Goodbye Friends.

It is the last week of blogging and this is going to be my last blog. When I started this, I had no idea what I was doing, and I probably still don’t. But, I found that just sitting in front of the computer and typing about whatever topic you wanted, was the easiest way to get a great post. The best posts come from passion.

This year has not been the best year for me. I was not a fan of junior year, but I do need to thank everyone that was a part of making this year better on those terrible days. One of those people would be you. Yes you, the person who is reading this.

I am still the same person who wrote the About Me at the beginning of the year. Yes, I am as weird as it probably portrayed. But, one thing has changed, because now I can easily write a first draft of something that sounds decent. I’m going to let you in on a little secret, it took me a while to write my about me and come up with that verbal vomit of me rambling as I am doing right now. However, this blog has taught me to focus, to explore ideas that I would never look at, especially ones that I really enjoy, rather than restricting me like every other English class I have taken.

I feel like this post is going to be cheesy, but honestly, I did not think I would enjoy this at the beginning, having to write three times a week, but it became easier and I actually started to like it. Once the juices started to flow, I could go on and on about a subject. The thing is, I liked something and I went on with it. I feel I chose a topic for this blog that I enjoyed and I can’t believe I talked about it for a whole year. In this blog I got to say things and research things and talk about things that I usually would not. I was able to give advice, rant, and just have fun, all because you gave me the opportunity to do so by reading this silly blog.

 I had a great time writing this blog this year and if I could give you one tip, try it out. It is not too bad and writing is a way to get lost in your dreams and ideas. Writing takes you into another world and allows you to escape. So, to you who read my blog, if you are travelers, document your travels on a blog. If you are a regular person struggling to get through the last month of school, write a blog or journal just to get your feelings out, because that is not something we all do.

Thank you for everything. Now it is time to go, I may cry. Goodbye friends. Despedida. وداعا. Au revoir. Auf Wiedersehen. Afscheid. Paalam na. 再见.  Arrivederci. Hwyl fawr. ลาก่อน. до свидания. 안녕히 가세요. さようなら. Αντίο. नमस्ते. குட்பை. Goodbye.

(Thanks Google Translate)

Dance Like No One Is Around

I cannot believe I have not done a post about dances around the world. I have done almost everything else, and I never did something about my favorite thing in the world. Currently, I am in disbelief and am very angry with myself, but let’s get over that, and write you a killer post on dances around the world.

Dancing is one of the best things in the world, next to travelling, eating, and sleeping, comes dancing. Honestly, I could not imagine a world without dancing. It is way for one to express oneself, it does not even matter if you are bad, and that is how you are expressing yourself. My favorite thing about dancing is that you can escape into the music and explore a different world, which are your imaginations and ideas that come together and hopefully go to the beat. If they don’t that’s ok. Just a reminder, if you are told that you are a bad dancer, don’t listen to anyone. It is not about how good you are, that is what is so cool about dance, it is about expression, just like making a statement with fashion, so tell them to shut up and just keep dancing.

Here is a look at some of the dances from all around the world. There are so many forms of dances.  Nowadays, twerking is all the hype, but there is so much more to dancing than moving your butt or gyrating.

Ballet is one form of dance that is all about grace and beauty. It started during the Italian Renaissance in the 15^th century, and is now a widely practiced dance that shows the elegance of people. Similarly, tap and jazz are also quite popularly learned, especially here in America. Tap is when small metal plates on the shoes of dancers hit the floor making a tapping sound and was started in the US. Now, more popularly we have break dancing, which looks so cool and probably takes a ton of skill. It is very athletic and visual, that started in NYC area in 1970s by African Americans and Puerto Rican youth.

Then we have all the dance styles that happen on the ballroom floor. There is the waltz, a dance to slow and melodic music require delicate movements that flow well. Polka is a central European dance and swing is a group of dances in the style of jazz music. These types of dances typically require partners, usually a man and a woman, but does it really matter now.  For feistier partner dances, there is the tango, salsa, and fandango. The flamenco is pretty feisty too.

Dances from other places include Kekak Trance dance, an Indonesian performance to connect with ancestral spirits. Capoeira is a Brazilian dance martial arts mix, similar to Shaolin Monk Dance. Celestial dance is Cambodian and depicts stories of the country’s past. Belly dancing is done in the Middle East, and we all know what that is. Kabuki is a Japanese dance drama, while the Lion dance is from China and the performers wear lion costumes whiling mimicking its actions. Cossack Dance is from Ukranie and uses a lot of acrobatic fest, jumps, spins, while Irish step dance is more of just a focus on footwork.

