Chocolate Service Announcement: Don’t Wear Booty Shorts on an Airplane

Imported Chocolate Finds: Bensimon’s New Collection in March 2012

A little birdie told me — OK, it was Bensimon USA — that the new Spring/Summer 2012 collection of sneakers will be released in March! I am beyond excited! You can revisit my gushing over my favorite sneaker brand here and here. It truly is the best sneaker ever in my opinion!

I have a few pairs on my wish list that I plan to snap up once they are released. In the mean time, to get your Bensimon fix, check out their USA website at www.bensimonusa.com. Shipping is free! Enjoy!

NOTE: Photo found via. I don’t own any rights.

Imported Chocolate of the Moment: Erin LeeAnn Watson

1. Who She Is: Erin is a 21 year old Beloit College graduate who majored in Political Science. She is a Benjamin A. Gilman international scholar and has interned in D.C. for a non profit organization and for the consulate general of Switzerland in Chicago. She studied abroad for six months in Sweden while in college, and was an exchange student in Australia when she was 15. She loves learning about different cultures and countries.

2.Imported To: Australia, Sweden, Russia, Italy, and Finland.

3.Imported Wish List: Greece, Argentina, South Africa, Turkey, and South Korea.

4.Inside My Imported Chocolate Box: Camera, photos of friends and family, and a journal to write down some of the funny and memorable adventures I experience!

5.Top Five Places I Recommend You See: The Red square in Moscow; anywhere in Rome is a must see; Stockholm is gorgeous anywhere you go is beautiful; the Australian outback will blow your mind, the nature is breathtaking, and Milan because you see all the fancy expensive stores!

6.First Three Hours In A New Country/Place I: Call my parents let them know I’m safe, See where the closet food spot is, and take my book bag and start walking around town!

7.First Three Days In A New Country/Place I: First day do all the tourist things, second day, set up a blog, and third day start getting to know the locals!

8.How Do You Mane Tame Your Hair When Abroad: I wear twist for the first three months, and then I wear a natural for the last three months.

9.Chocolate For Your Thoughts On Women Of Color Traveling: Just be open and enjoy yourself!

10.Chocolate For Your Thoughts On Women Traveling: Always travel with people, be aware of your surroundings.

11.Best Imported Moment: Climbing a mountain in Australia and seeing all the nature from a spectator view! It was awesome!

12.How Do You Make Your Dream Of Travel Come True: Education has been the main reason I have been able to travel. Other than that, look for a job that allows you travel and conduct research in foreign countries.

If you’re an Imported Chocolate of the moment, or know one, I would love to profile you! Email me at jennifer@imported-chocolate.com

Anatomy of a Travel Playlist: Buenos Aires

Every moment in our lives has a playlist. Whether it’s a spontaneous road trip with friends, running away with a lover to elope, a pilgrimage of self discovery or the loss of virginity — it all has a score, that indefinable soundtrack that reanimates those magical moments whenever we hear a song from it; It doesn’t matter where our location is, one song can transport us back to the sights, sounds and smells of our special moment.

If Hola, Morocha, (the book manuscript about my experience living in Buenos Aires) was a film, the soundtrack would sound a little something like this:

1.“Leaving on a Jet Plane” by Chantal Kreviazuk: I played this song before I left for Buenos Aires; this song sums up the emotions I was feeling about leaving my comfort zone, family and friends behind.

2.“Let Go” by Frou Frou: This is Hola, Morocha’s “theme song.” In fact, in a perfect world, the film trailer for Hola, Morocha would play out to this song. *Winks*

3. “Can’t Take it In” by Imogen Heap: Another song that played on my ipod while I traveled. I think every traveler feels this way when traveling.

4. “Stop and Stare” by One Republic: As a woman of color living in Buenos Aires, I was stared at immensely. There are not a lot of women of color in Buenos Aires — they are almost non existent — so when Argentines see one walking down the street — they give her their undivided attention.

5.“Street Lights” by Kanye West: There is a part in Hola, Morocha where I describe the feeling you get when you take your first taxi ride in a new country. For me, it was the first time I went out for a night on the town. This song would be perfect for that moment if it played out on the big screen. I can imagine the city and the glare from the street lights reflected in the glass window of the taxi while the song played.

6. “Apathy” by One Republic: While you’re abroad, apathy will come to find you every once in awhile. Apathy is like that annoying neighbor who drops by unannounced to borrow sugar, but instead, insist on telling you depressing details about their life. It’s completely unwelcomed and leaves you saying “Uuughhh. I just don’t care!” Don’t worry, like the annoying neighbor, apathy is easy to avoid. I used this song by One Republic to get me through my apathy infected days.

