionately called the 鈥淐aribbean of the Midwest鈥�; fitting for our future travel plans. Fortunately, we were in the real Caribbean within a week, where the waters are much warmer (80 degrees), the sun is hotter, and the aquatic life is more diverse. We will get to use our scuba skills toward the end of our trip.
The Marine Biology course is one of the many field courses available at North Park. What鈥檚 a better way to learn marine biology than to see the real deal? Here at North Park, not only is Chicago our classroom, but so is the world.
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, Stories
This is a student blog post submitted by Leslie Nelson C’19. Leslie is a Biology major.
This is a student blog post submitted by Leslie Nelson C’19. Leslie is a Biology major.
Over these past two days through these experiences and countless others, our team was more excited than ever to see what San Salvador had in store for us.
Upon arrival at our home for the trip, the Gerace Research Centre (GRC) on the island of San Salvador, we once again encountered Bahamian island time contrasted with the military-style scheduling of GRC. At GRC, meals run like clockwork at specified times, no exceptions. If you show up too late for a meal, you won鈥檛 be eating. Further, there are other specific times such as quiet hours as well as the return of GRC vehicles. All this precise timing facilitates smooth function, courtesy, and even safety (many vehicles lack working headlights, wipers, speedometers, doors that latch shut, and other 鈥渦nnecessary鈥� luxuries). Additionally, the GRC guests are mostly scientists from around the western hemisphere with multiple research foci; strict schedules allow for better coordination across campus. Passing through the gate of the GRC puts you in a different temporal space than the laid-back style of the islanders, who never seem to be in a rush or even on a specific schedule.
Further, there seems to be a more welcoming attitude on the Bahamian islands than you would find in many US cities. This is most apparent while traveling the roads. Driving up to GRC following our arrival on San Salvador, we were told by the campus director to wave as cars pass each other on the Queens Highway, the one road around the island. Waving is part of the culture here on the island, as everyone knows each other and therefore there is an almost obligatory friendliness. Perhaps it is because everyone on the island is family, in some sense.
On Nassau, as well as San Salvador, honking on the road is more of a friendly 鈥榟ello鈥� than an annoyed 鈥榳hat do you think you are doing?鈥�
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, Stories
This is a student blog post submitted by Leslie Nelson C’19. Leslie is a Biology major.
This is a student blog post submitted by Leslie Nelson C’19. Leslie is a Biology major.
鈥淭he first time is the worst.鈥� The mini heart attacks subsided as we remembered that Bahamians do indeed drive on the opposite side of the road. Meanwhile, we were still trying to comprehend why half of the cars have steering wheels on the left side and the other half have them switched to the right. This is one of the first examples of merging cultures we experienced on arrival in Nassau in The Bahamas.
Another striking cultural difference noticed early on was between the leisurely island style and the bustling tourism industry. Tourism is the largest industry found on the Bahamian Islands. Once again, a merging of these two worlds became apparent in Nassau during dinner time at 鈥淒a Fish Fry,鈥� the local seafood strip. The restaurant owners persistently pursued us to get us to eat at their establishments. One owner even picked up a Chicago Cubs t-shirt worn by one of our group members, using this as a segue to talk us into his establishment. This kind of personalized attention is not as common in North American cities. We snacked on local delicacies like conch fritters and some members of our group even enjoyed a full conch meal!
However, there were also tastes of home. Dunkin Donuts. This time, donuts at the Lynden Pindling International Airport were the method by which cultures were fused. Dr. Rholl was the only brave soul who was willing to give a guava donut a try . . . he loved it. And these donuts appeared once again when multiple people traveling on our small flight from Nassau to San Salvador brought a box full of donuts to the island with them, a commodity which can鈥檛 be found on the out islands.
Beyond experiencing the unique culture of the Bahamas, we also found time to work on our snorkeling and identification skills. Two snorkeling sessions have already been squeezed in between flights and meals and catching up on sleep. To begin we checked out Junkanoo Beach in the heart of Nassau which is right next to the shipping lanes and a public beach. For our second session, we waited until San Salvador and walked across the street from our lodging at the Gerace Research Centre to the boat launch at Graham鈥檚 Harbor.
In just 24 hours, our eyes have been opened to a new world. In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on the tiny Bahamian island of San Salvador. 525 years later, we are excited to see what else 鈥淐olumbus鈥� Isle鈥� has in store for us, both culturally and ecologically.
