Lola has been kind enough to share her story on how she got started in the biz, shares her advice for aspiring photographers, and reveals the most important thing to take with you on your travels in this edition of Black Women in the Global Village.

You wear many hats, yes?
Writer, photographer, consultant

How did you go from a Master’s degree in Information Systems (University of Maryland) to travel photography?
My background is very technical. I worked as a programmer/developer for close to 14 years, but I’ve always had a creative side. Writing and painting have always been a part of my life since youth, but it wasn’t until 2002 when I spent 3 weeks in Fiji working with an expedition race did I unearth my passion for travel writing and photography. While working 9-5, I started exploring writing and photography on the side and by 2009 when I resigned from my job as a System Architect, I plunged into it full-time.

Was your family supportive of your career change?
They’ve always respected the fact that I’m a free spirit. When I told my mom I was going to pursue this full-time, at first, she told me to remind people that I do have a degree every time I introduced myself as a photographer. At that time to her, photography and writing were just hobbies. Now she fully gets it and is my most loyal supporter.

Tell us about the creation of your site.
I’ve always had a website of some sort since 1997 while in college. Since I was a programmer with a specialty in web development as well, I developed them all. My site has evolved. It started out as a place to document my travels. Now it’s not only that, but acts as a showcase for my professional work.

What was your first published image?
I’d say the first image that I got published in a major magazine that blew me away and nourished that alternate career seed that was already planted and beginning to sprout was this one in Vogue in 2009.

Do you have any favorite photos?
Hmmm…I have a ton of favorite images so choosing is quite frankly impossible. I love connecting with people so any of my environmental portraits are favorites of mine. If you need examples, you can check out this latest post from South Africa on assignment for National Geographic Channel.

I’ve been fortunate and blessed to have experienced a lot of places and cultures from chasing Northern Lights in Lapland to camping out in the jungles of Fiji so there isn’t a “most” interesting place but a slew of interesting experiences.

I’m graduating this spring and start working this summer so the “balancing work life and personal life” is something that’s been on my mind. How have you dealt with this?
That remains my constant struggle especially since I now have a toddler who takes priority. For me, it ultimately boils down to who has a major impact on my life. They get priority over everything else.

I actually wrote a post about why I didn’t want to be superwoman.

Do you consider yourself a role model? I can certainly say I admire what you do and how you carry yourself
As an individual, my main priority is making sure God’s light and love are reflected in and through my life in everything I do. If that makes me a role model, I’m honored. But I want my life to just be a living example of God’s unconditional grace despite my human weaknesses.

What are your thoughts on black women and travel?
I try to travel with purpose and not just for the sake of traveling. So I’m super opinionated in that regard. We as black women have a lot to share and show the world. From breaking down stereotypes that objectify us to sharing our rich cultures with others.

More black women should not only travel, but be personal ambassadors, educating people they meet along the way as well as absorbing their cultures. I’m not easily impressed by photos in front of landmarks. Photos where there’s someone looking directly at you tells me you made an effort to connect in some fashion with that person.

Honestly, this is the most valuable thing a black woman can pack on her travels…an open mind.

Do you have any advice for aspiring travel photographers?
#1 Be able to handle rejection – Even if you run your own company, you’re still dependent on others..customers…so being able to handle rejection and criticism gracefully is essential.

#2 Patience and resilience – Nothing is going to happen overnight so the sooner you come to terms with this, the more sane your life will be.

#3 Passion -If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, you won’t last six months, especially if those six months are those depressing lull periods that every freelancer/entrepreneur goes through

Who inspires you?
I deeply admire Oprah Winfrey because she exemplifies what it is to find your calling in life, pursue it passionately, while lifting up and helping others along the way.

I’m sure there are a few photographers who inspire you as well.
Ooooo…there are so many photographers I admire. I love any photographer who bows down to natural light and can capture the essence of place and of a person. I really like Mitchell Kanashkevich, Ami Vitale, Ed Kashi, Alison Wright, Terence Carter, and so many others.

What parts of your business do you plan to focus on?
Continue to grow my company Geotraveler Media into a formidable digital multimedia powerhouse with a wide range of travel-related products and projects from topnotch travel content, photography and video image banks to my latest project, Slow Travel Stockholm.

And now for some off the wall questions….

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Kind. Compassionate. Versatile.

Who is your Celebrity Crush?
Daniel Day-Lewis. The man can do no wrong and just oozes talent from every pore.

You have 24 hours to live. What would you do?
I would sit with my closest family members just talking, chatting, laughing, and reminiscing about life all the while filled with gratitude.

Weird fact about you that most people don’t know.
I don’t like bananas. I took one bite when I was a child and that was it. Never again.

