Exploring a new World
Bolivia a country that educated me to live in every situation that life has. I never thought that my life would change in a blink of an eye. Decisions changed my life, whether to...
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Lions, not Tigers, and Elephants
When people hear “Africa”, they think: poverty, wild animals, the Lion King. Initially, my brain was flooded with these same ideas, scenes of singing animals contrasting the reality of...
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Sand, Sunsets, and a Myriad of Shells… Sanibel
12:00 pm EST in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. The van is packed. We have a headcount of 6. Destination:...
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What’s Up East Coast?
My family's "What's Up East Coast?" trip starts in southern Florida - my home. I slept for probably most of the six to eight hour drive to get to just the border of Georgia so I...
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Real Rome
A taxi driver, talking quickly on his cell phone in Italian as he whizzes down the busy street, passes by the ancient Colosseum. He comes dangerously close to other vehicles. People...
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Gettysburg
In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue...oh wait, that wasn't us. But, I guess it kind of was. We started off by loading up the blue SUV for a long trek across this great land known...
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Dachau Concentration and Meditation
0900 hours. Dachau, Germany. The tour bus comes to a slow halt as I lift my head to peer outside the window. All are...
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The Mark Of A Shadow
Standing in the claustrophobic elevator, I stuffed my hand into my pocket, waiting for the doors to slide open. When they finally do, what hits me is a wave of dusty, humid air, rancid and nauseating....
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Tourist or Native? A Chinese Adoptee Returns to Hangzhou
Sipping Hangzhou’s famous Dragon Well tea from a small plastic cup, I hear the company representative through our translator, who talks of the tea’s color, texture, temperature... I turn...
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Cozumel: Island of the Swallows
Cozumel, Mexico. How to begin? Paradise. Nirvana. Heaven on earth. “Cozumel” comes from the Mayan name for it: Cuzamil, meaning “island of the swallows,”...
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Finding My Passion In Ghana, Africa
Being in Ghana, Africa was one of the best experiences I'm sure I'll ever have. I have always felt drawn to the more remote areas of Africa and...
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Getaway To Ghent For Belgium Family Fun
Ghent is the undiscovered corner of Belgium, a European destination brimming with family attractions sure to please your tweens and teens. Families touring the country will find that the capital...
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From Ashes To Admiration
My grandfather, radio receiver affixed to his ear, relayed the coordinates. Terrible and terrific, formations of B-17 “Flying Fortresses” streaked across the war torn sky...
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Family Fun in the Sun
I felt weightless as I floated there in the warm ocean water staring up into the vastly expansive electric-blue sky, which was interrupted every...
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A.M. Accomplishments in Israel
I stepped out of the Alexander Hotel onto the silent streets of a dimly lit Dizzengof Street as adrenaline coursed through my veins; the clock told me it was 2 AM in Tel Aviv,...
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Ghana, Africa
Let me start off by saying that Ghana was never on the top of my list when it came to "Places I Would Like to See". However, the experiences I had in this country were so great, so different,...
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Family Cruising in Turkey and the Greek Islands
I have just returned from a two week cruise in the south of Turkey, spending time on board a gulet rented out to me from TurkYacht boating company. It was an amazing opportunity for me and my family...
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My 2012 Summer Trip to Bangkok, Thailand!!
Ever since I was small, I had always travelled back to Thailand every summer. My parents wanted to keep the culture in me as a Thai person and they wanted me to always keep in...
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Breathing this Blissful Air
After the continuous 15-hour drive of driving across the destined states with my family we were finally eligible of having our toes sink into the balmy conditioned ocean water from Orlando, Florida....
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Families Come Together at Disneyland
Who doesn't enjoy a family trip to Disneyland? It really is a magical place of its own that can make you forget everything! It being my first time, it lifted my pessimism and reminded me of that old...
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“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” -Matthew 25:40
It was an early July morning as I groggily stumbled out of bed to head to the Charleston airport. My Mom and I waited for the rest of our church’s teen ministry to arrive so we could depart for Miami,...
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The Trip That Inspired My Future
As I stared at the teary eyed girls in front of me and fought back mine as well, I realized why I was so upset. I felt as though I'd known them for years even though it was just a few days. The...
