Does McPherson College continue to encourage our students to study abroad with BCA Study Abroad? Herb and I, plus both of our children, have had the privilege of going to Japan and India with groups of BCA students. Living in a foreign country for a semester or two abroad is a fantastic experience. There isn't a day when you wake up that you will call "business as usual". BCA is a great place to make international friends. Herb's and my first BCA stint was back in 1991-1992, when we spent a year in Japan with 20 American students. We took our daughter with us, and that was the best year of her life. BCA-Japan, also, provided one trip around the country to visit the great historical sites, most of which were World Heritage sites. Most impactful was our visit to Hiroshima where Hibakusha (survivors of the atomic bomb) spoke with our students at the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima. Hearing their stories, firsthand, was absolutely remarkable. The World Friendship Center was set up after the war to help foster international understandings. I googled it, and it appears that they are still up and running today. In Japan, we never worried about getting downtown, as taxis were always accessible on the streets. The people in Japan were incredibly kind, and they constantly bowed to us, in greetings. Of all our travels around the world, the Japanese people were the most polite and gracious. Several years later, In 1999, we went to Kerala State with BCA-India. During our orientation, Professor Sarada Sree Devi Amma took our students shopping to buy Indian style clothing so we would fit into their culture. Also, American clothing is often too revealing, so wearing the native attire helped us acclimate to their cultural expectations. Thus, churidars (a loose dress with beautiful embroidery and a scarf draped around one's neck) were the choice of the day for our female students. Modesty for females is required in their culture. The guys got a laugh out of it when they were taken to a story to buy lungis, a loin cloth that wraps around the waist. Since the temperature was hot, it didn't take them long to appreciate that option. Looking back, Herb and I would not give up those two years of study abroad in Japan and India for anything. They launched us onto a vision of the world that we would never have thought possible. Also, it was great to witness our American BCA students working together with foreign students and enjoying each other's friendships. In both countries, our students had classes on the native languages, as well. We assign an A+++ to BCA Study Abroad! Thank you, folks, for your dedication to the cause of promoting World Peace. We need to learn it anew in every generation.

Great bunch of future teachers!!!

MAC College is a great place to get an education.

Students, you're in for the treat of your life if you come to McPherson College. My father's youngest sister, Helen Jacoby, lived in Pennsylvania. She drove cross country to McPherson College many years ago, and she loved it. When she returned home the following summer, I was only eleven, but I listened to her stories intently. Helen was so sold on McPherson College that, when she went back to school in the fall, I managed to get the address of the college's President, who at that time, was Dr. Desmond Bittinger. I couldn't find any writing paper in our house at that time, so I got a big grocery bag and cut it open so there would be lots of space on it. Then, I wrote Dr. Bittinger a long letter about Helen and how wonderful she was. I, also, asked him to please take good care of her because she was my favorite aunt. Interestingly, the following summer when Helen returned to our home in Pennsylvania, she told me that the President called her into his office and showed her the letter. Apparently, both of them got a good laugh out of it. Fast-forward to 1982: A number of years later, my husband, Herb Smith, was asked to work at McPherson College. After his interview, he flew back home to Pennsylvania and the first thing he said when he got off the airplane was, "I have just been to the most idyllic little town in the United States of America!" As of the year, 2018, my husband and I have lived and taught here in McPherson for 38 years, and we loved every minute of it. The opportunities in a small college are phenomenal, as our faculty to student ratio is excellent, thus providing more time for professors to spend with students, one-on-one. Also, for Brethren students, the college is located next to the local Church of the Brethren. Students are always welcomed there for Wednesday night meals, and also, for Sunday morning services. For non-Brethren students, we have 20 different denominations available for students of other backgrounds.

Congratulations!