Taking Off Time from College for Travel

December 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are coming up on your last semester or two of college and still feeling unsure about the direction of your future, it may be time to investigate some life lessons. What does that mean? It means that you can learn so much more about the way the world really works by traveling around a bit and visiting other countries and cultures. Not only will you gain some valuable real-world experience, you’ll also be reviewing your own opinions about what matters to you.

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Where to Go

Before you toss a change of clothes and your MP3 player into a backpack, take some quality time to decide which experiences would benefit you the most in your travel. Do you want some serious practice in a new language or will you be focusing on developing your own art? Are there religious or cultural landmarks that you’re curious to explore?

The answers to these questions will help you decide where you want to go. For example, if you’re eager to immerse yourself among French-speaking natives, consider the Canadian province of Quebec. In an emergency situation, you’ll still be able to find people who speak English.

How Much Time

You will also want to establish the length of your travel well before setting out. While you can backpack around Europe, working an odd job or two along the way for cash, it’s still a good idea to have a budget in mind and a trip plan that won’t exhaust your resources.

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Also, if you’re not used to being far from home, you may want to plan a shorter trip or even several jaunts of a week or so, rather than one longer journey. According to this interesting graph, your GPA, race and parental income all may have an effect on how far from home you are studying. If you chose a college in the same state or even city where you grew up, it’s probably unwise to plan a vacation on the other side of the globe.

What You’ll Get out of It

After you’ve done some traveling and experienced other cultures and foreign cities, you will likely have gained some maturity and a better idea of what you want for your future. This will help you fine-tune your plans after graduation, and may even prepare you for extended educational opportunities elsewhere.

Regardless, make the most of your late-college trip and be sure to record your memories in a diary or scrapbook. You’ll want to be able to look back on this period for decades to come.

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Safety and Security First

September 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Casino of Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal

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Traditions can be tough to change and it is hard to try something new when you are used to doing things the same way time after time. Going to the casino has taken on new meaning thanks to technology. You can now get your gambling fun with an online casino.

Getting in the Groove

While you may be used to the traditional way of gambling for money, there is a new way that is helping those who want to have some fun and earn some money from home. There are hundreds of online casino options out there to choose from. The first step is to decide which game you like to play the most. After that you can search for the right online casino to fit the bill. Before you open an account and hand over your personal information, it is vital that you know who you are dealing with.

Safety First

Every state has particular rules and regulations concerning online gambling and you will want to see that they are regulated by some commission or board. Find out where they are based out of. This information should be located someplace within the online casino. You need to know that there is an actual address for the casino and you should be able to contact them by telephone as well. Taking the time to be sure that the online casino is legitimate is well worth the effort before you get involved. You can enjoy your time in the online casino if you know your personal information is safe.

 

Filed Under: Lifestyle

A Little Kazakhstan Trivia

September 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Kazakh stamps featuring a traditional bride's ...

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The historic independent state of Kazakhstan has a rich, colloquial history and breath-taking landscapes that will leave visitors wanting to come back very soon.

The Kazakhs as a people are generally happy, especially as they progress to a new new Kazakhstan democracy. Life is getting better for them. Here is some trivia about the land and its people:

Reported by a 2009 Census, the republic is divided into six main groups:
  • 70.2% are Muslim
  • 26.6% are Christian
  • 0.1% are Buddhist
  • 0.2% are other religions, mostly Jewish
  • 2.8% are non-believers
  • 0.5% chose not to answer the question

With democratic freedom of religion, the number of mosques, synagogues, churches and other types of religious buildings went from 670 in 1990 to over 4,170 total currently.

Kazakh is spoken by 64.4% of the population, but Russian is spoken everywhere and is used routinely as the state language. But Kazakhstan is changing. State TV stopped broadcasting in Russian.

Kazakhstan is also a front-running nation in international child adoptions.

Kazakhstan has the Biggest, Almost

Educated sources estimate that Kazakhstan has:
  • The 2nd biggest reserves of uranium, lead, zinc and chromium
  • The world’s 3rd largest reserves of manganese
  • The fifth biggest reserves of copper
  • Three of the world’s top ten reserves
  • The world’s eleventh largest reserves of natural gas and oil.
  • The world’s seventh largest grain production

Kazakhstan exports some natural diamonds.

There are 236,000 square miles of pasture and hay lands.

Kazakhstan is the first former Soviet republic to pay off its debts to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the loan was paid seven years early.

With 1,040,000 square miles of land, Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country (or state) and the ninth-largest country (or state) in the world. Its size is comparable to Western Europe.
Filed Under: Traditions

Top 3 Destinations for Your Family Vacation

September 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You’ve decided to take a family vacation. Vacationing with your family is a rewarding experience that all will remember forever. Because these moments are so precious, deciding the vacation destination is important. Families enjoy a variety of atmospheres and this article will touch upon the top three destinations for families to visit.

Europe

Europe remains one of the most popular places to visit for families. The continent is full of countless countries; each with a different culture that is interesting to learn about. Whether deciding to visit the country a family originates from or just choosing one that interests your family, Virgin Holidays Cruises take cruise-goers to a variety of European countries. This type of cruise allows families to sit back and enjoy their trip.

