It was an early start Saturday to catch a British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Verona in Italy to give an NLP Master Practitioner course.
I left the home at 4:30 am, and for once drove my car down, hoping I could keep my eyes open. Even at that early hour, the roads were busy.
What are these people doing up so early?
Have they just left the night clubs and going home to sleep?
Are they going to work?
Are they going on holiday?
Me, in the safety of my little metal box called a car, insulated from the outside world, only involved in my work, my requirements and needs, suddenly became aware of the bigger picture, “Phillip’s Sausage“.
Once on the aircraft, again a metal container, I was able to settle back, with my window seat, be given a snack of a ham and cheese roll, orange juice and tea, looking down at the world slowly passing below me.
From 35,000 feet, it is possible to see the cities, roads, lakes, even down to the traffic on the motorways scarring the surface of our little planet. Again I wondered what people were doing down there. Some also in their little steel boxes. Some working in the fields. Some on holiday. Some being born. Some dieing.
What is the name of that town? What is the name of that lake? What country are we flying over? Why are there no lines like on a map, defining that is France and that is Germany?
As we flew over the Alps, there was hardly a cloud in the sky, and the early morning sunlight highlighted the mountains covered in snow. Perhaps these are the natural borders we humans have placed upon ourselves. But which country is which, there are no visible signs.
Why did I leave my camera in my case in the locker above my head?
Which mountain was the Matterhorn, the Cervino in Italian, Mont Cervin or Le Cervin in French? It is the same mountain, but given a different label by us humans.
We must have flown over the Dolomites, and for the first time I notice the formation of the earth in this region, the mountains. Perhaps it was the shadows of the early morning sun. Why was not geography like this at school, being able to experience, to see first-hand what the teacher was talking about.
As I looked down there were ridges or folds stretching away, clear distinct lines, like waves on a lake.
To the north of the ripple peek, the slope was nearly perpendicular, or straight down, but the slope to the south was more gentle.
I could understand how the earth had been forced up at an angle say of 45 degrees, and part of it had slipped over the other, forming the ripple effect.
Why did I not have my camera at hand? Perhaps this weekend as I fly again to Verona to end the course, I may get another chance for a photograph. In the meantime, with a set of books I can show the effect I mean.
The rock strata being forced over another
Now I must ready myself to start the NLP Master Practitioner and give the participants the same experience I had of the mountains, but for them the exercises I will give in the course.
Antonio, Mustapha, Fred.