Story by Anna M. Park
Charlene Wang knows what it’s like to be on the road. Based in Beijing, the Boston-born Chinese American travels to the U.S. at least three times a year, in addition to traveling around China to remote tea suppliers three to four times a year, for her luxe tea company, Tranquil Tuesdays. Before she founded Tranquil Tuesdays in 2010, Wang was a diplomat with the U.S. Foreign Service. Her posts included Bangladesh as a human rights officer, Beijing reporting on China- Japan relations, and the United Nations Security Council. She also headed a fraud prevention unit working on visa and immigration fraud.
But it’s not all glitz and glory, says Wang. “Diplomats also end up doing a lot less glamorous work, supporting the visits of U.S. government leaders like the secretary of state or the president. For example, I was in charge of coordinating First Lady Laura Bush’s visit to the Forbidden City in Beijing with the Chinese government, and one time I even woke up at 4 a.m. to monitor the handling of Secretary Condoleezza Rice’s luggage!”
A pro at tight schedules and traveling under pressure, Wang gives us her tricks to staying fresh on the road.
- Beating Jet Lag: I generally try to sleep as much as possible on the plane and then try to stay awake until at least 8 or 9 p.m., without any caffeine, wherever I land before I sleep again. Sometimes I purposely tire myself out leading up to the flight (staying up late packing, taking care of last minute errands) to ensure sleeping.
- Hotel Sweet Home: For me, music is the number one thing I need in a new or unfamiliar environment to feel comfy, so if I have my own tunes pumping I feel great. The second thing for me is smell. I always travel with either a travel candle or some essential oils (my favorites are lemongrass or ylang ylang). Just put a few drops of your essential oil on a light bulb that has been on for a little while, and the heat from that will scent the room.
- Beauty Secrets: Before boarding the plane, I love going to the duty-free, trying different perfumes and smelling great. Additionally, if I didn’t bring my own eye cream, night cream or hand cream, I try and test different products to moisturize up for the flight.
- Light Packer: I’m a firm believer that the lighter you travel, the better, and the only real essentials are your passport and a credit card. When I can, I do like to bring a foot massage roller, essential oils, good tea (I always travel with my own tea), and this great travel tea brewing set so I can make proper loose leaf tea gong fu style anywhere.
Charlene is all about moisturizing for the flight. “Flying really dries you out,” she says. Try these to keep skin supple.
1. Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream.
2. 3Lab WW Eye Cream.
3. Take advantage of long flights with a nighttime treatment as you sleep. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II.
4. Sensai Cellular Performance Lifting Radiance Cream.
This story was originally published in our Fall 2013 issue. Get your copy here.
