|
|
'Globe Trekker': Beijing
Megan McCormick
Program Host, 'Globe Trekker'
Thursday, June 05, 2003; 2:00 p.m ET
Meeting Australia's aborigines, taking a safari ride in South Africa, riding camelback through Pakistan's Cholistan desert and exploring the streets of Havana are among the exciting adventures in this season's "Globe Trekker" series. An hour-long travel program from WETA Washington, D.C. and Pilot Productions, "Globe Trekker" viewers journey with nine solo travelers to explore the cultures and the environment of various countries.
Program host Megan McCormick, was online Thursday, June 5 at 2 p.m. ET, to discuss her travel experience in Beijing and the new series.
McCormick has traveled to Africa, Australia, Europe, India, Hawaii, the Maldive islands, Micronesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam with 'Globe Trekker'.
Before joining Pilot Productions, she was an English teacher in Japan and worked at "The News with Brian Williams" program for MSNBC. She has also traveled independently and extensively throughout Asia and
Europe. McCormick was raised in Florida and graduated from Boston University with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and political science.
The new season of "Globe Trekker" airs every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on WETA Washington, D.C.
Check WETA for a complete listing of airdates and times on other PBS stations across the country.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
|
Megan McCormick: Hello Everyone! This is Megan checking in from Miami. Thank you for all of your questions. I am so glad you like the show because I love my job!
________________________________________________
Schaumburg, Ill.:
You seem to have a knack for getting off the beaten path and discovering interesting places and entertaining people. Do you plan those sojourns or is it spontaneous?
Megan McCormick: Let's see...we have a pretty packed itinerary but you never know what can happen along the way. For each show we cover a lot of ground and so we have to be pretty organized. The people we meet along the way really make the experience come alive for me and that is something you can't plan. When I travel on my own, however, I like to see where the road will take me (which is frequently lost!)
________________________________________________
Neptune City, N.J.:
Do most people react differently when the camera is filming? Does it help you get better deals?
Megan McCormick: You know that is funny. Sometimes the most confident wacky people we meet clam up when the camera turns on and others become full-on movie stars, you never know. I love it the most when someone runs away with a story and we are just following them.
________________________________________________
Melbourne, Australia:
Hey Megan,
Would just liek to say it is an honour to be able to contact you. I am a massive fan and watch Pilot Guides every week hoping that you are the presenter of the show. You are one of the most beautiful hosts in the world and you have a wonderful personality that makes everyone sad when the show is over. Is there any tips you can give me that would help make my Japanese better and how often do you get to see your fellow travellers (eg Justine or Ian)
From your number 1 fan, Ben
Megan McCormick: Hey Ben,
My Japanese isn't what it used to be but I really learned from watching Japanese TV. I love the Iron Chef program and could watch it for days. I haven't seen Justine or Ian in awhile but we were all together about a year ago. I watched them on the show for years before I got the job and I have to say they are equally wonderful people in life as well. Thanks for writing.
Megan
________________________________________________
Vancouver, Wash.:
You put on such a brave face when tasting the native dishes. What's been some of the most disguisting things that you have eaten while doing the shows?
Megan McCormick: I am game for trying pretty much anyting but Ian is certainly the bravest when it comes to new foods. The strangest looking thing I have eaten was probably the fruit bat in Micronesia. It was pretty scary looking but well attired by the chef who had tied a little yellow bow around its neck. It tasted like chicken of course!
________________________________________________
Ceara, Brazil:
Hello Megan. Which was your first thought when saw the Great Wall in Beijing?
Megan McCormick: I had to catch my breath. It is literally breath-taking. It's age, the landscape, and how it snakes on into the horizon is incredible.
________________________________________________
Harrisburg, Pa.:
You have seen many fascinating places. If you could leave, right now, for anywhere, where would you go, and why?
Megan McCormick:
Bhutan because it is still so untouched and I imagine it to be a very beautiful inspiring place.
