Why Charles Berger Should Become a Travel Agent

I did my campus interview visit for SIUE in late January 2003. The English department had prepared a full day of activities for me, and Charles Berger arrived at my hotel in Edwardsville to drive me to campus.

As we headed out, Charles asked me something about St. Louis. I said I was excited about eventually seeing the city but confessed I had never actually been.

“You haven’t?” Charles asked.

“No,” I said.

Charles proceeded to make a U-turn. “Let’s go to St. Louis.”

“But,” I asked, “don’t I have an itinerary of things to do on campus?”

“Oh yeah,” Charles said. Then he casually pulled out his cellphone, called someone, likely the English department office administrator, Linda, and said, “Something came up. We’ll need to rearrange the schedule for the day.”

And with that, the campus interview became a city tour. For the next few hours, Charles drove me all around St. Louis. This was the first of many lessons in Charles Berger’s ability to improvise.

Need someone to show you the city instead of sticking to the pre-planned campus interview? Call Charles.

Need someone to improvise your travel plans like a jazz solo? Call Charles.

Need someone willing to rewrite the itinerary at the start of the trip, wander miles away from the intended 

destination, and still declare it all “part of the plan”? Definitely call Charles.

Related:

• Charles Berger Week