CELEBRATING CROSS-CULTURAL IDENTITY
WWW.CULTURSMAG.COM
@CULTURSMAG
The year of
EXPLORING THE CULTURE, LIVES AND LOVES OF THE CONTINENT AND THE CARIBBEAN.
AUNJANUE ELLIS ON FANNIE LOU HAMER'S FREEDOM LEGACY
DESTINATION
PERU
CELEBRATIONS!: A CULTURAL DINNER PARTY FOR 10
WHO MOVED MY FUTURE? HOW TO THRIVE IN CONSTANT CHANGE
WE CELEBRATE Cross-cultural identity BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL LIKE THEY MATTER
Culturs feels like home for those who straddle culture, race, ethnicity, nation or location.
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CONTENTS
SPRING 2022
4
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FEATURES ON OUR COVER
30 Destination Peru A multicultural country.
47
Celebrate!: A Cultural Dinner Party for 10 Experience the taste of Peruvian recipes.
60 Aunjanue Ellis On Fannie Lou Hamer’s freedom legacy.
79 Who moved my future? How to thrive in a time of accelerating change.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
10 CULTURS Alchemist
16 5th Print Anniversary
The Culturs Alchemist Awards celebrate the best and brightest of our in-between community. We want to uplift and amplify the brightest minds, talents and visions of those often overlooked.
Fifth Print Anniversary “Live in Color” World Tour: Five continents over five months. Follow us to see what’s in store!
Awards
World Tour — June 2022
22 Asian legacy in Peru The history of the japanese migration to Peru.
a tween point of view
THE MUST LIST IN EVERY ISSUE 68
Must Know: Guru Explorers tours
Explore these Peruvian traditions.
70
Must Try: Jaijipi, “Aji pa’ todo,” “Chilli for everything”
12
Contributors
14
Publisher’s Letter
Must Listen: Silent Sound in Nature’s Flow
79
Technology
88
Transnational Third Culture Kid Filmmakers
96
Behind the scenes
28 Peruvian Culture, from 42 Gastronomic Capital of South America
Discover some of the best restaurants in the world.
67
Must Do: shore
72
Surf at the Lima
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PRAISE FOR THE
WINTER ISSUE CELEBRATI NG
CROSS-CULT URAL IDE
NTITY
WW W.CULT URSMAG.CO
M
@CULTUR SMAG
The year of
DEST INAT ION COLO
M BI A: ITS BE AU TY, ITS ITS PROT ES FOOD, TS
CEL E
BR ATE!: A CU LT UR AL NN ER PA RT Y FODI R 10
EX PLOR ING TH E CU LTU RE, LIV ES AN D LOVES OF TH E CONT IN EN T AN D TH E CA RIBBE AN.
TR AV EL TH WI TH A SM E WORL D ARTPHONE AN D A CR ED (YES, TH ATIT CA RD 'S IT!)
This brought tears to my eyes because I've always felt different and had to "explain" my life Now I know I've found a place just to be me. — Via Facebook
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Thank you for the thoghtful and insightful feature! — O.P. via Facebook
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Spring 2022
www.CultursMag.com Volume V, Issue XIV
GURU PUBLISHER & FOUNDER Doni Aldine
Just saw this video and I was in TEARS! This is what I've been looking for.
EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR John Liang
COPY EDITOR John Liang
SENIOR EDITOR Tammy Matthews
CONTRIBUTORS Choji Itosu John Liang Kameron McMillion
COLUMNISTS Andrea Bazoin Myra Dumapias
— C. August-Brooks via Messenger CREATIVE ART DIRECTION Diana Vega
Love CultursMag so much!
ILLUSTRATION Diana Vega
PHOTOGRAPHERS Coco Horsager Niara Hardin Choji Itosu Imani Khayyam
WEB DESIGN Internet Growth Systems McMillion Multimedia
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I love it! Joinging your amazing platform is a sincere joy I look forward to the journey! — M. Fox via Instagram
ADVISORY BOARD Chumba Limo Brooke Martellaro Gregory Moore Donna Musil
Linda Thomas Brooks Antionette Williams
SPECIAL THANKS: Colorado State University Journalism and Media Communication
Connect with Culturs on social: @CultursMag @CultursGuruTCK Clubhouse: @CultursMag XOTV.me: @CultursMag SUBSCRIPTIONS: www.cultursmag.com/subscribe. ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Contact advertise@culturs.org. MEDIA INQUIRIES: Contact press@culturs.org. CULTURSTM magazine, Volume 2, Issue 3. Copyright Culturs Global Multicultural Philanthropic Lifestyle Network. All rights reserved. Published quarterly; Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, by Simply Alive, LLC, 1800 Wazee Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO, 80525. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Culturs magazine, 1800 Wazee Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO, 80525. Reproduction in whole or part without express written consent is strictly prohibited. Simply Alive LLC does not assume responsibility for the advertisements, nor any representation made therein, nor the quality or deliverability of the products themselves. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts, photographs, and other material submitted. Culturs makes every effort to provide accurate information in advertising and editorial content, however, does not make any claim as to the accuracy of information provided by advertisers or editorial contributors and accepts no responsibility or liability for inaccurate information. PRINTED IN THE USA
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Culturally Fluid Definitions n the 21st century, assessing someone’s background from outward appearance isn’t enough as hidden, rather than visual, diversity means people increasingly bring more to the table than meets the eye.
Whether through nationality, travel, race or ethnicity, many straddle culture in myriad ways. From Cultural Fluidity, to Third Culture Kid, Expat, Third Culture Adult, Cross-Cultural Kid and more, the language to describe our in-between community is of
Cross-Cultural Kid (CCK) A term coined by author Ruth Van Reken in 2002, is a person who is living, has lived, or meaningfully interacted with two or more cultural environments for a significant period of time during the first 18 years of life. This includes minority individuals living within majority culture.
Adult Cross-Cultural Kid (ACCK)
utmost importance. Knowing the vocabulary creates understanding and deepens our sense of belonging and connections to others with similar experiences. Here’s a quick overview so you can follow along any of our articles with ease:
Third Culture Kids (TCKs) Coined by Sociologist Ruth Useem in the 1950s as a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. The first culture is considered an individual’s passport culture, while the second culture consists of the culture(s) in which the individual has lived. The third culture is a result of the person’s life experience; this is the culture to which they most belong. The third culture often is where individuals feel community with others of similar experience.
An adult who grew up as a Cross-Cultural Kid.
Domestic TCK Cultural Fluidity/Cultural Mobility
Illustration by Diana Vega
A term coined by Culturs founder Donnyale Ambrosine to characterize hidden diversity created by people who don’t or didn’t grow up in a homo genous cultural environment. Culturally Fluid individuals may straddle nationalities, ethnicities, race or culture. The fluidity created allows understanding between or among their foundational areas of meaningful experience. It also may hinder sense of belonging to any one area.
Children who moved to various regions within the same country while growing up, often having to re-learn ways of being, especially as regional differences in dress, speech and action are heightened in formative years when it is important to be accepted.
Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) An adult who grew up as a TCK.
Third Culture Adult (TCA) Missionary Kids Children of missionaries who travel to missions domestically or abroad. 8
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Coined in 2002 by Psychotherapist Paulette Bethel to signify individuals who travel extensively and are immersed in, or live in global locations after the age of 18 (after identity has been solidified).
Refugees Internationally nomadic group not characterized by a parent’s occupation. Displaced from their homeland forcibly or by choice, often having fled for varied reasons — violence, politics, religion, environment, etc. Refugees typically do not return to their origin country.
Immigrants People who, for varied reasons, immigrate to a country different than their homeland to stay permanently. Many return to their home countries to visit, though some do not.
Expatriate (Expat) As defined by Merriam Webster — to leave one’s native country to live elsewhere; which also sometimes means to renounce allegiance to one’s native country.