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, Stories
Carl Balsam has been appointed by the Board of Trustees and approved by the Executive Board of the Evangelical Covenant Church to serve as Interim President of the University, with all rights and responsibilities as president.
CHICAGO, June 5, 2017 鈥� As 色情论坛 undertakes a presidential search in the 2017鈥�2018 academic year, Executive Vice President Carl Balsam has been appointed by the Board of Trustees and approved by the Executive Board of the Evangelical Covenant Church, to serve as Interim President of the university, with all rights and responsibilities as president.
鈥淭he Board is grateful to Carl for agreeing to continue his deep dedication to the University by serving as president, beginning July 1. Because Carl has so generously stepped up to serve, we will benefit from his decades of experience and his steadfast commitment to North Park鈥檚 mission.聽 With his leadership, we will continue to move forward with our goals and aspirations during this transition period,鈥� said Dr. Kristine Strand, Chair of the North Park Board of Trustees.
Reverend Gary Walter, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, added, 鈥淐arl is a well-respected and trusted leader in the campus community and beyond.聽 I am grateful for his openness to serve.聽 This provides important continuity for initiatives underway.鈥�
Carl Balsam joined North Park in 1988.聽 As EVP and Chief Financial Officer, he has managed North Park鈥檚 annual budget and finances, and has overseen the University鈥檚 endowment, continuing its strategic growth to a current value of $75 million. Additionally, he directed architectural planning for significant additions to North Park鈥檚 campus, including Anderson Chapel, Brandel Library, Helwig Recreation Center, the Holmgren Athletic Complex, and most recently the Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life.
Balsam has committed three-and-a-half decades of professional life to Christian higher education.聽 Prior to coming to North Park, Carl served for six years at Barrington College, Barrington, R.I.聽 He holds a BS in Engineering Science, Pennsylvania State University; Master of Divinity, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; and an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.聽 Carl also serves on the Board of Directors for Covenant Trust Company.
Carl and his wife Barbara are active members of Winnetka Covenant Church.聽 They have two children, Aaron and Ashley, both graduates of 色情论坛, and six grandchildren.
Spring 2018 is the target date for the identification of a permanent president to succeed Dr. David Parkyn, who retires effective June 30.
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, Stories
President Dr. David L. Parkyn celebrated the accomplishments and meaningful impact of the six soon-to-be North Park faculty alum: Whipp Johnshon, Carol Martin, Mary Adams Trujillo, Rupe Simms, Jay Phelan, and Les Carlstrom. Combined, these six leaders dedicated 110 years of service to 色情论坛.
May 16, 2017鈥斏槁厶� celebrated Gathering Day Spring 2017. Faculty and staff gathered in Hamming Hall to socialize, enjoy lunch together, and recognize the years of service of long-time educators and leading administrators who will soon enter the next phase in their lives鈥搑etirement. President Dr. David L. Parkyn celebrated the accomplishments and meaningful impact of the six soon-to-be North Park faculty and staff alum:聽 Whipp Johnson, Carol Martin, Mary Adams Trujillo, Rupe Simms, Jay Phelan, and Les Carlstrom. Combined, these six leaders dedicated 110 years of service to 色情论坛.
Some Background on the Faculty and Staff Alum
Whipp Johnson
Dr. Johnson loves to teach, and in the second half of his career he discovered that he also loves to instruct others to teach.
Following 25 years of teaching social studies in high schools in Maryland and Illinois, Dr. Johnson came to North Park in 2007 as a member of the faculty in the School of Education.
Dr. Johnson views teaching as a combination of practice, profession, and calling. As a teacher of prospective teachers, he takes time in his classroom to develop in his students a bonded commitment to hard work and persistence. He is fond of telling his students: 鈥淭he journey to the other side of the desk will challenge you in unexpected ways. At the same time, it鈥檚 a journey well worth making because of the difference you can make in the lives of students.鈥�
Carol Martin
Dr. Martin鈥檚 calling in life brought her to North Park in 2003 as professor of communication arts, yet her students know her best, and love her most deeply, as director of the writing center.
Dr. Martin leaves a legacy of strong writing advisors with majors from across the whole of our academic program. She is called on often for counsel, is colleague to many鈥攁nd especially colleague to her students.