If you’d like to stay up to date on Lola’s projects and business ventures you got plenty of options:
Her Twitter, Company, Blog, Portfolio, Editorial site, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+

Thank you so much Lola! I wish you and your family all the best

“I learned about modeling on the job, and I had a system. Remember that most people didn’t think that I spoke English, so I devised a system where I didn’t say much. People freely talked in front of me, and I listened as I went along and learned how to maneuver this minefield that is fashion, because you know, you’re so replaceable, so exchangeable.

To me, it really was a business transaction, it was not anything else. It was a way of taking care of my family, of putting my brothers and sisters through schooling. I had a vested interest in a different point of view, and I always had longevity in mind—it’s about how to make this thing work for you. That helped in the negotiations.

The power’s not always in someone else’s hands, because I could walk away from it; there was no desperation. And as a black model, it’s even more important because then you will know how not to be abused. When I came here, there was a certain price [in a model fee] that they would pay the white models and not the black models. And I said, ‘I’m not going to do it.’ I always thought, ‘What do I have to lose? Nothing! I can always go back, I have a return ticket.’”

source

A lot has been going on this fall for me including school, work and extracurriculars. All of this plus a very sudden and shocking death in my immediate family has put blogging on the back burner.

As soon as finals are over and Christmas plans are finalized, you can expect new posts at towards the end of the month

Please keep my family and I in your thoughts and prayers and I wish all of my subscribers and lurkers good health and good spirits this holiday season ♥

Well it so happens that if you know where to look for it traveling does not have to be expensive. If this idea invokes your interest then you must continue reading this article. 

1. Use the Internet! Anyone with access to the Internet will find it simple to look for discount travel offerings ranging from airlines, hotels, villas for rent, cruises or even automobile rentals. Almost all tourist related businesses around the world now have a web site so that you can visit and obtain needed information prior to actually completing your travel plans. You can always contact the sellers directly and obtain additional information.

2. Be flexible about the day and time you travel. During the slow days of the week you can easily find many special deals or discount prices for both airline tickets and accommodations. Airlines may have six or eight flights to your destination on a particular day. Say if you need to depart in the morning, check out all the departures that leave in the morning. Since airlines charge for tickets according to the availability of seats on the plane, moving your time by just one hour or so may save you a large amount of cash.

3. You can also save is by traveling with a group such as a tour group, travel group or travel club. Group travel is usually arranged ahead of time by travel agencies. They buy in bulk, frequently chartering a whole airplane and reserving a large number of rooms to get the very best rate.

4. Book early! Make your trip plans well in advance. Book your cruise a year in advance for early bird discounts, and get the lowest rail fares just after the holidays. If you make your reservations several months before the trip you typically get your choice of flights and rooms at the best prices.

5. Travel during the low season. For example, go to the Caribbean and Mayan Rivera in the summer because in the winter rates for villas and flights go up. Caribbean cruises are cheaper when you go in the fall versus winter or spring. Hawaii is less costly from mid September to mid December. Europe s best deals are offered between Thanksgiving and Easter when the locals are not on vacation.

6. In a foreign country convert money at a local bank for the best conversion. ATMs affiliated with major credit card companies are great, but watch out for foreign ATMs. While they normally won’t charge you a fee, your bank may charge you one! Learn your bank s policies before you travel.

These are but a few of the many ways you can make your vacation less expensive. All you have to do is be resourceful and pick the best time to travel and you can have that dream vacation that you have wanted so long without destroying your family budget.

1

Style and Fashion Blogger Ejieme Eromosele of  My So-Called Corporate Life shares her advice on fashion in the workplace, why mentors are so important for black women in Corporate America, and shares a few of her favorite travel spots in this edition of Black Women in the Global Village.

What do you do? On your site you call yourself a “Business Doctor”.

I’m a Management Consultant. I used the term “Business Doctor” because I diagnose business problems and prescribe solutions to improve my client’s situations. This relationship is much like one you would have with your medical doctor. Specifically I work in customer strategy and operations – so help businesses develop better interactions with their customers.

What is your educational background?

I’m a double NYU grad – went to undergrad in the Liberal Arts College where I majored in Economics and just completed my MBA from The Stern School of Business.

Did you have the typical educational experience of being one of a few black women in most of your classes?

Since high school I have been the “lone ranger” so it’s something I have gotten used to. And now that I’m in consulting it’s become a regular part of life.

Going to NYU was a great experience but I was always one of a few black students in my classes (undergrad and MBA). Luckily I could step out of class and be greeted by the rainbow of humanity. It can be draining sometimes having to be the representative of your whole race or always having to conform to the majority’s preferences or feeling like it’s hard to identify with everyone else. But it’s better if we come to terms with this reality, embrace it and surround ourselves with supportive friends and family.

