Americans Abroad
I’m sitting in a little café outside Gare St. Lazare in Paris. St. Lazare is the train station that Claude Monet painted ‐ fascinated by the way the early morning light blended with the give off from the steam engines. In Monet’s works, smoke hangs in the air, reminiscent of clouds, creating textured interior landscapes. While I do enjoy the inherent romance of a train station and discussing the brush strokes of impressionist masters, I’m here for another reason.
My train for Normandy leaves in an hour and I’m scheduled to arrive just in time for lunch in the countryside. I’ve never been to Normandy and when I ask how it is, my friend and colleague Travis who is already there, tells me he’s eating fresh cherries off a tree and drinking the local cider, brewed by a farmer on the estate next door.
Travis’ old college running buddy Will, has a family home just outside Lisieux in the pays d’Auge region, known for cattle, cheese and apples. Will’s town has a staggering population of twelve and the mayor is an experienced twenty‐three years of age. I’ve met Will before ‐ we got smashed at a Durham Bulls baseball game in North Carolina once and now he’s kind enough to invite me to come along and hang out among the orchards, and stay in the guest house. He’s become a friend of mine and he’s now part of my network.
Your network is composed of your friends, family, people you meet on the street, in restaurants and at business meetings. Your network is the hot dog guy around the corner, the barkeep at your local spot and other travellers who you meet on the road. Your network provides you with opportunities ‐ for work, for play and for experiences that are new, and exciting. I am where I am today, doing what I’m doing because of the network I have built and maintained. Of course it takes drive, passion and sweat equity on your end to make the most of a situation when opportunity knocks but your network is extensive and full of possibility.
Have you ever been to Pakistan? Well me either but my friend Wass who slings in the crepe stand around the corner from where I work invited me to go out there and stay with him for a month. His cousin owns an ornate and delicious Indian restaurant in Paris where he took me and the fellas out to feast one night. After course number three and two Cobras the conversation swayed to us taking a trip to his home in south western Pakistan ‐ near the Indian border. Excitement sparkling in his eyes, he tells us he can get us anything we want and we will live like kings!
The area sounds hot and I wonder how we can avoid getting caught up between warring factions, when Wass says he knows a guy in the embassy that can have our visas ready within days. Naturally I start to wonder what sort of smuggling operation I’m getting involved in or who he needs help offing, but his boyish grin tells me he’s sincere. Clearly his people are everywhere and making positive moves.
As for the other branches of my nework? Well my shorthaired pirate princess in Berlin has a fleet of cruisers ready to roll when I arrive, my family in London have broken into: “the industry” and my hetero life mate in Japan is establishing a network as you read. At least he is when he’s not teaching English, getting rip roaring drunk, practicing his Japanese and learning about wabi‐sabi from 90‐year‐old gurus who can drink him under the table. Though he may be turning Japanese, Nick has our world plan in mind and is assembling a crew, and creating a presence in the East. We are building a network that is far reaching, integrated and just waiting to be utilized. Plug in and ride the wave. Happy adventuring, I’ve got a train to catch.
‐ Ned Phillips
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