28.5.95 - 2.6.95 Melbourne/San Francisco

The day of departure has finally arrived. It is hard to leave Australia but equally easy to commence the journey, because there's so much to learn and understand--my driving force in so many ways. There is also America, that great paradox...

Nowhere else would the quantification of Jung's types have been contemplated, let alone acted on by non-professionals. Measurement--quantification--is king: Even the current flurry of educational testing at home doesn't compare with the experience.

Testing, particularly IQ, is seen by some as oppressive and anti-democratic, e.g., Gould's Mismeasure of Man (1990) and Degler's In Search of Human Nature (1991). In recent history, people have been sterilised or incarcerated following inadequate completion of such tests. Quantification itself is considered by many as social control, yet many test proponents favoured social reform. Type users in both the US and Australia seem to me essentially socially conservative. I see type as a stimulus for significant social reform and real equality. I wonder how others see it...

California Gum Trees

A bumpy but otherwise pleasant flight into San Francisco, where beggars on the streets speak what elsewhere is sophisticated psychological language. The area is like Australia in scenery and ambiance with many gum trees, planted from the 1850s for many reasons, so it is in some ways a half-way house to America. I walk and think about what I will do here apart from my Consulting Psychologists Press (CPP) meeting.

Later, dining at a nearby Burmese restaurant. I am given two fortune cookies. One, on pink paper, says, "The luck that is ordained for you will be coveted by others." The other, on white paper, says, "You think that is a secret, but it never has been one."

At CPP

The CPP offices are smaller than expected with tasks performed by surprisingly few. I meet Maud Willner, CPP's distribution manager. We talk about me, why I'm here, and I am quizzed about Australian MBTI issues.

One issue is academic qualifications and qualifying programmes. I explain that Australian three-year degree programs are essentially the international equivalent of US four-year degrees. Maud is interested in my working with Otto Kroeger and lanet Thuesen, indicating she values what they do. She is interested in Australia and I undertake to send her copies of our Journal on my return. lt's an enjoyable meeting, and I learn a lot.

I also meet David Kranz briefly and Maud shows me lack Black's office, unchanged since his death and including memorabilia relating to his status in the psychological testing world. It's an interesting room, and the historian in me wants to investigate further. Like so many influential people in this field, Black was an alumnus of the University of Minnesota, home of the MMPI and "dustbowl empiricism," referring to both geographical location and its dry-as-dust approach to facts.

Many well-known users of the MBTI are from this area; I reflect on possible connections...

Stanford University Campus

Leaving CPP, I head for nearby Stanford University. There are more gum trees than on many Australian university campuses, sitting uneasily with Spanish-influenced architecture. Its bookshop has a wide range of type materials and I wonder how to achieve the same in Australian universities.

I walk to the train and return to the city. Next day, I visit the Contemporary Art Gallery and see stimulating exhibitions on Native American humour and historical photographs of American politicians.

2.6.95 - 9.6.95 Minneapolis

Minneapolis is definitely in the USA: There are no gum trees, the foliage is native. I am finally away from home. The home of dustbowl empiricism is paradoxically decidedly lush and green. I have a message from Sandra Hirsh, who lives nearby. We plan to meet later when she will show me some of her home town. Meanwhile, I look around on my own at the major tourist attraction in the area: The Mall of America.

Students of American culture should not find it at all incongruous that a shopping mall is a major tourist attraction. This one is the largest in the world; people fly in from everywhere to shop and see a huge playground and the usual range of shops, with some novelties. I lunch pleasantly at the Rainforest Cafe and search out shops of interest, reflecting on the highly extraverted, sensing, and material goods orientation of American society.

This is accentuated later, on an organised tour of Minneapolis-St Paul. The tour guide doesn't draw breath for the entire tour. I suffer from sensory overload and wish for space, reflecting that Midwesterners are reputedly quieter than Americans elsewhere.

Longfellow's Hiawatha

Minneapolis is more than a mall. It's significant for learning and culture with streets of theatres and cares. Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha is set in local Minnehaha Falls. Like other parts of America, there are freeways everywhere; people drive rather than walk.

Next day, I meet Sandra and her husband Roger Schmidt. Sandra gives me an almost continuous stream of possibilities. After brunch, we see a Native American pow-wow in a suburban park. Particularly interesting is the Native American language and dance and the obvious respect these people have for their warriors who fought for the USA. I feel a voyeur after a while, so we leave. We visit the small but impressive History Museum of Minneapolis to end an enjoyable day.

