Jan Term Turns 50

"There are few memories of my time at Whitworth that I recount with the fondness that I do when I recall spending a month traveling through France and Switzerland. Karin Heller led us through exploration of the European roots of Christian spirituality. I was one of the few people who had a chance to go abroad as a freshman, so it was my first real opportunity to connect with a professor outside of the classroom. However, it was also an incredible chance to connect with other students. I couldn't have said it then, but now, it shapes my sense of call as the Church here in America finds itself in a similar position to the Church in Europe...we're living in a post-Christendom world, but that doesn't mean that God isn't still working, or that God isn't continuing to use the Church. My time in Europe helped shape my understanding of what it means for me to live and lead in the world today."

Kimberly (Stokesbary) Briggs, 2010

"A group of four of us arrived in San Francisco and decided we would walk a few blocks to our hostel instead of taking a cab. We each were weighed down with luggage, and soon realized we had made a poor decision (don’t trust the rural girls to know how to get around a city!). As we walked through the Tenderloin district we were stopped a few times and told to get a cab, but no taxi would stop for us. Finally, a man waved us down a cab and insisted we get in. We all made it in one piece and learned a valuable lesson about city life."

Jill (Lundgren) Graham, 2011

"For Jan Term 2012, I had the privilege to participate in a trip to London, England for a Theatre and Art focused trip. While we stayed mainly in London, we had some day trips to Dover, Stratford upon Avon, Bath, and other outlying English cities. We attended museums, art galleries and professional theatre shows. We wrote journal responses and had some readings as well in response to how art and the performing arts affect culture and their audiences. I still remember how great that trip was!"

Jessica (Shirley) Loomer, 2012

"I had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania for Jan Term 2012 with Dr. Bruininks. I watched as my host family for the day spent their very last shillings to buy myself and the other two students mangoes. I have never seen anyone demonstrate such selflessness and have never been more humbled in my life. I keep a 500 shilling bill framed in my kitchen to remind me of that display of sacrifice."

Annie (Merriman) Gabriel, 2012

"I participated in the Psychology of Poverty, Altruism, & Hope in Tanzania Jan Term Trip in 2014. That trip remains the most amazing experience of my life. We lived alongside native Tanzanians, speaking Swahili, eating new foods, learning their culture, gathering stories, and adventuring in East Africa. The trip was pivotal in my faith life, exposing me to new walks of life and challenging me to explore what I really believed about humans and the world. Studying abroad during Jan Term will always be a formative turning point in my life, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity!"

Kirin (Foster) Casteel, 2015

Kirin (Foster) Casteel '15, in Tanzania with host family, 2014

"I had an incredible Jan Term experience in Thailand with Pam Parker, Gordon Watanabe, and Kyle Usrey. The interdisciplinary approach helped me see the world in a new way, as I integrated threads from women's studies, education, and business."

Stephanie (Getman) Gronholz, 2005

"January of my sophomore year is still cemented in my mind as a formative and fun trip to Europe for Core 250 abroad with Dr. Baird."

"The ability to learn about the development of philosophy, theology and Western civilization in the actual places where they evolved was incredible. I soaked it all in--the knowledge, the culture, the environment--and enjoyed every moment. From sledding in the Alps to savoring a hearty Tuscan stew in Florence, this trip was beyond memorable."

Laura (Richardson) Cullen, 2008

Core 250: "I soaked it all in--the knowledge, the culture, the environment--and enjoyed every moment. From sledding in the Alps (pictured) to savoring a hearty Tuscan stew in Florence, this trip was beyond memorable."

"During my senior year at Whitworth in January 2009, I participated in the 'Power and Politics of Art' study-abroad trip in Italy and Germany. It was an eye-opening experience to get a taste of the rich history, art, music, and culture in two countries. It greatly expanded my worldview, and remains one of the most transformative experiences I’ve had in my life. We were in Berlin for President Obama’s inauguration and watched television coverage while at an event at the American Embassy. We also witnessed how local Berliners marked the day, such as a restaurant owner displaying a cardboard cutout of Obama."

Julie Wootton-Greener, 2009

Our class at the Forum in Rome on our first day in Italy

"During my senior year Jan Term, I went on The Power and Politics of Art study tour to Rome, Florence, and Berlin with Dr. Strauch and Dr. Brody. It was 22 days of pure wonder and amazement, growth and culture shock, artifacts and pizza and gelato - more awestruck moments than I've ever had in my life. I turned 22 years old on that trip, but I felt like I aged 10 years in the knowledge I gained. That January was the best solid month I've ever had or probably will ever have in my life."