Dr. Martin鈥檚 expert contribution to teaching at North Park was recognized a year ago with presentation of the Zenos Hawkinson Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Mary Adams Trujillo
Dr. Trujillo has served as professor of communication arts at North Park since 2003. Her courses build on a belief that a combination of service, experiential learning, and cultural immersion helps students engage with the world鈥攕tarting with the city of Chicago.
Dr. Trujillo鈥檚 primary interest, and her scholarly expertise, is in conflict transformation. Throughout her teaching in this area Dr. Trujillo promotes opportunities for cultures and communities to meet鈥攚ithin the classroom and far beyond. One example comes from her course in Conflict Transformation, in which she brings together 24 high school students to a retreat with her North Park students to nurture within all an understanding of how to transform violent environments.
Dr. Trujillo鈥檚 scholarship is well-illustrated through a volume she co-edited in 2008 with colleagues from across the country, a book titled Re-Centering: Culture and Knowledge in Conflict Resolution Practice.
Rupe Simms
Dr. Simms joined 色情论坛 as professor of Africana studies in 1997. He brought with him an impressive set of academic credentials: two bachelor鈥檚 degrees, a master鈥檚 degree, and two doctorates.
Dr. Simms has taught many students what it means to have our voice, our story, and our identity, validated 鈥� which has uplifted students through their educational journey at North Park, and has encouraged many of his colleagues.
In Dr. Simms鈥� classroom, students expanded their worldviews, along with their understanding of social injustice and the discrimination that groups of Americans experience because of race, class, or gender. To reach these outcomes, Dr. Simms has always built on Chicago as classroom, infusing student learning with the current culture and long history connecting African Americans and Mexican Americans to the city.
Dr. Simms鈥� scholarship is centered on the politics of religion in the history of African people, as well as the sociopolitical and religious experiences of Afro-Americans and Mexican-Americans. In 2010 Rupe wrote a substantial text on these topics, A Gramscian Analysis of the Role of Religion and Politics: Case Studies in Domination, Accommodation, and Resistance.
Dr. Jay Phelan
Dr. Phelan finds it is easy to divide seminaries into the categories of 鈥渁cademic鈥� or 鈥減ractical.鈥� One prepares for ministry through a rigorously intellectual process without the life of the church. The other is a training program that teaches 鈥渉ow,鈥� but not 鈥渨hy.鈥� As a pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church, Dr. Phelan knows the value of theological education, particularly in the serious study of the biblical text. He came to North Park because he believes their Theological Seminary has found a way to combine both. According to Dr. Phelan, 鈥淭he intellectual, the practical, and the spiritual come together here. And I wanted to be a part of this process of engaging text and culture.鈥�
Having served as the Seminary鈥檚 dean of students from 1981 to 1986, Dr. Phelan then returned in 1996. He served as the seminary鈥檚 president and dean until 2010, when he became a full-time faculty member. Dr. Phelan oversaw the Seminary鈥檚 chapel program. 鈥淲orshiping together is critical,鈥� says Dr. Phelan. 鈥淭his is a place where we come to pray, sing, break bread, and celebrate.鈥� From 2010-2017, Dr. Phelan served as Senior Professor of Theological Studies.
Les Carlstrom
Les Carlstrom graduated from North Park in 1976 and returned to North Park in December 1990 as Controller and Director of Finance. The need for good financial accounting and controls were paramount, and Les鈥� arrival proved to be an incredible blessing.
Over the intervening聽years, Les has demonstrated keen financial acumen, keeping impeccable financial records and executing financial policy and financing initiatives with unusual skill. 鈥淟es鈥� high character and commitment to North Park鈥檚 mission will be remembered, and he has always remained a kind, respectful, and compassionate professional,鈥� says Executive Vice President Carl Balsam and Les鈥� close colleague during his entire time at North Park. His Business Office colleagues would describe Les as a joy with which to work. Les has had an amazing, maybe historic, run as controller of 色情论坛. 鈥淲e are incredibly blessed by Les鈥� presence with us these past 26 years鈥� expresses Executive Vice President Carl Balsam.
Author onlinemediaPosted on Categories News, Stories
This is a student blog post submitted by Frank Roberts, C’18. Frank is an English major with a concentration in creative writing.
This is a student blog post submitted by Frank Roberts, C’18. Frank is an English major with a concentration in creative writing.
