VEGAS!!! WOOOHHHH!!!!

What was I doing in Vegas??

Family vacation. Yes, I understand it is an odd place to have a family vacation and yes, I am only 18, but I had plenty of fun while we were there. So my family wanted to go on vacation over winter break and Vegas had a cheap flight ticket so we were like why not?

We headed on this seven day journey a few days before Christmas. The first two days we spent on the Strip. It was fun walking through every hotel. All of them had beautiful festive decorations up and they had gorgeous architecture. My mother was fascinated by all the different themes that each particular hotel had. For the first three nights we watched shows. Two of them were Cirque du Soleil and those were just mesmerizing. We went to both O and Ka, water and fire, and each of them were very different but both of them were phenomenal. Then we also went to see David Copperfield who made a kid disappear, a UFO appear, and guessed the future. Who knows how?

But, my favorite part of the trip was being able to go hiking and see all the natural wonders around. One day we went to Valley of Fire State Park. That place was not to far away from the Strip and was absolutely gorgeous. My brother and I both love hiking and climbing rocks, so we got to do a lot of that there. It was just a wonderful and beautiful experience. We also went to the Grand Canyon, again very stunning, except for the icy parts and when I slipped in fell. It's my brother's fault even though he disagrees. My family also did a hike from Lake Mead to the Hoover Dam where we walked through tunnels and saw gorgeous views once again. The hike was long, it got dark, the park was closing, and my mom was terrified we would not be able to get back to the car in time of the trail closing, which made for a stressful but hilarious walk back. Then the last day, we went to Death Valley and hiked, climbed rocks,drove through beautiful nature, walked on salt flats, saw the sunset on the sand dunes. Oh my god, it was just wonderful. Words cannot describe how beautiful it was. Sometimes just walking around in nature is just the best thing to do while on vacation. I absolutely loved it.

Oh my god, I almost forgot to talk about where I stayed and ate, two very important things. So, we stayed in the Palazzo, and it was a magnificent room with a great view. I got to sleep on the bed every night so that made me really happy, well I refused to give it up, but still I got to sleep on the bed so it was great. I don't get that in college so I needed that. Plus, the curtains were remote controlled so I played with those a lot, especially when the rest of my family would be partaking in 21+ activities and I could not. We would eat two meal a day and all of them were wonderful. Everyday we would attempt to wake up early, but that did not really work out. So, we ate a lot of brunch, which I love. We went to the Bellagio buffet, The Grand Lux Cafe, Paris Baguettes, and Nook Cafe which had a delicious Banh mi. So good!! Then we'd eat dinner at like 9 at night. Most of the time we stayed in the hotel because it was easier that way. We went to Sushisamba, a really fancy French Restaurant, got some Italian food, and just a lot of other places. Basically all the food was great, the hotel was great, and the vacation which was much needed was spectacular. I loved it even as a person who was not of age to do what Las Vegas is famous for. 

Oh, but I will for sure go after I'm 21, its an experience I feel like I need to have, just for the fun of it. Ok talk to you in March when I head to Peru. BYES!!

I'M BAACCKKK!!! Oh and Montreal

Hey, what's up hello. I'm back guys, aren't you all excited. All 0 of the people who are reading this post, but that is completely fine with me, because I am technically writing this post for myself.

So let me catch you up on the year I've had since I have stopped. It was quite eventful, I mean I started and surprisingly finished senior year. Oh what a great year, I made some wonderful memories. I spent every moment I possibly could with some of my best friends that will remain my best friends forever, hopefully, who knows it takes a lot of work to keep in touch. I did all the senior year things, like apply to college for one, go to prom, and actually walk across the stage and get a diploma. I moved out of Cedar Rapids and ended up in the wonderful city of... CLEVELAND!!! (Yes, I go to Case Western, and yes it is the same place my brother goes. I am my own individual please leave me alone.)

