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To Be, or not to Be - by Emlyn Lee
1/29/201011:24:12 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
I just celebrated another birthday, and while I am totally amused, or perhaps confused, at the thought that I am in my “upper thirties”, I genuinely embrace each day and look forward to growing from the challenges life throws my way. Besides, does age really matter anymore? I mean, isn’t 60 the new 50, 50 the new 40, and so on? And while I may be feeling the physical aspects of aging, I wholeheartedly embrace the spiritual, mental and emotional benefits of getting older and wiser.
I am constantly seeking out my life’s calling and purpose and would love to hear what you feel is yours. Why do we often ask people, “What are you doing?”, but seldom ask ourselves and others, ”What are you being in life?”
Through the years, I have developed more awareness of what my purpose is, and traveling has been a key factor of that discovery. I am a first generation Chinese-American. I was raised in an insular suburb in the United States, and until I graduated from college, I had never been abroad. I can still remember how excited and scared I was on my first trip out of the country (to teach English in China, no less) and how much that trip broadened my view of the world and my sense of connectivity in it. I haven’t looked back since that trip and have spent the past 15 years working, teaching, volunteering, and traveling around the globe. Sight-seeing and learning about local history are interesting to me, but they are just the tip of the iceberg as far as what I love about traveling. I love having long conversations with new people, trying foods that Andrew Zimner of “Strange Eats” wouldn’t recognize, and spending the day getting lost in a neighborhood (figuratively and literally—I have THE worse sense of direction).
Travel has shaped my life and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to combine my passion with my profession. Cultural Embrace has allowed me to be a bridge that leads others to discover the world in a purpose-filled and meaningful way. I love talking about issues with people who have different world viewpoints, examining the ways in which our lives are similar and different, and learning from those experiences. My personal motto has turned in to my company’s slogan…“Discover the Similarities – Share the Differences”.
If traveling is something you are passionate about, and it is on your list of things ‘to do,’ I invite you to contact Cultural Embrace with any questions you have. We are experienced and well-informed on where to go, what to do, and how to do it. We understand that everyone has a different path in life, and that also includes the way you choose to travel. This is why Cultural Embrace customizes our services to assist you to a unique trip geared toward your interests. We want each trip to be the experience of a lifetime.
Are you are a student who wants to go on a gap break, earn academic credit, or gain some professional and life skills? Maybe you’re a professional who wants to experience a native culture beyond guidebooks and panoramic city tours? Perhaps you represent a school or company that is looking for a fun, exciting, and meaningful teambuilding challenge? Cultural Embrace has programs that meet each of those needs and more. We organize opportunities for individuals and groups to immerse within the local communities they are visiting, through volunteering, interning, working, teaching, taking cultural classes, and traveling abroad. Our programs range from 1-52 weeks in Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, and Latin America.
Travel opens a window. Are you ready for some fresh air? Discover something new about yourself through a meaningful travel experience. The more we seek, the more we learn about abundance, zest, and adventure…and isn’t that what life should 'be'?
Keeping the Dream Alive - One HUG at Time! - by Emlyn Lee
1/15/201011:07:52 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” – MLK, Jr
Happy Birthday to the one and only, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr! A true hero. My biggest hero. Many of my personal motivation and professional philosophies are influenced by his principles and “Dream” for this nation. But my ‘dream’ goes beyond the U.S., to a planet that embraces each other regardless of skin color and socioeconomic status. A world full of peace, love, happiness, and HUGS!
I recently spent a month visiting, meeting, and building relationships with poor villages around Antigua, Guatemala. One of my goals for 2010 will be to “sponsor” a few communities around the globe, in efforts to support education, local solutions, and sustainability. We are identifying these as our HUG projects--Help Understand Give. As for me, nothing makes this world smaller, warmer, and friendlier than through a HUG!
Cultural Embrace will continue to organize customized programs to Intern, Work, Volunteer, Teach, and Travel around the world, but this is our way to ‘give back’ and serve a few at-need communities. We are partnering with impoverished villages to help, understand, and give (our time, hands, heart, donations, support) to help meet their goals and objectives to improve their education, sanitation, health, and living conditions. We will work alongside the local people, to support their needs and create a positive impact to their community.
If you are interested, I encourage you to help through child sponsorship, donations, and active participation by visiting and experiencing Guatemala first-hand. Consider spending your next vacation combining fun, meaningful, and adventurous activities, while you meet and integrate with the local communities. We have several pre-established group departure dates for Guatemala in 2010 and 2011, as well as flexible individual dates that may be extended; or if you wish to join me on a service, safari, and sun adventure to Kenya, we have a pre-arranged July 30, 2010 departure.
