Bill Arney taught Walking to Santiago De Compostela winter and spring quarter 2018. During our first meeting in the cedar longhouse, the class was provided with a program covenant outlining the student expectations. We reviewed this form and had the opportunity to ask questions. Each student signed the document agreeing to abide by the guidelines. He adhered to the program’s covenant precisely, which made the quarter go smoothly. In weeks 3, 6, and 9 students submitted a synthesis paper, which required individuals to reflect on his/her experiences in the program and show what he/she had learned. Assignment instructions and their due dates were organized clearly within the canvas module. Feedback detailing strengths and areas to work on was provided in a timely manner. Bill went out of his way several times to remind the class to “follow the form.” The reading list selection was appropriate and generally not difficult to understand. Before each Monday of the week, students were expected to have read the assigned book and portions of other complimentary text. Students led seminars were held Monday mornings to explore concepts within the book or ask questions about the text. Tuesday mornings were spent watching educational films about El Camino and other related topics. In the afternoon, the professor led seminar was held. Bill strongly encouraged everyone to actively participate and pushed students to think on a deeper level to understand the author. When the discussion strayed away from these key points, Bill was quick to redirect the conversation. He listened very intently and reminded the speaker to address the whole audience. At times his facial expression conveyed frustration because he wanted every student to be engaged in seminar. While I am still quite reserved, Bill has helped me be more open to sharing thoughts. Furthermore, on Wednesdays the class continued with seminar and had time allotted for guest speaker presentations. I was extremely grateful for these guests who provided education on various areas of travel-nutrition, gear, injury prevention etc. Bill also organized for a panel of prior camino walkers to discuss their experience and answer questions from the class. His organization of guest speakers was well thought out; I learned how to plan for a successful trip in this manner.
As we near our departure date, Bill has ensured that students have submitted all required documentation to Evergreen State College. He has also planned our itinerary for spring quarter and booked reservations for our stay as a group. In addition, he has collected each student’s itinerary/contact information and ensured each student is familiar with WordPress by geolocation oneself and posting in the blogsite. Whenever I email him with a question, he is quick to respond within the same day. His attentiveness to correspondence is excellent; he urges students of the need to check emails daily. Bill is an exceptional faculty member as he takes on the role of professor while also the responsibility of planning a studying abroad trip. His attention to detail and organization skills will ensure that our time abroad is spent in an enjoyable manner.
Upon arriving at the starting point of El Camino Frances, I was faced with an unforeseen situation; I was threatened by another pilgrim. I emailed Bill immediately to seek advice on how to handle the incident. He quickly responded to my email and was available to meet me in person the following day. Bill made sure that Evergreen State College administration was informed and kept updated as a report was made to the Spanish Guardia Civil. He was very supportive and remained near as long as I needed. The legal proceeding to obtain an order of protection was very stressful. I contemplated leaving everything behind before even starting my Camino. Bill listened attentively and his calm manner made me feel more at ease. He never hinted at what I should do but rather encouraged me to think things through carefully before making a decision. I was extremely grateful to have his guidance during my rocky beginning on the Camino. I also had the pleasure of walking with Bill and got to know him better as a person. We talked about many topics such as Spanish culture, education, and family. Walking the Camino was even more difficult than I imagined as it requires stamina. Seeing how Bill took on the Camino with ease gave me a newfound respect for him. He is truly a one of a kind professor.