A traveling band
I didn’t think much of it at the time my friend Ralph gave me the bright orange Oregon State University wristband. It was last year during summer. I had just launched a new public relations business and left the United States for Amsterdam to kick start the company. It was fantastic living in Amsterdam. Every day , I rode my bicycle along beautiful canals and narrow streets lined with period homes. Amsterdam has always been one of my favorite cities. So it was great to use it as my base to the rest of Europe. That summer, I traveled across the continent to Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain and back to Holland. In one day, in two countries – Italy and France – I saw two of the biggest masterpieces by Leonardo DaVinci – The Last Supper in Milan and the Mona Lisa in Paris. Absolutely fantastic day!
When I got back to Amsterdam, I had only a few days before I was to return to the United States. That’s when Ralph presented me with the gift – the OSU wristband. He said another traveler he had met had given it to him. I am more partial to the University of Oregon – Go Ducks! – but I was pleased to receive something from my beloved Oregon. For almost a decade, Portland, Oregon, was my home. Known as The Beaver State – note to foreign readers: all 50 U.S. states have a proud nickname – Oregon is a natural beauty. It was then I decided that I would keep the wristband for a while, travel with it, and somewhere on my journey pass it on to some other traveler. The wristband has so far been with me to El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and in a few days Argentina.
My hope is that the wristband will travel across the globe with different travelers for years to come, logging its journey and whereabouts here on this blog. Then make it back to Oregon – to Oregon State University – where it will be deemed worthy of display. When I meet the person I should hand off the wristband to, I will know it. Hopefully, like Ralph and I, they will see to it that the band keeps moving across borders.
The band currently in Calama, Chile
Mike Tends To Travel 
Blah blah blah (Comments)