The January Series has student groups meet with the guests. It's conducive to talking. The Gootjeses, who moved into Ravenswood last September, have hosted over 150 overnight guests, as well as provided hospitality for departmental meetings. They applied to live in Ravenswood after learning that the last residents were moving out. According to the Gootjeses many visitors find Ravenswood a better place to stay than most hotels.
People are reluctant to come and then want to come back.
The Gootjeses said the house usually has 60-70 percent occupancy during the school year, but the numbers are slightly lower during the summer. One of the best parts of the job, the Gootjeses agree, is meeting and speaking with the guests. We're people people. The guests often relax together, even if they had not previously known each other, comparing experiences and areas of expertise. The Gootjeses have hosted guests from all over the world during the past seven months, including several from South Africa, Russia, France, the Netherlands, Ghana, Palestine and all over the United States and Canada.