EF Tours provided more than just an Italian tour for my family and I
Through the international travel foundation, EF Tours, I visited Italy this past summer for 12 days with my family and a group of over 30 from places such as North Carolina, New Jersey, and Michigan. ...
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Texas, My Own Personal Paradise
On July 5th I had the pleasure of waking up at 3:00am to get to a 5:15am flight. And since it was the 4th of July the night before you can imagine how well that went. When me, my...
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Big City, Big Dreams
For most kids in my school, spring break means a warm, sunny week at the beach, but my sophomore year, it...
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East Meets West
When I first arrived, I was cranky, exhausted, and annoyed. All I wanted to do was sprawl on a bed and sleep. Jet lag was not working well with me. On top of that, it took us forever to try and find...
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Grazie Scotland
After eight hours of sitting in a cramped space we arrived in London. As we crawled through security, I thought of Europe’s promises: meeting my family from different parts of the world, exploring...
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Snorkeling at Molokini Crater
The sun shimmered through the crystal waters of Molokini Crater. I floated on my back in peaceful bliss. My dad, brother...
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Bear With Me: A Brief Blog about a Brief Adventure
Living in arguably one of the most popular cities in Southern California, one might think that Palm Springs natives would jump at every single opportunity to soak up the sun during the summer.
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The Adventure Begins Here
When people think of Mexico violence and poverty may come to mind. When I think of Mexico adventure and culture pop into my head. My recent trip there, I went with a friend of mine....
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Road Trip on the North Shore
Nearly every year that my family has lived in Minnesota, we have visited the North Shore of Lake Superior. Each time we drive...
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White Water Rafting Gone Wrong
This past summer my extended family and I took a trip to the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area. It was expected to be...
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Hello Serengeti, I’m Here At Last: Learning to Look Beyond Life in Kenya
As a child, I entertained a foolish fantasy of visiting Africa. I believed it to be, most importantly, the land where my favorite silver screen character,...
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Galveston Island
The sun's rays reflected off the water's surface giving the ocean a bright shimmer of gold. I peered out the car window at the blur of sea as we drove passed it. Gliding boats of all shapes...
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Enjoy the Journey
Millions upon millions of sightseers and thrill seekers flock to Arizona to view the Grand Canyon every year; but for my family and me, the journey is what counted. A few years ago, we planned a...
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Snorkels With Sharks
It was midnight, but it was far from dark. I rested my head against the glass and tried to sleep. No. I was too excited. I stared out of the tiny window and the quiet wonder of city lights took hold...
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Solitude
A chill wind, a towering band of mountains, a light snowfall, the distinct scent of lush green pines, maybe a curious bear in the tree line if you’re lucky. These are among the first things that...
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Exploring a New Paradise
From a small aircraft, the beauty of the Abacos was nothing less than breathtaking. Nearly 12,000 feet above the earth’s surface, one could see white sand basking in the ever-present...
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My Trip with Fear
, 2012 when I went on my first escapade to a land filled with intricate, intimidating machines. Its loud swirling noise traumatized even the screeching sounds of butterflies fluttering in the inner...
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The Best Birthday Ever in the Dominican Republic!
What a trip! What a Journey! The Dominican Republic is certainly an interesting place to go on vacation. One of my best friends since third grade invited me on yet another one of her amazing summer...
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my trip to poland
When my girlfriend and I went to visit her family in Poland, we traveled to many different places but the one in particular I enjoyed the most was Sopot. Instead of driving there by car, we got bus...
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My Newfound Sentiment
Israel is a blossoming new country in the Middle East, but ancient tensions plague the area. These tensions often spill over into modern news. The fighting paired with footage of old buildings made...
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A Lesson in Leadership
Gunfire rains down on you from every direction. A sheer cliff looms in front of you, mocking your seemingly futile efforts to climb it. Pre-dawn ocean waves crash against your boots. Your comrades...
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Chipped Reeds
I sat as first chair in the Honors Band, ready to play an unbelievably difficult saxophone solo. Well, that’s what I visualized in my head at least, but things didn’t turn out exactly...
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Island Enlightenment
In February, I went on a three day cruise to the Bahamas for my friend Stephanie’s 16th birthday. As soon as we got on the Carnival Imagination, we went up to the pool deck to check out...
