A self-designed school for life: what I learned from 56 Airbnb Experiences

Growing up, I have always been a stereotypical Chinese student who gets good grades and studies hard. After graduating from Princeton, I took on demanding jobs. In 2017, five years out of college, I asked myself "what is next? business school or art school ?" I want to be a life long learner, but could this "school" take a different format?

I heard a voice in my head, "Perhaps it is time to learn life skills, connect with cities I live, and develop my artistic and creative potential. What if I could design a "school"where I take classes and workshops around the world ? On topics that intrigue and stretch me? With people who are passionate about what they do?

As a frequent user of Airbnb, I naturally clicked with the newly launched platform “Airbnb Experiences”. I added illustration component to each Experience to practice iPad drawing.

After 56 Experiences across Asia, Europe, America and Latin America, I am happy to share what I learned mid-way through the 100 Experiences. ( Note: For the majority of 2018, I was occupied with publishing a book, and thus this project has been stretched across a few years. )

1. I have become a better artist, and met a few mentors along the way.

I met Toby Klayman, a San Francisco based artist and retired professor via Airbnb’s Experience pilot program in December 2015.

The 3 hour class was packed with actions — a detailed demo of charcoal, ink and other medium, a solid work time on ink prints, and a debrief during which Toby ensured that everyone has what is needed to carry on the artwork. Toby helped me reconnect with the inner artist after a few years of corporate work. I was in tears to know that I can still paint.

Over the next few years, I took Toby’s class 4 times and the mentorship with her played a critical role in forming my art practice and work ethics. Our ages are 54 years apart with different eye colors, but deep inside we are similar. (Toby’s story appeared in my book)

“Don’t stop working, Chenyu! Be Brave! Love from Toby”

In school, sometimes we get stuck with a professor that we don't connect with, but working with a mentor helps accelerate the learning.

Besides taking art classes with Toby, the world has became my classroom for art:

In Florence Italy, I studied with Architect Francy and illustrated the Florence that I observed. Francy challenged my way of "drawing what I see" with "drawing my own interpretation".

In Mexico City, I not only saw the ruins of Aztec pyramids, but also learned about the history and drew the God of Rain.

and practiced my first graffiti with Remix (one step closer to my intention of painting a mural in 2019):

In Topanga California, I ventured into nature with artists Geoff and Sarah, and dabbed into my first water color. Geoff used to teach at RISD.

In Santa Monica, Liz, a ceramic artist who owned a Comedy club for 20 years, encouraged me to experiment with tissue paper and acrylic for 4 hours.

What do these classes have in common ?

(1) They took place in the Artist’s home studio, which provided a doorway into their daily life.

(2) They are more than classes, but empowering experiences to re-think drawing and painting beyond the reality, instead with our interpretation. To think outside the box, paint upside down, throw away what we know works.

Studying with different teachers could be a vulnerable experience at first, but once we overcome the threshold, it empowers and expands.

2. I became more crafty and gave things that I did not have “time” a try.

I used to often say “I don’t have time for xyz” but for this journey, I set a rule to try everything at least once.

For example, During making a hand woven wall hanging class, it took me a while to figure out the up and down of a needle. In my head, a voice kept saying “you are not coordinated” but the teacher encouraged me to keep going.

In Florence Italy, I designed and painted my first tile with a Florentine emblem.

and later that week, designed my first chair — the Cactus Chair:

In San Francisco, Melanie's class took drinking coffee one step further, to learning how to draw coffee art.

With newly gained skill, I continued to practice on daily basis during my book writing in the Mogan Mountain:

There are many other first times: binded a book, dyed a natural Indigo scarf, made an Apple Pie, spoke in front of other story tellers in a bar where Jack Kerouac used to work.

And these first times could turn out to be important in life. Till date, I still use the same technique (expressionist portraits) and medium (acrylic) that I learned in high school because that is what I have learned and acquired. Often, I find myself getting blocked because I didn't do it myself with a professional. I am now more comfortable using watercolor, collage, illustration, which could expand my pool of artist toolkit.

3. I discovered more about my own culture and roots in China:

In Shanghai, a 7am photography walking tour on the Bund shows how Shanghai wakes up. We saw early morning Tai Chi practice, kite runners and walked through old alleys.

A dumpling course taught me how to make 4 types of Banquet Dumplings that I have never seen in life, as a Chinese person.

I wandered into a small Hutong in Beijing and immersed in a concert of traditional Chinese instruments meeting La La Land.

In another Hutong alley, a couple taught me how to carve my name in a seal. It goes nicely with my signature and became an essential for my book tour. When picking the experiences to take part in, I also consider its practicality of using it in daily life.

I reconnected with the Chinese tea culture and gained knowledge about green, black, oolong tea in two tea ceremonies in Beijing and Hangzhou.

4. I connected better with cities that I am staying or visiting.

Architecture, street art, walking, biking became a routine in how I know a new city. I biked through Rome and Beijing, and walked around the murals in London and San Francisco, with experts. They are not just tours, but left me with a new way of experience with the culture and history of a city.

Even with only 88 hours in Mexico City, I went in a "time machine" of 5 Airbnb Experiences of graffiti, ancient Mexican art, architecture, and a history tour! That 3 day felt like a week or more.

What's unique about Airbnb Experiences is that it is highly selective and well curated. For example, we could be taking an architecture tour with Jay who has been doing it for 20 years.

5. I went to many intimate music concerts in California and China.

With an open mind this time, I tried all types of concerts and some of which I had no exposure of or had little organic interest. I found that music and dance are universal experiences that transcend languages.

6. I stepped out of my comfort zone, many times,

to try improv:

and use tumeric and srirulina powder from Whole Foods to paint:

Took a make up class, and walked away with a new understanding of accepting our own unique feature.

Interestingly, I was the first guest for many experiences, which later became very popular. I know the importance of a good bilingual review as a marketer myself.

6. Other learnings

These Experiences have collectively enriched my life, exposed me to different arts and crafts, grounded me with new and old environments, and expanded my capabilities. It has allowed me live in a borderless nation whose citizens are connected by love and kindness. It has gifted me lifelong friends and mentors, in many parts of the world. I now can go back to Mexico and can call the artists for a coffee or tostada. I receive feedback from Francy in Firenze on my new art work. Some studios became my temporary art studio or filming studio. The relationships formed are reciprocal and not ephemeral.

What brings me joy is also manifested in that many travelers, especially in China, started to try to connect with unfamiliar environments in local ways through Experiences.

Jane wrote “I’m about to try making pasta in Rome. Thanks Ms Apple for introducing Airbnb lifestyle to me.”

During the last quarter of 2018, I went on a book tour of 17 cities around China. One of the audience wrote to me

“ Thank you for being so committed to your goal and all that you’re putting in to tell your story. You are a great reminder to all of us that are walking our own path that it’s always the right path when we’re on the road of both being ourselves while we continue to find ourselves. ”

My next step is to continue the other half of the 100 Experiences → plans to go to London, Sydney / Melbourne, South Korea, Germany, Spain and other places to be explored.

I would love to compile an illustration book at the end of it and welcome any feedback and suggestions.