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Exploration is one of the foundational components of the Around-the-World Semester. We explore 10 countries on each expedition, and the types of explorations range widely. Each country involves some form of culinary adventure; some of the favorites have been the churrascarias in Brazil, the Sichuan hot pots in China, and the Balinese roast pork. Teams have also enjoyed new explorations in local transportation, including camel trekking in Jordan’s Wadi Rum, felucca sailing on the Nile River in Egypt, and Bamboo Train expeditions in Cambodia. Since 2010 the ATW teams have explored many different national treasures—a few include the sandstone city of Petra, Jordan, the rocky caves of Cappadocia, Turkey, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, safaris in Kenya’s Masai Mara and South Africa’s Kruger National Park, the Great Wall of China, and the Sea of Galilee in Israel.
Each ATW Semester is different, and each team explores new foods, new places, new sites, and new national treasures. One thing that each team takes away from the semester is a new and broadened appreciation for the beauty and majesty of God’s creation.

Where We've Been

Bali, Indonesia

ATW I: 2010

Argentina | Russia | Turkey | Jordan | Egypt | Israel | Kenya | India | Indonesia | China

2010 Team Leadership

  • Professor Adam Lee (Lead Professor)
  • Dr. John Norton(Lead Professor)*
  • Becca Brandt (GA)
  • Sam Bretzmann (GA)

*Dr. Norton was accompanied by his wife
Erica and their children Jack (9) and Naomi (6)

Peru

ATW II: 2012

Mongolia | China | Vietnam | Thailand | India | Ethiopia | Israel | Austria | Hungary | Bolivia | Peru

2012 Team Leadership

  • Professor Adam Lee (Lead Professor)
  • Dr. Tim Preuss (Lead Professor)*
  • Dr. John Norton (Professor / State Side)
  • Dr. Dan Waite (Visiting Professor)
  • Dana Burkey (GA)
  • Karen Carney (GA)
  • Josh Geisinger (GA)
  • Benjamine Helge (GA)

*Dr. Preuss was accompanied by his wife Debbie and their
four children Seth (student participant), Lydia, Matthew, and Abbey.

Cambodia

ATW III:2014

Brazil | Paraguay | South Africa | Turkey | Hungary | Romania | Nepal | India | Cambodia | South Korea

2014 Team Leadership

  • Professor Adam Lee (Lead Professor)
  • Dr. John Norton (Lead Professor)*
  • Rev. Dr. Steven Mueller (Visiting Professor, India)
  • Professor Tony Vezner (Visiting Professor, Brazil)
  • Ellie Hanson (GA)
  • Alex Lange (GA)
  • Seth Preuss (GA)
  • Johanna Steinhaus (GA)

*Dr. Norton was accompanied by his wife Erica and
their three children Jack (13), Naomi (10), and Sheffield (1).

Czech

ATW IV: 2016

Japan | China | India | Greece | Czech Republic | Ghana | Morocco | England | Ecuador

2016 Team Leadership

  • Professor Adam Lee (Lead Professor)
  • Professor Heather Vezner (Lead Professor)
  • Professor Tony Vezner (Lead Professor)
  • Dr. Adam Francisco (Visiting Professor, Morocco)
  • Dr. Jack Schultz (Visiting Professor, Czech Republic)
Guatemala

ATW V: 2017

China | Thailand | India | Rwanda | Greece | Croatia | Germany | Spain | Costa Rica | Guatemala

2017 Team Leadership

  • Dr. John Norton (Lead Professor)*
  • Alex Lange (Logistics Coordinator)
  • Dr. Russell Dawn (Visiting Professor, Germany)**
  • Dr. Mike Middendorf (Visiting Professor, Greece)***
  • Dr. Steven Mueller (Visiting Professor, India)
  • Ann Lange (GA)
  • Noah Menke (GA)
  • Taylor Quijada (GA)

* Dr. Norton was accompanied by his wife Erica and
their three children Jack (16), Naomi (13), and Sheffield (4).
** Dr. Dawn was accompanied by his wife Sharon.
*** Dr. Middendorf was accompanied by his wife Lana.

ATW VI group

ATW VI: 2019

China | Mongolia | Vietnam | Nepal | India | Malta | Greece | Israel | Uganda | Hungary/Austria | Costa Rica

2019 Team Leadership

  • Dr. John Norton (Lead Professor)
  • Alex Lange (Logistics Coordinator)
  • Dr. Bryan Santin (Visiting Professor, China)
  • Dr. Jack Schultz (Visiting Professor, Mongolia)
  • Dr. Mike Middendorf (Visiting Professor, Greece & Israel)
  • Dr. Caleb Karges (Visiting Professor, Hungary & Austria)
  • Christian Woodfin (GA)
  • Nyssa McCarthy (GA)
  • Josh Foss (GA)
  • Laura Mietzner (GA)
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