As I travel the country speaking to writer’s groups in workshops and seminars, I’m struck by the amount of misinformation that is floating around. Having spent 25-years working for two of the largest publishers in the world, I thought it would be important to set the record straight and write about three of the most common myths.

It’s not about who published your book, but will it make money

First, there seems to be this impression that if an author publishes with a print-on-demand company – or god forbid self-publish their own manuscript – the big publishers will never be interested in their book. This is wrong! The fact is that the biggest companies in the world are focused on making money. If they discover a title they feel has potential to gain widespread distribution and sell lots of copies, they don’t care who published it, they want it. The big publishers rarely look at who published what, for them, it’s about dollars and if they feel your writing has the potential, they’ll publish it.

An agent is not required

Second, writers have the impression they absolutely have to have an agent to attract the attention of a big New York publisher. Again, this is wrong! If you have a book and a voice and a platform as an author, and a big company sees your potential, they will come to you without the need of an agent. Now, clearly more than 90% of the books the New York companies publish were bought with the assistance of an agent, but the truth is that the big guys are constantly looking for product. If your book, blog, or magazine article, attracts the attention of an editor or publisher, then you can save the 15% and sign without an agent. You do not have to have an agent to sign a publishing contract with a big company. But you’re going to need plenty of patience, a whole bunch of perseverance, and lots of marketplace knowledge to make that happen, but it can happen without an agent.

The contract is only the beginning of your work

Third, most authors that I encounter through my consulting have the feeling that once they sign that big time publishing contract, they will be taken care of. In fact, this is the biggest wrong of all! The New York publishers are in the business of making money; if you can help them, terrific, but if not, you are as expendable as the next author. In fact once you sign a contract, your work is just starting. You must help your publisher market your book and that could many a number of things. So the contract is not the end, but the beginning. Your publisher is not in the business of taking care of authors.

The next time you hear something foolish at your writer’s group meeting, or conference, send me an email. I answer them all personally and I’ll be more than happy to pass along my 25-years of New York experience and give you the facts.

For business or pleasure, Newark is a prime destination for travel within the Tri-State Area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Newark is the most populous and commercially active city in New Jersey, as it is the seat of Essex County and a major shipping port for New York Harbor near the Atlantic coast. Newark Liberty International Airport also happens to be the first major airport to serve the New York metropolitan area and one of the largest airports in the country.

Once you have secured your airfare to Newark, you will soon be able to enjoy a city overflowing with Colonial history, American heritage and central to anywhere you would want to be in the Tri-State Area. Located just 5 miles west of Manhattan and 2 miles north of Staten Island, Newark offers prime access to the sights and attractions of New York City with a more relaxed and refined environment to return to at the end of the day.

Colonial Legacy: New England’s Newark

Newark happens to be the third-oldest city in the United States, with colonial roots dating back to 1666 when Connecticut Puritans established a settlement that was originally known as Milford. Take a visit to Military Park in downtown and catch a glimpse of the Wars of America monument constructed by the artist Gutzon Borglum of Mount Rushmore fame. Military Park was also an actual military training zone for soldiers and colonials in Newark’s early days of the 17th century. For a bit more history and some science, visit the acclaimed collections of the Newark Museum, which includes works by Georgia O’Keeffe, John Singer Sargent, as well as a world-renowned Tibetan collection. Make sure to reserve an entire day as the Newark Museum’s grounds are also home to a planetarium, café, sculpture garden and the Ballantine House, a National Historic Landmark built in 1885.

A Newark Rebirth, One Brick at a Time

Newark was the site of the infamous 1967 riots, fueled by racial inequality and staggering poverty. Since that time the city has suffered considerable flight of capital until the 1990s when development projects hit the streets. Today, Newark is a multimedia and multicultural experience, offering state of the art performance spaces and brand new sporting facilities.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is a new addition to the city’s landscape, hosting top Billboard acts alongside international orchestras and theater. The Lincoln Park/Coast district is now a Cultural District with an Arts Park, the Museum of African American Music and the magnificent Symphony Hall. Additionally several of Newark’s 1920s era skyscraper and art-deco buildings have been glamorously restored. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart happens to be one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the United States, brimming with an unimaginable amount of brilliantly intricate stained glass.’

For business or pleasure, Newark is a prime destination for travel within the Tri-State Area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Newark is the most populous and commercially active city in New Jersey, as it is the seat of Essex County and a major shipping port for New York Harbor near the Atlantic coast. Newark Liberty International Airport also happens to be the first major airport to serve the New York metropolitan area and one of the largest airports in the country.

Once you have secured your airfare to Newark, you will soon be able to enjoy a city overflowing with Colonial history, American heritage and central to anywhere you would want to be in the Tri-State Area. Located just 5 miles west of Manhattan and 2 miles north of Staten Island, Newark offers prime access to the sights and attractions of New York City with a more relaxed and refined environment to return to at the end of the day.

Colonial Legacy: New England’s Newark

Newark happens to be the third-oldest city in the United States, with colonial roots dating back to 1666 when Connecticut Puritans established a settlement that was originally known as Milford. Take a visit to Military Park in downtown and catch a glimpse of the Wars of America monument constructed by the artist Gutzon Borglum of Mount Rushmore fame. Military Park was also an actual military training zone for soldiers and colonials in Newark’s early days of the 17th century. For a bit more history and some science, visit the acclaimed collections of the Newark Museum, which includes works by Georgia O’Keeffe, John Singer Sargent, as well as a world-renowned Tibetan collection. Make sure to reserve an entire day as the Newark Museum’s grounds are also home to a planetarium, café, sculpture garden and the Ballantine House, a National Historic Landmark built in 1885.

