We’ve all heard of culture shock. As someone who has traveled a great deal and prides himself on his above average understanding of the “softer side” of leadership, I figured I’d be immune to its effects. Hardly. It’s as if everything I’ve learned (and sadly enough, taught) on the topic conspired to dose me with a handsome helping of humility.
Maybe it was a challenging, if not ambiguous assignment, a hurried departure, or a complicated pre-move personal life, but whatever the reason, I’ve been ambling about in a bit of a funk. Kinda of like Zaphod after a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster. But that was yesterday.
I’m not sure what’s come over me, but I feel as if the haze of my cultural hangover has lifted. Simply put, I think I’ve found my towel. For those of you getting the reference, you know that doing so is an amazing thing.
Ever onward….
Author’s note: Okay, for the four of you who read the above entry and thought “huh?” really loud, please understand that, “knowing where one's towel is,” refers to someone who can stay cool and in control of virtually any situation. To quote The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:
“....a towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (nonhitchhiker) discovers that a hitchhiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, washcloth, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet-weather gear, space suit etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitchhiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitchhiker might accidentally have "lost". What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.”
Author’s other note: If you haven’t read the Guide order it on-line immediately. And while you’re doing so, pick up a copy of Barley Man and the Incredible Zukes, another wholly remarkable book.
Where oh where did you find that BANNER?
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