Reeds gain insight, new perspective abroad
Campus Times
September 25, 1998
After two years as the director of the Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA)
program in Germany, Dr. Jonathan Reed, associate professor of religion,
is back at the University of La Verne more appreciative than ever.
Reed applied for the position and was selected by President Stephen
Morgan and the five presidents of the other Brethren colleges across the
United States, including Bridgewater, Elizabethtown, Juniata, Manchester
and McPherson.
"I wanted the chance to live in Germany with my family," he
said.
Late July/early August of '96, Dr. Reed, his wife Annette, then 6-year-old
daughter Natania and 4-year-old son Levi, were off to Philipps-Universität
in Marburg, Germany. As director of the BCA program, Dr. Reed ran orientation,
advising, the academic program, crisis counseling and arranged housing.
"I needed to make sure that the 20 American students there a year
were ready to succeed and study," said Dr. Reed.
Aside from his many directing duties, he taught a class in German entitled,
"Historical Jesus Research in its German Context."
Despite his accomplishments with the program, Dr. Reed was "very
ready" to come back.
"It was a great experience that I wouldn't give the world for,
but I wouldn't do it again for another 10 years," he said.
The German language was no hurdle for Dr. Reed, who lived in Switzerland
for eight years.
He found "the stiffness and rigidness of the bureaucracy at the
University" to be the biggest culture shock.
"What I did like was that students were expected to be highly independent.
There is no add/drop [of classes] and most classes require one final exam
which equals 100 percent of their grade. Also students must take exit exams,
no credits are given. It may take four years, it may take 10," he said.
A major difference between ULV and Phillipps-Universität were the
17,000 students.
"You can't compare life," said Dr. Reed. "The whole city
was the University, biology on one side of town, theology on the other and
it takes 20 minutes to get from one side to the other on bus."
As for his children's adjustment to Germany, Dr. Reed said they went
to German preschool and grammar school and, because of their fast learning
ability at such young ages, it took little time to learn the language.
"Natania was the best reader in her class when we left. Now that
we are back, this is a culture shock to them. Their [both children] play
language is still German," he said.
Since his return, Dr. Reed looks at some things in a completely different
light.
"American culture is fast paced," he said. "Everybody
is doing things and not spending time with people. It seems very materialistic
and more violent."
Annette, a first grade teacher at Oakmont School in Claremont, said
"Even though we have the perception of Germans working, they have more
of a liaser attitude about work and vacations are appreciated. Americans
live to work and they work to live.
"Basically I'm very happy to be back. We can move on with our lives,
I'm able to start work and the kids can see their old friends."
Nevertheless, Dr. Reed is "very thankful to be here [at ULV] because
it is a nice community, there are good people to work with. There is a nice
friendly feel with students, more of a sense of community."
With Dr. Reed back at ULV, Dan Campana, associate professor of philosophy
and religion, is directing the BCA program in Germany for the next year.
