Take A Leap....Moving Fwd!!

We have a little more than 50 hours before our Take A Leap Indiegogo Fundraising Campaign ends.  We will likely not reach our goal of raising $5500.  Yet, we are grateful to those who have contributed thus far and those who wanted to give, but were not in a position to do so. We will be able to use the funds contributed to pay for our China Visas.  All remaining Take A Leap expenses that we outlined will be paid for through a combination of personal savings and credit cards.

As is, we will be moving forward from the funding aspect and will concentrate on the experiences of Black Expats.  If you notice, I've started to use the term Black more often because we are finding that our audience is beyond African-Americans, but also Black Canadians, Bahamanians, Jamaicans, Afrikaans, and a host of related races.  Yet no matter where we go, we're called Black/Negro/Morocha or the like.

I was talking to a Caucasian woman the other day.  And she shared with me that she never gave a thought that Blacks may have a different experience than she would in another country.  And while I shared with her fundamentally there are many similar experiences, it is also interesting to know that less than 10% of Blacks (at least in America) have a Passport.  And in many countries, we are considered a rarity.  It is common for some Europeans to never have seen a Black person face to face. Only on TV or Magazines.  Thereby, they tend to request taking a picture or to touch our skin or hair.

It is also common place to be stereotyped based on what one sees on TV or read about in Magazines.  They think we must be rich to be visiting their country, and that we're related to P Diddy or Oprah! What!! I mean, who thinks like that.  Yet, I remember being young in school thinking that there was only Black or White.  It wasn't until high school that I found myself friends with "foreigners".  Point is, we live in a world now that is a true melting pot.

It reminds me of the phrase commonly used by Pilots when flying on an airplane.  "Folks, we've reached our cruising altitude, feel free to move about the cabin."  I feel that way about this global world we live in.  Feel free to move around country to country.  And if you follow the blogs to the right, you'll see they are out there. Moving around.  Some for careers.  Some for adventure. Some for love.  Some to find their purpose.  And Take A Leap will be there to share their stories.

If you believe in what we are doing, there is still time to give.  And if you don't have anything to give, that's OK.  Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.  Keep reading our blog.  And share a comment or two.  What will it take for you to Take A Leap and travel the world??

Take A Leap Logo

We officially have a Take A Leap logo. We want to personally thank former magazine Art Director Errol Alger and Graphic Designer Allen Johnson for collaborating on the logo. We will be using it as much as we can to market the Take A Leap Webseries.

We have until September 1st to raise $5,500. We recently added a new perk of 2 XL Black Girls Travel T-shirts for a donation of $50, plus the $20 donation level perks.

www.indiegogo.com/takealeap

Rhonda W.

Guest Post--- Martice Sutton

Every time I meet someone and they find out I lived in India for 9.5 months I am immediately bombarded with questions, but the first one is almost always " what made you want to go there?" as their face either lights up with excitement or turns down in that weird way that shows disappointment or disgust. Depending on who I'm talking to the answer varies but most times I find myself really searching for the honest answer and I think it really was as simple as why not?

While in undergrad I majored in international studies and studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Like many students who study abroad I took the opportunity to travel throughout Europe and since then I was always hungry for more. I'm not exactly sure when my fascination for India began. It could have been a mixture of Slumdog Millionaire, Eat, Pray, Love, and my IS background. I was taken aback by this colorful land that was tainted by so many social issues. I wanted to help in some small way, I wanted to explore its complexity and be a part of the country's vibrant colors, spices, and traditions.

So when it was time for post grad options I knew that I wanted to work abroad. I finalized my plan to participate in a social enterprise fellowship that took US graduates and placed them with social enterprises in India to shadow innovators and also offer perspective on ways to improve their enterprises. Once I actually got to Hyderabad, India and actually began my expat life I found myself asking "why the hell did you come HERE?!" Slumdog Millionaire is an accurate account of life in India... Hot as heck, dirty as heck, and crazy as....you get the point lol. There are so many negatives in the country that scream at you such as poverty and corruption that it's hard to get to the positives.

The best way to sum up my India experience is that it brings out the best and the worst of people. There were times when I found myself screaming at auto drivers trying to cheat me and then there were times where I gave so much of myself and could see so much growth in my character. Many expats living throughout India have confirmed this sentiment. Overall I'm grateful for my time in India. Yes people stared at me, ran up to me and snapped pictures like I was an animal at the zoo and ignored me but I also trekked a mountain by myself, lived on a train for two weeks with 400 Indians exploring 12 of the country's cities, and learned to be unapologetically me! When I think of all the positive experiences I have no choice but to say thank you dear India for all that you've shown me.