A Newark Rebirth, One Brick at a Time

Newark was the site of the infamous 1967 riots, fueled by racial inequality and staggering poverty. Since that time the city has suffered considerable flight of capital until the 1990s when development projects hit the streets. Today, Newark is a multimedia and multicultural experience, offering state of the art performance spaces and brand new sporting facilities.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is a new addition to the city’s landscape, hosting top Billboard acts alongside international orchestras and theater. The Lincoln Park/Coast district is now a Cultural District with an Arts Park, the Museum of African American Music and the magnificent Symphony Hall. Additionally several of Newark’s 1920s era skyscraper and art-deco buildings have been glamorously restored. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart happens to be one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the United States, brimming with an unimaginable amount of brilliantly intricate stained glass.’

Planning a trip to the Big Apple? While everyone knows about the must-see hot spots in the big city like the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and the Metropolitan Museum, there are some worth-seeing places that are often not crowded with tourists. If you are looking to make your trip to New York City special, why not visit these unknown tourist places that will make you fall in love with this beautiful city.

Grand Central Station is not just the busiest transportation hub in the city, but also one of the best places to view beautiful architecture. Take a friend with you when you visit, and if you call into the domed area outside the Oyster Bar, with you and your friend standing at diagonally opposing pillars, you will find out that a mere whisper from your friend will reach you clear as a bell. Such is the beauty of the architecture of this building that it magnifies even a whisper.

This is also a great place to spend some time if you are looking to see the diversity in the population of the city. Sitting here for just an hour will show you people from all ethnicities and races as they pass through the doors on their way to work or home. Grand Central is also the easiest way to get around the city and state, so hop on a train if you want to see more of the area.

New York is known for its diverse cuisine choices. With a multitude of ethnicities, there is a vast variety in the types of cuisine you can enjoy while visiting. You can go to one of the hundreds of restaurants in the city, or get a delivery to your hotel. Furthermore, as the city never sleeps, there is no limit regarding what time of the day you make your delivery!

If you are looking for excellent and extremely delicious pizza, go to John’s Pizzeria. Located in Manhattan’s Theater District on West 44th Street, this is actually an old church that the owners had converted into a pizzeria. With paintings of the Old New York City on its walls and a large stained-glass dome for a roof, this is a beautiful pizzeria with amazing food to offer to its clients; there are also beautiful sculptures on the walls and ceilings. The pizzeria does not serve slices, so be prepared to buy a whole pie. They also have a bar, and a second story that provides you with a closer view of the art.

Lastly, another lesser-known place you must see while in the city is the large globe, which is located in Flushing Meadows, Queens. This is actually a part of the 1964 World’s Fair and was not removed from the site, and is a silver representation of the world. It is about 140 feet tall and 120 feet wide, and weighs about 900,000 pounds. This was built as a symbol of world peace for the fair, and has now become a sight worth seeing by anyone visiting the city.

New York City is such a huge city with so many sorts of lifestyles that the city itself is a vista you will never forget. Make sure you split yourself from the average tourist when you visit New York City this year, by not just visiting the renowned tourist locations, but also considering the locations that you would not see if you remained on the normal tourist trail.

New York State

It took a mere nine months to build the impressive New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua. The $7.6 million, 19,000-square-foot center on South Main Street, flanked by gardens and overlooking Canandaigua Lake, offers culinary classes, wine tasting and educational tours. There is a concierge desk; a Taste of NY Lounge for light meals and wine-and-food pairings; and an exhibit hall showcasing New York agriculture.

There is a fee to register and attend any of the several demonstrations presented by guest chefs and for the hands-on cooking classes; however, admission is free.

Speaking of wine, the trail is growing ever stronger and longer in Western New Yorks grape growing region along Lake Erie. Word is three new wineries are joining the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail. Specializing in sparkling and ice wines, the Sparkling Pond Winery in Ripley is now open for tasting and tours. Sparkling Pond joins 13 other wineries in time for the trails annual Holiday Weekends event, taking place during two consecutive weekends in November.

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor opens in November in New Yorks Hudson Valley, about 10 miles from West Point. It occupies the site where George Washingtons army camped toward the end of the Revolutionary War, where in 1782 Washington created the award, decreeing it be designed as the figure of a heart in purple cloth. The Hall of Honor pays tribute to those killed or injured defending the nation. Visitors can search out facts and stories about Purple Heart recipients. Officials estimate 1.7 million soldiers are eligible for inclusion in the memorial.

The Farmers Museum near Cooperstown celebrated its new acquisition earlier this season-the Empire State Carousel. The whimsical contemporary folk art was created by more than 1,000 volunteer artisans from across the state, featuring original carvings, paintings and quilts, each specially designed for the ride. The carousel depicts a colorful cultural history of the state. It includes 25 hand-carved riding animals indigenous to New York and 23 portrait panels of famous New Yorkers, including Susan B. Anthony, Jackie Robinson, Grandma Moses and Theodore Roosevelt.

The Farmers Museum offers visitors a first-hand look at rural and village life in New York circa 1845 through authentic demonstrations and interpretive exhibits.