I am one of those transfer/commuter students you only ever see bolting in and out of classrooms. Being new to the scene at North Park, I am thrilled by the ever-evolving senior art exhibitions. I often catch a streaking color of newly-installed artwork as I hustle toward the Carlson lobby elevators and vow to take a more deliberate look after class. It is not as if I need the reminder. On my way back down, I am always hooked by the fullness of these works.
Every inch of space in the room seems to be used to make a statement. Some student鈥檚 work take a minimalistic approach, letting blank space speak for itself while others choose to immerse it fully in fanciful color and complex arrangements.
A few of the pieces have had interactive elements to them. One in particular had an array of sharpies and a large banner poster asking 聽you to draw your favorite childhood memory. I drew myself perched in a large mango tree with friends in Ghana where I was born. Right before that, I stood in front of it looking over the mosaic of memories left by others. I pondered the meaning of this exercise. Zoe Larson, the artist, later on shared with me that the intent was to focus on memory and memory loss inspired by her grandmother who has Alzheimer鈥檚. 鈥淚 started looking back on my own memories in an attempt to document and catalogue,鈥� she said. Zoe had spent hours on end painting, drawing, carving, and crafting items that made the room look like a child鈥檚 bedroom or rather an elderly person reliving their childhood.
I can鈥檛 help but wonder which part of my past my mind will be drawn to as I reach my end. Will it be my childhood in a now foreign land? My years in college? Or some time in-between? It is an arresting thought that the interactions, decisions, and everyday moments of my life I often let pass without regard might be all I have to cling to when life is almost said and done.
(Several years after leaving my childhood home, I visited and saw that mango tree we had spent lots of time in. It is very tiny. Only a few feet tall. But I wanted to draw it how I always remembered it.)
Coming down the elevator one afternoon, I caught a piece by senior art major Tatum Hendrickson. Tatum chose to use pieces of material sewn together to depict the meditative hours she had spent focusing on the deep friendships and community she had created here at North Park. She described these as relationships that helped her overcome hardships in her college career. The yarn and other sewn material seemed to be color coordinated according to the person represented. Some were a more cohesive color scheme while others 聽seemed to be a varied scheme that probably characterized a more eccentric person. In response, I reflected on the connections I have made throughout my life. Some do not make sense at first. There might not be obvious similarities in personality and life experience and so I don鈥檛 always recall how they begun. Yet, I am grateful for the myriad of colorful individuals that makeup the tapestry that is my life.
There was another I stumbled upon late on a Monday after an evening class. On the furthest wall was a monochromatic scene of contorted hands rising towards the heavens. It was harrowing in the dim light in a way that made me think about it throughout the week. It was as if a skeleton were reaching out of the grave, into sunlight.
I think it a fabulous idea that childhood wonder and understated macabre can occupy the same space. It feels a little bit like stepping into a labyrinth; a bewildering maze of a right-brained person鈥檚 head. I have found it a transcendent experience walking through these living, breathing galleries. They are always fresh and insightful.
There is, however, an impression of “work in progress” I鈥檝e gathered about every one of these projects. They seem to be at an end and a beginning at the same time. I think that is because good art tells a story of personal journey. In the same way that these artists are ending their time at North Park but going into new frontiers, a journey is never done. Real stories do not move in a linear fashion but have a starting point that continues along an unpredictable direction within the storyteller as they grow, and also branches off to the listener as they carry it into their own story.
Personally, my life in and outside of school this semester has included lessons on the importance of memory and meditation in spirituality. Anxiety and constant change has plagued my spirituality. I鈥檝e craved harmony in the twisting emotion of blank space and overstimulating color. The present has unfolded parts of my life journey I do not feel prepared to manage. I feel like a mess in progress. I鈥檝e been learning in those moments, though, to take time to slow down and meditate on the various experiences and people that have given to me and taught me to be steadfast when the world around me is in flux. I access memory that otherwise lay forgotten in my subconscious. And then breathe it to life. I find I know things I was certain I did not know 鈥� the misplaced words of others, the minuscule moments that did prepare me for the here and now.
(Photos by Timothy Lowly, Artwork by Zoe Larson)
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, Stories
This is a student blog post submitted by Kaylyn Sweitzer, C鈥�19. Kaylyn is an English Literature and Creative Writing major.
