Take A Leap Phase II

Streets of Quebec City via MotoVermont.com

In a blog post from a few weeks ago on stepping out on faith, we shared briefly that we will be expanding our Take A Leap concept to include two additional areas, careers & education and financial planning.  The Career Mentoring Program website will be unveiled in mid-June along with an E-book that will be available for $5.99 or when you pay the $50 deposit fee to participate in the career mentoring program, the E-book will be included as a bonus.  The orientation will be held mid-August for those local to Columbia, SC.

Waterfront view of Quebec City via Flickr

Those who are unable to attend in person will be provided materials via email within 24 hours of the conclusion of the orientation.  The program will officially begin in September with a number of assignments that Mentees must complete personally and in collaboration with their assigned Mentor.  In addition, Mentees will be preparing for their self-funded international trip.  We would like to formally announce that the international retreat location will be in Quebec City, Canada from January 17-January 20, 2014.  Videos from the international retreat will be documented for future segments of the Take A Leap webseries.  We are currently seeking locally and world-wide for Mentors and Mentees.  Please contact us at weconnectedprod[at]gmail.com for more information.

5 Ways to Immerse Yourself in Local Culture

We had differing opinions as to what this month's Traveling Brown Girls Blog Carnival topic was about.  So we are approaching this two ways.  Rhonda will identify 5 ways to immerse yourself in your own community.  Sharee will identify 5 ways to immerse yourself in another country as a local.

Rhonda

1)  Attend an international festival in your community.  The 18th Annual Columbia International Festival will be held April 13 & 14, 2013. 

2)  Take a foreign language at the local community college.  Spanish and French are commonly offered.

3)  Enjoy the night life at a local dance club that plays variety of music. The Salsa Cabana in Columbia, SC is open on Fridays and Saturdays with a DJ that mixes salsa, merengue, bachata, and reggaeton.

4)  Identify restaurants that have authentic international food. In Columbia, SC, the most authentic Italian restaurant is Villa Tronco.

5)  Take an international foods cooking class. The McCutchin House on the campus of the University of SC offers various international cuisine cooking classes for the general public.

Sharee

1)  Learn the essential language used by the locals.  "Hello", "Good-bye", "Excuse me", "Thank You", "Please", "Where is bathroom?", "How much does this costs?", and "Do you speak English?" are common phrases to learn. You can purchase a beginner's guide at your local AAA.

2)  Take the public transportation.

3)  Eat where the locals frequent.  Often these restaurants will not have an English menu if in non-English speaking country.

4)  Make friends with a local.  

5)  Stay in an apartment and not a hotel. VRBO is an excellent resource.

Just because we're twins, doesn't mean we always think alike!! So how would you interpret the title of this topic? 

Nomadness Travel Tribe Press Release

Evita Robinson, creator of Nomadness Travel Tribe, and founder of Nomadness LLC, is on a mission to have more people of color traveling internationally.  Just as Take A Leap inspire to capture those stories, Nomadness is creating those opportunities to travel.  Check out what they are about and how this movement is spreading like wildfire!!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*PRESS RELEASE*

NOMADNESS TRAVEL TRIBE POSITIONED AS THE HOTTEST URBAN INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT

In less than one year, Nomadness LLC has launched one of the most innovative travel groups, taking Facebook by storm. Boasting over 3,500 members from over two-dozen countries, the invitation-only Nomadness Travel Tribe is the new home for urban nomads, shattering the myth that people of color don’t travel.

NY, New York, November 20, 2012-

Nomadness LLC, launched in April 2012, has positioned itself as the new cool kid in travel business. Specifically, its social media arm, the Nomadness Travel Tribe, has pushed itself into the forefront to create a voice for an underrepresented demographic of world nomads.  With stats that include seventy percent female, and ninety percent Black and Latino travelers, the Tribe has become an international family for those that prefer an urban stylistic of international vagabonding.

