Welcoming international students

Welcoming international studentsBy Janet Flanagan German student enjoys time at Morningside

It’s hard to imagine that Nancy Waterstraat of Germany was once quiet and shy when listening to the international student chatter about her experiences at Morningside. In just two years, the now college junior has embraced a “bring-it-on” spirit. Waterstraat is an RA, a 4.0 student, a double major, a member of the college’s mock trial team and president of the International Students Association. All of the activities at Morningside have opened a lot of doors. Morningside also exposes students on campus to other cultures. There are currently “There are so many opportunities and experiences,” she said. “It’s like, 20 international students from 11 countries ‘You want to do this?’ studying at the college. There’s another door!” Waterstraat admits in leaving Stralsund, Germany, she left behind an enchanting and “gorgeous” hometown founded in 1234 close to the border with Poland. A popular spot for tourism, Stralsund is surrounded by lakes and the Baltic Sea. It’s filled with medieval structures and historic stone buildings. A national park is nearby. Waterstraat traded it all for opportunities she has enjoyed at Morningside. “Since Morningside is small, it’s much more one-on-one,” she said. “You know your professors. I love that. The classes are smaller so it’s easy to ask questions. I can’t imagine sitting in a huge lecture hall. I like the classroom interaction I enjoy at Morningside. “Yesterday I helped judge a high school mock trial competition,” Waterstraat added. “With a small campus, there are a lot of opportunities to get involved.” Last fall she went on a mission trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to help with flood recovery. The group patched and painted the home of an older couple. Then in the spring it was a trip to Washington, D.C., with other students as part of the college’s May Term. Waterstraat was introduced to international studies when her family hosted a Frenchspeaking Swiss student in high school. Then when her mother challenged her to consider an international exchange in high school, she went for it. “I used to be kind of timid, but my high school year in Washington turned me around 180 degrees,” she said. “I used to be quiet and now I’m a much stronger communicator. I’ve definitely become Americanized.” So how did she wind up at Morningside? Waterstraat’s boyfriend from Washington state decided to play football at an Iowa college a few hours away, so she applied to be closer. When Morningside contacted her, she jumped at the chance. Waterstraat has especially relished the connections she’s developed as one of 24 resident assistants in Dimmitt Hall. “I like problem-solving,” she said. “Being an RA, I have learned communication and – how do you say it – to maintain composure. I love the experience of being an RA. I get to meet with 24 other leaders and learn from them when we meet every week.” Her presence on the Morningside campus has made an impact on her classmates. “Nancy always puts a ton of effort into everything she does,” said Samantha McCarville, who worked with Nancy in mock trial this past year. “In mock trial, Nancy took one of the toughest roles and memorized all the opening arguments. I was really impressed. “I used to think the International Students Association was just for international students but learned from Nancy anyone can come learn about the variety of cultures,” said McCarville, a history and international affairs major from Indianola, Neb. “Nancy has invited me to meetings, and she’s always very open. It’s good we can all understand each other’s cultures. It’s fun knowing people are a little different but the same.” Waterstraat, a psychology and international affairs major who was born behind the Berlin Wall, thinks it’s important not only to understand other cultures but also other political systems and global interaction. Her classes at Morningside have opened up the possibility of going to graduate school and working in an international setting. “It’s important to know what’s going on in the world,” she said. “We all live in our own everyday lives, but we should know one way or the other that we are influenced by global factors.”

Responding to disaster in Graduate’s experience teaching abroad leads to volunteerism

By Janet Flanagan

“I love putting my hands to work to help people.”

– Annie (McInnis) Chen 2008

College leaders pay a visit

While visiting alumni in Japan last summer, Morningside leaders got to watch Annie (McInnis) Chen 2008 in action. Chen remembers well their visit to her school. Visiting were John Reynders, college president, and his wife, Robin; Terri Curry, vice president for student life and enrollment; and Gene Ambroson, director of alumni relations. “It was a scorching summer day with no AC in the schools, and here they come in their suits and ties!” she laughed. “They were such a huge hit with the students, and I felt so much support and love, giving hugs and shedding tears right there at school. They joined my sixth-grade class, and we did the ‘electric slide’ dance. I posted the video on my blog. It was hilarious!”

Japan

When she enrolled at Morningside in 2004, Annie (McInnis) Chen 2008 had no idea that a few years later she would be married, teaching in Japan and volunteering to help the Japanese recover from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the country on March 11. In April, the Morningside College graduate traveled from her home in Chiba to Miyagi prefecture in northeastern Japan to help a team from Singapore clean contaminated mud from two Japanese homes. “I’ve been on mission trips before to help clean up rubble, but I’ve never seen this kind of devastation,” Chen said. “I was blown away by the power of water. We would see huge boats sitting in the middle of a field or on top of a house. The whole coastline was damaged. The rivers that come inland also flooded, which caused more damage.” Chen and the team worked with Samaritan’s Purse, a global organization providing disaster relief and spiritual support in crisis areas around the world. “I love putting my hands to work to help people,” Chen said. “It was very inspiring to be in the company of people from Samaritan’s Purse. It’s a well-oiled organization. We got a lot done. People were so surprised and so thankful.” A native of Omaha, Neb., Chen is the daughter of a Methodist minister, the Rev. Michael McInnis. Two days after the earthquake, she used Skype to visit with his Omaha congregation on a big screen during church services. “It was reassuring to see their faces,” said Kathy Jo McInnis, Chen’s worried mother. “They (Annie and her husband, Adeng Chen) are about 150 miles from the worst hit city, and they are beginning to seek opportunities to serve and help.” Chen was an elementary education major at Morningside who ran track and cross country. She held a work-study job, worked in the library coffee shop, played volleyball intramurals and starred in a Morningside TV commercial. Her commitment to her Christian faith led her to start a Bible study group with other students and to seek mission work. “Going international was made possible because I'd grown to be a leader, to think and make decisions for myself,” Chen said. “Morningside definitely played a role in helping me go after my goals and dreams.” Chen learned about the opportunity to teach in Yamanashi City, Japan, from her faculty advisor, Joan Nielsen. A teaching post was available because of the sister-city relationship between Sioux City and Yamanashi City. Shortly after graduation, Chen left for Japan and a new life adventure. She helped teach English to Japanese elementary students at three schools, and she met her new husband at an international church there. The two became immediate friends and found a common interest in mission work. “It’s amazing because before I came to Japan, I had no idea that my teaching job or this life even existed,” Chen said. “Now these people and connections are so much a part of my life.” Chen plans to continue to help the Japanese people by returning to the damaged earthquake zone to volunteer. She said volunteers are monitored for radiation leaks from damaged nuclear reactors at the Fukushima power plant, and they feel safe. “There were a lot of volunteers when I was in Miyagi, and Japan will need volunteers for years,” she said. “I encourage people in the states to rally together and come over and work. The Japanese are so willing to help and to work toward the greater goal. There was heaviness among victims because their lives are forever changed, but there is resilience, too. They are always looking forward. “I thank and praise God for the lessons I learned on this trip,” she said. “I will cherish them, as well as the people God brought into my life that week.”