Ola's World

International Woman's Day - share your life changing stories.

  Today, International Woman's Day, Diverse Traveller is asking women travellers the world over to share their stories of travel. Stories that tell us how travel has either changed your life in some way, no matter how small, or how you have improved / changed the lives of others.

Whether you have helped other women though volunteering, making donations, hosting a traveller, and so on; or have set-up a company or service as a result of a travel experience - share your experience with our readers.

If you are interested, please send an email to Ola - editor@diversetraveller.com. Tell me a little about yourself and why you feel you should be interviewed. Please include a contact phone number (with the best day and time to call).

Once we have reviewed all the emails, potential interviewees will be sent five questions to complete and return (plus we request a suitable time to interview you). We will then call to discuss the answers by phone (even if you live outside the UK).

Interested? Please leave a message on 020 7060 2295 (with the above information) or send me an email (editor@diversetraveller.com). For the moment there is no end date.

Please pass this on to other women. Thanks and I can't wait to read your stories. You can also post your stories below.

Unleashing my creativity - two

As promised in my last post Unleashing my creativity - one, here is a brief overview, plus a few videos showing you more of the games and activities that made up the How to run a workshop class.

Warm Ups – warm the body up and relax students

Body stretch

Standing tall and feet firmly but comfortably planted on the floor, our bodies loose releasing tension, we were instructed by Petina to lift our left hand and move to left, then right, eight times. Next the same for our right hand, making sure not to move our arms. Then move both elbows, shoulders, and so on, head last, focusing on bringing our bodies gently into the workshop.

Wax Work stretch

Another body stretch. We pretended we were a wax work celebrity in Madame Tussuad's. We posed holding for a few seconds. Then with slow energy and focus we stretched out of our pose getting as tall as we could. Once tall, we were told we were melting, so we had to melt slowly, focusing on our body parts, energy and position; until we melted to the floor and got as small as we could. We stayed curled up on the floor for a few minutes, then like seeds we slowly and exaggerated grew into a tall tree. If you do Yoga or Pilates you will be familiar with these exercises.

Breathing 

Now standing tall, we breathed deeply while raising our arms in a large gesture, then breathing out we delicately (like a ballerina) let our arms float down to our sides. We did this three time.

Back to the floor, relaxed, we lay on our backs and closed our eyes. Petina told us to think of ourselves as a slice of toast with warm butter flowing through us. In a gentle voice she told us that the butter was changing colour, we were instructed to see and feel the colours, yellow, burnt orange, blood red, sky blue, grass green, white, and back to green, blue until finally yellow. We took several deep breathes, and without thinking (we told told not to think) emitted a sound, then amplified the same sound three times.We ended this exercise by shaking our body loose / out and safely sat up.

Blowing up a balloon

We had to pretend to blow up a balloon, we blew until we can’t blow any more, then we released the balloon and moved around the room as if we were the balloon losing air.

Focus and Concentration – aid and develop visualisation, imagination, storytelling and expression skills.

Zip Zap Boing or Zip Zap Zop

I’ll let the video explain this as it took some of us a little while to get it. Once we did we had lots of fun.

Mixing things up

We used the first verse of Twinkle Twinkle little star and taught those who didn’t know it … “Twinkle Twinkle  how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder what you are.” Split into smaller groups, we were instructed to deliver the lines from the nursery rhyme in two different genres, that were then acted in front of the others.  

My group chose X factor, two contestants and two judges. Then those who weren’t in the X Factor sketch acted out an Eastenders sketch were I was a combination of Peggy and Bianca delivering my lines to a crying male character in an exaggerated cockney accent. Great fun!. Others chose the opera, gospel choir,

Action around around the circle

Group in a circle, one person goes in to the centre, performs an action e.g jumping, everyone copies the action, then another goes in to the circle and performs another action, and so on until every one has been in the centre.

Sound around the circle or Machines

This activity really took us outside of our comfort zone, each of us had to produce a different energetic sound and rhythm that followed the sound and rhythm made by the person before. This activity caused a stir, some said they were not rhythmic, but Petina told them not to worry, “just go with the flow”. By the end, we were surprised that we had managed to create a giant beat box of 12 different sounds and rhythms that managed to go well together – who would have thought. 

