Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 37
October 21, 2022
Keeping the Faith in the Land of The Free

Hello, my name is Robin Hanasab. My relationship with the Wise Community began in the 7th grade, roughly three decades ago. At the time, for me, it was the natural next step in my Jewish education. Growing up in a traditional Persian Jewish household, who escaped from Iran to pursue religious freedom, there was no other option.
I felt fortunate to enter the community at that time and it didn’t take long to form lasting bonds. It was a nurturing environment that taught strong Jewish values and thankfully, our lives were full. Full of love, support and resources to allow us to develop both academically and spiritually.
After graduating, I studied business at USC, and law at Loyola Law School. Within a few years, Jessica and I were married and shortly after that we welcomed Talia into our lives. When it came time to start thinking of schools, Wise was the only option for us. We knew we wanted our daughter (and eventually our two boys, Jacob and Joey) to grow up on this campus, on this hill, in this community, forming those same special bonds with the people who will eventually be their lifelong friends. I knew this because those kids that I met in 7th grade are still my closest friends today. Many are here today with their kids, growing up alongside ours. At Wise, my childhood community has come full circle, L’dor v’dor, from BEING the kids to RAISING the kids. We are raising the next generation and have chosen this school and temple as our partner.

These last couple years have been difficult for everyone. Like many other schools and communities in Los Angeles, we were separated from each other for much of the last three years. Some communities GREW apart, some FELL apart. But not this one. We have grown closer than we’ve ever been, and I’m not just referring to the kids. This community understands that it takes a village to raise these children and the Wise families have shown their commitment. I am proud to be part of this group that continually shows up for our school, for our temple, for our children, and for the continuity of Jewish life.
I am constantly reminded by my father, that as Jews in America, we have it easy. He reminds me that we can never forget what our people have gone through for us to have this freedom and we better not take it for granted.

He once told me a story that really put this sentiment into perspective.
It took place here, shortly after we arrived in the US. He invited a non-Jewish acquaintance visiting from Iran to Shabbat dinner at our home. The guest clearly didn’t appreciate Shabbat dinner and said to my father “Hanasab, khaylee Jude Shodee,” which translates to – Hanasab, you’ve become TOO Jewish. Obviously, he did not mean this as a compliment. Now, what was more surprising than this antisemitic statement made in our own home, ON SHABBAT, was my father’s response. He said, “It’s thanks to you I’m like this. In Iran we had people like you constantly calling us Jew, never letting us forget who we are. It’s not like that here. I have to try harder here so my kids never forget they are Jews.”
From that, my father reminds me that we are blessed with the DUTY to pass on our Jewish values to the next generation, and blessed with THIS place to do it. Whether we are combating antisemitism or assimilation, we need Wise Temple, Wise School and the Wise community as a primary resource. The Temple Clergy and School Administration show up each day with this very mission by
Educating our youth to be PROUD JEWSContinuing to educate our members with lectures, services, and other educational opportunities, andBy actively working in the community to combat antisemitism.Now more than any time in my life, there is a greater need to strengthen the Jewish community.
Wise Temple and Wise School are the place that make the Jewish life and the Jewish community a priority. It truly is a big tent, welcoming people from all walks of life and giving us a safe home to learn from each other and grow with each other.
I’m standing here today in the same place where many of you have celebrated your highest highs and some of your lowest lows, where brilliant clergy, speakers, and world leaders have shared their knowledge and debated opinions. Generations of Jewish life have been interconnected through holidays, events, carnivals, weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, simchas and sadness. It’s an honor to share this space with you all and try to do my part to participate in this community.

So, when someone asks why they should donate more than they already give for their tuition, or why they should even pay for temple dues when they can just buy tickets to the big events, the answer is simple. Because what we’re doing here at Wise is bigger than us, and the commitment to the continuity of Judaism is year-round. It takes more than just showing up for the main event.

