Day 001 — The journey begins

First flight and a fellowship.

Day 001—The journey begins
03-Aug-1971 (Tues.)
36 Years Ago, Vienna 1971 — A Student Journal

Photo: My first flight on Pan Am.

Tuesday, August 3, 1971. Pan Am, Flight 72, 6:00 pm, 747.

The journey begins. I’m on the way to Vienna, Austria for a year’s graduate study. Perhaps one of the best years of my life.

For each day that I have a journal entry, I transcribe the entry and then give my retrospective commentary looking back from today, 36 years later.

This is how I began my first blog post on August 3, 2007, ten years ago. I am speaking with a voice that is 36 years older and supposedly wiser than in 1971. What I say in my journal transcript is the voice of a young 22-year old. 22-year olds know everything. 36 years later, I am speaking as a 58-year old. At this age, we think we have a mature understanding of our life but are still working to pay bills. Today, Ten Years After, 68. Damn, I’m old. Still paying bills, working, and certain that I know nothing and will never retire.

However, I have solved the riddle of life and why we are here. We are born. We work. We pay bills. We leave this earth saying, Why didn’t I take more vacations?

Christopher Columbus and me. Just today in 2017, I purchased a children’s book on Christopher Columbus for my two granddaughters, Angelica and Monica. What was on the first page? “It is August 3, 1492… Three ships…are starting out to sea.” August 3 is indeed a special date. Thanks, Chris.

Back to the journal. How was the flight?

Bring back Pan Am

Received the royal treatment. Made things easier. Guitar checked “special handling.”

Met by the Pan Am photographer. Besides taking pictures, he’s pretty good at sending 40 lbs. of books down the chute. I used the “international traveler’s pose” for his complimentary photograph.

Also was met on the plane by another gentleman. He was surprised not to see my guitar. All a very pleasant experience.

We really need to bring back Pan Am airlines. In those days, Pan Am was one of the major carriers in the world. I had at least two large suitcases, a camera & lens, a guitar, and a box of books weighing 40 lbs. Think of what that would cost today. A Pan Am photographer took my picture? Another person came to see that everything was ok? Wow! Zowie! A note on Pan Am: a year later I was able to change my return ticket to go to Paris (and London if needed) with extended layovers and no change fees or increases in the price of tickets. Pan Am was a world-class airline. I dare the airlines of 2017 to bring back this level of service — TODAY. Double-dare.

As a student, what was I thinking that I needed? 40-lbs of music books? A classical guitar? I only took one year of classical guitar as a senior in college. Not like I was a rock guitarist or anything. The answer? Youth. You don’t understand youth when you are young. You don’t understand youth when you are older. However, in my blog, I do mention how the spirit of youth is full of vitality and adventure. Youth is good.

The trip. What’s the big deal? It’s just traveling on a plane.

Here are some journal entries from my first plane trip.

• 5:50 — Looking out window.
• 5:51 — “
• 5:52 — “ … Homesick already.
• My seat is over the wings…they move? (The wings.)
• About to take off…made Sign of the Cross.
• Planes take off every 3 minutes. They might as well race. One landed in between, yet.

Before I knew it, it was all over. Unbelievable plane. Unbelievable power. On the way up it turned. It felt like it was standing still — about to fall…maybe it was my stomach.

• On the way up.
• Scenery beautiful.
• Keep getting higher — more beautiful.
• Clouds both low and high.
• Flight info: 6 hrs. 30 min. to Frankfurt.
• Captain H.
• 33,000–37,000 ft.
• Going north along coast — Newfoundland — Amsterdam — Germany.

On ground, the clouds were dark and ominous. From up here, beautiful, white, and fluffy. (Whenever there are contrasts in life, I tend to bring up my “There are always two sides to every story quote.”)

• A spot of rough weather…what happened to my sense of security.
• Met a very nice girl — Californian. Pleasant conversation. She was probably tired of a whole planeload of soldiers trying to pick her up.

• Daybreak — slow and revealing.
• Arrival in Frankfurt, Germany.
• Short stay.
• Frankfurt to Vienna. 1 hr.
• Beautiful countryside.
• Too tired to write…slept. ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz

First time you do anything

The big deal is that the plane ride was “a first.”

Although many things are mundane in daily life, a first-time experience always contains elements of excitement, uncertainty, and a little light fear. As you send your child for the first time to day care, or to their first day in kindergarten, or your high school student is heading off to college, or you are performing your very first surgical incision (on a real person) as a medical resident, beginning a startup, or jumping off a bridge wondering if your bungee cord is securely fastened. Disclaimer: I haven’t done these things.

Firsts are important. They provide excitement, anticipation, variety, learning, and growth in life. They are sometimes anxious. Note on “firsts”— this is a family-friendly blog. :-)

Going to graduate school? As a grad student, I remember one of my firsts was wondering what grad school was going to be like. I was sitting in the first class of one of my courses realizing I didn’t know anything about what the professor was speaking of. Solution? Take lots of notes. Write down everything. You’ll learn.

Rotary Clubs — I love you

How did I get this amazing opportunity for a year of graduate study abroad? The Rotary Clubs.

Rotary Clubs International. Rotary Clubs are in many cities across the United States. Local business owners join these clubs to provide community services, network local business services (Mr. Retail owner, meet Ms. Lawyer.), and to socialize and meet via luncheons. In fact, Rotary Clubs are international. It so happens that I worked for a Rotarian in a small delicatessen and liquor store — Archie’s Delicatessen.

I don’t remember the exact length of time I worked for Archie’s but it was likely in the neighborhood of six or more years (high school and college). The owner of Archie’s was Nick, almost like a second parent to me. He let us do our homework in the evenings after all the work was done, and we ate a lot of Virginia ham and roast beef sandwiches. The potato and other homemade salads at Archie’s were legendary.

Rotary International Fellowship. One day, Nick asked me if I wanted to apply for the Walter D. Head Foundation scholarship for graduate study from Rotary Clubs International. It may be that the fellowship was connected to the local Rotary club or district but the emphasis was on international. Nick became my sponsor and to my surprise, I won the fellowship.

Here are two news clippings from my blog.

What were the qualifications? I suppose, very good grades, extra curricular interests (music), character, character references, doing well in the interviews, and perhaps demonstrating the qualities to be a representative and goodwill ambassador (as the article states) for Rotary Clubs International. I suppose that working retail, slicing baloney, and serving customers for six or so years helped to define my character and understanding of people and customer service. This had to be a big plus.

I owe a life-long thank you to my boss Nick and the Rotarians of the Rotary Club and Rotary Clubs International. This year in 1971 changed my life and introduced me to the wonders of the world, its people and cultures. Thank you, Rotary.

2017 Takeaway

There are a few takeaways today.

Firsts. Don’t be afraid of the “firsts” in your life. This is the joy of discovery. The first time you do anything you will be nervous—(good things only, no destructive activities here). First times will offer you excitement, anticipation, new opportunities, and new learning. You will overcome the anxiety and nervousness that are a natural part of trying something new.

Apply for fellowships and scholarships. I had no idea the Rotary Clubs had scholarships and fellowships. Look around if you have an interest in further study, here or abroad, and see if opportunities present themselves that are a match for you. There are scholarships and fellowships out there.

Study abroad. Are you a student? Are you a parent? If yes to either, explore the opportunity for you or your children to study abroad for a semester or so. As a student, residing at a school in a single location for a longer period of time offers a deeper perspective and experience when learning about a new country, city, language, the arts and world culture.

Travel abroad. If studying is not an option, explore travel abroad and discover its many facets. One of my regrets in life is not traveling more.

Enjoy.

Blog link:
Day 001 — The journey begins