Funsherpa explores the globe in search for the ultimate nomads.  Today we catch up with Jason Demant and Sharon Duckworth of LifeAfterCubes.com. These ex-Silicon Valley cubicle workers, have switched over to living a life of excitement as world travelers. They left their cubes last October and have been traveling throughout Asia ever since. While on the road, they also started a new do-it-yourself travel itinerary site, UnAnchor.com. Travelers can purchase itineraries and discover what to do and how to get around in a new destination as well as write their own travel itineraries for sale in order to make a few bucks. We caught up with them in West Sumatra, Indonesia. 

F: What was the ‘aha-moment’ or trigger that made you buy your flight tickets out of the US? 

Jason:  We always knew we wanted to travel and we had a well-thought out plan of how we were going to achieve it. I was going to finish my MBA, work a few more months and then October 2010, we’d be off. Then the economy exploded. 

My company was paying most of the tuition for the private school I was attending. When the economy hit a rough patch, they cut our salaries and our tuition reimbursement benefit. I remember I was looking at a $10,000 bill for taking a few classes in the summer. And I thought, how long could we live in Thailand with that money? Sharon and I discussed what we were going to do. I quit school, saved the money for our trip instead, and a week later we bought our tickets to Hong Kong. After that, we spent the next 5 months in “ultimate saving mode”. 

F: Do you miss anything about working in a cube? 

Sharon: I miss having a constant internet connection!  When you’re on the road or even when you’re in a country where internet is pretty much only found at Internet Cafés, you come to view WiFi as a rare commodity. To be honest, other than that, nothing really. 

F: A lot of people seem to apply a common generalization across all of Asia.  How would you differentiate all the countries you’ve been to? 

Sharon: As a tourist, the most important cultural trait that I notice is the way people from a certain country treat us as foreigners.  In general, I can say that every Asian country that we have visited so far has been the same; the people are curious and extremely happy that we are in their country.  However, the main thing that differentiates cultures from one another, in this sense, is who smiles first; you or the local. 

For instance, in China I thought that the locals despised us because it was our first encounter with hardcore staring and spitting.  We soon realized, however, that once we threw them a friendly smile, almost all of them would return the gesture with another genuine smile.  Similarly, in Korea, people stared much less than in China but were still very curious about us and said “hello” quite a bit.  In Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia, Jason and I could not walk five feet in public without hearing children and adults alike shouting “HELLO!!!  How are you?  Where are you from?”.  I have come to my own conclusion that while you can generalize that Asian countries are all interested in foreigners, each country approaches them a bit differently. 

F: What are some cool phrases or words that you’ve learned along your trip? What do they mean? 

Jason: You’d be surprised how much English is spoken and understood everywhere (at least, I’ve been surprised). So, we didn’t pick up as much language as I would have initially expected. With that, I’ll give you the 3 of the more memorable phrases we’ve learned along the way. 

1. “Tai Gui La” – China. (Too expensive!). We met a couple in Sanya, China within the first week of us traveling through mainland China (who ended up becoming our good friends). The girl, McKenna is tall with blonde hair, so to say she sticks out in China is an understatement. She taught us how to bargain in Chinese by using this phrase. The key, she taught us, is to give the most shocked face you can when you say it, as if you’ve been absolutely offended by the price they’ve just told you. It was quite a sight watching her negotiate with the much shorter Chinese men. We enjoyed practicing this ourselves during the rest of our travels through China. 

2. “Mot, Hai, Ba, Yoooooo” – Vietnam (Cheers!). Mot, hai, ba literally means 1, 2, 3. But this is how you cheers in Vietnam. Each number is said progressing louder and then you’re supposed to practically yell “yooo” before chugging your drink. Locals absolutely loved drinking with us, and we did this cheers more times than we could count. It brings back mostly good, but also some bad memories as well . 

3. “Sawadee kaaaa. You want a massaaaage?” – Thailand. The last part isn’t Thai obviously. “Sawadee ka” means hello (if you’re female) in Thai. What makes this memorable is how nasally and “sing-songy” the women sound as they say this to every foreigner passing them by. Whenever Sharon and I want to make each other laugh, we just say this to one another in our best Thai impression. 

F: What are some of the major surprises you’ve encountered along your trip (culture, food, etc)? 

Sharon: I am a Korean, born and raised in California and speak only English.  Before visiting Korea (for the first time in my life) I was told by multiple people that Koreans would not be friendly towards me because I do not speak Korean.  To be honest, I was terrified that my experience in my parents’ home country would be a bad one because of this.  To my pleasant surprise, the opposite was true.  Like every other country we have been to on this trip, the locals were not only happy to meet me but never once did they treat me differently for my lack of Korean skills.  If anything, when they found out I was Korean, they were happier and more interested in me than before.  Thankfully, my experience living in Korea for over 5 months was amazing. 

