Featured Traveler: Hannah Collins

Hannah at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. 

Hannah Collins has been making her mark on the world for quite some time. She has deep roots in Ireland, with a ton family originating and living there today.  At the age of 16, through an organization called People to People Student Ambassadors, Hannah did a tour of the UK. She visited England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. During high school, Hannah also did a ten day tour of Italy. Recently, this past Fall 2013 semester at her University, Hannah studied abroad in London, England. Overall she's been to England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy. 

Hannah sharing cultural experience with friends! In Ireland!

Hannah is a Junior Communication Studies Major at James Madison University with a concentration in Public Relations. She is already a very experienced world traveler with a cultural family history. 

Even with such cultural experience, Hannah chose the study abroad program through her University because she wanted to know what it was like to actually live abroad; not just to vacation or visit. She also wanted to experience the new cultures for a more extended period of time. 

Her favorite place out of all the destinations she has visited so far is London, England. She loved the city environment, and all the opportunity that came with it. She stated, "You never had to worry about being bored. I miss it every day!"

While traveling abroad, Hannah had many fun and interesting experiences, but the top one had to be camping out at Oktoberfest. While in Munich, Germany, for the event, Hannah and her peers camped out in an actual tent at a campsite just a bus ride away from the festivities. It was an experience in itself. 

If Hannah could pick any destination to fly to next, it would have to be Greece. If given the chance, that will definitely be added to her list of places traveled. 

Hannah highly recommends traveling to people of all ages. It's an even better experience if you have a chance to bring friends, family, or both! The experience of traveling the world is even better when you have people to share them with. 

Take in Hannah's advice, research a study abroad or student ambassador program, or simply plan a vacation. Take an opportunity to ready, set, roam! 

Featured Traveler: Kaitlyn Allen

Kaitlyn in Paris, France by the Eiffel Tower

Germany, France, and Holland. These are the locations that Kaitlyn Allen, a Senior Geology student at James Madison University, got a chance to explore when given the opportunity to study abroad. 

Which destination was her favorite? Kaitlyn states, "I'm still trying to decide on that, it's definitely between München or Munich, Germany and Paris, France. They were both so beautiful!" 

Kaitlyn had a lot of cool experiences when abroad with JMU's Summer Abroad in Germany. At the time she was an Engineering major, and the program was through JMU's Integrated Sciences and Technology department. It was the summer after her sophomore year. 

Beer Bike in Saarbrucken, Germany

That summer, a few of Kaitlyn's favorite memories were getting a chance to take a spin on the German beer bike, eating in a restaurant inside of the Eiffel Tower and then going to the top, and climbing a wind turbine. 

Kaitlyn getting ready to climb the wind turbine in Germany

The beer bike was in Saarbrucken, Germany. It is a bike equipped to fit up to 16 people depending on the bike model, has a round-table made of wood, includes a dispensing system, and has unbreakable plastic glasses and beer bike mug. The ADFC (German Bicycle Club), officially approves of the bike for transportation on the road. 

During the study in Germany, Kaitlyn's class visited a wind turbine. It was the first gear-less turbine, and they had a chance to meet it's inventor. When climbing to the top, Kaitlyn stuck her head out and had a chance to see a rainbow from new heights. 

This study abroad experience had such a positive effect on Kaitlyn that she plans on doing a Summer Abroad in Ireland this summer. She switched to Geology for her major, and they require a field camp experience. What better way to get that geologic field camp experience then abroad in Europe? 

If Kaitlyn had to pick any other destinations to add to her growing list, she'd definitely go with England, Scotland, Italy, Poland, Australia, and New Zealand. Study Abroad through her University has given her many chances to explore the world and grow culturally. Kaitlyn Allen has been the epitome of the phrase, "Ready, Set, Roam!" 

Featured Traveler: Morgan Larcara

While her peers were lounging on a beach or relaxing at home, Morgan spent her spring break in a completely different way.  With only a backpack for luggage, Morgan, along with other students, traveled to Nicaragua!  She was able to help the local orphanage in their daily activities as well as provide a special experience for the children!  Read about Morgan's experience through her own words in the next paragraph!