This is the place that makes sure we don’t lose touch with our Jewish culture, lifestyle and religion. This is the place that instills these values in our children that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. This is the place where we meet our best friends, and grow our families as a community. Nothing is more important than that. So please open your hearts and answer the call to support this place that does so much for us in return.
Thank you

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October 17, 2022
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October 10, 2022
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PENN TRAVEL TALK: Join us Nov 7, 2022


Travel industry expert alumni will discuss how travel has been affected by the pandemic, how to navigate your work and personal travel now, and offer great suggestions for trips you might want to take sometime soon.
Our online panel includes: (complete bios below)
Brad Handler, C’89, W’89, Executive Chairman, InspiratoLisa Niver, C’89, Founder, WeSaidGoTravel.com Cara Schneider Bongiorno, C’89, Founder, Philly History Pop Ups Romy Buchman Coquillette, C’89, Moderator
Brad Handler, C’89, W’89 Executive Chairman, Inspirato
Brad Handler is Co-Founder of Inspirato and has served as its Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors since January 2010, where he focuses on corporate finance and strategic initiatives. Before co-founding Inspirato, he started his career at Apple, then later served as eBay’s first attorney. In 2002, he co-founded Exclusive Resorts and served as the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. He has also been a lecturer at Stanford Law School and the University of Virginia School of Law. Mr. Handler earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a juris doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Lisa Niver, C’89 Founder, WeSaidGoTravel.com Lisa Ellen Niver is an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries and six continents. She worked on cruise ships for seven years and backpacked in Asia for three years. She is the founder of the website WeSaidGoTravel , which is read in 235 countries and was named #3 on Rise Global’s Top 1,000 Travel Blogs. You can find her talking travel on broadcast television at KTLA TV Los Angeles as well as her YouTube channel , where her WeSaidGoTravel videos have over 1.6 million views. As a journalist, Niver has interviewed Deepak Chopra, Olympic medalists, and numerous bestselling authors, and been invited to both the Oscars and the United Nations. For her print and digital stories as well as her television segments, she has been awarded three Southern California Journalism Awards and two National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards and been a finalist 20 times. She has published widely in print and online at Wired , Teen Vogue , HuffPost Personal, POPSUGAR , Ms. Magazine , Luxury Magazine, Smithsonian , Sierra Club , Saturday Evening Post, AARP , AAA Explorer Magazine, Jewish Journal, BuzzFeed , Robb Report , Scuba Diver Life, Ski Utah , Trivago , Undomesticated, USA Today , TODAY , Wharton Magazine, and Yahoo .

Cara Schneider Bongiorno, C’89 Founder, Philly History Pop Ups
Formerly Media Relations at VISIT PHILADELPHIA Cara is a former tourism industry media relations professional now teaching and illuminating Philly history. She spent her career at Philadelphia nonprofits, culminating with 22 years in media relations at VISIT PHILADELPHIA®.She held development/fundraising positions at WHYY and JEVS Human Services before joining the communications team at Visit Philadelphia in 1999. At Visit Philly, she is proudest of her role behind a few of those rare travel stories that are referenced for years –National Geographic Traveler’s “Next Great City” in 2005, #3 ranking in The New York Times “52 Places To Go” in 2016, and the only U.S. city in Nat Geo’s “Best Trips” 2020. She helped Philadelphia promote memorable events including: the blockbuster Live 8 outdoor concert in 2005, the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies MLB Championship, the NFL Draft in 2017, and the unforgettable NFL Super Bowl Championship of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. Still smitten with Philadelphia, she started Philly History Pop Ups , free neighborhood meetups presenting “interesting twists on places you know” and the stories of important but little-known Philadelphia moments. She serves on the board of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, and has also served on the boards of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens , Congregation Rodeph Shalom, and as an advisor to Honey’s Angels . Cara also volunteers at Mighty Writers , and Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships .

