Written by Bruce Byers

Since my earliest childhood in Texas, I have traveled and lived in many different locales around the world. Frequent moves and meeting new people enabled me to learn many skills and, perhaps most important, how to be self-reliant. Through a series of fortunate circumstances, I began college studies in Munich in 1961. European History, German literature, and Latin became major guideposts in my intellectual development. Returning to the United States in 1965, I entered graduate school at the University of Maryland and continued studying modern European history. After earning a Master’s degree I switched majors and studied Russian and Soviet history in pursuit of a Ph.D. Later, I developed my career in public affairs after joining the Foreign Service. I served in different diplomatic positions in South Asia, Europe, and East Asia. I retired from the U.S. State Department in 2000 and continued working part-time for several years in the Office of International Visitors. International youth exchange programs were a special interest because of my own experiences. I have continued writing that reflects my travels and my life among people of different cultures and regions of our planet. I have posted essays on foreign policy topics on AmericanDiplomacy.org and have written commentary for the Foreign Service Journal. My novel "The Extraordinary Journey of Harry Forth" captures much of my first international travel experience to Europe.