Countdown to Tübingen

pictured (left to right): me, the curve of the earth

I’ve been to several foreign countries in my life, but last week was my first time in the United Kingdom (click here to see pictures!). Yes, our team took a trip across the channel to take a week and learn a thing or two from the other five Globalscopes – plus a couple guest speakers, including VP of Sales at Delta, presenting talks on themes like leadership and encouragement. If that sounds like a work conference, that’s because that’s exactly what it was.

Perhaps the most foreign thing about England is the fact that the people there speak English. When you are operating in a new language, you expect the surrounding culture to be foreign. When you are conversing comfortably in your native language, you don’t expect cars to drive on the left-hand side of the road. You don’t expect to order “chips” and get french fries. And you most certainly have a gnawing feeling that all those people speaking in thick English accents all around you are just faking it to throw you off – everyone is in on the joke on the Yank.

Perhaps the biggest idea I take away from the conference is the idea of buying the toaster, that is: settling down and taking the time to make Tübingen a home rather than a temporary stop. For many Globalscopers, this idea is pretty foreign… We are young adults who haven’t settled down since college started. Even after college, while I was raising support in the States, I was living with my parents temporarily for a year and a half.

Well, the lesson is well noted. I changed my Facebook profile to reflect Tübingen as my home. I bought a bed – pillow cases and all – even though I still don’t have my own apartment to put it in. Let it be known that this campus minister is settling in, and his toaster resides right here in Germany.