by Elena on December 30, 2009
While in La Paz, Bolivia I was looking forward to seeing this small unusual museum, especially after a bout of altitude sickness in Peru that had me chewing on coca leaves for days. The museum is on calle Linares, and lucky for us it was down the block from our hostel. Like many shops and restaurants in La Paz, the museum is located inside an alcove hidden in between buildings and back alleys. It is on the second floor of what looks like a residential home. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a man who looked confused to see visitors who were so uncharacteristically on time for the opening of the museum. He turned on the lights and opened its doors for us. After his brief statement about the museum, he offered us some coca leaves which visitors are free to chew on during their visit. The museum consists of one large room with many displays covered in pictures and text, as well as a few small artifacts. There may not be much in comparison to other more elaborate museums, but they certainly are not as provocative. The information dedicated to this small leaf, is hard to find anywhere else.
The coca leaf is a very important part of Andean culture, and the plant was seen as sacred by the Incas. It is believed that people in the Andes have used coca leaves since 2500BC after traces of the leaf were found in mummified bodies in the ruins of Northern Peru. The oil of the plant was used to remove tumors and prevent the body from physical discomfort. Today many people continue to use the plant, in particular those who live in the highlands. While traveling around the Andes we saw many people chewing on these leaves which are said to relieve altitude sickness. The coca leaf stimulates the respiratory centers, allowing more oxygen to absorb in your body, especially helpful for those of us who aren’t born with the larger lung capacity of people who live in high altitudes. It is also believed that the leaf regulates metabolism of glucose and contains nutritious qualities similar to quinoa and wheat.
During colonization, the Catholic Church first banned the use of this leaf but later recognized its medicinal purposes. This sudden change of heart most likely had more to do with the increase productivity of the native workforce that chewed the leaf rather than concern for people’s health.  The curator of the museum explained how the colonists abused workers by relying on the plants increased productivity, as well as lowered appetite.
Fast forward hundreds of years and you get to 1863, the beginning of the legal cocaine boom. The coca leaf is made up of various alkaloids, one of which we know as cocaine. Cocaine is made when you extract the alkaloid from the coca leaf. The trade of cocaine first started after chemists visited the region and saw the popularity of the coca leaf among people that live in high altitudes. The first purpose of cocaine was of course medicinal, but it soon became used for other forms of entertainment.
A French chemist name Angelo Mariani used coca leaves from Peru to make his wine vin Mariani. It was essentially cocawine and contained about 6mg of cocaine per ounce of wine. The ethanol in the wine helped extract the cocaine from the coca leaves. Another pharmacist by the name of John Pemberton also included coca leaves in the drink he created, which later helped create one of the most successful companies in history. Coca-Cola’s original purpose was not as a soft drink, but rather medicine that relieved exhaustion and headaches. The original recipe of Coca-Cola did have traces of cocaine (9mg per ounce), but they changed its recipe around 1903 when people began to worry about the effect of the drug. Some say the drink didn’t become completely cocaine free until 1929. Coca-Cola became wildly popular around the time of prohibition, when Americans were forbidden to drink alcohol. Today Coca-Cola continues to use coca leaves that have been “spent,” meaning they no longer have traces of cocaine. Their manufacturing plant imports the coca leaf to the US, but don’t try doing the same. Don’t even think about bringing back coca leaf tea, if you live in the US, unless you want to spend some time with airport security. The Stephen Company manufacturing plant, is only company allowed to import coca leaves of any kind, so drink up all your coca tea in Bolivia.
The Coca Museum was created by doctors, sociologists, anthropologists, and various institutions in order to create awareness about the coca leaf and its derivative cocaine. Drug use in Bolivia has only increased in high numbers since preventative drug laws were enacted, however the coca leaf is not considered a drug, in essence it isn’t much different than the popular stimulant in the US, a cup of jo. The curator of the Coca Museum made it very clear that the coca leaf is not cocaine (which needs to be created in a lab), but rather a natural remedy and tradition that has lasted for many years.
This guy doesn’t look so good. Reminds me of the Bolivian version of the D.A.R.E. program. Just say no to drugs or you’ll end up looking like this guy.
