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I’ve spent recent weeks working overseas with LeadAmerica and some brilliant students from across America. I started in St. Petersburg, Russia with an incredible group of select staff and a great group of students. We spent time getting to know the leadership, culture and history of Russia in our ever changing world. By good fortune, we were in Russia during the time of the famous white nights where the sun hardly sets, so it’s daylight a majority of the nights. From a boat cruise down the Neva River, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Hermitage, a meeting in Legislative Assembly, concerts, galleries to trying new foods, I feel their could have been no better exposure to such a tenacious and beautiful country. I found Russia to be more intriguing than I originally anticipated. After garden and palace tours in Pushkin, we boarded the train to Moscow for their famous circus, I feel my energy levels were tested to the max on this trip as the staff slept very little.

I returned home for a few days rest before heading off to Shanghai, China where another conference was held. The Discover China program was more relaxed than Russia but no less enjoyable or broadening. On this trip we found ourselves meeting with consulate and commerce speakers, viewing and eating in a worker’s community, visiting a Jade Buddha temple, an amazing acrobatic show at the Ritz Carlton Shanghai, and even spent an afternoon walking the Shanghai Zoo. Although the weather in Shanghai was hot and humid beyond complete enjoyment, I thoroughly loved my day off and a great 12 mile run in Shanghai’s Century Park. A quick flight to Xi’an allowed us a couple days to see the 2,200 year old Terra Cotta Warriors (AKA 8th wonder of the world). We were able to explore Xi’an and its Grand Canal by dragon boat and then flew to Beijing to see the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and a show performed by Martial Arts students. Given the greatness of these opportunities, it was hard to believe I was paid to experience such wonders. I trust all the students gained a great deal from this exposure and am sure this experience will lead them into great futures as leaders with the paths they so choose. I only hope there are many more students that are as brilliant as those I worked with this summer as they really made my time in Russia and China enjoyable.

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