On the day to day, the Tribe functions as an online resource in which members have real time conversations about advice, anecdotes, photography, video, and the do’s and don’ts of hopping around the globe. It’s not unusual for a member who is stranded in a country to post a thread asking for help searching for lodging/transportation and being bombarded with options within minutes, from members all over the world. 

In an effort to take the conversation offline, Tribe members are known for their weekly international Meet Ups, as well as the NomadnessX trips that the business core, High Council Members, organize on behalf of the group. Within the first year of conception, there have been five group trips (Panama, Spain, Germany, Toronto, Dominican Republic). The first of which had eighteen members in Bocas Del Toro, Panama and was recounted in the July 2012 Issue of Ebony Magazine.

“Being a young, Black female who traveled to over ten countries, and lived on three continents by the time I was twenty-five, I never found a travel group that spoke to me. They were boring and didn’t relate to my style or background. The entrepreneur in me said ‘Good, I’m going to create it,’ says Nomadness LLC Founder and Nomadness Travel Tribe creator, Evita Turquoise Robinson. In 2011, Robinson was noted by Clutch Magazine, as one of the ‘Top 11 Black Women Inspiring Us to Travel’. It was her wanderlust, and young energy that became the catalyst to launch into the travel industry, fully occupying this sector unlike anyone before her had done.

The Nomadness Travel Tribe’s 1 Year Anniversary was this past September 30^th, and over one hundred fifty members traveled to New York City, from all over the world to meet face to face, at the Miss Jessie’s™ Hair Care and Hotel BPM™ sponsored event.  In addition, Robinson launched the Nomadness College Tour Series, with a focus on presenting to HBCU’s and diversity based clubs on college campuses, to spread the idea of travel after college.

For more information, Nomadness LLC is currently scheduling interviews with Founder, Evita Robinson in print, radio, online, and segmented television media formats. She can be reached via email at evita@nomadnesstv.com, or phone at 845/590-9248.

WEBSITE: http://nomadnesstv.com
NOMADNESS TRAVEL TRIBE PROMO VIDEO (1:16) : http://youtu.be/18ZK7x7p4WQ
EVITA ROBINSON BIO: http://nomadnesstv.com/evie/
TRIBE MEMBER PHOTOS: http://nomadnesstv.com/travel-tribe-photos/

Don't Wait! Create!!

A constant theme Rhonda and I have been imparting to anyone with an inkling of entrepreneurial spirit is "Don't Wait! Create!  Whether you're an actor looking to get into films; a hairdresser who desires her own salon; or a business woman wanting to start a non-profit foundation; there is no time like the present to make it happen.  In doing so, you may come across naysayers. Yet, I say, "keep on pressing on"! Find a support of a few (even if just one), start small, and think big! Our family and friends have been supportive of our efforts, and it has pushed us forward every step of the way.

In a sense, we have created our web show based on the opportunities that have presented themselves through travel, writing, and filmmaking.  As we go through the process of editing our Take A Leap premiere episode, we are also reminded that we have an upcoming trip to China, and will have to do this all over again. What fun!! We've got to keep this momentum going!!  So we've come up with a tentative itinerary of other travel opportunities where we can film new segments of Take A Leap, along with a Wish List.

Let us know what you think, and if you have interview subjects in any of these locations, please reply via email at weconnectedprod@gmail.com.  Please also share with us other suggestions of destinations where American Blacks have ventured.

Take A Leap Tentative Itinerary 2013

June 2013 - Toronto, CA at TBEX N. America Conference for Travel Bloggers

Fall 2013-  Bahamas/Turks & Caicos- Family Cruise

December 2013- Dominican Republic or Costa Rica- Independent Trip

Take A Leap Wish List (no particular order):

UK/London
Dubai
S. Africa/Cape Town
Paris, France
S. Korea
Buenos Aries, Argentina
Greece
Madrid & Barcelona, Spain
Northern Italy, Southern Italy, & Almalfi Coast
Tokyo & Hong Kong
Bangkok, Thailand
Singapore
Western Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, etc)

5 Travel Tricks & Tips For Travelistas on the Go

My sister and I are prepping for our trip to Italy in less than 3 weeks, and this topic is so timely.  As we begin to individually pack and take note of the tips provided in our travel brochure with Collette Vacations, we came up with these 5 travel tricks and tips for travelistas on the go!!