Australia

Australia is another fun, exotic vacation destination for travelers. The continent offers mountains, tropical scenes and waterfront experiences. This vacation destination offers something for everyone in the family. Many families enjoy this destination as the country is warm when it’s cold in the U.S. and cold when it’s hot in North America. Australia offers a place to escape the heat or the cold.

Caribbean

The Caribbean remains one of the top family vacation destinations. Whether the Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Cuba or any of the other beautiful islands, families enjoy the tropical atmosphere. The beauty and ambiance of the islands offer an escape from the stresses of daily life. Ultimately, Caribbean Cruises are a great family vacation option. They offer convenience and fun wrapped into one.

Book a cruise today!

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The Culinary Culture & Traditions of France

July 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Foie gras "en cocotte" with mustard ...

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Want to make any dish sound fancy? Translate the name into French. Though many French dishes are indeed complex, many Americans get intimidated at the idea of French cooking– though many techniques are actually quite simple. Still, France still has a reputation for having the best food in the world. Curious to learn more about France’s culinary culture? Here’s a break-down of some common food and food-related traditions found in France.

Cuisine des Provinces

Cuisine des provinces is a rustic style of French cooking that places an emphasis on simple recipes with fresh ingredients. The dishes are rich and hearty, as they were originally designed to provide nourishment to hard-working farmers after a long day in the field.

“Classic” French Cooking

Though a classic style of cooking is perhaps more like cuisine des provinces, given that it’s an older style, we tend to think of “classic” French cooking as difficult cooking techniques with plenty of fattening cream and butter. French cooking was all about showing off: using the finest ingredients to make the most delectable meal imaginable. Classic French dishes include things like hollandaise sauce, mouth-watering pastries, escargot, and foie gras.

What is Foie Gras, Anyway?

Foie gras isn’t for the faint of heart. Foie gras vendors force-feed a goose or a duck until it’s liver is swollen to oblivion. You’ll often find it served with truffles, a rare underground fungus found by smell.

Regions in France

Much the way you’d find lobster in New England and vinegar-based barbecue in North Carolina, every region in France has a different cuisine style. Spectacular red wines can be found in Burgundy. Stunning seafood is served in the seaside Brittany and Riviera regions, while some of France’s most world-acclaimed dishes are served by the Normans.



 

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The Meal Traditions of Spain

July 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Shellfish paella.

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Spain holds one of the richest culinary cultures in the world. Spanish cuisine is unique in that it holds plenty of European crossover and style combined with the flavors of the Mediterranean– but it also holds Middle Eastern influence in its architecture and food thanks to the centuries spent under Moorish control. The food of Spain is as richly diverse as its history.

A Typical Day in Spain

To understand the food culture of Spain, you must first understand how their food schedules differ from those in the United States.

The Most Important Meal of the Day: Lunch

Forget quickly packed brown bag lunches. Lunch is a huge ordeal in Spain, and many people return home to have a large lunch with their family before returning to work. Dinner may be the most important meal in the U.S., but lunch reigns supreme in Spain; a typical Spanish lunch could have as many as four courses. No one rushes a meal: eating is an act to be savored and treasured.

Light Breakfasts

Breakfast, on the other hand, is lighter than the heavy egg-and-bacon breakfasts of the United States. A typical Spanish breakfast could include coffee, croissants, bread, or fruit. Many Spaniards will also have a late-morning snack to tide them over until lunch.

Dinner

Spanish citizens eat their dinners much later than the 5:00 or 6:00 suppers common to America. Alcohol is a welcome addition to every dinner. Between dinner and lunch, Spaniards often enjoy tapas, which are small, easy-to-eat bites.

 

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Common American Summer Traditions

July 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Independence Day!

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Summer is second only to the holiday season in terms of American rituals and traditions. Few seasons are more looked forward to than the arrival of summer. Here are some common American traditions relating to hot summer days and nights.

  • Catching fireflies (or lightning bugs). Send the kids out to the field and watch them catch and release these glowing insects as the sun sets.
  • Running after the ice cream man. As soon as kids hear the familiar jangle of the local ice cream truck, they race for the door. There’s nothing like an icy popsicle or a cool ice cream sandwich on a warm day.
  • Jumping through the sprinkler. Water your grass and entertain your kids at the same time: have them jump through the sprinkler system and scream when they first hit the water. Alternatively, buy a baby pool for younger children.
  • Pack a picnic for the park. Is there anything more lovely than a packed picnic basket? Everything tastes better when it’s eaten outside.
  • Have a summer barbecue. The most popular occasions for a cookout include the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, but many Americans have barbecues “just because.”
  • Grilling outside. Speaking of barbeques, how can we have a cookout without an outdoor grilling feast? It doesn’t matter if it’s charcoal or gas: we Americans love to cook over an open flame. Burgers, dogs, steaks, kabobs, even vegetables– we’ll grill anything. Some diehard grilling enthusiasts have even started grilling fruits for dessert!
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