Military B.R.A.T. Children of military who move with parents to different places within or outside of their home country. They often experience other cultures within the confines of a military installation or compound that possesses traits of the home country.
Non-Military Foreign Service Children traveling with their parents to various countries in non-military government roles, diplomatic corps, civil service, foreign service, etc.
Diplomat Kids Children whose parents are members of the home country’s political framework while living on foreign soil.
Traveler Those who travel expecting differences among intra-international or international culture, however, not immersed in these cultures for extended periods of time, or long enough to integrate local cultural norms as their own.
International Business Kids Children whose parents work with multinational corporations that take them to faraway lands, often in professional fields surrounding oil, construction and pharmaceuticals.
Borderlanders Described by author Ruth Van Reken in the book “Third Culture Kids,” a borderlander is a citizen of one country that lives close to another. Often the norms, customs and traits of each country’s culture seeps into the other, creating a cultural experience separate from either original culture, while allowing inhabitants keen knowledge and insight into their own culture as well as the other.
Multiracial People whose family consists of two or more races to which the individual identifies. With race often come cultural norms, slang language and attitudes that can greatly differ. Many multiracial children, though not all, have the unique opportunity to learn norms of all the cultures they comprise.
Multiethnic; Multicultural People whose family consists of two or more cultures to which the individual identifies. Even when belonging to the same race, differences in culture may exist between ethnicities, tribes and other cultural contexts.
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THE ALCHEMIST
AWARDS
HEART
OF THE WORLD
The Culturs Awards celebrate the best and brightest of our in-between community. From Third Culture Kids and Military B.R.A.T.s, to immigrants, mixed-race, multi-ethnic and Expats, we want to uplift and amplify the brightest minds, talents and visions of those oft overlooked.
Niara Hardin
Whom do you want to celebrate? Nominate the best of the in-between at CultursMag.com/Culturs-Awards.
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THE ALCHEMIST
AWARDS 2023
From Military B.R.A.T. Deidre Hardin, who designed the CULTURS AWARD: As an artist, the spark of creativity is fickle at best. I tend to start a concept, set it aside, then come back when it calls for my attention. I spent a day playing with ideas meant to express the meaning of the CULTURS award. Keywords like belonging, family, culture, and food were some of the broad concepts I considered. By the evening, I had drained my mental toolbox and settled down to listen to an audiobook. The Alchemist, by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, was to be the catalyst that brought my efforts into fruition. My initial hesitation was with using copper to create the piece, my assumption being the award should be an elaborate material. This anxiety was swiftly laid to rest after a few sentences in the book stated, “There is no need for iron to be the same as copper or copper the same as gold… copper and iron have their own legends to fulfill.” Birthed from this unexpected inspiration came The Alchemist Heart, the title for the copper heart sculpture. The book is a metaphor for life. A story about a
personal journey and how to listen to your heart and follow your dreams. The secrets of alchemy are said to exist on a small emerald tablet that can’t be expressed in words. The Alchemist can transmute lead into gold and uses a solvent called the elixir of life to cure all ills. The chaotically twisted copper design is an interpretation of a personal journey through travel, decisions and career paths. The top of the heart is left open to represent one’s courage to embark upon their possibilities. Therefore, I placed the faux emerald that symbolized the Philosopher’s Stone as the eye of the fish. The fish symbolized not only food but a biblical proportion in sharing a skill with others. The base, as referenced in the book, can be the elixir of life or the oceans of the world. As a whole, the piece may be interpreted as ocean-crossed global citizens who find home, happiness, and belonging within their hearts. No heart suffers while pursuing its dreams using lessons learned in discovering its legend. Ultimately, there is no magic panacea to one’s heart’s desire.
Entries open soon! Join the free newsletter at CultursMag.com to ensure you are the first to know.
Nominate someone at Cultursmag.com/ Culturs-Award
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CONTRIBUTORS
Chilean, Argentinean, Australian, French, Coloradoan CCK
ANDREA BAZOIN (pronounced “Bah-Zwah”) is a higher education professional turned entrepreneur. She is the founder of everHuman, LLC (www. everhuman.io), a company that provides tech support alongside coaching, project assistance and workshops delivered with both expertise and empathy. Her family ties span the globe and include Chile, Argentina, Australia and France. She currently lives in Fort Collins, Colo., U.S.A. with her French husband and culturally fluid son.
Filipina-American TCK Third Culture Kid Expert MYRA DUMAPIAS is the Chief Executive Officer of TCKidNOW, which has been featured on the BBC, ABC News, The Telegraph, the U.S. Department of Defense and Education Week and helped thousands discover their TCK identity and find a sense of belonging long before mention of the term on social media. TCKidNow provides trauma-informed educational outreach about the lifetime impact of a transnational upbringing. While acknowledging the role healing plays in helping TCKs recognize and develop their skills, TCKidNOW fosters connections that help TCKs find a sense of belonging and give back to the world they grew up in. Dumapias holds a Bachelor’s Colombian, Spanish TCA in English and World Literature and a Master’s in Social Work.
Peruvian TCA Hola! My name is CHOJI ITOSU and I am a former professional chef specializing in Peruvian Cuisine and its influences. I ´ve worked and travelled throughout several countries such as Australia, Japan and South America. Nowadays, I am based in Lima, Peru and I work as a “Travel Advisor” by connecting people from all over the world into Peruvian culture. I host local experiences in Lima, such as personalized cultural tours, history and cooking classes, called “500 years of Peruvian Flavours: History, Origins and Modern recipes,” “Culinary food tour – Tastes of Lima,” and “Sports tours.” Every single tour I promote is focused on the cultural relevance and its impact in the daily life of Peruvians and its history and origins. 12
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER Guatemalan-American TCK
JOHN LIANG is an adult Third Culture Kid who grew up in Guatemala, Costa Rica, U.S.A., Morocco and Egypt before graduating high school. He has a bachelor’s degree in languages from Georgetown University and a master’s in International Policy Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. John has covered the U.S. military for two decades as a writer and editor for InsideDefense.com, and is also managing editor of Culturs Magazine. He lives in Arlington, Va., U.S.A.
Coloradoan TCK
KAMERON MCMILLION. An Aurora, Colo. native, 17-year-old Kameron (Kam) McMillion is older sister to Koryn, age 14, and Kai, age 10. Even at these young ages, the girls have traveled to many places, including Hawaii and Mexico, and have experienced numerous cultures. Kameron hopes her column will educate people about different cultures and feels that everyone should remember, “different isn’t bad; it is just different and our differences are what make cultures unique.”
Mexican TCA
DIANA VEGA is a Third Culture Adult. Born in Mexico and passionate about design, they studied architecture and started a small business after college. Interested in entrepreneurship, Vega moved to Colorado, U.S.A. to earn an MBA at Colorado State University. Now repatriated to Mexico, they are a graphic designer and illustrator for Culturs magazine.
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
When people hear Peru, often one of the first things they think of is Machu Picchu in Cusco, the sacred place to which the Incas trekked on pilgrimage on the Inca Trail.
