I Wish I Knew

How do you get from here to the rest of the world?

Duquan “Dukie” Weems, character in The Wire

I admire young folk going abroad.  I salute those who take time to study within another culture. I am a fan of students who jump into the life of other people to learn about life. I love that this might be a student experience that teaches about what is important, passionate, and beautiful.

Being with others makes me think.  Thinking makes me more human.  Rushing into the life of another country and its cultures helps me to connect with and learn about human talent and creativity.  I understand more about how Bill T. moves; why reading Toni M. makes me tremble with joy; why my mobile device is an experience; that Slick Rick has a vibe that is tough to re-create; and, why, when I drop Johnny H. singing with Trane, I encounter beauty.  I connect when I read, watch, chat, and smile.  Other peoples.  Other cultures. Stuff you can’t get on the block (no matter how good your gossip, downloads, or connections are).

Is study in somewhere other than where you’re from also a leadership experience? Is it the opportunity for the entrepreneur? For the folk who will, indeed, move the crowds.  Is this the greatest opportunity for me to understand education; job creation; the success of urban environments; immigration; citizen engagement; health; human productivity; and, happiness?  Are abroad experiences the schools for the better-making of people?

A chance to accelerate young folk into their leadership spots as people who understand climate, infrastructure, food, housing, music, and art as mush as they know about efficiency, TQM, and process?

Like muhammad my man, I’m on a world tour (well, a short European tour) to check in with some of our students studying in London, Paris, and Madrid.  I’ll be jotting, listening, snapping, chit-chattin’ and posting this week.  (I’ll even try to connect for conversation this week.)

Peace.