F: Being a mobile nomad seems to require being ‘light’.  What ‘things’ do you own and take around with you? 

Sharon: Back in America, it took me about 10 tries to get my backpack to a decent size.  I am a major overpacker by nature, and backpacking has taught me many lessons.  The most difficult part is having appropriate clothing for all of the climates you travel through.  For instance, I recently ditched one of two pairs of jeans, so now I travel with one pair as we pass through the hot and humid countries of SE Asia.  I always have a good amount of tank tops and t-shirts because you sweat through them quickly here (maybe around 8 total) and also keep one trusty North Face pullover.  In addition, we travel with little Netbook laptops, airplane pillows, a blindfold, and earplugs at ALL TIMES.  A true traveler should always have earplugs. 

F: If you could measure your happiness on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being highest, how would your happiness measure for your entire journey?  How does it compare to working in a cube? 

Sharon: Compared to working in a cube, my happiness would be a 11.  Working in a cube is not for everyone.  That being said, I also do not consider myself very suited for long-term travel.  While I have come to love being abroad and experiencing new things, I love our hometown back in California too, and I live for being around friends and family, so I quickly get homesick.  While traveling, I’ve enjoyed “settling” in a city for a few months at a time, rather than constantly being on the go.   

F: What are some of the most fun activities you’ve done in these different countries? 

Sharon: In Vietnam we actually attended 2 different weddings, which included a country wedding and a city wedding.  Needless to say, we had a great time at both although the locals at the country wedding were a bit too enthusiastic having us there, causing a little too much rice wine to be partaken. 

Also in Vietnam (I guess we really enjoyed it here), we had a crazy New Year’s Eve celebration which started out with a group of locals befriending us.  Somehow, the night ended with Jason and I dancing on top of chairs with other locals while crowds gathered around us to cheer us on and watch. 

F: What’s in store for you both for the rest of the year? 

J and S: We will stay in Indonesia for the next few weeks, then a quick few days in Singapore before we begin our journey through the United States to get back to the Bay Area. In September we head to Guam, which is technically a part of the U.S. but we will still feel like we’re traveling.  Then we’ll head to Seattle for Sharon’s cousin’s wedding. After the wedding, we’ll do some traveling down the west coast for a couple weeks before heading back to the Bay Area in mid to late October. We actually have three weddings to attend within 6 weeks of our arrival. In December we’re also planning a 2-week east coast trip to see some of Jason’s family. It’ll be a busy “vacation” back home.

Discover the world of mommy blogging, free things to do in Chicago with your kids, and motherhood with Bethany Hiitola.  Funsherpa sits down with the writer behind Mommy Writer Blog to understand what it is like to be a mom, blog with kids in the house, and find inspiration in creative writing projects.

F: What do you enjoy the most about Mommy blogging? What do your kids think about your blog?
B: I never really looked at it as mommy blogging or anything but an outlet for me to write what I know. I’ve always been a writer and had a few blogs that I sorta maintained off and on for a few years prior to ever being a mom. But, when I had a kid, found myself at home most of the time with no babysitter (and surrounded by mothers who appeared to know what they were doing), I decided to turn to the outlet I always turn to–writing. And thus my blog and website were born (concurrently I also decided to pursue my dreams of writing fiction and getting it published – so they both were jointly born along with the first child).

My kids are still very young– son is 7 and daughter 2 1/2. So their opinion of my online space is yet to be determined. Although my son now can read at a pretty high level, and has his own computer and unfettered access to the Internet–he’ll find me soon. Though, I am not worried. I always try to write from my point of view (not theirs) so I hope they find it fun and entertaining.

F: Can you talk about your experience when you first became a mom? What were some of the things you had to learn/unlearn from just being an adult with no kids?
B: Frazzled. When I had my son, labor was about 20 hours, I was up all night, and well, birth was an experience that once you go through it, you are changed (in more ways than you care to share). But I survived. And had this pink wiggly crinkled thing handed to me and then everyone left the room. There was no instructions, no one to sorta sit down and tell you what you might expect from the first few nights, how to really change a newborn’s diaper, how you are going to survive on so little sleep you won’t know how to hold a conversation. And it just stays that way. No instructions. And really, no schedules and constant change.

The biggest difference from life with no kids to having kids is just learning to be unselfish. Suddenly your life will revolve around this new little being. And you have to let it for a while until you and the baby adjust. Sure, this changes as the child grows older and becomes more independent, but overall, you give us things for your kid. Whether that is sleep, time, schedules. Pretty much everything changes. And you need to find ways to make yourself a priority too (babysitters, help from family and partners, time away, etc).

