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Travel.

The Traveling Scarf

11/18/2018

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Pillow, blanket, travel companion...did you know a scarf could be so many things? Well, this is the story of how my scarf became a part of my identity as a traveler, and how I wore it so often, that my friends used it to pick me out of crowds (and made fun of me often). 

​Growing up, we all have that item that's a kind of security blanket to us. This item usually goes everywhere with us and brings us comfort that doesn't always make sense. As a child, it might have been a stuffed animal, a blanket or maybe even a favorite book. Honestly, I don't really remember having anything that came everywhere with me (although I'm sure my parents could tell some stories), but the same idea can apply when traveling.
On my first trip abroad, I was nervous. I'd never traveled by myself before, and I was heading off with a group of people I barely knew, but who were supposed to become my best friends and adventure buddies over the following couple of months. Well, the trip was amazing, and I did meet my ultimate adventure buddy, Lexa, but it wasn't until the last month of my trip that I found my comfort blanket...or maybe I should say my comfort scarf, and the little guy's been quite the travel partner ever since. 
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​My scarf began coming everywhere with me (if you don't have a blanket scarf, you need to get one ASAP). It's served me as a pillow on airplanes, trains and busses. I made it through the coldest and most miserable night at a hostel in Italy by using it as a blanket. When I don't feel like talking or I want to hide from a photo/video, it shields me. It started popping up in every picture I took, and soon became a part of my identity as a traveler.

​My friends could recognize me by my scarf and would ask if I was forgetting something if I left the house without it (I made a tour bus turn around to get it when I left it in a locker in Italy). My sister even made me a book about my travels where my scarf and I made an appearance.

Even though my friends have forced me to buy a new scarf (and wash the old one), my blanket scarf holds a special place in my heart. It may be taking a short break in my closet, but we're both ready and waiting for the next adventure we take together. ​

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Was Traveling Worth the "Career Setback?"

9/26/2018

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One of the best things about traveling is that it’s like a break from real life; you’re just living for yourself and in the moment. But it’s also a dangerous mindset because unless you’re a traveling influencer on Instagram or have boatloads of money, real life is always in the shadows-with bills, social pressures, insecurities, etc. Dark, I know, but it’s the truth.

When I decided to kick off post-college life with a four-month volunteer trip to Europe, I was equal parts excited and relieved. Not only did I have a plan in place that I was genuinely happy about, but I wasn’t stressed about finding a job; that was future Lexa’s problem. While my friends were filling out law school applications, I was flipping through guidebooks. I felt like I had slyly avoided the post-grad pressure of “having my stuff together.” I had MONTHS to figure out my next move.​​
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Well, those months flew by and here I was: jobless, heartbroken about leaving my Spanish family, and completely lost. This was the first time in my life where I had no direction and because traveling was my #1 focus, I hadn’t done any prep work for my return home.

​It was a tough transition; not only was I going through reverse culture shock, but most of my savings went towards my Volunteer program and travel expenses. I was suddenly strapped for cash.
So, the big question: Was traveling worth the career setback?
100% yes. Caroline and I connected with so many people and got to fall in love with the world again. It was exactly what I needed to feel mentally prepared for life after college. And honestly, who knows what would’ve happened if I’d gone the normal route. Would my job search have been easier or harder? No idea.

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What I do know is that because I traveled for ME, I knew what made me happy both personally and professionally. So for months, that’s what I chased in my job search. It took a lot of trial and error. The  rollercoaster of interviews brought a lot of highs, lows, self-doubt and small victories.

​To keep my funds from completely drying out, I lived at home and worked odd jobs: substitute teaching, waitressing, dog walking, etc. It wasn’t glamorous, but I was figuring things out my way.

So luckily this tangent on job searching has a happy ending: I’m employed! Working a 9-5 job has been its own adjustment, but something that I’ve been excited to take on, thanks to my trip abroad. 
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 For others out there banging their heads into a wall (because job searching sucks), here’s what I learned: 
  • Hold out for what you want: I had a list of what I was looking for and promised myself I wouldn’t settle. I turned down a few jobs because it didn’t feel right. Happy to say my current job checks every one of my boxes.​
  • Have realistic goals: Originally, I was set on moving out West because why the heck not? But with no connections, I didn’t get much response back. Indy just felt right and my ties from Butler gave me an advantage. 
  • ​​Don’t sit on your ass: If it’s been months and you’re not moving forward in life, CHANGE something! Within a week’s time, I randomly decided to move in with my friend in Indy without a job. The change of scenery motivated me to keep sending out applications, and within three week I was employed.
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Honestly, life throws some curveballs whether you set aside time to explore the world or not. Did traveling technically set me back? Sure. But things have a funny way of working out if you’re willing to go through a few hiccups to find a career AND travel.

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From Mentors to Friends: Being a Diversity Ambassador

9/13/2018

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​One of the biggest shocks returning from abroad was not being surrounded by new people. Conversations with a completely ordinary person turned into something extraordinary: We were challenged to think differently, connect with someone who didn’t speak our language or laugh with a stranger about our shared travel screwups. These moments don’t seem like a big deal, but when you’re thrown back into the same day-to-day, you miss them.

So long story short, that’s how we became Diversity Ambassadors.
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What are Diversity Ambassadors? A group of University students who each get paired with 2-3 incoming international students and pick them up from the airport, help them move in, show them around the campus, etc. So pretty much like a personal tour guide and go-to friend.
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​Why Be a Diversity Ambassador? Well, besides a few basic perks like getting to move in early and having a blast at orientation (we’re talking trips to King’s Island and entertainment in Downtown Indy), we had a group of people (really for the first time since getting back from our semester abroad) who wanted to look at Indy and the Midwest with fresh eyes. We found ourselves trying new restaurants, finding local activities and taking trips to nearby cities, things that we hadn’t really done the first three years of college.

