WORLD TO THE WISE » cultural understanding

World to the Wise Partners with Golden Rule Travel

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:38:02 +0000

World to the Wise Cultural Tours is proud to announce its partnership with Golden Rule Travel, an Ohio-based agency specializing in group travel to Europe and the Middle East. Not only is Golden Rule handling all our hotel accommodations for the upcoming cultural tour, but they are also able to provide the most advantageous airfares we have found, thanks to a special contract with United Airlines.

If you would like to contact Golden Rule directly, just send an e-mail to Justin at justin@goldrule.net or call him at (800) 950.3599. Golden Rule has also calculated airfares for multiple-city itineraries; for example, flying into London, then returning to the US from Paris.

Registrations are coming in as we prepare for our inaugural tour this June. In case you’re joining us for the first time on this site, we are hosting a cultural tour to three of Europe’s greatest cities: London, Paris and Amsterdam. We’ll spend one week in each of the three cities, and participants are able to join us for one, two or all three weeks. See other posts on this site for a full description, then e-mail us at admin@worldtothewise.net if you’re interested! The absolute deadline for registration is April 15, but you don’t want to wait till the last minute, as space is limited!

We are pleased to offer an additional family member discount to our participants, as well as a price break for those coming for more than one week. Below is the breakdown of how this will work. NOTE: “1st week, 2nd week,” etc. does not mean London, Paris, etc., but the number of total weeks a person participates. For example, if Sheila Sharpe comes to Paris and Amsterdam, the first week will cost $1500 and the second $1325.

1st week 2nd week 3rd week

One family member $1500 $1325 $1125

2nd family member 1325 1125 1125

3rd family member 1125 1125 1000

Your refundable deposit* of $200 reserves you a place — and it will be helpful to us to know which city or cities you are most interested in. So please either post a comment on this post or e-mail us at admin@worldtothewise.net.

* Until April 15

Quick addendum: Weekly Costs

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:16:24 +0000

In our last update, we neglected to give the total weekly cost for the tour — a minor detail!

As mentioned earlier, all participants will be making their own flight arrangements directly with Golden Rule Travel; so apart from your air travel, the total cost per week will be $1500. This includes all hotels (3 star), all meals, ground transportation, all museums and attractions, and gratuities. You will be responsible for any discretionary spending, such as souvenirs, snacks, and travel insurance, should you so choose.

And don’t forget that contributions toward your trip are tax-deductible — so get those creative juices flowing to come up with your own fundraising ideas. And remember that all participants who sign-up by January 28 will benefit from the proceeds of the Lifesong Theatre Group production of Fiddler on the Roof in Nashville, Jan. 29-31 and Feb. 4-6.

For a tour description, just scroll down two posts.

Questions? E-mail us at worldtothewise.net.

Let the fun (and sign-ups begin!)

Registration now open for the inaugural World to the Wise Cultural Tour!

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:22:25 +0000

Dear friends,

Our anticipation is growing daily as we prepare for the inaugural World to the Wise Cultural Tour. We’re pleased to announce that we’re now taking registrations! But first, some important news:

All contributions to your costs as a tour participant are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!

We have made arrangements for World to the Wise Cultural Tours to be a subsidiary of Crucible International, a nonprofit we started in 2005. The mission of World to the Wise is to feed cultural curiosity and promote cultural intelligence. This dovetails with The Crucible’s mission to equip people with tools to impact and help shape culture. NOTE: Payments will be made directly to World to the Wise Cultural Tours.

This means, for example, that students whose grandparents, other relatives or friends would like to contribute toward the expenses of this life-shaping experience will receive a tax deduction. Hopefully this will make it easier for any and all of our participants to raise the necessary funds. Please note that the tour is open to people of all ages – not just students!

Need a reminder of the dates and destinations? For a tour description, see previous post.

We are partnering with Golden Rule Travel to make travel arrangements. Each participant must contact Golden Rule directly to make his/her flight arrangements. This will allow for anyone desiring to book an alternate itinerary – whether it be going early, staying later, or visiting other European destinations. Through a contract Golden Rule has with United Airlines, we have found some reasonable airfares for that time of year, with no charge for changes made up to a certain date. Golden Rule’s contact info will be included in your registration packet.

So how do you register? Simply send an e-mail to admin@worldtothewise.net stating your name, address, desired destination(s) and the number of travelers. You will then receive a registration packet, including a simple form to fill out and return, along with a deposit of $200. This deposit will be refundable for a limited time.

Some thoughts on fundraising:

You are of course free to raise funds for your trip in any and every way you choose; however, here is one opportunity for all registrants to receive a boost as you consider your own fundraising ideas. Part of the proceeds of the Lifesong Theatre Group’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in Nashville Jan. 29-31 and Feb. 4-6, will go towards the travel expenses of all participants who have registered by January 28. Even if you don’t live in the Nashville area, or even if you don’t attend the play (we hope you will!), you will benefit if you have signed up by Jan. 28! Details for the musical can be found on Facebook by typing Fiddler on the Roof into the Facebook search bar.