Madame Tussauds, the famous wax attraction, in the heart of Times Square in NYC, announces new additions to its strange and fascinating exhibits. Over the years the museum has found novel ways for visitors to interact with the life-like figures carved from wax. The latest? Visitors can now check out Lindsay Lohans latest bling, practice movie lines with Will Smith, decide whether or not to vote for Hillary Clinton for President, and audition for American Idol Judge Simon Cowell.

Heading to the Big Apple? Companies like NYC Group Tours and NYC Vacation Packages offer groups amenity-loaded packages to see this years Macys Thanksgiving parade Groups can watch the annual event in style at a parade party and enjoy all the city has to offer!

Pennsylvania

Starting in November, Christmas blooms at Longwood Gardens near Kennett Square. Thousands of red poinsettias, snapdragons and paperwhite narcissus signal the holiday season. After dark, the night blooms bright with 400,000 lights strung on nearly 40 miles of wire throughout the gardens. Groups are welcome to make reservations for the Yuletide Buffet, a bountiful spread amid the festive gardens.

The Quality Inn Gettysburg Motor Lodge now offers groups of 20 or more Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. Overnight in Gettysburg amid the attractions and day trip to the nations capitol, just 90 minutes away. Soak in Gettysburg history with a visit to the American Civil War Museum and the Gettysburg Diorama. Visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site and dine with President Lincoln at the historic Dobbin House. Spend time shopping and dining at Boyds Bear Country. The day trip into Washington, D.C., includes stops at the World War II, Korean War Veterans, Vietnam Veterans memorials, and more.

Over in Lancaster, the curtain is lifting for the 07 Theatre season, with the Dutch Apple Theatre presenting the regional premieres of two just-released contemporary shows, The Full Monty, February through April, and Swing, July through September. While the theatre will continue to offer their most popular performances like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Cabaret, show organizers also say future schedules will show, This is not your grandparents dinner theatre experience!

This article is sponsored by: www.leisuregrouptravel.com , www.grouptravelblog.com , www.grouptraveldirectory.com

The following is an Interview with Jordan Harbinger from the Art of Charm School. This guy is the real deal and the Master of Social Dynamics. You can catch him on the Today Show or Sirius Satellite Radio, at PickUp Podcast or at The Art of Charm.

1. In a nutshell what is that Art of Charm School and why do we need it?

The Art of Charm is a team of highly trained dating coaches and social dynamics instructors, with an emphasis on being successful in business and life. We will teach you everything you need to know to master social interactions in all areas of your life. The classes and in field work you’ll be attending are professionally organized and personally catered to target easy application and retention of the knowledge you’ll gain. Everyone can benefit from learning to connect better with others in both their personal and professional lives. We can teach you how to get whatever you want, from a girlfriend or wife to a raise or promotion at work.

2. How does a lawyer find himself running a 21st century charm school?

I was not only sick of the Wall Street grind, but was disappointed that the so-called ‘top level’ minds in America and from abroad were merely social invalids who studied hard and worked even harder, yet had almost no social savvy and had trouble relating to just about everyone. I had already been doing the PickUp Podcast for about a year and it was incredibly popular while I worked on Wall Street doing financial law, so I figured I would begin to apply what myself and my staff of experts knew and taught to those who needed it most, and the business started to really take off. Now we’ve got several programs each week and a regular show on Sirius Satellite Radio.

3. What’s the biggest mistake men make with women and why do you think that is?

There are so many mistakes that men make with women that are shockingly simple to remedy. One of the biggest mistakes men make with women that I’ve seen very consistently over the years is the myth that women don’t like sex as much as men, and that we’re impolite or improper somehow for wanting to get intimate with a woman. This is ridiculous, and any woman who is honest with herself will confirm as much. The reason men, especially American men, hold this belief so strongly is because of the way we’re raised, mostly by women, and the myths that society projects upon us. Unfortunately, these society-bred wives’ tales are contrary to our basic biology.

4. Let’s use a real life example. A typical reader of this blog could find himself at the bar of Nikki Beach Marbella surrounded by beautiful women in Bikini’s. What are some strategies that that could get him talking and partying with these girls rather than sipping his Mojito alone or just with his guy friends?

This is a pretty common situation. Being a wallflower and propping up the bar is no fun. If you’re out with your friends surrounded by women, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be interacting and partying with all of them. Remember, they came there to socialize, not just to be seen. Contrary to what many of us are taught growing up, we’re not ‘bothering’ women by flirting and interacting with them. Women LOVE to flirt. They’ve been doing it since elementary school and are very adept at it.

Try this: interact with EVERYONE. As soon as you go to the bar, greet the doorman and get his name. Ask him how his night is going and tell him you’re going to the bar and ask if he wants a glass of water or juice or anything. I used to be a doorman and let me tell you, this NEVER happens. When it does, we remember you, and we’re thankful. That way, next time you’re in line waiting with your friends, I’ll be happy to let you in because I know you and like you. Women you’re with (and those in line) will see that happen and wonder why you’re so special.

Once inside, talk to the barman like you’re friends. Again, ask how his day/night is going, banter a little bit and get on friendly terms. When he asks what you’re having after that, tell him “barman’s choice” and ask him to make you his favourite drink. I can’t remember the last time I paid for a drink when I order like that. Tip well.