More details of our San Mateo Milpas Altas, Guatemala HUG project will be shared next week. But for now, let’s redirect the purpose of this blog—in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Let’s keep his “Dream” alive, so we are able to continue his strive to make this nation, and world, full of peace, equality and justice—one step (and hug!) at a time.
Travel Blogger Jennifer in Australia
1/13/20106:31:36 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
- Shore Thing, Bondi Beach
Happy January Fellow Adventure Seekers!
I hope your holidays were spectacular! I have received so many questions via email and Facebook messages asking what it was like abroad over the holidays, spending New Years in Sydney, what my plan is now that the holidays are past, even questions about my New Years Resolutions having been abroad for the last three months. So I will start from the top!
My holidays were wonderful but being away from family on Christmas was definitely tough. Most of the people around me were bummed at one point or another on the big day, running in and out of our Christmas Day barbeque bash to Skype with family and answer their phones, but we did have an excellent out-of-the-ordinary celebration. We rang in the holiday with a swim in the sea, grilling burgers and, yes, shrimp on the barbie just to stereotype the day, exchanging gifts, and watching naked Santas (neighbors) run amuck down the street to quote-un-quote lighten spirits. Although we were missing our families, I am pleased to report all in all it was a joyous occasion.
But even aside from random shenanigans, great company from all over the world, Santa hats and Aussie lager on the beach, the one thing that definitely helped all of us get through Christmas time was the promise of an absolutely first-class New Years- the reason there are an extra million people in Sydney over the holiday season. Sydney has been rated one of the worlds top cities to ring in the New Year- And I will stand for it!
Friends and I spent the hot New Years Eve morning through afternoon just past Rushcutters Bay, across the water from the Sydney Harbor Bridge, with about a thousand other tent-poppers cheersing chilled beers and ice cream cones. (It felt a little like Fourth of July in The States.) Most of our group stayed to see the midnight harbor fireworks, which I have since caught on video and it is definitely worth Googleing, while a few of us went on to hit Shore Thing at Bondi Beach. Shore Thing is a yearly massive New Years Eve party featuring top DJs and guest artists from around the world, incredible light shows, count down and fireworks, and thousands of people going mad with glow sticks having the time of their life. Everything, especially the music was top-notch. Breaks in killer mixes were filled with short light shows choreographed to instrumentals by classic artists like Pink Floyd (including at the strike at midnight during the fireworks- Floyds Time- amazing). The glimpses of light twirlers on the beach also made for an absolutely eyegasmic event. (Eyegasmic is a word, I promise, look it up.)
We followed the epic New Years Eve with the noon to night Space Ibiza show in Moore Park, which featured world-renown artists from Ibiza, Spain and guests. The performances and scene was everything Space promised. And seeing the sun fall behind the park lined with giant butterfly-people on stilts, feather dancers and hundreds of body painted rave-goers dancing to music unveiled by artists for the first time was a truly surreal ending to the holidays. Positively one for the books.
Since the holidays have past, I have been working a few days a week, getting wear out of my new snorkel and fins, and traveling bit- I FINALLY made it to the Blue Mountains, about two hours west of Sydney. I had been holding out to make the trip in hopes of getting to camp, but trying to match weekends with mates was a tough task so we took a day trip instead. The mountains were breathtaking with plunging ranges and lush vegetation, rain forest hikes, troops of wild kangaroos, and at least fifteen waterfalls to dance around in. I spent most of the day behind the group with my camera, capturing everything I could and playing catch up when realizing I had not heard another voice around for a bit too long. The best part of the trip happened two hours into our first hike- at about one thousand meters up walking along an edge path which ran next to a huge canyon of rainforest below- when a thunderstorm and light showers rolled in. It was probably one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed. The thunder echoed through the canyon as the dark clouds came over the mountains and the rushing water over the falls became heavy. I have never had a more magnificent moment just watching and listening. We were only caught in the rain for twenty minutes or so before the sky cleared again, but the flash weather left the air fresher than I have ever breathed, and the waterfalls and forests surrounding and below extraordinarily more beautiful than I can describe. I am definitely currently rallying future camping partners. Anyone in?
