Meet Modupe Sonuyi: Our December Guest Editor for the Explorer

It’s December. It’s time for that simultaneous relax, kick back and savor the season that pairs ever so well with anticipating all that a new year holds. And when it comes to finding a refreshing take on new adventures, we couldn’t think of anyone better to chat with than Modupe Sonuyi.

We’ve completely fallen in love with her blog, Let’s Go Yesterday, an online portal where she shares wanderings through cultures both foreign and familiar. She has a knack for inviting you into her travels with her words, and we’re so excited to have her sharing some of those travels with us this month as Guest Editor for the Explorer!

Below she’s sharing a bit more of who she is offline and seriously getting our travel wheels turning for some upcoming adventures. Read on:

1. What prompted you to start your blog and share your travel experiences?

Have you ever had your afro gently tugged on, then subsequently blessed by a Buddhist monk? Have you ever had a southern Italian woman curiously inquire about your use of sunscreen despite your already chocolaty smooth complexion? Have you ever been surrounded by throngs of travelers in a foreign land yet, with a quick glance, you realize you’re the only traveler that actually looks like you?

Well, if you said yes to any of the aforementioned questions, then I write for you! I started writing to share my travel experiences in hopes of inspiring others, particularly women of color, to go out and discover their wildest wanderlusting dreams.

2. How do you go about truly immersing yourself in the everyday life of a new culture when you travel?

Beware the all-inclusive rabbit hole! While I’m not at all knocking anyone who chooses these accommodations, I will say that I’ve found all-inclusives to be pretty limiting, especially if I want to have a culturally-immersive experience. That being said, I typically start with a home share, aka Airbnb. Through platforms like Airbnb, I’ve met a plethora of wonderful local hosts that are willing to share off the beaten path gems, dish on favorite local hot spots and even help me embarrass myself by supporting my attempts to speak the native tongue!

3. What is one destination on your travel wish list that you haven’t made it to yet?

Does all of South America count? Sadly, despite all of my travels, I have yet to make it to this splendid neighboring continent. I imagine this magical world where I’d have this incredible opportunity to explore South America for 4-5 months straight. But I’m part dreamer and part type A realist, so I haven’t given up on making this one come to life!

4. What is your personal definition of beauty?

I thought long and hard about this one. And it’s official, I don’t have a definition for beauty! I can’t define it. It just is.

5. What piece of advice would you give women who want to make travel a bigger part of their lives?

Are you adamant about paying off all of your school loans in the next 5 years? Do you have a credit card bill that you absolutely have to pay off before the New Year? Are you hell-bent on turning your entrepreneurial dabblings into a full-time career? Then you’re already equipped with the kind of dedication it takes to make travel a bigger part of your life! The first step is prioritization. You’ve got to put aside the time and finances to achieve your goals, similar to the previously mentioned scenarios.

Get ready for some traveling this month as Modupe shares her favorite adventures and best travel advice with us! In the meantime, see where she is currently by following along via Facebook and Instagram.

Image via Dorean Raye