At Work with Otto and Janet

Otto Kroeger and Janet Thuesen arrive. I agree to observe and participate in their MBTI qualifying workshop as an introduction to the program. The overall program includes a wine and cheese night and Jung videos shown at lunchtimes. The program itself is deceptively simple: A measured development of knowledge and practice, leading up to the exam. Everyone is comfortable with the program being a "class" and participants "students;' an unfamiliar context for Australians.

We examine the MBTI after a time of building type understanding--a good learning model and a different approach to my Australian qualifying programme. The different perspectives depend on what you're doing. In Australia, there are many approaches, in the true MBTI spirit.

Scoring Services

Surprisingly, I discover that the US APT program apparently presumes that people will use a scoring service, and so instruction in scoring may not necessarily occur. People in Australia rarely use scoring services.

Otto places particular emphasis on the paradox of the scores. The presentation flows typically with anecdotes and humour, elaborating on the high knowledge component. The qualifying workshop group is diverse in types, backgrounds, and occupations. Some claim extensive experience with the MBTI (up to 14 years), intimidating me somewhat. However, as the workshop unfolds, it is clear that their knowledge is limited, in particular with the Jung-oriented material.

Like other participants, I introduce myself. It seems everyone wants to go to Australia. I see a role as tourist agent, encouraging Americans to take the golden road south. At the wine and cheese night, I talk with a participant who, somewhat paradoxically for me, holds a union position but supports Reaganist policies and believes in a media conspiracy. He wants America to go "back" to 18th Century community democracy, somewhat questionable historically. He seeks to convince me of his views, while not listening to mine.

At least he didn't seem to believe in Russian or UN troops massing on the northern US border, but he wasn't too far from that. I resolve to avoid him and be more circumspect about this sort of discussion.

American Introverts

I'm perceiving substantial language differences between Americans and Australians. Overall, the group is extremely social, and I observe the more extraverted approach of American introverts. They often stand closer than what I would expect at home and are more verbal and descriptive. The week as a whole is interesting and challenging. Signed certificates for those passing are presented at the end of the program, an excellent idea...

Reflections and experiences on a journey through America on a quest for knowledge and understanding

Peter Geyer (INTP), Australian APT vice president, spent three months last summer traveling throughout the United States. He presented at APT XI, his third international conference, having previously attended APT IX in Richmond (1991 ) and APT X in Newport Beach (1993). His travel journal first appeared in the Australian Journal of Psychological Type.

9.6.95-18.6.95 Falls Church, VA

The flight from Minneapolis to Washington is largely over spaces I've seen before, so I have some idea of where I'm going, at least geographically.

Otto Kroeger and Janet Thuesen live within five miles of the center of Washington, across the Potomac River, the broad equivalent of suburban living in any major Australian city, except that they live on a lake. So it's not your conventional suburb. I settle in, look at the lake appreciatively, and think about meeting Otto Kroeger Associates staff.

The OKA offices and training rooms are set in a two-level office park near a busy intersection, with many nearby restaurants in the American style. There is much similarity in staff type, although this is not deliberate.

Living in a home rather than a hotel means that I meet Otto and Janet's friends and neighbors. It's quite an extraverted and social atmosphere. People know their type, courtesy of my hosts, and are interested in why I'm there. Though I'm not big on groups, I'm made welcome and enjoy the interactions--a pleasant experience.

19.6.95-9.7.95

A big test this week, co-training with Otto in the "Cleaning out the Cobwebs" refresher day. Co-training can be difficult even with a friendly environment. Unsure of my role, I take time to fit in as I find that my content knowledge is comparable and that I have some unique insights to add. People are interested in what I have to say, so I feel a little more relaxed.

The "Next Step" workshop, where I m a participant, involves wine and cheese on the first night and a lake cruise the second. I am impressed at how willing Otto and Janet are to share both knowledge and possessions without any grandstanding. Otto's insights into MBTI scores are fascinating and support strongly using Form G over the self-scorable version. A major program in Australia reportedly uses only the self-scorable in its teaching, which confuses me. Otto states that friend and mentor Abraham Maslow "pales before Isabel Briggs Myers" as an intellect--high praise indeed.

Fourth of July

Otto regularly participates in the Fairfax Fourth of July parade, and I join him as he drives one of his Ford Thunderbirds. Parades in Australia never involve politicians, and we have no cultural equivalent of the day itself, since Australia's foundation does not rest on revolution.

From the Thunderbird, I get a first-hand look at American culture (marching girls, etc.) and am surprised at the number of people watching. I'm supposed to wave to the crowd, but I find this difficult as my introverted Australian reserve comes into play. Otto, naturally, has no trouble with crowds. He wears a colorful hat that attracts attention and appreciative comments.