Now, for a fast change of feeling, I will admit last week after all of these superb festivities had past I had a pretty hard hit when I realized I had accomplished what I wanted in Sydney and I did not have a plan in action per say for my next move. But I figured, like I still figure today, feeling stagnant in such a beautiful country and time in my life is not an option. So I have been forming a sort-of plan (since backpacking is regularly a fine line between a plan and a few ideas that might sort themselves out) and am excited for what is coming next, semi-planned and not.
I have decided to stay put in Sydney, moving into another flat with friends just ten minutes inland from my current place, for another month or so after this lease is up to work and save money for my trips to Tasmania, New Zealand, and up the east coast. (Friends and I finally booked our trip to Tasmania and are throwing around the idea of camping in Wine Glass Bay. Google Images it. The scenery is dreamlike.) After that I would like to say I am moving to the Southern Gold Coast where I will land and work a bit before making a further ascent, or hit New Zealand first before it gets really cold there, but like I have said before, plans can change rapidly depending on whims, funding, job opportunities, etc. So instead of stressing about making certain timing happen, I will guide what is to come next when it gets here.
Really, the beauty of my current situation abroad is that I AM able to stay just to the right of making a set-in-stone travel timeframe and can focus on one month or so at a time. (One-month apartment leases are fairly easy to come by, I have not locked myself into a six month job contract, and I still have nine months left on my visa = flexibility.) Also helping me ease my way into feeling more relaxed about not knowing exactly where I might be in two months is the fact I have Cultural Embraces partner company to lend a hand with certain logistics once I do make the decision. No matter where I want to move in Australia the partner company can assist me in finding a job and living arrangements. The partner company can even assist me in setting up job training for particular fields in advance, and can offer resume guidance as well. (Australia uses a much different resume model than what America typically uses, so that help is very valuable.) I also have the privilege of resting easy knowing I have Cultural Embrace, a company run by experienced travelers behind me wherever I am in Australia. So, even though I might be a tiny bit directionally challenged when it comes to where my next few months are going, I am confident I will be gaining even more excellent experiences than I have in the last few.
And finally yes, the last few months here has definitely shaped my first ever absolutely to be followed New Years resolution (or recent development turned commitment-to-self)… which I will get to. It is hard to believe I have been in Australia nearly three months, but it is even harder for me to believe what all I have been privileged to get into since arriving. Living part-time in Gerroa my first month in Oz working for Surf Camp, spending my days surfing and ending them paddling down river to get back home to camp with a friend on high tide evenings. Immersing myself in the different cultures Sydney has to offer hitting scenes across the board. And most recently spending days snorkeling and beaching it in my own neighborhood with the amazing people from all over the world I can for certain say will be friends for life. I have been very lucky and am so thankful for every opportunity I have had. So, with that said my three-part New Years resolution: Taking in my experiences, appreciating each of their significances and details and recognizing the opportunities they present. I have learned and grown from each of my experiences listed above, and know I am where I am presently in my life having had each one of them.
So, for those of you who were wondering if leaving right before a holiday season is bad choice – for fear you might turn around and fly right back home – keep in mind the reason you are traveling abroad in the first place: to gain and grow from new experiences. Consider yourself lucky to have the opportunity to be out-of-the box whenever you can, and take every detail in. After all, it is the details that make the great stories so great.
Thank you so much for reading my blog! I appreciate all of you so much and I look forward to hearing from you!
Please feel free to email me at Jcampbell@culturalembrace.com if you have any questions or want specifics on the adventures of a Work and Traveler in Australia.
Live fully,
Jennifer C CampbellParticipant Spotlight: Keith Ferrazzi
1/7/20102:50:48 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
New York Times Best-Selling author of "Never Eat Alone" and "Who's Got Your Back," and CEO of Greenlight Consulting, Keith Ferrazzi, selected Cultural Embrace to assist him with a holiday service vacation to help out in orphanages in Antigua, Guatemala. Ferrazzi is recognized as one of the foremost experts on professional relationship development, and has been described as one of the world's most "connected" people by Forbes, as well as being named by the World Economic Forum as a "Global Leader of Tomorrow."“We live such sheltered lives,” Ferrazzi says in his blog at www.keithferrazzi.com, “I showed up to Guatemala to care for those who the world has forgotten.” Compared to the living conditions of the children Ferrazzi worked with, our lives are indeed sheltered. Many of these children lack things that we commonly take for granted, such as family, clean water, and the opportunity to go to school. To put things into perspective, $10 could feed a family in Antigua for a week or more, and $300 could send a child to school for a year, giving them an opportunity to improve their lives, and the lives of their neighbors.Of the children whose education Ferrazzi has sponsored, he noted that “Every one of these kids told me that their future would include coming back to help their village. . . This more than anything else give me hope for the future here.” Keith Ferrazzi’s day job focuses on helping people towards success through their relationships with others. It is fitting that through his volunteer work, he is able to see the invaluable constructive power of relationships and connections at work in the lives of the people he has touched during his time in Guatemala.For more about Keith Ferrazzi's service trip to Guatemala, click here.
