Voluntourism: sustainable vacationing.
A modern day conundrum: You want to go on holiday, but you feel bad for just lazing around for a week and you are really just harming the environment with your carbon footprint….but you reeeeally want a holiday. What do you do? Become a Volutourist. It’s a surprisingly short time ago that volunteering became so wide-spread and easily available. These days you can volunteer from one week to two years, but this is a relatively new phenomenon.... Read More
Shrinking the Distance
All too often long-distance relationships (LDRs) become a countdown to the next visit; it’s hard to avoid the feeling that all you do is wait. Don’t let a LDR become all about the distance. You’re in a relationship for a reason! And every day is an opportunity to get to know your partner a little better. So quit your pining and check out the list below of fun things to do together in a LDR. A computer, Internet access, and a web camera make... Read More
All Good Plans of Mice and (Wo)men
So here I am: At a McDonald’s outside of Gare d’Est in Paris because I have nowhere else to go, listening to a terrible rap song played on repeat over the speakers. Seriously, I think I have the lyrics memorized already: “…I see them coming from afar… they know who we are: from Kingston we come through, Kingston we come through…” For those of you who know me, I think its important to mention that at this... Read More
The Road Less Traveled
http://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/explore/libraries.aspx Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. -“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost (1874–1963) We’ve all heard this famous Robert Frost poem a thousand times, or at least at every school convocation and graduation we attend. Over the last century, this poem has been used symbolically... Read More
How to Be a Successful English Teacher – Things I Learned the Hard Way
Teaching in any country can be challenging, even without the added difficulty of a language barrier. Yet as globalization increases, the demand for English teachers internationally continues to boom literally everywhere around the world. Many English teaching positions don’t require experience or a relevant degree, and will accept any graduate of a higher education institute who is willing to give teaching a try. That said, there is a... Read More
To Train or Not to Train?
Depending on your destination, you may have no choice but to travel by rail. Some countries, like the U.S., have less convenient railways and are better suited for road-trips or air travel. But when planning a multi-destination journey around Europe, we often find ourselves debating on the preferred method of travel between countries. Do we take the scenic route (train) or the route most conducive to saving our precious, precious vacation time (plane)?... Read More
Refunds, and How to Get Them
This view could have been yours, so make sure the money is Unless you’re a pilgrim, today’s traveling woman will likely be taking a lot of flights as they jetset across the world. In a moment of boredom and reflection, I counted up how many flights I’ve taken in the past 12 months, and realized I’ve boarded 15 planes- 9 international, and 6 domestic. While I know there are many more accomplished travelers than myself out... Read More
Putting the Cheap Back into Travel (But Not in so Many Letters)
I’ve been meaning to write this post for awhile, ever since Go Girl got started last year. But the topic came to mind again a few weeks ago, when my mother asked me to help her find a cheap flight for my little sister. As I talked my mother through the process of purchasing a flight, I remembered how overwhelming the search for cheap airfare can feel. So, how can we simplify this process? Well, let’s review the basics that you’ve... Read More
Mrs. Brightside
Throughout life, there are always those moments that make you acutely aware you’re really still just a traveler. Like a true Go Girl travels the world, we all take that personal journey that may not always take us around the world but takes us to various places in our minds and personalities. For me, this reminder comes intensely this year as I realize that, in fact, I’m a senior in college. The bombardment of questions like “what... Read More
Austin Advice
Head West from the Mid-West (Photograph by Courtney Streett) So, gogirls and fellow travelers- I am headed to Austin, Texas at the end of November and am interested in getting your advice. Where do we eat? What are your favorite hot spots? Who wants to give me a tour of the city? My family is going to celebrate the wedding of my gorgeous cousin and we are making a trip out of it. Since it will be my first official visit to the ‘friends’... Read More
