International Woman of Mystery (Wednesday Nobody Interviews)

This edition is with world traveler and fellow aspiring author Claire Gittens begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting. To say I am envious of the places she's been would be a gross understatement.

1. How do we know each other?

We met in a weekly critique group on Writers' Digest Community.

2. Where do you originally come from, where are you now, and where have you been in-between?

I'm from Barbados. Now I live in Japan. I've lived in the US. I've also visited Colombia, Martinique, St. Maarten, Trinidad, Jamaica, Venezuela, India, Australia, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Bermuda, and Hong Kong. I think that's all. OH, Gibraltar.

3. How do you help assimilate into all the different cultures?

I really like languages. So it's very important for me to be able to speak the language when I travel. Also, I like to see the type of tourism that's a little bit off the beaten path. Meet the locals and stuff. Being from a very "tourist-y" country, I know from experience, that what tourists see can be very different from every day life.

4. How did you become such a world traveler especially at such a young age?

From the time I was a kid, I got involved in things that would include travelling. I went to Martinique 3 times on French exchange programs. I went to Bahamas with Girl Guides (you call them Girl Scouts). I went to Jamaica on a university sponsored trip. Ditto for the 6 weeks I spent in Colombia. Bermuda, Portugal, Spain and Gibraltar were all during my time training with the US Coast Guard. (I also got the chance to see 11 US states with the CG.)

5. Is there a method to your madness when it comes to picking your destination or how long you stay there for?

For the ones with groups I was involved in. For the others, sometimes there are places I just really want to go. Like Hawaii, Italy and Greece- none of which I've been to, but all of which I hope to visit some day. Some happen because something comes up. I was feeling all "give-back-y" and then the opportunity to go to India and build houses for Dalits came up. A few times, it's to visit family and friends. Half my family lives in Canada, as does one of my best friends. I also have family in Australia. And sometimes, it's just that I haven't travelled in a while and get a "Hmmm, I feel like going somewhere," feeling. Then I see where I can afford and I'm off.

6. You know what they say "There's no place like home", at least that's what Dorothy said. What do you miss the most about home and how often do you get to go back?

I haven't been back in a year and a half. I miss the culture. We're a small island (166 square miles) and we have our own ways of speaking, our own calendar of special events, even a different education system from the US and Britain (although it's closer to Britain's.) Sometimes, I see something funny and know that only another Barbadian (or at least another Carribean local) would get it. I also miss hearing calypso on the radio :)

7. How does all this travel affect your career aspirations? What are some of the jobs you've held down because of your travels?

I think that my travels helped me get the job I currently do (an English teacher) because one important role we have is to internationalise the students. I've also been a tour guide and a translator on a passenger submarine, both of which had to do with my ability to work with people of different cultures. I've taught both French and Spanish. SomedayI I'd like to work as a UN translator. In between writing novels of course.

8. Where was your favorite destination and why? Your least favorite?

Colombia. I just love the Spanish culture. I love languages so being a foreign language country, it felt like an extra part of me had come alive. Spanish speakers are so much friendlier than French too. India, was my least favourite. It felt like a constant assault on all 5 of my senses. As for India, the food was too spicy, the atmosphere too noisy. And crossing the road safely was an act of God. those videos that go around the net about the madness on Indian roads? They're true!

9. Where do you think you'll be five years from now professionally, personally, and destination wise?

I hope to either be volunteering for the UN in a French or Spanish speaking country - or working for the UN- or doing an MFA Creative Writing w/ Translation, either at Queens in NYC or at Vermont College.

10. And now the cherry on the sundae of all my interviews. If you could be any breakfast cereal, what you be and why?

TRIX! Because Trix are for Kids! And I'm a kid at heart