Romy Buchman Coquillette, C’89 Moderator Romy Coquillette has spent her professional career in finance, real estate, strategy, and human resource consulting. She worked for 11 years at Morgan Stanley in the investment banking division. She is currently the chairperson of the Achievement First Brooklyn Board of Trustees, a charter school network with 24 K-12 schools in Brooklyn, and the chairperson of the board of Mainsprings, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving communities in rural Tanzania through education, healthcare, and sustainable farming. Previously, Romy served on the boards of The Bronxville School Foundation, the Concordia Conservatory of Music, the Non-Partisan Committee of the Bronxville Union Free School District, and the Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in East Asian studies and earned an MBA from Harvard University. Penn Travel Panel: Sign up here for the zoom on Nov 7, 2022
Listen to Lisa on the POWER OF PENN WOMEN podcast: Click here
Lisa speaking at Penn Homecoming 2021: Click here
Class of 1989 30th reunion in 2019:
Taking Flat Ben, the Penn Quaker, out on the town!
View this post on InstagramPenn 1989: 25th reunion: Click hereA post shared by Penn Alumni (@pennalumni)
Read Lisa’s articles:
WHARTON MAGAZINEFRANKLY PENN
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October 4, 2022
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The Real Love Boat–Come Aboard!

Thank you to Princess Cruises, CBS TV and Paramount for including me in Premiere Party on Discovery Princess for the Real Love Boat Series which premiers Wednesday October 5th on CBS and Paramount Plus.
I grew up watching The Love Boat TV show and worked for Princess Cruises for many years. The new reality romance series is a cross between the original series as well as the challenges of The Amazing Race with the dating promises of The Bachelor! Please enjoy the sneak peek below! The show is hosted by Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell.

“The ship’s Crew members – Captain Paolo Arrigo, Ezra Freeman (Bartender) and Matt Mitcham (Cruise Director) – play pivotal roles in the matchmaking and navigation of the romantic yet sometimes turbulent waters, just like the beloved original scripted series “The Love Boat.” With over 40 combined years working in the industry, Arrigo, Freeman and Mitcham bring their real-world expertise to help the Singles look for love in this adventure of a lifetime.

Singles experienced in the ups and downs of romance come together on THE REAL LOVE BOAT to find a true love connection while visiting and competing in some of the world’s most beautiful cities, including Barcelona, Marseille, Rome, Santorini, Athens and more. A shoe designer, firefighter, nurse, teacher and landscape architect are among the men and women setting sail on the romantic adventure. From divorce and broken engagements to terrible online dating experiences, being unlucky in love has not discouraged these Singles from seeking true romance.
Throughout the season, Singles embark on destination dates and compete in challenges to test couples’ compatibility and chemistry, while earning valuable rewards. The romantic waters will be tested when new Singles come aboard, and those who don’t find a match will “Shove Off” and be left behind at port. After nearly one month at sea, one winning couple will dock in the final port and take home a cash prize plus a once-in-a-lifetime trip courtesy of Princess Cruises, the series’ exclusive cruise line partner.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Real Love Boat (@realloveboatcbs)
Romance is on the horizon…
— CBS (@CBS) September 16, 2022
Get ready to board the @realloveboatcbs and find yourself falling in love on the high seas, October 5th at 9/8c on CBS. pic.twitter.com/jw3WDi98f7
THE REAL LOVE BOAT is produced by Eureka Productions in association with Buster Productions. Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Wes Dening, Eden Gaha and Jay Bienstock serve as executive producers for Eureka. Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell serve as hosts and perform the vocals for the iconic song featured in the series opening credits.
“Premiere Episode” – THE REAL LOVE BOAT inaugural episode sets sail as hosts Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell greet five single women and five single men who are ready to find love and begin the adventure of a lifetime aboard the Regal Princess Cruise Ship. After the singles make their way through the stunning city of Barcelona, they are thrown into the first competition of the season – a talent show where they must impress potential partners! But all is not smooth sailing when two new men come aboard and crash a cocktail party. The episode concludes with the Sail Away Ceremony where the women each choose who has caught their eye and will remain on the ship, while the rest will “Shove Off” and be left behind at port. Special guest star Ted Lange, whose iconic character Isaac helped singles find love in the original 1970s scripted series “The Love Boat,” passes the proverbial cocktail shaker to the new Crew who will help singles navigate romance on the high seas. THE REAL LOVE BOAT premieres Wednesday, Oct. 5 (9:00-10:00 PM, PT/ET) on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.
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September 30, 2022
Shana Tova 5783: Niver’s News: Sept 2022


