One of the best things of travelling is meeting people from different cultural backgrounds. It provides you with the opportunity to learn from others and reflect on your own values and norms. As I recently visited the States for the first time, I had quite some expectations. Everything was supposedly bigger than back home in Europe. And it was. Cars, buildings, food, everything was bigger. Bigger is better.
But while travelling, you see that compared to Africa, in Europe we use and waste a lot of energy. But it’s not till you have been to the States to see that it can be worse. How come that in the world of today, there are infrared warmth lamps at bus stops in Boston, burning 24/7? Perhaps it is the lack of Americans travelling, because wherever you go, you rarely meet any Americans. They are probably still in their comfort zone, thinking climate change is something far far away. Somewhere they would have never gone anyway…
As the first official contributor to Klatergoud, RJ was present from the very start. He's down to earth, likes to put things in perspective and does not take himself too serious. Loves women, lost his heart to Africa and always has a bigger plan. He lives in Amsterdam, has a Master in Strategic Product Design from Delft and is co-founder of Strategic Design office Koos. Here he helps businesses with a strategic vision and direction for their innovation process.