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
B
ut modern day Peru holds that and so much more. Often touted as the gastronomic capitol of South America, Peru is well known for its food (including more than 3600 varieties of potato), its diverse climates — from Pacific Ocean shore, to desert sand dunes in Huacachina, hiking in Ollantaytambo, Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu, to the quiet beauty and majestic views in Sacred Valley, where we did a sound tribute to pacha mama (Mother Nature). Then of course there are the Amazon river, rain forests, and winter — like shores with Walrus and Penguin — truly unexpected sights to behold. A wonderful discovery was the century-plus-year-old Japanese history of Peru, including the additions to its cuisine and culture, as eating ubiquitous Chaufa was one of our favorite food memories on the ground. The country’s current elected president is Japanese-Peruvian. The country, its people, the energy and history hold so much, and we’re excited to include it in our year of Latin America. Enjoy this quick jaunt to one of our
favorite places on the South American continent — with something for everyone, we are sure you won’t be disappointed. It’s the perfect pairing with Oscar Nominee Aunjenue Ellis, who is best known for memorable performances as the mother of global tennis phenoms Venus and Serena Williams in the feature film “King Richard,” alongside Oscarnominated actor Will Smith, as well as her “out-of-this-world” role in HBO’s “Lovecraft Country.” Ellis is a personal and professional powerhouse who champions the history and legacy of U.S. freedom fighter Fannie Lou Hamer, for whom many U.S. citizens owe norms enjoyed from the work she did during the Civil Rights era in the United States. As you enjoy these articles and more, don’t forget to tag us on social or drop me a line to doni@cultursmag.com to let us know what you think of this and all our issues. We look forward to hearing from you! Live in full Color,
Doni (Dah-knee) Founder Culturs Global Multicultural Lifestyle Network Editor-in-Chief Culturs Magazine Cultursmag.com www.CultursMag.com
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World tour
5TH PRINT ANNIVERSARY
COMMING JUNE 2022 www.CultursMag.com
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4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Include Digital Movie Code
SPECIAL FEATURES ON BLU-RAY
4 Fun Featurettes - First Quarter: Game On / Second Quarter: Teamwork / Third Quarter: Out of This World / Fourth Quarter: The Looniest • Deleted Scenes
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LOONEY TUNES, SPACE JAM TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Special Features Are Not MPA-Rated and May Not Be Hi-Def or SDH. © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
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ASIAN LEGACY IN
PERU By Choji Itosu
W
hatever you think Peru is, I assure you, it is far from what you expect. It’s a country that celebrates the diversity not only of its fauna and geography but also its traditions and different migrant groups for the past 500 years. Today I’m sharing a small story and historic facts for a community that sailed across the Pacific Ocean with a heart full of bravery and a bag full of ideas. 22
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THE HISTORY OF THE JAPANESE MIGRATION TO PERU The Japanese migration to Peru began on April 3, 1899 via an agreement between the governments of Japan and Peru, as Japan was experiencing a demographic crisis, while Peru needed labor for work on the “haciendas” (big farms). In 1899, 790 workers arrived at the port of Callao. These migrants opened a path of success and integration on the South American continent, whose contributions can be seen in politics, culture, business and the famous Peruvian food, which clearly expresses their confluence with the country of the rising sun. Japan chose Peru as the destination for its citizens in the middle of the Meiji era because it was the first country in Latin America with which they established diplomatic relations, and the empire sought to “westernize” its young farmers in a distant land in South America that was experiencing economic growth in its agricultural industry.
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The first Japanese came with a four-year contract and the truth is that many of them did not return, either due to illness, death or because they built their lives around Peru. At that time a trip to Japan took 40 days at sea, and it was not an easy voyage. Many never returned, while others returned very late. For example, my greatgrandfather on my mother’s side of the family came from
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Fukushima and never returned to Japan, nor did my grandfather from my father’s side — he came from Okinawa, as most Japanese families in Peru come from. He didn’t want to live in a place occupied by the U.S. Army in the wake of the Second World War that became the biggest military based in Asia, at that time. The life of the first immigrants in Peru was, for many, of comforts and abundance
compared to what they had in Japan, despite the fact that their first jobs were as laborers and houseworkers. In just a few years, the Japanese community owned wineries, parlors, restaurants and other small businesses in the cities. The Second World War slowed down this evolution and many fortunes and businesses disappeared, affected by massive deportations and confiscations
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caused by the breakdown of Peru’s diplomatic relations with Axis Alliance countries. The history of the migration is divided in two parts, the first part being before the war and the second after the war. Before the war there was a lot of work and progress, while after the war the Japanese community was reduced to a few remaining families in Lima that, only until the early 1950s started to return back to Peru.
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Most of the Japanese migrants came from different parts of Japan, such as Osaka, Kanagawa, Hokkaido, Hiroshima, Gifu and Okinawa. One likely explanation for the “Nikkei” success in Peru is that most of them come from Okinawa, and as an Okinawan descendent I have to say this: Okinawa is a wonderful, beautiful place full of warn weather, blue beaches and a food that is completely different from the Japanese stereotype; they have their own dialect called
“Uchinaguchi” and are considered to be a friendly, happy people and perhaps that makes them live the longest in the world. Overall, the best way to pay tribute to this community of travelers that decided to live and prosper in Peru is to contribute to the development of the nation that received them so well from the very beginning.
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PERUVIAN
CULTURE, FROM A TWEEN POINT OF VIEW By Kameron McMillion
I
nterviewing my friend, who is Peruvian, gave me a lot of information on Peruvian traditions. After interviewing her, I knew so much more about the culture. The languages they speak are Spanish and English. An interesting statement her mother mentioned was, when in Peru, many Peruvians that can speak English will only speak it inside buildings such as houses, restaurants, etc. When they are outside, they will only speak Spanish. This is because there is an assumption, by some, that English-speaking Peruvians are from the U.S. and are wealthy, so it is possible to have money, cell phones, wallets, etc. stolen.
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TRADITIONAL PONCHO
POLLO A LA BRASA As she told me about the foods she eats, she made me want some. Pollo a la Brasa is a traditional common food she and her family eat. It is chicken with French fries and lettuce on the side. Ceviche is white corn and onions topped over cut fish and a bunch of lemon juice over the meal. There is also a special yellow sauce with lettuce and sweet potatoes on the side. Laying on the top of the meal is a hard boiled egg cut in half. They also eat Anticuchos which is a cow’s heart. She told me there is a drink called Inca Kola which is like golden soda. Peruvians drink soda often. They also drink milk with brown sugar in it. Most Peruvian people also eat what is called Panettone, which is a fruit cake.
The clothing Peruvians wear is very interesting. In the northern part of the country they wear ponchos with different patterns that mean something special to the family. They also wear a hat called a Chullo.
CHRISTMAS December 24 is Christmas for them. They stay up until midnight and then they pray to Jesus and say Merry Christmas. On July 28, they celebrate Independence Day. Red and white are the colors of the Peruvian flag. The religion for Peruvians is usually Catholic.
PERUVIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION I asked her what her favorite part of her culture was and this is what she said: “I like the different foods because not that many people around the world can try these foods.”
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PERU
Aerial view of Macchu Picchu ruins in remote lands.
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PERU
Machu Picchu.
T
he Republic of Peru in western South America is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, Bolivia to the southeast and Chile to the south. It’s lined by the Pacific Ocean in the south and west. Peru has many microclimates that underscore the diversity of potoatoes, which count varieties into the thousands. The country’s habitats include sand-like deserts in Huacachina, arid plains, the Pacific coastal region, punctuated by surf culture on the shore of Lima along with paragliding amongst the towering downtown buildings. The west boasts the Andes mountains which extend from the north to the southeast of the country where one can find the tropical Amazon basin rainforest in the east along with the Amazon River.
Machu Picchu ruins in Peru.
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PERU
POPULATION : 34 MILLION
CAPITAL CITY: LIMA
LARGEST CITY: 1.28 MILLION KM2
COUNTRY SIZE: 19TH LARGEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, THIRD LARGEST IN SOUTH AMERICA
Lima, Shore.
Beach view of Miraflores Green Coast, Llima Peru.
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PERU
Aerial view of Miraflores Green Coast, Lima, Peru.
Coast in Peru.
The artwork of Barranco, Peru.
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PERU
The artwork of Barranco, Peru.
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PERU
Lima, Peru.
The artwork of Barranco, Peru.
The artwork of Barranco, Peru.
