Becoming World Wise

by Slimbach, Richard

• ISBN13: 9781579223472
• ISBN10: 1579223478
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-07-30
• Publisher: Stylus Pub Llc

Summary

As world travel is growing exponentially, 'œalternative' travel has grown apace: from ecotourism, gap years, short-term mission trips, cultural travel-study tours, and foreign language study, to college-level study abroad, 'œvoluntourism', and international service-learning. This book is intended to help the new generation of ethical and educational travelers make the most of their international experience, and show them how to broaden their cultural horizons while also making a contribution to their host community. This book guides independent and purposeful learners considering destinations off the 'œbeaten path' on connecting with a wider world. Whether traveling on their own, or as part of a group arranged by an educational institution, humanitarian organization, or congregation, this book will enable them to make their international encounter rewarding, authentic, enriching, and learning-oriented. This book draws on the author's extensive travel and many years of guiding college students' global learning. Richard Slimbach offers a comprehensive framework for pre-field preparation that includes, but goes beyond, discussions of packing lists and assorted 'œdo's and don'ts' to consider the ultimate purposes and practical learning strategies needed to enter deeply into a host culture. It also features an in-depth look at the post-sojourn process, helping the reader integrate the experiences and insights from the field into her or his studies and personal life. If anyone intent on having their whole being'”body, mind, and heart'”stretched through the intercultural experience ' but perhaps have been unsure how to prepare for, or fully benefit from, it ' this book constitutes a vital road map. Becoming World Wiseoffers an integrated approach to cross-cultural learning aimed at transforming our consciousness while also contributing to the flourishing of the communities that host us. While primarily intended for foreign study and service situations, the ideas are just as relevant to intercultural learning within domestic settings. In a 'œglobalized' world, diverse cultures intermingle near and far, at home and abroad.

Author Biography

Richard Slimbach is Coordinator of the Global Studies Program at Azusa Pacific University where he founded Azusa's Los Angeles Term and Global Learning Term programs. He holds a Ph.D. in comparative and international education and has extensive experience living and working abroad.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
A World in Motion	p. 2
Pathways to Global Learning	p. 5
Raising the Bar	p. 7
The Common Good	p. 8
Mapping the Journey	p. 10
Wise for the World	p. 14
A Drowning Creation	p. 16
A Distant World Only?	p. 21
Competing Purposes	p. 24
Millennials Rising	p. 25
Bridging the World	p. 28
Rethinking "Development"	p. 32
Choosing the High Road	p. 35
The Story We Need	p. 40
Misadventures Abroad	p. 40
No Loom to Learn By	p. 43
The Great Dream	p. 44
Redemption Story	p. 46
Awakening From the False Dream	p. 49
An Alternative Imagination	p. 53
The Mindful Traveler	p. 71
When Ethics Travel	p. 72
Travel Worlds	p. 74
All About Me?	p. 78
The Journey Toward Mindfulness	p. 80
Making Preparations	p. 97
What Type of Program Is Best for Me?	p. 99
Should I Travel Alone or With Companions?	p. 101
How Do I Obtain a Passport and Any Necessary Visas?	p. 105
How Should I Prepare for Potential Health Risks?	p. 107
What Should I Do to Stay Safe and Secure in the Country?	p. 110
How Do I Go About Making Travel Arrangements?	p. 114
What's the Best Way to Handle Mail and Money?	p. 116
What Personal Details Do I Need to Settle Prior to Departure?	p. 117
How Do I Decide What and How to Pack?	p. 119
Carrying Knowledge	p. 127
Cultivating Relationships	p. 128
Contacting Experts	p. 129
Reading Ethnographies	p. 129
Viewing Select Films	p. 130
Conducting Electronic Searches	p. 131
Living With Paradox	p. 151
Losing Cultural Footing	p. 152
The Belly of the Whale	p. 154
The Path of Transformation	p. 155
From Travail to Transformation	p. 165
Getting Oriented	p. 178
The First 48 Hours	p. 179
Settling In	p. 181
Wandering About	p. 182
Crossing Thresholds	p. 185
Community Reconnaissance	p. 190
Regions Beyond	p. 197
The Journey Home	p. 203
"You Can't Go Home Again"	p. 204
Somewhere Over the Rainbow?	p. 208
Bringing the World Home	p. 210
"I Didn't Expect That"	p. 211
The Ambivalence of Home	p. 216
Thriving at the Margins	p. 219
Hidden Within the Linings	p. 221
Index	p. 231
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