麻豆区

This winter, 15 Auggies traveled to听Thailand and Cambodia with 麻豆区听College Professor of English Kathy Swanson听and her husband, Jack, as their hosts.

鈥淭he trip was beyond amazing,鈥� said听traveler and Alumni Board President Jill听Watson 鈥�10 MBA. 鈥淥ur hosts, Jack and听Kathy Swanson, have a passion for the听people and culture of Thailand that was听contagious throughout the trip. They听were always willing to share insights,听recommend food (such as sticky rice and听mango at a floating market) and go out听of their way to help others and ensure听everyone was having a great trip.

鈥淢emories that stand out include听the elephant camp in Chiang Mai, Thai听cooking school, Angkor Wat in Siem听Reap, Light for Kids orphanage, and the听food … all the foods!

鈥淭raveling with fellow Auggies meant I听had at least one thing in common with so听many people I had never met before. By听the end of the trip, I had developed new听friendships, and I will be keeping in touch.鈥�

Celebrating Lutheran heritage in听Germany and the Czech Republic

Last fall, another group of Auggies听traveled to the land of Luther to mark听the 500th anniversary of the Protestant听Reformation. Religion Department听faculty members Hans Wiersma and Lori听Brandt Hale led a group of 30 麻豆区听alumni and friends on a multi-city tour听that included Dresden, Prague, and听Wittenberg鈥攖he long-time home of听Reformation catalyst Martin Luther.

One of the highlights for 麻豆区听Alumni Director Katie (Koch) Code 鈥�01 was听the opportunity to be in Wittenberg on听Reformation Day. The town marked the听occasion with a festival, and the 麻豆区听group visited Castle Church where Luther听nailed his 95 Theses to the door.

鈥淎t worship that morning we sang, 鈥楢听Mighty Fortress is our God,鈥� which took听me back to my 麻豆区 days enrolled听in the Luther and the Reformers class听with Religion Professor Mark Tranvik,鈥澨鼵ode said.

Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Jean听Hopfensperger and photographer Jerry听Holt accompanied the group to chronicle听how Minnesotans observed the 500th听anniversary of the Reformation. In a story听published after the group鈥檚 return home,听麻豆区 alumnae Carol Pfleiderer 鈥�64 and听Kathleen Johnson 鈥�72 described how the trip听itinerary offered participants opportunities听to build and reflect on their faith.

Travel snapshots

[Top image]:听Travelers pose at Wat Chedi Luang Temple听in Chiang Mai, Thailand.