Image of Coca-Cola and Mariani Wine via: Coca Museum and Wiki.
by Elena on December 15, 2009
by Elena on December 9, 2009
Translation: Mister Imperialists, we aren’t the least bit scared of you!
by Elena on December 7, 2009
While reading the innovation article that inspired the majority of my posts last week, I started to think about the connection between travel and growth in business. It seems inevitable especially in our ever globalized business market. Based on the findings in the innovator study, managers who have been on assignment abroad show about 7% higher market performance when they become CEOs, compared to the CEOs without the international experience.
One of the most powerful experiments innovators can engage in is living and working overseas. Our research revealed that the more countries a person lived in, the more likely he or she is to leverage that experience to deliver innovative products, processes, or business.
I am not a CEO of a major company and I cannot personally recount the truth of these statistics; however I do feel that they are reflective of the benefits of travel. There are plenty of people who tell how travel has affected their lives. There are thousands more people who, despite short vacation time in the US, are dreaming about their next vacation. To some, travel is merely an escape from the rat race, but maybe it can be much more.
Rick Steves argues in his book Travel as a Political Act that travel can help us form our political opinion. By experiencing the way other countries are run firsthand, we can eliminate past prejudices, assumptions, and fears. We can even start to reshape opinions about our own countries. In regards to business, this awareness can reshape the views of a company, as well as the assumptions of the way companies should be run.
Travel can help your professional career in many ways. There is a reason many reporters and researchers go ‘in the field.’ There is invaluable information outside of your cubicle. In this age, where the consumer has loads of products to choose from and thousands of outlets in which they get their information, it is much harder to get your customers to listen. Marketers need to find innovative and unconventional ways to run successful campaigns. Of course traditional advertising can be clever and effective (think of Geico’s ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’) but just because people remember that Maxwell’s is ‘good to the last drop’ or the McDonald’s catchphrase ‘I’m lovin it,’ doesn’t mean that they will drink Maxwell coffee or eat McDonald burgers.
Not everyone can live by gallivanting outside of the office forever, but when you get the chance it will create lots of opportunities that can spark new ideas and revitalize your career.
Image via: antwerpenR
by Elena on December 4, 2009
It is impossible to judge who has the best job or lifestyle, since everyone has different aspirations and ideals. Some celebrities gripe about the pitfalls of fame; yet there are many more people searching for their 15 minutes. Not everyone will become the next creator of a popular social networking site, nor does everyone want to be.
Yesterday I wrote a post about the qualities of an innovator and the process they use to create something new; however that need not be your goal. There are many other ways to use the qualities of innovation.  If you want to change your lifestyle, by working from home, starting your own company, or traveling more often, it is possible. There will always be constraints, but sometimes constraints garner creativity and dedication. I realize that as a woman in my twenties, I don’t have the responsibilities of a family or a mortgage. It would be naive of me to assume that it is just as easy for everyone, however it is not impossible to make changes little by little.
Travel is something I consider to be a very important part of my life. If travel and working for yourself is something you are passionate about, you can start off by trying these strategies:
Use Past Experience: Many people who love travel find ways to travel so despite having a job. Alan from The 9 to 5 Alternative works as a surveyor for an information services company. He is able to travel the world as he gathers cost-of-living data for his company. Jobs like his allow for lots of travel. If you would like to quit your 9-5 someday, you can start save up money now, until you are ready to start your new endeavors. I used to work in media and now have ventured into the world of online/new media. Things I’ve done in the past help me to move forward with what I’m doing now.
Do Your Research: Before you make any big life decision you should be asking a lot of questions. You need to do your research and make sure you are making the right moves. Granted you don’t want to worry needlessly, and being prepared will take away some of that worry. You also need to figure out your expenses and income, and if you have enough saved to make a transition.
Learn From Others: You can learn so much from watching others doing what you would like to do. I have been inspired by so many people, and I continue to learn from them every day. If you are considering life on the road you should check out others who are already living the life you desire. Some of my favorite examples of people who have successfully accomplished introducing travel into their lives are Christine Gilbert at Almost Fearless, Chris Guillebeau at The Art of Non-Conformity, Alan Perlman at The 9 to 5 Alternative, and Matt at Nomadic Matt. Their posts will inspire lots of people to start traveling.
