This Sean Paul guy know what he’s talking about!!!

Location:Austin, Texas

Home page:http://seanpaulkelley.com

About me: E-Mail: spkelley-at-gmail-dot-com

I lived in San Antonio most of my life, not counting the three muggy years in Houston while studying at the University of Houston. Oh yeah, and there was that one year I was an English teacher in Seoul, South Korea. Now there is a story. But now, I managed to escape, after almost 37 years, and I am traveling the world for a year, maybe longer. It's a long story; read the blog where you can get the full scoop.
Before I left for my travels I worked for a medium sized global software company based out of Austin, Texas. They then shipped me off to Singapore for several months. Before that I was in asset management for 11 years.

My previous "job" afforded me the opportunity to travel in a host of wonderful, strange and sometimes exotic countries: Belize, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, India, Guatemala, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Greece, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Turkey, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Austria, England, Ireland, Russia, China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.

My "business" travels awakened me to the true luxury of freelance travel writing, hence I am pursuing this full time. As a history student I learned the value that context adds to a story. While traveling I learned how valuable "atmosphere" could be. So, I am currently researching a book on Central Asia and the Silk Road.

My "work history" is as diverse and odd as it looks.From 1995 until the summer of 2002 I labored at Morgan Stanley as an Associate Vice President where I actively managed a client and asset base worth approximately $20,000,000.
Before that I worked for the Hyundai Group in Suwon, South Korea from 1994-1995 as an English Language Program Director. Me, three other crazy Americans and a mild mannered Canuck created (tried) and implemented an English language program for upper and mid-level managers. I'm being very liberal in this definition.

I was young and passionate about politics once, too. So, upon graduation I worked for the Harris County Democratic Party during the 1994 Primary Season as a "Staff" member. It was awful, full of long hours and insufferably arrogant, petty and stupid people. I thought I was going to help President Clinton elect Democrats to Congress and instead we ran the Democratic primary, communicated with all the precinct chairs, and coordinated with election judges. Before that (and always ever after) I was a bigmouth with The Daily Cougar from 1991-1993. As a Staff Writer and Foreign Affairs Editor I was responsible for writing a bi-weekly column on foreign affairs and economic issues for the university's daily campus paper. I Did a little copy editing, too. We lost every journalism award to TU, every year.

So, here is where my brain fits into the grand scheme of things:

BA--European History, University of Houston, 1993.

Member, Phi Alpha Theta, International Honor Society of History
1990-present

In early 1998 I was nominated by the National Board of the World Affairs Councils of America to be a delegate to a conference in Taipei on "Taiwan in the Aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis." The five day conference was a fascinating look into the workings of one of the premier emerging market economies.

Later in 1998 I was invited by the Brookings Institution and the American-Italian Council on Foreign Relations to attend the "EU and NATO Expansion" Conference in Trieste, Italy. I learned just how American I was here. Met some smart people here, especailly Cori, from the Peace Corps and ate the best "spaghetti con alici" on the Adriatic with Charlie Kupchan. Just a few months ago I went back to the same resturant and had the same dish; Charlie would be jealous.

I am currently reading for an M.A in International Relations.

Finally, (I can't believe you made it this far) I have had the great fortune to be affiliatiated with several distinguished organizations in the South Texas area.

Board of Trustees, World Affairs Council of San Antonio: 1998-2001
Executive Committee, World Affairs Council of San Antonio: 1998-1999
Chair, International Contemporaries, 1995-1999
Business Advisory Council, University of the Incarnate Word: 1998-2000
Leadership San Antonio 2000-2001

I am an excellent public speaker and am available for speaking engagements on a wide range of current issues, history and travel topics. E-mail me for inquiries.

You can read about my Silk Road Adventures, here.

I am the Editor-at-Large of The Agonist, which is a true labor of love.

Best,

Sean Paul Kelley
March, 2006