Interview with Drew Goldberg | DrewBinsky.com
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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,
Tell us a bit about yourself! Why do you love travel? How do you think travel unites us or teaches us more about the world?
I got into traveling when I studied abroad in Prague in 2012, and since then, I’ve been hooked. I’m heading to my 89th country as I write this, Guyana. Travel opens up our eyes to cultures, teaches us about history of places, and introduces us to lovely people around the world. I am addicted.
Can you tell us something about the culture in your country and why did you decided to stay there?
American people are very open, loud and they’re forward thinkers/innovators. I didn’t decide to stay there, that’s why I’ve been traveling nonstop since 2012.
What surprising aspect of culture do you love about your country (or your specific town/city) that travelers may not be aware of?
I love how clean and luxorious Scottsdale, Arizona is, and how people are genuwine.
Which dish do you feel best represents where you’re specifically from? Share a picture and tell us why you love it!
Tacos, since Arizona is so close to Mexico.
Growing up in your country, what’s something that you believe makes it unlike anywhere else in the world?
The USA is so big and we really have everything you could possibly think of – from snowy mountains to national parks to tropical beaches and desert landscapes. Not many other countries can say this.
Talk about the role of family in your life. What does family mean to you? Which family values are valuable to you?
I am very close to my family and talk to my parents everyday. It’s important to stay close and maintain strong relationships, because if it wasn’t for my parents, I (literally) wouldn’t be here today. They have sacrificed so much of their lives for me, and it’s important to me to keep strong relationships with them.
How important is spirituality and religion in your daily life? What do you do to celebrate the two?
Not important. I am Jewish, but I don’t practice much aside from Holidays.
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. (It can be anything from street art to a festival to a painting to architecture to woven art work, to woodworking, a family heirloom, etc.)
I once met a local artist boy in the villages of Myanmar. He was a painter, and showed me all of his amazing artworks and bought one because it was so amazing. I’m sorry, I don’t have a photo.
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.
They only speak English in my country. But I can speak Korean and Spanish as well.
What local spot in your city/town do you love most?
I love all the golf courses in Arizona!
Who is the most inspiring person in your life? In which ways does this person inspire you?
Both of my parents. They both support me and care for me like nobody else on earth, and I love them!
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!
I met one guy in a hostel in Istanbul in 2012. He told me that he’d been to more than 100 countries, and from then on, I knew I wanted to visit every country on earth. I am at 88 right now.
Unfortunately, stereotypes exist in the world. What are some common misconceptions you’ve heard about yourcountry? What is considered disrespectful in your culture that visitors should be aware of?
Americans are rude, ignorant to global affairs, and selfish. All are pretty much true.
Follow Drew’s travels at https://drewbinsky.com/. You can also find him on Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter.
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