​Long term perks were that we ended up with an extensive network of friends from all over the world. Heading to the U.K.? We had our own tour guides and got to crash for free. Oktoberfest? We spent the weekend sharing an apartment with three of our exchange students. The time I spent three weeks in New Zealand and Australia? Airport pickups were all coordinated with some of the awesome friends we made. Mai, one of our closest international friends, traveled to Prague, Croatia and Germany with us before we spent a weekend in her home country of Austria. 
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What Are a Few of Our Favorite Memories as Diversity Ambassadors? Some of our favorite moments were as simple as taking a trip to Wal-Mart for the first time and watching our exchange students agonize over 20 different pizza brands. We made memories experiencing new things 10 minutes away from campus, like Latin Nights at the Jazz Kitchen-where we all learned how to salsa dance.
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Watching some of our best friends get up at 5 a.m. to experience Homecoming-the football game, tailgating and dressing in college gear- with us was priceless. Oh, and we can’t forget the time we loaded up a car and drove to Nashville for a weekend getaway where we rode mechanical bulls and pretended to be a bachelorette party-all in the spirit of giving them a true country music experience.  ​

When we signed up to be Diversity Ambassadors, we thought we’d meet cool people and get to be surrounded by international travelers again. We never imagined that we’d leave the experience with a new perspective on our home and make amazing friends that we still keep in touch with two years later. ​

​These kinds of experiences are all over most college campuses, so if you’re looking to connect with the world through international friendships and gain new perspectives after a semester abroad, start doing your research and asking around. There’s a good chance you’ll end up having unforgettable experiences like you did abroad, right at home (with some new friends by your side). 
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Travel Bloopers: Our Embarrassing Moments

5/7/2018

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Traveling is never a walk in the park...for us it's more of a trip or stumble. We learned early on when we studied abroad together that for some reason, we attract peculiar situations. Our days never ran smoothly. Either we were sprinting to catch a train, hunting the streets for a McDonald's when we were grumpy or getting lost in translation. But not one day went by where we didn't laugh over our mishaps. Hey, they always make for good stories. Last Fall was no different; so without further ado, please enjoy our top embarrassing moments abroad: 
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ATTACK OF THE PIGEONS
Nothing screams "watch these girls look like idiots" like having a giant flock of pigeons attack you in the middle of Amsterdam's main square. We spent our entire trip in Europe running from these giant rats with wings. Picture two grown women huddling together screaming/crying/laughing (a truly terrifying combo) as a hoard of our least favorite creature flew at us. What makes this even better is that this was a very public area, so groups of strangers had the pleasure of watching our humiliation. 

TRAIN FIASCO 
If you know us, then you know Lexa and I are a bit notorious for barely making all forms of transportation. It doesn't matter if we build mountains of extra time into our schedule. Somehow we always end up sprinting to our train, missing it, or barely making it through the doors. After checking out Snowdonia National Park for the day, we were hanging out in a station cafe while waiting to catch our train out of Wales. Per our usual luck, it arrived early and we weren't paying attention. Suddenly, we noticed the train at our platform and went into straight panic mode, praying it wouldn't pull out of the station without us.

In the process of snatching up our bags, our table toppled over, causing a huge scene. Since I was in little booties, Lexa ran ahead to hold the doors open for me. For some reason, I found it extremely important to grab her box of mints on the floor and to scream, "I HAVE YOUR MINTS!" while running behind her, as if it was the most valuable thing in the world. I jumped through the doors just as they were closing...right on my bag. We pulled and tugged until the doors finally released it. We collapsed in our seats, breathless and completely out of sorts, but also feeling victorious that we didn't miss the thing. Cue the awkward moment when the guy across the aisle just ended up staring at us while we sat - unmoving - for at least five minutes *face palm.*
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NAKED MAN
Booking an AirBnb is always a bit risky. What if it doesn't look the same as online? What if the location isn't right?...Or what if you have naked roommates? A new trend we saw traveling is that now people actually run their AirBnb's like real B&Bs. So it's super common to share a house with a bunch of strangers each renting a room. While hanging out in our room in Cardiff, Caroline went to wash her face before bed.
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Suddenly I heard her stammer, "Oh...sorry" before scurrying back into our room with a wild look on her face. "He was naked," she said. 
Huh?  She proceeded to rehash the unexpected flashing incident. Apparently the bathroom door had been cracked open, so Caroline knocked before entering. Instead of responding like a sane person-covering yourself with a towel, replying "in a minute," or closing the door-the strange guy announced: "I'm coming out. And I'm naked." Poor Caroline was scarred for the rest of our stay, but luckily our eccentric neighbor locked the bathroom door from then on. ​



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ROXANNE: THE DEVIL'S CAR
In the spirit of adventure, we decided to take a road trip through the English countryside. Nothing sounds more peaceful than that, right? Well, it would have been if our car hadn't malfunctioned. Oh, and I hadn't learned how to drive stick shift two weeks before. Out of nowhere, our car started  shutting off at stoplights. We almost got hit in the middle of a busy intersection, were cussed out multiple times and had to beg a construction crew to reverse the stupid thing for us. After two days of constant stopping/starting and straight up fear every time we came to a stop light, we decided Roxanne had seen her final days. After getting pushed off the road (for the third time) and being stranded for over two hours, we were calling it quits on this relationship. Only public transportation from now on. There's only so much terror that two girls can laugh off and only so many Mcnuggs that can heal the emotional stress Roxanne put us through. ​

"I HATE MY LIFE" 
When we finally arrived in Madrid-our home away from home-after two years masterminding our great return to Spain, we were excited to experience life in this fantastic country again. Too bad we didn't factor carrying a 50 lb. suitcase, backpacks and two carry-on bags into the equation. Instead of getting a taxi (like normal people) we decided to take the "we're independent, strong women" route...which we regretted instantly. By our fourth metro transfer during rush hour, we were dripping in sweat and literally throwing our bags-which were about as big as we are-down the staircases (because of course none of the metro stations have elevators). A few kind men attempted to help us, but they seemed a bit scared once they  encountered a  frustrated Caroline yelling "I hate my life!" as she hurdled her suitcase down yet another flight of stairs. ​
PictureA rare moment where Mai isn't eating food
SUSHI SWAP
If you know Mai, then you know that most of the time she's either eating or thinking about eating. So, it only makes sense that when showing us around Austria, she included restaurants in the tour. After scrolling through TripAdvisor, we decided on a nice sushi place and set out to find it. When we arrived, it looked nothing like we expected. It was extremely narrow with a  to-go window and three tables squished in the corner. We sat scrolling through the online photos again trying to decide how they'd gotten away with lying about so many details. Did we choose the wrong side of the restaurant and there was another, nice side right through a door? It wasn't until we left that we realized there were two Asian restaurants literally right next to each other. Our powers of observation are clearly always on point. Whoops.  ​

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The Best of Europe: Adventures and Excursions

3/13/2018

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Since getting home, I always get asked what my favorite country was. To be honest, I have no idea. Each country brings its own challenges and adventures and comes with its own unique charm. Some countries stand out for their food and wine, while others stand out for the history or scenery. 

