Chapter One - Philly First Stop

Chapter One - Philly First Stop

My Journal Entry

Hello Virtual Traveling Friends

I am typing away answering messages today in my first

internet cafe with American rap music

booming away all around me.

I spent 5 days in Philadelphia. The

first morning was begun with a beautiful fog to

look through from my 11th floor corner room in the

Marriott Courtyard next to the famous classical

architectural monument, the Philly city hall.

Going to the American Creativity Association

Conference was a warm-up for my trip. Some of my

international friends were there from Taiwan,

Singapore, Denmark, Italy, Canada.

Now I am beginning my first day in Osaka.

I will report more later. My time is about to wind

down.

Best wishes to you.

Wandering Alan

This trip was the result of months of planning.  Hundreds of emails to colleagues around the globe in the various countries I would be visiting asking for names of people to visit in their countries.  

After taking my first Global Trip in 2001 that I had spent hundreds of hours planning from September 2000 until the end of June when I left on the trip and had to make many changes to my set plans I was going to TRULY plan this trip more effectively and efficiently to eliminate the stress of change, last minute change.

My 2001 trip was an ESCAPE from my life after Merry's year of illness and eventual death.  I was simply GETTING AWAY, going places I had NEVER BEEN before.

During the last month of planning much of my 2001 GETTING AWAY TRIP turned into a MARKETING TRIP with speeches or workshops in almost all the countries I was traveling to.  My hosts and contacts in the countries on my itinerary had asked if while I was there "would you be willing to give a presentation or a workshop?"

That is not a necessary question to ask a speaker, trainer, consultant who loves to speak, give workshops or training programs or a teach as a college professor. 

Each time my hosts and contacts asked I gladly said yes 

from Christchurch on my night I arrived to Copenhagen to Paris on my last night before heading back to the USA.

During my planning of my ENDLESS SPRING trip I asked contacts and hosts if they knew of any possible groups I might speak for: for Free or for FEE!  With their help many engagements were set up.

With the help of many people, some I had known for 20 years or more or simply were contacts through mutual colleagues or friends this time I was able to set up speeches and workshops in every country I was traveling to.

My first country was the USA, specifically Philadelphia where I would be presenting at the American Creativity Association International Conference.

I was prepared.  I had my plan.

But then LIFE HAPPENED once again.

BON VOYAGE once again.