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PERU
Peruvian hands and tea time.
Peruvian picnic
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PERU
Peruvian fabrics.
Peruvian woman
Peru has one of the longest histories of civilization of any country, tracing back to the 10th millennium BCE. Pre-colonial cultures and civilizations include the Caral-Supe civilization (the earliest civilization in the Americas and considered one of the cradles of civilization) the Nazca culture, the Wari and Tiwanaku empires, the Kingdom of Cusco and the Inca Empire, the largest known state in the preColumbian Americas.
Market stall, Pisac, Peru. Colored yarn arequipa, Peru.
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PERU
Panoramic view of Rainbow Mountain at Vinicunca.
Ccaccaccollo weaving community, Sacred Valley.
Huacachina in Peru.
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PERU
Huacachina in Peru.
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PERU
Ollantaytambo inca ruins and terraces, Ollantayta.
Beautiful terraces in the Sacred Valley of Cusco.
Salt mines in Peru.
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PERU
Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru, South America
Peruvian jungle.
Peruvian Pampa.
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GASTRONOMIC
CAPITAL OF SOUTH AMERICA
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P
eru often is considered the gastronomic capital of South America and hosts some of the best restaurants in the world, including No. 4 in the world: Central in Lima (which also was voted Best Restaurant in South America in 2021) and No. 7 Maido, also in Lima (up three places from the previous year). In addition to the home and chef creations we feature for you on the coming pages, take a gander at the type of food and atmosphere you can expect at Maido, and get inspired to start your own gourmet experience. www.CultursMag.com
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PERU Celebrations!
CULTURALLY INSPIRED DINNER PARTY
E
ach issue, we visit a country to bring you the sights, sounds and flavor of the local culture. With Culturs Celebrations, we create a Dinner Party Kit for 10 to make it easy for you to join the party and invite your friends and family. Get festive with us!
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S PICY PERUVIAN CREOLE SAUCE INGREDIENTS: 1. 1 Garlic 2. 1 Red onion 3. 2 Lemons 4. 10 leaves Cilantro 5. 1 tomato 6. 3 habanero chilis 7. 50 ml olive oil 8. 50 ml of wine vinegar
INSTRUCTIONS:
Mixing it all together Chop Garlic, Red Onion, Cilantro leaves, tomato and the habanero chilis and then add the vinegar and lemon juice and finish with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
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COOKING TOOLS: •
Knife
•
Chopping board
•
Mortar
•
Medium serving bowl
C HIMICHURRI PARSLEY AND GARLIC PICKLE
COOKING TOOLS:
DESTINATION:
PERU
•
Frying Pan
•
Medium serving bowl
INGREDIENTS: 1. 150 grams of Parsley 2. 10 cloves of garlic 3. ½ of a red onion 4. ½ teaspoon Chili Powder 5. 1 teaspoon of oregano 6. 3 bay leaves 7. 20 ml of Vinegar 8. 1 lemon and zest 9. 50 ml of olive oil 10. Black pepper and salt to taste 11. 100 mil of Hot Vegetable oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
Mixing it all together Finely chop parsley, garlic and onion, then we add the chili powder, oregano, bay leaves, vinegar, lemon zest, olive oil, black pepper and salt to taste. www.CultursMag.com
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A NTICUCHO
PERUVIAN HEART OR BEEF SKEWERS 50
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SERVINGS: For 2 people
COOKING TOOLS: •
Knife
•
Chopping Board
•
Wooden skewers
DESTINATION:
PERU
INGREDIENTS: 1. ½ kg of beef heart or any good grilled beef 2. 50 grams Panca Chili 3. 3 teaspoons Cumin 4. 3 teaspoons of dry Oregano 5. 100 ml Vinegar 6. 2 teaspoons of black pepper 7. Salt to taste.
INSTRUCTIONS:
01. Preparing the Ingredients Chop the beef or beef hearts in a traditional Anticucho cuts, then marinate it with the Panca Chili, cumin, oregano, vinegar, black pepper and salt to taste. After marinating for 2 hours, we skewer them and they are ready to be put on the grill. This also works for any vegetables.
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SERVINGS: For 2 people
COOKING TOOLS: •
Knife
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Chopping board
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Cheese grater
•
Hibachi plancha or Chinese wok.
YAKISOBA
OKINAWAN PERUVIAN STIR FRY NOODLES
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INGREDIENTS: 1. 150 grams of Soba noodles 2. 6 cloves of Garlic 3. 1 white Onions 4. 3 stems of Celery 5. 2 small Carrots 6. Half a cabbage
DESTINATION:
PERU
7. 10 shitakes mushrooms
Yakisoba Sauce: 1. 100 ml Soy Sauce 2. 50 ml Vinegar 3. 50 ml Tomato paste 4. 2 teaspoons sugar 5. Sesame oil to taste.
INSTRUCTIONS:
01
Mixing it all together Cook the soba noodles in boiling water until done, then chop garlic, white onions, celery, cabbage, shitake mushrooms and use a cheese grater to shred the carrots. Mix all the ingredients for the Yakisoba sauce. We first stir fry the white onions, celery and carrots. Then we add the garlic, cabbage and mushrooms and cook until done. Then we add the noodles and the Yakisoba sauce. We need to stir fry for 10 minutes or until all the veggies and noodles have absorbed the sauce. www.CultursMag.com
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PISCO SOUR ABOUT PISCO SOUR Pisco sour is the Peruvian national cocktail made with Pisco. The Peruvian national spirit is mixed with lemons, sugar syrup, egg whites and bitter drop. The Cocktail was first introduced as a whiskey sour modified recipe. It was first conceived in 1916 at the first 5-star hotel in Lima, Hotel Bolivar.
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SERVINGS: For 1 serving
COOKING TOOLS: •
1 blender or 1
DESTINATION:
PERU
shaker •
1 chopping board
•
1 sharp knife
•
Old-fashioned goblet or brandy glass
INGREDIENTS: 1. 3 oz of Pisco, Vodka or Whisky 2. 2 oz of Sugar Syrup or white Sugar 3. 2 oz of Lemon juice 4. 1 oz of egg white 5. 2 to 3 bitter drops 6. Ice
INSTRUCTIONS: 01. Preparing the Ingredients We put inside the blender or Shaker 1 hand full of Ice, 3 oz of Pisco, 1 1⁄2 oz of Lemon, 1 1⁄2 Sugar Syrup, 1 oz of Egg white and blend it at high speed. Then serve in an old-fashioned goblet, brandy glass or martini cup. For presentation we add a few drops of bitter drops and Cheers! www.CultursMag.com
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CEVICHE
GARNISH WITH SWEET POTATO, CORN AND LETTUCE
SERVINGS: For 2 people
COOKING TOOLS: •
1 Blender
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2 Chopping Boards
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2 Sharp Knives
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2 Bowls and ramekins for portioning.
ABOUT THE CEVICHE
Ceviche is one of Peru’s older and most traditional dishes. Its origins can be traced to the northern Peruvian cultures that thrived over 1700 years ago. The original recipe was raw fish, chilies, salt and passion fruits. Since the rediscovery of South America to the world in the 1500s, Peru have received different migrants groups such as Japanese, Chinese, French and Germans but its majority came from Spain. They brought lemons, onions, cilantro and a new cuisine was born, and the ceviche is a fusion of gastronomic culture at its best.
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INGREDIENTS: 1. 200 grams of flounder, sole, halibut, snapper or any local white fish fillet. 2. 4 Lemons 3.
