It's been an interesting four days in Paris and now we head to London. Paris is absolutely an amazing city (the word amazing is used way too much, but it really is here). One of the coolest things was the Hotel I stayed in Mama Shelter. It is in the art district of Paris and is this really hip establishment. Each room is small but furnished with odd decorations like Superman and Dean Martin lamp shades. They have an Apple interactive screen in each room that plays music, dvd, and acts as a TV. I have been listening to Radio Nova which is the cool eclectic station that plays funky french rap and jazz along with rips from American music.
The weather here has been awful. Cold and damp and dreary, but it hasn't brought us down too much. It does become annoying.
McDonald's is the like the most interesting thing in Paris for the locals. I dropped in one yesterday to find a "real tasting coke" and it was the hippest McDonald's I have ever seen. They actually had a Ronald McDonald kicking it in the establishment hanging with kids. And yes, they really do call the quarter pounder with cheese the Royal with Cheese.
We walked everyhwere and it was an awesome experience being led around the City by Rick Grossman, an expat. He has lived in Paris for like 15 years and he knew the history and the cool hangouts and the best restaurants. One restaurant we went to was the Le Bergerie. It has maybe 50 chairs in the whole restaurant and it is only open for lunch and it is located in the 16th district, which is the affluent area of Paris. It was really good.
The cafe's were cool and there seems a cafe is on every corner where they not only serve cofee but wine as well. Small little cafe's that have a bar and tables. What is interesting is that you pay one price for a glass of wine or tea if you order from the bar and a more expensive price at a table. That is because you are "renting" a table.
We made some really cool contacts including two very influential doctors and a very cool actress named Heike who helped with our meetings. It looks like we are going to set up our European operation in Paris and serve Africa and Eastern Europe through our Paris office. France's health care is so good that everyone is covered fully, even if you are an "illegal alien" in the country. Its amazing. But the French feel a need to help their former colonies and there seems to be perfect fit for Limbs for Life and our strategy in Paris to help other countries.
The Louvre was simply breathtaking. And the Eiffel tower was alright. But that the whole 16th area was really cool. Yes, there was cool shopping, but didn't partake. It's a city of walking and busses, but if the weather is good, I definitely recommend walking. To see all the architecture and to see and hear all the culture was quite the experience. Really really cool.
We are heading to London today by the 300 mph train. More updates later.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
More Contacts Made...
Thank you to all of you OU readers who are now following this blog! I appreciate you checking in on our adventure.
The key to success, I have discovered, is finding contacts in the countries that we are trying to set up our non-profit operation. And yesterday I think I found our contact in London. Until he agrees to help our operation, I will keep his identity hidden. But he is an Oklahoman who is a successful architect in London. So, we are to meet with him in London next Friday.
We also have a contact in Italy through OU and our plan is to meet with him next Thursday to see how we can make magic happen in Italy as well.
It reminds me of how we established our operation in the Dominican Republic, specifically Santo Domingo. Through just telling our story in the D.R. and in the United States to as many people as possible, dots became connected on their own. We owe a huge thanks to Kerrie Brinkman Green, who works in the development office of Price College of Business. Kerrie is also a friend of mine from High School and neighbor of Craig Gavras. Kerrie suggested that one of her sorority sisters was related to an influential family in Santo Domingo. She made the initial introductions and I was offered an hour by the family in Santo Domingo to tell them our story of Limbs for Life.
As it turns out, they are one of the most influtential families in all the Dominican and they not only gave me an hour, I ended up spending the whole day with them. It seems most people have family or know of someone who has been affected by a loss of limb. This family was the same and the were looking for a cause to support. Franklin and Brenda Leon have been fantastic supporters of Limbs for Life. But more than that, they are fantanstic people. I have enjoyed getting to know them better as I have visited them several times since my initital visit. We have started fitting impoverished Dominican's with prosthetic limbs with their help in the "triangle strategy" we have set up with ADR, a clinic that also helps the very poor in the Dominican. Without the Leon's family's help, it would have been very difficult to set up our strategy. Besides the triangle strategy, our foundation is working with the Leon family to establish a foundation that will help even more Dominicans. It has gone past my expectations and I am so grateful to the Leon family.
I also have to thank Kim Willis, one of my dearest friends and another OU grad, who has been such a big support for me and our project. Kim took a trip with me to the Dominican and she actually ended up staying for almost a month discovering the culture and visiting many of the towns and cities of this beautiful country. She told our story to many on her travels and was able to help set up contacts for us on the north side of the country as well. More than anything, she has been a great friend...listening to my challenges and offering suggestions and just being there at all times of night and day.
