Katherine Chloé Cahoon

I love my readers! Here are excerpts from emails I received from one of them, Michelle Sanchez: “Love, love your book!” “Your book actually inspired me to get a job that would allow me the freedom to travel and low and behold I got a job in marketing/sales travel for an Australian company. So I will actually be spending a lot of time in Europe come the fall… I would love to see your book translated into film (it would make for some amazing eye candy for sure!).”

Michelle is a successful marketing and public relations manager, a brand ambassador for Glamour magazine, a journalist for LA Socialite Examiner, and a dedicated philanthropist—a woman after my own heart! And that is just during the day. At night, Michelle’s work takes her to the hottest parties and star-studded soirées. Her articles and columns cover the latest fashion, charity, and society events. Wow girl! When do you fit sleep into your schedule?! But there is more. This amazing woman is a founding member of The Four Pearls of the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation.

I am thankful for readers like Michelle who are helping make the world a better–and more entertaining–place! She said that I could reveal her name and use her picture for this post. If you’d like to share your story and responses to my book, I’d enjoy hearing from you too. Katherine@MeetingEuropeanMen.com

Seventeen magazine’s August edition is now in stores and I’m cited as a “17 Expert” in the “Love Life” section! Last spring, Elisa Benson, love and college editor, asked me about romance-promoting tips for an article she was writing called, “Have a Last-Minute Summer Fling!”

Elisa is as fun as the articles she writes! What was supposed to be only a fifteen-minute interview turned into a 45-minute chat fest because we were having such a great time. Well, when the chat is about romance, what girl wouldn’t enjoy it?!

This is the first time in years that I have been home for July 4^th. Every summer during college, I was studying abroad on this holiday. Once, when I was in Spain, my Spanish culture professor greeted our class with, “Happy Day of Independence!” The Spaniards of his generation vividly remembered the day their country gained it’s independence after decades under a cruel dictatorship. They wanted to make sure that everyone living in freedom appreciated it, and would never let anyone take it from them.

I was raised in a community that did it’s best to help that happen. July 4^th began with speeches about the Declaration of Independence and those who sacrificed to preserve it. I recall World War II veterans participating in uniform and recent immigrants describing what America meant to them. Then a major street closed for a big block party and people throughout the town─regardless of age, race, occupation, political persuasion, religious belief, or the lack thereof—united in celebration. This included a parade with homemade floats, antique cars, and children on trikes, bikes, and scooters with flags attached to their wheels or handlebars. I always carried the basket I’m holding in this picture, filled it with candies, and passed them out to those lining the parade route. We ended at the town square where everyone enjoyed hot dogs, lemonade, strawberry shortcake, and each other. Today I get to go again.

The United States is unique because instead of being built on a common ancestry, it is built upon a set of beliefs, stated as truths, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights, and that government is designed to safeguard those rights through the consent of the governed.

It is also unique because extraordinary people and events caused it. The leaders of the Revolution were young with no prior revolutionary experience. George Washington had never commanded an army in battle. He was neither a learned man nor a powerful speaker, but he had phenomenal courage, conviction, and intelligence. He made mistakes, but he learned from them. He was someone people would follow, and he refused to give up. In his heart, he believed in a guiding force greater than all of them, and many who were there agreed. Against all odds, he led them to victory through a bloody, eight and one-half year war. An example is the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776. The Americans were totally outsmarted, outgunned, and outnumbered. They didn’t stand a chance. That night, a howling windstorm arose that let them escape undetected across the East River, muffling the sound of their retreat under cover of darkness. If the wind had gone in the other direction, the British would have brought their warships up the River and trapped them. The war would have ended then in defeat and the Declaration of Independence would have been destroyed.

These inexperienced leaders created a country in which more people enjoyed more liberty and more prosperity than had ever been seen at any time anywhere else on earth. July 4^th is a day for Americans not only to remember them and the birth of our nation, but to remember that we should use the freedoms they gave us to go after our dreams.

No one beats Spain at hosting festivals! Pamplona’s Festival of San Fermín is coming right up, so here is my travel host persona video on it―only the third video I ever made. Before heading off to this testosterone fest, in order to bond with the locals, you’ll want to know how to properly say “the Running of the Bulls” in Spanish. Many tourists mistakenly say “el corriendo de los toros.” Even though corriendo means “running,” this is not correct. Instead say “el encierro de los toros.” Encierro means “shutting in.” Because this event symbolizes the sacrifice of Saint Fermín, Spaniards focus on the shutting in of the bulls before they run, whereas most travelers focus on the bulls running through town. My Spanish culture professor taught me the correct phrase and the meaning behind it. Whenever I use it, Spanish men are appreciative that I cared enough to get it right. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, by getting it down, you can win over a Spanish man!