​Walking tours & museums are a great way to learn the history of a city, but sometimes Lexa and I just needed to get out and do something a little off the beaten path. Sometimes it was as simple as trying a new bar or weird attraction, but other times it meant putting on the workout gear and doing something a little more adventurous. Here are a few of our favorite adventures & excursions from our trip:
Dubrovnik, Croatia:

Naples, Italy
Budapest, Hungary
I didn't know much about Croatia before our trip to Europe, but I definitely didn't expect it to be a hub of action and adventure. It wasn't until our last day in Dubrovnik that we discovered the kayaking tours around the coast. We turned out to be the only female duo on the excursion, and you can bet we were pretty darn proud of ourselves when we completed the five mile trek around an island. The kayaking and snorkeling left us feeling pretty sore the next day, but the views, stories from our tour guide and sense of accomplishment were 100% worth it.
Although we hated the tour company we chose, our trip to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius was a hike like no other. I can't say that either of us have ever hiked up an active volcano before, so it was a unique experience to see what the inside actually looked like-sorry to say it wasn't red hot lava. The climb to the top only took us 30 minutes since our tour bus drove us most of the way (yes, we're cheaters). We prided ourselves on being in decent shape, but I have never felt the burn in my legs quite like I did after climbing up straight gravel. Luckily the trek came with a panoramic view of Naples and a cheap glass of wine. One more thing to check off the bucket list. 
When we booked our group tour in this bustling and beautiful capital, we never expected to overcome claustrophobia or be thankful to reach only 5'3". Once we figured out what caving entailed-squeezing, pushing and scraping our bodies through small spaces- we knew it was going to be one of our most challenging workouts yet. Crawling through holes no bigger than us wasn't how we expected to spend two hours of our lives, but we came out sore, covered in dust and feeling like we had just conquered one heck of an adventure. 
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The Best of Europe: Budget-Friendly Cities

3/5/2018

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Since getting home, I always get asked what my favorite country was. To be honest, I have no idea. Each country brings its own challenges and adventures and comes with its own unique charm. Some countries stand out for their food and wine, while others stand out for the history or scenery. It’s hard to pick one favorite country, so when people ask me this question, I usually break my top countries into categories.
 
Some of my favorite places on our last trip to Europe were the countries that could be traveled cheaply because I got to  enjoy life a little more freely there without blowing my budget.
 
Here’s two of my top picks for cheap and amazing cities that must go on your European Bucket List:
Bratislava, Slovakia: Bratislava was never on my radar, but once we decided to take a weekend trip to Budapest, I researched cities nearby that could make a good day trip. That’s when I stumbled upon Slovakia’s beautiful capital. It was just a 2.5-hour train ride from Budapest and was known as being safe, cheap and well-worth the trip. 

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This city makes my list as one of the cheapest places because a solid three meals cost me only $10. It uses the euro, so there’s no conversion issues, but every product at a grocery store or restaurant costs a fraction of the cost of some other European countries. 
​There were also so many things you could do for free, like walking tours that gave great overviews of the city and culture. You could hike up to the castle for a beautiful view over the city and the river and even see both Austria and Hungary from the top. ​
Prague, Czech Republic: Prague was another day trip that was well worth it. The city is romantic, clean and a great mix of history and more modern charm. When walking through the streets, you can see the castle, which reminds me of a scene straight out of a story book, but there’s also a very artsy vibe. Musicians line every corner, artists sell their wares along the bridge, and the John Lennon wall is a very popular spot. 
​Food was reasonably priced everywhere except right by the biggest tourist spots (the John Lennon wall and a few places in the main square). The currency is different and that was pretty helpful in this case. Transportation from the airport, which took about 30-45 minutes cost a little under $2. A three-course meal cost less than $15.

​This was also a city to take a walk in. We skipped the walking tour and enjoyed just exploring the streets and taking in the free scenery. The park was beautiful, the bridge and walk up to the castle grounds was incredible and the city center was full of life.    
Unfortunately, both of these incredibly cheap, beautiful and fairytale-like cities were only day trips. I probably could have saved quite a bit of money and really enjoyed a few more days in both places, but they made the top of my list for must see, budget-friendly European cities.
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3 Reasons to Travel in your 20s

3/4/2018

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Tower in Salamanca, Spain
View of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland
Island hopping in Croatia
Climbing towers, cliffs and hills is pretty doable in your 20s...but in your 50s? Not so easy.
Some people are turned off to the idea of traveling so young: you have no money, are just starting a career and trying to juggle new adult responsibilities, all while planning out the details of your trip. But these are actually the secret weapons as to why traveling in your twenties is so EXCITING.  
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No bus pass= scenic Dublin route 
1. Spontaneous and simple mindset 
Being a penny pincher forces you to only spend money on things that matter. Caroline and I would forgo a transportation pass if it meant saving a few bucks. Instead, we got to explore a new place by foot and see the scenery from a local's point of view. We also really soaked in the experiences that were worth paying for. Only spending money on what was important to us, like experiences, helped us slow down and embrace each moment. In exchange, we found the cheapest places to stay-which lead us to meeting world travelers at our hostels; all memories that only added to our European adventure.