Shapes

The moderator calls a shape, venue, scene and the group as a whole must make that shape as quickly as possible without speaking e.g circle, triangle, square, church, hospital

Story Circle

This was my favourite activity. We sat on the floor again this time in a circle, Petina gave us each a colour and an object, I had silver and a handbag. Each person has to include their object and colour into their story, but didn’t have to remember or include the colour and objects from the previous person. I offered to start:

I really like my friend Amanda, but she does take liberties. For example she is due to marry Brian but she is always cheating on him and using me as her alibi. This time i have had enough so when Brian asked if she was me with me I said no. When she found out she was mad, “You call yourself my friend, you’re like Judas you’d sell me out for 30 pieces of silver.” “Like Judas, you don’t even know what you are talking about”, I said. We haven’t spoken since then, but I’m not going to let that get me down, I’m off to Oxford street to get a new handbag. And so it continued, into a very funny story until it ended using the theme and characters I had kicked off.

Pair Work – great for stimulating creativity and building characters

Freeze Tag

Two people act out a scene and location suggested by a member of the group. After a few minutes, the moderator yells freeze, the acts act frozen. Then going around the circle of the seated group, one person taps one of the actors on the shoulder and takes the exact position of the actor. The actor that has been tapped leaves and rejoins the group. Then the other actors enact a new scene. continues until everyone has had a chance to act.

Theme argument

Working in pairs, someone we hadn’t worked with, we used the theme of love. Our pair could be anyone, mother and daughter, lovers, unrequited love etc. My pair was mother and stroppy teenage daughter, I was the loving but frustrated mum.

Subtext - paying attention to what is not being said

For this improvisation exercise, in pairs one person A and the other B, we used the following text:

A: Good morning!

B: Is it?

A: Scrambled eggs?

B: What a sickening thought

A: Only asked!

B: Well don’t!

Each pair was given 15 minutes to devise a scene and practise making sure to focus on communicating what is not being said. Then each pair acted their scene for the others and received positive feedback. The scene from my paring was as follows:

Two friends were camping in the wilderness, one, A, was  camping ready, the right clothes and attitude, while B was not. A woke early, put on her warm clothes, unzipped her tent and unzipped the tent of her friend, saying “Good morning”. B, who had spent the night shivering as she bought the wrong clothes, grumbled back “Is it?” A got twigs together for a camp fire and started breakfast, “Scrambled eggs?” B getting dressed in her tight top and skirt and high heels replied, “What a sickening thought”. Both friends are now around the  camp fire, A: “Only asked,” B: “Well don’t”.

Park bench

Two chairs were placed side by side mimicking a park bench. Two enacted a scene for a few minutes e.g one person walking their do the other a drunk. Then someone else entered the park and changed the scene, while one of the initial actors gave an excuse and left the park  and on and on. Petina gave us all a colour, when one of us entered the ‘park’ we had to act in a personality inspired by the colour given e.g pink very girly / shallow and grey, sad and dull.

The end

After hours of acting and improvising, the last half and hour was spent discussing  “what next!” We talked about getting work as a workshop leader and obtaining qualifications to teach the activities we had learnt today. Petina told us there weren’t any specific qualifications, just drama related qualifications e.g from The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art - UK's largest statutory speech and drama awarding body.

This information sadden me as I do not plan to take a whole load of acting qualifications so I can provide creative workshops. Petina told us to take what we had learnt and try it out learning from experience, perhaps even linking up with others for credibility.

At 5.30pm, the class was over. Despite my initial reservations about leaving my warm flat early Sunday morning to battle the Winter wind and rain, I was surprised at how much I had enjoyed the day. At no time, during the class did I feel self-conscious, after all  everyone had participated without fear and with great spirit and energy. I wish the course was longer, I would happily attend every wintry Sunday, this was the most enjoyable Sunday I have had in ages.

So if you are like the old me, a person who to paraphrase The Carpenters, “…rainy days and Sundays always get you down”, I urge you to do something different with your Sundays from now on. Yes, like attending the next running a workshop at City lit.