We look forward to having you on board our very first adventure together as World to the Wise Cultural Tours! Don’t put off signing up – space is limited! Questions? E-mail us at admin@worldtothewise.net.

Yours for the culturally curious,

David Durham

to the Wise Cultural Tour Update

Dear friends,

Our anticipation is growing daily as we prepare for the inaugural World to the Wise Cultural Tour. We’re pleased to announce that we’re now taking registrations! But first, some important news:

All contributions to your costs as a tour participant are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!

Need a reminder of the dates and destinations? For a tour description, click here.

So how do you register? Simply send an e-mail to admin@worldtothewise.net stating your name, address, desired destination(s) and the number of travelers. You will then receive a registration packet, including a simple form to fill out and return, along with a deposit of $200. This deposit will be refundable for a limited time.

Some thoughts on fundraising:

Dear friends,

Our anticipation is growing daily as we prepare for the inaugural World to the Wise Cultural Tour. We’re pleased to announce that we’re now taking registrations! But first, some important news:

All contributions to your costs as a tour participant are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!

Need a reminder of the dates and destinations? For a tour description, click here.

Some thoughts on fundraising:

Announcing the 2010 World to the Wise Cultural Tour

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:02:22 +0000

We are happy to announce plans to host our first ever World to the Wise Cultural Tour. We have designed it in a modular format so that travelers will be able to choose one, two, or three one-week periods. Here are the details!

LONDON June 12 – 19, 2010

Many Americans have the feeling of coming home when they discover this land that is the mother country to many of our ancestors. Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, Westminster Abby, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Globe Theatre, some of the most amazing museums in the world, the Tube, the River Thames, cream tea, shortbread, meat pies, homes of some of English literature’s greats, and on and on!

PARIS June 19-26

Often called the Pearl of Europe and the City of Lights, this gem has probably inspired more songs and literature than any other city. Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, the Palace of Versailles, the Latin Quarter with its sidewalk artists, the Arche de Triomphe and Champs Elysées…not to mention the obligatory sidewalk cafés, croissants, pastries, baguettes, cheese. (Oops, got a little side-tracked there.…) One evening will be spent with local Parisian friends over dinner, comparing our impressions of each other’s culture, laughing at ourselves, and learning to appreciate the inherent beauty of every culture.

AMSTERDAM June 26 – July 3

One of the most charming cities in all of Europe, Amsterdam has a character all its own. Journey back to the Golden Age of the Netherlands, when Amsterdam was one of the largest and most powerful commercial cities in the world. Visit the world-famous Rijksmuseum, home of the Dutch Masters, as well as the amazing Van Gogh Museum. Take a boat ride on the city’s intricate canal system while admiring the charm of the 17th and 18th century row houses that line the canals. Visit the historic home of Anne Frank, as well as the Ten Boom house in Haarlem, made famous in Corrie ten Boom’s moving book, The Hiding Place. Experience the world’s largest tulip fields and greenhouses, as well as the home of the famous Delft Blue China. And spend an evening over dinner with local Amsterdammers and learn the meaning of gezelligheid (hint: coziness to the max).

As mentioned above, travelers will have the choice of joining us for one, two, or all three consecutive weeks in three of Europe’s greatest cultural capitals.

It’s time to start planning (and saving) now! To get on our mailing list to receive updates, just fill in your name and e-mail address in the form to the right, and we’ll keep you up to date.

Registration will begin soon, so let us hear from you and we’ll send you the initial information on costs, passport application, etc.

Traveling in Comfort

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:56:00 +0000

If you’ve traveled abroad, you know what I’m talking about — chances are, the airplane passengers or the tourists wearing white tennis shoes at the Eiffel Tower are Americans.

While travelers from many cultures don one of their nicer outfits for the trip, Americans opt for comfort. As Sarah Lanier puts it in her book, Foreign to Familiar, there is something in the American mindset that says being comfortable is of higher importance than looking appropriate.

There is a reason for this, Lanier goes on to explain. It turns out that cultures that are generally more informal — including not only the US, but also Australia, the modern state of Israel and Canada, for example — are the younger countries who have had less time to develop age-old traditions piled high on top of each other. The older, more traditional cultures are called “high-context” cultures, while the newer cultures are “low-context’. Even in poor countries, the people dress their very best when going to a meeting, out in public or to someone else’s home for dinner.

Americans, Australians and other low-context cultures are quick to address each other by their first names. Even though I’ve now been back in the US for fifteen years after living in Europe, I’m still taken aback at times how even in somewhat formal situations, such as in TV or radio interviews, the first name is used immediately.