My family celebrated in Denver with our cousins and at our synagogue, Stephen Wise Temple, in Los Angeles. My parents were honored with an aliyah to say the blessing before reading the Torah.
This reading in our Stephen Wise Temple Machzor for the Days of Awe prayer book on p. 65 –really spoke to me:
“How might we, in our day to day lives, transform curses into blessings? How might we, instead of hating the other, find cause for admiration? We may not enter the house of worship fully ready to pray, but by lifting our voices together, by searching for the good in one another and in our tradition, we hope to find cause for praise and thanksgiving so that we might, with full hearts, cry out: ‘How good is this place! how wondrous is this moment.'” Cantor Emma Lutz and Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback
What will you do to make this new year wondrous and filled with moxie?
View this post on InstagramI was able to interview Patricia Schultz about her new book, WHY WE TRAVELI saw her at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena and you can listen to her talk here!Thank you to PennClubLA for three incredible events this summer! Click here to read all about them and see the videos! I will be speaking on a Penn Travel panel Nov 7, 2022. Click here for details!A post shared by Lisa Niver
(@lisaniver)

Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have over 1.6 million views on YouTube! (Exact count: 1,663,000 views)
Thank you for your support! Are you one of my 3,660 subscribers? I hope you will join me and subscribe! For more We Said Go Travel articles, TV segments, videos and social media: CLICK HERE
Find me on social media with over 150,000 followers. Please follow on TikTok: @LisaNiver, Twitter at @LisaNiver, Instagram @LisaNiver and on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com.
Fortune Cookie SAID:“Reward yourself a much deserved gift”
“Your sense of humor is enjoyed by all.”

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September 22, 2022
Niver In PRINT: Blog Bytes July 2022 Jewish Journal


From my article, “What to DO in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin“
GoKarts at Road America The National Park of SPEEDREADY TO RACE? I absolutely LOVED go-karting at Road America which is America’s National Park of Speed! You can participate in four miles of fitness, go karting and even come camping. It is not only family friendly but also one of the world’s fastest permanent road racing tracks. There are race weekends for NASCAR, INDYCAR and MotoAmerica.



From my article, “Anchorage to Talkeetna: Dream Trip to Denali“
“I spent three summers of my seven years at sea sailing the inside passage of Alaska with Princess Cruises. I heard passengers talk about their pre-cruise adventure in Denali National Park and it has long been on my bucket list!”



From my article, “Bucket List Adventure to Denali, Alaska“
“We woke up at Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge to an exceptional clear view of Denali! Only 20% of people see it without clouds! Driving from Talkeetna, we could see the peak the entire way!”



2022
the January print issuesthe February print issuesthe July print issues

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September 15, 2022
Meet Patricia Schultz at Vroman’s Pasadena “WHY WE TRAVEL!”

Join me at Vroman’s, Pasadena‘s oldest indie bookstore since 1894, to hear Patricia Schultz talk about her brand new book, Why We Travel
PATRICIA SCHULTZ DISCUSSES WHY WE TRAVEL: 100 REASONS TO SEE THE WORLD
From the author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, a rallying cry to get off the couch and out into the world.
Why We Travel is filled with personal stories and anecdotes, quotes that inspire, and reasons to motivate-plus images so lush you can’t wait to be there. For years Patricia Schultz has been telling us where to travel, and we love listening. Now, in telling us why to travel, she reveals what makes her such a compelling guide and what makes travel such a richly rewarding experience. There’s the time she was on safari in Zambia yet found her most lasting memory in a classroom of five-year-olds. The comedy of mishaps that she and friends endured on a canal trip through southern France–and how it brought them together in an unexpected way. She quotes favorite authors and luminaries on the importance of travel and, in a series of memorable aphorisms, gets to the essence of why to travel. And gives us a few travel hacks, too. Travel is, as the writer Pico Iyer says, the thing that causes us to “stay up late, follow impulse, and find ourselves as wide open as when we are in love.” Why We Travel is all about rekindling that feeling. Just book a ticket, pack a bag, and dive headlong into an adventure. (Workman Publishing)
WHEN:Tuesday, September 20, 2022 – 7:00pm
WHERE:Vroman’s Bookstore
695 E. Colorado St.
Pasadena, CA 91101
More about Patricia Schultz:Why We Travel: 100 Reasons to See the World






