If you are new to me allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zarinah El-Amin Naeem. I'm an author, mother, wife, cultural anthropologist and transformative travel expert who works with women who dream to travel, learn about other cultures, and give back to society in big ways.
I've worked in cultural programming and global development for the last 17 years, organizing cultural events for both small and large audiences, public and private sector. I've taken 36 women on trips of a lifetime to Morocco, Indonesia and Senegal.
You are in experienced hands.
While I live a global life now, I grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Like most young girls, society raised me to believe that all I needed to be "happy" was go to school, get good grades, and get a job with benefits.
But what happens when you find out the fairytale is a mirage? That the "good job with benefits" isn't the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? That living the routine of working till you die or till your next 2 week vacation isn't that life? And for those of us in business, we grow and grow and grow, 6 figures, 7 figures and beyond, only to wake up and realize something is missing. The soul of what we're doing is missing.
But unfortunately, society tells us that's the only way to live.
But that's not working.
I realized this around my junior year of college when something clicked inside.
I wanted to LIVE BOLD
I wanted FREEDOM
I wanted to TRAVEL
I wanted to my soul to SING!
So I broke out!
Instead of following the track I was on and taking one of my computing job offers, I did something everybody told me was crazy. I moved halfway around the world to Egypt and became an English teacher!
It was less money for sure, but that "crazy" decision totally transformed my life! I fell in love with travel, in love with culture, and in love with the world.
A seed was planted.