Experiment: Start slowly and try out your new lifestyle before you jump right in. It is easy to idealize a situation without considering some possible downsides. Traveling for a living, starting your own company, or being a freelancer may not be the right choices for you. Before you quit your job and make any big decisions, you should try things out in small bursts. You could use a bulk of you vacation time and live they way you would be if you were on the road for awhile. That means no fancy hotels, unless you have a trust fund or some kind rich relatives. If you want to work for yourself, start doing so right now (without quitting your day job). Sure it seems nice to work in your pajamas and enjoy breakfast at your personal computer, but it is often hard work in the beginning.
Network: Once you make a change in your lifestyle, you will encounter a whole new set of demands and social network. It is important to get involved with this network whether it be fellow travelers, fellow writers, or fellow artists and designers.
by Elena on December 3, 2009
What do guys like Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos have in common? Yes they are insanely wealthy, and yes they were young when they made their millions, and ok yes a few of them started their companies in their garage; but besides all that, what I want to focus on is the fact that they are true innovators that changed they way things were done in their fields.
While rummaging around Barnes and Nobles, I came across an article in The Harvard Business Review about innovation in business. Â I felt guilty spending $16 on a magazine, so I opted for a $5 foam something or other from Starbucks instead and sat down to read the article.
The following couple of days I was telling anyone who would listen about “The Innovator’s DNA.” I usually avoid titles with the word business in them, but this article struck a chord. “The Innovator’s DNA” discusses what sets apart innovative companies like eBay and Amazon. They may be big corporations now, but they all started with an idea, no matter how small. eBay started because its founder wanted to help his fiancee find rare Pez dispensers, you know, the plastic toy that releases candy from its head. Google, known for its innovative products, completely changed the way we search for information. Their work ethic, offices, algorithms, advertising, products etc. etc. continue to influence and dominate the search landscape. (Admittedly, Google makes my nerdy heart flutter, so I may be a bit biased).
The review studied the habits of 25 innovative entrepreneurs, as well as thousands of other executives and individuals involved in such companies. As it turns out, there are certain “discovery skills” that innovators use to get ahead. The good news is that these skills are most often learned. In other words, you aren’t born with the gene to create an empire. It’s also fascinating because they aren’t limited to entrepreneurs. Anyone interested in living outside of the box can use them to get ahead.
Associating
Innovators are open minded and can relate various ideas from various fields in order to be successful. A rather famous example is Steve Jobs, who dropped out of college and took a course in calligraphy. A career in calligraphy is not a traditional career choice, however years later while designing the first Macintosh computer, Steve Jobs was able to use his calligraphy skills. He introduced various typefaces and fonts that were later copied by Microsoft and used today on all computers.
Questioning
Innovators ask questions, simple as that. They ask the easy questions and the hard ones. They challenge assumptions and don’t believe that things need to be done a certain way. Maybe that’s why Sergey Brin enters business meetings on rollerblades. Why not? By asking lots of questions you get down to what people want and the ways to make your products and information better and more useful.
Observing
Innovators learn from what is around them. Even Shakespeare borrowed themes and storylines from the great writers before him. New technology builds upon the technology before it and the media is constantly changing. By studying those around you, the successes as well as the mistakes, you gain insight for your future endeavors.
Experimenting
Innovators aren’t afraid to experiment. With experimentation you risk failure, but they are willing to risk some failure to attain their goal. As an innovator, you need to learn from your mistakes and go forward with your successes. After being fired from Apple, Steve Jobs started Pixar, and as luck would have it, he returned to Apple when they bought his other company NeXT.
Networking
Innovators network because they can learn from others. Not only do they need to test out their ideas, but they also gain a greater perspective from others, inside and outside their field.
Image via: Yodel Anecdotal
by Elena on December 2, 2009
Salar de Uyuni during the dry season (© Elena Vazquez)
The Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat. It is very impressive to drive through what looks like a large white desert. Legend tells that the salt flat was formed because of the giant people living in the mountains, more specifically the tears and breast milk of a woman grieving over her fleeing husband. Science tells that the flat used to be a giant lake that formed into the salt flat because of the excess sediment. There is liquid still under the salt covering, and out guide warned us that many adventurers who don’t know the salt flat and decided to go off on their own had sunk into the softer parts of the flat.
