Jean Abshire, associate professor of political science and international studies, has visited 36 countries, recently signed a contract to write a book on politics in Singapore and still has time to teach at IU Southeast.
Abshire was raised in a politically conscious family in Portland, Oregon was always encouraged to make her own decisions about life, her beliefs and career path.
Choosing to study politics was an easy decision for her. Abshire said she realized at a young age that politics affects everyone, everywhere and that no political system is an accident.
“Studying politics not only seemed natural for me but it was a way to learn about how governments run all over the world, how politics affects culture and the history of every nation,” Abshire said.
Sarah Brown, international business junior, said she has only had Abshire for one class so far but that because of the class she is more aware of what is going on in the world of politics than ever before.
“You can really tell that Dr. Abshire is excited about what she is teaching and that she has so much knowledge to share as well. She helps me want to come to class because of her enthusiasm to study world politics,” Brown said.
Joseph Wert, associate professor of political science, said he has been a colleague of Abshire’s for nine years.
“As a colleague Abshire is invaluable to the department in her teaching and her service to the campus community,” he said.
“She has helped build up the International Studies program as well as the Study Abroad program,” Wert said.
Abshire is not shy when it comes to talking about traveling.
She always travels alone and with an open mind so if she sees something fascinating to take a picture of, or meets someone who wants to share their story with her, she can take the time to experience as much as she can.
She travels this way so she does not have to worry about travel companions who may not want to stop and chat with the locals.
“Being open to interacting with the locals is one of the most important parts of traveling for me,” she said.
“I want to find out what is going on in the countries I visit, how politics affects them and in general just how they live,” Abshire said.
One example of interacting with the locals Abshire mentioned was on a visit to Cyprus.
In a rural mountain village she met a few locals who shared with her, but one woman’s invitation meant the world to Abshire.
Everywhere in the village she went she saw women making beautiful, elaborate lace tablecloths.
Abshire said she was curious about the lace and the history behind it but no one in the village could speak any English.
“One woman was busy working on her lace tablecloth and noticed my expression of admiration,” she said. The woman tried to explain to me how the tablecloths were made and how important lace making was to their culture,” Abshire said.
“After she was done explaining it all to me she invited me in her home for a glass of lemonade to which I graciously declined,” she said.
“It was the fact that she knew I was a stranger but she wanted me to feel welcome anyway. I have been touched by that moment and that woman’s act of kindness ever sense.”
Abshire said there have been places she has visited where her welcome was less than friendly at first but changed the longer she stayed.
When she first moved to Germany to study abroad people were not very nice.
Abshire also said people in Europe tend to be more open to debating politics than here in the states.
She said it was nothing to be sitting on the bus beside someone who recognized she was American and then to get into a discussion about American foreign policy or the economy.
Abshire has a favorite quote from Eric Weiner’s book, “The Geography of Bliss,” that summarizes how she feels about traveling and wanting to learn about other countries.
“For me, a place unvisited is like an unrequited love. A dull ache that-try as you might to think it away, to convince yourself that she really wasn’t the right country for you-just won’t leave you in peace.”
This Thanksgiving, Abshire is planning a trip to Singapore to do research on their political system for which she has committed to do a book about.
She said this is her first book and she is excited about the opportunity.
Abshire said that Singapore is one of the cleanest places she has ever been to.
“Singapore tickets people for littering, as well as they have made spitting against the law and it is illegal to sell chewing gum because people think it is nasty,” Abshire said.
“There’s a great big world out there, go encounter it,” Abshire said.
By SARAH LEE
Staff Writer
sbl327@ius.edu