…This is the title of the following Amazon customer review of my book:

Katherine Chloe Cahoon shows us that it IS possible for any average, confident woman to turn her vacation into a plot from a favorite Romantic Comedy. Not only is this book witty and entertaining, Cahoon’s Vanderbilt education is evident in her style of writing. She defies any stereotypes or ill-conceived notions that women cannot be simultaneously intelligent, fun-loving, and attractive. Cahoon is all three, and so much more. She is not only worldly and well-traveled; she knows just how to have a good time under any circumstance and how to make any moment into a lifelong memory.

Cahoon’s blog, Facebook page, and website are also well worth a look. She frequently posts cute and clever videos chronicling her experiences with European men and giving advice on how to catch and hold their attention on our own travels abroad. Katherine Chloe Cahoon’s book, blog, and videos are necessities for single, stylish, spunky girls of any age. This book is destined to become the modern single girl’s dating handbook. In an age where women are more fun-loving and independent than ever, Cahoon tells us how to get everything we want out of life, whether it’s love eternal or just some fun experiences. If you haven’t already purchased this book, don’t waste any more time!

If you’re visiting Barcelona now, you won’t want to miss the beach party at The Festival of San Juan, which lasts from sunset on June 23rd to sunrise on the 24th…that is unless you’re not a fan of firecrackers, dancing, and huge, happy crowds. If that’s the case order in dinner and snuggle up with a good book, because the whole city will be ablaze!

This was the second Elle Woods-esque travel host video that I posted. It’s fun and gives some inside info on the fest. Even though many visitors think of this event as just a crazy romp, there is meaning behind it. This night signifies renewal. Thus, the festival features a variety of ceremonial activities, including dipping in the sea to signify making a fresh start. Some have begun a new tradition that I witnessed. They told me that if you write three wishes on three separate pieces of paper and burn them in a festival bonfire, they will come true before the next Summer Solstice. So get your wishes ready and hit the beach for major fiesta-ing! In my book, I give more details on the event.

This picture was taken of my dad and me when I was six months old. As you can see, he was the ultimate good sport:) At first, he was sitting on the edge of the pool holding me so I could wade on the step, but I wanted to get in and splash. Even though Dad was wearing a shirt and shorts, he helped me do it…and as you can see, he didn’t mind getting soaked! Today, he’s still involved in my adventures and still has the same fun attitude. The making of my videos is a good example. People keep asking two questions about them. I’m answering them on Father’s Day since they both involve my dad.

“Who makes your videos?” Some people have even asked who is on my “film crew.” Crew? That’s a pretty loose term seeing that it’s me…with some help from my dad as a fill-in cameraman. My films arose because my publisher required me to create a blog for my book, The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. This was six months before the publication date. The marketing exec said I could just quote parts of my book. Since people would be reading my book, I thought that was a cheat, so I decided to create video blogs. I knew a little about it from taking a semester of Intro to Film Making at Vanderbilt University. I bought a video camera and editing program and went to town. My dad was a good sport about filming scenes I couldn’t, like the ones with me in them. He had never before used a video camera, and at first he was cutting off heads and feet – which gave me a very creative editing job – but he’s getting quite good now.

“What is your video budget?” Film projects range from ones with high budgets to ones with low budgets. Then there are my videos…ones with “no budgets.” I always have to improvise. This involves throwing myself on people’s mercy for everything from venues to editing advise. If it weren’t for my dad donating his time as my crew member, I could never pull it off. Happy Father’s Day to one of the best dads ever!

Last weekend was Seattle’s Festival Sundiata, a celebration of African American heritage, history, and culture. When I was 13, I performed at this festival with dancers from Pacific Northwest Ballet School. We teamed up with dancers from Ewajo, which means “come and dance” in Nigeria’s Yoruban language. I was one of the youngest dancers and was paired with Zen from Ewajo, who was one of the oldest and most experienced. This picture was taken at our first rehearsal. I had never before done a dance lift of any type, and this one was upside down! But I had faith in Zen. I did exactly what he told me to do and I knew he wouldn’t drop me. As you can see, older students helped.

After the festival, we performed our routine for inner city elementary and middle schools where children came from families who couldn’t afford to attend most forms of live entertainment. It was a great experience. The audience cheered us on as though they thought we were making the final touchdown in the Super Bowl. At the end they gave us a standing ovation, and afterwards some of the children told me that they had never seen a live dance performance before. This was the inspiration for my philanthropy book tour benefitting children’s charities. As one reader wrote to me, “It’s amazing how our past shapes our future.”

Last Friday, I attended opening night of the world premiere of Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Giselle. A team of experts reconstructed this ballet from an international collection of historical papers…a notebook found in a German flea market, an ancient document untouched for decades on a Harvard library shelf, and an 1842 music manuscript. Doug Fullington, PNB’s dance historian and an expert in Stepanov notation―a now-archaic form of classical Russian ballet notation―was an integral part of the team. The rendition they created was breathtaking.