Remember, we’re not talking necessarily about right or wrong here — but what is important is that the traveler be oriented to the host culture he or she is visiting. Otherwise, innocent mistakes will often be interpreted as insults. This works in both directions: the Korean culture, for example, is one of the oldest on the planet, therefore extremely high-context. Koreans immigrating to the US should be prepared for the shock of informal American culture. Many Koreans prefer to be addressed by Mr., Miss or Mrs. and their surname, and are often offended when immediately addressed by their first name.

The quintessential low-context culture is southern California, which explains why many people in California, whether natives or recent arrivals, feel a sense of freedom to be creative, start new trends, or be different.

WorldQuiz: Obesity

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:03:00 +0000

In what country do the most people PER CAPITA die of obesity?

Post your answer!

A Memory to Stop Traffic

admin — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:12:00 +0000

Imagine the hustle and bustle of morning rush hour and the accompanying noise — like any other day — being suddenly interrupted by the wail of a siren. The overpowering sound of the siren then gives way to complete silence, as drivers get out of their cars, pedestrians stop in their tracks, and all that is heard is the wind as everyone stands stone still for two long minutes of silent remembrance.

That’s exactly what happened today as Israelis, joined by other Jews around the world, stopped to remember when the unthinkable happened. Thousands — Holocaust survivors, teenagers, Jews and a few Gentiles, joined in the March of the Living at Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland, where 1.1 million people, 90% of whom were Jews, were exterminated by the Nazi regime.

Any Jewish parent wants his or her children to know about and remember the Holocaust.

How about you, my Gentile friend?

Bring on the Bocce!

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:19:00 +0000

It’s a game that has been played in one form or another for thousands of years, yet its popularity in North America has only recently begun to grow. The French are surely not particularly pleased that America has adopted the Italian name (’bocce‘ is the plural of ‘boccia’, meaning ‘bowl’), rather than the French pétanque, mais c’est la vie.

There are several theories about bocce’s origins, but most sports historians agree that Roman soldiers began playing a primitive form of the game over two thousand years ago. A small stone called a “leader” would be thrown first, then larger stones were thrown at the leader, and the closest to the leader would score.

Until recently, most North American proponents of the game were descendants of Italian immigrants, who still cling to it as a nostalgic vestige of the old country. Slowly but surely, however, it is beginning to gain popularity among those who simply appreciate the sport’s relaxing and community-building qualities, and bocce alleys are cropping up in not-so-Italian areas (including Chattanooga, TN, where this photo was taken).

Here is one American who says, “Bring on the bocce!”

Bonjour from Switzerland

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:30:00 +0000

You haven’t heard from me in a while because I’m on a two-week concert tour in French-speaking Switzerland with some old friends going back to the time I lived here with my family. Every time I come back, I’m flooded with nostalgia — our youngest son was born here, we developed friendships that continue to this day, and it is arguably the most beautiful spot on the planet.

I’ll be dividing my photos and videos between my Facebook page and this blog, so feel free to toggle back and forth. For now, here’s a short vid shot just before our first concert:

Curiosity vs. Fundamentalism

admin — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:17:00 +0000

Not only is Seth Godin a business and marketing genius, he also has an uncanny understanding of human nature. I could talk/type a long time about his latest book, Tribes (click on the title in my book section on the right to check it out) — and very well may write another post or two on my ruminations from the book — but here’s what is churning inside me right now. It can be summed up in this quote from Godin:

“A fundamentalist is a person who considers whether a fact is acceptable to his religion before he explores it; as opposed to a curious person who explores first and then considers whether or not he wants to accept the ramifications.

“A curious person embraces the tension between his religion and something new, wrestles with it and through it, and then decides whether to embrace the new idea or reject it.”

It’s impossible to read this book and not consider the question of what ‘tribe’ I belong to. Seth Godin has helped me articulate it. Yes, I’m of the tribe of faith, I’m of the tribe of art and creativity, I’m of the tribe of entrepreneurship — but I think the best term to succinctly describe the tribe of World to the Wise, it’s this:

I’m of the tribe of the culturally curious.

Godin describes curiosity as a desire to understand, a desire to try, a desire to push whatever envelope is interesting. Curiosity has to do with searching for your voice until you find it — very often against great odds. Many times the curious are punished — and, sadly enough, nowhere does that happen more often than in organized religion and education.

“What we’re seeing is that fundamentalism really has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with an outlook, regardless what your religion is.”

This blog — and everything that is to come out of World to the Wise — is for the culturally curious. The ones who look at the ‘whys’ as much as the ‘whats’. The ones whose only fear is losing their sense of fascination with this planet and the diversity of the peoples that have been placed on it. The ones who believe that this diveristy is not some great cosmic mistake, but on the contrary, that there is something of the Divine on the face and in the heart of every culture.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the inaugural World to the Wise Cultural Tour, followed by lots of other exciting developments. We’re just getting started.