​Don't let money deter you from traveling just because you can't afford some excursions or stay in that fancy hotel. Some of our greatest stories come from simple moments that never would've happened if we took the train instead of the eight hour bus ride or opted for the more expensive AirBnb. Being twenty-something and poor makes you more spontaneous, open-minded and fun. Take our word for it. 
2. Better physical stamina
Honestly, European cities aren't built for the older crowd: reaching a scenic viewpoint means climbing hundreds of steps and getting to the top of a tower involves squeezing past people on a narrow staircase. So take advantage of that physical stamina! Climb every hill, walk those five miles and do that caving expedition. Because you CAN handle it. Traveling in your peak physical shape will give you the best experience because you won't be limited on what you can see and do. 
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Iconic picture of Ediburgh made possible by
​walking a million steps
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Small victory: seeing the sunset in Sorrento, Italy 
3. A feeling of invincibility 
Traveling gives you a sense of power and liberation unlike anything else. No matter where you are in life-finishing school, looking for a job or moving to a new city-everyone traveling is on the same playing field. You're all embracing a new city and its culture for the first time. If you're 22 or 60, you'll likely get lost and have the challenge of getting yourself out of a few foreign pickles. Use these small victories abroad-like successfully asking for directions-as inspiration when taking on normal life changes, like starting a new job. ​
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5 Australian Attractions Worth the Money

1/31/2018

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​With every big city advertising tours, adventures and enough activities to fill up months, it's hard to know where to start when figuring out what tourist attractions are worth the money. In Australia, a place that’s notoriously expensive, it's easy to spend your whole budget way too quickly. After exploring the Australian East Coast for three weeks, here are five tourist attractions that I think are totally worth the money,
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Great Ocean Road (throughout Victoria) – This is a famous tourist attraction for a reason – the views are unbeatable. Follow the winding roads along small, beach side towns and through nature reserves for one of the prettiest, most peaceful drives you will ever do. If you’re lucky, you might even see a kangaroo hop across the road. The price just depends on how much it costs to rent a car and fill it up with gas. It will be a bit pricier if you’re under 25 because you have to pay a young driver fee. 

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Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (Brisbane) - When I thought about Australia, koalas and kangaroos were two of the first things that came to mind. So I knew that one of my must dos was to hold a koala. I learned through Pinterest that Queensland is the place to go and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is an easy bus ride from Brisbane. You can expect a ticket to the sanctuary along with a photo pass (it comes with a professional photo of you holding a koala and the ability to take photos of all the animals) to cost about $50.  

​It's also supposed to be one of the most humane sanctuaries - they frequently switch out the koalas being held, make sure you're very cautious with them and place a big emphasis on conservation. It was such a fun break from touring big cities, and I got to hold a koala and feed/pet kangaroos. Australian dream....check. 


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The Best & Worst of Europe 2017

1/29/2018

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No real intro needed here; just a snappy list of what we loved and hated through our four months of travels in Europe. 

THE BEST

THE WORST

Live music:
Galway Ireland 

Nothing beats listening to soulful, live bands playing along the Latin Quarter. Immediately fell in love with Keywest (can you blame us?)
Language barrier: 
Split, Croatia 
Had a lot of funny interpretation/communication mishaps here.  The Croatians who did speak English have a pretty aggressive and blunt tone that threw us off, so be prepared.
Cleanest & cutest city:
Sorrento, Italy
Pastel colors, shops for days, little bistros. And it's all right on the water. Definitely a place to take an S/O on a romantic getaway.
City:
Marseille, France 
The industrial vibe just wasn't for us. It was a little chaotic getting around and the alleys were filled with trash instead of the street art we were looking for. 

Cutest guys: 
Italy 
This is a no brainer. Yes,  gorgeous Italian men served us pizza in broken English and yes, it was as great as it sounds.


Views:
Cliffs of Moher in Ireland 
Nothing will take your breath away like being 390 ft. above the Atlantic Ocean. With no barriers, standing on these Irish cliffs is like being on the edge of the world. Such a surreal experience.
Weirdest attraction: 
Leprechaun Museum in Dublin
What an odd experience. We went into different themed rooms to hear typical Irish folklore but left with the burning question," Are leprechaun's real?" 

Hardest to navigate: PIC
Dublin, Ireland 
Were we the only naive people that didn't know the streets curve and weirdly feed into each other? This made reading a map impossible. For sure spent 80% of our time lost.
Hostel: 
Sziget in Budapest, Hungary 
Five stars for the amazing staff who took us on boat parties, bar crawls and shared their travel stories with us.


Biggest surprise:

​Croatia
This new tourist hotspot was a quirky blend of architecture, history, interesting food and beautiful waters that left us wanting more. 


Hostel: 
Pizza hostel in Naples, Italy 
I've never been in a crack house, but this room is what I'd imagine it to be like: neon green walls, broken furniture and a weird odor from the bathroom. Not to mention no blankets. Never again. 

Most Difficult Public Transportation: PIC
Prague
Buying tickets was a hastle because they were only valid for a certain amount of time-like 45 minutes. If you didn't know how long it'd take you to get somewhere, you were screwed. 



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Amsterdam: Canals, Bikes & Pigeon Attacks

11/30/2017

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PictureSay CHEESE

​I feel like when many people picture Amsterdam, they think of a more chill Vegas: prostitutes dancing in the windows and everyone smoking weed in the streets. We’ll be honest, we thought the same thing. Most of our predictions were true, but what caught us off guard was how beautiful the city was. Even in late November, the weather was gorgeous and we had a blast going in and out of quirky stores (if anyone doesn’t know this, Caroline is obsessed with cheese! Here’s the picture proof), strolling by the canal, and watching street performers at Dam square.

