Ever since I was a kid, I have always dreamed of traveling the world, seeing the sights, tasting the food, exploring new lands and new cultures.
I used to sit in my third grade class, spin my teacher’s globe and imagine myself in far off adventures across the oceans. Recently, that dream became a reality.
I am a junior innovator with the Ned Ray McWherter Institute. Our class planned a European trip over the semester. It was a trip that would take us to three beautiful cities in three different countries.
We went in search of discovering new ways to innovate our communities here at home. We carefully planned, making sure we adapted to the time differences and jet-lag. We made sure our itineraries were full of intrigue and adventure. We packed our bags, set our compasses east and parted the clouds to claim that adventure.
We left as individuals, and returned as something more… a family.
Our first stop was the Netherlands. We arrived no worse from the wear after the long flight. We were excited about what we would encounter, thinking about how different things would look, smell, taste and sound.
What we found was different indeed; a bustling Amsterdam roaring with people and exploding with culture, but for as new as everything was to us, we found an old culture that took hundreds of years to invent itself… a country rebuilt from wars… a city forced to adapt with the times and inadequate space.
There were no wide-open spaces. In fact, that was the one thing they [the Dutch] didn’t do–waste space.
Streets were lined with Baroque and Renaissance styled buildings with steep gable facades and were filled with thousands of bicycle commuters on their way to and from work.
The city was rich with life. The smell of the cuisine floated gently on the air. The art was in splendid display around every corner. The architecture, was so amazing and enchanting that a man could stand, as an infant, with a glass bottled Coca-Cola and gaze for hours.
It was a charming land, filled with polite hosts that were genuinely happy to meet you. We spent four days in that country sampling the food and the art.
Among the places visited were the Van Gogh museum, the Rembrandt House museum and the Anne Frank house. Standing in these places allowed me to transport myself back in time. I could only imagine how Anne Frank’s family felt as they moved silently through their secret passages, in hopes of eluding the Nazis during World War II. It was a surreal moment.
After sampling the Netherlands and all its delights, we caught a train heading for Belgium. I was excited, for of all the countries that were on our list, this was the one I knew the least about. Belgium was the dark horse.
Surprisingly enough, for a country that was neighbors with The Netherlands, this one was entirely different.
The language was a mixture of German and French, and their pride was chocolate.
We were greeted by the rain in Brussels, made our way to our hostel and journeyed forth in search of authentic waffles. They did not disappoint by any means.
The gothic-styled buildings of the Grand Palace were nothing short of grand, and gave a spectacular viewing at night. The cobble stoned streets gave us a true feel for old world Europe, and led us to our hidden gem of the trip.
The Atomium, constructed for the 1958 World’s Fair gave a panoramic view of the country which was unrivaled to pictures or imagination. With our minds and eyes bursting, we set forth to a new sensation- a tour at the chocolate museum.
It was delicious and brief and after the packed day, we sought our pillows with full bellies and full hearts.
The next morning, we took the bullet train to the center of the world, the land of lovers, the predominate capital of art, Paris, France.
We arrived at Charles de Gaulle and took the subway to within a block from our hotel. When we exited to the street level we came face to face with the infamous Eiffel Tower. It was a sight to behold!
I walked step for step realizing that my dream had finally became a reality, and that I would never be the same again. Our group was particularly quiet during that stroll, exploring and discovering le pays de Paris.
The moment we entered our hotel, we stepped into a world of unrivaled service. The people were extremely polite. The bellhop immediately took our bags, and enthusiastically delivered them to our rooms. We dined at Champ de Mars with a staff of five, graciously waiting to serve us.
Later, we took a tour of the Eiffel Tower, and toasted the city at its peak.
Paris was vast and sprawling, the quintessential city of Europe. Though we were only there for two days, we did see an array of sights. Viewing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre was quite difficult, as globetrotters much like myself had their sights also on the exquisite portrait. Still, I stood there in awe like a small-town boy on Christmas morning.
Next, we visited the catacombs inside the underbelly of Paris, and saw the remains of its six million inhabitants. It left a profound mark on us, and taught us all the meaning of carpe diem.
My education of the French language made it easy to navigate the city as we made our way to see a Coupe de la Ligue soccer match between PSG (Paris St. Germain) and Metz. The fans were so passionate with song, dance, and cheer, that even if you weren’t a fan of the sport, you would still find yourself thrilled with anticipation and excitement. It was quite the experience!
That night, I sat down with my colleagues in a five-star restaurant and enjoyed a meal fit for dignitaries.
As I lay awake in my hotel later that evening, I couldn’t help but think of James Joyce’s words, “Oh life! I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race, old father, old artificer, stand me now and ever in good stead.”
As we boarded the plane the next day, all I could think about was ways to innovate our community back home.
I left with ideas for new businesses, ways to innovate our current ones so that they are much more efficient, and ways to reduce our waste. I saw innovations in technology and education, business models that are fool proof and low risk, and ideas for artists in our area.
Our resources can achieve great things here in West Tennessee with the help of innovative leaders.
I feel extremely grateful and honored that the Ned Ray McWherter Institute gave me this experience and the professional training that I have received. I am proud to be a part of this organization and proud of our dedication to excellence.
This type of teaching and growth in an organization is unparalleled in our area, and with the NRMI partnership with WestStar leadership and UTM, we can all rest easy knowing the future of our community is in great hands.