View this post on InstagramA post shared by Vroman’s Bookstore (@vromansbookstore)
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September 13, 2022
Why We Travel: 100 Reasons to See the World

Do you wonder why we travel? Find 100 reasons to see the world in Patricia Schultz’s new book! I have been fortunate to meet her in Los Angeles at several travel events and always learn more from the author of the New York Times bestselling series, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die!
Why We Travel is filled with personal stories and anecdotes, quotes that inspire, and reasons to motivate-plus images so lush you can’t wait to be there. For years Patricia Schultz has been telling us where to travel, and we love listening. Now, in telling us why to travel, she reveals what makes her such a compelling guide and what makes travel such a richly rewarding experience. There’s the time she was on safari in Zambia yet found her most lasting memory in a classroom of five-year-olds. The comedy of mishaps that she and friends endured on a canal trip through southern France–and how it brought them together in an unexpected way. She quotes favorite authors and luminaries on the importance of travel and, in a series of memorable aphorisms, gets to the essence of why to travel. And gives us a few travel hacks, too. Travel is, as the writer Pico Iyer says, the thing that causes us to “stay up late, follow impulse, and find ourselves as wide open as when we are in love.” Why We Travel is all about rekindling that feeling. Just book a ticket, pack a bag, and dive headlong into an adventure. (Workman Publishing)

Travel teaches us empathy, humility, patience, gratitude, and how to enjoy experiences over things; it is the ultimate classroom without walls. But travel is also just plain fun. It’s a chance to cut loose, leave all the real-world stuff behind, and tap into your inner adventure seeker. On a recent trip to Southeast Asia, Elizabeth—a favorite traveling mate—and I were sailing down the Mekong River in Laos, and I felt a wave of contentment wash over me that I rarely feel at home. I felt both recharged and serene as we drifted through the legendary Golden Triangle, past scenery unchanged for centuries, a local captain at the helm of our polished wooden longboat. Children washing the family elephant on the sandy banks waved us on, their smiles contagious, while golden temples peeked out from densely forested hilltops. We stopped to visit villages stuck in time, explored a cave that had been transformed into a Buddhist temple filled with hundreds of statues, cooled off in hidden multitiered waterfalls, and eventually disembarked in Luang Prabang, a city whose name will always make me smile. Sometimes it is about both the journey and the destination.

Wherever you go, however you travel, allow it to enrich you, connect you to others, challenge your preconceptions, and open your head and heart. If you do, you’ll understand why we travel, and why we should never stop. It is an investment in ourselves and makes us better people. When we get home, home is still the same, but we have changed. And that changes everything.

THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE SATISFACTION of meeting a challenge head-on and rising to the occasion. Here are a few ways to test your mettle.

Exploring a metropolis like Tokyo or New York City can be downright intimidating, but when you seek out its less touristy corners, you’ll understand its more authentic soul. One way to tap into the local scene is to use mass transit. Apps can make them easier to navigate and worth the effort. Once you do get the hang of the systems, you’ll find them efficient and well organized—and fellow strap- hangers are surprisingly happy to help.

Knowing another language will open up your world in countless ways and deepen your connection with others—whether you’re bargaining at the market or bantering with a barista—while stretching your brain. Find an app or an online program and pair that with a language partner. It’s also fun to immerse yourself in foreign films and books with easy story lines.

Of the earth’s various peaks, many require technical skill and experience to climb, but many others don’t. Explore Mount Temple in Canada’s beautiful Banff National Park (11,600 feet) and Mauna Kea in Hawaii, whose height is technically 33,500 feet, but more than half of that is submerged, making the above-sea-level mountain hikeable in four to five hours. Choose one that’s the right challenge for you and head for the summit.

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to just let go of plans or ideas you spent a lot of time on. Life on the road gets immeasurably easier when you realize that you cannot always be in control. Small obstacles can derail your itinerary, but if you relax and pivot, you may find that the universe has more interesting plans in mind than any you can arrange.





Learn more about her in my 2019 interview with her: Where To Go Next? Ask Patricia Schultz, 1000 Places to See Before You Die


View this post on InstagramA post shared by Patricia Schultz (@1000placestoseebeforeyoudie)

Read this article on the Jewish Journal


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