"We got to spend the week working with the kids at the local orphanage and at a feeding center. It was so amazing to see that these kids had so little but were still so happy with their lives. While we were there we spent a lot of time just loving on them and taking them places they normally wouldn't visit like the beach, a playground, and a restaurant! It was so awesome to spend the the whole week with the same kids because we really got to connect with them and build those relationships. I was even able to sit in on a English lesson and help teach some of the niños some english. At the feeding center we taught the kids several lessons on nutrition, hygiene, and just over all taking care of themselves. It was a blast to get to play with them everyday!"

Service travel also opens the world to you in ways that you would not normally have.  One of the aspects that Morgan was most affected by was gaining a new prospective!

"Traveling for the purpose of doing service is a great way to get a new prospective on things. It has helped me realize that the little things that go wrong in my life aren't wroth complaining about because things could be a lot harder. It also helps me think about my daily habits. After my experience in Nicaragua it really bothers me when food is wasted and I now stop myself and think if I need to be consuming as much as I do per day."

Money is obviously a significant problem for young people when they want to travel.  However, by going on a service trip, you have the opportunity to fundraise and be sponsored! Some of the travelers in Morgan's group were even able to get their entire trip funded!

So if you are looking for a fulfilling experience, and amazing journey and a way to make a difference (all for a decreased price), service travel may be just right for you!

Check out the video below from Morgan's trip!  The children are adorable and the country is beautiful!

Featured Traveler: KC Hoffman

 The travel bug is biting as we are cooped up in school waiting for summer, and planning a trip may be getting difficult because of low funds from spring break, or that summer internship using up your free time. What college students are overlooking are the possible trips you can take close to home! KC Hoffman proves that adventures are nearer to us than we think.

From spelunking, to paragliding, to dogsled riding, KC has found unceasing adventure right in our own backyard.  By the time she was 15 KC and her family had been to all 50 states.

As a teacher, her mother was determined to tie in education with travel whether it was a museum, a history lesson in the car or a national park.

 However, KC says that “with every museum there was a theme park to go with it”.

 Each piece of history led to a new off-the-wall activity inspired by each state including driving hours to look at the Four Corners, a detour to see a prairie dog statue in Kansas, shooting AK47s in the desert of New Mexico as well as many more.

Adventure is instilled in KC by these trips and they have helped her conquer her fear of heights, to be more daring and try new things. She recently went camping on the first time on the Appalachian Trail! After college, she plans to get in the car and see what she stumbles upon.  Her tip for all travelers is to explore the culture that is around you and to always ask the locals what there is to do.

Featured Traveler: Allison Wolf

Allison in Paris, France with the Eiffel Tower.

"If I could, I would just travel for the rest of my life." This quote comes from my good friend, Allison Wolf. Allison is one of the most traveled college students that I know. From Beijing to the Cayman Islands to Italy to Canada, she has had her fair share of traveling the world. Most of her travel has been with her family, however she also studied abroad in Rome during spring 2013. Allison is a spontaneous, curious and optimistic young adult that is willing to always try something new and expand her world knowledge. Allison and I recently sat down and talked about her travel experiences and memories. 

What was your favorite trip?

• Costa Rica was amazing and one of my favorite trips I have ever been on. The wildlife and plant life was overwhelming and so much fun. We did many fun activities, but one of my most vivid memories is meeting one of the locals. While there, we did an ATV tour. When we were about half way through we stopped to get a snack. We stopped in a local house where the family ran a small store. Looking at what I am used to, I had trouble imagining spending one night there, much less living there. It had dirt for the floor, walls were just from things being piled up. There were wires exposed and going all over the house. They had many animals and young kids. I saw a girl no more than five using a machete to just simply cut a piece of fruit. What struck me the most though is that they were so happy and friendly. They wanted to offer us the items they sold at the store and welcomed us into their home. I found that to be so endearing and really speak about the people in that region.

What was your study abroad experience like?

• I studied abroad in Rome Spring of 2013. I lived in an apartment with 5 other girls in my program that I have never met before. We were in Monteverde which is a little outside the city center. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences.

Things I liked:

1. The scenery! There is so much history and beauty within Rome. My favorite monument is still the coliseum! I went back multiple times and it is so incredible. I feel like when you stand in it you can just see the history and everything that happened there. Another favorite place was Villa Borghese, which is a huge park. It has a beautiful pond, and you can rent bikes and ride around.  When the weather got warm, that was a wonderful adventure.
2. The Food/Wine! One of the coolest things I still tell people about is the pizza places. When you go into a “bar” (not what Americans are thinking) they always had a huge array of pizza. There is potato pizza, shrimp pizza, plain bread pizza, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. Another great thing about Rome was that the restaurants were all amazing. You definitely cannot judge a book by it’s cover because the most hole in the wall place would have the most amazing food. It was always fun to go off the beaten path and just find a new little spot.