So as you can tell, not much has happened in the past year at all. But this past weekend, let me tell you about that. I went to Montreal because we had fall break, and it was a wonderful trip. I decided to try something new out; I mean this blog exists from ages ago because I was forced to write it, and now I thought why not write about my trip. It is like my memory journal and no one will ever read it, so why not.

So let's get started!!!

Day 1: I arrived in Montreal after a long over night bus which I slept 0 hours on. No I am not salty at all. Not to mention the fact that it was raining and snowing in Montreal when I arrived, but who cares because I was on break!!! So I dropped my stuff off, and three of my other friends, oh I got to do a quick side note now. Before going on this trip I was trying to find some close friends from college to go with me, but most were going home or didn't want to pay. I was not about to head back home so I was like whatever, I'm gonna buy a ticket and have my own fun. Luckily in line, I ran into three friends and that's who I hung out with in Montreal. Ok, back to the story. Where was I? Right, ok dropping stuff off. Then we headed out to get brunch and I got hot chocolate and FRUIT!!! I haven't had fruit in so long, like actual, good looking, healthy, tasty fruit. It was so good. Then we went shopping on the streets, I bought souvenirs and nothing else shockinlgy. I showed great restraint. We also went to the underground city, which was a giant mall, again I showed great restraint, mainly because I was tired from my 0 sleep, not like I was mad at the bus or anything. I just hate sleeping on busses and planes and all that. Well here comes the good part, just kidding, it just felt nice, I took a nap. Then woke up and went to an over priced French restaurant, that was very pretty and had an indoor garden, but served 3 spoons of soup for $9 and duck risotto for $18. We are broke college students and can't deal with all of that. Then we went to a burger place to get more food and other stuff and it was great. I bought chocolate, typical.

Day 2: So goal of fall break, catch up on sleep and have lots of fun exploring. That's what we did. I slept in so late that day. But then we went to the Basilica and Old Montreal and my god it was beautiful. The place is very European but also has western influences. I love being able to walk down the middle of a street in a pathway with all these cute little buildings around with quaint, indie shops. But, then we'd go to another part and it'd be urban central, oh so great. Oh and we went to the Olympic stadium, biodome, botanical gardens, and by that I mean we were cheap and saw them from the outside but they were still cool. That night my friend got sick so we just ended up watching a movie, The Martian, it was hilarious "I'm a space pirate!" Best of all, I had poutine!! It was at this cheap place called Pattati Pattata, and we walked a mile in the freezing cold to get there. It was late and night and quite sketchy so ya that happened.

Day 3: Last day, woke up late again, checked out, grabbed bagels. We went to the lookout and on a hike. Our uber dropped us off in the wrong place so we tried to climb through the backyards of rich Canadians to the trail, but then got stuck and it was awkward. Finally we found the trail and walked through the woods in order to cut through the trail, but ended up on the wrong side, eventually finding the lookout with such a beautiful view. After we headed back to the same place to eat because one of our friends ditched us the night before but still wanted to go there, plus it was cheap and I had $5 to spend. The meal was delicious and then began our hunt for Kinder eggs, which involved visiting 6 stores till we found the cheapest, even though the sketchy store next to the metro where we bought them at was not the cheapest. We had time constraints, sorry. Sadly, it was time to leave when we got back to the hotel. 

Now I am back at school and vacation is over sadly. But on the bright side, I had a phenomenal time there and we smuggled back Kinder Eggs, so might as well call it a success. We are criminals. Oh, you would think I would've changed with the rambling and became more mature, but nah, where's the fun in that. Ok till my next trip, I shall go now. It is very late, this happens every night, I need to stop, ok bye guys. Montreal is great, I had fun, and now I'm ready to continue adventuring and writing for my own memory.

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.

Volcano! Mud Volcano?

Everyone knows what a volcano is, a mountainous object that erupts hot lava, which can destroy lives. However, have you heard of a mud volcano? I think not.

