To Begin

Excitement is in the air. It's a potpourri of people and their stories here in Belgium at the Head Office. Everyone is hear for a few days before heading back out into the field. Dutchmen in the Bahamas, Americans in Columbia, Germans in Abu Dhabi and a UK'er in Dubai. These are my type of people, this is my type of scene.

I am reading Kevin Sites' book 'The Hot Zone' and a paragraph caught my eye, which sums up our excitement.

"there is a duality at work here that is hard for me to comprehend. I am enticed by the geographic disjuncture of my journey, the shock of sensory overload, the new smells, structures and lives that wash over me on these drives. Simultaneously, I am lulled by the comfort of it all; the fact that there is too much to understand. Instead of a reporter, for this moment, I am a dog with my head out the window, the rush of air creating a comforting buzz that silences the need to know more - at least for now."

Happy New Year Everyone, and I hope that you all get to stick their heads out of the window and enjoy the ride.