 |
|
The Society of American Travel Writers announced its annual Lowell Thomas Award winners late last week, and I was happy to learn that “Cycladian Rhythm,” my Greek sailing story from the Spring 2006 issue of Outside Traveler, won top honors in the Marine Travel category.
Of my Cycladian tale, the judges wrote:
This author regales the readers with Greek myth, geographic insights into the archipelago and descriptive language while reporting on a sailing vacation through the Cyclades. Readers not only feel the wind and water but also can easily understand the intricacies of marine travel.
Elsewhere in the contest, World Hum won a well-deserved gold in the Internet Publications category — its first, after several years as a runner-up.
October 25th, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Congratualation Rolf. Great story.
October 27th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
I just read your recent Slate article (mislinked on the site) about the overabundance of drinkers who want to be able to write in the ex-pat community.
The comment seems 100% on the mark, as far as I’ve seen (Peace Corps, Ukraine, ‘01-’03, plus a couple more years for fun)
Might I suggest another possible factor? Specifically, I think it also has a lot to do with the ex-pat prestige multiplier effect: that particular extra wad of social capital you’re always carrying around by being a foreigners where there aren’t a lot of foreigners. So you get a guy who’s maybe run a convenience store back home, who’s now either a teacher or doing some sort of real translation work even. He’s got work prospects, he’s got dating prospects much better than back home. And then it starts getting to his head and he thinks he’s got talent and ability, too.
Just another sad side effect of the basic “I did it on my own” bias that almost always creeps in on you when things are going your way.
Cheers, and enjoy your future travels. - Dan
October 27th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Also, apologies that I didn’t put this comment in a more relevant place, I simply couldn’t find info on the Slate article. Figured it was worth passing along my congrats, even if they’re not quite in the right place.