One might wonder: what could possibly bring a 30-year-old woman from Belgium to Crawfordsville? I cannot say that I came to study at Wabash College. Though, I would probably have enjoyed it as a student. The campus and its amenities are great, and the teachers I met there were inspiring and dedicated to their work. It remains that, I am a woman. And Wabash is one of the three all-male colleges left in the US. It seems like an oddity to me, especially since Belgian universities and colleges became co-ed in the 1880s. I also think of those who do not identify themselves as female or male. More broadly, I am deeply convinced that any institution is richer in diversity than in homogeneity. This is particularly true for institutions that have education at the heart of their missions.
I was impressed by the perks that Crawfordsville has to offer. You can try to win a pie at the Thanksgiving Pie Run on the beautiful Sugar Creek Trail, eat locally sourced meals at the Four Seasons and satisfy your sweet tooth with a turtle sundae from Dari-Licious. It is also close to beautiful cities and towns like Indianapolis, Bloomington, Lafayette and Zionsville where you can find good restaurants, interesting museums and nice shops.
Now the real story behind my stay in Crawfordsville is a simple and beautiful one: family. For many in the United States, their history goes back to Europe. If, over the generations, connection has been maintained, the lucky ones like me will find a family on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. With even more luck, you may even discover that this family is kind, loving and that you share much more than you could have wished for.
Anne-Sophie Bouvy
Crawfordsville
