Storytelling with Nora Dunn | The Professional Hobo
- 28106 Views
- May 4, 2012
- 6
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
- 19071 Views
- May 10, 2012
- 7
Update & BBC News Link
A brief update: One interview video will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I believe the BBC News One-Minute World News provides well-balanced reporting of news, hence why I wanted to share it. Top stories on May
- 24463 Views
- May 11, 2012
- 5
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.
- 13851 Views
- May 16, 2012
- 6
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?
- 13940 Views
- May 19, 2012
- 19
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?
- 13975 Views
- May 23, 2012
- 2
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
- 12827 Views
- May 29, 2012
- 4
Annual Human Rights Report
“The world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and
- 11149 Views
- May 31, 2012
- 4
Euro Crisis & Emerging Stereotypes
Brief Crisis Breakdown Since the onset of the global financial crisis, or Great Recession, in 2007, the Eurozone has feared impending growing global debt levels, as well as sovereign debt within European countries themselves. In
- 11673 Views
- June 4, 2012
- 2
Remembering Tiananmen
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China. Inflation, a lack of career prospects, the fall of Eastern European communism, and political corruption, are all said to have fueled anger
- 13321 Views
- June 7, 2012
- 18
Coffee's Uniting Power
A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,
- 8098 Views
- Nicolette
- February 1, 2017
- 2
- Storytellers
We’re delighted to share our interview with Nora, who travels around the world! Amazing isn’t it?! Visit her blog, theprofessionalhobo.com, where she shares her travel experiences.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I’m Nora Dunn, also known as The Professional Hobo! In 2006, I sold everything I owned (including a busy financial planning practice) to embrace my dreams of long-term world travel. I’ve been on the road ever since, traveling to / living in over 50 countries. Through my website and freelance writing such as my “Dear Nora” column, I teach people how to travel full-time in a financially sustainable way. My travel experience has also translated into writing some popular books, including Working on the Road: The Unconventional Guide to Full-Time Freedom, and How to Get Free Accommodation Around the World.
Why do you love travel? How do you think travel unites us or teaches us more about the world?
I love travel because it’s like living life in technicolor. Our awareness and senses are heightened extraordinarily in new places. We develop intense relationships, push our boundaries and comfort zones, and are constantly learning new things.
In terms of how travel unites us, it’s a simple matter of expanding our horizons. When you have visited country X or know somebody from there, their customs and lifestyles are no longer a complete mystery to us. This helps us bridge the gap between the “us/them” mentality and the “we are all in this together” mentality.
Can you tell us something about the culture in your country and why did you decided to stay there?
I have established a few different home bases in my 10 years of wandering the world. Most recently I spent over two years in Peru, and now Ecuador is my destination of choice. I was there for three months earlier this year and will return in early 2017 for another six months – maybe more!
South America in general has always had a strong pull for me, but interestingly when I started traveling full-time, serendipity and opportunity led me to other countries. I circled the world many times before finally having an opportunity to visit South America. I realize in retrospect this might have been somewhat divinely orchestrated, because I got all kinds of world travel out of my system before arriving to South America, which would end up being a place I would want to stay (at least for now).
What surprising aspect of culture do you love about your country (or your specific town/city) that travelers may not be aware of?
Although Ecuador is very similar to Peru (its neighbor to the south) in many aspects, it’s also very different – for example culinarily, and very noticeably, monetarily. I find the cost of living in Ecuador to have confusing contrast; $10 will buy a week’s worth of fresh produce (including an obscene amount of tropical fruits) and $2 can get you a two-course lunch, but then you can blow $3 on a cappuccino or $15 on a restaurant entree, in establishments that are frequented by locals.
By contrast, in Peru the prices are more predictable, and in many cases, lower, with the prevailing currency being the Peruvian Sol and not the US Dollar (as in Ecuador).
Growing up in your country, what’s something that you believe makes it unlike anywhere else in the world?
I grew up in Canada, specifically Toronto. I’m proud to have grown up there, because as one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, it’s almost like I’ve always been a traveler, always meeting so many people of different backgrounds and cultures. And on the whole Canada is a beautiful and peaceful country to be from, with a well-respected passport; I feel very privileged and lucky.
How important is spirituality and religion in your daily life? What do you do to celebrate the two?
Although I was raised in Christianity, for most of my life I’ve been spiritual but not religious. My spirituality has deepened exponentially in the last few years, as I’ve discovered and been exploring South American shamanism, specifically plant medicine ceremonies. I apprenticed with a shaman in Peru for almost two years, and am continuing my studies at a plant medicine retreat centre in Ecuador.
Languages not only give us the power to communicate, but also can unite us across cultures. What’s something you love about the multitude of languages spoken in your country? Share a favorite saying you have, or teach us something in your native language.
Kind of unrelated to your question, but on the topic of languages: I grew up speaking only English. I studied French in school, but not had much of a chance to practice it. When I started traveling full-time, knowing that Spanish is a very handy language to know, I took some classes. I didn’t end up putting that knowledge into practice until many years later, but now that I’ve been based in South America for the last few years, I’m proud to say I’m now fluent in Spanish. It’s far from flawless though; I can properly demonstrate the wit and intellect of a solid 9 year old at this stage.
But I love to be multi-lingual. There’s a certain magic to conversing with people in their own language, and I can’t get enough of it. (I’ll bet at times with my bad pronunciation, they have enough of it, but my conversation partners are very patient).
Have you ever met a stranger during your travels who made an impact on your life in a certain way, or maybe it was you who helped someone else? Share the story!
One person who comes to mind is TJ – a man I meet in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He ran the internet cafe that I went to for a couple of days running. Then, after Cyclone Nargis hit neighboring Burma leaving two million people without food, shelter, or water, my partner at the time and I decided we would rent a truck and fill it with bottled water and drive it to the border for an aid worker to pick up and distribute.
We asked TJ where to buy a road map, and he was so inspired by our plan, he took us to the mall to buy the map. Within 24 hours after making some Rotary Club connections in Chiang Mai, we had the Royal Thai Air Force and a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft at our disposal! While we basically started an International NGO on the fly, TJ was by our side the whole time. He gave us unmitigated access to his internet cafe (for fundraising), took us to meetings, and served as our translator, driver, cultural buffer, and most of all, friend. We got to know his whole family, and he offered us a complete level of support and generosity that we’d never before experienced from a virtual stranger.
Related
- What Is Intercultural Communication And Why Is It Important? - Commisceo Global on Developing Empathy and Cultural Understanding
- Abdullah on Learn About The CultureTrav Blog
- digitallessburn on Learning to Cook Uzbek Food in Brooklyn with The League of Kitchens
- How to Immerse Yourself in Local Culture While Traveling on How to Meaningfully Immerse Yourself
- Plan Your Dream Italian Summer: Hidden Gems and Must-See Spots – Scoop Trends on Savoring the Earthy Flavors of Umbria
Follow @Nicolette_O

Comments (2)
theprofessionalhobo
04 Feb 2017Thank you so much for the great interview! Very interesting questions.
Nicolette
06 Feb 2017Thank you for sharing your stories and perspectives! We really enjoyed your interview!