To donate to Cultural Embrace & Ferrazzi Greenlight's Guatemala projects, click here.
Cultural Embrace's Got Your Back - by Emlyn Lee
1/4/201010:56:00 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
“It’s better to give before you receive. And never keep score. If your interactions are ruled by generosity your rewards will follow suit.”
How awesome is that quote? And how much more awesome is it to have met, worked, and traveled with the author of this quote?
I recently had the honor and privilege to host internationally renowned thought leader, consultant, and NY Times best-selling author of “Never Eat Alone” and “Who’s Got Your Back”, Keith Ferrazzi in Guatemala. Keith wanted to go abroad during the holidays, utilizing his vacation to giving back to others. For more info to his Personal Success Wheel, refer to “Who’s Got Your Back.”
I take pride in Cultural Embrace’s personalized attention and service to all our participants, but I knew this placement would be different, and wanted to personally oversee the trip. After spending one day with Keith, I’m not sure who was ‘guiding’ who? My friends often refer me as a ‘connector,’ and being in the travel and service industry, the need to build and maintain relationships is a no brainer. But watching and listening to Keith develop, form and strengthen relationships so eloquently and easily was an art form (even with the language barrier).
Unfortunately, Keith’s trip was short, yet sweet and impactful. We visited three local orphanages and community centers, and a village that lost funding for 7 pre-selected students to attend a private middle school in Antigua. With Keith’s generosity (for his time, heart, and donations), words of wisdom and support, I could immediately sense hope, drive, and motivation in the kids, parents, and community.
Cultural Embrace and Ferrazzi Greenlight will be working together to raise funds, awareness, and provide experiences for foreigners to travel to Guatemala (and beyond). Cultural Embrace will be working alongside the local community, to provide them with guidance and support. We will facilitate a mutually agreed upon plan to: encourage education, promote gender equality, end hunger, inprove access to water and sanitation, while holding the village members accountable for their actions (ie: population control, pollution, littering, health, etc).
I have plenty more to share, but I know I cannot do it all in one blog. I have big plans and visions…it’s the Aquarius in me…yet I also have to realistically understand that things aren't going to happen overnight. Through Cultural Embrace's operations and service to send individuals and groups abroad to integrate within a community and seek a purpose-filled adventure; Keith Ferrazzi's dedication and relationship-connection; and your support and wanderlust...we plan to help the village members of Guatemala to eat together, as a stronger and healthier community and, of course...never alone!
For more about Keith Ferrazzi's service trip to Guatemala, click here.
To donate to Cultural Embrace & Ferrazzi Greenlight's Guatemala projects, click here.Feliz Ano desde Guatemala - by Emlyn Lee
1/2/201010:34:53 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe it’s a start of a new decade. Since August, I have probably spent more consecutive days living in Antigua, Guatemala than I have in Austin, TX, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to end and start a new year. I’m sitting next to the beautiful private annexed pool in Porta Antigua Hotel, reflecting upon the projects and programs Cultural Embrace has accomplished in 2009, and motivated for a better 2010.
In 2009, we have sent over 40 participants to teach English (and other subjects, such as: history, American culture, physics, computers, math, etc) in Chile, China, Mexico, Spain, and Thailand for at least a committed semester or school year.
We have organized dozens of volunteers to help at-need communities in Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America, and Austin, TX from 1-52 weeks. Sample projects have included: building schools in Guatemala, helping with reforestation projects throughout Australia, the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, and Thailand, training at health/HIV clinics in Kenya, Thailand, Ecuador, and India, and tutoring kids and orphans in Argentina, Austin, China, Kenya, Nicaragua, Peru, South Africa, and Thailand.