2 Red Onions
4. 1 Red Chili - any chili that has flavor and spiciness, not jalapeño
DESTINATION:
PERU
5. 2 cloves of Garlic 6. 1 small piece of Ginger 7. 1 Stick of Celery 8. 10 leaves of cilantro 9. 50 ml of cold water 10. 1 Corn and 50 grams of toasted corn - in case you can find some 11. 1 Sweet potato 12. 1 leaf of lettuce
INSTRUCTIONS:
13. Salt and Black Pepper, to taste.
01
Preparing the ingredients Slice the raw fish in small, bite-sized cubes and the first thing we do is to put salt and chilies on the fish, in that order.
02
03
Mixing it all together
Serving the Dish
On to the Tiger’s Milk or Leche de Tigre. In a blender add 2 pieces of garlic, half an onion, half a chili, the juice of 4 lemons, a bit of ginger, cilantro leaves, water, celery stick and small pieces of fish and blend it all.
Strain it and mix the Leche de Tigre with the raw salted chili fish and 1 chopped onion, and leave it to rest for half an hour inside the fridge. Serve the Ceviche with baked sweet potato, cooked corn and fresh lettuce. www.CultursMag.com
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L OMO SALTADO
WITH WHITE RICE AND FRENCH FRIES
ABOUT LOMO SALTADO
Lomo saltado is one of Peru’s most favourite dishes. It is another example of Peru’s gastronomic and culture influences. The lomo saltado is a stir-fry tenderloin dish, cooked with red onion, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, cilantro, vinegar, sugar and soy sauce. We can trace this dish back to the 19th century, from Chinese and Japanese immigrants that used to offer it in their restaurants. But the recipe has evolved in the past 100 years to what we see today.
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SERVINGS: For 2 people
COOKING TOOLS: •
Chopping board
•
Knife
•
Wok or frying pan
•
Ramekins or small
DESTINATION:
PERU
bowls for portioning.
INGREDIENTS:
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. 150 gr beef tenderloin, sirloin, Short Loin, flank - can be replaced with chicken or fish or pork loin. For vegetarians replace with 150 grams Cooked Quinoa al dente 2. 1 clove of garlic 3. 1 piece of ginger 4. 1 red onion 5. 1 tomato
Preparing the ingredients
6. 4 big spoon of soy sauce 7. 2 big spoon of Vinegar 8. 2 teaspoon of Sugar 9. 1 teaspoon of tomato paste or miso paste (Optional) 10. Salt and Pepper to taste 11. Handful of Cilantro 12. Olive Oil
We put our wok or pan on the stove and we need it to be smoking hot. Then we add the meat with the ginger and garlic and start stir frying. When the meat starts to caramelize we take it out of the fire and in the same pan we start to stir fry the onions for 1 minute. Next we put the meat back in the pan, with the mix of soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and black pepper. Then after 2 minutes of stir frying, we finish with chopped cilantro and tomatoes. www.CultursMag.com
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THE US FREEDOM FIGHTER LEGACY OF
FANNIE LOU HAMER By John Liang
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Coco Horsager Director Christine Swanson
Imani Khayyam
F Actor Aunjanue Ellis
annie Lou Hamer was a U.S. civil rights advocate many have never heard of. But not for much longer, if actor Aunjanue Ellis has anything to say about it. Ellis, currently starring in the Will Smith movie “King Richard,” wrote a short film about Hamer called “Fannie,” and is hoping to develop it into a full-length feature film. Ellis, along with director Christine Swanson, spoke with www.CultursMag.com
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Imani Khayyam Actor Aunjanue Ellis
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Culturs about the genesis of the film and their passion about bringing Hamer’s story to the wider public. In 1964, according to Ellis, Hamer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party – comprised of “just a bunch of, you know, maids and farmers and sharecroppers from Mississippi” – boarded a bus and went to the Democratic National Convention in New Jersey. Mississippi that year sent an all-white, all-male delegation to be the representatives for the state at the convention. “And so, Mrs. Hamer and this motley crew of folks from Mississippi said, ‘No, they don’t represent us,’” according to Ellis. “So they went to New Jersey and said, ‘These people don’t represent us, so we need to be the ones who are seated. We are the true representatives from the state of Mississippi.’ And what happened was that it put the whole convention into a turmoil; Lyndon Johnson felt his presidency threatened by Mrs. Hamer, by the efforts of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. And that’s all I’m gonna tell you because I want people to actually research this and find out for themselves.” As a result of Hamer’s and her colleagues’ actions, the Democratic Party no longer allowed all-male or all-white delegations to go to its conventions anymore, according to Ellis. “So here’s the thing: We live what this woman did in 1964, and the consequences and the ramifications of her efforts are . . .
Coco Horsager
Director Christine Swanson
what we are experiencing right now,” she said. But until she found out about Hamer, Ellis had never heard of her. “I certainly didn’t learn anything about her when I was in elementary school, when I was in junior high school, when I was in High School [so] what can I do in what I do to change that as a course correction? And so I wanted to do a film about her,” Ellis said. “I reached out to some writers, reached out to some directors, reached out to everybody, and nobody wanted to do it, so I said, ‘Well, I gotta do it myself.’” Consequently, Ellis began to write a screenplay about Hamer. Not long after that, she told Christine Swanson, who had
directed Ellis in the 2020 Lifetime TV film “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel,” about Hamer and Swanson caught the passion bug as well. Swanson then applied for and was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Chromatic Black Organization to make a short film, which they did in October 2021 and is now on YouTube. “It’s really an introduction to what I have been working on and writing, which is the full feature on Mrs. Hamer that we hope to make happen,” Ellis said. As for Swanson, she thinks that what Ellis has written would have made Hamer proud. Ellis is “just so dogged in making sure that it pops on the page and I just feel like it’s really turned into something that Mrs. www.CultursMag.com
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Imani Khayyam Actor Aunjanue Ellis
Hamer would be very proud of and would see that somehow she implanted in Aunjanue living in Mississippi and beyond, I feel it starting to sprout,” Swanson said. Another selling point for a feature-length film about Hamer, Swanson said, is that “it could be one of the few civil rights stories told through a female lens.” Not only that, “this may be really one of the first feature films made that is strictly told through the lens of this black woman written by a Mississippi native, Aunjanue Ellis, directed by a black woman with deep roots in Mississippi -- all of my Dad’s family is from Mississippi.” 64
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Given the heated debate in recent years in the United States about critical race theory, Ellis said Fannie Lou Hamer’s effect “on American electoral politics is not a story, is not a narrative, it’s the truth. . . . But the bottom line is . . . they don’t want this history that they are ashamed of to be told and to be taught in classrooms. So that’s what is so important about Mrs. Hamer, what happened with Mrs. Hamer, the truth of Mrs. Hamer and I just really want to make sure that I put that word in there, that it’s the truth.”
NEW PODCAST CULTURS IS THRILLED TO BRING YOU THE BEST OF CROSS-CULTURAL IDENTITY THROUGH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN LATIN AMERICA
Doni Aldine
Dr. Rhonda Coleman
JOIN DONI ALDINE, CULTURS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, AND DR. RHONDA COLEMAN AS THEY BRING YOU THE INSIGHTS, PERSPECTIVES AND HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN LATIN AMERICA TO EDUCATE, ENLIGHTEN AND CREATE A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR YOU.
WATCH: XOTV.ME CHANNEL 132 CULTURS GLOBAL MULTICULTURAL TV
LISTEN: ANY POPULAR PODCAST CHANNEL
VISIT: NEGRACOMOSOY.COM
From shows to watch and songs to hear, to artistry, shopping and things to explore, know and do, here’s a specially curated list of things we recommend as MUST experience items for the culturally fluid.
THEMUSTLIST
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SURF
MUST l DO
AT THE
LIMA SHORE
H
awaii this is not, but they share a rich surf culture that in Lima can include fearless black-water dips in wet suits during winter months. Not for the faint-of-heart, but a boon for thrill-seeking adventurers, for which the crisp morning waters provide an invigorating start to the day. A grand adventure along with swimming with Walrus and penguin-gazing.
