The Talking Traveller

Time creeps on, and so a new exciting and minutely scary part of my journey is on the horizon. I am now at the end of my five week home visit to South Africa. It has been a productive few weeks as I accomplished a countable number of objectives. During my stay I had two newspaper interveiw with the result of two articles (Beeld and Lowvelder) written about me and the McGuire program. My vision was realized as this information gave people the opportunity to attend a course this past weekend, and inspiration for those who couldn't. A weekend that started with fear and a tingling sensation of hope ended off with controlled speaking and tears of joy and relief for many. The feelings of exciting fear, hope and curiosity for a new look on life and oneself are most probably at the top of their awareness sensations for these new recovering stammers. A period of discipline and hard work should be their future aim, and with this the rewards would be……..I dare say……life changing.

I also verbally entertained myself by being a Master of Ceremony, had a half-hour telephonic interview for a teaching position, telephonically made arrangements such as visa, ticket enquiries etc. for my next travel, and had the honor of presenting no less than five sessions on the past-weekends McGuire Course. My contacts come to a number of roundabout 6225.

My last few days will be occupied with family time and gathering as much as possible information on Taiwan do’s and do not’s. For example……when beckoning someone, your palm should be facing down. Always take of your shoes when entering a Taiwanese home. Never give clocks as a gift, the phrase “to give a clock” sounds too much like attending a funeral etc. Al this information will be used to paint a proposed picture of “what it will be like over there”, and then this will be most probably be completely smash and repainted once I arrive……..

New lifestyle, new language, new habits, new colors, new friends, new tastes, new almost everything.

“How will I handle it?” Everyone asks.           

With a smile, with open eyes, with an open mind, with confidence in myself, with respect and appreciation for other people……..and with a deep costal breath whilst saying “Ni Hao”!