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16 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JUNE 2024 By Michael MacQueen Greetings Four Seasons Beaumont Family! In the world outside our wonderful little community I'm known as Dr. Michael MacQueen, Professor of Accounting and Finance at the University of Redlands School of Business and Society. But those of you who attended last year's PAC Holiday Show may know me as "Broadway Baby" Scrooge. And if you went to the Social Committee's Fashion Show, you might recognize me as Bond, James Bond. My friends in the Water Volleyball, Lawn Chair Volleyball, Pickleball, and Cornhole Clubs usually call me Mike, or Mikey. A couple of my colleagues on the Finance Committee call me The Professor. And if you saw me wearing my clan kilt at the annual Wine Club Holiday Party you might have thought I was a Scots Highlander. So let me ask you, isn't that the great thing about living here? It doesn't matter who you are or what you did before you arrived, you are now an official member of the Four Seasons Beaumont community, a place where you have so many opportunities to share your talent with the rest of us! Who doesn't love Janine's line dancing classes and her big "Barn Burner" parties? How about an awesome evening of karaoke with DJ Dave? And don't forget Joe's Sunday Night Trivia. Or Gail's Games. Or Karen's Name that Tune evenings. How about a potluck with the Italian American Club? Or would you like to join "Hinks Fan Club" for Wednesday night "Piano and Pasta" in the Bistro? The possibilities for fun are almost endless! Since moving here three years ago, my wife, Leah, and I have had the pleasure of participating in all the aforementioned activities, and we thank everyone who has stepped up to share their time, talents, and passion. One of my passions I'd like to share is traveling with purpose. What are some of the more common reasons people choose to travel? One might be to get away from the daily routine and discover unfamiliar locales. Another could be to fulfill a desire to explore new cultures, sights, sounds, and tastes. And while there might be any number of reasons for someone to take a trip, traveling with purpose adds another element to the experience. When you travel with purpose you have a clear objective for your journey. Perhaps your reason for traveling might be to discover your ancestry by visiting a long lost relative in Japan. Or you might want to travel to Marseille to take a course in French cooking. Would you like to expand your knowledge of Port by taking a tasting trip to the Douro Valley of Northern Portugal, the region where this fortified wine originated? Perhaps you would like to learn more about the aboriginal culture of Australia, or the Maori culture in New Zealand? The possibilities for traveling with purpose are limited only by your imagination. I discovered my special purpose for travel after I became Director of International Programs at the University of Redlands. Every year, we offer multiple short-term, business-themed study abroad programs tailored to meet the professional and academic interests of our students. Participants on these trips are motivated by the unique learning that comes through cross-cultural study, giving them the opportunity to experience global business first-hand in some of the most incredible regions of the world. Traveling over the past 10 years with my international explorers, I have visited more than 30 countries on five continents. These journeys were conducted with a specific purpose in mind: to introduce American students to the world of global business, either through visits to corporations and non-profit organizations, or through working with companies overseas on a wide variety of consulting projects. The rewards of traveling can be life changing and go far beyond merely visiting new places. As one of my study abroad students noted, "The things I witnessed and experienced cannot be learned from a textbook. We often times develop prejudices about people, places, or things because we are misinformed or fear things that are different from us, but through this experience, I realize that even with our physical and cultural differences, we are a lot alike in many ways." One of my global consulting students also shared her thoughts with me, "The Consultancy Capstone in Dublin represented the culmination of my MBA at University of Redlands. It was also the single most valuable experience of my educational career. There were innumerable opportunities to apply theoretical learning and work in a true global business consulting environment." I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to travel the world with my students, and I've also been extremely fortunate to have traveled throughout the United States and internationally on personal trips with Leah, including visiting our son who lives and works in Korea. Our community here in Beaumont is a great place to live, and to enjoy all of our amazing activities with friends and neighbors. But if you get the chance, get out there and explore a bit. I promise you won't regret it! Globe Trotting with the Professor Students experience riding camels to a Bedouin village in Morocco.