#1)  Luggage- know the luggage size and weight requirements.  While many international flights include at least one checked luggage, it is important to know the size and weight requirements.  You can be accessed fees for luggage that exceed requirements or if you have one too many bags.  Please consult with scheduled airline as luggage fees and restrictions vary by carrier and destination.

#2) Clothing & Packing- during the day, a casual dress style and comfortable walking shoe is highly recommended.  You should also dress in layers that may be added or removed as the temperature changes.  It's is also suggested to pack a raincoat, umbrella, and/or waterproof shoes during rainy season.  For special evenings, smart casual attire is preferred. Jeans, shorts and sneakers are not recommended.  A dress and sandals are good options.  Other items to pack outside of clothing are a camera (still photo or video), batteries, recharging equipment (ie..cell phone), a travel alarm, sewing kit, and hand sanitizer.  You should pack in your carry-on any prescription medicine and articles of value. Avoid over packing because you may want to bring home souvenirs or new clothes.

#3) Currency- local currency is needed for meals, gratuities, and small items such as postcards and postage.  If you carry a major credit card or debit card, make sure you contact your credit card company and/or bank, and let them know where you will be traveling so that you can avoid rejection of services.  It is also recommended to to have the retailer charge in the local currency than in US dollars.  A final tip, as related to money, is to obtain local currency money through an ATM machine at the destination rather than through an exchange service at the Airport. Contact your bank for ATM locations at your destination.

#4) Long Flight- it is important that you hydrate and stretch while flying.  Getting up every 2 to 2 1/2 hour is recommended.  Drink plenty of liquids, especially water.

#5) Passport- bring a copy of your passport and other identification.  It should be packed separately from the original, and a copy left at home and a relative and/or friend, along with your itinerary (if known), and an emergency number (ie...accommodation).

Travelistas, do you find these tips helpful?

Coach G Returns to the States

A few months ago we interviewed Coach G, a personal fitness trainer residing in Rome.  He's recently returned to the United States after 3 years abroad. We thought it'll be nice to catch up with him about Italian customs he maintains, the expansion of CoachG Fitness, and why Blacks don't travel internationally.

MatadorU- First Impressions!!

I attended the MatadorU orientation this past Monday.  It lasted about 50 min. and other than the host, Kat, it included seven other individuals from the US and international locations.  However,  I came into the Skype session a few minutes late and missed most of the introductions.  The most important point that came from the orientation was that in addition to completing the chapter assignments, I need to take advantage of the expertise of the various faculty on board, and build relationships with my fellow students. This especially holds true for the filmmaking course, as it's fairly new. The open forums on various topics and faculty feedback within 24-48 hours makes it possible.

The hardest part of the course was the pre-course assignment to set up a blog.  I'm very green to Word Press, and I've heard so many horror stories.  I had similar trouble with my set-up until I learned that certain features were not available.  I had a basic version, and needed to stick with the simple design templates.  I was cool with that, but had to dig into the forum topics to figure this out.

The readings have been interesting, thus far. The terminology section was helpful in the beginning, and then a history lesson ensued.  This held true for both the writing and filmmaking courses.  Knowledge is power, and some of the interesting facts learned about the revolution of travel journalism as a writer and filmmaker became relatively clear. There are also a list at the end of each chapter of recommended readings offline (ie..books) and online.

I finished my first writing assignment with relative ease, but have not posted the assignment. It's advised to sit at least 24 hours and then go back to refine before posting.  I anticipate posting by tomorrow.  The video assignment will be completed by Sunday.  You can follow my assignment postings on my MatadorU blogsite.

I'm enjoying myself so far. I hope to improve my writing and visual storytelling, and from what I've learned so far, I know these courses will set me apart from other travel bloggers. I definitely recommend MatadorU for anyone SERIOUSLY considering travel journalism of any kind- photography, writing, and/or filmmaking.   

