Manila workshop: Day minus-one
I leave for the Philippines in a little more than 12 hours.
I’m so nervous I could ralph.
This is my first trip outside the U.S. since 1989. I’m one of four speakers at a graphics and news design workshop being held in conjunction with the big Publish Asia conference in Manila next week. The workshop is being held by IFRA. Peter Ong is the guy who put it together. Also speaking will be Tonia Cowen of the Toronto Star and National Geographic’s Kris Viesselman.
How did I end up on a star-studded panel like this? I hope I don’t embarass myself too much.
Peter asked me to do this workshop during the SND judging last month in Syracuse. I had only four weeks in which to get a passport. It cost me nearly $200 in government fees to expedite the paperwork. The good news: I got it back in exactly one week.
My mom and her husband came to visit this weekend, which was a good thing. My wife and daughter and I took them to Colonial Williamsburg and to Jamestown today, which helped me get my mind off my increasing nervousness about the trip.
I’ve bought the electrical adapters I’ll need. I’ve carefully arranged my suitcases — as small as possible — and my carry-on bags. My iPod is fully-charged. I’ll pack away my contact lenses and wear my glasses so I can sleep more comfortably during my 22-hour outbound trip.
Sunday, I’ll depart Norfolk around 12:35 p.m. EDT. In Detroit, I’ll change to a big 747-400 jet bound for Tokyo. There, I’ll change planes again. I’ll arrive in Manila at 10:50 p.m. Monday night — just before lunchtime Monday here in Virginia Beach.
I’ll have a day to unpack, sleep off the time difference and prepare for the workshop. The first session begins Thursday morning at 9 a.m.
At Robb’s request, I’ll try to blog this trip for you. Unlike the SND judging in Syracuse, I’m not certain there will be much news value to this travelogue. But I’ll give it a shot anyway.
March 25th, 2007 at 2:29 am
Charles, Have a great trip to Manila.
I think you will have a great time at the conference and will find the Filipinos to be warm and friendly hosts.
What’s always interesting to know is what kind of questions you get asked after the lectures - sharing those can help journalists understand the challeneges we face in different parts of the world.
Robb Montgomery
(In Riga, Latvia packing now for stops in Poland and London)
March 25th, 2007 at 10:14 am
You knucklehead! What are you doing traveling overseas? Keep your head down…..and oh ya if you see that Exclusive Manila Picard grab one for me.
March 26th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Charles:
You will find having one mission to accomplish a blessing.
And Robb:
Have fun in eastern Europe.
Remember:
A gap is a bar.
A pectopah is a restaurant.
Voda is water.
Pivo is beer.
And Vodka is vodka everywhere. Beware.
clif