Faces in Motion: Eulanda Shead Osagiede | Co-Founder & Creative Director, Hey! Dip Your Toes In

Editor’s note: Faces in Motion are series of light-hearted chats with creators in the travel, food and culture space. In the first of the series, I caught up with the award-winning content creator and learned about what sparked her love for foodie travel, the importance of making meaningful connections in destinations and more. Eulanda captured so much of what we cherish about travel and discovery, and shared some essential tips to get more out of the experience. I hope it resonates with you as much as it did with me. Enjoy!

What’s a piece of home that you take with you on your travels? 
I’m more of an ‘essentials’ person. I don’t like packing extra things that aren’t 100% needed. That said, I don’t travel without a few basic hair products to care for my curly fro. That would be as close to home as I can get!

Share a favourite holiday memory from childhood 
As a family of five, we’d road trip from Denver, Colorado, to Texas once a year to see family. One of our cousins owned an old school hamburger joint. It looked like one of those place straight out of the 1950’s. They had the best (super juicy) hamburgers, fries and shakes! It was hard to come back home and eat McDonald’s. These trips down south are what sparked my love for foodie travel!

Your essential travel apps or gadgets on the go  
Since I have to carry so much photography equipment, I try to limit my other gadget carrying to external batteries, earbuds, and, on some occasions, my ipad. I’m an app horder, and I’m always on the lookout for new apps to try out. I love Google Trips, Skyscanner, TripAdvisor, Vivino, Lightroom, Dark Sky, and DuoLingo. 

What’s a great place you’ve chanced on during your travels?  
This past summer whilst in Cyprus, we were roadtripping along the east side of the island. It was getting close to dinner time, so we stopped in the cutest beachside restaurant. The family who owned the place was so accommodating and kind. We had a delicious array of souvlaki and grilled fish, along with a number of colourful mezzes. We settled deep into our chairs with a glass of wine in one hand, and our eyes basking in the most beautiful golden-orange sunset. It felt like the most cliche travel moment, but it was ours, and it was unforgettable.

Some guilty pleasures when you’re on the road
Finding the best gluten free bakeries in every city we visit. I make it a goal to visit as often as possible depending on how long we’re there. I love trying the local champagne/sparkling wine of wherever I’m visiting. Some call it bougie, I just call it bubbles!

You’re on a beautiful desert island and have to pick one read, podcast or show you enjoy to while away a blissful afternoon. What is it?
I love reading, because it’s difficult for me to multitask while doing so. I love getting sucked into an engaging story. With this in mind, I’d choose “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. I bought it weeks ago, but haven’t had time to get past the first thirty pages. A deserted island would provide the time I need to read to my heart’s content. 

Who’s a fascinating person you’ve met on holiday?
Meeting a woman named Aiysha Mohammed who was the first female, certified guide in Zanzibar, was certainly a profound experience. Aiysha has excelled in a community that traditionally sought to impose strict roles on Muslim women like herself. 

However, after suffering mental and physical abuse from her now ex-husband, she divorced him and enrolled in a guide certification course. Despite being ostracised from her family, she created a life for herself as a successful tour guide, remarried, and is now one of the most well-known guides on the island.

Her story was deeply humbling and inspiring. Women like her encourage my pursuit to make more meaningful connections in the destinations I visit.

Most memorable meal abroad?  
There are too many to count. Although this one wasn’t technically ‘abroad,’ it’s one that changed my adult foodie life forever. 

I was vegetarian (sometimes vegan) for twenty three years before I started eating meat again. August 2016, we were contacted by Jamie Oliver’s production team. They invited us to film a scene in Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast. However, the scene involved trying various flavours of blood sausage. 

In all honesty I didn’t want to decline the TV appearance because I didn’t eat meat. I’d already been questioning my decision to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle at the age of 15. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to push my own food boundaries.

The experience wasn’t bad at all. It was certainly weird experiencing a texture in my mouth that I hadn’t had in over two decades. However, it propelled my desire to experience more. See, I’d spent far too long curbing my curiosity when it came to global food culture. I went head first into exciting food experiences around the world from that day forward.

Beach person or urban adventurer? 
I’m a mix of both. I can’t choose just one. I love soft adventure activities like hiking, cycling, swimming, etc. However, I love cities that offer contrasting landscapes and activities. Having access to cities with an urban art scene is just as exciting as visiting a small beachside village.

Top 3 travel tips
Be flexible when it comes to things not going as planned. Find enjoyment in the planned and the unexpected.

Stay on top of your points and reward programs. You can get so many beneficial upgrades and perks from being aware of what you have, or are enrolled in.

Learn basic language phrases of the city you’re travelling to. A few basic language skills can go a long way between having a good trip and a great trip.

Next stop?
I always keep next stops to myself until it’s time to leave, or I arrive at my destination. This is not to keep anyone in suspense. It really has everything to do with life’s twists and turns.

Let me elaborate on a recent twist…I was supposed be in Bahrain on assignment for House of Coco magazine. However, I had to pull out of the trip due to being ill. Life happens. Taking care of myself will always supersede any travel plan.

Eulanda is a TEDx, Traverse & TBEX speaker, and creative curator of Hey! Dip your toes in, an award-winning content hub co-founded with husband Omo to explore the tastes, sounds and stories of the world. Follow HDYTI on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.