 

 

“If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” 

-Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and the first elected female Head of State in Africa, at Harvard University’s 360th Commencement Ceremony.

Already the highest-ranking African-American female in the U.S. Army, Gen. Marcia Anderson’s recent promotion to the rank of major general makes her the first black woman to hold the title in the history of the military branch.

Anderson formerly served as a deputy-commanding general of the human resources command in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Now in the third highest-ranking position in the army, Gen. Anderson will now be stationed at the office of the chief of the U.S. Army Reserve in Washington, D.C.

The 30-year vet spoke to the Associated Press following her promotion. In her interview, the general spoke of the limited opportunities available for blacks prior to and the immediate years following World War II that affected many African-Americans, including her father.

“This is for people like him who had dreams deferred,” Anderson to the AP referring to her father’s failed dream of flying bombers during his time in the military. Her dad drove trucks instead because of the narrow opportunities for blacks at the time.

Anderson assumed her new post on September 30 in Washington, D.C.

1

Can’t seem to get ahead financially? Debts piling up? Maybe you’re making some of these mistake unknowingly. These mistakes listed below will help you understand where you may be going wrong and how to get back on track quickly. You can be debt free.

Living Beyond Your Means

This is the real cause of your worry and stress. If you are spending more than you are earning, whose money are you spending? It’s the credit card provider’s or the bank’s. The cost of this money is interest.

The way out – Make a Commitment to yourself only to spend within your income limits. Maybe you could increase your income (or cash in) by applying for more skilled positions, selling some of your unused articles or assets. Is the second car really a necessity? What about working out ways to make your hobby pay for itself?

Why not find ways to reduce your spending? How much would you save each year if you decided not to have the daily coffee shop coffee? Why not make your work lunch each day rather than buying it? Commit to only buying the necessities.

Paying Off Less Than the Full Credit Card Balance Each Month

Get this debt under control and your life will be much easier. If you are like many others and only pay the minimum balance each month, the interest on the interest makes those purchases oh so expensive.

The way out – Find ways to put aside more money to apply to the credit cards. It will take time to reach this goal. However, if you don’t make a start now you may never pay them off. This situation did not occur overnight and neither will the solution. But, by diligence and commitment you’ll get there.

Not Really Knowing Your Financial Situation

Before you can set meaningful goals and develop savings strategies you need to know your financial situation now. The best, proven and tested method by far, is by developing your own personal budget. This is not hard to do. Please don’t give up now.

Follow these simple steps:

-Find your latest credit card statements. Write down all the unpaid balances.
-Are there any other unpaid debts (not home or car) then include these balances as well.
-List out your (or family) monthly income. Only the amounts “brought home”. Include all types of income.
-Work out your monthly spending. List out where all the money goes. Don’t leave anything out.
-Minus the monthly spending total from the monthly income total and review the answer.
This will give you an initial idea as to whether you are living within your means or on borrowed money.

Continually Adding to Your Debt

If debt has you in this situation, it is critically important not to add to the state of affairs and thus make it worse.

The way out – cut up the credit cards, keeping only 1 for emergencies. Don’t buy on impulse. Ask yourself twice or three times before you buy anything “Do I really need this?” before you hand over your hard-earned money. Don’t buy at the height of the fashion or fad. Commit to never paying full retail for anything. Get it on sale or negotiate a lower price.

Spending All Your Income

It may sound OK to spend any money you earn but there are risks attached to this strategy. How are you going to pay for emergency items? What about major car repairs. What about major electrical appliance replacement? Are you going to pay for these on credit? Bad idea! How are you going to save for a substantial deposit on the next car?

The way out – Once you’ve prepared your budget you will clearly see what you need to do to put some income aside for other needs such are emergencies and repairs.

Spending Without Caring About Your Future

Unless you are planning for your future and financial security, you cannot be really happy. There are always worries lurking in your mind about how you would survive in a financial emergency if you have no savings. It can be very rewarding to see how quickly your savings multiply over time with only a small investment each payday.

The way out – Take stock of your life and realize that tomorrow won’t look after itself. It needs your attention. Keep some funds aside to put away for your retirement, children’s college costs, emergencies, holidays and major purchases.

Avoid these 6 spending mistakes and may be well on your way to financial freedom.

1

Photographed by Jordan Matter of Jordan Matter Photography

Travel and Food blogger Terri of  Try Anything Once speaks with BWLW about her travel adventures, recommends countries that you should consider visiting on your next trip, breaks down the misconceptions about the costs of travel, and reveals her tips for new travelers in this edition of Black Women in the Global Village.