Now you’re wondering why I still haven’t told you to talk to the girls. The idea here is to cultivate social value. Women are very in tune with that and will notice that the doorman and bartender like you. Don’t stop there. Talk to everyone in sight, young, old, big, small, male or female. The more people who know and like you and that you interact with, the higher your social value in that venue. Soon enough, you’ll be able to talk to the women without seeming like you’re blatantly hitting on them, and more than likely, they’ll start talking to you or giving you signals that they’re interested. This type of basic outgoing dynamic is what allows me to walk into an exclusive New York or LA club without waiting in line, get free drinks, and befriend everyone there while becoming the life of the party. I’m not even a hyper-energetic or crazy guy. The trick is that I don’t ignore ANYONE from the barman to the busboy.

5. On the other side of the spectrum are the guys who have “too much confidence” and act like a bit of an A- hole (maybe to everyone BUT him). How does that guy get coached out of that behavior (especially if he isn’t aware of it)?

Guys who seemingly have too much confidence are more arrogant than confident. You’ll see these guys standing near the bar showing off their muscles/watch/bling, sunglasses on, not smiling. I call this “too cool for school”. Guys with this issue don’t get NEARLY as much attention as they’d like, and are often bitter about it. They seem like jerks, but are really scared to open up to people because they’re afraid they won’t be accepted. If you try to talk to them, you’ll find initial resistance but soon after they’ll be very, very happy to engage you in conversation. Being ‘too cool for school’ is awkward and painful. Trust me, I was this way before I started learning this social dynamics skillset and it was miserable!

The trick to getting out of this is to realize that people will only find you interesting if you’re interested in them first. As above, start talking to everyone and slowly allow yourself to open up to them. This is a slower process than most, because it requires that the client eventually internalize that they are interesting/fun/cool enough to be accepted and liked by others. This happens through positive feedback. In other words, it happens when they man-up, try being more open with others, and are rewarded with attention, friendship or affection from the people they open up to. We do a LOT of this at The Art of Charm during our workshops.

6. I understand that you do actual “in field” training. How does that go down and could you give us some real life stories?

In-field training is a big part of our bootcamps and workshops. While there are dozens of hours of in-class training, it’s crucial to go out with the coaches and apply the knowledge in real-life situations so that it can be tweaked, perfected and eventually internalized. We take our clients to a variety of venues in whichever city we’re holding the program (usually we have connections to get us into exclusive places, but the occasional dive-bar isn’t out of the question either!) Once there, the students are pushed outside their comfort zones and encouraged to apply their new skillsets, all under the watchful eye of our coaches. This ensures that when the client goes back home, they’ll be able to make real, lasting change in their lives as opposed to merely having a notebook full of useful information collecting dust on the nightstand.

We’ve had so many success stories here at The Art of Charm, such as older clients (oldest client so far is 63 years old) meeting future wives and girlfriends, virgins going home non-virgins, and tons and tons of relationships as a result of our programs. A few extreme cases I remember off the top of my head include one client getting a job offer at Goldman Sachs, one of the most prestigious companies on Wall Street, after meeting a hiring partner during an exercise, and another client who’d never approached a woman at a bar before and ended up going home with two women and enjoying a nice, long night and morning with both of them.

7. I’m sure we can all improve in the area of Social Dynamics, but are there just some people that have “natural confidence” and don’t need coaching? Conversely are there people that you just can’t help?

There are plenty of people who have natural confidence, but everyone can use coaching. All of our expert coaches are expected to continue to grow as people and learn to master new areas of their lives. Some of our best Attraction coaches are learning business networking from our business and success coaches, and vice-versa. Our programs encompass so many facets of life that there’s something for everyone.

There are always people who think they don’t need coaching, and, ironically, it’s them who usually need the most help, because they can’t even see their own shortcomings and mistakes. Unfortunately, those are also the people that we really can’t help. It’s much easier for us to help someone who is really socially awkward and KNOWS they’re socially awkward than it is for us to help someone who is not getting the results they want but blames other people and can’t understand why others don’t find them as amazing as they find themselves.

8. My personal observations (especially when I travel abroad) are that the Masculine and Feminine roles are much more clearly defined outside of the U.S. It seems that the Clark Gable Masculine American man of the 50′S is long gone and has morphed into a khaki pants wearing P**Y in the 2000’s. Also, the sexy feminine American woman has turned up a bit more masculine. Is that your observation as well and if so why do you think that is?

I agree 100% -the roles of men and women seem much more clearly defined outside of the US. People here are so confused by what their biology tells them to do, what they ‘think they want’ out of life, and what society is forcing upon them. I know plenty of women who’d be happy homemakers and raise great children but feel like they have to use their college education to be a CEO first, then try to raise a family on top of it all, and meanwhile all they think they want to do is not get married at all because there’s so much pressure and consequence riding out the outcome! It’s a shame, and men fall into a similar trap. The social landscape of gender roles has changed a lot over the past few decades, and it’s done some serious damage to our socio-cultural ‘navigation’ systems. There are plenty of benefits that go with being empowered and presented with options, but problems arise when other people’s agendas start pressuring people into lifestyles, goals, and outcomes that don’t mesh with their biology and actual desires..

If you’revisitinga big city, hotelstendto be expensive the closer in you stayto the citycenter.Eventhe budgethotelsmightstrainyourbudget.Considerstayingin a suburbor the next smalltown over. Takea 15-20 minute bus or train ride intothe city. Hotels and restaurants willbe cheaper, and it may evenbe a cuter areato stayin.

