Surviving Vodka Toasts and Rampaging Elephants

"Surviving Vodka Toasts and Rampaging Elephants" tells the funny, poignant, scary and sometimes embarrassing international travel stories of Phil Latessa and US volunteers on cultural and professional exchanges. He learned the minor art of vodka toasting while remaining standing during medical collaborations in Russia, the intricacies of proper bribery traveling in Ukraine, fell in love with grappa during culinary exchanges in Italy, came to appreciate fish head soup during sports exchanges in Malaysia, and fostered a pizza rebellion of Chinese exchange students in the US. The story culminates in Tanzania where Phil finds his purpose in life while developing cooperative programs that empower women, lower maternal mortality in Maasai villages, and increase access to medical care for the warmest and most resilient people he has ever met. Magnificent adventures are partnered with outside-the-comfort zone experiences. It took Phil over a million air miles to go from drifting thru life as a mid-level manager, to slowly being transformed into a person with a clear purpose. The results of these experiences was the realization that not only can we Americans do a lot to help people, but also that yes, we should. Phil shows people who want to support these efforts how to do it when they don't know where to begin. The journey was worth it and the stories are priceless.

"Surviving Vodka Toasts and Rampaging Elephants: My Journey to Purpose" tells the funny, poignant, scary and sometimes embarrassing international travel stories of Phil Latessa and US volunteers while on cultural and professional exchanges thru six countries (Seven if you count Phil's culture shock move from the east coast to Iowa). Phil learned the minor art of vodka toasting while remaining standing during medical collaborations in Russia, the intricacies of proper bribery traveling in Ukraine, fell in love with grappa during culinary exchanges in Italy, came to appreciate fish head soup during sports exchanges with Malaysia, and fostered a pizza rebellion of Chinese exchange students in the US. Still convinced that flying and boating is a bad idea, he nevertheless embraced the perils of Aeroflot, valiantly suppressed his fear of the fetid water of Venice on a gondola, and discovered that a massage in some countries is more punishing than relaxing. The story culminates in Tanzania, where Phil finds his purpose in life while developing cooperative programs that empower women, lower maternal mortality in Maasai villages, create support for victims of domestic violence, improve farming techniques, and increase access to medical care for the Tanzanian people, the warmest and most resilient people he has ever met. Magnificent adventures are partnered with outside-the-comfort zone experiences. It took Phil over a million air miles to go from drifting thru life as a mid-level manager to slowly being transformed by a series of international visits into a person with a clear purpose. The result of these experiences was the realization that not only can we as Americans do a lot to help people, by also that yes, we should. Phil shows people who want to support these efforts how to do it when they don't know where to begin. The journey was worth it and the stories are priceless.

After earning a BA (Economics) and MA (Economic Development), Phil Latessa left the east coast and moved to Iowa where for five years he served as Director of Program Evaluation at the Iowa Regional Medical Program. From there he spent 25 years at the Iowa Hospital Association as a Vice President, Vice President of its shared services company , and as President of its research and education foundation where he conducted his first international exchange program. After two years as a health care consultant, he served for nine years as Executive Director of Iowa Sister States, which manages Iowa's official relationships in nine countries. In retirement, he devotes his time serving as Executive Director of Empower Tanzania, Inc. developing programs in cooperation with rural residents of Tanzania. Working with volunteers from the US, these co-developed programs improve health, education and income. This makes a difference in the lives of Tanzanian people, the warmest and most resilient people he has ever met. He lives with his very patient and loving wife Judy in Urbandale, Iowa.