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Imagine Going There Travel
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For Culture-Collecting Clients & Friends of Imagine Going There Travel THE COMPASS
JANUARY 2024
DID YOU KNOW ...
Viking has three new China itineraries operating September– November 2024 • China Discovery — 10 days Shanghai to Hong Kong • Classic China & The Coast — 15 days, Beijing to Hong Kong • Wonders of China — 20 days, Beijing to Beijing And don’t forget to check out the optional
(From L-R) Cherise, Krista, Lauren, Lynn, Carol, Meghan, Darlene, Melissa, Terri (not pictured, Heidi & Rachel)
I Don’t Have My Act Together!
extensions, such as Suzhou, Wuxi, and
This was the remark I blurted out during the hustle and bustle of the first few days in December. Like most of us, I felt stretched with work, family, and social commitments to the point that I was dropping balls all over the place. I don’t think I struggle much with “keeping up with the Joneses,” but I do struggle with the mental taskmaster of trying to get everything done and done right, which was clearly not happening! But somehow, just saying those words out loud helped me recalibrate and get back on track. What expectations were unrealistic? Where do I need to ask for help? Am I in need of a nap or a good night’s sleep?
Maybe one of the many reasons January feels like a fresh start is because December — fun as it is — has so many demands and excesses that throw us off balance. Whether it’s filling up the calendar with too many commitments, indulging in too much good food, or just getting off our regular routines, it’s easy to end the year sensing the need to get back on track. So, despite the historic failure of most New Year’s resolutions, I love the feeling of the blank slate of a fresh year ahead and writing down what I want to accomplish. Realizing what things need to change and plugging those holes is a good idea. And CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ...
Gulin, where you’ll visit UNESCO-listed classical gardens, learn about the legacy of silk making, cruise the scenic Grand Canal, and enjoy a scenic high-speed train ride to Hong Kong. 2026 RIVER AND OCEAN
CRUISES ARE OPEN Book now to lock in the best savings and availability!
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Great Vacations Matter Because Great Memories Matter Most
HOPEFULLY NOT YOU! Who Needs Travel Insurance?
his care was difficult. Insurance covered flying a family member to be with her, which gave her a break from round-the-clock care, then paid to fly them home under the care of a medical nurse. 3. A stomach virus went rogue, which turned into a trip to the emergency room and then several days in the hospital. Once she was able to travel, insurance absorbed the cost of both the hospital stay and an early flight home.
vacation, not all are created equal, so check the reputation and rating of what you’re buying. One more thing: I recommend you buy insurance within the 14-day window for preexisting condition coverage, too. Buying it later is like buying insurance after a hurricane is named — it creates too many gaps for new issues to arise that could prevent a future claim from being covered. No one wants to pay for insurance. No one wants the hassle of filing a claim. But no one wants the risk of underwriting the cost when the unthinkable happens. Remember, vacations are supposed to be stress-free, so budget for insurance for that extra peace of mind.
There’s been a recent flurry of concern about whether travel insurance is worth it. As I like to say, we’re a travel agency, not an insurance agency, but because of that, we have a bird’s-eye view of things that went awry of the best-laid vacation plans, like: 1. On my first cruise (before I owned an agency), a frequent cruiser had a heart attack and had to be airlifted off the ship. They were collecting donations from the passengers to help pay for his $50,000 medical flight because he had not purchased insurance for that trip. 2. A client had a stroke in a foreign
4. A family reunion cruise was
aborted just a few weeks before departure because a grandparent went to the hospital — insurance covered the non-refundable fees for the whole group.
country. His wife didn’t speak the language, so advocating for
While we’re fans of any insurance plan that will adequately protect your
How Different Cultures Celebrate the New Year BEYOND THE BALL DROP
The New Year is a time for celebration, reflection, and new beginnings. While many of us are familiar with the ball drop in Times Square or the clinking of champagne glasses at midnight, exploring how different countries and cultures ring in the New Year is fascinating. Let’s journey outside the United States to discover a few unique New Year’s traditions from around the world.
coming year. The grapes are usually eaten in public squares and plazas where crowds gather to celebrate. It’s a race against time to eat all 12 grapes before the last chime, as failing can bring in bad luck.
and family. On New Year’s Eve, it’s customary to break plates and dishes against the doors of loved ones. The more broken pieces you find at your doorstep, the more popular and loved you are. SCOTLAND: FIRST-FOOTING In Scotland, the first person to enter a home after midnight is called the “first-footer” and will bring good luck for the year. Traditionally, the first- footer should be a tall, dark-haired male who brings gifts like coal, bread, and whisky to symbolize warmth, luck, and good cheer.
JAPAN: JOYA-NO-KANE (BELL RINGING)
The Japanese celebrate Joya-no-Kane, where temple bells ring 108 times: 107 times on Dec. 31, and then the 108th ring at midnight on the New Year, bridging the old and new year. DENMARK: BREAKING PLATES The Danish have a unique way of showing affection to their friends
SPAIN: EATING 12 GRAPES AT MIDNIGHT
As the clock strikes midnight in Spain, people eat 12 grapes — one for each clock chime. This tradition brings good luck and prosperity for the
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... CONTINUED FROM COVER
“Everybody, sooner or later, sits down to a banquet of consequences.” —ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
there are things I will always have room to improve on, like thinking before I speak, being more patient, or asking for forgiveness. While I will never get to check those off the list at the end of the year, improvement is possible.
