Imagine yourself flying through the air for 200 meters, or standing on and then jumping off the top of a telephone pole into thin air! (Of course, you are wearing a harness, and are completely protected and secure!!!) Or try walking on a cable stretched between the tall buildings in the Chicago fire, or using your suitcases to float across shark-infested waters. These are just a few of the challenges you might face while taking part in the Team Building programs of Noel International in Mexico or in the U.S.

Larry Swenson, a native of Minnesota, and the founder of Noel International, first came to Mexico to offer these types of executive programs in 1997. And he came here via Russia! At an international conference in St. Petersburg, Genaro Ortiz Tirado, the director of Campamento Pipiol, came to Larry's workshops, and then invited him to come to Mexico to "have a look at the business." And it all snowballed (using a Minnesota term) from there!

And since those beginnings here in Mexico there are a number of programs now being offered by the staff and associates of Noel International, including the popular Ropes Course/Challenge Course, which can be done both in Spanish and in English. Currently there are two installations that Swenson works with, one at the Hacienda Pipioltepec near Valle Bravo, and the other is the Hacienda Galindo, operated by Fiesta Americana near Queretaro. The installations have been built using the international standards of the ACCT (Association for Challenge Course Technology), and include zip lines, different types of cable walks, spider webs and walls, and other challenges that really are more mental than physical.

By the way, the oldest people to go off the zip line in Valle de Bravo were the parents of Swenson's business associate, while they were 70 and 72 years old!!! And for the "not so brave at heart," there is a new team building program that has been brought to Mexico by Swenson. It is called "En Busca de la Mina de Oro" ("In Search of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine") which has been translated to Spanish by some of his Mexican friends and associates. Here groups of people dress up in their western gear, and "mine gold" with limited resources and time. It is all done safely, indoors, and in the comfort of hotel conference rooms. This half-day program teaches collaboration sharing information, and gives a new look at competition.

Swenson has worked with some quite well-known companies and organizations around the world including Merck and Company, Inc., Dupont/Pioneer. Novartis, The St. Paul Companies, Primeko, the Mexican and the Venezuelan National Camping Association, PeopleSoft, Sheraton Suites, American Express, OMYA/Pleuss Staufer, Telmex, YMCA of Greater New York, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Kraft, Hard Rock Cafe, American University, and Xerox.

Executive training is not the only forte of Larry Swenson. This coming summer he will be leading a second team of teachers to China to work as a Dean of one of Concordia College's Global Language Villages. Last year his mother even went to China as part of the teaching team!!

This spring, Larry will be recording his second CD of international children's songs. His first CD, based on the popular story of the Wide Mouth Frog, has been played in schools, camps and homes around the world, and includes songs from 9 difference countries. One of the songs of the CD is currently being used as background music in a "Living America" program currently on PBS (Public TV in the U.S.) He also uses music to teach classes in Cultural Diversity to kids and adults. These programs are also available for groups in Mexico and the U.S.

Swenson is also a volunteer "to the Max". He served as the President of the International Alumni Association of Up With People, and often is involved with the Mexican alumni of that group. For example, the past two years this group of alumni has have given food and milk and gone to meet the children who are living in the streets of Mexico City. He also has worked with the International Camp Counselor Program recruiting camp counselors for summer camps in the U.S. as part of the International YMCA programs.

Noel International was recently featured in an article in the September of 2000 issue of Expansion maga- zine, the top business magazine here in Mexico. "The International Minnesota farm boy" as he is called by his friends, when he is not out and about doing his programs he can be found on the computer, sending out his famous "Swenny's E-Mail Funnies", which is sent on a daily basis in both in English and in Spanish to his friends around the globe.

More information can be found on the website of Noel International at: www.noelint.com or by sending an e-mail to: moremorefun@noelint.com You will soon find out why the motto of the company is "More Fun Than The Holidays!!!