ICS team back on track in Japan

Dec. 4 – The entire Intercultural Studies (ICS) Internship team has arrived safely in Tokyo, Japan and will resume their previously scheduled itinerary there before stopping in Hawaii on their way back to Minnesota. All 21 team members will return December 17.

The ICS Internship is an 8-week global studies and missions experience led by a Northwestern College Intercultural Studies professor and staff member. During the trip students experience a variety of ministries, cultures, countries and religious groups.

The goal of the internship is to give students exposure to missions from a global perspective, and the itinerary usually takes them to four or more countries. The ICS team leaves during the second quarter, mid October to mid December. The first half of the semester is spent in a preparation workshop and other courses that help students prepare for their travel experience.

This year, the ICS Team is visiting France, Israel, Thailand, Japan and Hawaii.

First half of team arrives safely in Japan, remainder en route to join them

Dec. 2, 2008 – We received word from Japan this morning that the first half of the Intercultural Studies team arrived in Tokyo, Japan as anticipated, and are safe and sleeping comfortably (the time in Tokyo is 15 hours ahead). Those in Japan indicated that the remainder of the ICS team members departed Thailand—on time and without incident—and are expected to arrive in Tokyo at approximately 5 p.m. CST today.

Group safe in Thailand, heads to Japan

Dec. 1, 2008 – A group of 18 Northwestern College students and three faculty members—traveling as English tutors as part of an annual ICS (Intercultural Studies) trip—were recently delayed in Bangkok, Thailand because of political unrest.

The entire group is safe, with half of the group currently en route to Tokyo, Japan via Kuala Lumpur and the balance of the team preparing to depart tomorrow at 5:10 p.m. (4:10 a.m. CST, today).

The group arrived in Thailand on November 14, and members have been tutoring English at the Santisuk English Center at Thailand University. They were informed of unrest at the Bangkok International Airport and therefore made alternate travel plans to depart the country. The team is utilizing Utapao Airport (approximately two hours south of Bangkok) to depart for Tokyo, Japan.

Dr. John Easterling, the leader of the Northwestern group, sent an e-mail this morning assuring that all members of the team are safe and have continued their ministry of teaching English during their stay. They have at no time felt unsafe or at risk, and are planning to successfully complete their travels.

To expedite traveling out of Thailand, the team was split into two groups with 11 travelers departing today—via Kuala Lumpur—for arrival in Tokyo, Japan at 7:15 a.m. tomorrow morning (6:15 p.m. CST, today).

This first group includes Northwestern College staff member Melody Walburg, who is six months pregnant with twins. The remaining team members, headed by Easterling, will depart for Tokyo tomorrow. The group will finish their travels as planned, and will return to the Twin Cities on December 17.