Most recently I was a consultant for a small start-up company. Before that I did state level legislative work. In the past, I was a real estate lawyer specializing in affordable housing development. I have a B.A. and a J.D.

I met my husband at a destination wedding in Jamaica. I actually have blogged about our meeting and how we got together. Our childhood friends married each other. I had known the bride since I was ten and my husband had known the groom since he was six.  Love begets love, I guess.  As for being in an interracial marriage, it has it moments, but I would say on a day-to-day basis being an interracial couple doesn’t consume us. When you’re wondering what to make for dinner it doesn’t really come into play. I’m not saying it doesn’t at all or that we don’t have our differences in perspective. Our racial differences are compounded by other things that include class, being an immigrant or not, family structure, etc. The most important thing for us is that we recognize those differences and do not act as if they don’t affect how we view the world and relationships. Plus, we’ve also got to deal with the occasional stare, and people thinking that we’re not together at restaurants or in stores; so we’ve got enough on our plate already.

Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland

Terri and Husband J in Dublin

When did you start blogging?

I started blogging in December 2008 while planning my wedding. I got into blogging through the wedding blogging world. The first blogs that I read with any regularity were wedding blogs (waaay before I got engaged actually. Oops!). I stumbled onto Weddingbee and saw all of these really interesting women from all over the country many of whom were great writers and were chronicling their wedding planning journeys.  Essentially, I was inspired to start my own blog, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to apply to blog for the site. I knew that I didn’t want to wonder what would have happened if had applied, so I applied anyway. I got accepted to blog for the site and wrote under the moniker of Mrs. Swan. After I finished recapping my wedding for the site, I decided I wanted to continue blogging and created my current blog,  Try Anything Once , a food and travel blog.

 

Terri attending a soccer game between Rio's popular Flamengo and Atletico Miniero at Rio De Janeiro's Maracana Stadium

Terri in front of the Corcovado or Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro

What are some misconceptions about traveling?

I would say the biggest misconceptions that I have come across is the cost and safety arguments. Much of the travel that I have done was when I was younger and didn’t have much money. There are many ways to travel without having to be a millionaire (or anything remotely close to that). I have found that many people think leaving the U.S. is not safe, which I don’t think is entirely true. I’ve also come into contact with travel naysayers who believe that people in other countries dislike people living in the U.S. I have encountered so many friendly people traveling, many of whom don’t care where you’re from. I find that being open, friendly and respectful will go a long way in almost any culture.

View of Ffreyes Bay in Antigua

I think my first real trip that I completely financed myself was the trip I took with my BFF to Spain. We spent about two weeks traveling to Madrid, Merida, Cordoba, and Sevilla. We stayed in small hostels/pensions and had a great time. Memorable moments include not having a place to stay in Sevilla and following this random to man to this cute, slightly run down hostel in the center of town. It was Semana Santa (Holy Week/Easter Week), and it was really hard to find places to stay. My BFF was not convinced, but I figured we could take this guy down together if he did anything suspicious on the way there. The room was fine if not extremely worn, but it worked for a few nights. Plus, it was super cheap! Aaaahhh, the days before the Euro!

We had a nice time in Sevilla and got to experience the pasos or processions of floats with events depicting various scenes related to Jesus Christ’s trial and crucifixion. They are essentially public religious observances and are organized by cofradias, Catholic laypersons who organize the processions for Holy Week. We didn’t know when planning that we would have stumbled onto one of the biggest Catholic events in Spain. We were also a little weirded out because many of the participants in the pasos were dressed like Klansmen. They wear robes with hoods that have extremely pointy tops!  I’m not even kidding. Of course that was not the intent at all!

Terri and Two-time Top Chef contestant, Fabio Viviani at a private Bertolli event.

Yes, my career choices have definitely proscribed HOW LONG I can travel at one time, but I haven’t let that stop me. I’ve used my time in grad school to live abroad for a semester in South Africa. I did an internship at a South African legal organization. That time allowed me to travel a little in southern Africa. I also did a summer abroad in Mexico and that was my first real trip abroad (without family and not to Antigua). The rest of my travel has been 1 to 2 1/2 week intervals. I don’t feel bad about that. I’m happy that I’ve even been able to go as many places as I have. I don’t think the focus necessarily should be on how long you are able to travel but just that you do.

My jobs have been primarily with small firms or the government, so as long as my work is not conflicting with a major project or an especially busy time, I have been able to go most places that I have wanted to. Also for most of my work life, I KNEW when the busy times were, so I could plan around them. Early on I picked workplaces/firms that may not have been as intense as others and might have a better work-life balance.