This is a student blog post submitted by Kaylyn Sweitzer, C’19. Kaylyn is an English Literature and Creative Writing major.
Never have I felt so filled, yet so empty. Charles Dickens explains my situation well in the opening line of A Tale of Two Cities: 鈥淚t was the best of times, it was the worst of times.鈥� I felt completely torn between having the time of my life and wanting nothing more than to go home. Studying abroad is, in fact, the most fulfilling and rewarding thing you can do in college; however, I will be the first to say that it is also the most draining and difficult. But just because it was hard certainly does not mean that it wasn鈥檛 worth it. And I have to say . . . it was completely worth it.
Upon my return from studying at SVF in Sweden, I was frequently asked the convenient conversation starter, 鈥淗ow was Sweden?鈥� To which I found myself providing a variety of answers. I openly shared personal details and anecdotes with some people, while shielding aspects of my experience with others. No one knows the true story of my time in Sweden鈥搉ot even me. It already feels like a distant memory. I look at the photos see the familiar faces of the friends I spent both the most rewarding and challenging four months of my life鈥揳nd it just doesn鈥檛 feel real. I have pictures of me standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, the Roman Colosseum, and Big Ben, but I am still struggling to process the fact that I was there just a few months ago. I spent a semester on another continent, in a different country, learning an unfamiliar language, and eating cultural food; however, since I鈥檝e been back at North Park, that experience has felt like more of a fantastical adventure. And in a way, it was. I was living in a dream鈥搈y childhood dream of traveling Europe. It was euphoric, incredibly brilliant, simply life-changing. But it was also taxing, strenuous, and exhausting.
In the wise words of Bilbo Baggins, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a dangerous business going out of your door. You step into the road, and if you don鈥檛 keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to鈥� (LOTR). By moving to a different country, I had exposed myself to the elements of the world. In America, I know what to do, where to go, what to say . . . for the most part. I am comfortable. Living in Sweden, I was surrounded by a new language and culture. By the end of the day, I was exhausted and not just from the wear and tear of going through the day. It was partly due to having to adjust to a different environment and way of life. Even trying to process the Swedish language wore me out. I was uncomfortable, but I was thankful to be. We grow and change when we鈥檙e uncomfortable and when we鈥檙e challenged and pushed to our limits. In those moments, we don鈥檛 break鈥搘e rise. So even though I felt strained and overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity, I knew that the familiarity and comfort would come with time.
With each passing day, I appreciated the country and culture of Sweden, along with my overall experience, more and more. I appreciated walking out of my dorm every morning to see the sun rising over the city of J枚nk枚ping and Lake V盲ttern, Friday fika and Ica runs, the peace and quiet of SVF, having late night talks with my roommate, FaceTiming my family from the basement of my dorm at midnight, Pepparkakor and gl枚gg, having to use a converter whenever I needed to charge my phone, daily morning fika, and having to wear reflective bracelets to avoid being hit by cars since it would get dark by 3:00. It would鈥檝e been so easy to take the little things for granted, but the little things are what made the opportunity so special.
I really enjoyed getting to know Sweden鈥檚 lifestyle. Generally speaking, life in Sweden simply happens at a slower pace; people aren鈥檛 in as much of as rush. They multitask less and focus on the moment more. Swedes also tend to be more reserved and humble and not as showy and flashy as Americans. I love how Swedes routinely pause throughout the day for fika breaks; they鈥檙e very good at being communal and forming deep relationships over time. And that鈥檚 another thing I appreciated about Sweden鈥攖hey take all relationships seriously.
Studying abroad pushed me to grow in ways I hadn鈥檛 anticipated beforehand. I grew in my confidence and independence, and I learned to rely on myself in a whole new way. It was the longest I have ever been away from my family, meaning that I had to accept the fact that I couldn鈥檛 always rely on them to hold my hand. Apart from relying on myself, I also had to rely more heavily on those around me. I had to accept the fact that I needed to place my trust in my peers and to accept the idea of vulnerability. Sweden did leave me vulnerable鈥攙ulnerable and raw, my protective walls peeled away. Shedding these skins hurt, but it allowed new ones to replace the old, and these new skins have made me stronger and more resilient than ever before. And I owe all of this change to my decision to leave my comfort zone and take on an adventure of a lifetime, my adventure in Sverige.
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, Stories