Home swapsare becoming morepopular as a way to savewhileon holiday.They\’re good for families or smallgroups traveling;together to sharethe expense.

As an evenmorefrugal alternative to a hotel,if you’reyoungand adventurous,you mightevenwant to give”couchsurfing” a try.It\’s a system where you register,then are referredto strangerswho are willingto let you sleep on theircouch. Sign up to host or be a couchsurfer withan organization likeCouchSurfing. They willconnectyou withothers who are interested in letting you flopon theirsofa. You can alsosign up to host travele;rs;yourself;.

There are houseswapsand couche;s;to flopon all overthe world. You haveto be willingto giveup a little of yourprivacy,but you can savea lot of money…. and makenew friends whileyou’resaving – Budget travelcan be a lot of fun!!!

Considerbooking a fly/drivebundle or hotelsbundled withflights. You mightbe an independent travele;r;who likesto findyourown accommodations, but you mightfindyou can savea bundle withthosebudgettraveltips.

If you want to go to a play or the operalook for half-off, sameday sales booths.Manycities havethese.In Londonand New York where everyonewantsto see a play,thesebooths can saveyou a bunch.The only downside is you mightnot be ableto see the latest plays.You may haveto standin a long line, and you mighthaveto pay cash.

Arethere any budgettraveltipswhen you’rerenting a car? Get the smallestcar thatyou and yourgroup can fit in. Car companieslove to say they can “upgrade” you for only a little more…. but why do you want to pay moreif you don’tneedthe space. Biggercars takemoregas… gas is expensive. (And, the driverin our teamreminds me, they\’re harder to park.)

Don’tget the “gas package” where you can returnthe rental car empty… you’llnever get it to empty…. You\’ll be too afraid of running out of gas on yourway back to the airport,so you’lllose moneyon thathalf tank that\’s left. Justfill it up nearthe airport and savemoney.

Thinkabout yourbudget… and the environment when you leavefor yourholiday.Your housecan saveyou moneyif you unplugall thoseappliances thatsay in “ready mode”and suckelectricitywhileyou’regone. Unplugging them savesthe environment too. Lowerthe hot water heatertemperatureto “vacation”. Makesurethe heateror the air-conditioner are at moneysaving settings. The housedoesn\’t needto be heatedor cooled as much whileyou’regone.

All theselittle budgettraveltipscould add up to moretraveltime… so makesureyou takeall of thesebudgettraveltipsintoconsideration.

About the county

Ukraine which is located in Eastern Europe is one of the largest country in that region of Europe bordering Russia in the northeast, Belarus in the north, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary in the west, Romania and Moldova in the southwest and also Black Sea and Sea of Azov in the south. It is a popular tourist destination especially for tourists from Western Europe and North America. The main selling point is the rich historical character of the country with as many five hundred cities dating back as early as nine hundred years. Visitors are spellbound by the architectural beauty of Ukraine. Kiev is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine where most travelers begin their journey.

Population & Languages

Ukraine has a population of roughly 46.7 million and the official language is Ukrainian. The other languages spoken here are Russian, Romanian, Polish and Hungarian.

Electricity

Voltage – 220 volts, Frequency – 50Hz. Standard European Round pin attachment plug

Geographic Location

Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe bordering Russia in the northeast, Belarus in the north, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary in the west, Romania and Moldova in the southwest and also Black Sea and Sea of Azov in the south. The strategic location of Ukraine between Asia and Europe made it a transportation hub in the region.

Local Customs

Ukrainians are warm hearted and welcoming people. Casual dressing is mostly worn here though it will be a good idea to wear smartly for theatres. Small gifts are appreciated. Tipping is not very common; service is usually included in fine restaurants and hotel bills.

Places to see
St Sophia Cathedral – As old as nine centuries, it is one of the architectural marvels of Ukraine.
Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (Caves Monastery) – These caves are as old as one millennium and dating back to 11th century.
Great Patriotic War Museum
Statue of the Motherland, Kiev

Travel

By Air – The national airline of Ukraine is Ukrainian International Airlines. In collaboration with Aer Fi Group and Austrian Airline it links Kyiv to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rome, Rotterdam, Vienna and Zurich. There is one more airline in Ukraine called Air Ukraine which serves relatively less number of European cities. Lviv is also connected to New York, Warsaw and Washington. It is connected to Turkey through Simferopol and to UK through IvanoFrankivsk. The major airport is Boryspil State International Airport (KBP) which is located twenty five miles from Kiev.

By Sea – The primary ports of Ukraine are Izmail and Odessa which are situated on the River Danube. The ferry services connect Ukraine with Russia and Georgia. They also connect various cities on the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Sevastopol is the port which connects Istanbul, Turkey.

By Rail – Ukraine has approximately 14,000 miles of railway tracks linking most towns and cities. Kyiv and Lviv are the main stations which connect with Moscow on a daily basis. Ukraine also has direct lines to Berlin (Germany), Budapest (Hungary), Warsaw (Poland) and Bucharest (Romania).

By Road – Ukraine has an extensive network of roads with approximately 107,000 mile of road network out of which nearly 18,000 mile is main or national roads.

Duty Free Items
1. Up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 gm tobacco
2. 1 liter spirit over 22% or 2 liter wine or 32 liter beer
3. Goods for personal use with a combined value of €200

Prohibited Items
Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, most meat and dairy products, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.