Guest Post: Top 5 Common Excuses (Black) Americans Make for Not Travelling

This post is from guest blogger- Terra Robinson, a black chick In Europe. She has her MA in International Relations and a BA in Journalism. She currently live in Brussels, Belgium (aka the land of frites, chocolate and waffles) after going to school in London and living/learning French/working in Toulouse, France. 

Photo by Terra Robinson; Great Wall of China- Beijing, China

Below are the top five reasons I hear from fellow black Americans for not travelling abroad:

1. It’s Too Expensive! Travelling doesn’t have to be expensive if you know how to shop around. If you can avoid it, don’t go during the high season. Summer trips to Europe are ALWAYS expensive. Airfare, hotels, etc. all go up, plus it’s crowded to boot. Look at fares in the spring and fall. The weather is still nice and the prices are much lower. Or if you don’t mind the cold, winter fares (with the exception of Christmas/New Year) to much of Europe are rock bottom. Also, don't be afraid of travelling a bit off the beaten path. Central and Eastern Europe tend to be cheaper than Western Europe but still just as impressive in terms of things to see and activities to do.

Plus, you don’t have to limit your travels to Europe. Many Asian countries (with the obvious exception of Japan) are still much easier on the old American wallet than European countries, as are African and South/Central American countries.

For you young/solo travellers, staying in hostels can save you a ton of money, as can cooking dinner in your hostel/rented apartment and eating out at lunch time (when you can often get the same food much cheaper at restaurants) to get a taste for the local cuisine. And of course, use the Internet to compare prices and get the best deals.

2. Folks in Country X Are Racist! Please, there are racist folks in America and yet you still live there. That shouldn’t keep you from travelling. There are racist folks everywhere. Acknowledge it, deal with it and get exploring! Some of the countries I’ve been to have a reputation for being racist towards black folks (Germany, France, Spain and Italy just to name a few), but I haven’t had any racist incidents in those countries yet. I’ve actually found the Germans that I’ve met in my travels to be quite kind and helpful. I will admit that in some countries (*cough*France/Spain/Italy*

cough) black Americans are sometimes treated better than the native black population/African immigrants. Totally not fair I know. But still something to be aware of.

3. There Aren’t Any Black Folks in Country Y! There are always black folks. Always. I don’t care what country you go to, there will be black folks. You might not see them because there very well may only be two in the entire country, but they’re there. Besides there’s more than just black folks in the world. Go forth, travel and interact with some of our more melanin-challenged brethren. You might actually enjoy it or learn a few things. I know I have. Like when I learned the Romanian word for a black person after wandering by a school with kids playing outside in a town in which I'm pretty sure no black person had ever been through either before or since. Cute kids. Nice townfolks. Pretty sure I’m the first and only black person they have ever met...and to this day they probably still think I’m African, despite me repeating “Sunt American (I’m American!)!” over and over again.

4. I Don’t Speak the Language! This should never be a reason not to travel. And I won’t use the old line that “everyone speaks English anyway” because I can tell you from experience that it’s not true. In order to travel to a country that doesn’t have English as an official language, all you have to do is head to your local library and do a little research. Most libraries have travel books that include useful travel phrases in the back. You don’t need to be fluent, but learning some key phrases like “Where is...?”, “How much is...?”, “Do you have...?”, “Please”, “Thank you”, and “Excuse me” really do come in handy. Especially in France. Make an attempt to speak their language and the Frenchies (outside of Paris) will love you forever. Even if you butcher it like I do.

5. Why Would I Want to Leave America? OK yes, America is a pretty awesome country. But it’s not the only awesome country in the world. Just think about all of the things we study while going to school. We read about the wonder that is the Great Wall of China. I can tell you from experience, it’s even more awesome hiking it. We read about the Vietnam War...which became even more real for me as I took a river cruise down the Mekong, the same Mekong my father (a Vietnam vet) waded through with is gun over is head while praying that no snakes would decide to make him dinner. Travelling makes all those (often boring) history lessons more tangible, more alive.