Over 50 students or recent graduates have interned abroad gaining professional development in their field of study. Some of the interns’ needs were to earn academic credit, but all of them were focused on developing practical work skills in the global market. Examples of where and what some of these interns did are: working as an assistant for the Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, coordinating events and cultural exchanges for Brazilian students to go abroad, marketing for businesses in the software, auto, language schools, radio/media, engineering, biotech, etc in Argentina, Spain, Australia, China, France, Costa Rica, and Brazil. Interns have also shadowed doctors in clinics and hospitals in Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Peru.
We have had over 25 young adults work in the hospitality and non-technical fields in Australia, Spain, France, and New Zealand. They have worked in hotels, restaurants, chateaus, golf and ski resorts, farms, and families as au pair/nannies. This is a great chance for them to earn a local wage, afford to live, work, and travel abroad, make new friends and professional contacts, and gain a sense of independence, responsibility, and global mindset.
Every business needs to set daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual goals. The New Year is an obvious time to lay down new resolutions and aspirations, and to increase and improve our services to encourage people to recognize and appreciate cultural diversity. We plan to build deeper relationships with at-need communities, by ‘sponsoring’ and facilitating their projects. I am starting with Guatemala, and developing relationships with several project leaders to discuss ways that Cultural Embrace may assist with marketing, fundraising, and providing awareness and guidance in building sustainability within their village. Plans to sponsor communities in Kenya, and India in 2010 are in the works.
I encourage you to put international travel on your New Year’s resolution list for 2010. There is no better way to balance your personal, professional, and spiritual state of mind than by going abroad. Cultural Embrace and I are committed to provide you the service that will allow you to have a safe, healthy, and memorable experience to...“Discover the Similarities…Share the Differences” of this beautiful world. Feliz Ano! I look forward to making this the best year and decade!'Silent Night' on Christmas Guatemlan Style - by Emlyn Lee
12/25/200912:31:33 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Feliz Navidad desde Guatemala! I’m currently curled up in bed, on a chilly Christmas morning in Antigua, listening to one of my favorite classic Christmas song, “Silent Night,” and thought this would be a perfect theme for a blog. I’m celebrating my first Guatemalan Christmas, which began last night.
Guatemala is a Christian dominated country, with ~50-60% Catholics and ~40% Protestants, so Christmas is celebrated throughout the nation. Although it doesn't feel like Christmas, without the "White Christmas” that most of you in North America are experiencing, I have been reminded of Christmas through the singing lights, daily evening processions around town, Santas that walk around Parque Centrale, and…the bombas!
Families, particularly the kids, light firecrackers and firework to celebrate the holiday season (I’m still trying to figure out what day it starts, but more importantly, when it will end!) I thought I was a veteran with pyromaniacs setting off loud and fearsome firecrackers during my travels in China during Lunar New Year 1997, but last night’s Christmas Eve in Guatemala 2009 topped the charts.
Most businesses close early on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas, so employees are able to spend the holidays with their friends and families, while churches offer several services throughout the day and night. I thought it was going to be a 'silent' and mellow night being away from home and family, so I joined my new foreign friends as we wandered around town, found the sparse restaurants, bars and cafes that were open, and attended a 10pm mass at the main Cathedral.
It was a beautiful service, even though we couldn’t understand 98% of it, due to language barrier and unfamiliarity of Catholicism, but the spirit of the mass, people, and the occasion filled the overflowing cathedral. After church service, we ended up walking around a park that still had street vendors, and enjoyed their poncho--a hot drink, that is traditionally made and served at Christmas. It is filled with all different types of fruit (pineapple, coconut, papaya, apples, grapes, oranges, plums, etc) cooked and simmered for several hours to bring a natural and delicious sweet and fruity taste. Guatemalans often spike it with rum to make a delicious Christmas cocktail.
We were sitting on a park bench, talking about life and solving world’s problems, when suddenly every street was filled with torpedo sounding, fireworks spraying, bee buzzin’, bomba blasting away! It was midnight and that’s when everyone lit firecrackers together… and that was just the beginning of their celebration! Midnight is when the families get together, eat a festive meal (usually tamales, ham, and lots of other yummy goodness), open their presents, sing, dance, and celebrate the birth of Jesus!
The streets and town were filled with clouds of smoke from the firecrackers, and I could hear cheers, music, and laughter. Although it may have been the antithesis of a “Silent Night,” but definitely a MERRY Christmas!!
I wish this blog finds you with a day full of peace, love, happiness, generosity, kindness and goodwill.
PS: While typing this blog up, the streets of Antigua were filled with yet another set of bomba blasts! It's noon...so let the festivities begin each time both hands reaches to the top of the clock!! :-D