There is a high amputee rate in the Dominican Republic because of motorcycle accidents and gun accidents. Most can't afford insurance or medical coverage, so the hospitals are forced to amputate. The main mode of transportation for the entire population in the Dominican are motorcycles. And I discovered that in the Dominican, they have traffic "suggestions" not traffic laws. In fact, I never drive when I am there because of the danger. That's just part of life there. The citizens obviously have adjusted and learn to drive in the chaos.
We have a contact in Paris who is in the television business in France. He has asked to remain anonymous and we will respect that. He is also an OU graduate and has been an incredible resource for our venture into Europe. Our friend in Paris has set up many meetings with leaders and government officials. From what we have learned, the French government is attempting to help their former colonies in as many ways as possible and that would mean supplying prosthetic limbs to these countires in the Middle East and Africa as well. So, our impact may end up going beyond Europe and into the Middle East and Africa if the right strategy can be discussed this next week.
What I have also learned during my experience is that other countries do not move as fast as we Americans do. It took almost two years before our operation was working in the Dominican and I expect it will take time in Europe as well.
But as a passion of mine and my colleagues, we will adjust to the host countries culture and understand how they live their lives and conduct business. We are guests in their country and will do everything we can to help their citizens.
Only two days before we leave! Plenty of time to prepare!
The key to success, I have discovered, is finding contacts in the countries that we are trying to set up our non-profit operation. And yesterday I think I found our contact in London. Until he agrees to help our operation, I will keep his identity hidden. But he is an Oklahoman who is a successful architect in London. So, we are to meet with him in London next Friday.
We also have a contact in Italy through OU and our plan is to meet with him next Thursday to see how we can make magic happen in Italy as well.
It reminds me of how we established our operation in the Dominican Republic, specifically Santo Domingo. Through just telling our story in the D.R. and in the United States to as many people as possible, dots became connected on their own. We owe a huge thanks to Kerrie Brinkman Green, who works in the development office of Price College of Business. Kerrie is also a friend of mine from High School and neighbor of Craig Gavras. Kerrie suggested that one of her sorority sisters was related to an influential family in Santo Domingo. She made the initial introductions and I was offered an hour by the family in Santo Domingo to tell them our story of Limbs for Life.
As it turns out, they are one of the most influtential families in all the Dominican and they not only gave me an hour, I ended up spending the whole day with them. It seems most people have family or know of someone who has been affected by a loss of limb. This family was the same and the were looking for a cause to support. Franklin and Brenda Leon have been fantastic supporters of Limbs for Life. But more than that, they are fantanstic people. I have enjoyed getting to know them better as I have visited them several times since my initital visit. We have started fitting impoverished Dominican's with prosthetic limbs with their help in the "triangle strategy" we have set up with ADR, a clinic that also helps the very poor in the Dominican. Without the Leon's family's help, it would have been very difficult to set up our strategy. Besides the triangle strategy, our foundation is working with the Leon family to establish a foundation that will help even more Dominicans. It has gone past my expectations and I am so grateful to the Leon family.
I also have to thank Kim Willis, one of my dearest friends and another OU grad, who has been such a big support for me and our project. Kim took a trip with me to the Dominican and she actually ended up staying for almost a month discovering the culture and visiting many of the towns and cities of this beautiful country. She told our story to many on her travels and was able to help set up contacts for us on the north side of the country as well. More than anything, she has been a great friend...listening to my challenges and offering suggestions and just being there at all times of night and day.
There is a high amputee rate in the Dominican Republic because of motorcycle accidents and gun accidents. Most can't afford insurance or medical coverage, so the hospitals are forced to amputate. The main mode of transportation for the entire population in the Dominican are motorcycles. And I discovered that in the Dominican, they have traffic "suggestions" not traffic laws. In fact, I never drive when I am there because of the danger. That's just part of life there. The citizens obviously have adjusted and learn to drive in the chaos.
We have a contact in Paris who is in the television business in France. He has asked to remain anonymous and we will respect that. He is also an OU graduate and has been an incredible resource for our venture into Europe. Our friend in Paris has set up many meetings with leaders and government officials. From what we have learned, the French government is attempting to help their former colonies in as many ways as possible and that would mean supplying prosthetic limbs to these countires in the Middle East and Africa as well. So, our impact may end up going beyond Europe and into the Middle East and Africa if the right strategy can be discussed this next week.
What I have also learned during my experience is that other countries do not move as fast as we Americans do. It took almost two years before our operation was working in the Dominican and I expect it will take time in Europe as well.
But as a passion of mine and my colleagues, we will adjust to the host countries culture and understand how they live their lives and conduct business. We are guests in their country and will do everything we can to help their citizens.