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Experiencing the Real Italy
This past June, my parents decided to take my brother and I on a two week vacation to explore the medieval towns in Germany and the ancient streets of Italy. On day nine of our exploration, we took...
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Journey At Paris
It’s Tuesday morning of my week off from school for Spring break. I look out...
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A Garden of Memories
Two months ago, this was just speculation, an idea interwoven with thoughts of summer. Finally, that idea had reached reality. My parents worked hard on planning a fun vacation through Missouri and...
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Hallo, Deutschland!
My mom first brought up our Germany trip in January. She described it as a "last hoorah" before I go off to college and supposedly forget all about family vacations. We had three weeks...
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Cozumel’s Symbol
The cruise had released us into Cozumel, Mexico, meaning “Island of the Swallows”. It was an attractive day, with the breeze and the light heat of the sun. The pier had the smell of the...
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Lake Powell, Utah
On July 9th through July 13th, I had the privilege to go to Lake Powell, Utah. I have been to many lakes before, including the Lake of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake,...
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Frog Rock…Not as Cute as it Seems
The summer after my freshman year of high school my parents, my cousin Rance and I were all headed to Salida, Colorado for vacation. We were going to go river rafting the next day and I was...
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A First Step Into the World
At the young age of 13, I got to experience a trip that very few can relate to. In 2009, 12 other middle school students and I were selected as representatives of the Temecula Sister City Association...
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The Beginning of an Even Bigger Beginning: British Columbia, Around the Other End of the Iceberg
I want to orbit this Earth and, as I do, I want waves of understanding to wash over me like a pebble and smooth my rough edges over and over until I become a sphere so I can become well –...
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Hidden in the Adirondacks
Camp Massawepie, Adirondacks, New YorkYes, this is a Boy Scout camp which may make one question why I, a girl, would claim this to be one of the best vacations I have ever been on. My...
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Memorial Peace Park In Hiroshima
Walking into the Memorial Peace Park in Hiroshima, Japan I fully expected my classmates and I to get dirty looks we were in fact Americans and our relatives may have helped in the development of the...
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Drowning Diaries
When planning a vacation to Hawaii, one usually envisions relaxing in a hammock, scuba-diving, or searching for seashells. Rarely does one imagine experiencing a dramatic, life-changing event. But...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Beautiful Italia
Last year my family and I took a once- in- a- lifetime vacation to Italy! Our first leg of the trip took place in the hustle...
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Tent Near a Picnic Table
With the sky darkening and clouds becoming too full for the sky to hold it’s gathering weight, rolling threats from thunder had us scuttling to find a nice open place to unfold...
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Europeans Don’t Believe in Air Conditioning
Of course Europeans don’t believe in air conditioning. They are acclimated to the climate and don’t have a problem with the humidity unlike some foreigners (ahem). And I’m not just...
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The Opportunity of a Lifetime in Germany
I have been studying the German language for three years at my school, Central Valley High School. Every year, there is a national exam we take. I took this exam, the National German Exam,...
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Relax to the Max
Have you ever felt like you just need a few days to let everything go? Well that was me a few weeks ago. I needed a break, from everything. And guess what? One day when I got home from practice,...
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Best of the West: Mesa Verde and Arches National Park
Nothing can compare to the thrill of packing the car, hitting the highway, and allowing a toddler to navigate. Oh yes, when my family travels we have one tradition: never choose the destination beforehand....
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Graffiti and Lunar Landscape… in Hawaii?
Graffiti, rundown buildings, and lunar landscape engulfed my eyes as I ventured along the islands. I was not expecting to see any of those features at all! My family and I traveled to Hawaii in July...
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Our Croatian Vacation
Have you ever wanted to go to a different country, but didn’t quite know what to do or how to plan it? Planning a trip across the sea is one of the most exciting things to do....
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Lake Summersville to Lake Norman
My family and I go on a camping trip every summer to Summersville Lake, West Virginia. When I say family it means my huge, crazy, mountaineer loving, extended family that comes from all over. ...
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Lost in Translation
The ambiance was still less than perfect. And I hadn’t come to Rome, Italy to experience anything less than perfection. So almost indignantly, I closed my eyes. I pushed my lids far into each...
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