“It’s a really beautiful tapestry of different cultures and different personalities”
“It’s a really beautiful tapestry of different cultures and different personalities”
Which Mimmy mascot is Catherine’s favorite? Be sure to read on and find out.
Today Chris asked one of our longest standing Mimmy Adventure guides, Catherine, about her experience working with Mimmy Adventure so far. Catherine get’s up bright and early in the morning USA time, to share her yoga with the kids on the other side of the world. Read on to see why she enjoys the Mimmy adventure lifestyle as her 2nd job, and whether you should apply to Mimmy if you don’t have a clear idea of what to do yet.
Chris: So the first obvious question. What’s it like working with Mimmy?
Catherine: Working with Mimmy adventure has been so much fun! It really exceeded my expectations. I feel like there’s a lot of support, with the team helping you cultivate what content you want to deliver and then helping to make it the best it can be. The staff really enjoy not only joining the adventures but also all that goes into the build-up all the way to the feedback afterwards. I feel like it’s been a great outlet for creativity and for really trying to develop a new skill set.
Chris: Out of interest, what skills do you think you have gained out of these adventures then?
Catherine :I think learning how to teach yoga to the kids virtually with the language barrier.
When I came back (to the states) from Japan I did learn how to teach yoga to kids, but it’s really different when it’s in person and you share a common language. Kind of that challenge of how am I going to communicate breathing techniques, or poses. Doing an evening class, how can I start high and bring them down into the nighttime getting ready for bed mindset.
Chris: I didn’t even think of that skill set until now. Having them not be loud, full of energy and annoying their parents when it’s bedtime.
Catherine:Yeah, for them, as it starts at 8pm at night, I don’t want them logging on at 8 and being more energetic than they were half an hour before.
Chris: Has this skill helped you in any aspects of your life outside of Mimmy?
Catherine: Definitely! I am maybe in a bit of a unique situation because I do work in child psychology, working with teachers to help them kind of develop skills to work with their own students. Some of the non language based ways of demonstrating how to calm down, or how to get and redirect their attention. That has been really helpful crossing into my day job.
Chris: I want to ask about your content next. One of your main contents is the various types of yoga. How easy is it coming up with these ideas?
Catherine: I think some of them come quite naturally. It can be quite challenging tailoring it to a specific theme, but it’s a fun challenge. It’s fun to think first of an idea the kids might enjoy, like Halloween, then thinking from there what I can do, leading to thinking a pumpkin might be interesting, and from there thinking of how to make it fun and easy to do on screen in a short time.
Catherine: Definitely I do. When I first started I used to do balloon animals. That was because when I lived in Japan I did that, and so I already knew how to do so with the language barrier. I couldn’t think of anything else at that stage. It wasn’t even until half a year or so later that I thought about teaching them yoga. I understand it can be overwhelming when applying, and thinking “what am I going to come up with?” But if you just have one thing that you want to try, try it and you’ll then get experience and learn what other things you can do. I encourage people to think of what they enjoy. If you are having fun as a guide, then the kids are going to! I say just give it a try with what you enjoy doing yourself.
Chris: That’s probably the secret to your popularity with the kids! Starting off with something you thought the kids could enjoy, and then moving to something you enjoy yourself which helped you take off!
Chris: When you joined Mimmy, you were one of our first guides who joined when we were so small. What pushed you to join at that stage?
Catherine: I actually had a friend working with Mimmy who introduced me. A personal connection helped me feel comfortable with a small company. Then I found out more, that instead of teaching we will be engaging. That opportunity to use lots of skill sets and develop them further was really exciting. I am really glad I decided to give it a try because it really is something that I look forward to each week
.
Chris: That’s great to hear! The kids look forward to it. You do. Everyone does!
My next question is about the culture, as our ethos is that we show kids what the world is like, what is it the kids have learned about your country through your adventures?
Catherine: I would say, they’ve learned about some holidays for sure! I showed about Easter as my family was really big on Easter traditions, other holiday traditions. I would love to do more going around and showing them things, but unfortunately being in America that’s difficult with the time difference. Mainly the thing is the friendliness of learning how to communicate across cultures. If anything, I hope the kids learn they can engage with and communicate with someone who you might not share a lot of cultural similarities with.
Chris: It’s interesting they get to communicate with people from all over the world, including more famous places like NY or California. Do you think it’s important to let the kids also communicate with people from less known places like yourself in North Carolina?
Catherine: For sure! Like you said, you can see LA, NY, Miami etc on TV, but not see rural North Carolina! Or someone's personal office space in their home. It’s important to show all the lifestyles and communities not only in the states but all over the world.
Chris: A lot of our adventures don’t specifically show the world outside itself, but allow communication with people from that country instead. What do you think of the variety of content we have available?
Catherine: There’s such a wonderful variety. I actually enjoy looking at the adventure calendar when booking an adventure, and seeing what adventures others are doing. I enjoy clicking on other descriptions, reading what they plan to do. Also we have the chance to sometimes see other adventures, and I feel like I always learn something. Seeing the grocery stores at a country I’ve never been to, their festivals, insects and flowers all over the world. It’s a really beautiful tapestry of different cultures and different personalities.
Chris: How do you think these adventures are shaping the futures of the children?
Catherine: I think they shape their future a lot more than we realize. To me, interacting with people from another culture feels normal and natural. But I don’t remember meeting anyone from another culture until I was 16 and met my brother’s now wife from Japan. It was a huge thing and a turning point, it got me interested in Japan and is why I ended up living there for a while. Kids are a sponge and absorb so much without us realizing. Mimmy is exposing them to so much of the world, and also building their confidence, helping them interact and communicate.
Chris: That’s so interesting to hear from someone who works in the field of child psychology. What are your hopes for the children who join your adventures?
Catherine: I hope they learn how to connect with their body. How they can learn to calm themselves down before bed time. It’s also good for them to learn how they can breathe, or some yoga poses they can do before bed if they feel anxious. I also hope they learn how to leave their comfort zone and be a bit silly even with people you don’t know. One of our poses is “lions breath” where we sit on our knees, stick out our tongues and roar. Some kids get really into it, some just giggle because they are nervous, others go quiet but you see them come back again and get really into it the next time as they get used to it and see others having fun.
Chris: As a guide, what is the main benefit of working with Mimmy?
Catherine: I’ve touched on the creativity aspect, being able to engage with people, and develop your skills. I also think that one of the positive aspects is that support network. It’s common to work with a company on the other side of the world, not connect with anyone and have nobody to turn to if in trouble if there’s a problem. However one thing that Mimmy does beautifully and is quite unique, is always have someone available to help you think of an idea, provide feedback or just answer questions. The platforms we use as a team really helps build a community. I think that’s a really unique environment to work in.
Chris: If someone was thinking of applying, what would you say to that person?
Catherine: I’d say to go for it. You might not yet have a clear idea of what you can do with the kids. I’d say apply for it and you’ll get support along the way to help you come up with ideas, or implement the ones you have. You’ll get a lot of help not only from the staff but from the other adventurers.
Chris: My last question. Who is your favorite of the Mimmy mascots?
Catherine: I’m gonna have to go with classic Mimmy chan. They were there from the beginning, and every time Mimmy pops up I, you know, feel a connection! But all the characters are really fun and lovely. They even do the yoga moves along with us.
Catherine chose "Mimmy", and didn't choose "Kuma" who is secretly played by Chris ;)
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