I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Groeten
The Kosters Family
Happy Holidays!
"When African Americans Came To Paris"
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| Six Videos By Joanne Burke in partnership with Julia Browne of Walking The Spirit Tours I watched this video "When African Americans Came To Paris" which is an amazing journey through history of the expression of Black culture which spread from Paris to the world. I am a jazz lover so the incredible story of the origins of Jazz Music in Paris and France were an unearthing of Jazz history. Even some jazz aficionados were unaware of this little known rich Jazz Heritage. Julia Browne of Walking The Spirit Tours "Black Paris & Beyond" commented that on a recent visit to Normandy, the locals thanked the Black tour group for their contribution of Jazz to France. They appreciate that African Americans brought Jazz music to France and they have not forgotten it. The history of the African American experience in Paris is a historical journey that is must be shared by everyone. I encourage you to give this DVD to friends and family. |
Watch the Tailer "When African Americans Came To Paris"
Listen to our African Diaspora Today radio interview on Sat., Dec. 15, 2012 from 2 - 4 pm CST with Host Dr. Carol Adams, President of DuSable Museum of African American History and Co - Host Janice Temple of The Skychi Travel Guide as we explore African American culture in Paris with guests Julia Browne of Walking The Spirit Tours and Jazz Legend Kahil El'Zabar. We will chat live with Shola, a Walking The Spirit Tour Guide and Singer who resides in Paris on African Diaspora Today's facebook page during the interview.
Please like our facebook page at
and submit your questions for Shola
who we will be chatting with us from Paris.
Go to African Diaspora Today
Click on red button to right "Listen Live! Saturdays @2pm" CST
to hear the broadcast live on the internet.
If you miss the live broadcast, you can hear the recorded past show on our website African Diaspora Today.
by Janice Temple
Follow on Twitter
5 Ways To Immerse Yourself In Local Culture
In January 2012, I attended the Chicago Travel & Adventure where Rick Steves gave a presentation on how to play games to immerse yourself in local culture.
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| Chicago Travel & Adventure show |
One game was to ask a local strangers for advice and simply do what they recommend to you.
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| Rick Steves Presentation at Chicago Travel & Adventure Show |
1. What is a good restaurant nearby?
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| Rick Steves Presentation at Chicago Travel & Adventure Show |
2. What are the best dishes at that restaurant?
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| Rick Steves Presentation at Chicago Travel & Adventure Show |
3. Where should I go sightseeing?
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| Rick Steves Presentation at Chicago Travel & Adventure Show |
4. What is the best way for me to get around town?
5. What must I see while I am here?
This forces you to interact with locals and visit their country from their point of view. There is very little planning on your part, you allow locals to plan your trip for you by engaging them in conversation.
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"Skychitravels"
@skychi_travels
7 foods to fortify your body for winter
Found on http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/29/health/gallery/foods-fortify-winter/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 on 11-29-2012
1
Boost your immune system: Most everyone knows that vitamin C is key to a healthy immune system. But did you know that drinking green tea can also boost your ability to fight off viruses?
Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins, which are known to have flu-fighting properties, according to Health.com. The tea also contains theophylline, which opens your airways to help you breathe easier if mucus has taken hold.
In a 2007 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, participants who took two green tea capsules a day experienced fewer symptoms and instances of the cold and flu compared with a placebo group.
The bonus? Green tea has also been shown to raise your metabolism, reduce your risk of heart disease and reactivate dying skin cells to help your face retrieve its spring glow. Experts recommend drinking two or three cups a day for optimum benefits.
2
Prevent dry skin: Niacin, riboflavin, vitamin A ... oh my! The list of nutrients needed to keep your skin healthy is longer than Santa's. The good news is that that means everything from cereal to carrots can play a role in keeping dry skin away.
Let's start with niacin. The B vitamin is helpful in preventing the skin rashes and inflammation that can occur in dry weather, according to the National Institute of Health. Niacin can be found in eggs, lean meats and legumes.