7. “Release Me” by Agnes: Everytime I hear this song it reminds me of my girls’ night out bar crawls in Buenos Aires. This song would be perfect for a party montage scene.

8. “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode: First, I must say that I FRIGGIN LOVE DEPECHE MODE! Argentines love them too! There was not a day that went by when I did not hear this song blasting from a car speeding by. No film about Buenos Aires would be complete without a Depeche Mode song on its soundtrack.

9. “Sober” by Kelly Clarkson: There was a night I could not sleep because I was anticipating a certain moment — one that shall not be named like Voldemort — and spent the sleepless hours listening to this song instead.

10. “Sorry” by Madonna: This song is featured in Hola, Morocha and was playing during a very wild night out. Let’s just say it involved glitter, a stage, a dancing traffic light and a dancing crayon. This would make for an interesting scene in a film.

11. “All I Need” by One Republic: I believe this album came out when I was living in Buenos Aires and this is one of the songs I listened to all the time.

12. “Haters” by Collie Buddz: I was introduced to this epic song and artist on one chill evening in Belgrano — Buenos Aires’s version of Brooklyn — it was an evening of dinner, wine and weed. I didn’t smoke of course.

13. “Across the Universe” by the Beatles: This is my travel staple song and will be on all my travel playlists.

14. “Wonderwall” cover by Ryan Adams: I always reflected to this song while looking out through my balcony.

15. “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” cover by Lea Michel: This would be the perfect exit song for the film. There is no greater song to depart from Buenos Aires to. This song expresses how I felt when I arrived back to New York from Buenos Aires.

Do you have a travel playlist you would like to share? Imported Chocolate would love to hear it! Send your playlist to jennifer@imported-chocolate.com for it to be featured on the blog. All travel playlists are welcome!

NOTE: Photo authors own. All rights reserved.

Imported Chocolate Finds: Vogue Black Video Series

I stumbled upon this series of videos by Vogue Black awhile ago. They are so inspiring to me. It’s about time black models get some attention. These women are truly Imported Chocolate. Here are some of my favorite ones. Enjoy!

The Goodies I’m Working On!

This weekend I will begin work on an ebook project with tips and plans on how women of color can get their finances together to ensure that they travel every year. The ebook will be free and available for download by request when it’s done. If there are any particular questions you, my lovely readers, have about this topic — please feel free to ask them in the comment section below. OK. Until next time. :0)

NOTE: I do not own any rights to the photo above.

Chocolate Service Announcement: Bensimon — the Best Travel Sneaker Ever!!!!!

Still in love with the Bensimon!

Travel in the News: Trip to Martha’s Vineyard

Here is a vlog I did on Martha’s Vineyard. I fantastically affordable weekend getaway!

Chocolate Service Announcement: Buenos Aires Apartment of Hola, Morocha Fame Available for Rent!!!!!!

Continuing on the Buenos Aires kick, I’m happy to announce that the beautiful apartment I lived in when I was in Buenos Aires is available for rent. The apartment is a charming and traditional Argentine apartment and is located in one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires — Palermo. Readers of my old blog will remember my stories from the apartment and how much I loved my balcony and the weeping willow tree that bowed to it. I still have the leaves I plucked from the tree the last night I spent in the apartment. This apartment is dear to me and is the heart of Hola, Morocha in the book. And best of all it’s only $400 US a month. So if you are planning a trip to Buenos Aires right now and looking for a rental — look no further! I always recommend rental from a local when traveling instead of staying in a hotel. It makes for a more genuine and richer experience. If you are interested contact my Argentine sister Maria at morocha723@hotmail.com. She owns the apartment and was nice enough to allow me to share this info with my readers. Here is some old pics I took of the apartment when I was living there and her official advertisement:

Luminous, spacious and quiet fully-renovated studio in the liveliest area of Buenos Aires City — Palermo. There are all kinds of shops around (supermarket, deli, bakery and mall). Two blocks far from Lagos de Palermo, the city’s main green area. The location is absolutely convenient: all kinds of transportation (going to any spot in town), close to all of the city’s traditional neighborhoods and most visited spots (La Boca and San Telmo are 20 minutes far). You will have wonderful neighbors in the friendliest environment possible (including the doorman). The apt has a big bathroom and a balcony, which is a pleasure. Internet and utilities are included. Security Deposit: USD400 + last month in advance. Available August 1st.

Imported Chocolate Finds: Emily Haines of Metric Band in Buenos Aires

This is the video which inspired my “Buenos Aires the New Artists Oasis” article. Every single emotion Emily experienced mirrored my own. Seeing her walk through the same locations I walked through and ride the same trains I did, brought it all back for me and I knew I had to write the article. Her descriptions of Buenos Aires and Argentines are so spot on. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I did and that you are inspired to travel!

XOXOXO

Jen