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MUST l KNOW
GURU EXPLORERS TOURS 68
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MUST l KNOW
O
mar Diaz and the talented crew at Guru Explorers want you to get to know their country. And they’ll treat you like royalty in the process. From the hikes of Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu to the calm of Sacred Valley and everything in between, Omar’s crew insures you get to know Peru. Visit: GuruExplorers.com
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MUST l TRY
JAIJIPI “AJI PA´ TODO”
“CHILLI FOR EVERTHING”
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MUST l TRY
Japanese-Peruvian Choji Itosu is a wellrounded artisan and historic guide with a love for the culinary arts. This inspired his creation of Jaijipi. the extra hot sauce that is becoming famous among his followers. One taste and you’re hooked! But beware — tame palates need not apply.
J
aijipi is a blend of Peruvian rainforest and Andean chillies with caramelized tomato, red onion, garlic, brown sugar and sea salt. It’s made from fair-trade Peruvian farmers passing through a Nikkei Peruvian family to your table. The idea started on a 1974year food truck that the founder used as a dark kitchen for catering events in Lima, Peru. Using his knowledge on how to prepare Nikkei/Latin sauces from his family's old restaurant recipes, the idea of a Peruvian chile blend started to take form. After years of struggle, that idea is finally a reality — an epicurean, spicy experience. Available in the U.S. and Peru at +1-714-397-9020 www.CultursMag.com
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MUST l LISTEN
SILENT SOUND IN
NATURE’S FLOW
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MUST l LISTEN
Silent disco in the heart of Sacred Valley feeds the soul. In homage to Pacha Mama or Mother Nature, this fusion of light and color brought people from all over to dance with and experience the work of musician Tatya Bird , well known for pop-up discos throughout Peru. A fullyimmersive experience replete with Peruvian blankets, meditation, and of course headphones to experience the vibe without disturbing a soul.
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MUST l LISTEN
H
is name is Tayta Bird. He does a style of music under a genre he created called “futuristic folklore.” Tatya takes traditional Peruvian instruments and mixes them into electronic music. He considers himself from Apúrimac, Peru from a town called Uripa. His ancestors are from there. He was born in Lima, but his heart is connected with his family there. He lived there for quite some time. Tatya’s family speaks Quechua, an indigenous language and his 74
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music represents these people. When he was little in Lima, there were a lot of issues with racism towards people from the mountains and he got to a point where he realized how beautiful and amazing his roots were and began to embrace them. He originally worked as an owner of a construction business and left that to dedicate himself to music fully. Tatya has won awards through the Ministry of Culture for his song “apu yaya” which means “the god bigger than all gods.” He also played for TV Peru. He created experiences duringthe pandemic as a way for people to come to the mountains and connect with “Pachamama” — also known as Mother Earth — while using headphones to hear the music with 8-D sound. This also allowed for people to experience the sounds while being socially distanced.
MUST l LISTEN
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MUST l LISTEN
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MUST l LISTEN
Tatya worked with a tour company called “Viva Cusco.” They would bring the people to the mountains. They worked with the local “mamitas” - “traditional women” -- who donated the blankets you sat on and held flags of Peru and Tahuantinsuyo (flag of the four directions). They also danced with participants. After the show, guests would go and see the market where the mamitas sold their artesanal products. This new experience he will be doing in a “huaca.” It will be a different set but also in 8-D. It will be a different type of show but with the same energy. Tayta Bird is in the process of posting videos every Friday of him doing reworks of his songs in different sacred locations in Cusco. Solar panels are used in order to power his performances from Sudaener. They choose to take care of the earth while they perform.
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NEW PODCAST CULTURS IS THRILLED TO BRING YOU THE BEST OF CROSS-CULTURAL IDENTITY THROUGH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN LATIN AMERICA
Doni Aldine and Dr. Rhonda Coleman
JOIN DONI ALDINE, CULTURS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, AND DR. RHONDA COLEMAN AS THEY BRING YOU THE INSIGHTS, PERSPECTIVES AND HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN LATIN AMERICA TO EDUCATE, ENLIGHTEN AND CREATE A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR YOU.
WATCH: XOTV.ME CHANNEL 132 CULTURS GLOBAL MULTICULTURAL TV
LISTEN: ANY POPULAR PODCAST CHANNEL
VISIT: NEGRACOMOSOY.COM
TECHNOLOGY By Andrea Bazoin, M.Ed., Founder of everHuman
WHO MOVED MY FUTURE? April Rinne
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TECHNOLOGY
H
ow to thrive, both personally and professionally,
in a time of accelerating change. Raise your hand if, in early 2020, you worried that the Covid-19 global pandemic would last for...months! Fast forward to today (over two years later), and most of us realize the “before times” are forever gone and that, like it or not, there is no going back to what was. Everything has changed. Everything. The old rules no longer apply and our past playbooks are useless. Nothing can be assumed or taken for granted - careers, commerce, public health, education, financial markets, climate, societal norms, families, technology, political systems, food systems...it’s all shifting under our feet.
Sarabeth Berk
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TECHNOLOGY
SO, WHAT DO WE DO NOW? Perhaps a better question to ask is “Who do we want to be now?” In other words, as a unique individual with many layers of experiences, skills, identities, interests, and passions — how can you show up and thrive in an ever-changing future, with grace and resilience? If you’ve been asking yourself this question — “Who do I want to be now?” — then I invite you to check out the work of two incredible women who are helping people to create new frameworks for thriving into this rapidly-changing future.
“More than my title” by Sarabeth Berk
WHAT’S MY MINDSET AROUND CHANGE? When April Rinne was a junior in college, studying in the UK, she received a phone call from her sister. “April, are you sitting down?” she asked, “I need you to sit down.” Then she broke the news: “Mom and dad were killed in a car accident. You need to come home.” “Whatever I thought my future was going to be, vanished,” Rinne explained from the TEDxFrankfurt stage. “My entire world became flux. I had to let go of the future I had in mind, and the future my parents wanted for me. Little did I know that in the process I was planting the seed of a superpower.” Rinne defines this, and other superpowers, in her new book “Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change.” The book captures several decades of lessons she gleaned from her travels to over 100 countries as well as her history as a futurist, advisor, global development executive, microfinance lawyer, investor, mental health advocate, certified yoga teacher and (as she highlights) an insatiable handstander. www.CultursMag.com
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NEW podcast OUT NOW
Egypt
portugal
Spain
argentina
colombia
turkey
costa rica
Surprise global experiences with friends
Join Culturs Editor-in-chief Doni Aldine to discover cultural connections, meet new people, culture and food around the globe.
