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Donnarose Storer-Markoe, a senior majoring in political science with a pre-law emphasis and a minor in international relations, has shared excerpts from her journal.

May 14鈥擶ellington, New Zealand

At the beginning of this year, I told myself I was going to make it a goal to travel as much as I can. Here I sit in Wellington, New Zealand, with ample opportunity to do some traveling. I鈥檓 very thankful for the opportunity and I鈥檓 excited to see what鈥檚 in store.

May 15鈥擠epartment of Conservation

After hearing about the purposes, goals, and different conservation projects, we were given a tour of the DOC鈥檚 new building. 鈥� I was really impressed with the way the lights could remember where certain people go to their office and only turn on every third light in the building.

I was amazed at all of the different sustainable practices that were implemented. I couldn鈥檛 stop thinking about how someone could incorporate all of these, and, more importantly, think of all of these practices. If more people were thinking the way these designers were and trying to implement these things I think we would be on our way to a more sustainable world.

May 27鈥擵isit to a Maori community

While visiting a local marae (whanau) we were given the opportunity to learn about the culture of the Maori people. 鈥� As part of this experience we listened to a presentation by Waereti Tait and Tess Kora (both members of this marae) on issues of sustainability within their culture. 鈥�

Their general goal is to 鈥済enerate sustainable relationships through the establishment of whanau eco-villages and learning centers.鈥� 鈥� To accomplish this, the idea is to build simple, nonpolluting homes where people can grow their own food. 鈥�

I learned a lot about the importance of being able to portray yourself and deal with issues that are affecting your community. It is difficult and seems illogical to try and address issues from an outsider鈥檚 point of view. How can we ever appreciate or fully understand issues of another culture if we are not a part of it? It gives me new appreciation for learning about cultures from someone who belongs to the culture.

June 13鈥攆inal reflections

I鈥檓 trying to process these last few weeks of the trip and I can鈥檛 even begin to sort my thoughts or make sense of all of them. I know I鈥檝e learned a lot, and my mind is on overload. 鈥� As for now, I鈥檓 glad this was possible, and I look forward to more experiences like this one.

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How did a Latin American Auggie from Colombia end up in Belgium via Minneapolis and Costa Rica?

Paola Murcia has lived in Antwerp, Belgium, for three years now, working for Dole Fresh Fruit as the banana allocation assistant for Europe. In this role, she is the contact person between the European market for Dole bananas and the production in Latin America.

This journey began in the mid-1990s when another Auggie from Colombia introduced Paola to Eloisa Echavez, then the director of Augsburg鈥檚 Hispanic/Latino Student Services. Echavez met with Paola鈥檚 parents when she traveled in Colombia, and they agreed to Paola鈥檚 going to Augsburg.

She studied international relations, political science, and French, and graduated in 1999. A year later, she took a position in San Jos茅, Costa Rica, with Dole, and over the next six years she was continually promoted and grew in the company toward the appointment in Dole鈥檚 European division.

Shortly after arriving in Belgium, Paola reflected on how she felt Augsburg had provided a foundation for this new experience.

鈥淚 have used what was learned in political science and international relations to be the professional and the person I have become,鈥� Paola wrote. 鈥淎s Professor Norma Noonan puts it better than I could, [she wrote to me,] 鈥榊ou are living international relations, which is even better than merely studying it! You are living the multicultural experiences that you have had in all the countries through which you have passed.鈥欌��

Paola would encourage current students to pay a lot of attention to history and geography, as well as language.

鈥淭here is still an image that Americans don鈥檛 know much about those subjects,鈥� Paola says, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 important when you live abroad that you try to blend in as much as possible. Also, to be open-minded!鈥�

When Paola arrived in Europe, for the first time she found herself in a place where she didn鈥檛 understand anything at all. In Antwerp, although most people speak English, the language is Dutch (Flemish). But, since Belgium鈥檚 official languages are Dutch, German, and French, she could use her French from Augsburg and fully appreciated the efforts of professor Pary Pezechkian, who pushed her to master it.