________________________________________________
Brookline, Mass.:
Megan,
Thanks a bunch for your work. All of your shows make a viewer genuinely want to visit each place, and it's great to see that you do it in your own style... thoughtful, informative and freakin hilarious.
Anyway, do your experiences for the most part stay with you? Do the new insights you gain on the road shape who you are?
Thanks again.
Megan McCormick: I feel so lucky to have been the places I have in the last few years. Today I smelled something cooking that took me right back to the Dominican Republic. All of these experiences have informed who I am and have given me an enriched perspective. Plus, if I have any memories that start to fade I have a quite well done video to watch to remind me.
I hope you are a Red Sox fan since you are writing to me from Brookline!
________________________________________________
Berkeley, Calif.:
I enjoyed your presentation of West India. How was it walking through the temple with all the rats, and was the fortune teller correct about your future husband and daughter?
Megan McCormick: Yeah. The rats. Gotta love them. I had to take my shoes and socks off while everyone else on the team left their socks on. The secret, if you ever find yourself in a room full of rats, is to shuffle your feet along and they will avoid you (for the most part.) And no, he wasn't right about the wedding/children but other things were very accurate. In fact, while we were filming with him a couple of rats kept scurrying about behind him. I think they were pets. Everything in India feels holy to me so rats there seemed very different from the thug rats in NYC!
________________________________________________
Russas, Brazil:
Hello Megan! I live into the interior of Ceara (the North East of Brazil), near the multi-coloured sandhills of Morro Branco beach, where intricate sand paintings are made. I really enjoy Globe Trekker here in the Brazil, specially your's travels. Congratulations. You took an trip to the Arab Gulf States filming a episode shortly before conflict began in the region. What can you tell us of this experience? Good luck. Thank you for attencion.
Megan McCormick: Ohhhhhhh.... I want to go to Brazil someday soon!!!!!! Lucky Ian got to go there!
The trip to the Arab Gulf States was incredible. It was scary timing but it made the experience even more intense (in a good way.) Oman is probably one of the most beautiful places I have been. The tension was high everywhere pretty much but especially Kuwait. The people we met were so hospitable and I was truly moved by the beauty of the the mosques and the grace of the people. I was worried how I would be received being that I am American, but I was received with nothing but kindness. People really wanted to talk about the world situation and it was fascinating reading the newspapers over there which augmented my awareness of the situation.
________________________________________________
Paris, France:
Hi Megan
It's a pleasure to chat with you.
From all the places you have visited which country has the best food?
Christian
Megan McCormick: Is this a trick question? You are from France! How can I deny your cuisine is fantastique! I also like Japanese, Thai, and the odd hot dog from a bar called Rudy's in New York City.
________________________________________________
Gaithersburg, Md.:
Ms. McCormick, I remember seeing one episode of Globe Trekker with you in New England. After viewing it, I must say, your blissful personality was infectious. I was smiling the whole next day. My question though, it states you were a English teacher in Japan. Was teaching something you decided to do right after college and then somehow you fell into doing Globe Trekker? I'm curious if one led to the other. You probably get this all the time but I am so jealous of your job. Thanks!
Megan McCormick: I went to Japan the year after I graduated from college. I was such an incredible experience. I lived in a small town called Yasato machi in Ibaraki-ken. I was able to travel after that and that is when I was bitten by that relentless travel bug. I might go back to teaching some day, I don't know. For the time being though, I won't quit my day job (I have a hard time even calling it a job!)
________________________________________________
London England:
Hi Megan - doubt you'll get to see this, however, a big thanks for your slant on the places you've visited! Excellent coverage, compellingly entertaining, and perfect for the "would be" visitor. Having been to many of the places myself (normally working I add), it's now going to be great to revisit and explore based on YOUR knowledge!!
One question if you would humour me... How big is the crew that travels with you? It really looks like you and the cameraman (who is also doubling up on sound?!).
Thanks again!!