PictureDam square: Where the pigeon incident happened...
Except for those DAMN pigeons. While minding our own business, an enormous flock of them swarmed around us. I physically hid myself behind Caroline, fearing that one of them would attack me or take a crap on my head. It was terrifying. I can’t even describe to you what kinds of sounds were coming from our mouths-something between a screech/laugh/cry for help. When the pigeons finally left us in peace, we both had tears streaming down our faces from laughing so hard and from embarrassing ourselves, yet again, in a public place. I can guarantee our battle with the pigeons was far more entertaining than the 50-year-old break dancers performing nearby, if only someone had a camera… 

Enough about those godawful creatures. Here’s our take on Amsterdam’s infamous amenities and attractions:

The canals-It’s not called the “Venice of the North” for nothing. With over 250 canals, it’s definitely a must-do to take a canal tour. We took one at night, which gave us a totally different perspective on the city with everything lit up. On the tour, you get a headset and listen to the history of the city as you float past ritzy neighborhoods, museums and bridges. ​

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A little piece of Thailand in Austria

11/15/2017

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Mama Mai showing off her expert cooking skills 
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If you know us, then you know that we're usually the first to hop on a plane and head for a new adventure, but the last to step foot in the kitchen.  Our senior year consisted of frozen pizzas/microwave meals, and traveling constantly means food on the go or skipping meals altogether. So when Mai's mom asked if we wanted to try a Thai cooking class at their family restaurant, we decided to take a chance on a totally new kind of adventure. 

With a glass of Prosecco in hand, we strapped on our aprons and prepared to cook. While we didn't quite become master chefs, we had a lot of laughs and pretended like we knew what was going on-since the class was taught in German. Luckily, we missed all the chopping and prep, so we didn't have to use any big knives and risk injury (to ourselves or other people). Watching Mai's mom toss around ingredients-including their homemade and very spicy chili paste- and explain all the steps that went into each dish was fascinating; soon we were stirring pans full of meat, vegetables and curry. ​

PictureGetting some much needed instruction

​The best part was definitely getting to try all the dishes we made. We started with a soup, moved on to Thai curry with meat and rice, and finished with a coconut milk rice dessert (Milchreis) which was AMAZING. It's this special sweet and sticky rice topped with fresh mangos. All of the food tasted as good as it looked. Our cooking class sat together and enjoyed each course while everyone tried out their English to make us feel included. 

PictureActual proof we stirred something

​Watching sassy Mama Mai run around the kitchen instructing her students and cracking jokes was really inspirational. This adorable chef had moved to a foreign country, managed to establish her own restaurant and now charmed a room with her cooking knowledge. And to think she used to be insecure that people wouldn't understand her accent. 


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Ciao Bella

11/7/2017

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Can we live here? Positano was one for the books. 
While we didn't hop on the back of a vespa belonging to an Italian popstar like Lizzy Mcguire, our Italy adventures came pretty damn close...with a few minor hiccups. Italy is a country of beautiful colors, charismatic people and of course, a crap ton of carbs. We spent four days exploring the coastline; here's what went down:
Day 1-Naples
When we came out of the train station in Naples, we were met with the majestic sound of incessant honking. As Italy's third largest city, it's no surprise that the people there drive like absolute maniacs. We spent the day exploring the narrow streets, taking in the smells of local restaurants, being served pizza by cute Italian waiters and walking to the port (only to see nothing since the sun went down at 6 p.m.). Everyone's advice held true: Naples is like the Chicago of Italy-a little grungy with a city vibe that's charming in its own way. Now for the hiccup-the Pizza Hostel. We thought we lucked out since we ended up getting a private room instead of a shared dorm, except for one hitch. No blankets. It by far ranks as one of the worst nights ever. We were curled up in tight little balls shivering under our coats and sleeping in gloves. I guess 12 euro a night can only buy you so much...sigh. 
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Day 2- Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius 
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For any history buffs, Pompeii is a must do. It was surreal being inside a city that's still surrounded in mystery and talked about in our classes. Our guide Elissa was hilarious and extremely knowledgeable. She took us to see the bathhouse, amphitheater, brothel and main square while explaining their way of life. It was crazy to step back in time and see how advanced Pompeii was way back then-how those people created an intricate water system in 6th Century BC is beyond us. Here are some of our favorite facts:
  • 1/3 of Pompeii is still buried and out of 20,000 inhabitants, only 4,000 skeletons were recovered. 
  • The flow of the lava was predicted to travel at 700 miles an hour, so death was instant. You could tell by the position of the body how someone died; if you were laying down, cause of death was asphyxiation. There are some body molds spread through the city, which were cool (but also creepy) to see.  
  • In the bathhouses, there was one communal sponge on a stick shared between everyone-how sanitary. This is where the expression "don't get the short end of the stick" comes from. 


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The Terrors & Triumphs of working with Kids

10/24/2017

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Our CIEE Group. The 18 of us are spread out through the region of Castilla y Leon.
Aside from taking on the daunting tasks of rooming with strangers, flying on sketchy airlines and planning a trip in one week, we've added teaching kids to the mix. So far, being English Assistants has been really eye-opening. It's only the first week and we've already had intense conversations about the public education system, seen learning differences between Spanish and American kids, experimented with teaching techniques, etc. 

Let's be honest: did we feel qualified to teach before we came here? Eh. Did we have any idea what class time even looked like? Nope. But I can honestly say there's no better way to challenge yourself than to stand in front of 30 (rowdy) Spanish students and try to help them be excited about languages like you are. 

A little recap about our program: We're CIEE Volunteer Language Assistants-meaning that in exchange for living with a host family (free food, free room), we work 12 hours a week in a public school assisting English teachers with their lessons. 

​Here's a breakdown of our impressions, surprises and insights as "teachers:" 

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The Highs and Lows of Constant Travel

10/9/2017

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We can't believe it's already been six weeks of hostel-jumping, flying, learning ( a little bit of crying) and taking in the amazing cultures of 16 cities...what a whirlwind. It's incredible to think that after five months of planning, we somehow made it through the U.K., Ireland, Germany and Croatia without any mental breakdowns or missed flights. Each day seemed like a week; our only focus was to absorb each city and be present in every moment. A five mile sea kayaking trip? Okay! Traveling to the Cliffs of Moher even when you can't breathe (because you've caught the worst cold of your life)? Can't miss that! We pushed ourselves to physical limits that left us mentally drained, but without regrets. Panoramic views and new friendships also come with tired feet, skipped meals and hours of transportation.  

During our last semester of college, we spent weeks meticulously planning how we were going to make this backpacking trip a reality. But like anything with traveling, there were things that we couldn't predict that made our trip more memorable (both the good and bad): ​​
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The Highs:
  • Going from city to city so quickly was exhilarating-Since we only stayed in one city for a few days, it challenged us to say yes to every experience. 

