Gail Shore grew up in Wisconsin during an era that provided few opportunities for girls. Then, in the late 1960s, with no vision or plan for her future, she took her first trip abroad, never dreaming how cultural travel would irreversibly change her life. Gail's self-funded solo trips would eventually take her through 5 decades and nearly 100 countries, including to destinations such as North Korea, Iran, the Amazon, and Timbuktu.

Opening My Cultural Lens is the account of Gail's lifetime on the road—an illuminating exploration of the traditions, rituals, and cultures of some of the world's most remote populations. Through captivating stories and photographs, Gail gives readers vibrant views to the farthest reaches of the roads less traveled. By chronicling the many faces of our shared human experience, Opening My Cultural Lens takes a hammer to stereotypes and cultural barriers, revealing a world lusher and more precarious than we may know.

Gail Shore has turned her global experiences into creative teaching tools to broaden students' worldviews. She founded Cultural Jambalaya, a nonprofit that brings the world into the classroom with free multimedia content and lesson plans that improve global awareness and cross-cultural understanding.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Shore spent her adult life in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Today she resides on a quiet lake in northwest Wisconsin.

"Our mission at The Carter Center has taken us to many places Gail has visited and photographed. Those experiences help us better understand and embrace our similarities as well as our differences." - Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States

"Gail and I share the same values about our place in the world as well as a sincere appreciation and respect for all cultures. Gail's experiences and photography show us the relevance of the world. We each through our work and storytelling aim to provide creative insights into the fascinating cultures that make up our rich global community." - Andrew Zimmern, host of Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods