GLOBETROTTERS WRITING PROMPT
Signs — The Finale
From road signs and signboards to the spiritual meaning behind the word
Wow. What a month it has been here at Globetrotters. While the topic for this month had initially gotten some resistance even within the team of Globetrotters, in the end, everyone found more than just something to write about.
This writing challenge has reached a new record kicking the reigning master of ‘street art’ off the throne. We received 52 prompt responses this month from 39 writers. Impressive, isn’t it?
But then again something got me thinking. Only one of those stories had gotten boosted while we usually have between five and ten of the challenge submissions receiving an additional boost. The question arising is if the topic choice called for quantity instead of quality or if Medium cut back on boosting. I don’t know. I still enjoyed every single one of your articles.
And while I have your attention I'd like to mention an article Jillian Amatt just finished. As we are progressing as a publication with an ever-growing community, we adapt and change rules and requirements. Please read the article to be up to date with our editing rules.
And now back to the topic. Here you can see our choices of the monthly challenge on signs around the world
JoAnn Ryan
Cutting to the chase here. So many great stories this month with a variety of interesting and funny signs from across the globe for us all to enjoy! We thank you so much for submitting them to us!
A few highlights:
Always appreciate Simon Whaley’s interesting and informative travels within the U.K., as with this fun story about pathway signs: Best Foot Forward.
Enjoyed Purbita Chakraborty’s endearing story of getting to know and love Germany with the help of signs: It Was Probably Destiny That Brought Me Here.
Loved this fun and super cute story from Rhonda Carrier: Recycle Signs: It’s Monkey Business.
Of course, always love stories like Brad Yonaka’s The Sign of Tutankhamun, Matthew David’s What’s in a Name?, and Erika Burkhalter’s The “End of the Road” in Denali National Park. So much great writing and photos!
Ultimately though, I wanted to highlight this lovely story about a city I’ve visited a few times myself and loved as well:
Now the coffee was satisfying, as was the menu and vibe. But what also intrigued me was just how pretty the menu signs were. The romantic and bright calligraphy font highlighted the offerings.
Thank you all, once again, for the wonderful sign stories. Hope you will all join us in February for more challenge stories!
Adrienne Beaumont
There’s something to be said for submitting your response as late as possible because I’ve just listened to Erika Burkhalter reading her own story “The “End of the Road” in Denali National Park” whilst immersing myself in her beautiful landscapes. Erika has wiped clean my memory of all of the other wonderful stories I read earlier in January so now I’m going to have to reread..how many? … I’ll be back.
Great minds, JoAnn. I too loved Simon Whaley’s Best Foot Forward. Not that I’ll ever be walking across Britain. I also loved Purbita Chakraborty’s It Was Probably Destiny That Brought Me Here. She took notice of the signs from the Universe and look what happened! I need to get more in touch with the Universe.
I love anything Irish and loved both of Erie Astin’s stories, but Signs of Ancient Ireland at Brú na Bóinne captured my interest in a place I knew nothing about.
Tara Torres brought three very different stories to the challenge but I found “The Signs Of The Troubles” quite confronting. If you’ve been to Northern Ireland, you’ll understand.
And last, but certainly not least, Warren Thurlow’s “Signs Left Behind — How Should We Leave Our Mark?” made me question why I write. It’s to leave my mark, however insignificant, on the world after I’m gone.
Michele Maize
I’ve never seen so many amazing signs in my life! Thanks to all the Globetrotters that opened my eyes up to signs around the world. Some funny, some interesting, and some very strange and unique.
Here are a few of my favorites.
I feel prepared to go to Japan now after reading Shawn B. Swinger’s story full of hilarious signage. Who knew there could be so many different ways to use a toilet?
Marie Kester’s visit to Australia provides for some comedic signage. I laughed out loud over her commentary on Aussie humor.
Erika Burkhalter makes me want to visit anywhere she has gone and written about. I am taking this one as a sign to plan my trip to Alaska.
Jillian Amatt
As usual, I was pleasantly surprised at the different responses to this challenge. The creativity from all of you is inspiring! But, I must say that the winners this month are the ones who made me laugh.
Caterina tells us that despite being a very modest country, Korea has some pretty hilarious English signs and names of places.
Shawn B. Swinger shares some really funny signs in Japan. They use many pictures in their descriptive signs, that is for sure!
Tara Torres had me chuckling at the over-the-top reaction that she received when she returned home from an ebola-infected country. Not that I think these measures are unwarranted, it just has me reflecting on how frightened we are in the Western world of pretty much everything.
But Ronald Smit’s article had me laughing the hardest at the hilarious translations that he has found on signs in different places. One example — “Circumcision With Anointed Hands” — truly has to be the only sign in the world that says this on it!
Thanks for the laughs, everyone! And thanks to all of you for continuing to pour your hearts into responding to every prompt we put forward. I am so grateful for your active participation in these challenges!
Anne Bonfert
As always, I had way too many stories saved in my “favorite reads” list and knew I had to cut them down somehow. Finding a few categories made that one easier.
Most thoughtful essay
I enjoyed Brad Yonaka’s trip back the memory lane in “The Sign of Tutankhamun” where he talks about different visits to the city but also comes to a beautiful conclusion at the end of the essay. Melissa Rach’s “Signs of the Bywater” also had me thinking and smiling offering the reader as well a conclusion toward the end of the story.
But my favorite one was from another guy often gifting us with unique but incredibly authentic travel essays. He talks about signs that changed the direction his life took.