  • There was never a dull moment-If we weren't touring a museum, we were planning our next flight (or writing for the blog). Living in the now instead of "for the weekend" made us appreciate our surroundings so much more.

  • Proving ourselves-Deciding to travel right out of college instead of being financially secure is definitely the path less traveled. Being able to confidently get around foreign cities and manage such a jam-packed itinerary proved to ourselves that this was the right decision for US. 

  • We got fit quick-Six weeks of lugging around suitcases and walking 5+ miles a day is by far the best workout plan. Suddenly our pants were looser and our legs were stronger without even really trying, woohoo! 
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  • A stronger friendship-Traveling is 100% the truest test of friendship. While we have our Lucy and Ethel moments, Caroline and I always have blast seeing new places together. This six week venture was no different. We compromised and worked together; but most importantly, we never took ourselves too seriously. 
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Made a spontaneous trip to Krka National Park because why not?
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Better than any view from an office window

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Croatia: Beautiful Coast, Terrible Parking

10/4/2017

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Panoramic view from the city walls
Croatia was never on our original bucketlist. But recently, it's become a tourist hot spot and after googling pictures of the Dalmatian coast and Dubrovnik's city walls, it's easy to see why (plus it's out of the Schengen zone, but that's for another blog hehe).

While the scenery was absolutely gorgeous and the Adriatic sea was the clearest water we've ever seen, traveling to Croatia was full of surprises compared to other European destinations:
PictureDo YOU see any parking down there??
1. Parking is horseshit-like worse than Butler University parking. It took us over an hour to find a spot on an obscure hill 20 minutes from our Airbnb. FYI there are different parking zones (not clearly marked) that cost different amounts. Some machines don't have card readers, so you have to find a newspaper stand-usually not anywhere near your spot-to buy a ticket. The lady working couldn't speak a lick of English, so our second resort was to pay 60 kuna...in coins. Of course, NOT ONE STORE is willing to exchange your bills for small coins-what a wonderfully effective system. At this point, we ended up buying random items at the grocery store to raise the full amount.
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2. English is not commonly spoken. This was by far the toughest country to communicate in. Considering these cities flourish on tourism, it was surprising how few people spoke English and that almost no signs were translated in English either. Lots of hand gestures and translators were used to get around. 

3. Customer service = aggressive yelling. Seeing as how customer service is a #1 in most U.S. businesses, it was quite the experience buying food and attraction tickets. Interestingly, we had more issues in Split than Dubrovnik. The most overwhelming experience was picking an island excursion. All along the bay, there are different companies that offer the exact same package deal for the exact same price. There were absolutely no differences, leaving us to ask "Where's the competitive edge? How do they sell to their customers?" Through aggressive yelling, that's how. While we appreciated the brutal honesty, their harsh tones and constant pressure of "What do you want lady? They're all the same," left us intimidated and unsure which company to pick.

4. You'll have anxiety giving someone a 50 bill for just a few pieces of candy. Budget traveling has been such a priority, that handing over such a large number made us cringe. But don't worry, 50 kuna actually translates to about $8.00. It can be tough keeping up with how much your actually spending, so keep a log and download a currency converter.

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Oktoberfest: Homecoming on Steroids

9/24/2017

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​What's a better place for an international reunion than Oktoberfest? Since the day our friends left, we've been planning a meet-up in Munich to check it off our bucket lists. Here what happened when two Americans, an Austrian, a German and a Finn took on the biggest beer festival in the world: ​
No surprise here, we did absolutely no research beforehand. Besides booking an Airbnb 6 months in advance, Oktoberfest was a big mystery to us all. Another thing that'll come as no surprise to our family and friends: we had a problem with our apartment right before we arrived in Munich. The original apartment flooded the night before, so our host moved us. Adventure #2: five people trying to sleep, eat, and get ready in a one bedroom apartment with the smallest bathroom you've ever seen. Shoutout to Moritz for putting up with four girls. 
Our Predictions:
  • Lots of trashed Germans
  • Little tents crammed with thousands of people (like what are used for outdoor weddings)
  • ​Good Food
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The Reality:​
Oktoberfest turned out to be more like a massive state fair with more beer than we've ever seen in our lives. There were carnival games, amusement rides (yes, we rode a rollercoaster), and ridiculously large tents that looked like houses - all decked out and themed based on Bavarian breweries. Most of the people stumbling around were Italians, Americans or college students on exchange. 


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Say yes to anything FREE

9/24/2017

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Nothing makes us happier than getting something for free. It's like the high you get when you go to T.J. Maxx and get three pairs of workout pants for the normal price of one. Since we're budget traveling and cutting corners wherever we can (hello hostel that costs 15 euro a night!), free things are our favorite things. So our current travel obsession is free walking tours. Not only do you get to see all of the city's highlights right off the bat, but the tour guides are normally hilarious and informative since they're working for your tips. Here are some of the standout stories: 
PictureSt, Patrick's Cathedral
Dublin

Exploding corpses: That's right. Our guide Ollie told us that in St. Patrick's Cathedral, bodies used to burst out of the walls. Not really sure why people started burying the dead there, but apparently the gasses released from a decaying corpse-combined with the conditions of the walls-caused bodies to physically explode out. What an interesting church service that would be...


Smoke Alley Theater: This theater used to be extremely violent. Actors were expected to have 80+ plays memorized and then the night of the performance, the audience chose by vote what they wanted to see. If audience members didn't get their way, they would throw things at performers and even stab them-yikes!
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RIP Roxanne: Our Road Trip from Hell

9/18/2017

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PictureCaroline and Roxanne bonding
Three days with our fiat 500 rental car (which we named Roxanne) was three days too many. She took us on an emotional rollercoaster from hell: one minute we were driving through the English countryside jamming out to the radio and the next minute we were fearing for our lives. Yes, that might sound dramatic, but it’s the truth. ​

​On day one, Caroline had to drive through the entire city of Oxford…with a stickshift…on the opposite side of the road. Like any major European city, the roads are obnoxiously narrow, people jaywalk like it’s their job and trucks are ruthless. I broke out in a nervous sweat as Caroline fearlessly drove Roxanne to the carpark. We were only one turn away when Roxanne just stopped-right in the middle of a busy intersection. Crap, crap, crap. I jumped out of the car and begged a random man on the street to help us while Caroline tried to restart it. Another man also helped us push her to a side street, telling us how he too had car trouble in Greece, “You just gotta learn to laugh at yourself,” he said. Oh, if only he knew. 