Riboflavin is another B vitamin required for healthy skin. Breads and cereals are often fortified with riboflavin, the institute says, but you can also get it from eggs, milk and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin A helps cells reproduce, which will aid in turning old, dry skin into new, supple skin. Eating vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables, such as cantaloupe, passion fruit, tomatoes, sweet potato, carrots and spinach, can help your skin retain moisture.
3
Tame dry hair: Your mother probably told you to eat your broccoli, but she may not have told you that it would be good for your looks.
"The unique combination of emollient oils and fatty acids in broccoli can make hair stronger and more lustrous," said Dr. Charles Crutchfield, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Because of the lack of moisture in the air, hair can be brittle and easily damaged during winter. Any food with a good dose of omega-3 fatty acids will help soothe stressed strands. Look for fish, olive oil and nuts in your local grocery store.
4
Protect your nails: Has a walnut brownie caught your eye? There's a healthy component to that tempting treat. Walnuts contain biotin, a B vitamin that helps strengthen nails, according to Crutchfield. Strawberries are another good source of the important nutrient.
Fingernails also contain the protein keratin, which helps protect your nails from environmental damage. Eat foods that are also high in protein like lean meats and low-fat dairy products to prevent weakness.
5
Bone up: Winter weather is extra dangerous for bones, according to the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society. Protect yourself from the inside by building strong bones with Vitamin D.
Unfortunately, the Office of Dietary Supplements says very few foods naturally contain vitamin D. Beef liver, mushrooms, cheese and egg yolks top the list.
If you're not ready to dish yourself a heaping plate of liver, look for products that have been fortified with vitamin D such as milk, orange juice and breakfast cereals. Spending some time in the sunshine will also help your body absorb the nutrient; just make sure to slather on some SPF!
6
Avoid the vampire look: You may blame pasty skin on the lack of sunshine this time of year, but your diet can have a lot to do with your face's rosy glow.
People who aren't getting enough iron have lower red blood cell counts, which may make them appear pale, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Dark, leafy greens like spinach are iron-rich foods that will help bring back your pinch-able cheeks.
Other vegetables can also help brighten a dull exterior. Carotenoids are natural pigments that produce the color in vegetables like carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and tomatoes,according to the University of Maryland Medical Center; they'll do the same for your skin.
7
Prepare for the future: There's nothing like a hot cup of cocoa after a day frolicking in (or shoveling) snow. And since researchers at Cornell University say the delicious drink contains a healthy dose of antioxidants, you shouldn't feel guilty about indulging. The antioxidants protect your body from free radicals that can damage cells, according to the National Institute of Health.
Need more convincing? A study published in the August edition of the journal Hypertension showed that flavanols -- the main type of flavonoids, or antioxidants, found in cocoa and chocolate -- may even improve mild cognitive impairment in the elderly.
New Cool Kid In Travel
Nomadness LLC, launched in April 2012, has positioned itself as the new cool kid in travel business. Specifically, its social media arm, the Nomadness Travel Tribe, has pushed itself into the forefront to create a voice for an underrepresented demographic of world nomads. With stats that include seventy percent female, and ninety percent Black and Latino travelers, the Tribe has become an international family for those that prefer an urban stylistic of international vagabonding.
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| Nomadness Travel Tribe 1 Year Anniversary |
On the day to day, the Tribe functions as an online resource in which members have real time conversations about advice, anecdotes, photography, video, and the do’s and don’ts of hopping around the globe. It’s not unusual for a member who is stranded in a country to post a thread asking for help searching for lodging/transportation and being bombarded with options within minutes, from members all over the world.
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| Nomadness Black Travel Card at Caribana Trip 2012 |
In an effort to take the conversation offline, Tribe members are known for their weekly international Meet Ups, as well as the NomadnessX trips that the business core, High Council Members, organize on behalf of the group. Within the first year of conception, there have been five group trips (Panama, Spain, Germany, Toronto, Dominican Republic). The first of which had eighteen members in Bocas Del Toro, Panama and was recounted in the July 2012 Issue of Ebony Magazine.
