Home > Featured News > Article: A sweet trip to Belgium: An international forensics tournament trip expands horizons in unexpected ways
There are three things I absolutely love: America, traveling and shoes.
Recently, my love for all three of these converged as I traveled with three other Evangel University students and two professors to Antwerp, Belgium, to participate in the 2013 International Forensics Association tournament.
Forensics, in this case, didn’t have anything to do with investigating and solving crimes. Although, as a Criminal Justice minor, I really wouldn’t have minded. This was a speech tournament that judged the competitors in events such as debate, dramatic interpretation and persuasive/informative speaking.
Throughout the 10-day trip, we were able to visit London, Antwerp and Brussels.
Each location had something special to offer — wonderful hospitality and West End theatre in London; Dutch/Flemish culture and rich historical background in Antwerp; and French elegance and tons of delicious chocolate in Brussels.
In the end, competing with students from all across the United States was definitely a learning experience.
However, while enjoying a hot Belgian waffle and wandering the streets of the Grote Markt district, I was struck with a realization. No single culture or educational system can provide all the knowledge in the world.
Extending our perspective beyond school, state, country or culture is an essential part of reaching our potential as scholars, patriots or community members in general.
Experiences like meeting the Captain of the Guard at Windsor Castle, enjoying local cuisine, learning about the history of the printing press and exploring historic Antwerp City Hall were all part of an overarching learning experience that began the minute our plane touched down in England.
While the trip helped me gain an even deeper appreciation for the United States and the opportunities we are afforded here, I was also able to experience multiple cultures, languages and locations that will forever change the way I look at history.
And to top it all off, I managed to come back with some great new shoes.
— By Anna Lester, a junior communication studies major from Broken Bow, Oklahoma
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