Conner Varin's Photography in Glamour South Africa...

Many of you know Stephanie (Conner Varin) from her previous feature as a Nomad•ness Gal, and/or as one of my closest friends. In the end of October, this woman packed up her life and moved to Jo'Burg, South Africa on some 'I'm just going to make it work' type ish.

And through the ups and downs, that's exactly what she's doing.

Today in the Tribe she posted up a seemingly innocent link...until I clicked it. This woman has worked her magic onto the Glamour Online Magazine of South Africa... pow!

CLICK HERE FOR THE SPREAD!

Here's to you love... so proud.

and...I miss Japan. Trezure Empire and Cav @ Yume Fest

Nomad•ness Gal, the ever amazing and original Trezure Empire, along side her ace Cav shut Tokyo's Yume Fest down in November. The duo skipped town from Brooklyn and graced the stage to an always live Japanese crowd. She did one of my favorites, 'Shibuya'. The nostalgia tho......damn, I'm saying. I miss my second home.

cvarin in South Africa...

The last two weekends have hit me with some emotional spurts...all due to my people and the moves we are making...not trying to make, but are making. Last weekend was Josh and Chanel's wedding.

This weekend, up until this morning, it's been Steph's impending leave to South Africa. As of this morning, my dear friend boarded on that plane to Johannesburg. Through an amazing going away party, in a loft space I'd sell my first child for, Steph, the Tribe (in FULL effect), friends, and friends who are damn near family all gathered together to send this phenomenal off in style.

Steph and I traveled India together in early 2010, after only meeting in real life twice. The third time I ever saw her face, it became a lifeline of sanity and reliability, and friendship during one of the most intense trips of my life. There was a spoken and unspoken bond between us ever since. Both of us, recently, home for months on end (which is a long time for us both) really gave way to our friendship growing. It was a conversation with Stephanie that turned the idea of building a social network for the Tribe on another platform, into an already inclusive Group on Facebook. That idea, mixed with the vision I already had in place, was hands down one of the best moves for the Tribe, the series, and the business as a whole. I thank her for that insight. Something that I run to often for both creative and personal matters.

I love her. She truly has become one of my closest friends, to date. I appreciate her spirit, her drive, and her unrelenting passion. She is a true gem.

I, the Tribe, mutual friends all want to with Stephanie an easy, joyful transition to her new home in South Africa.

Run the world, as you will, and I promise the Tribe will be there for the Meet Up. trust...

Thank you for being you.

  

Nomad•ness Gal: Sheryll Donerson

The subject of this Nomad•ness gal, is Sheryll Donerson.

I stumbled upon Sheryll's Twitter page but it was her Tumblr that really caught my interest enough to reach out to her personally.

Her Tumblr description reads:

I'm 24. Los Angeles. I love to travel. Obsessed with fashion, food porn and interior design. And wine. Lots and lots of wine.
I'm also the blogger at http://thewanderlustproject.com.
I'm kicking my quarterlife crisis in the ass.

How can you not love that? There's a spunk to her that all of my favorite women in the world possess.

We share the same lust for Paris, as she's already booked her one way ticket out to London, and will be moving to France shortly thereafter.
She's a woman who was honest with herself enough to realize her dream job was far from what she thought. She's also a woman courageous enough to do something about it.

"When I graduated, I moved immediately to LA with my boyfriend. I immediately started working. I landed my dream job: Assistant at a talent agency....when I realized that the office life just wasn't cut out for me. The career path I was on had me working 9 hour days in a windowless room. I was depressed, gaining weight and completely unhealthy. In a moment of despair I googled "travel inspiration" I found countless blogs that revived my life. I knew wanted to travel. I wanted to feel alive again."

I find that this happens with many women. We're at that time in our life and we think we know exactly what we want, we got after it, we obtain it, then we feel guilty for feeling like we want more. For me, it was wanting to be a Producer. That was my mecca. I found myself working around Producers and asking myself ..."That's it?" Use it as motivation for change, and that's just what Sheryll has done.

Sheryll's first peek at travel began in London, as she continued to explore other parts of Western Europe.