And as much as I love Southern food, Tex Mex and other regional variations of typical American cuisine, the food lover in me also loves trying the local cuisine of whatever country I happen to be in. I did, however, draw the line at trying the fried scorpion in Hong Kong. I would have been more willing to try it had the thing not still been alive...and moving on its stick.

Granted, many of the above are reasons given by Americans in general, with the exception of #2 and #3. I think those two are very specific to black Americans and other minorities.

Now it's your turn! What are the top 5 reasons y’all hear from fellow black folks/minorities for not travelling?

Follow Terra's blog at http://americanblackchickinlondon.blogspot.com

Beijing on the Mind

We're heading to Beijing, China in December 2012. It's going to be in the midst of Winter, and as this picture alludes to, most likely snowing as we trek The Great Wall of China. I'm super excited about this because my sister and I are from the South. We don't get this type of weather often, and being prone to cold weather isn't in our DNA. But neither is the hot, scorching weather we've been experiencing as of late. Yet, we have to adjust to the environment at hand by being prepared. Somehow, in the time between now and then, we're going to have to strategize how in the world we're going to pack "light" in two small carry-on bags. We've limited our shopping for the rest of year to necessities related towards our trips. And apparently a must have will be a pair of hiking boots.

Another reason Beijing is on my mind is because of the Birmingham to Beijing project. This is a project associated with Teach America, whereas 7 students from Birmingham, Alabama have the opportunity to explore Beijing and learn Mandarin language, over a period of a month.  They also had an Indiegogo campaign, and raised over $40,000. Rhonda and I each made small contributions, and just the other day we each received a personal letter of thanks from one of the students.  I follow their blog every morning, wondering what they did the day before because of the twelve hour difference. And then today, we had an even more special surprise in that we were able to view a video of their first few days in Beijing. I have never been so proud of such young persons. To leave the comforts of their family and home to go to an unfamiliar environment took a leap of faith. I'm just in awe at their tenacity to soak it all in, and enjoy the moment.

That's another reason we want to experience the international countries in the very environment that our interviewees live. That moment can't be understood just by words. Pictures, video, and the sights and sounds, must be captured alongside the words.  I'm so happy we made a difference by giving a few dollars. Please consider making a similar difference today for Take A Leap.

Peace & Blessings,
Sharee

$Exchange Rates$

Rhonda and I have been observing the exchange rates in both of the countries we will be visiting later in the year.  China uses the Yuan (CNY) and Italy uses the Euro (EUR).  Currently the Euro is going through a downturn (YAY for the US dollar) and makes it possible to get more bang for the buck.  The rate is as low as it was three years ago when we first visited Europe.  A gelato that costs 3 EUR is worth approximately $3.74 USD today relative to $3.92 USD a month ago.  That may not seem much, but it makes a big difference. Especially if I want to purchase 2 gelatos. HA!! The CNY is going the opposite direction, so the dollar is weaker.  But the costs in China are pretty inexpensive so it's not so outrageous. And I read somewhere that many restaurants in China don't accept tips.  Now that's a custom I wish the US would adopt. But on the flip side, I would pay the American restaurant staff higher wages. That's only fair.

So in our effort to be budget conscious, we will be using my sister's Capital One card when we make purchases abroad (food, souvenirs, etc).  It's a good card for traveling internationally because they charge NO fees.  Also, we will use an ATM that will allow us to draw money with minimal charges.  I've located several banks in both China and Italy that will utilize my bank card without the outrageous fees.

Another consideration point is international phone calls.  I'm a little nervous about that one.  Three years ago I had a plan where I talked all of 10 minutes and it cost me over $30.  I can not have that happen again.  So I'm researching other options that could be utilized in both Europe and China. I've heard that global phones are a viable option. I'm with AT&T.  If anyone has any suggestions on this and other matters that will help the budget conscious traveller, please leave a comment.