Previous post: Unleashing my creativity - one

Unleashing my creativity - one

The text message I sent back to a friend, who had asked what I was up to today, Sunday, read …

“Hiya, Hve just been a melted wax work now singing twinkle twinkle little start as a scene from Eastenders…”

Rainy days and Sundays

Once again I wondered why I have started to punish myself on Sundays. It used to be I spent Sundays in bed reading a trashy novel, dunking Rich Tea biscuits in to a large mug of strong sweet tea, while waiting for the Eastenders omnibus.

But not last Sunday, instead I found myself clothes in layers, gripping my umbrella against the determined wind, and navigating weekend tube works on my way to a class. Yes a class! I had actually paid not to have a day of rest, but to spend a day (10.30 to 17.30) learning How to run a Workshop.

This year I have been thinking of cost and time-effective ways to grow Diverse Traveller and bring the concept to more women. I like the idea of a workshop, but I am still playing around with content ideas. However, lack of a concrete idea was not going to stop me from learning how to make whatever workshop I decided on, one that would be engaging and full of creative energy.

Will I be able to perform?

I knew I didn’t want to take a long course, so I searched various college websites and found the one day course, How to run a Workshop, at City Lit, near Holborn, London. The course is run by director, actress, singer and lecturer Petina Hapgood (picture above) providing students with an introduction to running a theatre workshop at a professional level. We would look at structuring workshops, using games, exercises and improvisation in variety of situations.

Now I am no actress, the last time I performed in a play I was eight (Greensleeves), I was attending this class because I wanted to learn some creative techniques to ould help me towards my lofty workshop ambitions.

Arriving at room 103 I became concerned, this was an exercise room complete with wall length mirror. While Petina placed papers on each chair, I expressed my concerns. She told me not to worry as over the years people from all backgrounds had attended, fully participated and taken away things to apply to their own work area. Reassured I waited for the others.

Feel the fear and improvise anyway

We were 12 in total, half of us not from the world of theatre or drama. There were four actresses, a director of plays, a puppeteer from Brazil, a life coach, a car sales manager, a secondary school counsellor, a clown, a Masters student. Following introductions I leaned we were all here with the same objective, i.e. how to structure our workshops and engage attendees.

I already knew this was not going to be a typical class, the room gave that away, but I didn’t realise how much improvisation we would be doing (nearly all of the class). Our first activities, ice breakers, were a number of games to help us remember names and to help us loosen up. This was not the place for fear of ridicule, we were urged to enjoy the day by throwing as much of ourselves into the day, go with the flow and not over think what we were doing.  And that is what we all did. 

Read on for a bri overview of a number of games and activities we did. In some cases I've added some videos (to give you a better idea of the activity), unfortunately not mine, if I had known I would have had such fun I would have taken photos. 

1. Ice Breakers - getting to know each other and bringing energy to the group

Name and throw

We all stood in a circle. Using a soft ball, Petina started by saying “My name is Petina.” then establishing eye content with someone e.g me, she three the ball to me. I caught the ball, then said, “Thank you Petina”. I then said, “My name is Ola”, eye contact with someone else in the circle and threw the ball. This went on until everyone had introduced themselves.

First name and adjective action

Still in a circle, a person said their name and perform an adjective that begins with the first letter of their first name and describes their personality or something about themselves. E.g.  “My name is Ola and I am open” (raised my arms, together, above my head then exaggerated opening them). Everyone repeats my name and action. Then the next person said their name and performed an exaggerated action that we all repeated, and so on until everyone had introduced themselves in the same way.

Full name and adjective actions 

Still in a circle, a person said their first name, then demonstrated an exaggerated adjective action (as above) that begins with the first letter of their first name and the first letter of their surname, i.e “My name is Ola, I am open and flapping.” Everyone then repeats my name and actions; again this was continued until everyone had introduced themselves.

Positive Moves

Still in a circle, the first person picked someone by name and asked that person to stand beside them (i.e first person) because of something positive about the chosen person. E.g. “Yasmin come and stand next to me because I like your bracelets.” To fill the gap in the circle, a person near the gap, selected another person from the circle to stand beside them, using the person’s name and a positive attribute. Continued until everyone had moved.

