Globetrotting staffer talks of time away

Brett Reichert is a man on the move.

Reichert, who works in the SCAD Office of International Student Services and Student Conduct, spent six quarters at SCAD Lacoste as a student coordinator. Before Lacoste, Reichert served as the ESL director for SCAD Savannah. He also spent time as a Fulbright Grantee in Belgium and an English instructor for the Samsung Corporation in South Korea. And he has participated in study abroad programs in eight countries. Reichert recently spoke to the Connector about his at home and abroad.

Why did you choose to work in Lacoste for a year and a half as a student coordinator?
This opportunity presented itself to me coincidentally. At the time, I had just completed 2 years as ESL (English as a Second Language) director in Savannah. I was at a meeting when someone asked if I knew any French speakers I could recommend for the position. Well, I ended up applying for the slot myself. SCAD had a need. I spoke French, was qualified and was feeling adventurous. I thought about it overnight and said “yes, I’ll go.” I had lived and worked outside Paris before, so I was eager to explore Provence.

What were your culture shocks when you first arrived in Lacoste?
I knew French and French culture already, so that helped. Nothing really shocked me. I would say, however, that I was in such “awe” at the natural beauty of the area; it was hard to settle down and get any work done those first few days. Every view in Lacoste is captivating. Every town and village the students visited was a new chapter for me as well. With the technology available at SCAD Lacoste, I was able to e-mail, chat, Skype and share photos very easily back home, so my “old digs” never seemed too far away.

What reverse culture shock experience did you have when you came back to the U.S.?
“Reverse culture shock” … hmmm. I would suggest that cultural differences don’t have a “direction,” so the idea of reverse shock is really a misnomer. Yes, I’m American, but coming back to the U.S. was not going in reverse culturally. Rather, I was moving forward in my life. Plus, I knew what I was coming back to, so there were no surprises. I’d come home before after travels abroad. Shock at being home just points out the things you miss where you were, like a daily routine, ways of life, a certain food or place. I miss the calm serenity of Provence, the lack of cars, the lazy narrow farm roads, the uncluttered landscape and the walkability of villages, towns and even big cities. I did not miss McDonalds, Wal-mart, Starbucks or even cars, as some first-timers report.

What was the most difficult part of the transitioning back to living and working in Atlanta?
I lived in Savannah before Lacoste, so I moved here with SCAD and started a new job when I came back. That was stressful, finding a new place to live, learning a new city, buying a car. I remember looking out over the I-75/85 Connector one day during rush hour from SCAD Atlanta. The undertone of white noise from the city was pervasive, and all I saw below were buildings, pavement, highway and cars. That’s when I really knew I wasn’t in Lacoste anymore. I miss the small village feel, knowing everyone by name in Lacoste and the close proximity of everything you need. It’s a great place for artists to go and focus on their work, instead of all the things about life that get in the way of creativity.

Has your perspective of your own country changed since coming back?
I believe that any experience in a foreign culture puts things in your own in a different perspective. The result is that we naturally think about life on a deeper level. We ask “why?” more and “so what?” less. Travel makes us more inquisitive, curious and understanding of differences. I encourage all students to take part in study abroad while they are young. You’ll be more interesting and more human. These are good job skills, too,

What do you miss the most about Lacoste?
Waking up to the sound of a cow bell from across the valley. Telling time by a 400-year-old bell tower. The evening light show across the huge valley sky. Never a rerun. Walking 500 feet to work. Not having a car. Fresh air. Time in Paris every 12 weeks. Friends and colleagues from Lacoste and the area.

You’ve Got Mail

You’ve got mail! Or, most likely, “there is a package for pick up.”

For SCAD-Atlanta faculty, staff and students, such a message is a common pop-up on MySCAD. It always comes from Gary Owens, who is responsible for SCAD-Atlanta’s busy mail services. Filled with an assortment of packages, Owens’ office sometimes looks like the walls are made of cardboard bricks. However, he does not spend much time in the crowded space. He spends most of his work day outside, delivering and collecting mail sent to SCAD-Atlanta’s 1600 Peachtree St. address. It is a tight schedule. At 8:20 a.m., Owens begins making his rounds to the residence halls to deliver letters and small packages. After that, he returns to SCAD-Atlanta to receive all incoming packages and letters. At 10:40 a.m., he is en route to the post office to pick up student mail. In the afternoon, he has to sort all of the incoming mail, deliver part of it to each floor’s mailboxes, and notify staff and students of large packages and mail that requires a signature. Then he returns to his office for a spell, in case people come get their packages. And what about lunch?

“I often have it on the way to the post office” Owens said. His job is about more than just circulating mail, though. It also involves lots of psychology and personal relationships. Most of the time, his encounters are pleasant, he said, but once in a while, he receives angry calls from parents asking why their children haven’t received packages from them. In those cases, it’s just a matter of students not checking their boxes, Owens said.

He was not initially hired to work with SCAD-Atlanta mail. His first job was as a security guard, a position he held for eight months. At that time, security handled all mail, except admissions mail, and Owens had experience in the area — he used to work with mail when he served in the military. “I am lucky and grateful that SCAD has entrusted me to take charge of the mail room,” he said.

Curiously, this Forsyth County native’s birth name is not Gary. He is actually Willie. “Gary” comes from his middle name. Speaking of names, Owens is widely known for knowing by heart everybody’s name. But how does he do that? According to him, there is no secret. “If you come through the door and pick up a package, I just remember … Really. I would remember that person forever.”

Call that efficiency.

Double perspectives at SCAD

Becky White, an alumna of SCAD-Savannah where she majored in performing arts, is now an administrative assistant in the student services department at SCAD-Atlanta. She serves as a liaison with various SCAD departments, including the, residence life and housing, student life, career services, counseling and student support services, international student services and recreation and health. She can most often be found on the first floor, near the offices of academic advising, bursar and Dean of Student Services, Art Malloy. She is there to offer students support when needed. White shares her experiences as a staffer and a student. Read more

Six degrees of Kevin Buckins

­SCAD-Atlanta counselor Kevin Buckins saves the day!

By Megan Glasscock and Angela Sasser

SCAD-Atlanta provides services to aid students during the most trying times of their college career. Are you feeling stressed, depressed or simply in need of a helping hand? Never fear, for the counselors are here! Meet Kevin Buckins, one of the counselors at SCAD-Atlanta working for the good of the student body.

1. What is it exactly you do for SCAD?
My exact title is Counselor and Disability Specialist. I work in Counseling and Student Support Services on the first floor in
Student Services, along with my Director, Sophie Viola, and our counseling interns. We each provide student support through
confidential counseling for personal concerns (like relationship problems, anxiety and stress), academic services (time management, study skills and the like) and accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Read more