As of now, Paola plans to stay in Europe, working in the international field. She has studied Dutch and is striving to perfect her French and German. She is also now accustomed to the continental European winter, and she credits her years in Minnesota for preparing her for this, as well.

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This bell has recently come back to Augsburg, and will find a new place and purpose on campus. We鈥檙e planning a story about the bell in the spring issue of Augsburg Now, about its history, its travels, and its return home. Scouring our archives, we haven鈥檛 been able to learn much about it, or find it pictured in archive photos.

Do you remember this Old Main bell? Please help us learn more about it鈥攚here was it located, how and when did it ring? What do you remember about it?

After the bell served its duty in Old Main, it became part of Augsburg student traditions鈥攑articipating in sports and other student activities. What do you remember鈥攖ell us, even anonymously, if you wish!

E-mail information and stories to now@augsburg.edu or call 612-330-1181. We invite you to become part of the 鈥渞est of the story鈥� about the Old Main bell.

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The tour includes:

• Five days in Oslo鈥攍ocated on a fjord, surrounded by hills, and full of the excitement of a large, cosmopolitan city
• A journey westward by motor coach through Kongsberg, the historic Numedal Valley, and Hardangervidda (the mountain plateau home of large reindeer herds) to stay in a charming traditional hotel in Geilo
• A famously scenic train ride to the fjord village of Fl氓m and a cruise on the Aurlands and Naeroy Fjords
• Two nights in picturesque and historic Bergen on Norway鈥檚 west coast
• A journey south by motor coach and ferry to Stavanger, designated 鈥淓uropean Capital of Culture鈥� for 2008. Stavanger was the main departure point for Norwegian immigrants to America. After an overnight stay, the tour departs for home from Stavanger.

Cost: $3799 (includes airfare, accommodations, in-country travel, entrance fees during group excursions, tour guides, workshops at Diakonhjemmet, and 15 meals). Space is limited to 26.

For information about the tour and a PowerPoint preview, contact Patty Park at 612-330-1150 or parkp@augsburg.edu.

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Three boxed sets, each containing five CDs, will be produced:

Box 1: From Opseth to Sateren

1949-50: Augsburg Choir, with Henry P. Opseth conducting. Includes Jeg er saa glad, Praise to the Lord, and Song of Mary

1951-52: includes Sateren鈥檚 Cycle for Christmas and his arrangement of The Sun Has Gone Down

1954-55: includes Sateren鈥檚 Christmas Canticle

1956-57: includes Knut Nystedt鈥檚 Cry Out and Shout

1961-62: includes Sateren鈥檚 His Compassions Fail Not

Box 2: Sateren Intermezzo

1964-65: includes music from the European tour, spanning 400 years of music from Corsi and Bach to Jean Berger

1967-68: Praise to God; includes Sateren鈥檚 Seek Not Afar for Beauty

1969-70: Thy Truth Within; includes Sateren鈥檚 composition by the same name

1970-71: Make a Joyful Noise; includes Sateren鈥檚 The Poor and Needy

1971-72: The Redeemer; includes Sateren鈥檚 A Choral Cycle The Redeemer

Box 3: Sateren Finale

1972-73: An Ascription of Praise; includes Sateren鈥檚 composition by the same name

1974-75: Day of Pentecost; includes Sateren鈥檚 composition by the same name

1975-76: And Death Shall Have No Dominion; visiting director Idar Karevold

1977-78: Here Comes Our King; includes Sateren鈥檚 composition by the same name

1978-79: Gloria; includes the title piece by Lars Edlund

The Augsburg Choir Legacy Recordings will add to the richness of the choral tradition of the past, present, and future. Dr. Bill Halverson 鈥�51 has written a monograph about Leland B. Sateren鈥檚 life and career that will be included with the recordings. These recordings will also confirm the historical and continued significance of Augsburg College as a place of preparation for service in community and church.

The Augsburg Choir Legacy Recordings will be available early next year through the Augsburg College Bookstore. For information on ordering the CDs, go to the Music Department website, www.augsburg.edu/music.