Mary Kate (Anderson) DeBoer, 2009

"I had the opportunity to travel to Israel on a Jan Term trip led by Raja Tanas my sophomore year (1998). Walking in the dirt of the Bible for a month was amazing, but what I remember most were the people we met. We hiked through the Judean wilderness to visit a monastery built into the cliffs. When we happened upon a Bedouin family during our hike, Raja translated as so we could learn about their family and shepherding. The month also included a trip to the U.N. refugee camp, and having coffee in the home of one of the community leaders there. We also spent our last afternoon in Israel helping one of the staff from the Lutheran church in Bethlehem. His family was trying to defend their land from encroaching settlements, and were going through all the law cases dating back to ancient time to try and save their property. Our group volunteered to help rebuild a wall on the property. This Jan Term was far from a tour-bus tour of Israel. We walked where Jesus walked, but more importantly, we spent time with his people and heard their stories."

Gretchen (Anderson) Cleveland, 2000

"One of the best memories was being in Israel for the first snow in, I think, decades. We ended up not being able to do anything on our planned itinerary as no one knew how to drive in the snow. So it allowed our group to walk around Bethlehem and explore, find food, laugh as we watched grown men popping out from behind buildings to surprise friends with snowballs. We also had the unique experience of having a snowball fight with our hotel staff at the Bethlehem Inn. We had sat in the lounge one evening and heard these men’s stories of life in the West Bank, of having been imprisoned. They became friends over our stay there. The trip also included a trip to the UN refugee camp and having coffee in the home of one of the leaders in the camp. We also spent our last afternoon in Israel helping one of the staff from the Lutheran church in Bethlehem where we lived our last week. His family was trying to defend their land from encroaching settlements and were going through all the law cases dating back to ancient time to try and save their property. As such, our group volunteered to go and help rebuild a wall on the property. This was far from a tour bus type of tour of Israel. We walked where Jesus walked, but more importantly, we spent time with his people and heard their stories."

Gretchen Cleveland '00, Jan Term 1998 in Israel with Raja Tanas

"Native American Culture & Christianity class on the Nez Perce reservation. Great experience seeing the blending of Christian faith with old traditions. I experienced a Nez Perce sweat lodge with some of the elders, and I got to eat the best tamales ever. Once the grandmas knew I loved them, they gave them to me with every meal."

Brae Wilson, 1996

"January 1998. Professor Raja Tanas took 22 students to Israel and the Holy Land for a life-changing experience. We visited Jewish historical sites and spent time on a kibbutz. Over Turkish coffee, we heard family stories of triumph and hope. We planted trees with Palestinian families whose land was under siege, and ate meals while hearing stories of struggle. The complexities of land and faith and family were not lost on any of us as we debriefed in the cellar of a Lutheran Church in downtown Bethlehem - a space where Dr. Tanas spent time as a young man."

Becki Barrett, 1998

"Core 250 trip to Europe with Forrest Baird, 1997. In addition to traveling to Pompeii, Rome, Florence, Paris and London, we stayed in Zermatt, Switzerland. We took a break from learning about the Reformation by marveling at the beauty of the Matterhorn and laughing at ourselves attempting to play ice hockey."

Josh Hoops, 1999

Josh Hoops '99, Core 250 1997

"I went on the Prejudice Across America tour in January, 1998. I was born and raised in the PacNW. My parameters for understanding people in the world stretched all the way from Salem, OR (home) to southern California (grandparents) and out to Minnesota (other set of grandparents). This trip shattered my too-tiny world. Planes, trains and buses took us from LA to Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Memphis, DC and more. I witnessed firsthand the screaming prejudices and biases in these cities. I remember thinking, 'It's nearly the year 2000. It's not the 1960s anymore. When are people going to get over this prejudice thing?' Yet, here we are, 20 years later, and racial, religious, sexual orientation, gender, etc. prejudices and violence rage beyond anything present on that tour. I'll never forget how my mind was opened that Jan Term, as it has helped me love others, checking my ingrown thought processes and filters. It's both humbling and empowering to see my prejudices flare up in my face years after the tour. In those precise moments, I become free to love people who are different from me. This is, after all, how I want to live in my pursuit of Jesus, but it took walkin' in Memphis to move in me to do it, even 20 years later."

