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