embrace joy, come alive, immerse yourself
u.s.a. wATCH: XOTV.ME CHANNEL 132 CULTURS GLOBAL MULTICULTURAL TV
lISTEN: any popular podcast channel
VISIT: NegraComoSoy.com cultursmag.com
TECHNOLOGY
“’Flux’ is not about change management. It’s about understanding our relationship to change, from the inside out, and how it shapes and colors every decision we make. Do you come to change from a place of hope or fear? Do you see uncertainty as dangerous or as an adventure for your curiosity? What were you taught about change when you were growing up? We need to examine and reshape our relationship to change to be fit for a world in flux.” Rinne shows us that the best way to prepare for the future is to develop a “flux mindset.” It is a critical skill for thriving in an ever-accelerating world. “The pace of change has never been as fast as it is today, and yet it is likely to never again be this slow,” Rinne points out. “Just pause for a moment and take that in.” For many, the thought of a world that will never slow down again is overwhelming. “There is a lot of anxiety — both latent and overt. We worry about today and fear the future. Rather than letting that fester, a flux mindset is how you turn that anxiety into action. You can’t control the future, but you can control how you contribute to the future you’d like to see.” Rinne points out that not all change is “bad” or something to be avoided. In fact, most of us who feel at home in a globalized world are
April Rinne
used to uncertainty and often welcome change — but not always. “We love change that we opt in to. We resist the change we can’t control — the kind that blindsides us, that goes against our expectations, that changes our plans (or disrupts them entirely). [In today’s world] there is no steady state. There is no end game. There is just more change. So, if we think of our mindset as a kind of muscle, we realize it’s something that we can (and need to) strengthen through daily practice.” www.CultursMag.com
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TECHNOLOGY
April Rinne
So, how can you develop a Flux Mindset? Rinne shares three key pieces of advice: • Look to other cultures — they can teach us a lot about impermanence, change and flux. For example, most of the population of Mongolia are nomadic — moving and rebuilding their homes three times a year in harmony with the seasons. Rather than making them fearful or anxious, this makes them strong and resilient. • Expand your peripheral vision — literally and figuratively. Rinne calls peripheral vision the awareness of everything 84
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you’re not looking at. Expanding this view can help you notice things you didn’t see before, and even reduce your anxiety. • Learn to let go — not of the past, but of the future. This is the central difference between those who can thrive in a world of constant flux and those who crumble. Letting go isn’t about giving up. It’s about non-attachment and non-grasping (or, the yogic principle of aparigraha). “Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change” is exactly the book we need right now in order to come out of
TECHNOLOGY
hiding and move with confidence along with a world that is emerging into being. The future is something we can never predict, but with the right mindset we can help to shape it. Find tools and resources to develop your Flux Mindset, plus travel and handstand inspiration, at https://fluxmindset.com.
WHO AM I, PROFESSIONALLY? For those of us that identify as “in between” — straddling culture, ethnicity, race or place — we may already see ourselves as “hybrid” in our personal identity. Yet, chances are many of us are still stuck in old professional paradigms that tell us we must niche ourselves into a narrow career field or define ourselves by our job titles. “Covid-19 has sent a wave of professional identity crises across the country and around the world,” explains Dr. Sarabeth Berk. “It is something millions of people are going through, but lack the language to communicate it because professional hybridity often defies language and categorization.” Now, Dr. Berk is helping people to clearly define and leverage their professional hybridity through her book “More Than My Title: The Power of Hybrid Professionals in a Workforce of Experts and Generalists.” Earlier in her own career, Dr. Berk experienced her own professional identity crisis. As an
artist, researcher, educator and designer, she had a rich and varied experience. Yet, it was hard to know what to call herself on a resume or job application. It seemed there was always a pressure to adopt standardized titles to appear marketable. This meant sacrificing or hiding parts of her skills and talents and watering down her unique value proposition. Then she noticed something. “I was looking at an art book and noticed a painting by surrealist René Magrite [“The Treachery of Images”]. The picture shows a
“Flux: 8 superpowers for thriving in constant change” by April Rinne
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TECHNOLOGY
Three types of professional identity
tobacco pipe, and below it he painted, ‘This is not a pipe.’ What he was inferring is that the painting is a representation of the thing, it’s not the thing itself. When we label things, we say ‘Oh, that’s a pipe.’ But, it’s not a pipe.” “That’s what’s happening with our professional identity. I call myself a teacher, but that’s not really who I am — I am so much more than this title. So, what if we give ourselves the power and permission to decide what we want to be named instead of accepting an arbitrary title? If I want to call myself a ‘Creative Disruptor,’ no one can tell me that I’m wrong. But, this title has to be something that truly resonates with me — if it feels weird, I’m not going to use it.” Dr. Berk began using the title of Creative Disruptor, which made it possible for her to not only incorporate all of her skills, 86
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talents, and experiences but also allowed her to truly stand out in the employment marketplace. “Up until now, we’ve only had two ways to describe our professional identity,” Berk explained from the TEDxBoulder stage. “The first way is singularity — you’re a specialist or expert. The second way is multiplicity — people who ‘wear a lot of hats.’ Hybridity gives us permission to integrate — blending and combining professional identities together and working at the intersections. For a hybrid professional, the intersections are where their unique value lies — it’s their ‘secret sauce.’ From this vantage point, you can do and see things no one else can.” She said.
TECHNOLOGY
“It’s not about going back to the drawing board, but identifying values, passion, and purpose — what do you care about, what do you love to do, and what do you call yourself when you’re doing it?” Today, Dr. Berk’s early insights on trends in professional identities has turned out to be exactly what we need in this so-called “Great Resignation.” Although, instead, Berk refers to this as the era of the “Great Reinvention.” Rather than relying on old models to define ourselves and our careers, Dr. Berk believes it is time to explore new ways to think about our skills, passions, experience and the value we bring to the world. And, ideally, Berk recommends we leverage the power of intentional community to maximize our insights. “There is a power and synergy that is available to participants of cohort-style workshops. I’ve witnessed it many times — people are reflecting off each other and seeing one another’s identities in new ways. The things we take for granted are usually signs of our hybridity — they are the things that come naturally and feel effortless.” Fortunately, Dr. Berk offers a number of cohort-based workshops, resources and tools through her website MoreThanMyTitle.com. If you are ready to deconstruct your professional identity and be part of the Great Reinvention, this is the perfect place to start.
MOVING CONFIDENTLY INTO UNCERTAINTY Everything changes — it is the nature of reality, and always has been. Once we can fully accept this, we can start to embrace a flux mindset, claim our own unique professional identity and move confidently and joyfully into an uncertain future.
Sarabeth Berk
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TRANSNATIONAL THIRD CULTURE KID FILMMAKERS
ROY WOL: NOMADIC FILMMAKER Interview by Myra Dumapias
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Whether gazing the moon and stars at Lac d’Annecy in France, waiting on Argentinian maté to steep in the UK, sipping on Turkish coffee in Germany, or arriving in Austin for yet another speaking engagement at South by South West (SXSW) in Texas, you can count on Roy Wol to be traveling regularly.
I felt like I found “Waldo”
A
from “Where’s Waldo” — the perfect TCK character, by the way. This find came with an emotional
South by Southwest and CAAMFEST award-winning film producer and director with friends around the world, nomadic Roy Wol gives a glimpse of his Third Culture background and how it influences his work. CULTURS – How did you discover you were a TCK? Roy Wol – I grew up in a home where I had to use words from three languages within one sentence in order to fully express myself. And even with that, I never felt like I was able to. Thanks to internet algorithms, I think some search engine A.I. bot realized I am a Third Culture Kid (TCK) before I knew I was one through my language patterns or something. It was late at night, at my New York City apartment (which I had only spent six months that year,) I was going through one of my existential moments and at some point I got deep into a YouTube wormhole, listening or watching content about cross-culturalism.
Pandora’s box: a liberation of existential pain.
I vaguely remember that I ended up coming across a video featuring some international person who had lived in several countries and whose family had high mobility. I vaguely remember this person mentioned this idea of TCK – it was a Eureka moment... Through that, I ended up finding out about Ruth Van Reken’s Ted Talk which referred to the book about Third Culture Kids. I am not kidding, I felt like I found “Waldo” from “Where’s Waldo” — the perfect TCK character, by the way. This find came with an emotional Pandora’s box: a liberation of existential pain.
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The film not only got named as one of the top 40 best LGBTQ films of all times by Rotten Tomatoes editorial, certified fresh; it also provided jobs to 48 people from the trans community.
