Week 9 - Everyday is a Holiday, With You

Distant Relatives

The first time I heard the song, Everyday is a Holiday (With You) by Esthero, I was driving in Kinston, N.C., with my goddaughter/cousin, Chiara sitting in the back seat. It reminded me of the first time I saw her.  She was 6 months old.  Her parents were moving from Germany to the U.S.  They stayed with me for a week in Charlotte, N.C.  All of my free time was spent with Chiara.  

Every time, I hear that song it takes me back to our first encounter.

It has also been a shameful three years since I have seen Chiara and her younger brother, Luca.  They now reside overseas in Germany. One month ago, I had a visit from their older sister, Verena.  It was her first time visiting Washington, D.C.  That is when I realized that I am long over due for a visit to see our relatives living abroad.  So, I purchased a plane ticket to arrive when the kids are on fall break from school.    

Destination Germany

Oct 12 -- 10:02 pm Eastern Time (12-hour clock)

The time has come to finally venture outside of the states. I am at Washington Dulles International airport waiting to board my flight. Tonight, I will fall asleep on a plane at Dulles Airport and wake up in Paris. 

Flight is Now Boarding

Oct 12 -- 10:46 pm Eastern Time (12-hour clock)

Air France flight 027 is now seating passengers at gate A26.  There is a long line of passengers and I am at the end of the line.  I have been awake since 5:00 am and is looking forward to closing my eyes.  I am sitting in seat 37A, the window seat. 

Ouah! (Yes!)

Oct 13 -- 10:53 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

I got my first stamp in my passport! [Pause for the celebration dance]  People in line laughed at me and I really don’t care.

My first flight has safely touched-down at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport.  There is a little over an hour layover until my next flight.  Lets see how much of the French language that I’ve regained since college.  I am holding short conversations with the airport staff as I move from gate E2 to gate G2. So far, so good.

Nuremberg, Germany

Oct 13 -- 13:43 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

As I exit the airport in Nuremberg, Germany, I am greeted by Verena, Chiara and Luca.  The long flight was a small price to pay to get a long awaited hug from the kids and to hear Chiara say, “It is so cool that you are here!” I am the first family member from the states to visit them in Germany.  

We are heading in town to view the Kaiserburg castle.  Nuremberg is very bicycle-friendly.  There are bike lanes everywhere.  The walk ways are even wider to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. I wish I could bring my bicycle along for a visit.  As we head back to the car, I walk upon a sculpture (below, left) that resembles one that is located in uptown, Charlotte, NC (below, right).  I wonder if there is a connection between the two?

Wernberg-Koblitz, Germany

Oct 13 -- 18:43 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

I just finished speeding on the German autobahn from Nuremberg to Wernberg-Koblitz. The view is so beautiful! The trees are rich with fall colors.  The fastest speed I reached was 210 kph (130 mph).  The fast lane belongs to the speeders.  The average speed by drivers seemed to be about 130 kph (80 mph).  

All of the exit signs say Ausfahrt.  How large is this city?  Actually, the English translations for Ausfahrt is exit.  You must know where you are going when driving on the autobahn.  All exits do not tell you your location.  

I love my fellow North Carolinians!

Oct 13 -- 20:05 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

They are having a cookout to welcome me to Germany at Rick’s house, my uncle’s best-friend.  Rick is from Snow Hill, N.C., a town located 15 miles outside of my hometown, Kinston, N.C.  It was great to end the night with a bit of southern hospitality.

Let’s Take a Walk

Oct 14 -- 11:12 am Central European Time (24-hour clock)

My uncle has to work and Verena lives in Nuremberg, so during the day it was just me, the kids and the dogs, Shortie and Meanie.  We decided take a walk through the neighborhood.  The town is so clean and all of the buildings look freshly painted.  

No Cameras, Please

Oct 15 -- 20:07 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

Chiara wants me to sing the Pussycats Dolls "Dontcha" with her in karaoke while Luca records it with my video camera. It is not going to happen!  My family is full of comedians and I’m not giving them a video to display at the family reunion. 

