ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To my parents, Marcia and Lester Landers, whose courage and cultural curiosity led them to move our family to Colombia, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. I can’t thank you enough for giving me a unique experience that truly shaped my life and my work. To my sisters, Carole and Jennifer, for j0ining me on our shared cross-cultural journey and supporting me with love and guidance.
To my professors and classmates from Lesley University—Dr. L. Robert Kohls, Dr. Zareen Karani Araoz, Dr. Sylvia Cowan, and Dr. Jay Jones—I thank you for opening my mind and laying a solid foundation from which I have been able to grow my career in the field.
I would like to thank the whole team at Berrett-Koehler, including Jeevan and Anna, for believing in the message and enabling and supporting me to publish this book.
Big thanks to Rebecca Gradinger and the team and Fletcher & Company for all the support and effort in finding the book a home.
I offer my deep gratitude to the many people who helped me with this book: to those who provided support, talked things over, wrote, read, offered comments, and allowed me to quote their remarks. In particular, Tamara Moan, Paisley Gregg, Melanie Sperling, Diana Bufalini, Harris and Irene Grossman, and Marcia and Lester Landers.
To my wife, Lisa Landers: without you this book would not have been written. From the time we met thirteen years ago, you have been enthusiastically and wholeheartedly supporting my career. You have willingly sacrificed your time and sometimes your career over the years to allow me to travel the globe doing my work. Seven years ago we first hatched the idea for this book, and you have been my partner in helping it take shape ever since. As it has become more and more of a reality, you have shown undying patience, understanding, compassion, and fortitude in situations that have been trying at times. Your unique ability to help me craft the thoughts and messages I wanted to convey in a way that people could really hear them has proved invaluable. This book is a joint production. It is yours just as much as mine. Te amo con todo mi corazon!
Hugs, kisses, and many thanks to my daughter, Talia, whose support, patience, and excitement for the book have been essential. I’m grateful that you share our passion for exploring new cultures and places, and I hope you will feel proud to see this book on the shelves of the bookstores we frequent. I love you!
Last but not least, I need to thank those who have had an impact on me over the course of the years: from all the friends and teachers at CNG, EARJ, and CMS to colleagues and friends during my time in Japan and other places around the world.