El Totumo, is a mud volcano that is located in the South American country of Colombia. It is believed that a priest once sprinkled holy water on the crater, which caused the lava to turn into a warm, gooey mud. The volcano is 50 feet high and is easy to climb. There is a staircase that makes it even easier. Many people climb up it to jump inside the crater and relax. Another bonus point is that they even give you massages there.

This adventure is great for a day time getaway. It is relaxing and even beneficial for you. This mud is dense enough, that humans can float in it. The mud is believed to have skin-renewing substances. It is a good way to cleanse the skin. Though it may get stuck in the crevices of your body, it will leave your skin feeling as smooth as that of a baby’s. There is also no time limit on this relaxation method. When you are ready to leave, there is a lagoon nearby to clean yourself off.

The reason that I am telling you of this place, is one you should definitely go there, I want to go there, but that is not the only reason. There is so much that this world has to offer. When we hear the word volcano, we think scary mountainous objects that pour hot lava into the air, destroying houses and civilization nearby. Never do we think, oh that’s a place to go relax in the mud. The world is so big. There is so much to see. There is so much to do. It is important to expand out of your horizons and go to these places. People ask me, “Why do you want to leave Iowa?” There is a simple explanation for that; I just want to see the world. For 17 years of my life, I have lived in one place. I have traveled to other areas of the world, but I have never gotten to live there or actually explore, and that is what I want to do. So, there is your answer, I do not want to stay here, because there is so much to see and do. Yes, maybe I will move back sometime when the time is right, but for now, the time is right to go explore.

All By Myself

Sometimes the best way to explore and the best way to learn about yourself, is to travel alone. Many people think travelling alone is scary, not as fun, and unsafe, but that is not always true. Alone time is good for the soul, and going to a new place to do so, is even better for you. It allows you to explore different avenues of life and of yourself. So, here are some advantages to travelling alone.

A majority of the people believe travelling alone is not safe, especially for women. It is just a matter of fact of taking the right precautions and not going into the bad parts of towns. If you make sure to keep yourself safe, then there is nothing to worry about.

Travelling alone, allows you to go where you want. There is no need to fulfill the requests of other people. Instead you can see the places you want to see, do the things that you want to do, and eat the food that you want to eat. There is no need to have a curfew or no requirement to see certain people, because it is just you and you get to choose what you want to do.

Though you are technically travelling alone, it is so much easier to make new friends and explore new parts of life. Because you are alone, when staying at a hotels or hostel, and going from place to place, you will most likely make it a point to be social. That way, in each place you visit, there will be people to spend time with, but also you are still alone. It is a great way to network and expand your friend pool to include people from all around the world.

By travelling alone, you will learn a lot about yourself. Your understanding of what makes you happy and what you like, will allow you to step out of your comfort zone and see parts of yourself that you have never experienced alone. Though you are alone, you are never really alone because there is this new you that is appearing. This new you is someone you will love forever and never want to say good bye to. When you come back, it will be a part of you  and travelling alone would have changed your life.

Travelling alone is quite an experience and if one gets the chance to do so, they should do it. Here and here are some more reasons to travel alone.

Nature's Beauty

Nature is such a beautiful thing. Earth is such a unique place that offers a place to live for all sources of life. Sometimes, it is just amazing to take a step back and look into what other beautiful phenomenon Mother Earth offers us.

Imagine that you are on a beach, the waves are crashing onto the sand, and the stars light up the sky. It is night time and it is quite dark outside, but you can still see everything clearly. Well, if you are on the Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives archipelago in the Indian Ocean, then the light is most likely coming from itsy bitsy marine organisms. These phytoplankton emit blue, starry light that glow in the gorgeous waters. With every step you take, there is a path of sparkling, blue footprints left behind, because of these glowing phytoplankton.

Aurora borealis is an amazing light show put on by nature, not by some DJ at a party. In the northern hemisphere, by the north pole, in the auroral zone, swirling lights of green, red, and blue, glow at high altitudes. This occurs when charged particles in the atmosphere collide with atoms of the solar wind. Though it is hard to predict when they will show up, they tend to be seen a lot in Norway from September to March. This amazing spectacle is a must see, if you have the chance.