So, this list I am looking at, suggesting all these dances, puts them in order of what is best. Guess who shows up on there three times? The INDIANS!! That’s right, we are pretty good at dancing, from Bhangra and folk dance, to classical Bharathanatyam and Kathak, to our super famous Bollywood dance. We incorporate styles from all over the world and put it together while wearing vibrant colors. Not to brag or anything, but we are awesome. Actually, all dances in general are awesome, so try it out, doesn’t matter what gender you are, just dance.

For the list click here. 

Summer Vacation Ideas

So, summer is coming upon us. I cannot wait at all. I hope this summer is one memorable and crazy summer with a lot of fun adventures. Last week, I gave you tips on summer break travelling and just summer in general. This week, let’s talk about the places that are perfect for a summer break vacation.

One of the things about summer break is that it is a longer time off, allowing for a longer and nicer vacation. By this, I mean people can travel further and for a longer time. So, here are some of the great summer vacations for 2014.

Hawaii, everyone has always wanted to see this beautiful state. Though its part of the U.S., it is so far away from the majority of us and is this beautiful, exotic place. It has gorgeous scenery, and the verdant color just stands out to the eye. The beaches are amazing for water activity and this Hawaii, specifically Maui, is an amazing place to get some sun, surf on the beaches, and explore the beautiful scenery.

San Francisco is a great place to go year around, however, summer time means better weather. This coastal city off of California has a lot of places to see. It has an amazing vibe that most people fall in love with. It is just a good place to spend time with friends or family and explore the city. With its diversity, there are a lot of fun places to eat and see, making the experience relaxed, yet fun. Similarly, if you head a little north, you reach Seattle, another great place to vacation. It is a unique destination here in the U.S., but in summer the weather is nice, so it is one of the best times to visit the place. It has some cool buildings and things to do, both active and relaxing.

There’s always the family vacation to Yellowstone, for those here in the States. To be honest, I have never been there, but then again its always an idea that comes up and I shoot it down. This is not because it is a bad place to go, but I feel like there would not be as much to do, that I would enjoy. During a shorter vacation, I would love to go there. Yellowstone is great for family vacations though.

Heading out of the country is possible during summer break. Some of the best places to go are in Europe, including Munich, Barcelona, Paris, and Amsterdam. These big European cities each offer a unique experience during a great weather time. Visiting Europe is very different than here in the U.S. There is a lot of old culture, historical sites, museums, but also a more modern area. People can tour these cool sites, walk or bike around the streets, or just relax as they sit in a garden or a cute coffee shop. These cities allow for an experience of a different area that lives a different type of life than us, allowing us to get a great new perspective on culture.

Then, there are always the beach vacations. Everyone loves going to the tropical areas to get their tan on and do a lot of water activities and spend all their time beach side. Great places that offer this would be Fiji, Mykonos, and Nice. These areas are all amazing to go to and explore culture, but spend time on the beautiful beaches.

So, who is ready for summer? I know I am. These are some nice ideas for summer vacations this year, so have fun.

For more information click here.

AP Week

Sometimes life gives you a rough time. All you want to do is escape and break away. All you want to do is hide and keep everything within yourself. But trust me, that does not work at all. For many of us, this past week, and this upcoming week, has been and will be just crazy. All we are doing is going to school, doing all our extra stuff, then spending all of our time studying. That is what AP test week is all about. As I said, this can be pressuring and rough, but everything will get better. There are so many more things out there that are worse than AP week.

Going down the halls of Kennedy, I hear everyone talking about how bad it is and how hard it is. I am even one of these people. But then I realized, there are people who have it much worse than we do. Yes, I have four AP tests, yes all these tests have caused me to slack in other classes resulting in dropping grades, but I still have a month. There is no need to panic now, because it can only go up. Well, it can go down, but we are just going to look at the positives. So, those of you stressing this week, just take a deep breath, calm down, and take it easy. It will be over soon.

What Time Is It? Summertime. (Almost)

This week has brought us some hot temperatures here in Iowa. Going from the -50 degrees to the 90s now, creates a big change. Also, it did not make it any better that it was extremely humid and wanted to rain, but would not rain. The clouds were so thick, it was like a child was trying to cry, but couldn’t. Now, we all know what this hot weather means. SUMMERTIME!!!!

I could not be more excited for any time of year. Summer means no school, amazing weather, hanging out with your friends, and exploring avenues of life that you want to explore. Instead of sitting inside school and learning all day, you get to choose how you are going to spend these few months off.

For me, I do not get much of a break at all, but that is what I chose. With all this freedom brings out some issues, so I am going to give you a little advice.

