Awaking to Europe

July 20, 2012

I awoke this morning to the sun rising over Europe. I left Miami eight hours ago flying away from the sun and rediscovered it rising over the Continent.  As I look out the window of the plane I wonder, again, at the very different life that I have chosen. I stand in awe of the amazing opportunity that I have received in my life to travel around the world. Very few people have been as blessed with travel as I have. At the same time I scratch my head at the lack of convention in what I’ve chosen to do. Who in their right mind chooses the vagabond life of ships after spending nearly an entire career in a traditional 8-5 office job? But as the airplane tilted toward touchdown in Madrid sunshine flooded the cabin as if the curtain had opened and the stage lights had gone up on the next act of the show.

My second contract had already begun in a most unusual way. I had been asked to spend a few days in Miami to provide input on a new process and support tools to help bring Training & Development Managers, like me, up to speed more quickly. It was wonderful to get to meet and work with many more of our corporate team and to grow in my understanding of that part of our business with which I have little contact. While there, another exciting opportunity was presented to me. In the past year a Celebrity Service Academy had been formed in Skopje, Macedonia to train new assistant waiters and I was asked if I would like to travel there for a couple of days to help teach before returning to my ship. There was no hesitation in my answer. To be able to contribute in an additional way to our company’s success was exciting. Coupled with a chance to visit a country I had never seen before, this decision was a no-brainer. It simply meant that we had to rearrange my return to ship including all the details to get me as quickly as possible in and out of Macedonia.

While business plans were evolving in Miami, I had an excellent opportunity for more fun. My former colleague and dear friend David Alba lives only 40 minutes up the interstate from Miami in Ft. Lauderdale. Although his schedule was equally as busy as mine he agreed to come and pick me up for a bit of an adventurous evening. He suggested that we fit in a kayak trip on the Intercoastal Waterway and then we could grab some dinner. What I hadn’t realized was that his intent was that we actually kayak TO dinner. His apartment is right on the water, so after a change into t-shirts and swim trunks we pushed off in a two person ocean kayak and began to explore the Intercoastal. David is a natural tour guide and the time was not only fun but also informative. Eventually we reached our destination and pulled the boat up onto the lawn fronting the water. We ambled into the heart of Ft. Lauderdale and, wet trunks and all, found comfortable patio seating at XXXXXXXXXXX. After a delectable dinner, we reversed our path and in the dark of night paddled the calm waters until we returned to his home, changed, and made the return trip by truck to Miami. If this evening was any sign of the rest of my contract, it is sure to present lots of memories and more than a few surprises.

But now the ‘surprise’ would route me to Athens, not to join my ship, but rather as a minor rest stop before heading Macedonia, a place I only knew of from my studies of ancient history.

And the adventure resumes . . .