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CULTURS – In which countries did you grow up in? Which ones impacted you the most? WOL – I was born as an inter-sect Jew in Tel Aviv to non-Israeli parents, who happened to meet there as tourists. A first-generation Argentinian, my mother’s parents were from Slavic territories and from Turkey, dad’s parents were from Sephardic/Italian/Spanish descent. I grew up and lived in Turkey, Canada, USA, Argentina and shortly in Israel and Spain. Honestly, I think all those countries impacted me in many ways and to this day I cannot choose one over another. It is complicated because growing up as a non-practicing Jew, the local communities always asked to keep quiet about our backgrounds. There was a complex culture of repression to the extent of cultural imposter syndrome; some people thought I was Armenian and some said that was better. A bubble of crosscultural community in Turkey consisting of family/friends had the most influence on me while I went through my spiral vortex of multiple identities...daily. Bottom line though: all of the countries mentioned above impacted me quite deeply and still to this day I am not able to choose one over another. Culturally, New York City feels the most home to me, because I’ve never been asked where I am from by New Yorkers and NYC is such a global bubble.
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CULTURS - How did your identity as a TCK find its way into your work as a filmmaker? WOL – I dabbled in the arts of acting for some time, playing a chameleon of identities. This gave me a great foundation of character for what was about to set up my writing, directing and producing journey. In my earlier writing experiences, I explored existentialism and comedy of alienation. Nevertheless, I often found myself in bridging positions. Thus, I dedicated my work to bridging communities. We often forget the strength that comes out of deliberate intersectionality. As a TCK, I am an intersectionality advocate in my work. Although I am not transgender, Muslim or American, I had the pleasure of making films about these communities. Why? Because I believe we are more alike than not. We are also very different in many ways, but the nuances of experiences we each hold can’t be boiled down to blanket categories. As a TCK I carry the burden of privilege of access to many communities because I am from so many. For me, making films is a way of getting to know myself. Additionally, I ran quad-lingual sets where I spoke simultaneously three to four languages. It is fun!
CULTURS – What are some common themes in your work that keep popping up? Why are they recurring themes? WOL – Hands down the strongest theme that is popping up in my work is this idea of family, and relationships between loved ones or lack thereof. Others include bridging cultures, bridging conflicting communities, immigration, science and technology, one-ness, exploring outliers. First and foremost, everyone could relate to a family story so that’s a great entry point. But when it comes to deeper thematic explorations, the stories that I make or curate in this world are: glocality, generational and technological divides, humor and mindfulness, classism, racial and gender divides, interracial and intercultural relationships, acceptance, the power of otherness, astronomy and existence. It’s hard to say why they are recurring. I wish they were not! www.CultursMag.com
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CULTURS – I understand that some of your recent successes is: “Americanish” and “The Garden Left Behind.” What has that been like? WOL – Life changing. With “The Garden Left Behind,” we told a family drama about an undocumented Mexican trans woman which won at SXSW at its world premiere. The film not only got named as one of the top 40 best LGBTQ films of all times by Rotten Tomatoes editorial, certified fresh; it also provided jobs to 48 people from the trans community. I made so many friends through this film and the impact was both critical and personal. With “Americanish,” we told the first American-Muslim romcom by diverse AmericanMuslim women. The film somehow reached several communities in the USA from the entire Asian-American audience circuit to African-American audiences. The film also created impact both behind and in front of the camera. As a TCK, I am proud to say both of these feature fiction films were the first of their kinds and made history. With our production company Studio Autonomous, which has a global cross-cultural think tank, the first
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I wanted to get into storytelling because stories influence people so deeply that without realizing, in the midst of entertainment, our worldviews change.
film gave us a good foundation on how to create award-worthy and impactful films. The second film allowed us to take everything we learned from the first and make it more accessible to larger audiences. I wanted to get into storytelling because stories influence people so deeply that without realizing, in the midst of entertainment, our worldviews change.
CULTURS – How did you start as a filmmaker? What made you want to get in filmmaking? WOL – I loved performance, so in my teenhood, writing/ directing/acting in plays was the start. At the age of 16, I had the opportunity to intern at a 2D cartoon (cell) animation studio. That experience opened doors to the art of motion pictures. Then I interned in several feature film productions cleaning bathrooms and being yelled at. After studying in Canada, focusing on Dramatic Arts and Film Studies, I found myself interning at Lionsgate films in postproduction. From then on, I quickly realized I wanted to start making films and began making short films. I wanted to get into storytelling because stories influence people so deeply that without realizing, in the midst of entertainment, our worldviews change. And personally, I never saw someone like me (a TCK) on screen so I decided to become a storyteller to explore myself and others that might also feel unseen or unheard.
CULTURS – Looking back at some of the toughest times as a filmmaker, can you tell us about how you got through it? WOL – Community of filmmakers, longtime artistic partners, family and friends. Those are the only people that can get you through this field. This is a profession of communication and reciprocity. So the best thing you can do is to find your community... soon. The challenge with us, the TCKs: some of us don’t even know we are TCKs till mid-life (or worse, never). So you might have to ping pong between many communities for a while till you maybe find your tribe... or tribes! One of the toughest times I had in my filmmaking was that I was working on this one film for about six to seven years. We finished the film and submitted it to the festivals to rejections. I was ready to throw in the towel in the entire industry. Since I felt that this was maybe the end of the road for me, I said to my team that I’d be willing to trash 40% of what we shot/edited, re-write scenes and re-edit the film to make a better one. This was a
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Don’t underestimate the power of belief; surround yourself with smart people that uplift you.
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crazy idea but we did it. The result was not only flipping the rejection of a festival to acceptance, but that we actually won there. I got through this because of my support system — a strong team. I had others that believed in me so blindly as much as I believed in them. Don’t underestimate the power of belief; surround yourself with smart people that uplift you. CULTURS – What have you learned as a filmmaker than you’d like to share with other filmmakers who find themselves working in cross-cultural spaces? WOL – That cross-cultural stories, I believe, are the hardest stories that masses can relate to... for now. For instance, how many biracial stories can you name? Or how many TCK stories? The best example of cross-culturalism I see is in science fiction or fantasy fiction stories. For nearly 100 years, the film industry has been a top-down experience. We were told what to watch, but as the media business expands beyond the art of film, the audiences have now become the artists. If the idea is to share art and explore themes, forms like film are simply a container to be expanded. Cross-cultural story treatment, in my opinion, requires an inside-out and outside-in approach. Consider if cross-cultural stories require to be told in a certain format or not. Chances are cross-culturally
hungry audiences will seek out these stories beyond the form of film so I believe the best formats that could explore crossculturalism is XR, VR and immersive storytelling formats. Instead of competing for story slots in pre-existing media, I suggest expanding the story market by creating stories in new media.
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CULTURS – How do we follow your work? What are upcoming projects or work you have on the horizon? WOL – Most of my films are available on streamers or on cable TV – some are now traveling to festivals. The best is to follow me and our company on socials. And for those TCKs that might want to reach out to me personally and get involved please write to me. I want to help bring more TCK stories to life.
“Americanish” (2021), which Wol worked on as a producer, won Best U.S. Narrative Award at the Phoenix Film Festival (2022), and Best Narrative at the Beloit International Film Festival (2022) and the DC Independent Film Festival (2022), among about 20 awards for the film. “Garden Left Behind” (2019) won the SXSW Audience Award (2019) and Best Screen Play and Best Feature Film at the Sunscreen Film Festival (2019), among around 28 awards. Follow Wol on his website www.roywol.com, Studio Autonomous at www.studioautonomous.com and on Instagram and Twitter at the following handles: Instagram: @lobo_bandido @autonomouspictures Twitter @rgwol @autonomouspix
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BEHIND
THE SCENES
Local police wanted to get in on our Barranco photoshoot
Earphones at the silent disco in Sacred Valley
Tres amigos
Surfing the Lima Shore
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Machu Pichu
BEHIND
THE SCENES
Meditation in Sacred Valley
Picnic in Sacred Valley
A hawk soars at Rainbow Mountain:
Hang-gliding at the Lima shore
Friends at Machu Picchu
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