“But when walking past this building, I realized that “I was not lost, I was there”. This sign made me reflect on so many aspects of my life.” — TRAVEL STORIES BY GABE
Best laugh
This category attracted most writers as many signs showcased in the challenge submission evolved around funny or somewhat even hilarious signs.
Caterina takes us on “A Hilarious Tour Through the Audacious Signs of Seoul” and Shawn B. Swinger also had me laughing with “7 Japanese Signs That Made Me Reevaluate My Life”
But a much shorter post made me laugh the most. This story isn’t about a sign in specific but required the writer’s creativity to bring out an entertaining travel essay.
“After carefully inspecting each bin, the Garbage Inspector was assured that no food items had been left in the bins. Had there been any food items, he would of course have carefully removed the food and would have quickly disposed of it.” — Rhonda Carrier
Best Narrative
Saving the best for last, the next writer submitted her response just before the closing of the curtain. But with what a story. Her narrative always pulls me in and this travel essay in particular took me to a faraway place I wish one day to explore with my own eyes.
While she didn’t share a list of funny, interesting or creative signs, Erika wrote a story around a place they stayed at.
At the end of the road.
“But the river danced and sang right at our feet. And the utter lack of the noises of civilization, such a rare thing, allowed us to melt into the vastness of Alaska.” — Erika Burkhalter
Once again, we thank every writer who has contributed to this writing prompt. The stories were all interesting and inspiring. I loved hearing all those stories about different kinds of signs.
If you missed the deadline and still want to share a travel story presenting signs around the world, you can do so. The article will not be part of the challenge. We are always open to travel posts.
I also encourage you to stay tuned for our next writing prompt for February. We will announce it here on Globetrotters on the 1st.
The team of editors also has contributed to the challenge with the following articles. These posts never join the contest.
JoAnn Ryan with “Go Ahead, Stop You’re Crying Now, It’s Merely a Sign of the Times”
Jillian Amatt — Artistic Voyages with “I’m Happy When I See the Signs” and “Following Signs of Love Around the World”
Michele Maize with “I Saw The Signs When I Opened Up My Eyes”
Adrienne Beaumont with “Signs: What They Taught Me Wandering Around Romania”, “Lost in Translation”, “Subterranean Signage: Scary or Sad?”, “Did These Signs Have a Message for Me?” I Have to Share Some More Random Signs from My Travels
Anne Bonfert with “Ghana Welcomes You With Open Arms and a Load of Hopeful Signs”, “An African Version of Signs That Lead the Way (or Not)”, “More African Signs Between Elephants at Camp and Long Drop Toilets” and “Signs to Get Around the World”
And now, please give credit to all participating writers and read these awesome submissions if you haven’t checked them out yet:
Scott-Ryan Abt with “You Can Get There From Here”
Brad Yonaka with “The Sign of Tutankhamun”
Erie Astin with “The Signs of Dublin” and “Signs of Ancient Ireland at Brú na Bóinne”
Kenny Minker with “When Signs Lie: Dark Humor and Satirical Artwork on the Road”
Rhonda Carrier with “Toilet Signs of the Times” and “Recycle Signs: It’s Monkey Business”
Tara Torres with “The Signs To Avoid Getting Ebola And The Quest To Get Home”, “The Signs Of The Troubles” and “The Odd, Funny, and Thought-Provoking Signs From My Travels”
Simon Whaley with “Best Foot Forward”
Barb Dalton with “Signing Up For the Globetrotters Challenge on Signs”
Marianne O with “Signs I Look For that Energize and Delight Everyday”
Victoria Hydes with “It’s All In The Signs”
Bell with “Why Have One Sign When You Can Have Over 77,000”
TRAVEL STORIES BY GABE with “6 Signs Abroad That Challenged Me To Live A More Authentic Life”
Oksana Kukurudza's Sunflowers Rarely Break with “It’s the Sign of the Times….”
Curious & Hungry by Carly Dela Cruz with “Nature’s Signs in Japan”
Carol Labuzzetta, MS Natural Resources, MS Nursing with “Did You See That Sign?”
Ronald Smit with “Weird and Wonderful Words”
Warren Thurlow with “Signs Left Behind — How Should We Leave Our Mark?” and “A Flamingo No Fly Zone — “Wait, What?”
Sondra Singer - Still Vital with “Signs From My Phone”
Matthew David with “What’s in a Name?” (BOOSTED)
Jody Lynn McBrien with “Everywhere a Sign”
Caterina with “A Hilarious Tour Through the Audacious Signs of Seoul”
Shawn B. Swinger with “7 Japanese Signs That Made Me Reevaluate My Life”
Nella DiCarlo with “Signs from the City of Savannah”
Jay Davidson with “There are Many Themes Among the Signs in Ghana”
Matthew Bamberg with “Globetrotting in Search of Café Signs”
Monica Ray, M.Ed, MS with “London Signs That’ll Make You Laugh, Wonder, and Reflect”
Melissa Rach with “Signs of the Bywater”
Jewel Allen with “In Search of the Locals’ Breakfast”
Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles with “Signs That Will Make You Smile”
Marie Kester with “Unexpected Signs I Saw While Hopping Around Australia”
Purbita Chakraborty with “It Was Probably Destiny That Brought Me Here”
Sam Newbound with “A Sign that Epitomized the Chaotic Energy of Cairo”
Tim Ward, Mature Flâneur with “New Zealand’s Funniest Signs”
Erika Burkhalter with “The “End of the Road” in Denali National Park”
Your Globetrotters editing team (JoAnn, Adrienne, Jillian, Michele & Anne)
