Let the Countdown Begin

Another year has come and gone way too fast for me to keep up with any new year's resolutions. Let's face it, I am pretty bad at keeping them any year so instead of my new year's resolutions I wanted to talk about a couple of my favorite articles about traveling and what traveling I look forward to in 2011. Sadly, 2010 was the year of no traveling for me, so I had to read about everyone else's adventures to get me pumped for Ireland.

1. National Geographic Traveler: Maui
     this article was about a man returning to visit Maui after living there for some time and not expecting to see anything new. He ended up discovering this whole new side of Maui that he never would have seen beyond the tourist traps. It made my day to know that even if I visit the same place more than once, it will always be a different experience.

2. Exposing Cultures
    I read a blog recently that talked about the ethics of tourist visiting indigenous tribes and villages and using them as a tourism stamp of the country. it made me sad to see that some people are abusing their opportunity to see such amazing things and it made me reevaluate what I wanted to do with travel writing.

3. Not Giving Up ANYTHING
    In Around the world Lilly's blog, she talked about how she feared following her dreams to travel because it was delaying her from having a life at home with a family. She said: "Do what you love and the rest will find you." I am living by this from now on.

My favorite articles this year definitely got me excited to study abroad and made me realize I am making the right decision. As of today I have 164 days until Ireland, and I am ready for the countdown to begin! Here are a couple of things I want out of 2011 along with Ireland:

1. Alternative Breaks: I hope to do one for both Christmas break and spring break so I can see some of the U.S. more (the farthest west I have been is Colorado? what the heck!?)

2. One epic road trip: I don't know who with or where to, but I know I really want to go on one!

Happy New Year! May 2011 bring lots of adventures for everyone

V

Thank You Twitter, for Allowing Me to Stalk Even More...

These past couple of months I have become somewhat of a stalker, and to be honest I couldn't be happier about it! I think this will be the first time (maybe last) that I will admit to it so listen up. Twitter has become my new best friend because now  that I am getting the hang of it, I'm starting to find the people and places I want to follow. The first twitter profile I searched for was Lonely Planet, and I was so excited to find them! through Lonely Planet I found some awesome websites to visit to help me with my plans for Operation Ireland, and it also led me to some awesome writers like Don George and Robert Reid. Oh, did I fail to mention that Lonely Planet is following me on twitter!?! I think it is because they want to hear what is going on in the traveling world from their followers (I am sure they follow anyone who follows them), but I still feel pretty darn good about it. After Lonely Planet I decided to try to find my favorite travel personality ever: Samantha Brown. Sure enough, there her twitter page was full of travel excitement. 

After Samantha I thought I was going to take a rest, but then Twitter had to show me suggested people to follow and if you can guess I went back into stalk mode. I found two awesome travel blogs to follow (Around the world L; she does the sexiest buildings of Boston. hilarious. And Suzy Guese who has a blog that is pretty addicting). The stalking has slowed down, thank goodness, and I am thrilled with my findings. Who knew that clicking link by link I could find such awesome blogs to follow about the thing I love the most. Every time I read them I think about how close I am to making it to Ireland and having a summer that is all about travel. 

So that is what I have been up to, now for some Operation Ireland Updates:

Movie list: not completed nor have I started. Judge me if you must...

Book List: just ordered my first book to start reading titled, "McCarthy's Bar: A Journey of Discovery in Ireland"

Fundraisers/Scholarships: Now I just wait patiently.... and apply for many more

Mind set: Already packed up and ready to go!

V

Dancing in the dark

Tonight I learned the true meaning of dancing sexually with class. When I walked into the dance studio I was extremely nervous. first, I didn't wear heels even though they were required because I knew I would fall to my death and second, I haven't danced in a really long time so I felt out of place. I could tell by looking at these girls that they had confidence when they danced, I was just hoping that I could keep up with everyone. Before we learned choreography we warmed up by strutting across the floor doing freestyle moves that were a little bit more sensual than most routines. As Beyonce and JLo were playing I loosened up and got into the "dirty dancing" moves. When we finally got into choreography I was ready and willing to let go and learn some Dita Von Teese moves. The dance was a modern day burlesque routine, with a lot more jazz involved. As soon as Lady Gaga's "The Fame" came on the speaker, I knew it was going to be a blast. 

My confidence was at an extreme high when I performed the routine. Not just because I felt sexy, but because I realized how much I really do miss dance! I'm not the greatest dancer in the world, but it really does make me feel good to get out there and have fun. The routine wasn't as burlesque as I hoped it would be, but the sexiness was there in full effect. It felt great to dance without having to worry about some creeper trying to get on me and have fun with other dancers who just love to dance in any style. At one point we got so into it we dimmed the lights and performed as if we had a crowd watching. I felt like I was the center of attention even though there were seven girls right next to me. I guess that's what dancing in the dark does for you. :) Now, just for one night, I can feel as sexy as I want to feel.