"While in London, I traveled to Italy, France, Turkey, and Greece. I was astounded by the lack of women of color I saw traveling. In Greece, I actually had people come up to me and take pictures with me..because they had never seen someone with my skin complexion before. It was completely mind blowing to me. It let me know that I not only need to travel for myself, but share my experiences with other women."

Enough said...

You can follow her on her journey at The Wanderlust Project.

Nomad•ness Gal: Xianix Barrera (and all her fire!)

 

Photo By: Eva Sandorova

There's another Nomad•ness Gal to add to the list of phenomenal ladies already present. Today's shout out goes to a Xianix Barrera.

I first met Xianix in an art class at Iona College. Both 2006 graduates, and full of art lust, we ended up in a number of the same studio classes before getting our diploma. Her talent on a canvas was immediately apparent to the students, and faculty, but her passion for art took another turn. A turn that couldn't be explored in our own Iona classrooms. Xianix was in love with Flamenco dancing.

Years after school we would randomly run into one another. But I really think our relationship changed during one phone conversation. I'd returned from Japan, and she called for advice on moving abroad. Nerves were kicking in, approaching what would be the first of many trips she'd be taking to Sevilla, Spain to perfect her craft. MUST check out the video posted below of her in action.

This love of Flamenco fuels her traveling, an awe dropping personal weight loss initiative, and the entrepreneurial spirit that led her to open up her own New York City Flamenco Group, Sabor Flamenco.

"I had no idea that the one decision to take a Flamenco class on January 8th, 2005 would change my life forever. I found my calling, my passion, and my dream. I was told that I must get myself to Spain to truly understand what Flamenco is all about. Through extremely hard work (holding down three jobs, working seven days a week, for three months after graduation) and sacrificing my summer, I got myself to Spain for a month in 2006. I’ve since gone to Spain every two years for 3-4 months at a time. Immersing myself in the tradition and lifestyle of Flamenco. That which cannot be taught in the US, that which can only be experienced at the root of its creation," she says.

Xianix has visited London, Paris, parts of Morocco, Madrid, Barcelona, Granada, Jaen, and Sevilla Spain.

"My travels started in 2005 when I went to London for spring break. I remember being amazed by the round-trip ticket price of only $300. It was great for me because while everyone was heading south to Cancun, I was heading east for a bargain. I loved it so much I went back the following year. That first experience with traveling outside my bubble of Washington Heights (NY) opened me up to the world that is out there. The world that I thought I’d never get to experience myself."

Nomad•ness Gal: Dash Harris

With the push of the DRT.BGs and promotions for Berlin, Nomadnesstv.com word is spreading everywhere. So much so, it caught the attention of another female world traveler, Dash Harris, creator of the phenomenal women's website venusgenus.com.

We linked yesterday, filmed a dope bit for the promotion of Nomad•ness TV, to be featured on her site, and talked for over two hours.

One of those people who you just meet but you feel as though you've known them for years already. We spoke about similar travels in Europe, being noted by foreigners as the only Black woman they've seen travel alone, ever. We're a rare breed....for now. Nomadness is working on that.

Dash has Panamanian, and subsequently, African roots. Dash put her 2 week notice in to her most recent job and is ditching the work force to pursue her passion. My kinda woman!

She just started a 45 day Kickstarter to help get her documentary, Negro, funded at $5250! The documentary takes an innovative look at the African Diaspora and its influences on Latin cultures. Dash found something that is personal, in some areas of the world controversial, but definitely poignant and is on her way to telling the story in her own way. I dig it!

If you can pledge, please do to her project of Kickstarter.

Link to her Kickstarter is HERE!

Nomad•ness Newbie: Kim Kinnard

We have a Nomad•ness Newbie! Now you are familiar with the Nomad•ness Gals I've featured in the past. Women who grab the world by the balls and travel through it. But what would this site mean if we didn't help people who haven't traveled, build up the gusto to go out there and venture on that first trip abroad? They are our Newbies and the beginning of our next wave of world travelers. That is the story of Ms. Kim Kinnard!

