By Sherrie Wilkolaski
Travels of Wayward Wonderer Jenna Intersimone
By Sherrie Wilkolaski
People travel for different reasons . Personally , I feel travel is is more than a geographical exploration , it is an opportunity to uncover more about who you are as an individual , and a chance to grow . With every journey I discover a new interest , or reach a place in my mind that was previously untapped . My thoughts go to how travel can create a personal transformation , because over the last year , we ’ ve seen Luxe Beat Magazine contributor , Jenna Intersimone , blossom as a writer . She has been open to editorial changes and committed to listening to advice . As you move from one article to the next , the transformation is quite impressive . We recently sat down with this wayward wonderer , to find out how travel has impacted her life as a writer , and more .
Jenna graduated from Monmouth University in 2013 following studies in Journalism and Graphic Design . She went through a brief stint in advertising before she became the travel columnist , social media editor and web producer for MyCentralJersey . com and DailyRecord . com , Gannett New Jersey news organizations .
When asked where her appetite for travel stems from , she said , “ As a child and teenager , my family moved often and I became comfortable with the idea of creating a home within myself in order to experience fun and excitement rather than anxiety in the process of relocation . I quickly found that travel created an instant change in lifestyle that invigorated me and made me eager to explore further .”
Interestingly , it turns out that photography is more of a passion for her than writing and she said , “ Although I enjoy writing very much , I am more passionate about photography because it puts me in the moment of my work , while I obviously write at home after my travel experience has passed . Photography excites me because on location , I know that I have one shot to capture a particular moment and I feel a greater sense of attachment to my subjects .”
Sherrie Wilkolaski : What is your writing process ? Jenna Intersimone : My writing process is to write . I learned from a very wise professor that you could have all the ideas in the world , but unless you actually write them you ’ re “ not a writer , you ’ re an idea-er .” Instead of overthinking my work and creating tedious outlines , I put the pen to paper following the end of my trip . I try to let the thoughts and sensations I experienced in my travel lead the way and then I prepare to create draft after draft , a necessary component when you choose to jump in with both feet rather than outline .
SW : When you get the chance to pick your travel destination , where do you go ? JI : One of the principal reasons that I enjoy travel is that I love anything that�� n�� an� �iff�r�nt � �r��h destinations , people and food . Even though there are many places that I relish in visiting time after time , when given the choice , I will always visit a place I have never been before to extend my travel palette , a necessity for anyone who wants to write travel . The world is a big place , and I don ’ t see a lot of reason to seek out experiencing the same places twice .
SW : What motivates you to be write in the luxury space ? JI : I think that the job in itself is ���������anatory � � �i�it �nthra��in� cities , luxurious hotels and I have the privilege of being able to meet very successful people . And I get paid for it . If that ’ s not living the dream , then I don ’ t know what is .
SW : What is one of your favorite travel experiences ? JI : One of my favorite experiences in travel is visiting a new place and feeling so enthralled and pleasantly surprised by it that I could imagine a life there . I love to be enveloped in the food , culture and people so much that I can dream of what it would be like to wake up in my own place in the city , hang out with locals and walk down the streets every single day .
SW : Do you have a favorite dish ? JI : �y �a�orit� �i�h i� th� ���tto a� mirti��o� or han���ar��� ���t mi�non topped with blueberry sauce , from Acqua Al 2 in Florence , Italy . It is a tender , luscious steak soaked in a thick blueberry sauce that has a deep taste and texture emboldened �y th� �a�or o� th� m�at� �t�� perfect with the restaurant ’ s assagio di primi piatti , or chef ’ s �hoi�� ta�tin� o� ��� hom�ma�� pastas , including butternut squash pasta , pasta with tomato and eggplant sauce and pasta with sautéed porcini mushrooms .
SW : How do you spend your free time ? JI : I am a competitive runner and one o� my �ar�off �r�am� i� to r�n a ra�� in every country . As a journalist , I also love reading novels and other ��titio�� �r�ati�� �or�� �hi�h i� what pulled me into journalism in th� �r�t ��a��� � a��o �n�oy �ra�hi� design , drawing and art . When your job is to travel , your hobbies tend to become activities that can be done anywhere or , preferably , on an airplane .
SW : What are your thoughts on the luxury market ? JI : The constant change of the business of luxury is exactly what � �n�oy a�o�t it � th� a�i�ity o� th� business to constantly evolve and reinvent itself . Luxury doesn ’ t necessarily need to be timeless . It can be modern , cutting-edge , or �im��y �om�thin� �iff�r�nt� � ��� the industry breaking away from the minimalism we have been seeing in design and changing into something more eye-catching and overstated . For example , I recently wrote a piece on Tessa Packard , a luxury jewelry designer . Her pieces don ’ t involve th� �im��i�ity o� ��ar�� or �i���r � they are inspired by ancient civilizations and animal pieces . That kind of innovation is tomorrow ’ s luxury .
SW : If you were stranded on an island , name one person and three items you would bring . Why ? JI : I would bring my boyfriend Ed , who as someone not accustomed to tra��� a��ay� �n�� n�� ���tination� captivating . He is always willing to try any dish , climb any peak and sleep on a train to ensure that we get the most out of our waking hours . The items I would bring would be an arsenal of novels to relax with on the beach , a map to get my ��arin�� o� th� ar�a� an� �off�� beans to somehow makeshift a �ai�y ��� o� �off���
SW : What do you recommend to an out-of-towner , when they come to visit your hometown of Long Valley , New Jersey ? JI : Part of the reason I am drawn to travel is because my hometown is dreadfully boring . Long Valley , New ��r��y ha� on� traffi� �i�ht an� a ��n�ra� �tor� � not an i��a� tra��� destination . However , growing up , attractions became places that my friends made into interesting locations , like a friend ’ s enchanting �a��yar� or a ���� �h�r� yo� �o��� get a great view of the stars .
SW : If you could be anyone else , who would it be ? JI : I would be Nicholas Kristof , an opinion columnist for the New York Times who spotlights human rights and issues in social injustice . Although I love traveling to ��a�ti���� ����rio�� ��a���� � �n� Kristof very admirable in visiting some of the deepest pits of the world to show Americans issues that 168