Cinderella

This was suggested by Lorraine, one of the actresses, as something she using in workshops based on theatre shows, in this case Cinderella. We used a scarf shaped into a baby that was  cradled in our arms. The first person who had the ‘baby’ said, “My name is Ola and I am the bad fairy, I bestow on Cinderella shallowness.” The prop was then passed to the next person who carefully received it and said their name, whether they were the good or bad fairy / wizard and the gift they bestow. Continued until everyone had a go.

For more of the games and activities, including "Twinkle Twinkle little star", check out Unleashing my creativity - two

Running a workshop is run by City Lit website: http://www.citylit.ac.uk

Diverse Traveller - meet, share and raffle!

Meet

Last night, at 6.45pm, seven Diverse Travellers braved the rain and joined me at the 5th floor bar and food in Waterstone's, Piccadilly.

The evening got off to a faulty start as I was delayed, due to the rain effect on the Bakerloo line, and we were seated in the wrong place.

I arrived on the 5th floor at the same time as our guest Alyssa, assistant producer at Outline Productions, only to find my group, Ellie, Maureen, Clare, Rachel and Kirsten seated in the very noisy restaurant, getting to know each by shouting out their introductions. 

While Alyssa explained her project, she is looking for quick soundbite vox-pops of experiences people may have had while eating out abroad. I found the manager and, politely but firmly, asked why we were not seated in the quieter 'reading area' I had booked two weeks ago. Unfortunately the 'reading area' was full with other groups and people enjoying their after work drinks. Fortunately the manger couldn't say no to my brimming doe eyes, and we were showed to the closed off and secluded area of the Lecture Room. Ironically, the area we were given, a large half circle, comfy settee covered in black and grey velvet and a very large round wooden table, was surrounded by shelves of travel books. Perfect!

Share

Now happily secluded and relaxed, over drinks - the non-alcoholic pear and peach fizz cocktail is a must - we shared tales of travels to places worldwide such as Brazil, India, Canada and Thailand, and shared packing tips - Ellie's "Always take string," was my favourite.

As well as getting to know each other and sharing travel tales, the group discussed  content they would like to see on the Diverse Traveller website. The idea of workshops was very well received, ideas put forward included:

1. Packing tips for summer and winter travel,
2. Constructive and comfortable travel writing group, and
3. Photography - the idea of something along the lines of the popular Guardian newspaper's camera club and the resultant photos shared on the Diverse Traveller group page on Flickr].

Ellie asked me what happened to the idea I had of recording the Diverse Traveller stories for audio downloads. I explained I had postponed this idea while I searched  for a volunteer to help edit the recordings. Rachel mentioned she might know someone, fingers crossed.

Raffle

I'd make a lousy bingo caller, as I messed up the raffle, or as Ellie said humorously, "It's good to know you are not good at everything." Goodness knows what I did with the raffle tickets as nobody had the first three numbers I called out. In the end I ditched the tickets and randomly called out numbers from one to ten, which worked. Rachel won a Diverse Traveller bag, something she'd wanted for a while, both Dawn and Maureen won a Diverse Traveller fridge magnet each. 

Farewell

Two hours and much travel talk later it was time to say goodbye. After years of maintaining an online relationship with many Diverse Travellers, I consider myself fortunate to be able to finally meet some of the women who have been with Diverse Traveller from the start, as well as meeting two who have recently started their Diverse Traveller journey. It was also time to say goodbye to Clare, who looks after the Diverse Traveller facebook pages. Clare is off to Thailand for a year, teaching and travelling, on Wednesday.

Sadly, I forgot to take photos, but who needs pictures as I have images of the evening playing on a loop, like an enjoyable movie, in my mind.

I thank Ellie, Maureen, Clare, Rachel, Dawn and Kirsten (and Nadine, who tried to join us but was told by the 5th Floor staff we were not there) for joining me last night in spite of the heavy rain and late start. 

Diverse Traveller updates

To find out the details of our future meetings and events and to receive Diverse Traveller updates, join us in the following ways:

1) subscribe to the Diverse Traveller newsletter

2) join as an author

3) contribute to the Diverse Traveller Photography group on Flickr

4) Join us on Facebook

5) join us on Meetup

6) subscribe to this blog

7) follow Diverse Traveller on Twitter

If you have any ideas for workshops inc. venues, plus any events you want to bring to the attention of women travellers (doesn't have to be women-only events), please share with us.

