Women of Color Living Abroad

2014-04-07T20:51:00.004-05:00

Why Traveling Is Important

10 Reasons to Travel

March 8, 2014

By Cha Jones

I believe that traveling is essential to one’s personal growth and development. When you travel, you see

things from your own personal perspective and often that changes how you think about yourself and others. Traveling also allows you to the opportunity to meet new people and taste foods that you may have never tried before. However, traveling might be the very thing you need to help you rediscover yourself.

Here my top 10 reasons why you should travel…

You think you know everything….when you travel you will being to understand that you know very little and that you can learn something new. You don’t have to venture far; sometimes you can learn something by just taking a walk in your community. So, take a trip through your own community and discover something new.
Meet new people….tired of the same boring conversations, then travel and meet some new characters in your book of LIFE. People are interesting and if you don’t travel and meet new people from different backgrounds, religions, cultures, experiences, or races, then you stay confined to what you know (see reason #1).
Get connected….are you feeling a little disconnected? Travel allows you the opportunity to connect with other people, taste their food, and learn how they live by interacting with them in their community.
Helps you appreciate what you have…when you see people who have less than you, and they make wonderful things happen without complaint, it gives you a different perspective. You begin to realize that you have a great deal to be thankful for in life. Often times you take for granted that you have so much to be grateful for, and traveling allows you the opportunity to see that so many people are living with so little and yet they have very rich and fulfilling lives.
Find common threads…traveling affirms that people are more alike than they are different. When you travel, you see the human thread that weaves people together, presents mutual wants, and desires while removing the labels that separate individuals by identifiers that distinguish one’s race, gender, ethnicity, and preference.
Helps you reflect…traveling gives you the freedom to think about what is important. People are caught up in their daily lives and often forget what they have done, whom they have met, and what is actually important to them. So, taking time to travel gives you the opportunity to reflect on what has meaning. You can finally stop and smell the roses.
You can PLAY again…traveling gives you the right to PLAY. You have not played in a while and you need a break from the grind. Traveling is a way to let your hair down and venture out to do something that is FUN. You can regain the excitement in your life through traveling.
Relax!!!...traveling also helps you relax and find your inner peace again. Have you been tossing and turning at night because you cannot sleep? Well, traveling is just the thing that will help you let go of all your worries and recharge your mind, body and spirit. It’s nice to find a quiet little place where no one knows your name and you can finally rest and rejuvenate.
Get to know yourself again… it is a great time to journal and think about what makes your heart sing. Do you really know yourself since you have not taken time to quiet your mind and think about what you want, need, and desire? Travel and ask yourself what matters to you!
Reconnect with family or friends…traveling gives you the opportunity to meet-up with people you have not seen in a while. It also allows you time to reconnect with the people that you see every day but do not take the time to engage with because you are constantly on the go. You can use travel as a way to rekindle a flame, find out what is going on, and really interact with the people that you care about you.

Taking the Leap of Faith

2014-03-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

Taking a Leap of Faith

I'm Headed to China

By Kelsey Muskin

Some people find that their career is not working and decide to change jobs, but more and more African American women are taking transformation to another level. Among them are women giving up traditional 9 to 5 jobs in the United States for unconventional ESL (English as a second language) teaching positions abroad.

Brittany Shook, a Nashville native, recently departed on her way to Chengdu, China for a six-month teaching assignment, and we had the pleasure of chatting with her before she left.

When we asked Brittany why she was traveling to Chengdu China, she states that she wanted a new exciting change in her life. Brittany was in a contract position that was about to end, tired of working in a corporate position; she wanted to do something completely different. When the opportunity came to travel abroad and teach, it wasn’t that difficult to consider.

“I was contemplating and praying if it was the right thing to do and I just felt like it was. All the signs led to China” says Shook. “If I go over there and I do not like it I can always come back home, but for now, I want to just try it out.” In most cases, teaching abroad assignments are one year, but Brittany is choosing to do six months for that purpose; she wants to test the waters before taking on a full yearlong assignment.

In college, Brittany’s major was Liberal Arts with a minor in Business Administration, but was working in the field of Information Technology. “I was looking at ways to travel with what I studied and worked in, but there weren’t many options at that time. I would have to stay in those positions for five to ten years just to move up and I did not want to be in those positions for that long.”

Another factor that initiated Brittany’s decision to go to China was that she planned to go and visit the country previously. She was originally going to visit China with friends but some problems occurred that caused them to back out of the trip. Still wanting to go to the country, Brittany looked at other ways of traveling.