I will post the video of the routine once I get it. 

V

Soundtrack of my life

So this weekend my iPod was bringing back some memories. I was listening to music that I could point out where I was at that exact moment this song was popular. I find it hilarious that our lives truly do have a soundtrack so in honor of them here are some of my soundtracks. enjoy!

Skating Ring Days:
Goo goo dolls: Iris (my first slow skate!)

Gettin Jiggy With it: Will Smith
I don't want a miss a thing: Aerosmith
Show Me Love: Robyn
Semi-charmed Life: Third Eye Blind

Texas Summer:
Any Ricky Martin Song (I swear I saw him at the hard rock cafe that summer in Dallas!)
Bills bills bills: Destiny's Child
Genie in a bottle: Christina Aguilera
Sometimes: Britney Spears
I Need To Know: Marc Antony (don't judge)



Those are my most memorable, please share some of yours!

V

The Motivation in Food

How is it possible that food can make you want to do something with your life? Today I went to Aladdin's Cafe for the first time, and I promised myself that I would eat something completely different from what I normally eat. For a drink, I had their delicious rosemary lemonade that was unreal. For my lunch I ordered the Turkish Shawarma which I chose because I have never really had the taste of curry. The whole experience was so awesome that I wanted to do it again at a different place. My co-worker who's birthday we were celebrating, ate her meal and then decided that she wanted this year to be different. She decided that she would try as many different things as she possibly can before her next birthday. Maybe she came up with that realization before her new food experience, but I can be that her food was a little boost of motivation. So as you go out to eat to a new restaurant, try something new. Taking that chance with food can lead to chances within your life too.

Happy eating!

v

What the Feck does "Suckin the Diesel" mean?

Today I have found a new obsession...Irish slang. You can say its a prep for this summer, but it has truly become one of the most addicting topics to look up. It's like another language, and like foreign language, I am so excited to learn it enough to use it! I guess that what its all about isn't it? Learning a language can't be fun unless you are planning to use it. Why force another verb tense down your throat when you know you are not going to travel or even try to practice while traveling? So I guess now I do feel sorry for those journalism majors out there who do not have any intention of leaving the United States and wish to stay inside there bubble and are forced to take a foreign language... Okay, that sounded a little mean, but I have to be honest, that is what it feels like. I'm not saying that its a bad thing, but maybe it will hit a chord with people when they want to actually choose a language.

Don't choose one just because it seems like the easiest, or its the one you think is better for a job (I can assure you, whatever it is, it's not). Look at the places that you want to visit or the culture that excites you. I made the mistake of taking Spanish in college because I thought continuing what I learned in high school would be a breeze. And don't get me wrong, I love Español, but there is one destination on  my mind that I should have considered in my foreign language: Greece. Why not learn the language of a place that I am dying to go to, and a place where I love every minute of their history? Speech aside, my new obsession with Irish slang has definitely got me "excira" and I hope it is a "gas" to someone who happens to take a "gander"...

P.S. that last sentence was in my Irish accent in case you were wondering :)

V.

Oh the Lies of Hollywood...

So after watching "P.S. I Love You", I have officially decided to watch Irish movies with some potential. Don't get me wrong, I really love that movie (Gerard Butler..sigh) but I want to see something more realistic. I have been on this Irish movie mission for so long and I finally have somewhat of a list:

1. Waking Ned Devine
2. Secret of Roan Inish
3. Matchmaker

This is what I've got so far, but along with some books, I might actually capture what Ireland is truly about besides the way Hollywood sees it.

V

Operation Ireland is a Go (10-4)

How exciting, my very first post! I am pretty excited to be documenting my attempts  to study abroad again, along with little tid bits throughout the year. One mistake I made the last time I studied abroad was that I didn't blog about it. Sure I had my little journal with me, but I was too afraid to share what I saw. I studied abroad in Spain the summer of 2009 and when I returned home I promised I would not let the next travel experience go by unwritten. I experienced so much there that I only truly expressed with myself, but now I really want to show people what I have seen.

As of now I am planning my next study abroad program to Ireland for the summer of 2011.I have officially titled it "Operation Ireland." I have thought about this program since I returned from my last trip so I have known for awhile that I was going back across the sea. I guess the process is going alright. Scholarships are at a minimum, but my savings is pretty stable. For the past couple of weeks I have been pretty stressed out about it; everything is moving so fast. From planning this trip to preparing for my senior year, everything is piling up. I am hoping that writing this all down will keep me motivated so wish me luck!

This blog will not only be documenting my Operation Ireland planning, but also the moments where I feel out of my element. I feel that when you experience and deal with being out of your comfort zone, magic happens (cheesy). Anyhow, that's how I feel and that's what I want to represent.

I realized that I don't have to be abroad to discover the world. My home has enough to see that I have yet to experience.

V