That's right, once again you can expect to see regular updates to this site, with pictures. I leave from Southville on September 12th. That gives me a couple of weeks to finish getting myself together. The "what am I forgetting" feeling is now with me about 24/7. This being my 2nd year now, I am reasonably confidant in ignoring it (and crossing my fingers). One thing I'm doing differently this year as opposed to last is treating the lead-up to departure time as an opportunity to get my personal life together, rather than an occasion to let it go. So, there will be no huge blow-out binges or massive credit card spending during the interim. Hey, I've actually been good this summer and I don't want to ruin it now. I hope this isn't a sign of growing older and more mature...
I just went on a small online buying spree at Franzus, maker of great little travel gadgets and stuff. Hello neck pillow (God, I am getting older). I am also working on making sure my wardrobe is up to snuff. After all, I will be in the audience of a king on this trip. Oh, maybe I forgot to mention, the new monarch of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, will be personally opening the college fair in Riyadh. That will be a high point. A low one will be that this is my 4th trip to India, and still, I will not have time to go see the damn Taj Mahal.
I will return October 19th, be in town about 10 days, then head out again, probably on Halloween Day. This time I'll be zipping through sub-Saharan Africa for a couple of weeks. The itinerary looks pretty grueling. Upon my return in mid-November I will play catch-up at the office and then take some vacation. A buddy and I are looking at going to Peru and doing the Incan Trail thing. Busy fall.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Thursday, August 4, 2005
This week in the office...
Some interesting occurances this week:
1) Had a British family come in for a tour. I have been corresponding with the father by e-mail for some time now. He insisted I come to dinner with them after work and have a beer or two. No big deal there. It's nice to get to know some of the students and their families better, especially when so many I just answer a few questions and never hear from them again, whether they come to the university or not. The father began telling me stories of his days in the British military, specifically the SAS, or Special Air Service. One word: badasses. So that was pretty cool.
2) Almost got my trip to the Middle East cancelled. I was pulled into a "pop quiz" meeting with two supervisors who wanted to know a) how I felt about the security situation in the areas where I will be travelling, and b) how worthwile I felt it was to recruit in these areas. Response A: I trust the organizers of the tours I participate in. If things get too risky, they will adjust plans accordingly. Besides, seeing what happened in London, and what could happen just as easily here in the US, there is no absolute safety. Doesn't matter where you are. Get used to it. Response B: Very, very worthwhile. Students there want to come to the US. Our government is putting a lot of effort into expediting the VISA process for students, to get their numbers back up to pre-9/11 levels and higher. It is not exaggerating to say that this is an activity that helps with long-range national security. The more students from this region who study in the US, form bonds and get to know us, then go home and become leaders, the better. That simple.
3) Our new catalog: it looks awesome, as usual, but one photo in particular, used to show a foundations art class in session, might prove problematic. It depicts a class fanned out with their easels, surrounding two nude models. Of course, you can't see any naughty bits. However, the figures are obviously nude, and there is a peek of buttock. This will not go over well in my territory. I will not be able to ship this catalog to many countries, or bring it with me. Even in countries where I can, conservative parents will not like this when they see it. Hell, forget my territory, there are many parts of red-state America that will not cotton to this.
A hypothetical conversation a friend came up with:
"Have you talked to J.C. lately?"
"Well, not really, he's in prison in Saudi Arabia."
"What?? Why??"
"He was caught carrying homosexual porn across the border."
"Yeah...we should have seen that coming."
1) Had a British family come in for a tour. I have been corresponding with the father by e-mail for some time now. He insisted I come to dinner with them after work and have a beer or two. No big deal there. It's nice to get to know some of the students and their families better, especially when so many I just answer a few questions and never hear from them again, whether they come to the university or not. The father began telling me stories of his days in the British military, specifically the SAS, or Special Air Service. One word: badasses. So that was pretty cool.
2) Almost got my trip to the Middle East cancelled. I was pulled into a "pop quiz" meeting with two supervisors who wanted to know a) how I felt about the security situation in the areas where I will be travelling, and b) how worthwile I felt it was to recruit in these areas. Response A: I trust the organizers of the tours I participate in. If things get too risky, they will adjust plans accordingly. Besides, seeing what happened in London, and what could happen just as easily here in the US, there is no absolute safety. Doesn't matter where you are. Get used to it. Response B: Very, very worthwhile. Students there want to come to the US. Our government is putting a lot of effort into expediting the VISA process for students, to get their numbers back up to pre-9/11 levels and higher. It is not exaggerating to say that this is an activity that helps with long-range national security. The more students from this region who study in the US, form bonds and get to know us, then go home and become leaders, the better. That simple.
3) Our new catalog: it looks awesome, as usual, but one photo in particular, used to show a foundations art class in session, might prove problematic. It depicts a class fanned out with their easels, surrounding two nude models. Of course, you can't see any naughty bits. However, the figures are obviously nude, and there is a peek of buttock. This will not go over well in my territory. I will not be able to ship this catalog to many countries, or bring it with me. Even in countries where I can, conservative parents will not like this when they see it. Hell, forget my territory, there are many parts of red-state America that will not cotton to this.
A hypothetical conversation a friend came up with:
"Have you talked to J.C. lately?"
"Well, not really, he's in prison in Saudi Arabia."
"What?? Why??"
"He was caught carrying homosexual porn across the border."
"Yeah...we should have seen that coming."
Tuesday, August 2, 2005
The Next Trip
Here is how my itinerary for the next trip is shaping up:
PART ONE
1) Beirut, Lebanon
2) Amman, Jordan
3) Abu Dhabi, UAE
4) Muscat, Oman
5) Manama, Bahrain
6) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
PART TWO
1) Mumbai, India
2) New Delhi, India
3) Bangalore, India
4) Hyderabad, India
5) Chennai, India
6) Colombo, Sri Lanka
7) Back to New Delhi
8) Small town near Coimbatore
9) Back to Mumbai
HOME
PART ONE
1) Beirut, Lebanon
2) Amman, Jordan
3) Abu Dhabi, UAE
4) Muscat, Oman
5) Manama, Bahrain
6) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
PART TWO
1) Mumbai, India
2) New Delhi, India
3) Bangalore, India
4) Hyderabad, India
5) Chennai, India
6) Colombo, Sri Lanka
7) Back to New Delhi
8) Small town near Coimbatore
9) Back to Mumbai
HOME
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