Later, we complete the day amongst a flotilla of boats on the lake viewing an impressive fireworks display.

10.7.95-16.7.95 APT XI Kansas City

A sign at Kansas City International Airport proclaims "An All-American City," which makes me speculate on the status of other cities. It's extremely hot but green, and the Missouri winds through the landscape. I encounter the first Australian I've seen in some time, and we chat at a restaurant offering Australian wines.

APT XI has many moments. I experience Nancy Barger and Linda Kirby on type and culture as they model how to co-train effectively and supportively. Loren Letendre of CPP and I have a genial discourse, and I leave with insights, encountering more Australians on the way.

The next day I attend the International Type Users Organisation (ITUO) meeting, which includes Katharine Myers, Mary McCaulley, Letendre, and Margaret Hartzler. The purpose of the meeting is to agree on a constitution--though necessary, like pulling teeth.

The jazz and blues tour commences in the heat of the evening. After a barbecue, we visit four music venues--a small corner bar with an excellent fusion band, a bar with piano and female singer, a cellar bar with a ragged rhythm and blues band, and finally a place to dance with an excellent tight soul blues-oriented band. This is the America I really enjoy seeing.

Attending "Advances in Models and Measures: Integrative Type Theory," I find I am interested in the theory more than the measures, particularly the content by Don Johnson and James Newman. Eric Braverman speaks eloquently on type and neuropsychiatry, antagonizing many with his irreverence - and I admit I enjoyed it.

Choosing concurrent sessions is more difficult and I made some inappropriate choices trying to avoid topics and presenters I had seen. I wandered in to a packed session by Linda Berens and Stephanie Rogers on "Personality and the New Science." Sitting on the floor and leaning against a connecting door at the back of the room, I synchronistically became part of the process by falling through the door into another room just as Linda and Stephanie are explaining interconnectedness. My performance stops the show, and I feel somewhat like the ancient illustration provided and also a little embarrassed, even though it seemed to fit in with what was going on. Later, we laugh about the incident, Linda musing whether she should pay me for illustrating part of her presentation.

Angelo Spoto's presentation excellently complements author Peter O'Connor's speech at the 1994 Melbourne conference. From all accounts, however, many do not understand what he was getting at--which is precisely his point: MBTI users, know thyselves.

The session on MBTI and teams research is interesting, particularly as I forget that "research" in the United States generally means statistics: I think the people studied are sometimes lost among the figures.

The western party and dinner I find a little too extraverted, but eventually I find friends and even participate in some dances, to the surprise of a few.

Though not a believer, I'm interested in why others believe, so I go to a session about conceptualisations of God. Researchers from the University of Little Rock give some interesting material about type, images of deity, and self-actualizing values. I enjoy their knowledge, eclecticism, and wry humor. Little Rock sounds like a good place to do type research.

I also present on MBTI history and development. Very few are there, but I get to go on tape and am happy with my performance content.

The conference ends with casual drinks and discussions and I take my leave to return to Washington to continue my education and travels in Typeland.

17.7.95 Washington, DC

19.7.95 Gettysburg, PA

Otto loves to show Gettysburg. I haven't investigated the American Civil War much, as I don't care for military history, so its significance for me was Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." Driving to Gettysburg using non-freeway routes, crossing the Mason-Dixon Line, and seeing farms, a covered bridge, and men fishing gave me a feeling for the country.

Gettysburg is a country town of 4,000; I had expected something much larger. The Battle of Gettysburg (1863) was a turning point of the Civil War. There were various ways you could experience the battle and its context. I wandered around the National Cemetery and looked at a cyclorama for perspective. Walking around where Lincoln spoke was very moving. The feelings and values held by the American people seemed in the air, notwithstanding the distractions of guided tours and costumed actors.

After an enjoyable lunch at a homely '50s cafe, we drove around the area, topographically not unlike areas close to Melbourne, which made me think about the universality of the earth. Such a beautiful area for such a bloody conflict! I was struck by memorials from all states, North and South, and the Eternal Light Peace Memorial. Nearby Eisenhower Farm indicated that this was a sacred site for the psyche of the American people, hiding a multiplicity of meanings.

22-23.7.95 Virginia

I made forays into Virginia, traveling westward through beautiful scenery to Luray Caverns, invitingly cool in the hot day. I was impressed by spectacular formations and bemused by a Wurlitzer organ that used the natural formation around as pipes. Nature was infinitely preferable to the machine, which curiously reminded me of Neil Diamond.