Had it not been for the international nature of PNB and the entire ballet world, I may never have written The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. I trained with PNB from the age of five until I went to Vanderbilt. PNB’s school is one of the top three in the nation, so to say it was intense would be an understatement…but I loved it. What I loved most was the camaraderie of the Company and the worldwide ballet community. PNB’s dancers come from countries as diverse as the US, Mongolia, Cuba, Brazil, Bulgaria, Japan, Belgium, and France. Any member of the ballet community is welcomed by others throughout the world. On my way to attend a session of Oxford University, I stopped off in London. Even though I was only there a few days, the Royal Ballet rolled out the red carpet for me. We did the same at PNB for traveling dancers.

My ballet upbringing inspired me to take an international major in college. That gave me the opportunity to study abroad. There I learned the culture of European countries firsthand. Frankly, some of the best learning was outside of the classroom, and some of my best teachers were men who took me on dates. That inspired me to write The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. Who says you can’t mix school with pleasure?

Watching PNB’s Giselle reminded me that what I also love about the ballet world is it’s tradition of chivalry. Batkhurel Bold, who played Hilarion, is a perfect example. He was a soloist when I was a 15-year-old student appearing in a PNB performance with him. Before every show, ballet dancers warm up with a class onstage. One day, I missed the warm-up for student performers due to a traffic accident. When I arrived at the Opera House, the Company let me take their warm-up. I planned to stand behind everyone, but Bold believed that a man should always let a lady dance in front of him. Although he was one of the best dancers in the Company, he kept moving behind me…and then I kept moving behind him. Finally, Bold moved so far back that instead of holding onto a ballet barre set up for us onstage, he used one of the light fixtures behind the wings! This is the kind of chivalry inherent in the ballet world!

PNB’s Giselle runs through this weekend. If you live near Seattle, I highly recommend seeing it.

Readers have emailed asking about my appearance on the interactive Chit Chat Café Live Thursday evening June 9th, and how to submit questions.

This show is part of a Worldwide Web radio network affiliated with CBS Radio News. Listeners from over 170 countries tune in. No pressure right?! The hosts are prior NFL cheerleaders who “want you to feel like you are sitting in a chic café that could be in Paris.” If you would like to submit a question, send them a private message here.  That way, no one will know your question beforehand except the hosts…not even me! You can even send a message during the chat. We go live at 10:30PM EST at https://www.artistfirst.com/chitchat.htm Should be tons of fun!

A reader sent me this: “I can’t stop watching your videos. I love them! My friends and I think they’re cleverly ingenious! The wording. The way visuals play off dialogue. The delivery. The locations. The travel host poses. The wardrobe. Please do another REALLY soon!” On it:)

Memorial Day traditionally honors all Americans who died in the service of their country, but to me and many others it is a time to remember all loved ones who have passed on. Since I was little, every Memorial Day, my mom and I picked wildflowers from our yard, and my family went with my grandparents to put bouquets on relatives’ graves. Since most of them had died before I was born, my grandma told stories about them. Before leaving, we put our remaining bouquets on graves with no flowers because, as my grandma said, “No one should be forgotten on Memorial Day.” This picture is of my grandma and me when this tradition started.

This is the same now-widowed grandma who had her book club of over 70-year-olds read The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. She is quite the spunky lady. What I love about her is that no matter what happens in life she continues what she calls “chugging on.” After my grandpa died, although she did mourn, she didn’t miss a beat. She has inspired many people. In fact, since I wrote my initial blog entry about her, I’ve continued to receive emails from readers wanting to know how she is doing. Widowed grandmas have even shown up at book signings, saying that after hearing about my grandma’s experiences, they too decided it was time to start dating again. As one explained, “I may be out of practice, but after all, it’s never too late!” They got my book for pointers and I wrote them special words of encouragement on the title page.

I hope that today you are all remembering the good times shared with loves ones who have passed on, and creating more good times with loved ones still here.

Last week, I took a break from film meetings and book events to learn stand-up paddle surfing, or SUP. If you haven’t heard of SUP, it’s a hot new sport that combines aerobic and strength training, and has taken off around the world. You can do this type of surfing anyplace with water—no wave is needed. I’ve even seen people SUP in a lagoon and on yoga boards…so you can find your center of balance while soaking up the sun!

Dave taught me SUP. He is excellent! I didn’t know it when I met him on the beach while watching Hawaii’s Battle of the Paddle, but he works for Naish International, one of the world’s premiere developers of boarding technology. Dave has even appeared in surfing magazines and videos.

Entering the big ocean… I wore my Indian Princess bathing suit with fake buckskin fringe because I had visions of padding off to an exotic island!

On my first try, I lasted 30 seconds max before falling. But it sure was a FUN 30 seconds!

