What we do not know, we do not know together.

Boy, I think we are about on day three by know, and I am very gratified by the close bonding of everyone in in our group. I fully expected everybody to find a little niche, a person or two with whom they would spend all of their time, but it seems as if the groups of two or three have expanded into ever growing collectives of students getting to know each other and learning to appreciate differences. But my favorite expression of this, is the collective choir of RMC and the Bulgarian Choir. I don't think that any of us understand the words that we are singing--certainly not to a proficiency that a native German would, and yet when we do it together we make beautiful music. Somehow, a classically trained group from Billings Montana, and a much differently trained choir, in the style of Bulgarian folk, come together and make something of beauty. That is the high value of this trip.


Without any reservation or exceptions, I would say that every one of us will leave Europe more musically enriched and bring back to our choir heightened music abilities, though I do not think that is more most valuable lesson that we will have learned. As I watch our group, some of whom have travel abroad before, and some of whom have never left Montana, I see everybody becoming more globally aware. For many it was an abrupt and difficult transition out of the luxuries of America, but now I can see growth in them all--an understanding that what they experience in Bulgaria isn't necessarily worse, but different. I also think that this trip is really helping some see the incredible blessing that we have been given by all of those who support us in our academic pursuits. So for me, I truly think that the great value of this trip is the development of culturally diverse, globally aware leaders and citizens. To expand the expression, the development of our awareness is the cake, and the beautiful music is the icing on the cake!


I couldn't end without noting that last night your very own Rocky Mountain College Choir became the Rocky Mountain College Gospel Choir. A very nice Gospel trained singer gathered a small group around a piano and soon the rest of the group followed in belting a really wonderful soul piece.

Jesse