Shaping Cultural Experiences

Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was a young child. I grew up in a multicultural, bilingual home in the Netherlands with a Polish mother and a Dutch father. My

From Nigeria to Boston

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNkCazT_T4&feature=youtu.be

When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained. Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.

Mark Twain on Travel

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (American author Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad).

Have you had the opportunity to travel (extensively, within your country, or even once abroad)? Can you relate to Twain’s sentiments? How does travel enrich us?

Pleasing The Taste Palate

Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland. How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?

Stereotypes: Truth or Fiction?

DEFINING STEREOTYPES: “An idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation.” (Merriam-Webster). Stereotypes enable bias and preconceived notions to perpetuate, but can also reveal valid

A Slice of Home

Amsterdam, Netherlands. With rain hanging over Boston all weekend, it reminded me of the wet weather in my home country. Holland will always have a piece of my heart. What are some of your favorite cities?

A New York State Of Mind

I’ve been in NYC since Wednesday and wanted to send a brief update with a photo. There is simply so much to do here that even 5 days do not seem enough. A longer post

Travel Bucket List

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller  Everyone has a “bucket list” of things to do or places to visit. People travel to see the Eiffel

New York City: A New Home

Fast paced. Full of life, history, art and culture. The city doesn’t mess around. It’s been almost six months since my move from Boston. Having lived in another country and being accustomed to a slightly

Commemorating Queensday 2013

The mood is infectious. There’s a burst of orange all over. A country is celebrating and upholding an important tradition. I’m describing none other than Koninginnedag, or Queensday, in the Netherlands. This annual holiday (which