And really just BE FLEXIBLE. The flexible and laid back you are about the kid, and naps, and feedings, and all that stuff–the easier your life will be. And more relaxed you will be. And the easier time you will need/have to adjust to motherhood (or parenthood. Dad’s have to do all this too). It’s all good. And children bring a new outlook on life for anyone. But as a parent they change the way you look at the world. So take deep breaths and just enjoy the ride–no matter how it takes you on little side tracks.

F: You seem to write a lot. Can you share with us some of your creative writing projects? What serves as your inspiration?
B: Is it that obvious? Yes I do write a lot. I always have written but never dedicated so much time with it until after I had children. But, then again, my children are part of the reason why I have dedicated more time to writing. After my son was born I found myself working over 40 hours a week at all hours of the day (to adjust for working from home with a young baby) and I wasn’t happy. I needed an outlet just for me and one that might get me out of the rat race.

I haven’t quite gotten out of the (corporate) rat race yet, but I knew there was no chance I could do that without giving a real, true, honest-to-God effort at writing books for publication. So here I am.

I’m working on a bunch of projects right now. The first is the 2nd technical non-fiction book about open source software. My first book was about creating podcasts with Audacity (you can find it here) and it was fun to write. So I signed up for another that I am working on now! This one is about using Inkscape as a web designer. It is due out by the end of the year.

I write for a variety of places online that you can find from my website and they keep me sane during the week when my work schedule is driving me crazy. For fiction, I have a book that I’m shopping around now, another one in the works, and some small pieces that are being published in quarterly magazines. Just enough to keep me from not going to bed too early in the evenings. And to keep me writing, no matter what my day throws at me.

F: What are some of the things you’ve learned from other Mom bloggers? What have you taught other Mom bloggers?
B: To relax. Have fun. Vent if you need to. And ALWAYS respect your children–as they are a wealth of blogging fodder (both good and bad) and are the cutest things ever. With them at your side, they sorta define that mom blogger part of your life. But you are also you. And Mom bloggers stick together. We have that common bond of parenting and we often share stories, agree with one another, disagree with one another and then always want the best for our families.

I am not sure what I have taught others. Maybe just that you can blog, have a life, be a mom, a blogger and other dreams too. Funnily enough, I have always associated myself as a writer. Before a blogger, before a mom, before a mommy blogger. So, I just hope that maybe that is what people have taken away from reading my blog.

F: If you could change one thing about being a mother, what would it be?
B: The extra 15-20 lbs I still have of baby fat. A magic potion to get rid of the constant large dark circles under my eyes. And maybe an “obey your mom” card that I can pull out and use for nap times, cleaning rooms, brushing teeth and more…

Other than that, I just want to enjoy the ride as much as I can. My son is 7. And honestly, there are times I still think he might be about 3 years old and playing super heroes with capes in my living room.

F: Any advice to new parents in Chicago to ensure their kids get to appreciate the city they live in?
B: Go to museums, shows, concerts, outdoor events. EVERYTHING you want to drag yourself too. This city offers anything from free to very expensive activities. Don’t be afraid to drag your kids deep into the city or to the ‘burbs. They both offer unique experiences that can enrich your child’s lives. And expose them to just about everything from sports games, to concerts, to small events (like free comic drawing classes), culture, and more. Just pick a few items a year and make it happen!

F: If you could take your kids anywhere, where would you take them? Why?
B: Finland. We will take a trip there at some point, we just haven’t done it yet. But we have a strong Finnish Heritage and I’ve would love to see the country itself. And the small village by the same name as my surname.

But really–I would love to take them all over the world: England, India, Africa. I’d also love to go see the Grand Canyon, the Pacific Ocean. And well just as many new places as we can afford.

F: What have some of your best experiences on Mother’s Day been? What would make your perfect Mother’s Day holiday?
B: I don’t get caught up on the holiday too much. All I really like are hugs, kisses, and some special homemade things from the kids. If I get a few hours of “free time” after a family brunch that makes it all a bit better. Gives me kid-free time to just re-coup and then come home to more snuggles.

While last year’s festival had some issues, this year’s gathering sets the stage for future food lovers events.  Present were the city’s finest chef line up, and wine varieties from California.  funsherpa photo blogs the event -

Award-winning artist Michael Van Zeyl paints portraits by skylight in his Chicago studio.  He features deep-dish pizza with bottles of Heineken in his still-life paintings and emulates the techniques of 17th-century Dutch masters.  He talked to Funsherpa about light, doctors, and urban scenes.

F: How do you get the credentials to become a portrait-painter? Is it a matter of schooling, competitions, or experience?