Cost: $49 per boxed set; $135 for all three boxed sets, plus shipping and handling.

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The tour departs in early October 2010 and will be hosted by Augsburg faculty. A detailed tour brochure will be available in December. To receive the brochure, contact Alumni Relations, 612-330-1173 or alumni@augsburg.edu.

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Michael Lansing, assistant professor of history and director of environmental studies, talked about the value of hands-on learning in Augsburg鈥檚 new environmental studies program. He led the Lake Minnetonka eco-tour cruise in June, describing environmental issues of the large lake and answering questions about its ecology.

Phillip Adamo (pictured above), associate professor and chair of the History Department and director of medieval studies, hosted lunch in Augsburg鈥檚 tent at the Renaissance Festival and answered questions about what鈥檚 real and what鈥檚 not. He also led a tour around the grounds, stopping at a 16th-century Irish cottage replica to give a glimpse of what life was like then.

When Auggies gathered in August for 鈥淎uggie Night at the Races鈥� in Shakopee, accounting professor Stu Stoller kicked off the night with a presentation on 鈥淭he Odds of Winning.鈥�

The quarterly Eye-Opener Breakfast Series provides alumni professionals an opportunity to start the day with networking and a talk by an Augsburg academic. In April, Economics Department chair Jeanne Boeh spoke about the stimulus package, how it affected the economy, and what it meant for most people.

The Uniquely Augsburg concept also extends to travel opportunities. The November tour to Italy was led by art professor Kristin Anderson, whose passions include the art, architecture, history, and culture of this region.

Uniquely Augsburg alumni events have succeeded in engaging alumni in great ways to experience an Augsburg education without coming to campus. Watch for upcoming events in your area; the next one may be just around the corner.

Keep up on all alumni events at www.augsburg.edu/alumni.

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Despite the rains and chilly weather, spirits were high at the 2009 Auggie Adventure, as hundreds of alumni, students, faculty/staff, and friends celebrated Homecoming. Queen Jamie Krumenauer and King Kevin Khottavongsa presided at the football game halftime festivities and cheered the Auggies despite their loss to Hamline, 38鈥�28. Alums sampled classes from Augsburg professors, met fellow alumni authors, enjoyed their reunions, and ended the weekend with a bang at the fireworks display.

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As I write this article, we are passing into autumn, and every year this brings a palpable sense of nostalgia and reflection. This year I have been considering some of the principles and ideals I learned while a student and at Augsburg.

As alumni we are all aware of the themes of vocation, caritas (love), and the duty to be an active part of our community. These themes were the foundation of the education we received from Augsburg and are still the foundation for students today.

However, my question is, what does each of these tenets mean to us today, as alumni? Vocation and caritas are defined without much difficulty in our lives. We know that through our education we are able to work in our various fields and through love have lasting and definable relationships with our fellow human beings. But in our hectic lives, how do we define our community?

The notion of community has gone through some interesting changes over the years. We used to define community by main factors of geography and/or common goals and ideals. However, this has evolved over the years with the advancement of digital capabilities and how we communicate. Today we use Twitter, write brief emails, and compose quick text messages to communicate with one another in our closely defined lives. We belong to chatting communities, Facebook, MySpace, and thousands of other digital groups, which could be argued constitute a community.

We cannot deny that technology has given us the ability to stay in contact and have more access to information than ever before, but the question we need to consider is, are we truly following our duty and responsibilities of our fellowship in humankind?

Each of us will have a different answer to this question, but none of us can deny that we are living in a time that needs all of us to actively be involved in the world we live. My call to duty to each of you, as alumni, is to take some time to rediscover the communities in which you belong and consider how you can participate and make a difference. A great place to start is by examining one community in which you belong: Augsburg College. As a member of the Augsburg community, a great first step would be to visit the Augsburg College alumni relations page, www.augsburg.edu/alumni, and go to Get Involved. There are many opportunities to get involved and volunteers are always needed.

I wish you all happy reflections in this autumn season.

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