Things I didn’t like:

1. The transportation: Rome’s public transportation is absolutely horrible. The trains/trams/subway work well, but the problem is there are only two subway lines and they only stay within the very center of Rome. They only go on certain paths and are not always available. The primary form of public transportation is the bus system. The buses did not have a schedule and it would not be uncommon to wait 40 minutes for a bus with no idea when or if it would come. Overall, the transportation is impossible to manage and not easy to use or plan around. 

You traveled around Asia last year, tell me about some countries you visited. 

Tokyo: This was my first stop in the Asian tour I took last summer. It was shocking how truly respective the culture was. People never crossed the street until the light turned even if it was completely clear. While I was there, we went to have an authentic meditation and tea ceremony with a monk, and had lessons in a classic drum that they use. It was really incredible to learn and get lessons in the Japanese culture. I was really surprised how many similarities I found with the US.

 Hong Kong: While I am still not sure whether I should consider this it’s own country or part of China, Hong Kong was definitely one of the coolest cities I have ever been to. It is so technologically advanced and has incredibly unique architecture. The people are so proud to be from Hong Kong. What I remember the most is just all the technology and capitalism. In Hong Kong they have cards similar to that of a credit card that holds all their medical information. They can just carry these around with them in case of an accident or medical emergency. Another thing that was pointed out to me was that there were three major bridges connecting two parts of the country. They were all owned privately. This means that the tolls were not monitored by the government, but based on supply and demand. If one bridge raises the toll, everyone can just go to one of the other ones. Hong Kong was like no place I have ever been, and I enjoyed seeing such a well functioning society with great use of technology.

Vietnam/Thailand: I wanted to put in that the most genuinely nice people I have ever met were in Vietnam and Thailand. In Japan they were polite, but the people here were so incredible genuine and wonderful. In Chang Mai, Thailand we worked with elephant trainers and got to ride, bath, train, and even paint with elephants. They are so incredibly talented, and the trainers were so nice and helpful. We also got to pet/cuddle with tigers. That was crazy. In De Nang, Vietnam, we went to wonderful beaches. It was such a beautiful country. We did traditional fishing by throwing nets off of a small boat and saw how a traditional farm was run. It was cool to get to see how locals make their livings. Both of these countries were amazing to visit, and two of my favorite places I have ever been! 

If you could travel anywhere else in the world, where would you go?

• Everywhere! No, really, if I could I would just travel for the rest of my life, but since that is unrealistic, my next adventure is to South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana. I am pretty much willing to go anywhere, so as opportunities come along, I am going to take as many as I can! 

Allison with a tiger

Featured Traveler: Katie Hinnenkamp

Visiting over 10 cities in Italy, Katie Hinnenkamp has been all over the map of Italy. During her 2013 spring semester, Katie studied abroad through a program offered by her university in Florence, Italy.

Over the four month period, Katie took advantage of weekend opportunities to travel around. Her travels were heavily focused in Italy, but Katie also visited France, Spain, England, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic! Of all the cities and countries Katie visited during her study abroad program, she shared with me that her favorite place was Prague. Katie also shared with me that her favorite memory abroad was sword fighting with French baguettes in front of the Eiffel Tower!

In terms of advice, Katie said, "Definitely study abroad! It is true when people say it is the best time of your life! You will never have an opportunity like this again. Take advantage of everything study abroad has to offer, it is an eye opening experience."

Looking into the future, Katie hopes Ireland is the next stop in her travel adventures!

Featured Traveler: Emily Diamond

Emily in Stratford-Upon-Avon at Anne Hathaway's Cottage. 

London, Bath, and Stratford, England; Amsterdam in the Netherlands; Edinburgh, Scotland; Paris, France; Dublin, Ireland; California and Florida. 

Emily has explored them all. She is in the school of Media Arts and Design at her University and a Writing and Rhetoric major. Along with her two majors, she has a minor in British Media and Communications. She is also a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national, coeducational service fraternity. Not only is she well rounded in her education, but she is well traveled for someone so young.

For her Fall Semester in 2013, she spent three months in London, England. She used that opportunity to explore other parts of Europe, and to complete 15 class credits including an internship. 

