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Your November 2016 Postcard From Norm!

10/26/2016

4 Comments

 
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Goodbye and thank you, USA!
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On November 8, I’m headed back to the Philippines. (Yes, I’m flying out on Election Day.) No wonder why the flight was so cheap! I’ll get on the plane in San Francisco mid afternoon and won’t land in Manila, get through customs, take a taxi to my hotel, check in and get to my room to turn on CNN and see who won the election until about 30+ hours later!
 
This trip back to the states has been amazing – starting with visiting family on the East Coast and then hanging out with homies on the West Side. I'm truly grateful that I was able to visit Connecticut, Maine, Delaware, New York, Nevada, California and North Carolina in the span of just four months, but hanging out with YOU is always the highlight of my time in the U.S.
 
Thanks so much for all of your support, love, and friendship, and see you next time!


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The physiology of old friends
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Did you know that 98 percent of Americans have at least one close friend, according to a Gallup Poll? In fact, the average person now has 9 close friends (down from 10 in 1990).
 
We all love to hang out with good friends, old friends, and good, old friends (the best kind). But you may not have realized that there are tangible health benefits to keeping an engaged social circle. 
 
Called “Friendfluence,” some of the health benefits of being around good friends regularly include:
 
Live longer
Lower stress
Stronger immune system
Better overall health
Lower rates of obesity
Lower instance of dementia
Better relationships
Spicier love life
Advanced learning & development
Better life choices
Higher net worth
Ease of coping with trauma
Boost happiness, confidence, and sense of purpose
 
So next time you see them, thank your best friends for improving your health as well as making you feel good!


Purchase with a purpose; hand-sewn bow ties from Kenya

I'm honored to sit on the Board of Directors of Willow Tree Roots, a great international charity that focuses on empowering poor women through social entrepreneurship. One of the programs we run in Kenya allows disenfranchised women to sew and sell these beautiful custom bow ties, as well as many other great clothes. Check them out and order something for the holidays! 
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A Requiem For The One Love House

Since I’ve been visiting Sacramento, I couldn’t help but reflect upon my old crib in East Sac, 5031 D Street….aka “The One Love House.” It was a really special place because of all of the great people that came together as a community there for the various charity fundraisers, business mixers, art showings, neighborhood events, concerts, and yes, parties.
 
I found these old Before and After photos and wanted to share them. Did you get a chance to come kick it at The One Love House? I’d love to hear your stories, favorite memories, and hopefully see your photos!
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Gold Status Customs strikes again!
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Boom! Pow! Zam! The best custom sneaker company on the planet, Gold Status Customs (which happens to be the brainchild of my nephew, Ryan) strikes again with these hand painted Hawaiian floral design Nike Cortez!

​Hit him up if you want to get your own original pair of hand-painted sneakers!

Email him or follow @GoldStatusCustoms on Instagram.


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Cuddling a dinosaur?

I was lucky enough to cozy up to a real life dinosaur at one of my friend’s house – or at least the closest living creature to real dinosaur DNA. The New Caledonian Giant Gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus) is a direct evolutionary descendant of dinosaurs and one of the rarest animals on earth. In fact, they’re so rare that very little comes up about them on Google. As of a year or two ago there were only 12 on earth but they’ve been repopulated up to about 50 now.

​This guy (named Rocker) was super chill and just loves to cuddle anywhere it’s warm – this time on my shirt.


I'd love to offer you a free book!

Since you're so awesome, I'd love to offer you one of my books for free. Just Email me at [email protected] with the title you want and I’d be happy to send you that ebook.
​
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What’s next?

For the next six to eight months, I’ll be living, working and playing in the Philippines among some of the nicest islands in the world. In fact, Cebu, Boracay, and Palawan in the Philippines were just ranked 3 of the top 5 rated islands on the planet for 2016 - and have the nicest people in the world (ranked by me!).

​I love having friends visit so I can play tour guide so please stay in touch and 
mi casa es su casa! ​

-Norm   :-) 

4 Comments
Phil Lcalderoni
11/1/2016 08:20:22 am

Hey Norm, it is a pleasant surprise to hear from you. you are .truly having the adventure of a life time. I am so hippy for you. Sue and I are well. I am still working full time ask a chemical sales engineer for Clayton Industries, a steam generator manufacturer. this year I did a lot of boating on the Delta with friends.
Sue is busy with her friends and with an art docent program in Los altos with grade school children. She is going to have knee replacement operation in two weeks. Then another next spring. Thank you for staying in touch. Yours, Phil

Reply
Ophelia Riego
11/1/2016 08:48:28 am

Norm, I wish you the best. Have a wonderful time. I maybe headed that way in February, for the first time since 1973....I'll make sure to let you know if I do. God Bless...

Reply
Angelika Schriever
11/1/2016 01:42:09 pm

I have many great memories of my visits to the "One Love House," but this is the best: one evening around Christmas the large doors of the Great Room opened up, three men in tuxedoes pushed a piano into the room (!), a woman in a long gown followed and handed out a program for a recital of opera arias!! You knew my love for opera -- it was the most unforgettable Christmas gift ever, and I will remember it always.

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Amy Bodrozic
11/1/2016 06:47:44 pm

Hey Norm! I really love this digital postcard idea and thanks for including me in on the fun. It was so good to meet you and to discover that we had a very deal mutual friend. Will be seeing you on Skype for Willow Tree Roots soon, I am sure. Until then, take care and my best wishes to you always.

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    Norm Schriever

    Norm Schriever is a best-selling author, expat, cultural mad scientist, and enemy of the comfort zone. He travels the globe, telling the stories of the people he finds, and hopes to make the world a little bit better place with his words.   

    Norm is a professional blogger, digital marketer for smart brands around the world,  and writes for the Huffington Post, Hotels.com, and others.

    Check out South of Normal his Amazon.com best-selling book about life as an expat in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

    Cambodia's School of Hope explores education and empowerment in impoverished Cambodia, with 100% of sales going to that school.

    The Book Marketing Bible provides 99 essential strategies for authors and marketers.

    Pushups in the Prayer Room, is a wild, irreverent memoir about a year backpacking around the world.  

    Follow Norm on Twitter @NormSchriever or email any time to say hi!

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