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: 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!