Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

That is the opening stanza to one of my favorite books, Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! I have often read this book to both of my boys for my own benefit. It tells the tale in a Seussian way of what is possible in life when one sets his mind to it.

While I have certainly worked to participate in the Marshall Fellowship program, my trip to Europe would not be possible with out some wonderful people and institutions. I think it is important to recognize them here as we get started. 

As I’ve discussed this trip with others three questions always seem to come up…

1. Is this work or vacation?

My answer is neither really.

This is almost always followed by a verbal response something like “huh-what?”

I then explain that it is a fellowship designed to increase trans-Atlantic understanding between the United States and Europe. The program is sponsored and operated by the German Marshall Fund.

In the words of the German Marshall Fund, “The Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF) provides a unique opportunity for emerging leaders from the United States and Europe to explore societies, institutions, and people on the other side of the Atlantic.”

Many folks think this sounds like work while others agree with me that this probably more of a vacation.

2. What are you going to do?

A lot of really cool stuff with folks I would probably never meet on my own.

Huh-what?

I’m going to travel to Europe with 17 new friends (read - strangers) from all across the United States. We’ll visit cities in northern, central, and southern Europe to get a feel for the diversity of the continent and its people.

We’ll meet members of the EU parliament, local government leaders, business leaders, members of the media, academia, and have personal meetings and home stays. I’ll basically be immersed in European culture and share my North Carolina and US heritage.

3. How did you learn about this?

Terrorism

Huh-what?

In 2002 on the one-year anniversary of 9/11 the Triangle World Affairs Council sponsored an event called Diplomacy in the Age of Terrorism at the North Carolina State Capitol. I went to hear US Ambassador Bruce Laingen, who was taken hostage for 444 days in Iran in 1979. I thought to myself, now here is a man with some perspective. I was right and I really appreciated hearing him speak about our world then and now.

While there I learned more about the World Affairs Council and met Todd Culpepper. I also discovered the North Carolina Center for International Understanding and met Millie Ravenel. These wonderful people and great organizations helped me host two European fellows last year and have been valuable resources as my interest and involvement in international issues has grown.

These are some great organizations and I hope you’ll follow the links I’ve posted to the side to check them out for yourself.

I must also thank my bride for tremendous support...good luck with the boys while I'm gone!  Others that have helped me include Jim and Jimmy Goodmon and the great folks at Capitol Broadcasting, Dean Ira Weiss of the NC State College of Management, and my dive buddy Rick Ducey. 

Well, that is the background on this trip and as Dr. Seuss ends his great book it is time for me to…

…get on my way!

My next post will likely be from Paris where I’m to meet a spectacular artist on my first day there.