Off to Brussels

We spent the morning discussing issues such as keeping receipts, not exhibiting rude behavior, and the protocol for meetings in Europe.  It must be very nervous for German Marshall staff everytime they send a new group of fellow out, REPRESENTING GMF. I imagine for the most part, through the selection process, they weed out most wild cards (although I made it through the process).

Speaking of the process, I learned last night how it works.  Eleven regional partners are allocated anywhere from 1 to 4 slots, which is held through their own autonomous process; then those that are not in the geographic areas of the regions are slotted for a national process.  Alaska falls into the national process.  My name went forward and 10 or 11 slots are available for the slots.  I didn't get a number of how many apply, but I know in the Denver region there were 100 applications for 3 slots.  Very competitive.  

The GMF has a 250M endowment - WOW!  The fellowship is a small portion of the overall program. 

We will arrive in Brussels at 7:15 am, which is maybe 9:15 pm Friday in Alaska.  Hopefully I will be able to sleep a bit on this flight.

I am very excited about the departure.  It feels a little like the 50 yard dash waiting for the starting gun.  I think the hardest part of this is being away from Trina, Maddy, and Karis; but I think they are very understanding and supportive.

The 60 degrees in DC feels very nice compared to the -15 in Anchorage; the reprieve from winter is a blessing.