You may go or you may need to stay at the home or office and tend to things while your employer is away. Whatever you do, you will still need to have a handle on all aspects of the travel and be well prepared to deal with any changes or last minute surprises.

How To Prepare

Once you know who will be traveling, when, where, and for how long, you can begin to build your list of details and build a schedule and travel itinerary that you can handle from the road, the office, or the home.

You will need to know if he desires to pay with credit cards or use miles. Do you know how to transfer miles? How to upgrade them? How to check them in at the airport, fast? Do you know what an airport escort is?

Flyer Miles: A number of people who travel frequently will have flying points often referred to as frequent flyer miles. Each airline has a different name for them but essentially the passenger has points on their airline account they can redeem to fly instead of paying with currency. Points or miles can sometimes be used to upgrade the passenger from economy to business, business to first class. You’ll need to learn how this works by calling or going onto the airlines web site and researching their rules and regulations.

Some airlines will allow you to swap miles with other airline partners, some will let you trade using credit card services such as American Express (though they have specific airlines they work with). You can also get creative and look at services such as Points.com a program that allows you to trade mileage points with non-affiliated airlines.

Airport Escort: This is someone who will meet your employer and his party at the airline and help to make their transition to the plane or airline lounge, smooth, easy, and hassle free. An Airport Escort will handle all of your luggage and expedite you through security. They stay with you every step of the way until you are safely and comfortably on your plane. They will check if there are any upgrades available (sometimes at no extra charge), and when it’s time to board, they will notify you and escort you to the boarding gate.

Hotel preferences: Does your boss like to stay on a higher floor? Or have his room away from the elevators? Does he need a fax machine, favorite water? Does he want a view? Are his favorite pillows in the room? Is the room hypoallergenic? Where does the sun rise or set? Is he near the pool? Away from the ice machine? Down the hall from the elevator? Find out!

Auto rental: Does he prefer a new car or an older one? Do you know which rental agencies carry which brands of vehicles? Do they have towing service? Navigation system? Can anyone drive the vehicle?

You may also be responsible for packing, making an itinerary list, preparing snacks for the trip, and having some useful items available for your boss to take with him; eye mask, ear plugs, power cords, tissues, aspirin, etc.

Carefully go over everything. There are so many times someone has packed a suit, tie, shirts, socks, and shoes, but forgot something as simple as a belt. Also, when packing toiletries, pay attention to sizes. Know if your boss is taking a carry on that she will need to have the smaller toothpaste and shampoo. Check with the airlines before packing and get the latest information on rules and regulations. However, traveling private is different and other regulations apply.

Who To Prepare

It is your job to know all of your boss’s travel habits. How he likes to fly, what his favorite airlines are, what color seats he prefers (yes, I said it). Aisle or window preference, what foods he can eat, where he likes to sit (First Class or Business), time of day he prefers to travel.

Not only will you need to prepare the people going on the trip, but you may need to alert business associates, staff, and others that your boss will be traveling. If there is a staff, this is also the time to keep an extra vigil on them and keep the house running smoothly and making sure they don’t take this as a mini-vacation. While it is okay to let them ease up a bit, it is important that the house continues to run efficiently.

If there is a second home, alert that staff and make sure everything will be ready when your employer arrives; food, clean sheets, fuel in the cars, etc.

Also, contact the limo service that will be meeting your boss. Get the name and number of the driver’s cell. Make sure he is on time and give him a description of what your employer is wearing so he can easily find him. Ask the driver to have a sign with your employer’s name.

Discuss with your employer anything she may want you to deal with while she’s away.

Last Minute Change Of Plans

If you are not using a travel agent, and even if you are, you will need to keep a specific itinerary of everything that is occurring so you can accommodate any changes or surprises that arise. The airport may be snowed in. There may be an overbooking at the hotel, someone in the traveling party may get sick, an unscheduled business appointment, death in the family, or household disaster may arise, and you will need to change plans fast.

Occasionally you may have one of those very very rare boss’s who only flies on planes with red seat cushions and he has just boarded a plane with blue ones. Keeping a good itinerary with as many details as you can have will help make last minute switching a lot easier. Still challenging, but easier.

Do You Go Or Stay?

One of the things you should work out before hand is knowing if you will be traveling with your boss. Some of you may want to travel, and some may not. You may have a family and want to be home every night. These are important things you’ll need to discuss when first taking the position.

Working Mobile

On the go should never mean out of touch. You need to be able to have as much ability as you can to stay in touch on every front, phone contact, email, fax, messaging, weather, travel info, etc.

Fortunately, we are in a very technologically savvy world and it is easy to do so. The question is, are you technically savvy? Can you figure out how to get email while nowhere near a computer? Can you find out the weather from inside a taxi?

Again, you will need to discuss with your employer everything that will be expected of you in this area and then make sure they can supply you with or have you purchase the items necessary to help keep him or her in the know. And, if you don’t know the best items to purchase, then your job is to find the tech savvy person who can tell you what to get. A good source of information are web blogs or opinion web sites that can also rate these products.

Secondly, you need to make sure these new tech items can work in the places you will be traveling to. It will do you no good to have a Blackberry that works in New York and not in Spain, or North Carolina. You need to make sure that you have an idea of not only where the items may be used, but in what capacity.