And for those of you wondering it really is salt. We tried it.
by Elena on December 1, 2009
Media and print journalism traditionally are difficult industries to enter. Most prospective employees have numerous unpaid internships under their belt. They work countless hours each day, often for very little compensation. The stereotype of the lowly intern getting coffee for the reporters in the newsroom has been true for some time. He pushes through piles of paperwork before getting a single word he’s written printed anywhere. Times are a changing however, and the media world is changing as well, bringing new obstacles that bright eyed college graduates can anticipate.
David Carr of The New York Times recently wrote an inspiring article about the changes affecting the media landscape. Any writer and editor knows the tribulations that print media is encountering. More and more magazines fold each month, revenues are down, spending is down, and each magazine seem slimmer than the previous year. Postings on ed2010.com have gone from lots of promising jobs at glossy mags, to the current array of dubious positions at new online magazines. The reason: glossy mags aren’t hiring anymore, and when you do come across the open positions, the competition is fierce.
While these changes may seem difficult at first, they are just the progression of a malleable medium. Media has always changed and grown. What Carr recognizes is that people are finding other ways to find success in this industry.
For every kid that I bump into who is wandering the media industry looking for an entrance that closed some time ago, I come across another who is a bundle of ideas, energy and technological mastery. The next wave is not just knocking on doors, but seeking to knock them down.
Somewhere down in the Flatiron, out in Brooklyn, over in Queens or up in Harlem, cabals of bright young things are watching all the disruption with more than an academic interest. Their tiny netbooks and iPhones, which serve as portals to the cloud, contain more informational firepower than entire newsrooms possessed just two decades ago. And they are ginning content from their audiences in the form of social media or finding ways of making ambient information more useful. They are jaded in the way youth requires, but have the confidence that is a gift of their age as well.
It is no longer a privilege of the few in the industry. People with something to say can do so rather easily. The question is how do they get people to listen?
Photo via: uhlandfriends
While in La Paz, Bolivia I was looking forward to seeing this small unusual museum, especially after a bout of altitude sickness in Peru that had me chewing on coca leaves for days. The museum is on calle Linares, and lucky for us it was down the block from our hostel. Like many shops and restaurants in La Paz, the museum is located inside an alcove hidden in between buildings and back alleys. It is on the second floor of what looks like a residential home. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a man who looked confused to see visitors who were so uncharacteristically on time for the opening of the museum. He turned on the lights and opened its doors for us. After his brief statement about the museum, he offered us some coca leaves which visitors are free to chew on during their visit. The museum consists of one large room with many displays covered in pictures and text, as well as a few small artifacts. There may not be much in comparison to other more elaborate museums, but they certainly are not as provocative. The information dedicated to this small leaf, is hard to find anywhere else.
The coca leaf is a very important part of Andean culture, and the plant was seen as sacred by the Incas. It is believed that people in the Andes have used coca leaves since 2500BC after traces of the leaf were found in mummified bodies in the ruins of Northern Peru. The oil of the plant was used to remove tumors and prevent the body from physical discomfort. Today many people continue to use the plant, in particular those who live in the highlands. While traveling around the Andes we saw many people chewing on these leaves which are said to relieve altitude sickness. The coca leaf stimulates the respiratory centers, allowing more oxygen to absorb in your body, especially helpful for those of us who aren’t born with the larger lung capacity of people who live in high altitudes. It is also believed that the leaf regulates metabolism of glucose and contains nutritious qualities similar to quinoa and wheat.
The Coca Museum was created by doctors, sociologists, anthropologists, and various institutions in order to create awareness about the coca leaf and its derivative cocaine. Drug use in Bolivia has only increased in high numbers since preventative drug laws were enacted, however the coca leaf is not considered a drug, in essence it isn’t much different than the popular stimulant in the US, a cup of jo. The curator of the Coca Museum made it very clear that the coca leaf is not cocaine (which needs to be created in a lab), but rather a natural remedy and tradition that has lasted for many years.
This guy doesn’t look so good. Reminds me of the Bolivian version of the D.A.R.E. program. Just say no to drugs or you’ll end up looking like this guy.