Regensberg, Germany

Oct 16 --  22:46 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

We just enjoyed a rainy night in Regensburg.  The continuous row-homes and cobblestone walk ways are beautiful!  The cobblestone adds a nice texture to the scenery.  Normally, I would not have me SLR camera out in the rain.  If my lens has water damage, it is well worth it for these pictures.

Prague, Czech Republic

Oct 17 --  23:00 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

Today, we took a two-hour drive to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.  This was my favorite location thus far.  My uncle and I, took a long walk up up the steep hills to the Prague castle (shown below).  I am glad we did not bring the kids.  The night was spent shopping for souvenirs and then bar hopping.  I have never drank so much alcohol in one night.  We went to Coyote Prague, Hard Rock Cafe, Harley’s Bar, and Bombay Cocktail Bar.  I am glad I submitted this weeks assignment earlier today.

Annoying the Sleepy Dogs

Oct 18 --  12:00 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

Meanie and Shortie are twin long-haired chihuahuas.  At birth they were inseparable.  My uncle refused to break them up, so he brought both of them home.  They are the laziest dogs I have ever been around.  All they want to do is eat, hump a stuffed animal, then sleep.  Luca is a major disruption to their day.  He doesn’t accept it when the dogs don’t want to play.  When they retreat into their cage to escape him, he follows them in.  

The Younger Brother Wins One

Oct 19 --  10:46 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

I love our daily walks through the neighborhood.  I am constantly taking pictures. We walk up to the store to get some snacks to enjoy as we watch the movie, Wall-E.  When we returned to the house, Luca just grabs my can of Pringles and says, “I want some.”  I snatch it back and tells him, “That was rude!  You ask nicely first and then wait for the person to give you some.”  Chiara runs over and joins in the conversation by adding, “That’s right!  He always does that.  You should say please first if you want something.”  After he asked politely, I gave Luca a handful of chips and Chiara says to him, “Luca, give me some.”  He turns to his sister and replies, “No, first you must say please.”  The look on her face was priceless!

The Sad Goodbye

Oct 20 --  4:46 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

It was hard to leave this morning.  I can still see that sad look on Chiara’s face as she walked down the stairs to say, “Goodbye.”  I am going to miss them all!  I committed to making annual visits until they are old enough to fly to the states by themselves.

Departing Flights

Oct 20 --  8:56 Central European Time (24-hour clock)

I barely made my first flight this morning.  There was a long line to get through airport security.  I’m now on a layover in Paris again.  There are two flights returning to the U.S. this morning.  My flight is on-time for departure to Washington Dulles airport.  At a gate adjacent to mine, the flight to New York has been cancelled due to a strike by airport staff.  Needless to say, those passengers are upset.

Welcome Home

Oct 20 --  4:05 pm Eastern Time (12-hour clock)

I am back home and headed straight to the grocery store to stock up on food.  On my shopping list is bread.  I picked up the usually loaf of honey wheat bread.  I stare at it for several seconds and place it back on the shelf.  It only took one week to spoil me. I couldn’t buy it.  I want the fresh bread from the bakery that I have enjoyed for the past week.  

The Retrospective

This was my first time visiting a location that measured distances in the metric system and the temperature in celsius.  I adjusted the settings on my electronic devices to the local settings while on vacation to get the full experience of visiting the countries.  The money conversions benefits americans in the Czech Republic.  The US dollar is currently equal to 17.6277 Czech Republic korunas compared to only 0.7156 euros.  

It has been about a year and half since I have taken an extended vacation away from the office.  I definitely needed this break.  I can see myself living in Germany for several years.  Of course, I’m saying this without experiencing the cold winters.

I am looking forward to returning in 2011!

Week 7 - Distinguished Gentlemen's Club online content

The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club: Empowering the Next Generation of Men

OVERVIEW

Since 1919, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. national program, Go-To-High School, Go-To-College, has focused its efforts through this educational initiative to teach young men strategies that facilitate success by completing secondary, as well as post-secondary education. 

Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers are mandated to educate young men on the importance of higher education, community service, cultural exposure and public presentation.

Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter (OLA) is an alumni chapter, based in Washington, D.C., charged to increase the betterment of the community through education, political involvement, social awareness, and economic and professional development.  

The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club (DGC) is OLA’s extension of Go-To-High School, Go-To-College.  The DGC is a two-year program for college-bound high school juniors and seniors in the D.C. Metropolitan area, charged to prepare young men to be leaders within their families and communities, as they transition to higher education and the professional world.  

Program Requirements and Objectives:  The DGC program targets, but is not limited to, African-American high school students who wish to continue their development in preparing for college outside of their normal classroom setting. Each young man is required to have a minimum cumulative GPA 2.5 and desire to attend college. Their leadership potential should be recognized by teachers, guidance counselors, and/or community leaders. The program has a maximum of 12 participants.

The DGC program objectives are to:

• Develop leadership skills through development workshops and skills implementation opportunities
• Teach participants socially acceptable etiquette including dress, dining, and public speaking
• Teach the importance of community service through participation in projects within the Washington, D.C. community along side Brothers of the OLA
• Enhance participants cultural exposure and awareness 
• Assist young men with raising scholarship funds for college

• Create a mentorship relationship between Gentlemen and OLA sponsors

Gentlemen Responsibilities:  Gentlemen are expected to attend all workshops, community service events, social outings and programs.  There are 2-3 monthly sessions.  If a gentleman misses three sessions, two of which are consecutive, he will be removed from the program unless there are extenuating circumstances.  

In order to obtain the full experience of the program, Gentlemen are expected to:

• Maintain contact with mentors in person, via phone or e-mail on a regular basis
• Work closely with mentors to develop successful strategies for fund solicitation
• Discuss any issues or additional needs requested from the program

At the start of each year, the gentlemen will hold an election where they will elect a president, vice president, secretary and chaplain for the year.  The duties of each position will be presented prior to the election. Each year the Gentlemen will plan and execute one community service project which will conclude the fiscal year.

Scholarship Fundraising: Each participant will have a fundraising goal of $1,500.  During their senior year of high school, gentlemen and their chapter sponsors will solicit donations through fundraising projects.  All donations earned will be provided to the Gentleman in the form of a scholarship check upon completion of the program.

SUMMARY OF SEMINARS

Leadership Team Building

In many facets of life, you are expected to work with others towards a common goal.  A leader may become a follower and followers become leaders depending on the task at hand. This workshop discusses ways to be an effective follower, as well as, a leader.

Effective Communication/Public Speaking

Effective communication is a key element to being successful in school and business.  These skills must be developed, honed and perpetually built upon.  This workshop discusses how communication happens, ways to make it effective, improving communication skills and conflict resolution.

Preparing for the SAT/College Application Process

Many students are first-time college applicants in their families and are unaware of which avenues are available to the them to increase their success.  This workshop discusses standardized testing, program and scholarship research, fee waivers and deadlines.

Transitioning to College

It may be overwhelming if departing for college is the first time leaving home for an extended stay.  This workshop discusses best practices for selecting classes, being active in campus clubs and interacting with roommates and faculty.

Dressing for Success

Young adults should be presentable and know the appropriate ways to dress for success.  Many participants enter the program not even knowing how to tie a necktie. This workshop will show the differences between casual, business casual and business styles and share best practices for dressing.  

Financial Responsibility

Financial instability can limit an individual's progression in life and affect his/her future long after his/her career starts to develop.  This seminar will teach participants the dangers and benefits of credit, how to create a budget and adhere to that budget in order to live within their financial boundaries.  They are also taught to not only look at the present but to prepare for the future.

Spirituality and Men

The focus of this workshop is not to convert anyone from one religion to another, it is to make participants aware of the differences and the values of religion and spirituality.  The goal is for the participants to be sensitive to those differences and respect the beliefs of others.

