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These are recent stories - the rest are in my latest book,"Walking Through Adversity."

Stories about Middle East Trips (3)

Rob bryant
2006-01-09 11:43:42

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way and entered our vehicle as the chanting crowd passed closely by. He told me a Palestinian Celebrity had just arrived and the crowd was here to greet and cheer for him. We decided this was not a great place for Americans (because of our assumed ties to Israel) and left as quickly as we could.

The Clash of Cultures Falls Away - One day we ate lunch at a Ponderosa Steak House. It was so unusual to see the local Arab Dress and women completely covered except for their eyes standing at a salad bar that otherwise could have been in Memphis, Tennessee. A further indication of the clash of cultures was my flight to Saudi Arabia. The flight was full of people from Europe, Asia, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Nepal and the Middle East - I was the only American. Although we spoke different languages, ate different food and thought a little differently, we shared humanity. I began speaking with an Arab in a nearby seat on the airplane who moments before glared at me. Soon we were shaking hands and even punching each other in the arm. As a matter of fact, while in Saudi, I met with many high-ranking Arabs and they invited me back to speak to their people in January in the areas of quality, safety and environment. They also asked if I could give them a motivational talk about my own �walk through adversity.� I am honored and look forward to returning. A local prince very active in social and disabled issues may want me to speak to his people as well. I look forward to this and am honored to represent DynCorp, and in a way, the US.

The long flight home - After being awake for nineteen hours, I boarded a 747 and flew seven hours back across the Middle East and Eastern Europe to Frankfurt, Germany. After a four-hour layover, I flew another nine hours across Western Europe, Great Britain, Greenland, Iceland, Canada and the US to Dallas. After being awake for over forty hours, I drove to work to attend a quick meeting and then laid down for a long restful sleep in my own bed. I was home and the adventure was over, but I look forward to my return here and my next adventure to begin whatever or wherever it may be. Don�t let your disabilities stop you from being everything you are capable of being.

Copyright by Rob Bryant

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