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Disney World is for Teenagers Too
Theme park success is a combination of careful planning, good map reading skills, quality of theme park, and flexibility. Oh, and patience! And as cliché as it is, I think Disney World in...
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No Problem: The Motto of Jamaica
Jamaica is often associated with Bob Marley, "herbal medication", Usain Bolt, and perhaps the phrase "Yeah mon," however the most apt description is simply paradise. Jamaica's tropical climate, white...
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The World Outside
The whole world looks to California as the land of sunshine, surfing and movie stars. I will admit that, as a first time visitor to the "Golden State" and only 15, these were my expectations,...
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From Tourist to Traveler
Spring break is a time to get away from the drama of high school. A time to escape the catty girls or rowdy boys and relax for seven peaceful school-free days. When the opportunity arose to...
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Save Me, San Francisco
How did my family decide to travel to San Francisco in the summer of 2011? Did we make a list of all the interesting places we wanted to see and discuss the numerous possibilities? No,...
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How Alaska Led Me to Realizing My “Great Perhaps”
Being a California native, there are certain aspects of life that I have naturally become accustomed to warm air, crowded roads, and the undeniable urge to sing “California Gurls”...
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Metropolis Memoir
As I was growing up in rural and suburban Western New York, New York City seemed to be a symbol of the things that were largely inaccessible to me in the small town where...
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Finding Rest in the City That Never Sleeps
It was day three on our jam packed New York trip, and our out of shape Mississippi bodies were starting to feel the strain of walking, walking, walking. The heat was getting to me through my jacket;...
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A Week with Bugs, Critters, and Horse Poop!
My nose wrinkled at the stench of sweat and horse poop. The magnificent creatures I saw on TV and in magazines was NOTHING like the gigantic, smelly beasts I encountered on my first day volunteering...
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The Awakening
I was thrown into another world as my family and I rode in a fuel sucking tourist bus on our way to an all-inclusive resort in Puerta Aventuras, Mexico. The harsh reality I was forced to face through...
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Visiting Vietnam Once Again
I woke up, feeling a bit tired and a bit hungry. The Captain announced the passenger on board to get ready to leave. I got up and regroup with my family. We later took our first step outside the...
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A Jungle Adventure in Costa Rica
My mom loves to travel, and because of her I have had many great experiences. We have traveled all over the world, but my best vacation memories come from a family trip to Costa Rica we took in 2008. We...
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The Experience of a New World… The Ultimate Reality!
My travels to Kolkata, India with 14 other friends and teachers from my school opened my eyes to what most of the world lives like. I now realize how truly blessed I am! I have also learned...
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Once Upon A Stormy Sea…
In the summer of 2010, the Andrews family embarked upon a journey meant to be a relaxing vacation at Mustang Island. The hotel was booked, our bags packed, and the car ready for the four hour drive...
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Mad in Macau
At the end of June, my family enjoyed a two-day trip to Macau, a country previously occupie by Portugal but now stands onit's own as a special administrative region of China....
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Bad Königshofen
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” This is a quote I strongly believe in. Every time a travel...
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Reunited on a Walk Around the World
My sister, Jen, had migrated towards the East, moving from our growing town in Texas to the tourist streets of Orlando, Florida. She worked as an employee in the college program Disney hosts, allowing...
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From Russia with Love: A Colorful Experience
“Goodbye U.S.A. Privet Russia” was the Facebook status that I posted as I was boarding Flight Number 611 going to Austria with a...
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Europe 2012
My name is Bryan Gray and on behalf of the People to People Student Ambassador Program I would like to share my experience traveling to another country. People to People...
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Destination Unknown
When I first heard I would be going to Panama to see my family, I have to admit I was worried. My mom often talked about her Panamanian cousins and the fun times they had...
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YOLO…in London
YOLO…it’s an acronym meaning “you only live once.” When my school announced a trip to Europe which would include 4 days in London, England, my friends and I knew this...
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Taking Over Europe, One Country At A Time (Austria, Italy, France)
This summer I was given the chance to tour Vienna, Austria, Salzburg, Austria, Innsbruck, Austria,...
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Mahalo Hawaii
This year I was fortunate to make the Mississippi All-State Lions Band, a band comprised of members all over the state to practice for a week and then travel and perform. This year the destination...
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