Escape to the Country
Ah, the countryside! It was a very welcome relief to get away from noisy and dirty city to the wide-open spaces of rural Morocco. However, after spending last week with a family in the countryside of Morocco, I must say that everyone lives in a different way, and some ways are more different than others. As I walked down the long road to my new home with the my new homestay father that first day, I felt at home in the open spaces and beauty around... Read More
A Crash Course in City Savoir Faire
I’d never lived in a city before moving here to Paris a month ago, eager to take up a kind friend on the offer of a few months in the spare room of his apartment near Place de la République. Since I turned 16, when I made my first trip abroad with a group of other high school students, I’ve traveled through a lot of cities. I’ve passed through London and Istanbul and Sydney, among a host of others, spending a week here or a few days there,... Read More
Out of Breath
We arrived five hours later than we thought we would in Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal. Those five hours spent waiting on the train, with no update from anyone except the Indian tour guide leading a giggling group of enthusiastic Japanese tourists, were painful. I knew that the carrot on the end of the stick was well worth it, but I could not help feeling frustrated. The day before, we met a slightly crazed American film artist traveling in Sarnath... Read More
Delhi Extremes
Delhi Wires The New Delhi train station is not exactly the most lively locale at five in the morning. And the journey there from the airport wasn’t exactly what one might consider a warm welcome to the country, but my expectations for India were high. Our pre-paid, ‘low hassle’ cab driver allowed a gentleman to enter the car who after figuring out what country we were from, started in on trying to convince us that he could get... Read More
Trust and Traveling: Enter Vietnam
By Lillie Catch more of her travels at http://www.aroundtheworldl.com“One dollar only to Pham ngo Lao,” the taxi driver said, holding open the taxi door. The blazing lights of Ho Chi Minh City ricocheted off the insane 9pm traffic next to the bus station, and I felt dizzy. “Perfect,” I moaned, staggering into the seat and pulling my backpack behind me. “I am so glad to be off that bus!” I cried, leaning against... Read More
To Portugal
By Beth It’s about 8:30am and it’s still quite dark. It’s also absolutely freezing. Here I am, laying in bed. I am wearing: Two tank tops, a short-sleeved shirt, a long-sleeved shirt and a sweater; as well as two layers of pants, socks and slippers. And I have…six heavy blankets on top of me.You guessed it (or maybe you didn’t, but I’ll tell you anyway): it’s winter in Portugal, I’m in a very... Read More
Get Yourself a Girlfriend, or Two (Part 2)!
By AJ Last month, I focused on the parts of male culture that I saw in South Africa that promoted infidelity and having multiple girlfriends, or cherries (http://letsgogirl.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/get-yourself-a-girlfriend-or-two/). There is more to the story though. The pressure doesn’t just come from other guys, but from some girls too. Now most women who have traveled abroad will probably have experienced some of the unwanted... Read More
Culturally Illiterate
By Beth I set my notebook down on the table in front of the teachers. Today is our day to review the computer program that we have developed, to look at basic computer troubleshooting, and to think about the classes that will pick up after Christmas break. It is Friday, which is when we usually meet up and plan our lessons. It is also my last week in São Tomé e Príncipe and I am trying to leave my teachers self-sufficient, so that they don’t... Read More