Brittany said, “I was thinking, why I would pay to go to China when I can have someone pay for me to go there instead. When I applied for the teaching job, they said I would be located in China and since I wanted to go there anyway, I felt that it was just the right opportunity.”

This will not be Britany’s first time traveling abroad. She had previously traveled to Mexico, Italy as well as Jamaica, but states that they were all trips for vacations and she now wants a more educational experience abroad.

While many young people are afraid of stepping into the unknown Brittany is very open to traveling to a foreign country and having a different experience. However, she isn’t the first person in her family to spend time abroad. Her father was in the military and has been to over 40 countries.

“Just go for it and if it doesn’t work out you can always come back home. If you do not try, you will never know how the experience would be. ”

While growing up, Brittany always saw her father leave, but wanted to travel with him. She says, “I always wanted to go with my father when he traveled, but I was in school and had to stay here with my mother. So, he would bring back souvenirs, but it is not the same as going overseas and getting the experiences for yourself. So seeing my dad travel made me want to get out and travel too.”

It is only rational that fears and apprehensions will go through a person’s mind when they first live abroad and Brittany is no exception. Besides her anxiety and procrastination about moving far way, her main fear is about her making the right decision to go abroad. It is a major step in someone’s life, but Brittany feels that even though it is a major decision, she trust herself that she is making the right one.

Her expectations for her trip is to gain more personal growth and independence. “I am the only child in my family so I am use to being spoiled and sticking to my comfort zones. I feel that this trip will make me become more social and to gain my own independence. I also expect to find myself and continue to grow more as a person.”

If Brittany could tell herself anything in a year, after her experience living in China, she hopes to say that she made the right decision and congrats, on getting up and moving even though she was scared and procrastinating. She would also want to tell herself thank you.

Lastly, we asked Brittany what advice she would have for someone else that is currently in her situation, contemplating leaving, and going abroad. Brittany states “Just go for it and if it doesn’t work out you can always come back home. If you do not try, you will never know how the experience would be. You do not want to be elderly and look back on your longer years and wish that you traveled. So just go out and go for it.”

Passing the Expat Baton...STICK! (Part 2)

2013-11-15T15:00:00.000-06:00

By: Brittany S

Now I know after reading the last post, I may have come off as a bit snooty, unapproachable, or full of attitude to some, and to others, I may have just been keeping it real. But whatever your response to my initial post was, here is the softer side. I offer you the cold side of the pillow; this is what happens when I am able to help someone become an expat, or at least an international traveler, for the first time.

First, a little about me:
(For the avid readers of my posts, you have probably read this once before, so you can skip to the next section.) I'm a mid-20s, single, childless Black American living in Korea. I grew up in several multi-generational households, with an average anywhere between 5-9 people in one 3-bedroom home. Can you believe my mother was a single parent and I was an only child with those numbers!? Let's just say "life for me ain't been no crystal stair." My predominantly Black high school lost its accreditation the year after I graduated and what I learned (at a different high school) my freshman year was repeated over the next 3 years, ultimately putting me far behind my collegiate classmates. My counselor tried to prepare me for a community college or the military. She never even mentioned a four-year university and beyond. My school's expectations for me were clear; I won't go far in life.

When I went off to a predominantly White institution, I noticed how different I was from them in life experiences and preparedness. They all went on Spring Break trips around the country in high school (You mean you didn't just go to grandma's?) and around Europe as a senior class trip (My school allowed us to sell candy bars to go to DC, but that's as far as we got). And in college? They came in their freshman year with almost enough credits to make them sophomores. They studied abroad and took family vacations out of the country. Their two-story brick homes were renovated to add an additional room (Sometimes we lived in one-bedroom apartments with 3 people). They knew about when they were going to get married, where they would live, and what they would do for work. Some of them already had job offers before they even applied (Why don't I know anyone who can offer ME a job?).

Seriously? Am I the ONLY one who doesn't have this all figured out? (redsuspenders.tumblr.com)

After I got over my self-pity, or even past the blaming institutional racism for my plight, I realized that I was now in the same classrooms and same school as them. I had a lot of the same resources available to me, and I had the power to change my situation. Granted, there was a little more of a struggle financially (so I worked three jobs every semester), but I now had a CHOICE. I could determine my future, or blame my past for my present. I chose the former. In 2007, I studied abroad in London for 6 weeks over the summer, as the only person from my state in the program.

