Minnesota Driving = International Experiences

Now that I’m officially “retired” from paid employment and working for the community, I’m happy to tell anyone who will listen that driving for MIC is my favorite job.  About once each month, I volunteer to serve as a driver/escort for visitors coming to Minnesota from all around the world.  The time spent has been interesting, educational, sometimes inspirational and eye-opening and always rewarding.

The day begins the night before with a review of the visitor biographies and the agenda, with details filled in by numerous queries to make sure we travel directly to and from each scheduled meeting.  (All those years of trying to find my clients in obscure industrial parks have paid off.) Visitors I’ve escorted have traveled here from a variety of countries including the Yanbien Autonomous Prefecture of China (which sent me to my atlas), Japan and most European countries. 

An unexpected bonus has been the opportunity to sit in on behind-the-scenes briefings from local experts on a wide range of topics such as refugee resettlement, food safety, the use of computers in criminal and civil courts and more.  The introductions to so many talented individuals and the organizations where they work – whether corporations, government agencies or nonprofits – have given me a new appreciation of the strengths of Minnesota and Minnesotans.

An even more surprising reward has been the serendipity that sometimes occurs.  On one occasion, when my group visited the state capitol to fill a gap in time between meetings, a State Senator offered to escort us onto the floor, happily snapped photos of the group with gavel in hand and traded business cards with offers to share information about environmental issues. 

The people connections and discussions over lunch, with or without interpreter, about world events, life in the U.S. and differing cultural viewpoints are always educational and special.  One visitor e-mailed me to say that “I’m looking back on a great visit to the States and I learned about the diversity within the USA and between the states but also the common bases on which the U.S. is built and which is reflected in the minds and attitudes of the people we met”.   This informal role as ambassador in addition to driver/escort will keep me raising my hand.  I’d encourage anyone who likes to travel, to learn and to make new friends from around the world to do the same.