When you are in a new place, you often have to adapt to your new environment. Being able to adapt to new people and places is and important overall life skill. I think I’ve gained more confidence by traveling because I trust that I will be able to deal with any situation I encounter.

Lake Batur, Bali

I’ve only traveled alone once, but I thought it was a lot of fun. One of the big differences is being able to control the pace of what you do without compromise. If I wanted to walk around all day, I could. I ate what I wanted to when I wanted to. Also I found that I had certain experiences because I was traveling alone. I met people and interacted with them differently. I think traveling with my husband and friends is fun, but when you’re with another person often you create your own little community. While traveling with one or more people, there is a tendency to be a bit insular. Traveling alone frees you from that.

Namibia- I really want to return here to see its red desert and the former German colonial town of Swapkopmund. It was really interesting landscape overall. If people travel to southern Africa, they tend to go to South Africa, but I think there are some interesting things to see in Namibia.

Cuba - Yes, I went legally. If there is a way to go to Cuba before the U.S. travel ban is lifted (which will hopefully be during our lifetimes), I definitely recommend it. The people are friendly, and the food and music are downright fabulous. Also the political history of the island has had a profound impact on all aspects of the culture (I guess that’s pretty obvious, right?). Definitely take advantage of the tours that are being sponsored to Cuba now.

Turkey - I went to Turkey in March, and I loved it. There is so much history dating back generations. If you are interested in religious history, there is so much to see and learn regarding early Christianity and Islam. Go to the Cappadocia region if you can because it is some of the most stunning and unique scenery you’ll see. Also I didn’t have a bad meal the entire time whether it was a local Mom & Pop place in a small town or a high-end restaurant. Turkish food is very tasty.

Interior view of the San Antonio di Padova Church in Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkey.

I WISH!!! I was going to go abroad again this fall to travel solo again, but I decided not to. I am trying to focus on sussing out my future career goals right now. That doesn’t mean that I won’t be traveling in the future though.

Definitely more travel! I’d like to take a trip with my BFF, who was my first travel partner before my husband. My husband and I will look into starting a family and see what’s in store for that part of our lives. I’d also like to be more settled on a career path that I am excited about.

Do: Research, research, research - There are so many resources online regarding travel these days. Use them to plan your trip. Having an understanding of the logistics before you get there can only help your trip.

Do: Try to read about your destination before arriving - You don’t need to read whole books, but take some time to do a few internet searches or read the general information section of your guidebook. It will give you context for what you are seeing and experiencing.

Don’t: Think you can’t travel - You can!! Be intentional about incorporating travel into your life, if that’s what you want.

Don’t: Think that your destination has to be just like home- It’s not supposed to be.

Do: Learn a phrase or two if you are going someplace where another language is spoken. Sometimes a simple hello in the local language will go a long way with the people you encounter.

Don’t: Let fear prevent you from having interesting experiences - Be aware of your surroundings, customs and cultural cues, but don’t be so paralyzed by fear that you don’t take the time to explore or experience something new.

What are your thoughts on the image and progress of black women in the US in next few years?

I feel that the images of Black women can be so schizophrenic. One the one hand you got “Basketball Wives” and other the other hand you’ve got the intelligence and grace of our First Lady Michelle Obama. Throughout my life I have often felt that people put black women in a box. They are surprised to see that we like certain things or do certain things (Like travel!). I love seeing black women achieving in areas/activities that we are not usually associated with. I was just reading about a black woman who was trying to start in a  NASCAR race and another who will be the first Black woman to represent the U.S. on the Olympic fencing team.  I want black women to continue to break barriers and continue to change and push people’s perceptions of who we are, what we like and what we are able to do.

Keep up with Terri’s travels and foodie adventures by subscribing to her blog, Try Anything Once and be sure to follow her on Twitter and Facebook!

Researchers at Boston University Medical Center tracked 51,928 study participants at the Boston University School of Medicine for 12 years, during which time 1,268 cases of breast cancer developed.

Among the breast cancer cases on which hormone receptor status was obtained, 35 percent were estrogen receptor-negative/progesterone receptor-negative breast cancers.

The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, finds the incidence of estrogen receptor-negative/progesterone receptor-negative breast cancer was 43 percent lower among women consuming at least two vegetables per day compared with women who ate fewer than four vegetables per week.

African-American women are more likely than white women to be diagnosed with estrogen receptor-negative tumors, which has a poorer prognosis than estrogen receptor-positive tumors, the researchers say.

High intake of cruciferous vegetables in particular — broccoli, mustard and collard greens, and cabbage — may be associated with reduced risk of breast cancer overall, the study says.

Source