PictureThe beautiful countryside in the Cotswolds
​Not being ones to back down from a challenge, we decided to give Roxanne another shot as we made our way to the small village of Miserden in the Cotswolds. Everything went without a hitch: we passed through small towns, took to the highway and finally got the experience we were looking for-a scenic road trip down the English countryside. Finding our small Airbnb cottage was an adventure of its own. We went through backroads that gave me a heart attack every time we rounded a corner. At one point, we even had to reverse up a steep hill to let a truck pass. But miraculously we made it! To celebrate, we took selfies with Roxanne to prove that the two of us COULD do this. Little did we know what Roxanne had in store for us the next day…


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Colleges & Castles: Our three days in Oxford

9/7/2017

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The Bridge of Sighs 
Touring Oxford University 
Oxford, you're a sneaky one. You impressed us with your crazy, but very sweet people, made history fun again and made us not hate England anymore. We thought you'd just be another stop on our U.K. tour, but instead left a lasting impression on us-a good one this time. Here's why: 

Day 1: In true Caroline & Lexa fashion, trying to get from Crawley-London to Oxford was an adventure of its own. Apparently you need to print bus tickets to get on- online proof wouldn't cut it. So we spent 1.5 hours weaving through a maze of coffee shops and bus terminals to the bowels of the London Victoria bus station to find a printer. Fun fact: Internet Cafe's still exist! From there, our day went without a hitch. We found our hostel easily and spent the rest of the day exploring the city and guessing what each of the buildings were. Even though it was pouring and miserably cold, we felt a connection to Oxford right away. ​
PictureRadcliffe Camera
Day 2: Want to know one of the best things about traveling without an agenda? Stumbling onto random things. While walking the streets that morning, we found a street carnival that stretched on for miles. There were huge rides, games and "candy floss" (cotton candy) for sale. It was literally just sitting in the middle of the city, which we found strange, but pretty cool. I guess a little of the Indiana State Fair decided to follow us across the ocean. 

By far the standout was our Footprints FREE Walking Tour. We loved this one because the stories our guide told centered on the city's quirky history: 

1) The Radcliffe Camera (A dome-like building that's super well known. Although we had no idea what it was until the tour...maybe we should have done a little more research?) actually spared Oxford from being bombed during WW11. A Nazi architect thought it was too beautiful not to use as government headquarters once the Nazis won..oops.

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2) All Souls College is so exclusive that only the top student from each of Oxford's 38 colleges is invited ​to take the test from hell. Whoever scores the highest becomes a fellow-meaning you're pretty much set for life. Every century, the fellows get together to have a huge party called the Mallard Hunt. They get drunk and go searching for a duck. At around 5:30 a.m., the fellows come out to a cheering crowd with the duck's head on a stake. 

3) In 1983, the crown prince of Japan attended Merton College. He was so disgusted by the food, that he made a very generous donation to its kitchen. Today, students get Michelin 5-star dining for every meal. 

4) On May 1st, a huge party is thrown to celebrate the coming of Summer. A tradition is that drunk students jump off the top of the Magdalen bridge...fully knowing that it's only two feet deep. Ambulances are on call because 1 out of 3 daredevils end up breaking something. 


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Planes, Trains & Motorcycles: The German Experience

8/31/2017

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After 10 hours of flying, an hour train ride and a 30 minute drive, we finally made it to Germany! Honestly, I don't know what we would've done if we couldn't use my grandma's apartment as a home base. Not only do we have a free place to sleep and store our luggage, but we also get to spend time with two of of the coolest people I know: Omi and my cousin Marius. 

But before I get into gushing about my family, let's recap the journey over: We've never used Icelandair but were both really happy with the airline's services. They let us check our carry-on dufflebags for free (which would've been a pain to carry) and the plane ride was super smooth. There were a few things that I had to pay for, like food and headphones, but considering that our round-trip ticket cost half of what Delta's is, I could handle a few extra fees. One other thing to keep in mind is that the connections are tight. I don't know if this is for all Icelandair flights, but we only had 50 minutes to catch our plane to Frankfurt. FYI running through a foreign airport and begging people to let you cut in line at passport control is not fun (especially at 1 a.m.). 

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Since we seem to attract chaos, our train ride to Stuttgart had some notable dramatic moments. First off, we got yelled at by the train assistants for leaving our suitcases on the floor (like what everyone else did) and not putting them above our heads--umm HI, those things weigh 50 lbs. Luckily, everyone on the train was super nice and helped us with our bags. The assistants even picked on an old lady for the same thing, but she was a spitfire and dished it right back to them. We became instant friends after that. Not even 10 minutes later, someone's bag fell from the upper compartment and hit a lady in the head. The Germans rallied together and gave the assistants an earful-exactly what they deserved. 

Luckily, the last 48 hours haven't been as dramatic. We slept for 13 hours to get rid of the jet lag, swam at the local pool and took in the beautiful weather by chilling with Omi on her deck while eating chocolate cake. Not a bad way to start off our trip. But the highlight for sure was riding motorcycles with my cousin. No, we did not drive those monsters. Actually, riding passenger is a lot harder than you think.


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Indy Summer Bucketlist

8/20/2017

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​Ever since getting back from study abroad, I’ve had the constant itch to explore new places and try new things. So instead of traveling away from Indiana this summer, I made it my goal to explore my city and try out a bunch of great activities that it had to offer. To do this, I created a bucketlist of things I’d heard from Hoosiers and college friends. Check out some of the cool experiences I’ve had the past few months:
1) Horseback Riding at K-Trails Equestrian Adventures
As a horse lover, I couldn't resist checking out the new trails facility in Noblesville. I chose the 1.5 hour sunset ride to get the full experience of riding through Strawtown Koteewi Park. As part of the package, we could help untack and hang out with the horses afterward. Our group was small and the horses were extremely calm, which made for a relaxing ride. When it was over, we watched the horses run around their pasture with a pink & orange sky as the backdrop-making for a gorgeous Indiana summer night. 

