This Week >> 6/19/2008
This week's on Let's Travel! find out how you can get a "bird's eye" view of your hotel room before you get there and how to get travel agents to compete to give you the best deal on a resort or a cruise. Then we'll explore the art of storytelling and how the oral tradition reflects culture and community around the world.
Guests
Diane Wolkstein, a master storyteller and mythologist, is the world-renowned author of 23 award-winning books of folklore Her repertoire is as varied as her books, which include the Haitian The Magic Orange Tree and the ancient Mesopotamian Inanna. Wolkstein established New York's Central Park's storytelling program, which takes place at the Hans Christian Andersen Statue in the summer and at the American Scandinavian Building in the winter. Her latest DVD, A Storyteller's Story, won the National Storytelling Award and features stories and interviews on storytelling.
The Village Voice writes that Diane's stories transmit the "power and clarity of the feelings, the wisdom and compassion for human nature." She enters the heart of every story she tells. A popular performer at schools and events around the country, Diane is frequently featured on National Public Radio. years at New York University and conducts workshops on storytelling.
Below is an excerpt from Connecting with Children through Storytelling, by Diane
The Story – and the Telling
Storytelling is one word, and each part is equally important--the manner of telling matters as much as the content. As we tell, we watch our audience and naturally vary our pitch and tone depending on the expression on the faces of our audience. When we are imparting information, our tone is neutral; we are not necessarily sharing our excitement, our hopes, our delights, our fears. Storytelling is simple and direct; at the same time it is multi-leveled, for it is intimate, participatory, creative, and as wide and vast as the world of our imaginations. It is constant and it is in flux; the basic story remains the same; the relationship of teller to listener varies each time.
One of the storytellers in Central Park, Dovie Thomason, a Lakota Indian storyteller, told us that Indian parents do not hit their children. She told a story of herself as an eight-year-old girl handing a letter to her father from her teacher in which the teacher complained that Dovie spoke too much in class. After reading the note, her father scowled, his bright eyes darkening; then he said to her, "There's nothing for it. I can't do a thing. You're to go to your grandmother's for at least three days. She's the storyteller." Punishment for Indian children is to listen to stories. Dovie was not miserable at hearing her father's decree, but she remembers that her grandmother repeated more than fifteen times the same story of a turtle that never got to New York because he could not keep his mouth closed.
Storytelling may seem more likely to be grandparent work; parents don't often have the luxury of distance in the midst of a child's meltdown. My intention in relating Dovie's story, however, is the hope that it can be a lodestone, a direction to look toward as parents. Hitting or shouting at a child causes recoil and separation, but choosing the story appropriate to the occasion brings us closer to one another. Together, we are examining other characters who are in the same predicament. We are not parent against child, but parent and child jointly viewing a similar situation that others also find themselves in.
The full article will be published by The Parents League Review in 2009.
Diane will be appearing at Celebrate Story 2008, New York City's 2nd Annual Storytelling festival, this Sunday, June 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can view a flyer for it here.
You can also visit Diane's website at www.dianewolkstein.com
Steve Stollerman
The Hotel Videoguide, TVtrip.com
Originally from New York City Steve has spent half his life living between France and the States. He is our token "American in Paris". In addition to his bi-cultural background Steve has spent the last 12 years working in the travel industry. First, for the elite, international Canadian company Butterfield & Robinson where he started in 1994 as a Trip Researcher, traveling the world planning exotic cycling expeditions. He then became Regional Director forging a strong alliance with some of the top hotels in the world. In 2001, Steve took his extensive field experience and entered the emerging world of online travel. He began as a Producer for Expedia where he helped launch the site in France. In 2003, he was named Site Director overlooking ecommerce activity for ExpediaFR, Anyway.com as well as the joint venture with the SNCF.
Schooled both in Europe and in the United Sates, he graduated from Skidmore Collegewith a BA and has completed business courses both at NYU and INSEAD. Steve is 43 and spends his time travelling between New York and Paris. He is an avid sportsman and shares his passion for travel with his wife and daughter.
Heidi Allison-Shane
Executive VP & Publisher, CruiseCompete.com and ResortCompete.com
Ms. Allison-Shane has traveled and lectured extensively with Lars-Eric Lindblad, who pioneered expedition travel - or "eco-tourism", including the first expeditions to exotic locations such as Antarctica, Bhutan, China, Easter Island and the Galapagos.
Her experience is diverse and her various assignments have included positions with: Princess Cruises, American Hawaii Cruises, Norwegian American Line and American Express Meetings & Incentives. She has enjoyed over 100 cruises on various lines.
She has also managed projects for numerous Fortune 100 companies throughout the world including Africa, Antarctica, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Asia, and South America.
SEVEN REASONS TO BOOK AN ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT VACATION
New Resort Compete Web site to drive popularity of resort getaways even higher
DES MOINES, IOWA - Why are all-inclusive resort vacations growing in popularity around the world? The all-inclusive travel specialists at the new ResortCompete Web site offer the following seven reasons:
1. Stunning settings – From white sandy beaches to breathtaking mountaintops, all-inclusive resorts are found in some of the world's most beautiful locales.
2. Superior vacation value – One price covers great accommodations, food, drink and entertainment, plus the opportunity to unwind and relax without worrying about the cost.
3. Festive atmosphere – Fun is the name of the game, with plenty of activities scheduled each day and making friends is easy. Partake in as little or as much of the fun as you want.
4. Romance – Many all-inclusive resorts are ideal for adult-only romantic getaways, catering to lovebirds or couples seeking solitude to recapture treasured memories.
5. Children's programs – All ages are welcome at other all-inclusive resorts, with special activities available for children and teenagers alike.
6. Ideal group destinations – With amazing locales and first-class amenities, all-inclusive resorts are especially popular for gatherings of family and friends, reunions, corporate trips and destination weddings.
7. Soul soothing peace of mind – All-inclusive resort vacations recharge the body and mind, give families and friends time together to laugh, relax and make memories that last a lifetime.