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In the Jimmy Buffett song “Manana” there’s a line that goes “Yeah, they’re freezin’ up in Buffalo stuck in their cars.  And I’m lyin’ here ‘neath the sun and the stars.”  Hastings might be a bit warmer than Buffalo (maybe), but much of the lyric holds true for me this month.  Just this morning I was working on my computer while keeping an eye on the freezing rain that once again decided to visit.  At 11:06 a.m. I received an e-mail from my sister, a senior at HC.  It was a picture of some sort of frosty glassware (a Shirley Temple or Roy Rogers, I assume) sitting on a patio table with a beach, boats and a marina in the background.  The e-mail only had one sentence: “My home for the next few weeks.”  She and about 20 other students are enrolled in an HC education class that is spending the month in Belize.  I have no doubt that she’ll be able to sneak in one or two more moments ‘neath the sun and the stars during her time there.

Despite my bitterness and jealousy (feelings I’m sure are completely normal and healthy) towards the students participating in this Belize course, I must admit that I do enjoy knowing that Hastings delegates are spending part of the January Term traveling the globe.  I can’t explain why, but there is comfort in knowing that some Hastings natives who are staying warm this month!  Actually, I think my excitement for them may have more to do with knowing that students right from Hastings are exploring the world and representing our community so well.  You can read the “Cultural Exploration and Education in Belize” class blog by visiting /.

This is just one of a handful of HC courses that are crisscrossing the globe.  At this very moment, we have students studying in Ireland, Mexico, and a group somewhere between Costa Rich and Guatemala.  You can read the blog from that Central America group by visiting http://hcdoeslatinamerica.blogspot.com/.

When these students all return to campus for the start of the spring semester in February, I’m sure everyone will be asking them the same question – were they lucky enough to find an Applebee’s during their trip?

About the author: Dan Peters

Dan Peters is a 30-something administrator at Hastings College where he tries daily to convince students that he’s not nearly as old as they think he is. Having grown-up in central Nebraska, Dan knows all the spots to have fun, eat a ton and find a celebration. Dan is a huge fan of Jimmy Buffett and is committed to the idea of one day having Jimmy play at the Adams County Fair.