Price: $32.00
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2) Concert at Ruoff Music Center
Since I moved to Indy, “Ruoff” (formally Klipsch) has been a staple name. It’s a huge outdoor music center that hosts a lot of big headliners, mostly country singers. Since I barely tolerate country music, it never really sparked my interest until this year. I got tickets to see Florida Georgia Line and they were fantastic live. Not only was the singing on point, but the venue itself was something I’ve never seen before. Around 24,000 people waved their phones around during the ballads and sang along to the songs while sipping extremely expensive alcohol ($15 for a mixed drink). The opening acts Chris Lane and Nelly killed it too. So yes, after living in Indy for four years, I’m now a slight country fan but an official fan of Florida Georgia Line.             

Price: around $50.00 for the lawn 

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3) Monon Mixer at the Monon Community Center
I found out about this event by accident and it’s something that EVERY city needs to do more! The center holds an adult’s-only night once a month in the summer at their water park. I floated through the lazy river, tried (and wiped out on) the flowrider, went down water slides and drank wine while being surrounded by fun adults. The music was great and it felt like a private party because we never had to wait in line for anything. You never realize how awesome water parks are until you’re not surrounded by tons of screaming kids. 

Price: $10.00


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The Rich Color and Culture of Morocco

8/1/2017

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​As children, we pictured Africa as a place filled with wild animals and dry deserts (no thanks to the Lion King). Never did we imagine that during a semester abroad we would hop on a bus with over 100 other American students (check out DiscoveryExcursions! It’s a great tour group for anyone in college) and take a ferry to Morocco. On our first night bussing through the city, we noticed there were no women on the streets. The few that were out traveled in groups and were covered from head to toe; only men filled the restaurants. It made us feel guilty. Here we were-two young women traveling around Europe with the most freedom we’d ever had.

​It was like getting culture shock all over again: a new religion to absorb, customs to adapt to and breathtaking architecture unlike anything we’d seen so far. Cities rich with color and culture, beautiful views of the Atlantic (an adorable stray kitten here and there) and being woken up by the calls to prayer became our reality for the next 48 hours.

The bright blue city of Chefchaouen is rivaled only by the vibrant colors of the many goods and trinkets being sold in every square inch of the city. Walking through the medina of Marrakech, you could hear at least 3-4 languages being spoken. The flow of the market swept us all away as we tried (and failed) to barter for white elephant figurines. Our experience was enriched by our own interactions with the locals and a walking tour led by the cutest and most insightful old Moroccan man. He taught us that “Islam is a lifelong teaching” and described how the color and design of the doors marked the status of the family living inside. 

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"Travel" Feed coming in August: Check out Teaser Posts Below!

6/16/2017

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Pumped to be graduates and get to trip planning... can't you tell? 
This blog feed will feature our rants, triumphs, tears and more each week as we explore new cities. August can't come soon enough :D To give you  a taste of how we travel (and what happens to us when we travel) check out the teaser blogs below on our failed trip to Chicago and unique encounters in London. 
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Give Me a Visa Please

6/15/2017

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​There’s nothing like waking up at 4 a.m. to catch a train from Mattoon, Illinois to the Windy City. A little background: We made 11 a.m. appointments with the Spanish Consulate to hopefully get Cultural Assistant visas. To our complete surprise, they denied us. Even after reading tons of blogs warning us that it’s tricky to exceed the 90-day limit, we were optimistic. Apparently because our program only lasts 80 days, they weren’t willing to issue us a visa to do extra traveling; we were crushed. Both of us broke into a calm panic and paced around the bean as we called our parents asking for advice. How could our second home turn us away? We’d hit plenty of speed bumps traveling before, but this looked to be our biggest challenge yet. 

​After our small breakdowns in Millennium Park, we decided to screw the negativity and enjoy Chicago-hoping a trip to Navy Pier would lift our spirits; nothing changes a sour mood like a strong margarita. To keep the good times rolling, we jumped on the ferris wheel to get a view of Chicago’s iconic skyline. Even though it was stifling hot, the view was beautiful. *Warning: tequila and heights do NOT mix. Dizziness after the ride may occur.* .....
Enjoying Navy Pier before our marathon sprint to Union Station

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Lost in London

6/12/2017

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Not all travel memories are filled with picture-perfect moments. Sometimes the most memorable moments take place in a dreary place, where tourists elbow past you to get a glimpse of Buckingham Palace. Yes, we’re talking about London. London lovers, please take no offense. Visiting the city was an extraordinary experience for us-just not in the traditional sense.
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Mistake #1: Scammed-24 hours before our flight, our AirBnb host told us the house had “burned down.” So the seven of us searched for a new place; determined to see Big Ben. Paul was our savior and agreed to let us stay in his apartment. We embraced his little bungalow as our home for the next two days; snuggling into the rock hard mattress and scalding our skin in the shower. Without Paul’s shack, we never would’ve gotten to explore an authentic London neighborhood or be chased down the street by an old man yelling, “Ooga! Ooga!"

PictureSo many double-deckers
...Weird Encounter #2: Thor-We purchased a card for a hop-on/hop-off bus. Little did we know that they stopped running early (we're talking like 5pm on a Friday night early). So there we were, standing at the stop for almost an hour, pissed, cold and hungry. Out of nowhere, Thor appeared. He was tall, athletic with his long blonde hair pulled into an elegant ponytail. The only difference was his thick, dutch accent.

​Thor tagged along with us as we walked to the next stop in hopes of catching a bus. As we pushed through hoards of people in Trafalgar square, one of us caught sight of the double-decker heading to the original stop..."THE BUS!" Like a flash, Thor tore off across eight lanes of traffic, his arms and legs pumping with the speed of a demigod. We watched in horror, confusion and amazement as he effortlessly weaved through the cars. Our group chased after him (but on the sidewalk like a normal person) in hopes of catching our hero. By the time we got there, the bus and Thor were nowhere to be seen.... 


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