Storytellers Jazmin and Steven |TravelToBlank.com
Shaping Cultural Experiences
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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?
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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,
Today on Culture with Travel, meet storytellers Jazmin and Steven from TravelToBlank.com
Why do you love to travel? What do you think travel teaches us about the world?
Steven was born and raised in Boston while I, Jazmin, was born and raised in Ecuador. We have both been traveling since we were 2 years old. Steven’s family loves to go on road trips. Steven has been in all 50 states more than once, while my parents prefer traveling abroad.
My first international flight was when I was 2, and they took me to Orlando to meet Mickey.
When we met in college, we tried to go hiking everywhere in the state of Colorado, and that is how we started traveling together.
We love traveling because it opens your heart and mind to new things. It also makes you realize how lucky you are to be able to go different places. It has helped me with my tolerance and understanding of different points of views. I remember that in high school I never had to open a geography book, since all my travels taught me what I was about to learn in school. I have a Masters and two Undergraduate degrees, but if you ask me the best school I have ever attended, it’s been traveling the world. It might sound cliché, but it is true.
What surprising aspect of culture do you love about where you’re from (your specific town/city) that travelers may not be aware of?
I will say that people are not aware of the diversity in culture that you can find in such a small country as Ecuador. We have 24 provinces and each place is totally different that the other one, and at the same time we are the size of Colorado. So, I will tell travelers to try to visit as many provinces in different regions as possible to get the full Ecuadorian experience.
Which dish do you feel best represents where you’re specifically from? Share a picture and tell us why you love it!
My favorite Ecuadorian dish is called Yampingacho. It is fried mashed potato with cheese inside and peanut butter sauce on top. It is served with rice, a hot dog, and a sunny side up egg.
Share about a custom/tradition you observe, and talk about the role of family in your life. What does family mean to you?
For Ecuadorians, family is everything. I talk to my parents at least 5 times a day when I am home, and when I am on the road, I will say at least 8. When I am home, I work at my dad’s office and live at my mom’s house. You can see how much they mean to me!
Steven says I am craaazy! Ecuadorians are always thinking about their families. In fact, you only move out of your home when you are married, not before, no matter how old you are.
Art and dance can tell a deeper story about local culture. Tell us the story of a specific artwork or dance that has a meaning for you. Share a photo, if you can. (i.e. street art, festivals, paintings, architecture, woven artwork, family heirloom, etc.)
Oh, well dance is hard, as in Ecuador, we have so many different typical dances. My favorite is one called the “Iguana” where you shake your butt like you have an iguana tail.
Languages not only give us the power to communicate but also can unite us across cultures. Share your favorite saying, or teach us something in your native language.
Camello, is my favorite slang in “Ecuadorian Spanish,” it means “camel” and it is used to say that you are working.
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!
Yes, we have met so many good people on my travels.
My favorite was when our car broke in the middle of nowhere in West Virginia and this pastor helped us out by having the mechanic fix our car enough to go to our destination for free, gave us $100 for gas/food, and paid for our hotel while the car was being fixed.
Follow Jazmin and Steven on their adventures on TravelToBlank.com, and on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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