Where in the World Have I Been

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Looks like I have some work to do...Only 5 percent of Europe covered in my twenty years makes me sound like I've been slacking on the travel plans. All soon to change...fingers crossed and visa applied for.

"Eat, Pray, Love"

I just finished reading the # 1 New York Times Best Seller, "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. It follows Gilbert as she ventures to Italy to enjoy all the pleasures the Italians know how to indulge in. Then off to India to pray and finally to Indonesia where...well I'll let you figure that one out on your own. This book is the epitome of good travel writing and a must read...

Here's just a taste of some of the inspirational stuff Gilbert has to say:

"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it."

Also I just found out that Julia Roberts is to "Eat, Pray and Love" for us all to see in theaters in 2011

Let's Go Europe!

There is no other time in my life where I will jump around as much as I do and will in the coming months of my life. Being a college student I am never completely able to settle anywhere and to be completely honest I like it this way. Life never gets boring.

In just a few short months I will make the biggest move thus far. I will be studying in Madrid, Spain for four months. I've take Spanish all my life and know very little still but am excited by the prospect of living with a Spanish family and being completely submerged in a culture other than my own. So far, the idea of studying abroad hasn’t phased me. Am I Excited...yes of course, but when I think of how many other students have done the exact same....i feel nothing but typical. I know this isn’t the case...that not all 20 year olds get to live in one of the most beautiful European cities, eat tapas, learn a new language and soul search but then why do I feel like it’s expected for students to study abroad. I think like with many other things, I have been influenced by what I see around me. Sure many of my peers are studying abroad but that is a result of the many privileges have been giving by attending university.
Even when deciding where I wanted to go...I kept changing my location...would I venture to Ecuador, or maybe the Caribbean to step away from where everyone else was going. But then I took a step back. Wait...it was my decision and first choice from the get go to study in Madrid and just because so many other students would be doing the exact same well that's not to say our experiences wouldn’t be completely different. Why pass up what I wanted to do all along just to avoid following a trend? It was from the beginning that the idea of speaking Spanish, living in a beautiful city with tapas, flamenco dancing and bull fighting made me completely euphoric.

Now come the exciting months to start preparing for a complete life change. Maybe I’ll adopt the practice of siesta just to make sure I’m good and ready? Oh and practicing my Spanish might be a good idea too...

The Golden Arches That Help Guide Me

Traveling has always been a true love of mine and in my mind worth any expense, and any sacrifice. I have felt this way since the eighth grade when I saved up all my babysitting money and went to Iceland with my best friend for three weeks to celebrate “Jol,” the Icelandic Christmas.

Going to other countries has always astounded me. For one there is the language barrier, which is a constant learning experience. Then there is the concept of changing time zones whose charming effect never ceases to amaze me. There is nothing that can compare to exploring a new country and getting to know it’s ins and outs. As you discover new food, new people, beautiful architecture, and natural wonders your love for this place and traveling grows and grows.

However in this day and age, it is up to the traveler how foreign they want this experience to be. In my travels I have seen how Globalization has made every country more and more alike. American power and popular culture has managed to infiltrate its way into countries all over the world. It’s not that these influences are overpowering, but rather they are readily available for those who can’t bear to leave certain comforts of home behind.

To be a good traveler is something some people naturally possess. I am not one of these people. I am the girl, that gets pick pocketed, falls up some stairs while sight-seeing, orders the most exotic food on the menu only to find out it’s baby reindeer, all in one day. However, I have my own set of survival techniques. I am great at reading maps, and meeting new people, and I am not ashamed to say that I turn to the comforts of home (the good ol’ U S of A) when in need…the Starbucks on every corner, the cold coca cola or the golden arches all making me feel more at home.

Bonnaroo not "Bonnapoo"

Photos By: Tara Nelson

It was early May, when I made the decision to trek down to Manchester Tenessee for a music and arts festival called Bonnaroo. My preparation for the next month wasn't without the help of social media sites. On a daily basis I was reminded of the great adventure I would soon partake by sites such as youtube, facebook, and various blogs.

Bonnaroo, like many other music festivals nowadays, does everything in it’s power to get people talking. Their website, http://www.bonnaroo.com/ was a daily hit for me, right before I jumped onto facebook, became a fan of their page, browsed photos from past years, and kept up to date on musical acts. My favorite piece of online media was the Bonnaroo Zoltaroo, an online wizard that based on your musical preferences, picked the shows that you would most enjoy. I read blogs daily and watched youtube videos to contain my anticipation. I was able to talk to people who had gone in past years, ask questions and see what I was getting myself into. Throughout this process I just kept thinking, how did people ever prepare for Woodstock? It must have been a walk in the dark compared to the amount of research I was able to do.

Social media has taken “target market” to a whole new level with its ability to bombard people with ads that directly affect them. For the past five years or so, my very personal relationship with these social media sites has had more influence on me than my parents who still occasionally refer to Bonnaroo as “Bonnapoo.”