BrownGirlsFly

Everyone’s been weighing in on Beyonce & JayZ’s recent trip to Cuba. Having been myself, I understand the travel process and wanted to examine what’s going on here.

When I stumbled on this picture today, it reminded me of my friend Nic and what I consider to be my most international friendship. I thought I’d share our story which spans 8 countries and 3 continents.

Travel is about cultivating the spirit of cultural curiosity for another locale. My latest cultural affection? Korean soap operas! Here’s why.

Mark Twain was right. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” My experience in Munich reminded me of this truth.

It’s a great day for BrownGirlsFly! For one, We just passed the 1-year anniversary of our blogging adventures and we have so much to be thankful for. To celebrate the milestone, we’ve redesigned the site. Hope you like it!

She smiled. She comforted. She stole. That ticket-knabbing Grandma on my train across Italy made me reflect on the complexities of trust on the road. Here are some tips for how to find a balance between travel safety & relationship building.

For someone like me who’s been obsessed with the window seat for as long as I can remember, I was excited to hear Erykah Badu’s ode to wanderlust, escapism and return. Indulge me as I muse about her “Window Seat” lyrics and what they say to my traveler’s soul.

Despite an excited start, the BrownGirlsFly chicas have been quiet for the past couple months. The daily grind and family commitments pilfered some of our spare time, leaving us little head space for blogging. And, our own lull in globetrotting left us lacking some internal inspiration. But, now, it’s time to get up and dance!

By 1911, International Women’s Day became a global institution which nearly 100 years later still serves as a strong vehicle for women’s rights protection. This movement has shaped my life as a women in America, and I want all women to experience the same freedoms. But, there’s a fine line between protecting an individual’s rights and respecting (and thus protecting) a culture and its practices. And, quite frankly, I don’t know which side of the line I fall on. Do I challenge a rite of passage because of its physical and emotional impact on a women? Or do I accept and embrace it as a cultural tenet? There are more questions than answers, but the resolution begins with dialogue and desire to understand. Join us in the conversation.

I’m on the fairer end of the color spectrum, but one glance at my stature, my facial structure, hair texture, eye shape, and you’d never for one second think I was Korean or otherwise of Asian descent. So, why is my newest nickname — one that I’m quite proud of, I might add — “Korean Girl”?