In a reflective frame of mind

Over the last month and the weeks of this, I have been:

• working on a new business plan for Diverse Traveller,
• updating the Diverse Traveller website,
• writing posts for this blog and other websites,
• searching and researching story ideas,
• managing volunteers, and... well you get the idea.

I am physically and mentally exhausted.

Why not stop?  

Don't think I don't ask myself that every day. But I can't each day when I open my inbox and read the stories by women who have never written before, women who have taken the risk that their story might be rejected, these are women I admire, women who show me that Diverse Traveller is a worthwhile project.

But I am not superwoman and some days, I am overwhelmed by my business desire. To help, as I wait for my PC to boot up, I kick off my working day by reading the words on the inspirational calenders surrounding my work area. Today as I contemplate the many all things I have given myself to do today, I reflect on the following wise words from Maya Angelou ...

" Each of us has the right

and responsibility to assess the rods which lie ahead and those over which we have traveled,

and if the future road looms ominous or unpromising and the roads back uninviting,

then we need to gather our resolve and, carrying only the necessary baggage,

step off that road into another direction.

Staying true to my passion

After years working in corporate UK, Diverse Traveller is my creative outlet, an expression of my passion for travel and sharing travel experiences.

So if being exhausted is my necessary baggage, I carry it with determination to see Diverse Traveller grow in as many directions as I can. The first offline meeting on February 24th, 2010.

So gathering my resolve, taking a deep breath and sipping on very strong very hot coffee, I open my business plan document and kick-off my working day.

Working from home: feeling unmotivated give yourself the day off

Working from home especially when working for yourself may seem like a perfect career choice; but when you do it day in day out, the disadvantages are consuming. For me yesterday was such a day.

  Being mistress of all I survey was not making me feel superior to the 9 to 5s battling both the cold weather and commuter time public transport. Instead I was feeling claustrophobic, the walls of my large office, or today cluttered sitting room, were closing in, baskets and green, blue and pink plastic boxes full of work waiting for my attention. I was not in the mood to work, instead I was envious of the 9 to 5s, at least they  leave home to work and hopefully have other people around for  motivation and inspiration.  

Yesterday, I yearned for company and inspiration. Despite my work-load I was feeling uninspired and unproductive. Not even a large cup of espresso strength coffee, and the breakfast banter on BBC Radio 5 live, Katie price got married again, kindled the desire to work. Determined to shake off this feeling, I took a deep breathe, and booted up my PC.

After two hours online – Twitter and the News of the World, I couldn’t muster the motivation to get any work done. Two more coffees later, I abandoned my PC, switched on the TV, and watched a marathon of Upstairs Downstairs, Law and Order, and my afternoon favourite Diagnosis Murder. Still nothing, this was not going to be a creative or productive day.

 Perhaps being at home was stifling my creativity, so I decided to look for inspiration outside, Asda or Avatar? On this day of lack of motivation and inspiration, the decision was a hard one, so I left it to  London transport,  if the 226 bus came first it would be Asda, if the 487, then Avatar.

You’d be surprised how Asda, or any supermarket, can be a source of inspiration for stories and a reminder of things that need to be done. Asda is where I get my quick people fix via in-depth conversations with staff, e.g as I scan  the baking aisle, not that I’ll be doing any baking. However, I wasn’t really feeling in need of an Asda day, what about the cinema to see Avatar. It was clear I was not going to get any work done today, I concluded  travelling to the land of Avatars and marvelling at James Cameron’s creativity would serve to fuel my own.

I love working for myself and mostly love working from home, but sometimes it can be hard; lonely, too many distractions and most of all you have to motivate yourself. But don’t let me put you off, because when you do feel like this, do what I do and give yourself the day off. Go out and take advantage of the many discounts available, plus the lack of crowds, when visiting places before 6pm. Hopefully, the next day, when returning to your home office not only will you be motivated and productive, you’ll also be grateful you work from home

Winner - Avatar

Resolve to Explore, Experience and Enjoy

Despite being queen of to-do lists, I'm not a fan of making general resolutions, such as losing weight. Instead I make my resolutions desirable i.e travel related.