Summer is a great time to enjoy yourself; it is a time to create memories with your friends and take part in activities you never thought of doing ever before. Also, it means you can go on summer vacation. I highly recommend this. If you get the chance to go somewhere this summer, do not deny it.

The thing about summer break, is that it is so long. We have time to go see places in the world and actually spend a good amount of time there. Instead of spending a week that we get off for Thanksgiving or Spring break, we can spend two weeks to a month in a country or continent deeply exploring the beauties. That is what is so amazing about summer travel. There is so much more time to explore the true beauty of the world.

When travelling there are always tips to keep you safe that you need to keep in mind. Do not go anywhere sketchy, especially after a certain time. Remain calm in situations that may cause panic and do not be a stupid tourist. No one likes a stupid tourist in their hometown. It could just result in a bad experience.

With that aside, try to enjoy this summer. Always make your summers memorable, so make this one memorable too. If you get the chance head outside, go to the beach, have a bonfire, watch the sunset and sunrise, have a water balloon fight. Most of all make the best of the longest vacation you get and use the time wisely. Spend it with your friends and family and make those bonds stronger.

With the little taste of summer that we received this week, I cannot wait for these 33 days to be over. I am extremely excited for junior year to be over and summer to start. It can’t come any sooner. I will be waiting and counting down the days. 

Aww!!! Animals!!!

Vacations mean going to a different place, staying in a different place, exploring a different place. It means leaving your home and your belongings behind as you temporarily seek new crevices of the world. However, to some, this may be a struggle, because they have to leave their pets behind. But, don’t worry, you can either take your pet or there are trips to take that can fit the animal loving void in your heart that is left empty when leaving the furry creature you love behind.

In China there is a volunteer program that runs about two to four week sessions, which offers you the time of your life. You can go and work with the almost extinct Giant Pandas. I don’t know about you, but I love pandas and they are extremely cute, so this experience would be one to go down in the books. Not only do you get to help the world, but you get to feed little baby pandas. How amazing would that be?

Similarly in Sumatra, you can work to save the orangutans. Due to deforestation the orangutan population is nearing extinction. Some volunteer work to change their lives forever.  By rehabilitating them and reintroducing them into the wild, it allows them to live a longer life. It is not just about playing with these cool creatures. You also get to make a difference in the world, and that is something that will last a lifetime. Also, on the idea of volunteer work, spending a weekend in The Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary allows you to wake up to the alarm of the rooster and help look around the sanctuary and the scenic area of Woodstock, New York. Also, in Northern Thailand, you can bond with elephants. While staying at the elephant Nature Pasture, you can work with rescued elephants, participate in rainforest restoration, and have a fun experience as a park volunteer.

If you are looking for a more relaxed vacation, where you can do some cool animal seeing, then there are also plenty of opportunities for you. The Golden Retriever Festival in Scotland is a yearly festival taking place in July that includes shows, dancing, dinner, and spending a day with people and dogs. If you want to stay in the U.S., head out to Yellowstone National Park to see its natural residents. There is wide range of animals living there, from bears and bobcats, to sheep and deer. If you are looking for a freezing destination, head to Antarctica to see the penguin march between November and March. To go to a warmer place, there is the option of peacock watching in L.A. Or you could go see the wild in its own habitat like in South Africa or while going whale watching in Australia.

Every experience is a unique one. For all the animal lovers out there, you should take at least one of these trips in your lifetime. Actually, everyone should if they get the chance. It is part of what Earth offers; it is part of the natural beauty of this world, so enjoy it.

For more ideas click here.

The Party That Is the Ending and a New Beginning

Guess what is happening this weekend at Kennedy High School? Prom!!! Though I am a junior and am not going to prom, a lot of my friends who are seniors and many juniors are heading to this special event. So, I thought we could see how countries everywhere celebrate prom. Prom is such a big event for high school students, not just America, but everywhere.

Prom is like this crazy, big party. The last one you have in your school year lives. It signals an end of an era and the beginning of a new one. Though you may say this is what graduation is, graduation is the formality of you getting the degree and officially ending your life as a kid and the start of a life as an adult who will be starting college. Let us be honest, seniors do not put any energy into the last few months of school, and prom is sort of this last fun time, where your friends and classmates celebrate the end of 13 years of schooling together.

America’s prom is a development of the British “Debutante’s Ball.” This ball was held to teach children about culture and etiquette in the outside world. It was also found in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Germans have Abifeier, Austrians have Maturaball, the Polish have Studniowka, Swedes have Studentbalen, and South Africans have Matric Dance, all of which are the equivalent to prom.