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| Madrid Nomadness Trip 2012 |
“Being a young, Black female who traveled to over ten countries, and lived on three continents by the time I was twenty-five, I never found a travel group that spoke to me. They were boring and didn’t relate to my style or background. The entrepreneur in me said ‘Good, I’m going to create it,’ says Nomadness LLC Founder and Nomadness Travel Tribe creator, Evita Turquoise Robinson. In 2011, Robinson was noted by Clutch Magazine, as one of the ‘Top 11 Black Women Inspiring Us to Travel’. It was her wanderlust, and young energy that became the catalyst to launch into the travel industry, fully occupying this sector unlike anyone before her had done.
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| Korea Meetups |
The Nomadness Travel Tribe’s 1 Year Anniversary was this past September 30th, and over one hundred fifty members traveled to New York City, from all over the world to meet face to face, at the Miss Jessie’s™ Hair Care and Hotel BPM™ sponsored event. In addition, Robinson launched the Nomadness College Tour Series, with a focus on presenting to HBCU’s and diversity based clubs on college campuses, to spread the idea of travel after college.
Interested in joining go to http://nomadnesstv.com.
By Janice Temple "skychitravels"
@skychi_travels
Interested in joining go to http://nomadnesstv.com.
By Janice Temple "skychitravels"
@skychi_travels
Radio Interview: Kiratiana's Travel Guide to Multicultural London
Listen live or to past shows at
Follow us on facebook at
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| Kiratiana's Travel Guide to Multicultural London Get Lost and Get Found Download Kiratiana's ebook here from Amazon. Kiratiana is a guest on ADT Travels Radio Segment WVON 1690 AM Saturday, November 24, 2012 2 pm to 4 pm Other radio show guest interviewed by African Diaspora Today Travels  Co-Host Flight Attendant Travel Blogger Janice "SkychiTravels" include |
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| Greg Gross of I am Black and I Travel (IBIT) shares Obama Inauguration 2.0 |
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| Daniel Fashe of The Educational Alliance Africa and World Peace Emissary Prince Frederick Von Laudenberg at World Travel Market London Check out my article "I went to London to meet the Prince..." by Janice Temple "Skychitravels" Follow on twitter @skychi_travels |
Caribbean Scene Hosts Wandermania London Meetup
Awesomeness!
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| Caribbean Scene Appetizers - Jerk Chicken, Fish Moneyback, Beef Patties, Fish Bites, Festival, Saltfish |
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| Caribbean Scene's British Jamaican Chef Toshane |
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| April - Absolute Travel Addict (Jamaican Travel Blogger) and Tracey - One Brown Girl, the organizer of Wandermania London |
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| Caribbean Scene's Business Manager O'Neil Dennis |
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| Shrimp Creole |
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| White Rice |
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| Rice and peas with Jerk Chicken |
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| Coleslaw |
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| Salad |
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| Caribbean Scene Wandermania London Travel Bloggers Meetup (l to r front row ) April - Absolute Travel Addict, Tawanna - Mom's Guide to Travel, Joi - BrownGirlsFly (Back row l to r) Colleen - Ad-lib Traveller, Tracey - One Brown Girl, Monique - Mo Travels, Oneika -Oneika the Traveller, Janice - The Skychi Travel Guide Thanks for hosting Wandermania London Caribbean Scene Head Office Gerry Raffle Square Stratford London E15 1BG T: 020 8522 8660 www.caribbeanscene.co.uk |
by Janice "Skychitravels"
The Skychi Travel Guide
www.skychitravels.com
@skychi_travels
"How To Measure Blogger ROI" by Travel Bloggers Unite
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| Flight Attendant Janice "SkychiTravels" attending "How To Measure Travel Blogger ROI" |
Travel Bloggers Unite is creating a Travel Blogger directory of all travel bloggers who have or will attend the Travel Blogger Unite Conferences. Here is a glimpse of the soon to be release PDF.
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| TBU Travel Bloggers Unite Founder & Director Oliver Gradwell Introducing TBU Travel Blogger Directory |
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| Melvin Boecher of Traveldudes introducing ROI CALCULATOR |
I just signed up at www.roionlinecalculator.com for a free trial. The future pricing is listed there too.
