Who the Heck Is Maya Frost?

Maya Frost has taught thousands of people how to pay attention. Her signature eyes-wide-open approach to everyday awareness has been featured in over 125 print and web media outlets worldwide, ranging from Ladies' Home Journal to the Italian version of Elle, from MSNBC.com to Match.com. 

These days, Maya is paying attention to innovations in education.  She is the head cheerleader for Smart Education Design™ and delights in

training parents to become mentors and find the best ways to prepare each student for their most thrilling and fulfilling opportunities in the 21st-century global economy.

What About the Frost Girls?

Talya, Teal, Tara and Taeko Frost

Tom and Maya's four daughters share their own stories in The New Global Student, but here's a little vignette of each. You might notice that Smart Education Design™ leads to student success, happiness and exciting jobs even in a recession!

Taeko, the oldest daughter, spent her junior year of high school in Chile, entered a liberal arts college in Canada at 18 with enough credits to start as a junior, spent a summer working virtually as a research assistant for a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation project while living on a tropical island, graduated with a BS (and honors) in psychology at 19, traveled around Latin America for several months, flew to New York and, despite having no connections, got a job as a health educator in Harlem within days, beating several candidates with graduate degrees and a decade of experience. As part of her personal mission to prevent diseases through education, Taeko just completed her master's degree in urban public health and is passionate about her work as the program director for a nonprofit in her community.  She's 23.

Tara spent her junior year of high school in Brazil, graduated early, took college courses online while living with the family in Mexico for a year, spent a summer studying in Germany, enrolled at a university in Canada for a semester, and spent several months studying Spanish in Argentina. Despite her continent hopping, transferring and major changing, she earned her bachelor's degree at an Oregon university more than a year ahead of her high school classmates. During her final year of studies in communications and Spanish, she did an internship at the Mexican consulate, taught at a nonprofit that offers Spanish lessons for preschoolers, and served as a mentor for Latino youth. Interested in media literacy, Tara juggled two internships in Manhattan: one at a leading Latino ad agency, and one in MTV's international division. After working in New York (and saving her money), Tara returned to her beloved Buenos Aires, where she is living with an Argentine roommate (who speaks no English) and working virtually for an American-owned international outsourcing company.  She's 21.

Teal spent her junior year of high school on exchange in Brazil and then joined the family for a new adventure in Argentina. She finished high school online, took intensive Spanish courses at an Argentine university, worked with an American writer to develop her expository skills, studied privately with a Canadian professor in world history, and transferred to a liberal arts university in Canada as a junior at 18. She's been both a TA (teaching assistant) and an RA (resident assistant) and finished her degree in sociology and Spanish. Interested in saving money while also traveling and perfecting her language skills, Teal aced two interviews (in three languages) and was offered a position as a multilingual events coordinator for Norwegian Cruise Lines upon graduation. She spent four months on the Charleston/Bahamas route this spring as the youngest crew member aboard and is elated about her summer assignment on the Mediterranean route based in Barcelona, Spain. She's 19.

Talya never attended high school in the U.S. Instead, she moved with the family to Mexico and was the only foreigner in her all-Spanish private high school. After a very eventful year, the Frosts decided to move on. (Find out why in the book!) Knowing the value of buy-in, Tom and Maya asked her where she'd like to go next. "Buenos Aires, Argentina," she declared, after due diligence. They packed their two bags each and headed to the "Paris of South America," where Talya studied Spanish, worked with private tutors from around the world, and attended a tiny American college with students from a dozen countries. She was awarded a very nice scholarship/grant package when she transferred to a private university in upstate New York with enough credits to be a junior. Talya snagged a TA position (and a profile in the college newspaper) within her first few days on campus. She is doing an independent research project in Argentina this summer (on how the economic meltdown a few years ago affected citizens psychologically) and is fired up to graduate with a BS in December.  She's 18.

But don't think they raced through and didn't have any fun along the way! Like other Bold Schoolers on an accelerated schedule, the Frost girls packed more into their high school and college years than most people experience in a lifetime--and they don't waste a moment thinking that their glory days are behind them.

What About Tom?

This is Tom doing his back-when-I-was-a-suburban-dad-of-

four-teenage-girls impression.  He's a lot more relaxed now. ;-) 

It's not easy to get a word in edgewise with five women around, but Tom gets his chance to speak out in the book. He shares his story about going from a cranky dad in the 'burbs to a smiling dad abroad--and explains exactly what's making him grin. (If you're curious about how it's possible to save thousands of dollars for college while living the life of your dreams, you're going to love what he has to say!)

Where are Tom and Maya?

Tom and Maya live in Buenos Aires, Argentina, near Chinatown, which is kind of surreal at times. Maya will do many of her book talks via blog and radio from her living room sofa. (That's also where she wrote the book--it's a very comfortable sofa!)

This summer (from May 15th until August 15th) they will be in the U.S. to do media interviews and flashsigning events and connect with those ready to learn more about how to get a great global education that doesn't cost a fortune.

See their tour schedule here

Fun (but probably useless) facts about Maya:

She legally changed her name to Maya when she was 21. Her given name:  Greta Norine Welchoff.  (Sometimes you have to tweak your fate.)

She grew up in the tiny farming town (population: 320) of Gaston, Oregon. (Meanwhile, Nicholas Kristof, the New York Times foreign affairs columnist, was growing up just down the road in the equally small town of Yamhill, so don't think small-town beginnings can't spawn big-world adventures!) She was valedictorian, student body vice-president, pep club president, co-editor of the school newspaper, prom princess and homecoming queen--and was suspended (and kicked out of the National Honor Society) when she showed up at the homecoming dance intoxicated. Despite her full schedule, she was bored silly and longed to dive into higher education early. If only she had been able to read The New Global Student !

From the age of 10 to 15, Maya lived in a tar paper-covered garage while her family saved money to build a house. It was located three miles out of town (yes, that tiny one) on a gravel road.

She studied meditation with "Ratne" Ratnakara in Kandy, Sri Lanka in 1981, and says it was "like a bolt of lightning zapped me."

Maya's first apartment was a newly-converted "love hotel" in Japan.  It even had the little "privacy window" in the door where clients could pay the proprietor for their love time without the embarrassment of face-to-face contact.

Maya loves wandering the streets of Buenos Aires, admiring the architecture, smiling at babies and feeling grateful for her beautiful life.

What?  You still want to know more? 

Send your questions to Maya at Maya@MayaFrost.com