However, I’ve found three questions I can ask myself where positive change doesn’t require as much of a miracle:
1. WHAT DO I DO BEST? WHAT AREAS BRING ME JOY, AND HOW CAN I DO MORE OF THOSE THINGS? Sometimes, those are the same, but focusing on where my strengths are is far more productive and makes me a happier person to be around. (A good goal in itself!) 2. WHERE DO I NEED HELP? This is a good time to explain this picture — this is most of our team (except for Heidi and Rachel), and every one of them plays an important part in helping with your vacation. They all represent something I used to do (or tried to do) before the job became too much for me. It’s true that the “whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” and together we are able to serve our clients even better. 3. WHAT PROGRESS HAVE I ALREADY MADE? Most of my New Year’s resolutions focus on everything I want to change. But pausing to reflect on progress gives space for proper gratitude and provides valuable insight for future growth. Don’t skip this part! Better yet, celebrate both big and small wins every day. (Read “The Gap & The Gain” by Dan Sullivan for the practical benefits of this strategy.) Some things likely will not change — like my proclivity to knock things over or trip over small or even phantom objects. Or times when I’ve been a total airhead — like when I was at a wedding and leaned over to hug the bride’s grandmother and forgot I was holding a glass of water and spilled it on her — before the ceremony! (Thankfully, that was years ago, but it’s best not to ask me the time if I have a glass in my left hand!) Note to self: You’ll never have your act together, in part because life isn’t an act or part of a play where you get to sit down after a good performance. As Albert Einstein said,
Ham Bone Soup
If you still have a leftover holiday ham bone in the freezer, this is the perfect way to warm up a winter’s day. If you don’t, Honey Baked Ham sells their ham bones, many with lots of meat still on the bone. Just search for the heaviest one in their freezer section.
Ingredients • 1 ham bone
• 12 oz frozen corn • 1 large potato, diced • 1/2 head cabbage, chopped • 2 cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained • Salt and pepper to taste • 2 bay leaves
• 1 large onion, chopped • 1 tbsp chopped garlic • 4 cups chicken broth • 4 stalks celery, diced • 1 lb carrots, peeled and diced
Directions 1. Place ham bone in a slow cooker and cover with water. Cook overnight, then allow to cool. Skim the fat off the liquid (or chill so fat rises to the top) and discard the fat. Chop up any cooked ham from the bone. 2. In a pan, sauté onions and garlic until fragrant, then add chopped ham and all remaining ingredients back into the slow cooker. 3. Cook for several hours in the slow cooker until vegetables are tender.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
Just make sure your bicycle is moving in the direction you want to be a year from now. —Carol Shaddix
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Great Vacations Matter Because Great Memories Matter Most
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770.421.9627 | www.ImagineGoingThere.com 3600 Dallas Hwy, Suite 230-215, Marietta, GA 30064
Everything you love about Viking, only better! A great destination is just one part of an amazing vacation. Just like having a master chef prepare your meal at your favorite restaurant, as one of Viking’s largest representatives, we’ve booked these vacations countless times. We intuitively know how to enhance the outcome of your experience so it consistently delivers above and beyond your expectations (and know when those special promotions such as extra shipboard credit or free airfare are available that you might not know about). Whether you are interested in an individual reservation or want to travel together as a group, call 770.421.9627 for your free consultation on how to make your next vacation even better than you expected!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. 2.
THE KEYS TO STARTING FRESH
IS TRAVEL INSURANCE WORTH IT?
UNIQUE NEW YEAR’S TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD
3. 4.
HAM BONE SOUP
JANE’S JOURNEY OF NOSTALGIA TO NEW ADVENTURES
JANE CONTINUES A VIKING LEGACY! From Memories to New Adventures
Jane and Rick took many Viking cruises together throughout the years — they love Viking cruises and the memories they have created on each. Rick unfortunately passed away a little over a year ago, and remembering how Rick always talked about taking their children along with them, Jane decided to take their daughter, Taryn, on the Passage to Eastern Europe , an 11-day journey from Bucharest to Budapest through Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia — all countries that were coming out of communism about 30 years ago. It’s a very different yet enlightening cruise from the palatial structures of Vienna or Budapest. “Before Rick and I had kids, we lived in Germany in the ’70s for about three years,” Jane says. “Being able to visit
the area and Eastern Europe now was enchanting for this reason!” When Jane and Rick traveled together, Rick enjoyed the river cruises
passengers.” Jane loves the evening discussions that the crew lead about the stops for the following day, and the opportunity to visit so many areas and learn about the culture is incredible!
simply because of the intimacy. With fewer people on board, he was able to get to know many of his fellow travelers and build relationships. Jane
“Carol and her team at Imagine Going There also make each Viking cruise experience great.
enjoys both — the river cruises give her a chance to slow down and enjoy the little things, but the entertainment on the ocean cruises is also exciting — Viking truly offers the best of both worlds! “I love Viking for many reasons,” Jane tells us. “Not only is the service incredible, but the crew is helpful and really takes an interest in the
Whether I need help with my flight or just have questions about the destinations or process, she is your go-to person,” Jane says. Jane, thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us! Your hunger for adventure and travel is contagious! Here’s to the next exciting experience!
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