Thanks to TravelBloggersUnite for creating the ROI CALCULATOR. It will value our tweets and blog posts for travel blogging press trips. I think it will make it much easier for travel bloggers to justify their worth to public relations firms and other travel companies.
by Janice Temple
Flight Attendant Travel Blogger
The Skychi Travel Guide
www.skychitravels
@skychi_travels
The Big Announcement: SkychiTravels New Co-Host of ADT Travels Radio Show
BTB Black Travel Bloggers were invited to be guests of African Diaspora Today Radio Show by Host Dr. Carol Adams on WVON Radio 1690 AM "The Talk of Chicago" during African Festival of the Arts Chicago 2012 .
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| DuSable Museum of African-American History President Dr. Carol L. Adams interviews BTB Black Travel Bloggers Angela Meyers of 2 Girls & A Bikini and Flight Attendant Janice "SkychiTravels" of The Skychi Travel Guide on WVON Radio 1690 AM . |
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| New Co-Host Flight Attendant Travel Blogger Janice "SkychiTravels" of African Diaspora Today Radio Show Segment ADT Travels with Host & DuSable Museum President Dr. Carol L. Adams. BTB Black Travel Bloggers recorded our Social Media appearance on Google LIVE ON AIR Broadcast during the African Diaspora Today Radio Show on WVON Radio 1690 AM with Host Dr. Carol L. Adams, Pres. DuSable Museum of African-American History. African Diaspora Today is designed to inform audiences on the rich culture, history, and current news of the African Diaspora. Who better to disseminate this information than educator, sociologist, culturalist, and President of the DuSable Museum of African American History – Dr. Carol L. Adams. Each week, Dr. Adams and her guests explore topics that are relevant in our communities, across the nation, and around the world.  CAROL L. ADAMS, Ph.D. is a sociologist whose varied career and diverse skills have combined to make her a social engineer of international reputation. Currently, Dr. Adams is the Chief Executive Officer of the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago, IL. She has held positions as the Chairman of the African American Studies Department at Loyola University, Director of the Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern Illinois University, and Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services. Having spent a number of years as the director of African American studies at a major University and a tenured professor in the School of Education at another, Dr. Adams has traveled and consulted throughout Africa and the Diaspora. She is well versed in the protocol and practice of diplomacy and capacity building. In 2003, she was part of a delegation invited to the United Nations by Kofi Annan to discuss fostering relationships between African Americans and the United Nations. Through her work with the Global Integrated Development Group, Dr. Adams helped to launch two major entrepreneurial ventures that are fostering trade and economic development between Africa and the Diaspora: Made in Africa and BUTTA (Bringing You the Treasures of Africa). In less than two years, these companies created hundreds of jobs in Ghana, Uganda and have plans to expand to Madagascar and Gabon. Upon learning through DNA testing that her ancestral African roots were Fulani, she encouraged scores of others to be tested and succeeded in having genealogy and DNA testing incorporated into Chicago’s African Festival of the Arts. Dr. Adams has played a major role in the development and sustainability of a number of key African organizations in Chicago, among them: the United African Organization, the Pan African Association, Africa International House, and the African Chamber of Commerce. A friend to African and African-descended women’s groups, her research and consulting work has informed her activism and advocacy. She is currently helping a group of women from Chicago raise funds to build an orphanage in Benin, at the urging of the advisor to President Boni Yayi, and has recently returned from South Africa where she was a consultant to her human services counterpart on HIV/AIDS prevention in Kimberley. She has been invited to Zimbabwe to assist with the transitional government, and to Togo to help with their upcoming elections.  