Inspiring Travelers: GO! Profiles Monica Wong

Inspiring Travelers: Go Profiles Monica Wong

Hello and welcome to another inspiring interview on GO! Overseas! In case you're new here, from time to time we like to profile some of the amazing travelers we meet, and learn about what inspires them to go overseas. This week we're excited to feature Monica Wong, an avid traveler who has also studied and volunteered abroad. Monica shares all of her experiences on the popular travel blog, A Pair of Panties and Boxers (more about the name later). We hope you enjoy the interview and please feel free to ask further questions in the comments below!

Andrew: Let’s start with a brief introduction. Who are you, where are you, and what are you doing?

Monica: Born and bred in NYC (go Brooklyn!), I’m a Georgetown MBA student, social media engagement strategist, and travel blogger passionate about nonprofit and social change.

Andrew: Tell us about your blog (A Pair of Panties and Boxers), how it got started, and the motivations to share your adventures traveling abroad. Can you also explain the name.. =)

Monica: I took a day-trip out to Hangzhou when I was studying abroad in Shanghai. I fell so in love with the sunset at the West Lake that I had to stay overnight and see it again. Unfortunately, I only had one pair of panties on me so I had to turn them inside out and wear them twice. (Gross, I know.) My soon-to-be boyfriend was with me and he did the same with his boxers, hence the name “A Pair of Panties & Boxers”.

I started this blog after I graduated from college. I was working 50+ hours a week with a 13 hour weekly commute. I needed something to keep me sane. The blog served as a reminder to myself to never let work get in the way of seeing the world. Every time I've run out of content to write about, I knew it was time to book a train or plane ticket somewhere.

Andrew: You studied abroad at Fudan University in Shanghai. Looking back, how did this experience impact your personal and professional goals?

Monica: With the help of my boyfriend, studying abroad ignited my passion for traveling. I also had the opportunity to volunteer at the QiDi Migrant School in rural Shanghai, which tremendously shaped what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

In the future I would like to create a nonprofit organization to build schools for children in developing nations. The principal at QiDi Migrant School was a migrant student himself. He was the one who built this dusty school by the side of the highway and it made me realize that if a man with limited opportunities was able to do something so great for the migrant community, then I can do even more with all the opportunities and resources I have.

With the help of my boyfriend, studying abroad ignited my passion for traveling.

Andrew: By all accounts, Shanghai is an amazing city to visit and live in. Give us three awesome hotspots no visitor should miss.

Monica volunteering in China

• I’m biased here but if anyone is looking for volunteer opportunities in Shanghai, the QiDi Migrant School is desperately in need of volunteer English teachers.
• Yu Yuan Garden has beautiful replicas of Imperial China architecture, elegant bridges, pavilions, ponds and Shanghai’s famous Xiao Long Baos.
• Pudong is one of the busiest tourist attractions but regardless, you can’t visit Shanghai without exploring Pudong. That’s where the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai Municipal History Museum, the Shanghai Nature Wild Insect Kingdom, the Jinmao Tower, the Shanghai Aquarium and the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum are all located. Plus there are plenty of restaurants and stores for you to meander around.

Andrew: Tell us about your current involvement with Support For International Change and the goals of this organization.

Monica: I’m the Communications & Outreach Intern for SIC. My main goal is to connect SIC with individuals who share the same passion and commitment to limiting the impact of HIV/AIDS in underserved communities.

Andrew: You’re a social media expert and regularly volunteer your time to promote different NGO organizations. What kind of goals do have and how is this kind of volunteering fulfilling?

Monica: My first goal is to put a face and a voice to the organization I work with. It’s really important that people see that kind of transparency because if you’re asking someone to invest their time, money and energy on your organization, you have to give them a solid, gimmick-free reason to.

I also focus on building an authentic relationship with the communities. It really goes a long way. Many times organizations are very self-promotional because of the limited resources they have, but if the only time they attempt to engage and connect with their audience is when you need something from them, it becomes a major turnoff to past and potential donors.

Andrew: You’re getting ready to start your MBA at Georgetown. What does the future hold for you and why are you going back to school now?

Monica: I’ve been looking forward to my MBA for a very long time. School has always been the one place that never fails to challenge me. Previously, I worked for a social media agency focused on representing fashion and entertainment brands. That’s not my world. I’m going back to grad school to bridge the gap between traditional and digital marketing, especially social media, for non-profit organizations.

This transition to the nonprofit sector will one day help guide me in my lifelong goal to start an organization that provides education to many children living in poverty.

Andrew: Famous last words?

I used to want the corner. Now I want the world.

Andrew: Thanks, Monica!