Respect of Womanhood

A man is expected to be the leader of the family and protect his family.  This quality is also reflected in the way he treats the women around him.  This workshop is geared around showing young men to value the women in their lives the way they value material possessions, hip-hop and sports.

Sexual Responsibility

There are too many sexual transmitted diseases in present day for an individual to leave the responsibility of safe sex to another person.  During this workshop STD stats and descriptions, the chances of producing a child and how those responsibilities can alter his/her future will be discussed to take a proactive approach towards sex.

LEADERSHIP PROFILES

Brother Vincent G. Walford is the chair for DGC.  His duties are to implement the Alpha Phi Alpha national programs on a chapter level, deliver to the OLA Brothers available avenues to participate with in DGC and delegate responsibilities to execute various components of the program.  Bro. Walford has earned a bachelors degree in public health from Morehouse School of Medicine and is currently a counseling psychology doctoral student at Howard University.  He enjoys studying, reading and being involved in the community.

Brother Brocklin Qualls is the co-chair for DGC.  His duties are to manage the parent support component and assist the applicants will completion of their applications.  He has been involved with DGC for four years and is the immediate-past chair.  Bro. Qualls is a self-employed professional development consultant and enjoys poetry and mentorship.

FAQs

Who is eligible to apply?

College bound high school juniors and seniors in the D.C. Metropolitan area.

How long is the program?

This is a two year program and runs during the normal school year. 

How often does the program meet?

There are 2-3 meetings per month

How many new participants are accepted each year?

The chapter budgets for 12 applicants.  Once a Gentleman complete the program, his spot is filled with a new applicant the following year.

When is the application deadline?

Applications should be submitted no later than April 15, in order to be considered for the new fall class.

Can a participant be ejected from the program?

If at any time a Gentleman’s participation decreases to a point where successful completion of the program can not be achieved, enrollment for the program will be terminated in order to identify a replacement.

Does the parents have to participate?

Parents are not mandated to participate in the program.  There is a parental consent form that is required for all applicants.

What materials should each participant purchase after the application is approved?

All materials will be provided by the OLA chapter.

What is the fee for participants?

There is no fee.  This program is funded through the OLA education committee budget.

Who should I contact for more information?

Bro. Vincent Walford, chair of DGC

Week 6 - Distinguished Gentlemen's Club online content

I will be creating online content for the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club (DGC), the Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter’s extension of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. National Program: Go-To-High School, Go-To-College.

Omicron Lambda Alpha (OLA) is an alumni chapter based in Washington, D.C., who is charged to increase the betterment of the community through education, political involvement, social awareness, and economic and professional development.  

The DGC was initiated out of the desire of the Brothers of the OLA Chapter to have a more intimate connection with the high school students they mentored to further guide them towards success.  Before its implementation, they only engaged the students during their Boys to Men Conference, a one day leadership training seminar attended by young men between ages 13 and 18.  DGC is an outlet for those young men who wish to continue their development.

The DGC provides males, in their sophomore and junior years of high school, with additional preparation emotionally, socially, academically, and financially to be leaders as they transition to higher education and the professional world.  The young men are also taught the value of community service and partnering with other organizations that share the common goals. 

Participants must have the following personal attributes:

• Must exhibit leadership potential within their school and local community
• Be self-motivated and have an interest in personal development and enhancement
• Have an interest in community service
• Wish to attend college

The sites purpose is to increase enrollment by informing the community of the organization, DGC events, the benefits to the participants, as well as, the requirements for admittance into the program.  The target audience includes school administrators, parents in search of further assistance with their son's develop, and other organizations interested in implementing a similar program.

The site content will include:

• An overview of the Program
• Event and seminar summaries
• Photos of past sessions and participants
• Profiles of program leaders
• Applications and other forms
• Calendar of events
• Feedback and contact information

I will use the Associated Press Stylebook.