As participants in next fall's Term in the Middle East debark the plane at their first destination, it will be hard to discern the glow on Richard and Wendy Allen's faces from those of the college's younger generation. The Allens, both passionate St. Olaf professors, are eager to explore Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, and Greece hand-in-hand with approximately 20 St. Olaf students. The program has taken students with wanderlust to the Middle East for 30 years.

Program preparation

The Allen's anticipation has compounded during their four years of planning. Richard and Wendy, both avid "Francophiles," have been married for 29 years, almost as long as they have been at St. Olaf. Wendy, a professor in the French department, has studied "culture through the lens of language" for the past 15 years. In her 24 years on the college's faculty, she has served as the resident director of the college's CIE program and led other abroad programs as well. Richard Allen is a 26-year veteran of the St. Olaf math and computer science departments. He has collaborated with foreign researchers on many occasions in the study of computer programming.

Barring Wendy Allen's week long stay in Morocco in 1968, the Allens have not visited the Middle East. However, the professors have made up for this by doing extensive internet and book research, poring over recent field supervisor's reports, and attending last summer's debriefing sessions for students returning from their time in the Middle East. The couple has also consulted an Algerian family friend for advice and information. Not having toured the Middle East serves as an advantage for the duo, according to Wendy, "because it places the professors on par with the students. It will be a new experience for both parties."

The Allens chose the Middle East program versus other offerings such as the Global Semester or the Term in Asia because, as Wendy Allen puts it, "the program is the best match with our prior interests. It has religious, political, and cultural components." The Allens agree that visiting the Middle East during the present time of unrest will be mind-expanding for everyone involved. She is intrigued by the prospect of examining the, "various layers of strata involved in the conflict: social, political, historical, and religious." Richard knows, "it is more important than ever that Americans are presentŠwe need to see the situation and know how we can help."

Facing challenges

Despite potential safety issues, the professors, "have enough confidence in St. Olaf to know that the college would not send us anywhere unsafe. Safety is the number one priority for our abroad programs." In order to avoid potentially dangerous situations, the Allens have already cancelled the program's Israel component, choosing to study in Greece instead.

Should problems arise, both professors know how to react. Richard admits that they have a "predisposition for dealing with stress" after their extensive travels and their experiences living in France. The Allens can also rely upon the on-site support at every destination. According to Wendy, "we are not alone; the people on-site ensure everyone feels safe."

Cultural curriculum