Something that is more close to home, are geysers, which can be found at Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. These are caused by a natural plumbing constriction of water and steam from magma. These geysers throw water and steam up into to the air every 90 minutes. Sometimes they can reach heights of about 180 feet and it is impressive to see.

Every April, in Changwon, a South Korean city, the streets are filled with the color of pink and white blossoms from the cherry trees. Nearly 360,000 blossoming trees emanate beauty and these blossoms cover the ground like a spring snow. The city has a ten day festval attracting many tourists who come to view these blossoms. Similarly, in D.C., cherry blossoms were given as a gift and planted, and people there also celebrate this festival.

The world is such a beautiful place. Nature provides us with these unimaginable beauties that are so hard to grasp. We just sit back and admire what it offers, and we need to appreciate it. Happy Earth Day everyone!

For more amazing things earth offers, click here. 

Bunnies, Eggs, Chocolate, Religion

This weekend is a religious weekend, with Easter coming up tomorrow. Though I do not celebrate this religious holiday, a majority of the people I know do celebrate it. It is quite an interesting time to be a bystander and see what happens. The whole week and a month before, the stores sell candy, chocolate, all bunny or Easter egg shaped. Then at school, we got only a half day, because most people leave to go pray for Good Friday. It is interesting to see how people celebrate Easter. Some people I know are very religious and must do everything religious that has to do with Easter, where as others are less religious and may just go to church for a little bit. Seeing how people celebrate certain holidays that are unusual to me, is quite interesting. I like learning about all these celebrations and I think other people should too, to gain tolerance. Have a good Easter weekend.

Globalization

This world is extremely interconnected. We live in a global world where all countries rely on each other to survive. If the balance is messed with, not only will one country be affected, but the world as whole will be hurt some way or the other. Globalization has occurred quite recently when looking out the world’s events as a whole and it has created a significant, mainly positive, impact on the world we live in. Today, the place we are living in, the time we are living in, the experiences we have, would all be different if this world was different and there had been no globalization that occurred.

Because of globalization, there has been a spread and sharing of ideas from countries all over the world. Lifestyles, culture, foods, and certain products can now be found in not only the native country, but everywhere else. That is why we now have Asian and Italian food here in America, even though it comes from a totally different continent from the other side of the world. Globalization and the influence of cultures on each other has been spreading since large immigrations, especially to America, were occurring. Nowadays, it is easy to see how it actually impacts the world because it was sped up by technology, keeping us even more interconnected in a totally different world, the virtual world, and our world.

The economy is also significantly affected by globalization. It has created more competition and more suppliers and consumers of goods. Here in America we buy things from throughout the world because of pricing and quality. The money we supply to those other countries helps their economy, which will help other areas around them as well. By taking one factor out of this economy, especially a big component, like America, then the whole system will topple, because we live in this interconnected global net.

Globalization has changed the world in so many different ways, especially for women. Women have becoming more independent and have been finding work outside the home. Though this has happened in more developed countries for a long time, people in less developed have taken these ideas and try to implement them in their own countries. Education has also changed because of this and more places are trying to get children to go to school, rather than having child labor. Though this is not occurring, it is slowly changing.

Globalization is an important phenomenon in our world. It has been taking place for so long with the movement of people to new places, but it has been significantly sped up in the technological era. This allows us to see its impacts and how important it is.

For more information on globalization impacts click here and here.

Speak? Shake? Hug? Or Kiss?

This vast world we live in encompasses so many different cultures, languages, and traditions. Sometimes it is best to understand the differences and certain particularities of a country. One thing that falls under this category is the method of greeting. It is quite important to know how to greet someone in a certain country. We don’t want you kissing someone when touching is forbidden, so here is a basic guide to ease this problem.

Here in America, when meeting someone, we say “Hello, how are you?” That is the most common greeting, which can be exchanged with slang. When meeting someone for the first time we usually shake hands with them. There is nothing more than that. If seeing a friend, then we hug, but that is after knowing the person for a long time.

