The theme of our October 5th meeting was “Traveling Solo,” which gave everyone the opportunity to talk about what we like and dislike about traveling solo. Our Destination Master, Raji Bandanapudi asked each of us questions related to the theme.
Lisa Hamil told us about several long road trips she took and how she enjoyed the opportunity to visit US National Parks and friends along the way. Lydia was asked what three things she would be sure to bring on her upcoming solo trip to Dubai. Her answer: cell phone, headset and charger. All three would be need for the long airplane trip, to take photos to document the trip and to stay in touch with friends and family at home.
Helen was asked about how to take photos of herself to document solo trips. She commented that it is difficult to get herself in every shot, but that she has found many friendly strangers willing to help her get a perfect shot of the background scenery with her in the foreground when a selfie just won’t capture the scene. Samantha was asked what three lessons she has learned from traveling solo. While she hasn’t taken very many solo trips, she did comment that while traveling by herself she did enjoy the ability to relax, think and meditate.
Avis shared the craziest trip adventure she experienced while traveling on a ship from the Bahamas to Florida. Her grandson decided to try to jump from the couch to the bed and ended up on the floor with a split lip. This was the first time Avis discovered that the ship had an infirmary with staff to help her care for her injured grandson. Adventures come in many forms.
Our Destination Master, Vernita Brown, gave us these clues about a country:
- It is the third smallest country in Europe, after Vatican City and Monaco, and the fifth-smallest country in the world.
- The official founding date is 3 September 301 AD.
- It covers a land area of just over 61 km2 (23+1⁄2 sq mi), with a population of 33,562.
- It is condsiderd the oldest constitutional republic in the world.
- The main industries are tourism, banking and manufacturing.
- Traditional soup made of beans and bacon is served at Christmas and is one of the most famous dishes of this country.
If you guessed San Marino, you are correct!
The featured speaker at our meeting was Avis Russell who shared her Ice Breaker speech, “Envisioning a Better You.” She shared her reasons for joining Toastmasters two years ago and introduced us to her family and work experience. She chose her first educational path, Leadership Development, to conquer her fear of public speaking. Now she has embarked on her second path, Visionary Communication, to seek innovative ways to develop her interpersonal skills. She challenged all of us to “take the necessary steps to learn to communicate effectively and become a better version of yourself.” Brava, Avis for a well-organized speech with an important message for all of us.
Communication is your ticket to success if you pay attention and learn to do it effectively.” — Theo Gold
Join us for our next meeting on October 12th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm Pacific (-8 UTC). The meeting theme is “Australia and New Zealand.” Are you planning a trip “down under?” We want to hear about why you would like to visit Australia and New Zealand. If you have trip advice to share, please join our meeting. If you would like to join the club, contact Helen Josephine for an application form.
Register for the meeting: https://tinyurl.com/TravelTalkersZoomLink
RSVP on MeetUp to let us know you are coming to the meeting. Guests are always welcome!
Looking forward to hearing your travel stories! Join us to be inspired to take your next trip.
Helen Josephine,
Travel Talkers Toastmasters
Travel Talkers Toastmasters 
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