I have a few confessions to make (being a good Catholic girl, I am all-too familiar with the concept of guilt, but also well acquainted with the conscience-clearing benefits of confession): I have only flown first class once (and that was a lucky upgrade on our honeymoon flight to Hawaii 27 years ago). I first applied for a passport when I was 42. Excluding relatively short driving excursions to Canada, my overseas travel consists of three journeys in the last eight years. I have worked as an English teacher, executive mom and proofreader/editor, careers which never provided me with opportunities or expense accounts to attend international conferences or conventions.  This is merely an effort at full disclosure before I jum in writing twice-weekly blogs for a publication geared toward the global business traveler. Am I intimidated? Perhaps a little. Do I feel completely out of my element? Occasionally, but not as much as you might think. Am I nuts? I believe a little reckless insanity is healthy and leads one to try new things that a more sane consideration of circumstances might prevent one from experiencing. In part, it was that touch of madness that led me to agree to a term as interim associate editor at Global Traveler five months ago and, eventually, to this assignment. Ultimately, though, it was believing in the definition of globility which is behind GT and which guides the people who work here: “The quality of being open to a world of cultures and experiences.” You see, I believe that every one of us has the potential to embrace that quality, no matter our income level, work experience, age or lifestyle. While we should make every effort to go out and meet that world and delve into cultures not our own on their home grounds, when we cannot physically do that, we can always welcome the outside in to the world we inhabit. I’d like to think I’ve done that all my life and will continue to do so to the end. I look forward to a future exchange of observations with you of those global experiences. Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader