New York City Tourist Shunners
June 13, 2012 We darted into the banal Queensborough Plaza S ubway station today, a block away from our Comfort Inn...
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Just a Dream
It all felt surreal. The light breeze that hit my face, the smiles and laughter that came out of me and my little sister Brieanna, it was almost like I was watching from the clouds, because the high...
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Azerbaijan: My Cultural Wake-Up Call
Sweat creeps up my shirt as my lungs fill with smoke, waiting to get through customs at the Baku International Airport. Foreign words bombard my ears and an old man translates the question, “Do...
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The Ties of Tradition
It was just past eight o’clock, and night had fallen in Tokyo. Groups of people aged everywhere...
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Life Is Not a Tourist Attraction
Some people travel the world so they can cross the sites of their bucket list. Leaning Tower of Pisa? Check. Statue of Liberty? Check. I guess I’m not like most people, though, because I’d...
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Taking a Bite Out of the Big Apple
I now understand why people go to New York to try to fulfill their dreams. New York just has that special “it”...
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Small Fish in a Big Sea
It had been a long flight out to the Cayman Islands; however, the sight of the ocean and the prospective snorkeling trips filled my heart with excitement. I knew my family felt the same way because...
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Learning to Sail on Puget Sound
Just over a week ago, I went on my third annual visit to my best friend. A few years ago, her family moved to Port Townsend, Washington. It's been hard not having her just down the...
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Journeying in Jamaica: A trip of a Lifetime
One of the most rewarding experiences I have encountered in my life was when I traveled with...
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What Remains the Same
Dusty street carts bustled along the sidewalk, passing various clothing and grocery vendors who lined the streets with umbrellas and blankets covered with fruits, vegetables and trinkets. Lao...
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Different, But in a Good Way
We arrived in Italy on Saturday, April 7th. After over twelve hours of travel, getting yelled at by a German lady, and a bad case of jetlag, nothing felt better than walking outside and being...
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My Expierences of the Rocky Mountain Colorado
I sit in my living room finding myself staring at the glistening lights of our deep green Christmas tree daydreaming of how my first trip to Colorado will be like. My mother and I took our flight...
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Masiphumelele
As we walked across the taxi parking lot, the hosts of our bed and breakfast introduced us the woman who would be giving us the walking tour of their township. She was a bigger woman, with thick,...
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It’s Not Just Paradise It’s Heaven on Earth
Whoever said Hawaii was paradise was an understatement. Hawaii is more than just paradise it’s practically heaven on earth. With picturesque beaches and gorgeous sights the island of Maui is...
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San Miguel Jalisco Scholarship Antonio Cruz
I was born in the small town of San Miguel, Jalisco in Mexico, and moved to the United States when I was six. As a kid I never knew there was any place better than the small town I lived in. When...
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Pura Vida
When American teenagers imagine their perfect summer, they usually incorporate, waking up at odd hours of the afternoon, playing video games, hanging out with friends, and mostly doing nothing. However,...
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Swaziland: The People
Swaziland. A small country in southern Africa facing big problems. Swaziland has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in the world. Some 200,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS out of a population that...
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Unexpected Discoveries
July 17, 2012 I live in South Dakota. Rural South Dakota to be specific. Big cities are not really my thing, and never have been. When my parents told me that they wanted to take a family...
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Looking through different eyes: the world and how it is perceived differently
Sweat pours down the faces and backs of the volunteers. Our arms are sore, our lips are parched but we continue to nail, sand and paint the pews. We are renovating two churches: Our Lady of Guadeloupe...
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A Mission Trip in Downtown Atlanta
My mom and I found out about the organization Church on the Street from a member of our church who had done mission work in Atlanta recently. He began planning an all church mission trip to work...
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Finding Shangri-La
We were just a few tourists heading into the heart of Xianggelila in China, hoping to catch a glimpse of mao niu, or hairy cow (yak). The many rice paddies and crumbling stone...
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Road trip with grandma, making memories that will last a lifetime!
Traveling is an amazing experience. I had no idea that this mini vacation could have such an impact on my life. A simple trip to Omaha, NE and Council Bluffs, IA was perfect get away for me and my...
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The Secret Side of Paradise
When you hear the word paradise, you probably think of a place with clear green sea water, palm trees, beautiful blue sky, and soothing soft sand...
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Viz-whaaaat?!?
Hello travelers!! I'm excited to tell you all about the wonderful trip my family took to Miami and the Florida Keys this summer! This vacation...
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Mountains, Waterfalls and Goats on the Roof
It took tons of research, convincing and finger-crossing to get my parents to take me on the vacation I'd always wanted: a roadtrip to some mountains and waterfalls. Regular visits to the...
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A Check Off the Bucket List
When I think of Barcelona, I can feel it. I can feel the rush of the subway as it passes by and I can feel the wind through my hair as I'm standing on the roof of...
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My Travels
In the beginning of August of 2010, my family and I went to Florida for a week on vacation. This would be our last family vacation...
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Lost Abroad
At 17 years old, I believe myself to be very globally conscious-I desire to make a difference in the world, primarily through creating a system that will help those in poverty live in harmony with...
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My Grandparents’ Soil Where My Heart Finds a Place
Having emigrated as a tiny baby from the small country of Belarus whose inhabitant amount hardly exceeds nine million, I was...
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