New Jersey Is Not So Bad, In Fact It’s Pretty Nice
by Elena on December 17, 2009
Granted the success of these shows are all based upon stereotypes. I don’t judge Los Angeles by the fake tans, fake breasts, and lip enhanced women on reality television, ok maybe I do just a little, but I certainly can’t make broad assumptions about the city as a whole, much less the whole state. We all have our own prejudices that affect our opinions about the places we visit, but by being completely ruled by these assumptions, we miss out on a lot of the good stuff.
What most people forget is that New Jersey is the “Garden State,” and to all those distant snickers, I am dutifully ignoring you. While industry has been an important part of our economy for many years, there are many beautiful parts of New Jersey. Believe it or not there are farms in NJ, quite a bit actually. If picking your own fruits and vegetables strikes your fancy, you can do so at multiple locations. Farmers’ markets are all over the state and you can check on the Department of Agriculture website to find one close to your home. Chances are some of the produce found in your supermarket and restaurants is from a nearby farm, especially if you’re buying tomatoes, blueberries, apples, beans, broccoli, corn, and the list goes on. When I lived in Montreal, I would shop at the local farmer’s market and I was surprised to see Jersey tomatoes and berries so far north. I have gone to farms in NJ since I was a little girl, where children could ride hayrides, go apple, peach, and pumpkin picking, drink apple cider, and pick out homemade pies. Maybe I’ve belabored my point, but allow me to reiterate; we aren’t all sludging around in grime and hair gel.
As one of my family members said about the comments people were making about NJ and The Jersey Shore show. “Let people think NJ is like that. Save the nice beaches for ourselves.” And it’s not merely the beaches but also the trails, the mountains, the small towns, the multicultural cities, the good food.
That is the thing with New Jersey. People don’t go to places because there was a rave review in a prominent publication like the New York Times, although that is quickly changing. People go to restaurants because of word of mouth, because the food is great, their friends go, it’s been open for years, they know the owner, and the service is friendly and generous with their drinks. I’m not referring to the chains I love to hate and hate to love. Yes those are popular too, and while they aren’t as ‘authentic’ as the small Italian eatery in my town, sometimes you just want to choose between 25 different kinds of cheesecake.
I challenge anyone to find a better quality steak or rodizio than in Newark NJ, and if you find one, I’ll be first on line. If you want a great meal, go where the immigrants are; the Brazilians know their meat and they live in Newark. If you want gargantuan portions of Spanish food, Newark is also the place. The cost is reasonable and the food is damn good. More “modern” eateries are popping up as well. Modern Spanish dining, or as I like to call it shi-shi, can be more expensive, with smaller portions and sauces drizzled onto nice designs on your plate, still delicious and following in the footsteps of Nouveau Spanish cuisine all over the world. If you want Mexican food, Mi Pequeno Mexico on Ferry Street is by far the most authentic Mexican food I’ve tasted since wandering around Mexico City. That’s a place worth returning to.
Call me biased. I absolutely am. I love New Jersey. I love that there are trees outside my window and that the GWB is a 15 minute drive from my house. In a perfect world with no traffic and endless parking, I can be walking around the MOMA or grabing a coffee from the Mudtruck in Astor Place in 30 minutes. In New Jersey there are towns that still have bookstores, coffee shops, and vintage stores that have remained untouched by the hands of chain stores. Go to Montclair, Englewood, Ridgewood, or Madison and you’ll feel like you stepped into a small town movie set. If you need a discounted superstore you’re in luck. Rest assured, no matter where you stand in New Jersey, you are within 20 minutes from a few malls. Sometimes closer.
So yes some of the stereotypes may be true, but in a state where there are so many cultures and immigrants, it is impossible to stigmatize the whole population. Go to little India on Newark Avenue in Jersey City and tell me if you are reminded of the folks on the MTV show. Not likely. Taste some chicken makhani or saag paneer and you will be back for more.
Say what you will about the industry, the hairspray, the housewives, or the Sopranos, this is the place I call home. And to those who don’t want to get past the stereotypes to find the good stuff, it is fine by me. Like my cousin said, more for us.
Image via: Nicholas_T
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