ADT TRAVELS (AFRICAN DIASPORA TRAVELS) ADT Travels is a new segment created to explore and travel to various communities within the African Diaspora as it relates to sites, people, lifestyle, history, language, food, and culture. The segment is not only to inform our listeners, but also to encourage and promote travel to various destinations in the African Diaspora via broadcast radio and social media platforms. ADT Travels will be co-hosted by travel blogger, Janice Temple, www.skychitravels.com. Janice is the Editor of SkyChi.com, an international traveler, and a linguist. She has lived in France, Belgium, Venezuela, Argentina, and Turkey. Janice speaks French, Spanish, and some Turkish, and has the unique ability to communicate and understand people of other cultures. Janice blogs on her experiences as a professional traveller, as well as her life as a flight attendant. ADT TRAVELS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT WVON 1690AM WVON AM is Chicago's "exclusive" Black News/Talk Format. WVON has experienced tremendous growth over the past several years. WVON reaches nearly 173,900 weekly. 25-54 audience! High Household Incomes/High Level Occupations: 69% more likely to have $150K+ Household Income than average Chicago adult between the ages of 25 and 54! 180% more likely to be employed in Professional?Technical occupations 425% more likely to be Business Owners, Partners or Corporate Officers 35-64 audience! High Household Incomes/High Level Occupations: 21% more likely to have $150+K Household Income than the average Chicago adult between the ages of 35 and 64! 166% more likely to be employed in Professional/Technical occupations! 234% more likely to be Business Owners, Partners or Corporate Officers! Source: June-August/November-Decembr 2010 Media Audit Listen on the radio or live on the internet to BTB Black Travel Blogger Flight Attendant Janice inaugural co-host on ADT TRAVELS monthly segment of AFRICAN DIASPORA TODAY on Saturday, October 27, 2012 from 2 pm to 4 pm CST. Written by Flight Attendant Black Travel Blogger Janice Temple The Skychi Travel Guide http://www.skychitravels.com Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheSkychiTravelGuide |
5 Travel Tricks & Tips for Travelistas on the Go
I was sitting here thinking about what travel tips could I share with travelistas when I discovered an accident in one of my carry-on bags. My shoe polish container cracked leaving mounds of ooey black shoe polish staining the inside of my carry-on bag. This little disaster is the perfect subject for travel tips. A few weeks ago I had another little disaster in my roller board with lotion spilling in the bottom of the bag. Nothing could ruin a trip faster than having your lotion smeared all over your clothes and shoes or black shoe polish staining your carry-on items. So these are some tips to prevent similar bag disasters.
1. Place lotion, toothpaste, shoe polish, shampoo, conditioner in separate plastic clear sandwich bags. This keeps spills isolated in the individual plastic bags.
2. I use hotel plastic laundry/ dry cleaning bags to separate my clothes from my shoes. One can use Target or Macy's shopping plastic bags instead of the hotel bags.
3. I sort my bags by separating hosiery, undergarments, sleepwear, work clothes, casual clothes, swimsuit, workout clothes, and a bag for dirty clothes.
4. The plastic bags in your roller board provide an extra layer of privacy in case the TSA decides to do a bag check at the security checkpoint. You don' have to worry about your intimates being on public display.
5. I carry an extra canvas bags inside the roller board just in case I need an extra tote bag for my bottled water, snacks, purse, light jacket or sweater, magazines or books, change of clothes or shoes, socks, and travel blanket on the plane.
These are some my organizing travel tips for travelistas on the go.
By Janice Temple
Follow on twitter
@skychi_travels
Office Politics: You're D***** If You Do, and You're D***** If You Don't
http://www.theolp.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1433235&goback=%2Egde_111780_member_174738152
By Chere Estrin
http://www.theolp.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1433235&goback=%2Egde_111780_member_174738152
By Chere Estrin
It’s a dirty word. I’ll be surprised if it gets printed here so I’ll whisper: office politics…. (Shhhhhhh!) Your mother may have told you that nice professionals don’t do that sort of thing.
Anyone who tells me they “avoid office politics” is really telling me that they are heavy into the game. Politics are an integral part of the world of work. No one I know likes to admit that they play office politics or worse yet, that they are pretty good at it. Employees often complain that they are not involved or they just want to do their jobs. Let me share a time-saving technique: Do not waste one second commiserating about the horrible politics in your firm. There is no gathering of three or more persons that is free of politics.
Politics come with the office (or cubicle). U.S. executives say they waste 19% of their time – at least one day a week – dealing with company politics, according to a survey of 150 executives of major U.S. firms by OfficeTeam, a California-based staffing organization. Executives said they spent a bulk of time dealing with internal conflicts, rivalry disputes and other volatile situations.
