DR. SHIRLEY STEFFENS '77
My first trip to Europe began at 5 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28, 1975,
as nine of us left Blair in the Dana van. Twenty-three students
and faculty advisors John W. Nielsen D ’47 T ’53 and
Sarah Penick went on a Dana January Interim trip to 11 European
countries in four weeks. I was fortunate to be among this fabulous
group. This whirlwind experience truly changed my life and opened
my eyes to the wonders of international culture, architecture, Eurorail
travel, European beauty in January, group dynamics, and new friendships.
There are many memories of this Interim experience: the fish markets
in Bergen, Norway; the Stave Church in Bergen; the stalled train
in Finse, Norway, where we were stopped for 22 hours, making an
8-hour ride almost 30 hours; eating breakfast with the Lord High
Mayor of Copenhagen, Denmark; walking in the Coliseum in Rome; the
Spanish stairs in Rome; being blessed by Pope Paul VI; the catacombs
of Rome; the primitive countryside and trains of Dubrovnik and Sarajevo,
Yugoslavia; Vienna, Austria; the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy;
Paris, France; the many cathedrals and many train rides.
I would like to share two especially memorable events. Because
of my German heritage, I was overjoyed when we reached Germany and
a highlight was the visit to the Hofbräuhaus Bier Hall. With
all 25 of us around the table, I rose from the flimsy chair (laden
with my heavy winter coat on the chair’s back), prepared to
give a German toast. Suddenly, my knees caught on the chair, and
I fell over backward with the liter mug of beer in my hand! The
mug hit the concrete floor, shattered, cutting my finger, spilling
the brew and my German blood on the beer hall floor! We all laughed
for days!
The second memorable event is one that is still a mystery! My long
warm scarf was mysteriously taken during the trip and kept appearing
around other students’ necks. I could never quite get it back.
Finally — it seemed like days! — our esteemed leader
Dr. Nielsen, known as Pope John to all of us, came down the stairs
of our hotel wearing my scarf and returned it to me! To this day,
I never discovered who “took” my scarf! If any member
of the group would like to “confess,” I can be contacted
at steffen@mail.nwmissouri.edu.
Truly, my Interim experience at Dana was one I will never forget.
I look at European history in a different light, with a new appreciation.
Train travel in Europe I now hold with a new respect after traveling
more than 7,000 miles on its tracks! But most of all, meeting the
people in the countries and getting to know the 25 members of our
group made it an Interim to remember.
— Dr. Shirley Steffens ’77
Maryville, Mo.
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