It all began with a walk, something my fellow Americans only do when prefixed by the words “power,” “Nordic” or in combination with “the dog.” So, when my new German friend in Munich suggested talking a walk, my initial reaction was “What for?” Why would I walk somewhere when I could drive or bike there faster? If I want to exercise, I’ll go to the gym. What’s the point of a slow interlude of walking in the city? It would only interrupt my work flow and what would it achieve? My friend had been to the US; I thought she would have known better.
German delegates from my pre-departure coaching for various corporations have frequently reported being stopped on the street by police in the US on suspicion of walking for no good reason. Except to those few who can’t or choose not to afford a car, generally speaking, walking in the US has little to do with moving from point A to point B.