Visiting Virginia wineries and a cruise down the Skyline Drive confirmed the pleasures of the country--occasional deer, the smell of the trees, and spectacular views in the heat haze. The wineries provided a different taste to Australia's, but they were good tastes and I bought some to take home and sample at leisure. At Linden Winery, a pleasant woman (who seemed to prefer ESFJ) organised us through their pleasant, sometimes unique range.

24.7-7.8.95 Fairfax to Maine

I went to hear Tony Moore's well-known interpretation of the movie Field of Dreams, which he briefly presents in the Jung component of qualifying workshops. Tony was evocative and stimulating, although some participants struggled to link Jung's broader theory and the MBTI.

The MBTI is too often seen as simply a tool rather than as a way to look at personality from a rich philosophical and scientific background. People attend qualifying workshops for different reasons, and a bit of philosophy when you think you're there to learn about how to perfunctorily use a psychological instrument can be genuinely startling, however necessary.

Driving to Maine was full of interest, freeways notwithstanding. We smoothly entered Chambersburg, where Otto attended a 50th wedding anniversary. Walked through the town centre after 5 p.m. in the steamy heat, I found the pleasant but tired main street closed, the nearby unaesthetic shopping plaza the only overt sign of life--until I discovered a cool bar with polished wood and mirrors, good beer, basic food, and memorable rock tunes playing in the background.

This trip is the equivalent of driving from Melbourne to Sydney, except that you pass through eight states and some impressive and intriguing cities, like Worcester, MA, home of Clark University, where Jung and Freud visited in 1909. I liked the look of Hartford, CT, and was impressed by wide rivers, the Delaware Memorial Bridge, and the state-controlled liquor trade in New Hampshire.

Bethel, ME, is home to the National Training Laboratories (NTL): T-groups, management laboratories, and similar processes. Otto and Janet regularly present here and this was Otto's 35th consecutive summer here.

I'm not a great fan of these processes, particularly as the ideas underpinning them don't mix well with my studies in personality and science. Jung's ideas make more scientific sense, which may surprise some. Life, and science, is funny like that: Things aren't always as they seem. NTL processes have their place as long as presuppositions are understood.; I've benefited from similar experiences at home. Type qualifies these processes once you realize that they're about extraverted felling and therefore different for the various types. But I was honoured to be in Bethel, and the NTL atmosphere was genial and friendly, sometimes earnest. I spoke on Australian culture while there, which attracted some interest.

Bethel is a quiet New England town, and the townspeople want to keep a small town flavour. There are tourist shops and restaurants but no fast-food restaurants. The New England architecture is similar to some Queensland homes, climate and culture notwithstanding. Good food and good conversation were the order of the week.

8-11.8.95 Washington

Visiting the Ford Theatre where Lincoln was shot and the house almost directly opposite, where he died, was an enthralling if accidental experience. Later, I met with David Haynes, an Australian staying with Margaret Hartzler, and we chatted broadly on type-related issues. This was also a time for fare-wells--goodbye for some, arranging future contact for others. Perhaps symbolically, my last day was spent shaving my six-year-old beard, which I'd contemplated for some time.

12-19.8.95 San Francisco

The refrains of Tom Petty's It's Good to Be King claimed me over the airline airwaves to San Francisco, idiosyncratic but with aspects of both Sydney and Melbourne, only this time it's a wake for the well-known local musician Jerry Garcia. Poignantly, a parked car displays a quote from one of Garcia's songs:

Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs;
To rock my soul.

My own farewell is now close at hand. The airport beckons, and ultimately the Australian landscape appears. I am curiously ambivalent: I have changed yet am the same.

I entered my last Lake Barcroft morning with a song blaring in my head (I'd never experienced that before)--a favourite tune, with more than one meaning for this working class boy from the Antipodes, as I continue my travels in typeland, and elsewhere:

You've heard it said, "I taught the world to fly"
One kiss from me and some can't say goodbye
The place you'll find me, when the sun goes down...
After hours, on the wrong side of town...
Drawn by the promise of a broken dream
They all come looking for the answers
The question's never if and where they fall from grace...
After all, it's just a matter of time
--Gary Moore, Wrong Side of Town (1994)

Photograph courtesy of Jamie Johnston, CAPT Library. PETER GEYER (INTP) is a consultant, researcher and writer in the field of C G Jung's theory of psychological types. He conducts MBTI Accreditation programs and presents internationally on a regular basis. Peter is a life member of AusAPT and a professional affiliate of the Australian Psychological Society.