Martice currently works in Washington, DC with a social enterprise organization.  Continue to follow Martice on her blog at Black Girl in the Big World and Twitter @blkgirlbigword  

Focus Focus ..Time Away ..Refocus

My family is getting together for an upcoming weekend trip to NYC. For some, like my nieces and nephews, it'll be their first time. For others, it's been a while.  We've sketched out an itinerary that will include food, shopping, sight-seeing, and entertainment.  We have been focused on the activities and logistics of the trip for the past year, and in the midst of it all, a relative became seriously ill.  We had to take some time away to deal with her health scare.  But now the weekend is upon us.  Do we cancel the trip? Do we gather at the family home?


It has been decided that the trip will go on. However, some of the family have elected to stay behind.  And that is their choice, as it is those that have decided to continue with the trip.  Though it is best believed, our hearts, thoughts, and prayers will be with our dear Aunt/Sister/Grandma.  She has regained much of her strength, and the Lord has and will continuously watch her day by day.

So we have now refocused our attention back on the trip. The hotel rooms are confirmed. The chartered bus has been paid for. The banquet hall and DJ has been booked.  We're a few days away from embarking on our very first true family gathering outside the state, and we're rolling about 30 persons deep.  Our mother, brother, aunties, cousins, nieces, nephews...fun and laughs for sure during our 12 hour journey from SC to NYC.


With our Take A Leap 10-day trip to Italy a little more than three months away, there is some concern and apprehension.  We have travel insurance because we are utilizing a vacation tour package.  But for those who have made life abroad their "career", I would imagine there is no insurance of this kind.  Further, I've wondered how these expats respond to news at home while they are abroad. Do you hop on the next plane "back to the States" or do you remain focus in your "international home" and pray that everything is settled after awhile? Do you miss out often on major family events..weddings, births, funerals, etc? Is there a right or wrong way to handle such sensitive matters? Do you focus focus, take time away to deal with family matters, and refocus on life at hand, as we have done? I would appreciate any comments or advice.

Thanks,
Sharee

Speak Up!!

Today is Rhonda and my birthday! We've been responding through a slew of Facebook msgs, tweets, emails, and text messages of well wishes.  But only a few well wishes in person.  It made me think of how we've been promoting our new project, Take A Leap. We tend to promote with emails, tweets, and Facebook. Very little by word of mouth. So as we head into a busy weekend that includes flying to Detroit to attend the Glory Reelz Christian Film Festival and then back Sunday to attend our dad's church service and celebrate Mother's Day with our mom, we've both made vows as a part of our birthday wish.  We need to open our mouths and speak up.

Speak up about what we've accomplished in filmmaking. Speak up about the DVDs we are selling. Speak up about our new project, Take A Leap. Speak up about the boy we like. So, I snuck the last one in there, but it served as a point. In speaking up, we are formulating relationships.  We are getting people to trust us, and we them.  Relationships are reciprocal. It's a give and take.  In selling a DVD, we take in $7 and viewers are given a 4 short stories to watch. We take that $7, and give a portion back to God. The viewers take the DVD and share with others. A relationship has developed, and the circle of trust has begun.  Makes sense! Well it does in my mind.

Anyways, the same can be true about speaking up about Take A Leap. Instead of talking about the money , speak more to what we want to experience. We want to experience the life of an entrepreneur with the "power" to create and shape our careers. We want to travel not only for cultural sake, but also with a purpose of sharing inspirational stories of African-American expats not often heard.  For that reason we have narrowed our international abroad locations to Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy; and Shanghai/Beijing, China for our pilot, second, and third episodes.  We'll take some time in Spring/Summer 2013 to promote the three shows in NYC and LA.

These are the experiences we want to share with people not the dollar signs. When we talk to people about Take A Leap, we're developing a relationship with people who are also trying to find their calling in life. Many people  "dream" about a new job, new home, or a new relationship, but fail to speak their "dream" into existence. So I say, shout it to the universe. To anyone that bears to listen.  From day 1 we've been told that our lives are purposeful, and the only life to live is the one we're destined to live. The more we speak up, the more likely it'll catch on, and the support that we'll have will be tremendous. We can't stay quiet any longer!!

Sharee

Take A Leap Facebook Page

Take A Leap has a Facebook Page. Check us out at www.facebook.com/WCPTakeALeap

Spread The Word!

 Currently seeking to interview African-Americans who live abroad in Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy; Shanghai, China; and Beijing, China.



Upcoming Trips: 
Tuscany (Rome & Florence Italy) November 1-10, 2012 Collette Vacations via Midlands Technical College Continuing Education Department

China (Shanghai & Beijing) December 27, 2012-January 6, 2013 Friendly Planet