In the United Kingdom, the same method of communication and greeting occurs. When greeting people conversations go “Hello, how are you?” Then the person would reply “Fine, thanks.” People usually shake hands there too or maybe they just smile at each other. If they see a friend, they hug, and if it is two women or a man and a women, then they give only one kiss on the cheek. If at a more formal or stylish event then people may even double kiss. The British however do not go around doing this all the time, a majority of the time is just conversation.

Now these forms of greetings seem normal to us, however, some countries have interesting ways of greeting that are quite unheard of to us here in America. In Latin American countries, people are quite friendly when they greet. In places like Argentina, they hug, hold hands, and kiss when greeting a person. For the Argentinians it does not matter what gender the person is. When placed in a more formal situation, they just shake hands, but usually that is the first time they meet. In Brazil they also take part in the warm Latin American greeting, with lots of hugs and kisses. Sometimes they even do taps, but when it comes to formal situations, it is once again back to the hand shake.

Asian countries have a different sort of greeting system. In China people will nod or bow. Koreans do a slight bow and hand shake, sometimes with both hands. Malaysians take both hands and touch the other person’s hands. They then proceed to bring it back to the breast, a gesture that is called salame. In the Philippines, they use a limp hand shake. In India, when greeting someone, it depends on gender and age. Usually a person will hold their palms together like they are pray, then they will bend or nod and say “Namaste.” Males will hug male friends, while females will hug female friends. Older people will hug the younger children. Usually for the elderly, people will bend down and touch their feet in seek of blessing. Sri Lankans place their palms together under their chin and bow slightly, much like India. Similarly, people in Thailand place their palms together, with elbows down, and bow their head, something called wai. Japanese people also bow, but they place their hands on their thighs and keep their heels together. However, Indonesians just say “selamat,” meaning peace. Just in one area, so many different forms of greeting.

Some other odd greetings include the Inuit form of nose touching, which puzzles me, because what if someone is really tall and the other person is short, like me. How does nose touching work then? It intrigues me to learn about and understand different cultures. Knowing how to greet people is good to know, so you don’t violate a person or don’t hurt their feelings by rejecting them.

For more information about greetings click here, here, and here.

Yummy! Just Kidding.

People eat a lot of different things throughout the world. Some of these delicacies may seem questionable to a tourist, but for those who constantly eat them or grow up eating them, they do not care. If it is tasty, then it is ok. So let us take a look at all these crazy and weird, but interesting foods from around the world, shall we.

In Southeast Asia, balut, is eaten some times. This meal is a developed duck embryo that is actually boiled alive and eaten while it is still in the egg. It is typically served with beer. Different places wait different amounts of time to eat the food. It is better to eat it after 17 days in the Philippines, but the Vietnamese people disagree, and prefer it 19-21 days old. Mongolian Boodog is another interesting and unusual food. It is a marmot or goat that is cooked in its own skin with hot stones placed on the stomach. Cambodians on the other hand enjoy fried tarantulas, called a-ping, which are the size of a human palm.

In the northern part of the eastern hemisphere, they eat certain interesting foods as well. A traditional Norwegian dish, called Smalahove, is a dish made of the sheep’s head and was originally for the poor. It is eaten whole, which may seem a little weird to us. If looking at a picture are actually in front of the meal, it seems like the sheep is just sleeping. Blood pancakes, made of pork blood, milk, flour, molasses, onions, and butter are eaten in Sweden and Finland.

There are a lot of variety of foods that are interesting to us. When people come to America our interesting and unusual food may be the amount of food that we served fried. From fried butter to fried Oreos, everything can be deep fried here, and that may seem weird to some. Learning about these interesting foods makes me want to try some, but also makes me want to throw up. However, I do not know, maybe some of these foods taste amazing, I won’t know till I try.

Click here for more weird foods. 