2009 resolved

Last year, my only resolution was to travel comfortably to new places while on a budget i.e Stylishly Cheap Travel. This was one resolution I was happy to achieve, so in ...

March - I spent many a Spring day walking around Den Haag, Leiden and Amsterdam, cities in northern Netherlands. Saved money by staying with with my brother.

Picture: Miniature version of Amsterdam's Red Light District. Source: DiverseTraveller.com

April - I ate my way through Istria, in northern Croatia (a press trip), followed by more food and culture in Split and Dubrovnik in southern Croatia. Saved costs in southern Croatia by travelling with Laura, a new friend I met on the Istria trip.

Picture: Forging a new friendship in Croatia. Source: Diverse Traveller

Summer - travelled to the USA (Annapolis, Katy a suburb of Houston, Baltimore and New York), saved money by staying with friends; plus an exhausting eight days in eastern Canada, staying in B&Bs and travelling by coach and sharing the experience and cost with my friend Ronke. 

Picture: Getting familiar with the locals. Source: DiverseTraveller.com

Resolutions for 2010

This year, on the back of the success of last year, I've boldly made five travel resolutions:

1. More Stylishly Cheap Travel with new friends. Although I enjoy travelling on my own, I do like company from time to time. So this month I've joined a number of travel and women's groups on meet-up.com.

2. Get fit outdoors. Rather than spend money I don't have on a gym memberships I won't use, I prefer to exercises outdoors.

My exercise plans have been on hold while it has been snowing. Now the snow and ice are things of the pass (fingers crossed), I shall be wrapped up warm, and out and about enjoying London's parks and trails.

In Brent, where I live, I am fortunate to be near a part of the Grand Union Canal (Harlesden to Paddington) and near award winning Roundwood park.

  Pictures: Left-The Grand Union and right - Roundwood park. Source: DiverseTraveller.com

3. Learn to speak a new language. A few years ago I had tourist french and Spanish, today I hardly remember a word, I have already added introduction French and Spanish to my Ipod and signed up for conversation classes.

4. Revisit enjoyable experiences. Last year I took many day trips around England courtesy of advanced train ticket booking. This year, weather permitting, I plan to visit as much of the UK as I can either on day or weekend trips.

Picture: Floral public art in Birmingham City centre. Source: DiverseTraveller.com

5. Write, write, write! This year I plan to devote time to writing about my own travels. I spend so much of my time working on DiverseTraveller and a little blogging. Don't get me wrong I love doing this, but it leaves me little time to improve  the many drafts of stories I have started and conveniently forgotten. So, to keep myself motivated and writing regularly, I'm planning a Diverse Traveller Writing group, which will include guest speakers who are published authors and / or work in travel media. Currently checking out suitable venues.

Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year!

 Ola's World has been a labour of love this year. Mainly because I am not a prolific blogger.

I do have a lot to contribute on all things travel, but I haven't always been in the writing frame of mind. Thus my posts have been irregular and not as varied as I would like.

With that in mind, I thank you so much for bearing with me on this blogging journey. 

Next year, I promise to do better, learning from my experience and feedback this year, and post more regularly. And it won't be  a case of quantity over quality. 

Thankfully, I haven't had to keep Ola's World going on my own. A few months ago, Tracey and Nadine joined as guest authors.

I would love to feature more guest author, male and female - sense of humour a must. If you're interested please get in touch.

It's not all about me

Although Ola's World is, well mainly about me and my views on all things travel, my passion is my role as publisher and editor of Diverse Traveller.com.

DiverseTraveller.com is a website where I am honoured to publish and promote a diverse range of iinspiring travellers' tales from both women new to travel writing and newly published female authors.

Many women, from all over the world, have joined Diverse Traveller this year, contributing their unique travel stories and sharing their travel experiences and tips. 

The future

Like many small niche websites, I plan to grow Diverse Traveller, particularly the number of new contributors. If you haven't already, I hope you will Join us in supporting, promoting and celebrating new women travel writers by:

1) contributing your short travel story

2) Taking part in a Diverse Traveller interview: Travel buy the book and / or Woman's World

2) visiting our growing Archive, where you'll find many diverse travel tales and 

3) passing Diverse Traveller on to your female friends, family and colleagues.

