Thoughts on the loneliness epidemic and working with a tourism board…

What it’s like to work with a tourism board–

Our travel YouTube business brought us back to Germany this past September, where we had the chance to explore Wiesbaden, Cologne, Dusseldorf, and the middle Rhine River Valley, all thanks to the National German Tourism Board. We received our itinerary just a few days before we flew out from Atlanta, and it was the very first time we prepared for a trip we DIDN’T plan. All restaurants, hotels, and experiences were intentionally picked out by the local tourism boards of the respective cities, and our job was to showcase the entire region without presenting favoritism towards any specific businesses or brands. More on that later haha.

Some days, the itinerary was scheduled down to the HOUR. That meant that we had to put our best foot forward with filming, traveling, and capturing experiences as efficiently as possible. It felt like everything we’ve ever done with creating YouTube videos (and digital content, in general) was put to the test in this single trip.

We were accompanied by local guides just about every day, and having people witness our full filming process, from start to finish, was a very special and eye-opening experience for us. They were able to share their thoughts on how we operated as a married creative team, and there’s one comment that just about every guide pointed out. They said that they were impressed by how quickly we were able to digest a large amount of information (whether it be historical facts or cultural ideas) and decide what we think is interesting enough to make it into a 20-minute YouTube video. They said that we were extremely fast at grasping an understanding for a place and thinking of how to describe food in a dynamic way right on the spot.

I never thought of that as a talent or skill at all. I always imagined that anyone could do what we do for a living. Getting that outside opinion made us realize that our job does take a lot of mental and physical effort as well as a certain level of spontaneous creativity.

Just last month, I was expressing how we were nervous that our skillsets and personalities wouldn’t be good enough to work alongside a tourism board. How we always second-guess our abilities and whether the things we say or do are entertaining enough for a YouTube channel. Having real-life, everyday people witness the full behind-the-scenes of us filming, and giving us such kind and supportive responses in return, was certainly a confidence boost we didn’t take lightly. It reminded us how much we do enjoy our job, despite the many mental challenges it brings, and how grateful we are to be able to run this channel together as a team.

One rule: no business favoritism allowed–

Our second trip to Germany was fantastic. From the breathtaking sight of golden patchwork vineyards, to the endless hours spent talking to local Germans about their history and culture, we got a very good understanding of what that small region was all about.

One thing we had to be very careful about NOT doing, was saying or showing the name of any specific businesses in a city or town. The tourism board wanted us to showcase the entire region without hinting at any favoritism, so for example, you might hear us saying “this charming castle perched on the hillside” or “this cozy, family-owned chocolate shop” rather than stating the actual name of the location or business. That was one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do while filming (and editing), because we’ve always prided ourselves on sharing locations for other travelers and viewers who are hoping to do the same things that we did. We just wanted to share this little rule with you, so that when the second Germany series comes out, you won’t be wondering why we’re being so vague about where we’re at and why we’re not providing the typical location animations like how we always do haha.

“Slow down. What’s the rush?”

So, in case you missed the announcement, we MOVED away from Chattanooga and into the Blue Ridge Mountains this past summer. And, let me tell you, living in small town America, out in the countryside, has been such a life-changing experience. Chad was playing cornhole with our neighbors one evening when we first moved here, and when Chad went to pick up the bean bags, our neighbor said something along the lines of, “I can tell you’re from the city, because you walk fast.” Our childhoods and lives have been built to always chase the grind, hurry to the next destination, and add to the to-do list. Our new hometown has taught us to slow down and subtract.

We’ve really sat down to ask ourselves, “Why are we always in a rush?” “Why do feel a need to take on more than we know we can mentally and physically handle?” “Why is it so easy to look at other people’s lives and desire what they have versus feel grateful for what we already have?”

It’s nearly inevitable that life will get more complicated as we get older, but if we’ve learned one thing from our new life in the mountains, it’s that it isn’t all that bad when you have a strong community. Over the last few months, I’ve replaced the time I used to put into mindless work, into finding other young couples, other women, other people who are also looking to connect and fellowship. This has led me to attending my first “girls nights” in adulthood, baking homemade muffins for community meals, and attending local festivals and fairs. What a wonderful experience it’s been to finally feel like we belong.

Over the last few years, the “loneliness epidemic” has been a big topic of discussion, and for a while there, we struggled to find community in the same way so many others were. We came to realize two things: (1) we had to make the time and energy for it, and (2) we had to go out and find it ourselves. Community was never going to just magically come to our doorstep. As an adult, going out to intentionally make friends can be a very daunting and nerve-wracking task, but we decided to do it anyways. Let’s just say, little Claire would be very proud of present-day Claire for putting friendship first for once.

Friends make everything more grand–

So, yes, in-person, local friends are WONDERFUL, but guess what? So are online friends!!! We have online friends all across the world, some doing the same job as us and others in different career paths, and we had the pleasure of welcoming two of them into our home at the start of October. This was our third time meeting Eric and Sarah in person (first time in Canada and second time in the Philippines), and they were truly the perfect first guests to stay with us at the Storybook Cottage. We went apple picking at a local orchard, delighted in home-cooking and traditional Southern food, and talked for hours and hours late into the silence of night.

They’ve been travel YouTubers since 2021, and if you’re looking for some wholesome and cheery travel videos, their channel will be right up your alley. They are both such an inspiration to us, and it’s been heart-warming to journey through life with them.

We have many more guests coming our way this autumn season, and it’s going to be such a fantastic time. Can’t wait to see you next, Adam and Kathryn! ;)

 New travel videos on YouTube–

Our New York City vlog: We took a redemption trip to New York City and enjoyed incredible food and stunning city views. Here is the link to the video.

Our Croatian food tour: We tried 12 different Croatian foods in Split and shared our first impressions on the country. Here is the link to the video. 

So, where are we heading next?

Nowhere for a while! Finally. We have been looking forward to this “long” two-month break from travel all year long, and we are smiling ear to ear as we take a moment to rest and refresh our minds and our bodies. Somehow, we found ourselves taking SEVEN big international and domestic trips over the last nine months, visiting nine different countries (two of them twice in two separate trips) and driving over 3,000 miles on a road trip up north. I’m not surprised as to why we’re feeling a bit tired and over-worked haha.

Right now, we have a big choice to make. This December, we’re flying back to Taiwan for the third time this year, and before we host our 8-day group trip around that island, we have the opportunity to visit another country on that side of the world. That is, if we feel up to it. When that much money is spent on a flight over to Asia, it almost feels wrong not to visit another destination while we’re over there. But, of course, we can also prioritize rest over business and stay home a little longer and enjoy the local holiday festivities at the start of December. I’m eager to see what we decide to do!

As for now, our Croatia series is slowly coming out on our channel! It will be followed by our most recent trip to West Germany, which will release until the very end of this year. It’s going to be the perfect series to watch during the autumn season (think fairytale castles, golden vineyards, and hearty meals!), so grab a warm drink, and get ready for some cozy videos!

It’s crazy to think that October is already here. How this year has flown by. Enjoy the rest of this year while it lasts!

MOST SINCERELY,

Claire (and Chad)