Anthony
Megan McCormick: Hi Anthony,
Thank you for the kind words. It is a team effort, though, to be sure. We travel with anywhere from 3 to 6 people usually, it depends. The Pilot productions crews are part of the fun of going on one of the shoots. They are really professional but also adventurous and we do get into some serious bonding situations sometimes.
________________________________________________
Ceara, Brazil:
What kind of book do you read to entertain while you travel?
Megan McCormick: I love to read fiction either written by someone from the country I am visiting or a story based on the place where I am. It helps my imagination.
________________________________________________
Inner Mongolia, China:
Hi Megan,
I enjoy GT very much.It is so nice. But I don't know why I have never had the show which you was in Beijing (I don't think I missed any show from GT). What most impressed you in Beijing? Have you ever been to other places in China?
PS Send my regards to Ian.
Leting
Megan McCormick: I have been to Inner Mongolia! I went with my mother and friend 6 years ago and you have the fastest horses I have ever ridden! I was hanging on for dear life! We ate local food and slept under the stars. It was one of the best trips of my life. I have been to China 3 times and I can't believe how fast it is changing. The history, the music, is so fascinating to me. I also love a good Chinese Opera!
________________________________________________
Naperville, Ill.:
How or when did you know that travel was going to be an important part of your life?
Megan McCormick: My mom had a map of the world on the hallway growing up and a subscription to National Graphic. It's her fault I can never get a "real" job! Hear that mom!
________________________________________________
Los Angeles, Calif.:
Hello Megan. You have some real guts to try that "lemonade" consisting of ants and its eggs. How was it anyway? Did you puke after that..I guess you had another sip of it.
Megan McCormick: I tell you the truth when I say, it ain't no Countytime Lemonade, but if it had had a little sugar, it would have been nice actually.
________________________________________________
Ceara, Brazil:
You always have a fun time. You set up in an elephant, sat down in crocodiles, ate ants ... But what is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you on one of your treks? How do you prepare for unexpected emergencies?
Megan McCormick: The scariest thing we have filmed for me was the gem mine in Sri Lanka. It was a precarious climb down about 200 feet and 50 feet in and once we were down there it was hard to breath (a local mentioned something about methane gasses). Thank you for all of your good questions by the way, I am sorry I can't answer them all.
________________________________________________
Kensington, MD:
Megan: I adore your work on Globe Trekker, but I do have to say that GT made a factual error on the New England show. Plymouth was not the first permanent English settlement in North America. Jamestown, Virginia was. Excellent work!
Megan McCormick: oops! :)
________________________________________________
India:
Hi Megan , its Kedar here!
how r ya doing? nice to meet ya & thanx for chatting!!!
well first let me tell ya that,u have PRESENTED EACH & EVERY COUNTRY IN JUST .........AN EXCELLENT WAY!!!!!!
well , Megan u have visited lotsa countries & u have come across lotsa diff. cultures!! Which culture have impressed ya more??& r ya working on any project now?
thank u very much !!!
all the best
Bybe!!!
Megan McCormick: India was my first job for this show and has stayed with me ever since. I love the food, the religion, the people, the music. Thank you for writing in. I love my India!
________________________________________________
Karlstad, Sweden:
Hi Megan
I know that you've been in Ivrea, Italy. What can you recommend for it, I'm going there in August.
Could you give me your best travelling tips; good things to think of, things to bring etc.
Thank you
Anna
Megan McCormick: I would warn that if you are going to be there during the Orange Festival (which I think is in February) to bring a helmet! In addition, bring trousers with elastic waistlines so that you can really enjoy the food.
________________________________________________
Megan McCormick: Wow, you all asked such wonderful questions. Thank you so much for participating.I hope you continue to watch the show and please let us know what you think. Safe and happy travels to everyone. Love, Megan
________________________________________________
Automatically Update Page
| Get New Responses | Submit Question
© Copyright 2002 The Washington Post Company | 