Many years of practice working with live models. And taking workshops with other working portrait artists. Entering and winning competitions gives you the sense of security necessary to accept commissions.

F: How many sittings are necessary for a portrait?

1-3 three-hour sittings. I prefer to work from life but there is usually a conflict with the client’s schedule, so I work mostly from photos I take in my studio.

F: What is your favorite part of the face to paint? Why?

I would have to say the eyes – it’s where you see the most emotion.

F: Not everyone commissions a painted portrait. Why do you think people choose to have their portraits painted?

I think it’s a matter of tradition and honor.

F: How do you incorporate your own style into a portrait?

The application of paint is very personal. It’s nearly impossible to replicate another artist’s painterly stroke. I have many influences – Rembrandt, Velasquez, Van Dyke, Sargent, Manchini, Sarolla – and you might see little bits of them in my work. But the way I see and record what I see personalizes my work, because no on one can put paint down the exact same way I do. When I’m painting in a room full of 20 painters, we’re all staring at the same exact same subject but you get twenty different results. I think I just see things differently, interpret color differently, and compose a little differently – so I get a different result.

F: Do you ever ‘photoshop’ your subjects and make them look better?

Only when the client requests it. The client hires me to create an image of themselves or of how they wish to be remembered. Sometimes that does not strictly reflect real life. When doing a posthumous portrait, photos are compiled over a wide range of years to create the best image of that person.

F: You appear to have quite a few clients who are doctors? Why is that?

I’ve done work for the University of Chicago, Depaul, and Rush Hospital. The clients are typically not the doctors themselves; either the hospital board or the school commissions me. If a doctor steps down or retires, they give the portrait as a gift or honor that person by hanging it up on the wall of the institution.

F: What is your inspiration for still-life paintings? Do you arrange or spot the scene?

It’s a little bit of both. I have a variety of different props in the studio and I’ll arrange them to try and make abstract designs with light and shadow. I create color themes with different types of fruits, vegetables and backdrops.

On the website there’s one that I like – the painting of a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza and bottles of beer – that looks like an everyday set-up. My inspiration comes from the 17th-century Dutch masters; instead of painting antique objects, I try to incorporate modern-day objects and paint them using the techniques of the old masters.

F: What can a still-life painting tell the viewer? What is it meant to convey?

I like to think the themes of my paintings have something to do with light– the way light moves or the way it illuminates an object. It doesn’t matter if it’s a still-life, a figure, or a landscape: all my paintings are about light.

F: Do you think there is a better market for paintings of urban scenes?

I think people living in a metropolitan area are drawn to urban scenes, especially of restaurants, because they can connect with people – there’s a lot of movement versus a still-life painting. A painting with multiple figures is more interesting to people than still-life. But it’s hard to say – people are drawn to paintings for all sorts of different reasons.

F: What/where are your favorite places to paint in Chicago?

The two places where I paint are my north light studio in my home and the Palette & Chisel Academy of Art. I’ve been a faculty member there for 4 years and an an artist member for 12 years. It’s near the corner of Dearborn and Oak Streets; It was established in 1895 by students of the Art Institute. That’s my second home – I’m there 3 or 4 days a week painting from life, because they have 60 hours of live-model time.

F: Where are your favorite art galleries in Chicago?

I like the Ann Nathan Gallery because she represents contemporary figurative works. Frederick Baker represents me in Chicago – they have a great collection of old prints and drawings.

F: What paintings decorate your house?

The paintings on my walls are portraits I’ve done of family members as well as portraits of myself and my family done by other artists.

Even though spring still evades the windy city, we thought we’d start encouraging people to start enjoying everything great that this city has to offer.  Whether it be an outdoor bikram yoga class, or a cupcake at Molly’s, we want you to experience bliss.  Together with our concierge service on twitter (@funsherpa), our “interrogation blog” will hopefully provide you with ideas of places to go, things to see, and dreams to live.

What is the interrogation blog?

This is the fun part of our job, where we get to interview locals and find out a little bit about their lives and a whole lot about the city.  Our goal is to talk to interesting people (not necessarily famous, but yeah, if Tina Fey wanted to talk to us, we’d listen) and see inside their soul…Yes, we’d like to know if Ana from Water Tower secretly enjoys going to Hot Doug’s or if Pete, the doorman at our apartment has a mani/pedi Thursday with other doormen in the city.  No, we will not use torture to get the answers that we want, nor will we accept bribes (advertising) for anything featured on the interviews.

Our hope…

We hope you find our interrogations interesting and useful.  We’d like to think that we are better than those pesky tabloids you read on your way to work and leave on the CTA.  Let us know what you think of our interrogations and if you have any ideas for us to help people get out and enjoy!

Sincerely,

Fun Sherpa.