Come along and take that Ride

The voice of David Byrne from the talking heads has been bouncing between my ears. "We're on a road to nowhere, come on inside" except that we are going somewhere. In 23 days we will leave for leave for Timisoara, Romania. I am honored, excited, nervous, inspired, humbled and (insert adjective here) to be part of the pilot graduate course from Gonzaga's Leadership Accompaniment course in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Timisoara, Romania.

We will spend four weeks accompanying refugees at the UN Emergency Transit Center (ETC). In as much as we will accompany the refugees in their transition into a new culture, they will accompany us in our journey towards understanding and empathy. Katherine Miller says there are times when worlds connect or collide and we are given the opportunity to understand another's construction or perhaps to change our own (as cited in Shepherd, St. John & Striphas 2006:36), and this is one of those times.

The Objectives for the course are

• Develop knowledge of and strategies for learning about the current refugee population in our own community

•  Develop knowledge of and strategies for learning through ethnographic accompaniment and dialogue

•   Develop knowledge of strategies for rapid needs assessment as a methodical process for field study and investigation

• Develop knowledge of and strategies for applying ethnographic principles of observation, interviews, and accompaniment with UN staff and refugees to learn about refugee hardiness and resiliency

• Develop understanding and appreciation of host country from local civic leaders, students, and university faculty

• Develop knowledge and strategies for thinking creatively about the role of leadership and communication practices with humanitarian organizations and local refugee organizations

"There's a city in my mind, come along and take that ride." I invite you to jump beyond your everyday routine and dig the world. This is your formal invitation to join in our quest for accompaniment so that in some way we may share in your journey because, "it's alright, baby it's alright." 

References:

Shepherd G. J., St. John, J., Striphas, T. (2006). Communication as . . . Perspectives on theory.        

        Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. 

Talking Heads (1985). Road to nowhere on Little Creatures [CD] New York: Sire Sound (1985).