Greetings.  This weekend we had the chance to race around Europe without ever leaving Washington as part of the European Union "Embassies Open House Day."  It was a wonderful day of learning about the histories, cultures, new ideas, and insights of many of the continent's diverse countries.  Along the way we saw traditional Irish dancing, heard Latvian folk songs, and viewed 16th and 17th century masterpieces in the residence of the Dutch ambassador.  We also tasted homemade Danish cakes and pastries, Swedish candies and gingerbread cookies (pepparkakor), and Spanish tapas.  And, we learned about some of the latest Swedish innovations in healthcare including an interactive "virtual autopsy table" that enables medical experts to look inside a human body in detail without cutting into it.  While I've never watched CSI, or the several hundred other current TV shows that have something to do with crime scenes, I can only imagine that this new machine is among the most awesome pieces of technology that each of us should try to avoid.

The theme for this year's event was "Green Europe: Good for the Economy and the Environment" and several countries showcased their newest technologies and ideas for reducing energy consumption and protecting the planet.  These included France's "green transportation" initiatives, Italy's "eco-friendly" architecture, and Lithuania's cutting edge research with lasers.  We also visited Denmark's carbon neutral embassy and had a most enjoyable conversation with Friis Arne Petersen, the Danish ambassador to the U.S., and several members of the embassy team.  In talking with them one could see why the Danes have been identified as the world's happiest people.  They all seemed upbeat, engaging, and very enthusiastic about their country and the broader world.  Whether talking about the Danish military (which currently has 750 troops stationed in Afghanistan), or the country's involvement in building 3,500 schools in this war-torn nation, or the fact that 37% of Copenhagen's residents bicycle to work, or the national soccer team which will be playing in the World Cup in June, their optimism was contagious.  That's the ambassador in the picture below with our daughter Sara and son Noah.  

Throughout the day we marveled at the energy and hopefulness of much of Europe, even amid the current financial crisis, and were struck by the commitment to see the challenges of climate change and poverty as opportunities for collective innovation and genius.  We also marveled at how easy it is to connect with people from other places as long as we are curious and open to discovering the magic that is all around us.

We win in business and in life by seeing the humanity and brilliance in others.  And by combining what we know with a world of fresh ideas. Maybe it's time for all us to take a quick trip to a distant land, even if it's just around the corner.

Cheers and have a week ahead filled with possibilities!