Only two days before we leave! Plenty of time to prepare!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Planning Continues
So there will be some down time during our many meetings in Paris. And there must be a way for me to achieve one of my dreams and that is to ski in the French Alps. Today was a stuggle to get that done as I was informed by my contact in Paris, who by the way wife's grandfather built the original Chalet for the 1924 Winter Olympics, that everything is sold out as it is the highest of high seasons for skiing in France. And its like a three hour trip including a bus ride up the mountains. Is he discouraging me? Never! Alas, I will not give up even if I have to stay an extra few days. And a visit to Switzerland has to be included as well. My 8 day trip may turn into a 10 or 11 day trip. Hmmm....its only money, right?
And that tatoo thing is becomming more interesting. How about a tatoo for every country I set up an operation. Hmmmmmm....
Only three days left to prepare.....plenty of time!
John
And that tatoo thing is becomming more interesting. How about a tatoo for every country I set up an operation. Hmmmmmm....
Only three days left to prepare.....plenty of time!
John
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The First Blog and the Set Up...
So....this is the first blog to keep a record of my own great adventure. Recently divorced and begining an adventure of traveling the world to help the cause of Limbs for Life and to experience all that is out there beyond my own fears and limitation.
The adventure starts with examining my own life and trying to live the life that I can only dream of and not being limited by own self imposed limitations and by what society expects of us in social norms. Further, my passions involve pushing myself physically through outdoor sports and helping both collegiate and adults understand sports business. This includes teaching at the University of Oklahoma and leading Limbs for Life through an international strategy.
Limbs for Life is a non-profit that offers prosthetic limbs that can't afford them....www.limbsforlife.org. We have an outstanding board who is very committed to the cause and everyone contributes in fantastic ways. Mine is to try to expand LFL throughout the world.
This Sunday, February 1, I leave with two of my good friends Jerry Isbell and Craig Gavras (executive director of LFL), both OU grads, to Paris, Italy and England to begin the preparation of establishing a European division. We will be in these countries for 8 days and possibly longer if all goes well.
We have established a "triangle operation" in the Dominican Republic that is just underway after two years of establishing relationships and attempting to understand the culture of this beautiful country. I am going back down to the D.R. at the end of Feb. for the Masters of the Ocean run by one of my new friends Marcus Bohm. (www.mastersoftheocean.com). The Masters is quickly becoming one of the most respected water sport competitions featuring surfing, kite boarding and wind surfing. The competition is based in Cabarete. I hope to support my friend, get a little surfing in, and help promote Limbs for Life to the media that will be attending. One of the residents in Cabarate is a dude that lost a leg in a motor cycle accident and he surfs and kite boards with one leg. It is truly amazing. We are going to get him a prosthetic limb as well, if he will accept it.
My plan is to update this each day of our travels. The Dominican was first, then Europe with possible trips to Tokyo in March and Sierra Leone in June.
These trips are always an adventure because of the amazing things that happen along the way. I refuse to sleep on these trips because so much can happen at any time of the day and night. And that is what is all about right? Experiencing all that life can offer....
John
The adventure starts with examining my own life and trying to live the life that I can only dream of and not being limited by own self imposed limitations and by what society expects of us in social norms. Further, my passions involve pushing myself physically through outdoor sports and helping both collegiate and adults understand sports business. This includes teaching at the University of Oklahoma and leading Limbs for Life through an international strategy.
Limbs for Life is a non-profit that offers prosthetic limbs that can't afford them....www.limbsforlife.org. We have an outstanding board who is very committed to the cause and everyone contributes in fantastic ways. Mine is to try to expand LFL throughout the world.
This Sunday, February 1, I leave with two of my good friends Jerry Isbell and Craig Gavras (executive director of LFL), both OU grads, to Paris, Italy and England to begin the preparation of establishing a European division. We will be in these countries for 8 days and possibly longer if all goes well.
We have established a "triangle operation" in the Dominican Republic that is just underway after two years of establishing relationships and attempting to understand the culture of this beautiful country. I am going back down to the D.R. at the end of Feb. for the Masters of the Ocean run by one of my new friends Marcus Bohm. (www.mastersoftheocean.com). The Masters is quickly becoming one of the most respected water sport competitions featuring surfing, kite boarding and wind surfing. The competition is based in Cabarete. I hope to support my friend, get a little surfing in, and help promote Limbs for Life to the media that will be attending. One of the residents in Cabarate is a dude that lost a leg in a motor cycle accident and he surfs and kite boards with one leg. It is truly amazing. We are going to get him a prosthetic limb as well, if he will accept it.
My plan is to update this each day of our travels. The Dominican was first, then Europe with possible trips to Tokyo in March and Sierra Leone in June.
These trips are always an adventure because of the amazing things that happen along the way. I refuse to sleep on these trips because so much can happen at any time of the day and night. And that is what is all about right? Experiencing all that life can offer....
John
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