Finally, on behalf of Diverse Travellers worldwide, I wish you a Merry Christmas, safe and inspiring journeys throughout this holiday season, and a very happy New Year. 

Please drop by Ola's World and Diverse Traveller soon. 

Goodbye Borders

 

It is with some guilt I read about the demise of Borders book stores in the Evening Standard last week. Guilt because I have contributed, big time. Yes, I am one of the many who frequently pop into Borders, and rarely buy anything.

My strategy went something like this; I’d roam the book shelves, on seeing something of interest, I’d make a quick note on my phone, then once at home search the internet for cheaper versions. I also used Borders as my office library, and judging from the number of students and others drinking numerous cups of coffee from Starbucks, I was not alone.

Working from home can be boring at times especially for me, an avid people watcher. So many a morning, you could find me in the travel section of Borders Brent Cross, basket full of travel guides, travel books and ‘how to write’ books. Oh yes, and all the latest travel magazines. Once satisfied, I would stagger over to Starbucks, order a large skinny hot chocolate with caramel and marshmallows, then settle at one of the many tables for a few hours of ‘travel research’. Come to think of it, I didn’t help Starbucks coffers (pun intended) much either, as I can make a large sweet hot chocolate last a long time.

The few times I came across a magazine or book I wanted to read that day I would buy it, but that was rare.  

So, it is understandable that today, as I read about the 1,100 possible job losses and Borders’ £10.3 million loss, I feel a pang of guilt. From my comfy seat in Waterstones, Piccadilly, now … ‘the nation’s only specialist bookseller’, I reflect on my role in this matter.  

As I sip my piping hot sweet hot chocolate, the guilt finds it’s way to the back of my mind. I then reach down for one of the many travel magazines and books lying at my feet, and I am soon lost to the sun, sea and sand of the Caribbean. Well life must go!

Changing left over currency that nobody wants

When I left Venezuela eight months ago, I found myself in the middle of a very large problem. I had lots of Bolivares left over, which I'd saved from various months of pay and I had nowhere to buy dollars instead. Well, that's not strictly true. I could have got them changed into dollars but at a very poor rate. At that time the Bolivar was very weak and the black market ruled the country (it still does, of course). It was 7 Bolivares to the dollar, when it had been 3.5 Bolivares only a few weeks beforehand.

True, the Bolivar is perhaps one of the currencies that fluctuates the most in South America, but this was ridiculous. I couldn't buy my dollars legally as there's a control on the amount of dollars that any one person can take out of the country and so the airport wasn't an option for me. Therefore, I decided to keep hold of the currency as it will be worth far more like this in the long run.  

Still, it was very annoying to know that I had just over a month's worth of rent for Buenos Aires sat in my back pocket (figuratively speaking) and could do nothing with it. So, once a little more settled into my Argentine life, I went looking for a solution and I found one. Let me share with you the knowledge.  

Most ordinary banks or change bureaus looked at me with very confused faces when I asked if I could change my Bolivares into pesos. What is a Bolivar anyway? I saw written across their faces. Why would we want to buy such a currency? However, Banco Piano (on Parana, in between  Sarmiento and ‘Tte Gral. J Peron. What's more, this bank worked very quickly and painlessly. I had to give them my address (which could have been either my address in BA or London.) and I had to show them my passport, but nothing more. Very normal, easy and after about 10 minutes, I came out of the bank with one month's rent and some coffee money as a treat to myself in pesos.  

Therefore, if you have left over cash from Chile, Peru, Bolivar, Colombia, anywhere, and you unfortunately got stuck with it and had lost all hope for ever being able to use that money again, there's light at the end of the tunnel! Get yourself on down to Banco Piano between the hours of 11.00am and 1.00pm (Tuesday to Friday) to avoid most of the hoards and you should be in and out, leaving a quick transaction in your wake.

_____________________   Tracey Chandler, originally from London, now lives and works in South America (at present, Buenos Aires) as the Assistant Director of the non-profit organisation, South American Explorers, teacher of English and as a freelance writer. She writes for Buenos Aires Time Out, The Argentimes, Ola's World and Suite101. She is the Editor in chief of a bilingual, monthly publication in Buenos Aires called "El Desconocido" and spends her free time looking into new projects and learning more about her new home.