When prom first started, it was seen as part of American culture, but now it happens all over the world. From Europe to Asia to South America to Africa, there is prom on all these major continents. Everywhere around the world, seniors are getting ready for this special day. It is the end, but it is also a beginning. So, to everyone who is going to prom, have a fantastic and memorable time. 

For more information, click here. 

Stay Calm!!!

As we all know, travelling on a plane can be a hectic pain. There is so much annoyances, from long lines to changing gates, by the time you are on the plane, all you want to do is relax. But, that is not always something that happens. We have all had the trips, where there was a child that would not stop crying or stop kicking your seat. We have all had the trips where it is so bumpy that you fear for your life. On these trips there is no way to rest and you may start to go a little crazy. I have had similar experiences as these. Travelling from America to India, half way across the world, is a two day process, with long tiring flights, but I get through them. It is best to stay calm and composed on airplane travelling days. Here is something to help you out.

One of the greatest troubles of air travel is the mere amount of people in the airport, in lines, and on planes. This may lead to extra stress, because it may take a long time to get from place to place. I know I hate it when people walk slow, and when you are in a rush, it makes it even worse. The anger rises in you and you may start to take it out on people. Luckily, bad weather travelling has passed for this year, I hope, but there are still a lot of ways for air travel to cause stress. One of which being, is the congestion in airports. For people who do not like this congestion, it is best to travel early in the morning. There are fewer flights at this time, meaning less people. Also, weekend flights, especially on Saturdays, are more crowded. To avoid the mass numbers, wake up a little early and catch the flight, you can always sleep on the flight.

Another issue that everyone faces when travelling is the huge lines. No one is a fan of waiting and it does not make it better if they have to check your bag at security. To avoid these types of situations, keep your liquid bottles limited, and in easy reach to take out. Also, keep your ID and your ticket ready to show the guard, therefore you do not have to search for it when at the front of the line and annoy everyone behind you. Even better, instead of using liquids, take dry sheets for all uses. From hand soap, to shampoo and conditioner, they have dry sheets, especially made for travelling. All you have to do is add water to it. How easy is that?

Sometimes we are left stranded on planes or in airports for long times. At times like this we want technology to fill the void of free time and for safety. To make sure your phone does not die on your long plane trips, consider taking a portable charger. This can be especially useful. There are special charging purses for women, to ensure full battery.

If you follow these tips, you may have a less likely chance of going crazy on a long flight journey. Just remember to stay calm and composed, because everything will get better. For more tips, click here. 

Once Is Enough

The beauty of traveling is the memories that remain with you for the rest of your life. Sometimes, it is best to have an experience once and only once. The memories are there for you to cherish forever, but once it is repeated, it may not seem as special. That’s why travelling is so amazing, it defies the set schedules in real life.

One experience to have only once is to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building. These places are both amazing and are really cool to experience. But the thing is, that once you reach the top, that is it. You see the whole city and have this beautiful sensation, but it doesn’t change every time. They have long lines and it costs a lot to go to the top of the Empire State Building. These are one-time experiences that you should have though.

Everyone wants to go to Vegas and have the time of their life. They want to party and have a lot of fun, and never really remember the details of what happened there. Vegas is a great place to visit when you are older, especially for gambling, as we all know. Going clubbing in Vegas is also another crazy experience. However, it should be a one-time deal. It is an expensive city and there is nothing exceptional about dancing there compared to any other club.

Typically for spring break, people like to vacation in Cancun. I know a lot of people who go down there over break. When my dad suggested we go there, I was not interested, because I knew there would be so many people from my school and hometown that I could possibly run into. I didn’t want to vacation in a place, where there would be the same people around me as always. A trip to Cancun over spring break is a great experience, but it is not exceptional to go there more than once. It is a trip filled with drinks, sun, and beach. It is continuously the same thing, so instead the next time, switch it up and go to a different place in the same area, for new beaches, parties, people, and culture. Similarly, staying at a Caribbean resort is an only one time deal. The crazy rides, pools, and experience is a fun experience, but there is not much else to it.

I am not saying that these experiences are not the best. These are typical trips that people tend to take and everyone should experience it. Sometimes, we could throw culture and new areas that no one you know has explored. For instance, instead of partying in Vegas, go to Ibiza, Spain. You could go on a road trip in the desert and visit the Grand Canyon for a bit of nature. Instead sticking to the common Eiffel Tower, explore the streets of Paris and eat road side crepes. Travelling is all about the memories. Do you want memories of the same place, doing the same thing, which all blend together eventually? Or, do you want a memory of a variety of places, though it is only one, there is much more for you to cherish?

For more info, click here.