Here I am six years later, living in South Korea. People ask me questions all the time, but my favorite is when people just want to know my story. Everyone likes telling stories, especially the ones they were able to author. I have told people about my experiences before and after I became an expat and in doing so, I have planted a seed and/or nourished a dormant curiosity within them. I think the best part about my story is when people tell me they can't do what I'm doing, I say "Why not? I did it. What makes you so different?" When they sincerely consider this question and come to the realization that our differences aren't too many, then the real conversation begins.

Since I have been abroad, I have been able to help people find jobs abroad, and leave America for the first time, visit a foreign country for the first time (strictly as a tourist and not on military orders). I must say I absolutely LOVED sharing in their expat "firsts".

Yep, that about sums it up. (kyssthis16.tumblr.com)

Finding a Job Abroad: College Friend

My second job in Korea was a 6-month appointment to a rural elementary school. I thought this was the perfect time-fill as I graduated from college in December and planned to teach in America in the fall. Well, being in Korea as an employee instead of a student changed my outlook on expat living. Six months is too short! So, I decided to stay. My friend from back home was in the same transitory state in her life, so I suggested that she came to Korea to do the same program I had just completed. After a few conversations back and forth, she took me up on my offer and we got started on her application. Because I had already gone through the same program, I was able to give her insider tips that helped her make a smoother transition than some of her peers. I also was her reassuring voice, as she quickly saw how few people like "us" were expats and how intimidating this new form of solitude could be.
I remember the many times of her being lost in translation and navigation, not understanding the currency conversion or the language, and struggling to figure out something (seemingly) as simple as what to order from the menu. And then I remember her traveling to three different countries with me in the same week, making friends with the locals, speaking and reading Korean, and telling people back home about how this could be their life, too. She was an expat.
I was sad when it was time to see her off, but I was glad that not only did this experience change the lives of her students forever, but it has forever made her aware of global citizenship, expat living, and ultimately made her a better person. I am so excited to see what the future holds for her.

She CONQUERED Asia...now all of her thoughts are global. I'm so proud of her!

Traveling as a Tourist: Sorority Sister

One of my favorite things about being in a Sorority is that I will be able to find another Soror just about anywhere I go. When I moved to Korea, I joined one of our International Alumnae chapters and connected with my Sorors across the country. Many of the chapter's membership consisted of members of the military. I planned a trip with one of them to Japan. She had never traveled abroad as a tourist before, only as a soldier. She was so excited! Even though both of us lived in Korea, I was able to teach her something new about expat life on this trip. There were a couple times she found herself being surprised (disappointed) that everyone didn't speak English and/or that USD were not accepted everywhere. But after a while, she got the hang of things and was able to communicate with the locals in a more effective way and master public transportation. After this trip with me, she planned a SOLO trip to a couple other Asian countries. Man, even I haven't done that yet!

Welcome Abroad: Old Flame

There's something exciting about being able to share something you really love with someone you really love. A blast from my past decided that he wanted to come visit me in Korea and I couldn't have been happier. He was my first and only visitor abroad from back home. There was so much I wanted to show him but only had a short amount of time! And it didn't help that he came in the middle of Korea's winter. HARSH.
I took him to meet me Korean family and even though my "brother" and one of my "sisters" don't really speak English, we were able to speak enough broken English and Korean to each other to communicate. They wanted to get a feel for my friend and see how much he could drink (actually, they offered him their homemade raspberry wine, which Koreans believe aides a man in um...well...you know...).

It was really great that we were able to visit a Fire Station and interact with everyone, even the Chief (can you tell which one is the chief from the picture? Look at the clothes.) He is a fireman in his hometown and wanted to see how similar and different his profession is abroad. They were honored to have him and he was honored to have had that experience.

This was his first trip abroad. He purchased a passport and traveled 24 hours by himself into a country whose native language is not English. Now that's brave. My first trip abroad was to London! I hope that through this exposure, he now feels the world is bigger than his neighborhood and country and that it is his to explore! I'm glad I was able to awaken in him a new curiosity.

Ultimately, it is moments like these that won't allow me to throw in the towel on travel guidance for others. I hope the three of them continue to travel throughout their lives. If not, at least their perspectives on life and the world will forever be altered at least somewhat. I know they've altered mine. I'm glad someone was able to take my baton and keep the travel bug alive. Have you inspired someone to travel lately?