I’m standing AND paddling!!! Now where is that exotic island???

So I’m planning on competing next year in Battle of the Paddle…just kidding!

You may be wondering how this ties into The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. Well, if you’re planning a trip to Europe, you can learn this trendy sport there. I just heard of an Ibiza resort that offers a seven-night SUP package including breakfast. 

Today, I heard a question that I know too well. It came from an American man. I’ve heard it several times, and it goes like this: “You wrote a book about meeting European men. Don’t you like us American men?” I don’t just like American men…I LOVE them! The circle of love is not exclusive:) I enjoy people from a vast array of countries and cultures. My book arose from experiences during my Vanderbilt summer semesters abroad.

As unofficial ambassadors from the USA, the appealing men pictured have designed messages to entice single girls to meet them and their countrymen. Which quote do you think matches which guy? To help you out, I made up code names and descriptions for them. The answers are below.

HUNK OF BURNING LOVE. “Romance is said to be the language of love. What better way to find love than to meet someone who can speak your language;)” Whether or not a girl speaks English, she would find this guy romantic. He’s an expert at communicating the language of love. He’s even a professional at singing it. Looks like we have an Elvis for the new millennium!

MR. ASSETS. “American men…where amazing happens!!” The bottom line on this accountant is that you would have an amazing time with him. He has MANY ASSETS…and I’m not just talking about the financial types:)

THE STALLION. “We may not have the accents, but we have the moves!” Hint: This jet expert was in my first Elle Woods-esque travel host video. He said the line, “I may not be Italian, but I’m a stallion.” He was fabulous! No wonder the video was named one of the best for 2010.

THE LOVE DOCTOR. “Hollywood invented the romantic comedy. Any man can wine and dine a beautiful woman, but American men are schooled from a young age on what the ladies really want. We know how to make you laugh everyday, and how to surprise our ladies with romantic gestures to keep the love alive.” Looks like this MD got his residency in romance;),/p>

MR. BIZ. “It’s simple…we can relate with American women on a deep level due to our similar roots.” This businessman loves women of all nationalities, but he wants American girls to know they do not have to cross the ocean to find romance. Any girl from any country who is lucky enough to be with him will find her personal stock appreciate!

SMOOTH OPERATOR. “I am a calm, c’est la vie kind of guy.” This is true. No matter what curve balls life throws him, this manager remains upbeat. But just because he’s calm doesn’t mean he’s not a total character! Clue: He is one of the two robust men with a smoldering stare.

BLUE CRUSH. “It isn’t just about big trucks, fast cars and freedom. All good things come from American men.” So I realize that good things come from men and women alike who are from every country around the world. After all, I wrote The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. But this surf aficionado sure wants to win your heart! And I know many girls who are CRUSHING on him.

7. Hunk of Burning Love 6. Smooth Operator 5. Mr. Assets 4. Mr. Biz 3. The Stallion 2. Blue Crush 1. The Love Doctor

This spring has proven the borderless and limitless qualities of human compassion and resilience. Immediately following unprecedented natural destruction in Japan, the United States was hit with historic extremes in tornadoes, rains, and floods mixed with scorching wildfires. This had not subsided when, today, southeast Spain suffered death and destruction from two earthquakes. Americans swiftly responded to Japan’s misfortune with generous donations of their means, time, and talents. Then, without hesitation, they again helped unfortunate disaster victims in their own country. As US floodwaters were cresting, Americans reached out to Spain─and those suffering in all three countries exhibited courage and grace amid crisis.

I realize that those of other nationalities also helped, but I know the American response best because I am an American and I was here. For Japan, several US celebrities donated millions of dollars, corporations gave goods and cash, organizations held benefits, and citizens of modest incomes donated what they could. Now they are doing the same for their country and Spain while continuing to help Japan. In the US, without being asked, volunteers appeared at disaster sites, pitched in, and helped. When they had to leave, they manned their smart phones to Facebook and tweet the need for help. Others then came to take their place. Memphis exhibited calm as the Mississippi River reached its highest levels in decades. While over 1,000 people evacuated their homes, the NBA playoff games went forward, and instead of calling off a barbeque contest, they moved it to higher ground!

Even if you do not live in an affected area, you can help by donating as little as $10. Phone the American Red Cross 800-733-2767 log onto redcross.org/donate, or text “redcross” to 90999; contact World Vision at 866-562-4453 or worldvision.org; or reach Save the Children at 800-728-3843 …or you can choose another organization. I donated my April book sales to the Red Cross for Japan, and I am a member of a worldwide rapid response welfare organization.

Family Emerges from a Safe Room in Athens Alabama (AP)

Destruction in Tuscaloosa Alabama

Mississippi River Reaches Record Levels in Memphis

Destruction in Smithville Mississippi

Tornado and Lighting in Mississippi