Cheers to the world from a global citizen.

The world has taken a turn in a very global direction the last 20 years. That has both positive and negative effects around the world, but I have decided to grab globalisation by the balls and get the most out of it. And I love the global lifestyle I live. I’m a global citizen and I love it.

How I am a global citizen?

Waiting for the next flight to take me to a new destination is normal for a global citizen.

I have no permanent address. I work worldwide and travel worldwide 365 days a year. My friends are spread all over the world. But because of my lifestyle, I get to see many of them every year. So having friends all over the globe actually means that I am never lonely. No matter what part of the globe I am in. I return to my native Denmark frequently to visit family and friends. But I do not call it home anymore. As a global citizen, I’m at home when I am on the road.

You have to be flexible in order to enjoy the lifestyle as a global citizen.

Hanging out with a Syrian friend in a cafe in Damascus.

In my job there is no room for people who want to have the whole year planned for them. And a nice steady income with a good pension when you retire. That does not mean I am not making money. But I am making them in a way where I have to be alert at all times. I have on several occasions had to go straight to the airport after receiving a phone call, to fly to the other side of the globe in order to help a client in the travel industry. But I love getting a phone call, asking me if I can fly to  Mexico City tomorrow morning. So keep them coming please.

Having lunch with the local police women in rural Brazil.

Planning new adventures around the globe with an indian friend during a party in Greece.

You have to be respectful if you want to live a global lifestyle successfully.

This is an issue that can be a little hard at times as I am anarchistic to the bone. I love making fun out of everything. And I mean absolutely everything, including all the so called authorities you can think of. But if you want to live and work globally then you simply have to accept that some people are fundamentally different than yourself when it comes to how they view life and the world. Over the years I have actually gotten to like this instead of seeing it as something I had to fight against. Cause in reality, most people are nice to be around. Even if they totally disagree with my views of the world. It’s not like I am gonna change the world by fighting against everyone I disagree with. And I do think that making friends with people who are very different from yourself is also making these people more accepting towards people like me. Cause they realise that people like me do not eat small children. Or go on drunken rampage through your city and rape all the women. These days I am actually really happy to visit places and people who are totally different from myself. Talking and listening (both things are very important) to people makes you wiser. Just like it makes the one you talk and listen to wiser.

The internet changed my world more than anything.

Together with friends from around the world that I met through the web.

When I first started to travel the world in 1987, it was kinda hard to be a global citizen and live a life of constant travel. I always had to return back to some central places in order to find work and make money. But with the arrival of the internet it all changed. Oddly enough I first thought that the internet would only be for a little geeky elite. But after a french girl had convinced me to get an e-mail in 1998, I quickly realised that this would change my world forever. Now I could communicate with the entire world no matter where in the world I was. These days my MacBook is my most important tool when I travel. Because I coordinate all my work via mail. And I do a lot of work online these days. This gives me the freedom to fly where ever in the world I feel like when I am off. Cause I can be reached within seconds by business partners because of the internet.

The future is even more global and I love it.

Meeting a friend and fellow global citizen during a layover in Dubai airport.

The world is going more and more global. With all the positive sides and all the challenges that comes with it (I prefer to call things a challenge instead of calling it a problem). And I will be there and take part of it as usual and I hope to inspire as many people as possible to embrace the world instead of being afraid of it. A united world where we respect minorities and let business thrive is the world where we will have the most people prospering and having a better life. And that is what it is all about for me. No matter what country people come from. I have stopped looking at people skin color, religion, sexuality, political views or whatever it might be and try to reach out to the world instead of shunning it. Sure there are many bad things happening around the globe. And we should always fight for a better tomorrow. But you do not do that by hating and fighting entire nations, religions, races because some perverted power hungry country leader tells you to. We will all prosper if we trade freely with each other. And if we accept that we do not always agree on everything.

So if you happen to feel the same way then you are always welcome to drop me a line and maybe we can meet for a coffee, a beer, a cup of tea or whatever you drink.

I am planning to live life to the max all around the globe for a few more decades and you are welcome to join the joyride.

Claus.

With Indonesian friends.

Best man at a wedding in the Philippines.

Waiting for the ferry to take me to a new island.

Working as a tour leader in Vietnam.