Teresa Lathem
Destination Speaker: Exploring Global Sports, Culture, and Adventure with Humor and Insight
Teresa Lathem is a dynamic speaker, combining her rich background as a retired educator, creative metalsmith, and experienced realtor with her love for travel and adventure. Having traveled extensively, Teresa’s passion for exploring the world is matched only by her enthusiasm for sharing the unique and fascinating cultures she encounters. As an expert in quirky and unusual sports from different countries, she offers engaging talks on the history and cultural significance of these often-overlooked games, all while weaving in humor and captivating stories.
Her talks are designed to both entertain and inform, blending her educational expertise with her creative, artistic perspective. With a natural ability to connect with diverse audiences, Teresa uses her adventures and experiences to inspire and uplift, offering a blend of fun facts, historical insights, and personal anecdotes.
A lover of sports and adventure, Teresa’s enthusiasm is contagious—whether discussing the bizarre traditions of global sports, sharing her love of the arts, or delving into the world of real estate. Her diverse interests, wealth of experience, and ability to make any subject engaging make her an ideal candidate to enrich the lives of cruise passengers looking for both entertainment and enrichment.
World wide wild sporting events
1. Cheese Rolling: The Wild Chase for Double Gloucester (UK)
In this iconic race, competitors chase a 9lb wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down a steep hill at speeds up to 70 mph! The chaotic tumble of bodies is both thrilling and hilarious as participants often crash in dramatic, unpredictable ways. A spectacle of pure mayhem, this bizarre race has roots in English tradition.
2. Sepak Takraw: Volleyball with Your Feet (Southeast Asia)
Imagine volleyball, but with feet instead of hands. In Sepak Takraw, players use their head, knees, chest, and feet to send a rattan ball flying over the net. The acrobatic dives and spins will have you on the edge of your seat, all while trying to juggle a ball that’s harder than it looks!
3. Buzkashi: The Wild Goat Grab (Afghanistan)
This intense, brutal horseback game has riders fighting over a headless goat carcass to carry it into a scoring circle. Think of it as a mix of rodeo and rugby, but with more chaos and less compassion for the goat. The raw spectacle of galloping horses and wrestling men makes it one of the world’s most bizarre sports.
4. Toe Wrestling: A Twist on Traditional Wrestling (UK)
In the quirky sport of Toe Wrestling, opponents face off in a toe-to-toe battle to pin each other’s feet. The sight of competitors locking toes and attempting to flip them over is as absurd as it is hilarious. It’s the perfect blend of strange and funny—and yes, there’s even a World Championship for it!
5. Wife Carrying: A Race of Strength and Humor (Finland)
In this uniquely funny competition, men race through an obstacle course while carrying their wives or partners, with the ultimate prize being their weight in beer. From piggybacks to fireman’s carries, the absurdity and creativity in how the men choose to carry their wives adds an entertaining twist to this quirky event.
6. Underwater Hockey: The Sport That’s Literally a Dive (UK)
In Underwater Hockey, players take to the pool armed with snorkels, fins, and small sticks to push a puck towards their opponent’s goal. Watching these submerged athletes frantically battle for position while occasionally emerging for air creates an oddly mesmerizing spectacle—part water sport, part hockey, and all fun!
7. Bo Tiashi: Teams try to topple each other’s pole (Japan)
In Bo Tiashi , two teams of 75 or 150 players each engage in a dangerous, chaotic game that combines elements of capture the flag, rugby, sumo, American football, and martial arts.
Caribbean Sports History
1. Caribana Boat Racing: A Carnival on Water (Trinidad & Tobago)
Caribana Boat Racing is a unique blend of speed, creativity, and Caribbean culture. During the Trinidad Carnival, boats with vibrant, over-the-top designs race through the water while players groove to loud soca music. The blend of athletic competition and festive costumes makes this a must-see spectacle on the water.
2. Ducking the Ball: Caribbean’s Wild Dodgeball (Barbados)
In Barbados, Ducking the Ball is a local favorite where players try to dodge a fast-moving ball, often with acrobatic flips and spins. It’s a humorous mix of athleticism and slapstick comedy, as kids and adults alike dive and twist to avoid getting tagged. Expect plenty of laughs in this high-energy game.
3. Kite Fighting: Aerial Duels in the Sky (Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico)
In Kite Fighting, participants launch razor-sharp kites and engage in aerial battles to cut each other’s kites down. The sight of kites performing high-flying duels is both exhilarating and humorous when they spiral out of control. It’s not just about the wind, but the creativity and competition behind these elaborate flying “weapons.”
4. Bamboo Rafting: Floating Down the Caribbean (Jamaica)
In Jamaica, bamboo rafting offers a quirky, slow-paced adventure where passengers navigate rickety bamboo rafts down calm rivers. The wobbly rafts and occasional splash make for a fun and relaxed experience. It’s the perfect mix of island serenity and light-hearted mishaps as you glide along the scenic waters.
5. Goat Racing: The Caribbean’s Funniest Race (St. Kitts & Nevis)
In St. Kitts, Goat Racing takes center stage, where costumed goats race down tracks with their owners guiding them. However, the goats are easily distracted and often wander off-course, creating an unpredictable and comedic atmosphere. The real race is in seeing if the goats can even stay on track