Her internship was with a British company called Know Your Mobile, where she worked as a junior staff writer for their technology review company. She achieved the honor of making her universities dean's list, but still managed to have a lot of fun on the side of her studies. 

Emily at the top of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland!

One of her favorite things from being abroad was the fact that she wore her favorite pair of brown boots in all five countries she visited abroad. She's definitely keeping those sweet kicks. Emily also hiked to the top of Arthur's Seat while in Edinburgh, Scotland, although she ditched the boots for that one. 

She definitely made the most of her time abroad, exploring different countries, broadening her education and work experience, and even a taste for unique cuisine. While in Paris, France, Emily sampled some escargot, and actually enjoyed it. She quotes, "They were actually really yummy!" I can vouch for this, because I witnessed the event. 

Me and Emily at the Harry Potter Studios Tour in England. 

Emily was my wonderful roommate, and of course I was her other favorite part of being abroad...right Emily? That's why even after all her world travel, London will remain her favorite. She recommends traveling there or anywhere. In her opinion, "I think a semester abroad is the BEST thing anyone could ever do!"

Emily couldn't be more correct, so go and look up your universities' study abroad info, it's the best thing you could do! 

Around the World with Selfie Steve!

Stay tuned for an interview about of all the exotic places Steve has been, and the inspiration of documenting his travels through selfies!

In less than five months "Selfie Steve" traveled to 16 countries! 

Featured Traveler: Alexis Keene

Seattle, Nashville, Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, New York.

These are just a few of the cities that Alexis has been to. Although she has only been as far out of the country as Mexico, she wants to remind young travelers that the United States is not underrated for travel and can give you the same amazing experiences. Your travel adventure can be as close as 200 miles instead of 2,000 miles.  Because of the diversity of the United States, there is something for everyone! 

Lexie has been extremely interested in music and the music industry and has based her travel around this. From visiting Nashville (where she will be living this summer)  and the Grand Ol Oprey and Country Music Hall of Fame to attending and singing at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas to auditioning for The Voice in New York City, Lexie has tailored her travel experience to fit her needs and her amazing music career!  

So what's next for Lexie? She wants to visit all of the major cities in the United States with her next stop being Boston and eventually go on a cross-country road trip.  With so many amazing and unique places to visit in our own country, why not see them all?

She also has some important advice for young travelers!

1. BE PREPARED

She cannot emphasize this enough. Plan for the unexpected (layovers, lost bags, traffic, etc.) and your trip will be much more enjoyable!

      2.  Never check bags

Not checking bags on airplanes ensures that you will not have any lost luggage and will help you go through the flying process quicker! For toiletries, bring multiple travel sized bottles! There is a 2 oz maximum, but no maximum on how many 2 oz bottles you can have! Airplanes allow you to check a bag and have a carry-on! And with concise packing, you should have no problems getting all of your travel necessities into a small duffel and backpack!

     3.  Always carry cash!

Do not simply rely on Credit and Debit cards. Lexie has had the embarrassing experience of her Credit Cards not working while not having any cash and warns travelers about not making this mistake! Not all places take cards and having cash on you can help your journey run much more smoothly!

So for those travelers who aren't ready to leave the country, traveling within the United States is a cost-effective and amazing experience! Do not underestimate what is in your backyard and the  journey that you can have.    Use this country to follow your dreams and do what you love, and you never know where it can take you. 

Featured Traveler: Sophia Hamade

Originating from New Jersey, Sophia Hamade has ventured to Lebanon many times to visit family, and has acquired new cultural acceptance along the way. Because there are no direct flights to Lebanon, other pit stops were necessary. Many family trips were had in France, the Swiss Alps, and Egypt.

Sophia’s childhood experience in the Lebanon opened her eyes to looking beyond her culture, to one where people dress, interact, and live differently. However, in this difference she has found warmth, and a new depth of her knowledge of the World. Experiencing a culture not commonly flocked with American travelers, she has learned that individuals care about individuals not where they are from, and that being different is “cool”.

Outside of Lebanon, Sophia has felt awe in front of the Egyptian pyramids, been underwhelmed in France, and tackled her fears by going to the top of the Swiss Alps. The next travel plan is to study abroad in Spain, but she sets her sights on her dream of Australia.

Sophia’s travel tip is to research where you are going! You need to check what is acceptable to wear, how to act and be respectful. Attempting to learn the language and trying a couple phrases will take you a long way and is appreciated by the people who live there.