Jodi Carlson, 1999

"I learned so much about the world around me. I took three off-campus trips for Jan Term and each one taught me about a new culture. Studying volcanoes in Hawaii was the first time I ever had teriyaki food, and the Chinese celebrated their 200 years on the islands. Studying Paul's walks in Greece gave me a completely new view on a culture I would never have thought I wanted to know about. And, of course, Core 250 across Europe allowed me to dip my toe in so many different cultures. I never would have found my love for travel if it weren't for Jan Term at Whitworth."

Kathleen Cole, 1991

"Because of Jan Term, I feel like I witnessed a world that no longer exists. I was part of the inaugural Jan Term trip to West Berlin in January, 1988. I remember thinking at the time that if communist East and democratic West Germany reunited in my lifetime, it would be a miracle. Little did I know that the first step in that reunification, the crumbling of the Berlin Wall, would be less than three years later."

David Kennaly, 1988

East Berlin, 1988

"One Jan Term, I took a class about the perspective of family through the media - basically looking at how family is portrayed in movies, plays and TV shows. Not only did it challenge my own experiences and opinions of 'family,' it pushed me to formulate my goals for my 'family of the future.' Thirty-five years later, I am on the other side of raising a family, looking back to determine what it was that made our years together so successful and rewarding. I really believe this class helped me to realize I had an opportunity to create the family I'd always wanted, that I had the power and the control to set up family norms and traditions that would make things different for my children than they were for me. I was able to take the good things I already knew about families and intentionally add experiences and routines to them to make this one mine. I have helped to create an amazing family that surrounds me with support and love - nothing means more to me."

Glenna (Carlson) Ainley, 1984

"I went out with a priest on a night walk ministry in San Francisco. I saw him work with people at low points in their lives, and it opened my eyes to a whole new world and a place in need of people to just listen to them."

Tammy Dee Jones, 1984

"I am one of nine children, and Mom always taught us that travel is the best education. I used my inheritance from my grandmother and headed to Italy in January 1970 to study Renaissance art. Dr. Koehler and Russell Larson gave us so many lasting memories. Seeing Michaelangelo's 'David' outside of an art book brought me to tears. There's nothing like the real thing! January Term was new in 1970 and it was the best!"

Wendi Herd (Krieg), 1970

"Under Al Gunderson's direction, a number of students participated in The Great Cross Country Race, a children's play. We pulled the whole show together in two weeks and performed that very first Jan Term. We also performed at a local school for children with disabilities. A number of lines in the play made fun of other characters, calling them idiots or stupid. We quickly realized in this setting that these words would be hurtful to the students.These words, and worse, had been said to these young people. So we all spontaneously began to make up new lines that were simply delightful to our audience, like 'You are such a silly turnip!'

"This packed audience, sitting in rapt attention on the floor of the school cafeteria, loved the play. By the end, we Whitworthians were teary, knowing we had adapted the show lovingly to our audience, who found the message of the tortoise beating the obnoxious hare to be entertaining and inspiring. For we had been blessed to perform before many 'tortoises' who had been made fun of. It has been a lovely memory I have carried for, now, 50 years."

Steve Gorman, 1971

"I went to Guatemala with Dr. Hicks' biology class in 1970. It was the first time I had gone out of the country. It was an incredible learning experience for me. I am not sure how much biology I learned, but I have never forgotten the experience. We stayed at a small seminary, with local people cooking for us. I even cut my foot on a Coke bottle at a pool and had to go to a local hospital for stitches. Even that visit is etched in my memory. The hospital was dark, very small and looked in need of fresh paint. I hopped around on one foot the rest of the trip. I became good friends with the Hicks family and they came to my wedding. My Jan Term experience in Guatemala forever changed my worldview and made me eager to go to more places and enjoy the experience of other cultures. Thank you, Whitworth!"

Faith (Cizik) Skater, 1972

"During Jan Term 1972, I was privileged to go on a tour of European pipe organs with Pacific Lutheran University. We saw and played pipe organs in England, France, Holland, Germany and Denmark. We were able to be in some of the old and beautiful cathedrals, playing some magnificent instruments. It is an experience I will never forget."

Jill (Parke Cook), 1972