This is my open letter to you hostel owners so you can create an even better environment for backpackers and make traveling even better.
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London has been a major draw for tourists in Europe for just about ever, and with good reason: around every corner you will find history and culture. Most people will check out Soho, Westminster with it’s Abbey and parliament and literary Bloomsbury. They’ll probably stay in posh west end hotels or small inns in central London, soaking up the historical feel. There’s another side to London though, a fast growing and quick moving modern side that merits exploration too.
Michael: Welcome to Travel Talk with Michael and Stephanie. I’m Michael Tieso. I’m from ArtofBackpacking.com. I’ve traveled for the last two and a half years. I have been throughout Asia, Australia, and South America. Stephanie: And I’m Stephanie Yoder. I run Twenty-SomethingTravel.com. I’ve been traveling on and off for the last five years, and [...]
Today is the day; the day you will walk into the classroom not as a student, but as a teacher. You palms are probably sweaty and your mind probably racing with a million thoughts about what could go wrong; Will the kids cry? Will I forget the vocabulary? Do I have all my materials? What if I don’t know what to do next? I want to tell you that all of the above will happen, but trust me, it’s all part of the experience and you will look back on those nerve-wracking moments fondly.
On paper my life was perfect. I made $85,000 in 2009 despite barely turning 25, I paid very little rent to live in a million dollar condo my friend’s parents owned, I could vacation anywhere in the world I wanted to (and did), I was making new friends, and I had virtually no responsibilities. But that was only on paper. In reality I was miserable.
The Philippine cuisine is as colorful as its history. It’s a fusion of the native and several foreign influences including Chinese, Malay, Arab, Spanish, and American. According to food historians, 80 percent of the dishes are of Spanish origin—thanks to the almost 400-year rule of Spain in the country. Filipino dishes are combination of flavors—sweet, sour, and salty—that are remarkably pleasing to the taste buds.
A look at Caye Caulker’s channel, known as “The Split” that draws in locals and tourists alike with its laid back charm.
Although it’s not a large country, Jordan is rich in both its history and culture. As I learned traveling around this exciting country, food is at the center of everything. Luckily for the budget traveler, there are plenty of inexpensive and delicious foods that will satisfy any appetite.
So, you’re a first-time English teacher, fresh off your TEFL course and you walk into a classroom in an Asian country feeling nervous, anxious and excited to teach your first kindergarten class and suddenly, a couple kids start crying and the others stare at you with fear in their eyes. What could possibly make them have such a strong reaction to your presence? Well, aside from being young and missing their parents, there is one other important thing that is out of your control, your appearance. It’s not your hairstyle, or the clothes you’re wearing either, it’s the color of your skin, the color of your hair, the shape of your body and of course, those weird sounds you make when you speak.
Africa. Just saying the name puts a massive smile on my face.
One of the reasons I love Africa so much is that the names of all the places I’ve been to there sound so phonetically pleasing…stick with me on this one folks. All the places I’ve spent time in either end in an ‘ooooh’ ‘aaaaaahhh’ or ‘eeeeeee’ which makes me smile just saying them; Kenya (ahhhhh) Nairobi (eeeeee) Kembu (oooooh) Uganda (you get the picture)… Leeds, the city I live in, just doesn’t have the same ring to it…sad face.
I’ve been to East Africa three times so far and hope to go back time and time again. Two of those visits were spent teaching English in local schools, in classrooms consisting of me, wooden desks and at least 40 amazing children…quite a challenge, but one I can’t wait to do again.
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