Living Out Of A Bag

You are responsible for yourself, your boss, and possibly his family, associates, band members, etc. So while you want to travel light, you need to make sure you bring things that you will need when away for a while. If you are staying in hotels, most concierge can get you items you may need. But don’t buy too much because you may need to leave early and you have to be able to pack up and get out quickly. Think of it like an episode of the Apprentice. You may need to pack every day, so learn to take only those items really necessary and figure out how to get the rest later.

I Want The Food I Get Back Home!

There are just going to be times when both you and your boss will want exactly what you get back home. Sometimes this is easy to handle, sometimes you will need to work a little harder to get these items, which can also entail higher costs, and then sometimes you still can’t find the item.

See if there is something you could use to substitute. Perhaps you can’t get whey protein but you can get egg protein. Maybe there is no agave sweetener, and your boss might be okay using dates to sweeten their protein shake for the time being. If your employer uses a chef or dietician, you can call or email them and get some ideas for good alternatives.

An actress was on location and just had to have a health shake that her trainer recommended. The problem was that some of the ingredients could not be found in that country and there was no way to rush ship the items needed. So, working through the night, her Personal Assistant, with input from the trainer, got together with some of the crew and came up with a mixture of other ingredients that ended up tasting like what they were missing. The actress never knew a thing.

Traveling With Children And Pets

A good travel agent can keep you up to date with the latest travel rules and regulations. When traveling with children, especially in today’s security driven society, you should know a couple things. When traveling with a child and only one parent or no parents you will need to have a notarized letter from the parent(s) and you may need records from the physician saying it is okay to travel. If there are any medications, you should carry the proper documentation because they do baggage search nowadays for that as well.

Make sure you have any special reading materials, videos or other favorite items that will keep the child happy, and content as possible. Always have a sweater or light jacket with you and there are times when a quick change of clothes is with you on board the plane for any “accidents” that may occur. Also, children touch everything. Have them wash their hands often and make sure you do the same. Always carry wipes with you.

For pets you will also need all the proper documentation and every airline can tell you their specific requirements. I suggest you call twice. There have been a number of times when an assistant will be told one thing and something completely different when they arrive. So verify your information, get a name, id number and location where the office you spoke with is.

Checking the weather can be most important especially when traveling long distances. The temperatures inside the cargo area can change and you want to make sure the animal is always as comfortable as possible. If you are traveling private, the pet will travel within the cabin.

The good things is that some commercial airlines are getting on board and offering incentives for smaller pets to ride inside the cabin along with you. However this can all change if your pet is rowdy, noisy, or smells badly.

Home Sick

This is a tough area for anyone who will be on the road for months at a time. Sometimes it got so bad for me I would have my roommate video tape my dog and FedEx them to me wherever I was.

Find the time to keep up with friends and relatives. Fortunately, cell phones make it easier these days to do those long distance calls.

Another thing that can help with travel blues is to have people send you letters. There is something comforting about receiving a letter or even a silly care package with goofy things in it. Yes, it will make you sad but mostly fond of the people who took the time to make you feel wanted.

It is important that the position you take is one you like and not one you took because it’s cool or because you’re working for a big star. If you do not enjoy your job, you will really get homesick when you are away for long period of time.

This article is a excerpt from The Essential Handbook for Personal Assistants

This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni’s Renegade Roundtable, which can be found at http://www.RenegadeRoundtable.com. In this excerpt, Joel Odhner shares tips for raw food travelers and making it ahead and spicing it up at home.

Renegade Water Secrets with Joel Odhner, restaurant owner, chef, and raw food chef with clients from Delaware to New York.

Kevin: I want to go stay along the lines of busy people, busy people on the go. What are some of the tips for someone who is traveling a lot, what are some of the things that they can prepare to bring with them? What are some of the things they can prepare, say they are in a hotel room and they have nothing, what can you whip up right there that’ll be healthy?

Joel: Again, if we are talking about someone who’s really like completely raw a great traveling food is a cucumber, actually, believe it or not. It fits nicely in a carryon bag or even in your suitcase, if you know you’re going to be somewhere that doesn’t do well you can do that and actually roll these things up in collard greens. Like if you pre-made a couple of those burgers, like I said, the collard green is sort of hearty enough that it will last, within a day or so. It gets a little soggy after that. Then the other thing I would suggest just go down to the local restaurant and just ask them for — if you look on the menu you can see they probably have salad, they probably have peppers, they probably have different fruits and stuff. Just ask for it and just ask for the dressing on the side.

Kevin: Yeah.

Joel: And the other option is to like if you’re really on the go a lot and you want to pack lightly is get some green powder that you can mix with your water and just do like a water fast for the day. But filling it with some good greens, green powder and that will give you the nourishment you need and in some ways if you have a really busy schedule, you will actually get more energy because your body doesn’t have to worry about trying to digest.

Kevin: Now you’re traveling a lot. You’re in the car a lot. What do you bring with you? What’s the raw food prep chef bring with him?

Joel: Well, it’s funny you say that, you know. My kids tease me because in my car it has a revolving kitchen. I have everything. I have a juicer, a food processor, a blender and everything else. But I usually will load up with some juices. I tend to not eat while I’m driving. I’d rather not eat because sitting for a couple hours doesn’t sit real well. So I tend to just either drink water or generally, green juices, fresh green juices, if possible. One of my perks or luxuries of working for some of these people is I get to make — they also are getting, I’m making them juices. So I will often be able to make my own while I’m at work as I go onto the next client. To give you an idea, today I was at three clients, so I did three people in one day. And you know what? At the first I made a couple juices and carried it with me for the next couple. Now luckily, they were close by, but to give people an idea I made enough food for three families to eat for three to five days.

