Miyajima deer
Always making new friends! Miyajima, 2016

Elyse Around the World is fantastic!
Great writing, excellent information, and so damn funny that I snorted.

Testimonial From Elyse’s Totally Unbiased Mother

Hello, and welcome to Elyse Around The World! 

Are you wondering what to expect before you visit a new part of the world? And once you get there, do you struggle to balance the super “touristy” must see hot spots with the more underground, off-the-beaten-path adventures? You know, the experiences that really give you a glimpse into every day local life, history, and culture?

Well, I’d love to help you, and even keep you entertained along the way!

Want to know a bit about me before you put any stock into anything I say? Well, that’s pretty fair! Everyone travels and sees the world differently, so let’s see if we are alike!

Me: As A Person

I am a New Yorker.  I’ve lived other places too, but they are not who I am.

I am an actress.  If you measure success by the number of acting contracts that pay me well, I am not successful.  If you measure success by whether or not I’ve ever changed anyone’s life by inhabiting and telling another person’s story, I am successful.

I am a teacher & tutor.  I like to bring the skills I’ve developed as an actress to examine and empathize with how each student’s mind works, and I tailor and adapt my teaching accordingly.

Me: As A Traveler

I am, first and foremost, a storyteller. So when I travel, I want to find the best stories: the best of a culture’s history, and the best of a culture’s modern life!

I am interested in learning how someone else’s world works. In both my writing and acting life, I am interested in conveying a story that is told through my eyes, but is decidedly not my own. 

I am not interested in shopping at the high end designer stores. You won’t find me dining at McDonalds.  I am interested in stepping outside of my own world, outside of my own comfort zone even, and exploring a different world.  When I travel, I want to see the “normal” and “touristy” attractions, but I’m more interested in digging deeper.  How do the locals live?  How do the locals eat?  Where can I disappear and let the quicksand of another culture envelop me?  Where’s the museum that nobody visits because it’s just too weird, and nobody talks about it?  That’s where I want to go.  

If you travel like I travel, I hope that you will find this blog useful, informative, and entertaining!