Sadly, We Live In Fear

It is sad that the biggest fear this generation lives in, is ourselves and our peers. Here we are sitting in school, a place that is supposed to be safe, but we don’t feel safe. Why is that? It is because of everything that has been happening around us. From shootings, to the recent stabbings, to the threat at my own school, how can we feel safe? A child will less likely learn in fear and it is sad that this is what the world has come to. 

In April of 1999, one of the biggest school shootings of history and of its time had occurred. Nothing of this capacity had ever occurred before, until the shootings and Columbine High School. Two seniors assembled an arsenal of guns and weapons and attacked the school, killing 12 students, one teacher, and injuring 24 others, before taking their own lives. This horrible tragedy left the nation scared and afraid; they did not know how to handle this. Nowadays, it feels like tragedies happen all the time of school

About a year and a half ago, the country was devastated with the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. That December day, 26 people were shot, of which six were adults, and the remaining 20, were students. A man with a gun penetrated the school and destroyed lives forever. Listening to the police calls from that day hearing teachers in sheer terror is extremely heart wrenching. Listening to parents’ reminisce on their young kids who can never grow up, will make any one cry. These young children, so full of potential and so full of life, just disappeared from the world in a second. This is all because of one man with a gun who had the bright idea of entering a school on a rampage.

Just this week, there was a 16 year old boy who went on not a shooting rampage, but a stabbing one. He stabbed 20 kids at Franklin Regional Senior High School. When kids were entering the school, he stood there and stabbed or slashed anyone who got in his way. Though it lasted five minutes, he injured so many people and left many in fear.

It seems like these days all we do is live in fear. It has become a part of our society to go to school in fear that something may happen. In the past kids had drills for bomb threats due to war and weather related drills and fire drills. Now students are preparing for attacks from their own peers or people who could come into the school and cause devastation. That sense of freedom and openness where the doors were open and school was a safe haven has disappeared and remerged as an era of locked doors and fear. It is sad to see this is where society has led to and we must hope for change.

For more information about this week's stabbing events, click here and here. 

Children Are the Future

Though we live on one planet, Earth, it is crazy to think there are so many different countries and people out there. If you did not know, there are 196 countries in the world and more than seven billion people living on this planet, which is growing every minute. Out of these 196 countries, there are so many similarities and differences. One big difference, however, is the way kids act and have been taught to act.

Here in America, children are brought up with the idea to be more independent. They are sent to school from a young age and from that age, they are being built to become an adult who can succeed in life. In America, there are many opportunities that are offered to children, which allow them to explore and develop. Being creative and being unique is something that this country wants. When applying for colleges, kids are not only judged based upon how well they do in school or on standardized tests, but how well they are at writing, if they participate in other activities, both leadership and volunteer activities, and if they are social. It is not always about the grades, as some think more and more these days, but that is because it is how the kids are being taught from a young age. The way a child is brought up and the things they learn and explore are what make them who they are as they grow older. It is also what makes the country what it is, because kids are the future.

Many first world countries seem to bring up their children in a same fashion. They send them to school and are told to be active and have fun. However, developing and less developed countries cannot provide this for their children. Yes, the children are the future in their countries, but for them, that means who can work once they reach an age where they can walk and talk and handle things. These countries need the money and need people to help earn that money. They use all the labor possible and that may include children. Luckily in America, there is a part of the government that deals specifically with children, the Children’s Bureau. Ever since it started, it has worked to eliminate child labor, take on infant mortality, and foster care and adoption process so that children have opportunities.

One reason some of these countries are behind is because they do not prepare their future. They teach their children basic skills and send them to work. Right now that is what they need, and I am not criticizing them at all, but a good education is the foundation to a successful future. If these children are taught, they can help learn skills that will make them more successful and the country they live in more successful. This does not mean they have to attend a school where they learn all sorts of information that will never be useful, but they should learn the basic information or ideas that will help them understand what the world is about and how it can improve. The children are the future of this country, all the other countries, and the whole world. It is important to start early and ensure success, making a better and more peaceful world to live in.