With competition rising for sought-after positions, it is crucial for those seeking to rise in their career, to be aware of the struggle, its purpose and how it operates. Promotions and the decision to keep you on board during turbulent times are based as much on loyalty to the firm and its supervisors and being politically astute, as they are on performance. Staying out of the game is an option. Not playing the game is a strategy for dealing with the game. Political skill requires knowledge of how the organization operates and who operates it, the unwritten policies as well as the written rules. People who don’t play and don’t get kudos give politics a bad rap. However, I have never heard anyone complain about politics who has been the beneficiary of some savvy actions.
Here are a few drawbacks to that can result for not being politically savvy. You may be perceived as:
v Not promotable;
v A loner, not a team-player – a critical skill needed in law firms;
v Lacking career-management skills;
v Untrustworthy of confidences and critical information.
I’m not talking about cutthroat office politics – the stab-you-in-the-back-don’t-dare-meet-me-in-a-dark-alley-I’ll-take-credit-for-your-every-idea-gossipy politics. That’s not politics. That’s dirty play. Not a good idea.
I’m referring to knowing how the game is played that in turn allows you a good chance of competing competently with those who undertake the lifestyle of cubicle warfare. “Politics is really the play of human interactions at work that can make your job easier or more difficult,” write co-authors Ronna Lichtenburg and Gene Stone in Work Would be Great If It Weren’t for the People. “Being a good office politician means you know how to turn individual agendas into common goals.”
How can you be a good office politician? Here are a few starters:
1. Politics are about power. Just as there is no real definition of the practice of law, there’s no standard definition of power. You need to pinpoint the factors considered “powerful” in your firm. Blaine Pardoe, author of Cubicle Warfare: Self-Defense Strategies for Today’s Hypercompetitive Workplace provides examples of how firms measure power:
· Headcount – how many people report to one manager
· Office location such as a corner office
· Company-paid perks such as club memberships; first-class travel
· High-profile project assignments
· Merit bonuses
· Amount of budget
· Most powerful computer or system
Individuals who receive a high degree of acceptance by upper management for failures.
1. Learn from the past. The unofficial history of your firm is important. How were past employees rewarded? Who was a hero? Who was fired? Why?
2. Don’t ignore (or believe everything you hear from) the grapevine. Although the grapevine is an unofficial communication channel, it can be a rich source of information. It’s a good idea to become friends with people tapped in. Sometimes it’s the “sacred cow” who has been with the firm 25 years or the receptionist with her ear to ground.
3. Start with your boss. It’s your job to make managing partners look good. Know what is expected and find out how to add value. If moving up the ladder is a priority, find out if your a) department is profitable b) results are measured c) boss has the power to make decisions that affect your goals, and d) boss is perceived favorably. If you’re with a loser, chances are pretty good you are not going to be first for promotion.
4. Find out where the power resides. Promotions and survival are usually based on loyalty. Identify where the power resides and select the winning side. If possible, become a part of that department or work in connection with to it.
5. Perform at a level beyond reproach. In office politics, negative stereotyping can have a devastating affect on how fast and far you go. For example, if the tax department is not favored, chances of succeeding are limited.
6. Be careful how you socialize. The firm is not your family. Tread carefully. Opinions are based on observations. Avoid getting involved with conflict as it is very easy to get labeled as someone who does not get along with others. Dating a colleague on the job is something that should probably be avoided. In fact, make that a no-no.
7. Avoid cliques. Managers tend to view cliques as detrimental to teamwork and feel that they often undermine authority. The ultimate result of a clique is that it may affect your raises.
8.. Cultivate alliances in high places. Insulate yourself from some of the effects of nasty office politics and get advice on how to cope.
9. Don’t get consumed with office politics. Politics can be necessary but be aware it can have a negative impact. Participate positively as a point of survival but avoid becoming consumed.
10. Don’t get consumed with office politics. Politics can be necessary but be aware it can have a negative impact. Participate positively as a point of survival but avoid becoming consumed.
Don’t be a novice at the oldest game in corporate history. Philosopher Plato knew the importance of managing the perils of politics. His advice? “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.” Amen to that.