I've begun teaching a section of the course "Intro To Radio" at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School Of Journalism.  On the first day within the first hour, I had my students go around the table and answer the question, "Who are you and why are you here?"  There was Jose originally from Colombia and Patrick from Queens. Also in my class are Yudith from Indonesia and Amy from LA, while students Jenny and Andrea are Londoners. It feels that my classroom has turned into a mini-UN.

Despite the various geographic origins, many of us share a common connection, besides our interest in radio. For example, Patrick worked with the first person I ever brought to NPR back in 1993. Amy went to the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) annual conference in San Diego this summer as I did.  Alisa taught in New York's public schools where a long-time mentee of mine works. Another Patrick in my class did "Teach for America" along with my former mentee as well.

But Olivia from Texas is the "degrees of separation" point of this missive. At NABJ, I was given some extra tickets to the closing gala event at the conference called "Salute to Excellence."  I posted their availability on Twitter and a colleague said she'd take them off my hands. That colleague in turn gave a ticket to a friend of hers named Olivia. 

The first day of orientation at CUNY, I met Olivia by accident.  I was getting coffee (no accident there) and she said "Hi Doug Mitchell,"  and proceeded to introduce herself as the recipient of my "generosity" at NABJ.  We both laughed.  Then, here's the kicker: Olivia turned up in my "Intro To Audio" class.

My world keeps shrinking.

Yours?

*Chantal de la Rionda edits this blog