Kevin: Wow, that’s a lot of food.

Joel: So, you know, it’s a fair amount of food and yet it’s not. Once you start, another key is a lot of people tend to maybe not think about it. If you haven’t ever sort of used a commercial one, get a knife, like a chef’s knife, a good chef’s knife, not one of those straight little paring knives that you have to chop forever. That’s one of the things, why people have to take such a long time is they don’t have the correct knives. So get yourself a good eight inch chef’s knife. The other thing, in fact, on the DVD is, which it’s you the owner’s manual and there I show you how to use a knife. So if you’re people who are new to this or not quite sure, there’s a little section on that. Then the other thing is to get bowls that are actually big enough to mix things in. A lot of times people try to use a bowl that barely fits a head of kale in it and they wonder why they are struggling and it’s spilling everywhere. Get yourself tools that will make it easy on yourself to make the larger batches because now that you, I would suggest that if you are going to make, rather than make one kale salad for tonight, you’re going to make five for the next few days.

Kevin: Right.

Joel: So give yourself the right tools.

Kevin: Well, I’ll tell you, sometimes I use the wrong tools.

Joel: Okay.

Kevin: I’ve got a small bowl and I have this just like steak knife that we’ve had for years and I cut and it does take more time because every time everything spills over and I can’t cut enough. But I can imagine it would probably cut a good five minutes off of what I’m doing because I’m a mess.

Joel: Yeah, and if you really think about it, five minute times, three or four different things you’re making, that’s almost close to half an hour by the time you’re all said and done. And that can also make or break somebody’s time in the morning to make things. But I would suggest if people are going to make larger batches pick like Sunday and Wednesday or something like that, whatever is a good day or night for you to do that and just prep it that way. But it really is key. Having the right tools does make a big difference. It’s kind of like trying to fix a car with a pair of pliers. Well, no, it doesn’t really work. You need a couple different things.

Kevin: Do you suggest two nights a week to do some of the big prep stuff and then kind of filling it in?

Joel: Yeah, absolutely. If you took two days a week about three days apart you should only make good fifty percent of kind of what you are going to eat, if not more. What I call, sort of like the bases, you could make a couple soups, most soups are kind of quick and easy, but you could make some burger bases, you could make some hummus, you could make some pate, you could sort of like the longer standing kale salad and then have those as your sort of mainstays and then, so you chop up a quick fresh salad or whip up some romaine, whatever or you could dice up some fruit or whatever you want on the fly. But don’t have to make everything each and every day. I think that’s one of the reasons people get so frustrated with it. It really is. If you’re coming from the cooked world, it’s the same idea. Like I said, going back to my burger example you think about it in the world, if you say ground beef, you either make a burger, you can make a meatloaf, chili, whatever it is. It’s all the same base. You’re just adding different flavors to it because, well, I noticed in some of the other questions, as well, I get really bored. Add flavors. Eating raw isn’t about necessarily plain and simple. You can add some garlic, you can add some good sea salt, you can add some, fun herbs. And that definitely changes it up.

Kevin: What are some of your favorites?

Joel: I, personally, happen to be a garlic fan. I like chipotle peppers are really great. They’re a great accent to a lot of the dishes. Certainly, coming up soon, you’ve got the spring and summer coming along, so fresh basil, fresh cilantro and the fresh herbs are just, I mean it really does make or break it. In the wintertime, there’s little comfort, you are using the dried herbs. That’s fine but, using fresh basil, even often something simple like tomato, basil, onion, olives or something. Just toss that up and just throw it in and it’s great. Just use foods that you like. You don’t have to go crazy. If you don’t like something then don’t eat it. Don’t eat the same thing over and over again. That’s the thing I oftentimes hear. Well, what am I going to eat? Well, how many different kinds of fruits and vegetables are there? Many.

Kevin: Yeah. What’s a trick to finding really good, fresh produce? In your profession, I imagine it’s important to have fresh produce. What are some of the tips that you found that can help?

Joel: There’s a couple different options. Certainly, if you can tap into a Farmer’s Market, that’s great. A lot of times they’re coming up with the CSA of the community. Gardens that people are involved in that a good thing to do. And if there’s not that available, oftentimes a health food store may carry produce already. If you go to them, especially if you can get another family or two that is eating the same as you are, then go and order like a half a case of something at a time. You’ll get a better price and you’ll certainly get it fresh. And sometimes you ought to go to places where they may knock 10-percent on for a hassle fee or something like that, but by the time you are buying it by the case, it’s better than buying it by the individual bunch or each.

Kevin: Right.

Joel: Obviously, as a raw foodie, you are going to eat a larger number of fruits and vegetables. So it sort of pays off to get a case or a half-case of things. If you can split it with another family or two, then it really does make it a lot more economical. And for some of the real frugal people, there are some people who will go to the health food store and they’ll ask them for the fruits and vegetables that they can’t quite keep on their shelves, but they are really still great. They might have a little bruise or something on it, but they don’t want to sell them in their store, so you can also get a really great price on those. There are a lot of people who will do that and you can get some great stuff.