Kim was my roomate in college during my junior year. After graduation, we'd lost all touch and about four months ago I randonly ran into her on in Grand Central waiting for the train. In 10 minutes we had to catch up on almost five years. During this convo she found out about my travels and also revealed some of the fears of her upcoming, first trip, to Dubai. Like many conversations I've had, I heard a lot of "I wish I could do that too!" "You're so brave!". No offense, but it's all the bullshit! The things that I hear as excuses why people don't just go out and do it. But I respect it, to each is own.

So when I got an email a few weeks ago about her nerves approaching her trip to Dubai (and what a place to start traveling) I was green with envy, and proud with 'purple'? Anyway, I was so excited for her! She returned and I could hear her beaming over the internet! I'm so happy and I asked if she'd be willing to post on her feelings before and after, as I feel many people go through the same thing, and sometimes all it takes is for someone to relate.

Kim, I am so proud of you! You are beaming in this photo!

BEFORE:

"This was my first trip outside of the country so I was very excited and scared. I had my hesitations about going to the Middle East for lots of reasons. I can't be accurate with the history with Dubai and war/ threats to the US but as far as my knowledge Dubai has not and has never  participated with such matters. Being from New York, I would say it’s a bit easy to form these opinions and have these feelings and as you know the death of Osama Bin Laden had just occurred. So in my mind I am thinking I am going to a country where women keep covered, there is no free speech, no rights like the US, and then the death of Bin happened, I was highly considering canceling my trip."

AFTER:

"Dubai was an experience of a life time. I feel truly blessed to have been able to do this. This is honestly an accomplishment for me. Not to just have the means to travel but to say "Yes I am going to pack up and fly to the other side of the world and enjoy myself and go out and about and be OK."  I also can say that I can come back to New York and spread a bit of knowledge to others about everything from culture and food to tours and malls, and where to stay. I can let everyone know how beautiful my trip was. Dubai is extremely Westernized and safe. Everyone speaks English very well, and every single store we have in New York they have 4 of but built in gold…

Also very important to know is the laws are strict but that’s why the crime rate in Dubai is extremely low. It's actually illegal for a man to "holla" (try to pick up a girl) in the streets. As many of us girls  get hit on everyday and have men say very inappropriate things to us while walking to and from work or home ,it was such a nice break not to hear any of that."

(I wish!!!)

Nomad•ness gal: Ariel

Ariel's dedication to travel and heading into the unknown is the reason why she is noted as the most recent Nomad•ness gal.

Natural beauty, thirst for travel, mixed with sheer courage is the recipe for an extraordinary life. I met Ariel during our undergrad years, when she briefly attended Iona College, before transferring. Our paths didn't meet much on campus, but I always remembered her face. Little did I know, about six years later we'd be sitting across from one another in SoHo sharing travel stories.

2009 had her all over South East Asia, returning home only after being injured on her trip, needing knee surgery back in the States. She's a trooper. We all need to catch up!

Self-proclaimed aspring travel writer, third world feminist, and culture consumer.

On her lone travels she's done Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malyasia, Indonesia, Greece, Spain, France, Netherlands, England, Israel, and Haiti.

With her family she's been fortunate enough to ride out the Carribean with Belize, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Bahamas, Aruba, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Martinque, and Barbados.

She currentyhas sights on India and Peru.

Nomad•ness gal: Conner Varin

Photo By Lee-Roy Jason >>> 75.Co.za

© Rayon Richards Photography >>> www.rayonrichards.com

Talent. Power. Sensuality. Love of travel. Embracer of world.

Stephaine (Conner Varin) is Brooklyn's own nomadic artist. Within the last year alone, she's chartered herself and her camera, to Spain, London, India, South Africa (X's 2), and Jamaica. I think Dubai was sprinkled in there a little bit as well.

With every trip, and every photo, her shooting and editing style becomes ever more unique. Her thirst for world knowledge lends itself effortlessly to her art. Her photos tell stories behind the faces on her journey. Honest. Raw, and unique to her story. Check her photos and blogs out at http://www.connervarinblog.com.

Here's to another lady, doing it big. iSUPPORT.

Follow her twitter @cvarin