My Next Adventure: Scuba Certification.

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In all honesty, I am not the ocean’s biggest fan. Sure, I’ll snorkel, go banana boating, and float around for a while, but each time all I am thinking about is what lurks beneath. So I’ve found, that as I get older, I’m much more content with my feet in the sand and a drink in my hand.

Fiji

Fiji

That being said, scuba diving is something I have always wanted to try, and as much as I fear the ocean, along with the creatures that live in it, I am completely intrigued by the world that lives below the surface. Which is why, I have decided to start my scuba certification.

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Packing for a Tropical Destination

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In just a few hours, I will head to Aruba for the sun, the sand, and the sea, along with some much needed relaxation. After months of teaching and grading papers, there is nothing I’m looking forward to as much as lounging on the beach with a drink in my hand.

What I love most about beach vacations is just how easy they are to pack for. Although, often they are too easy, which means I wait until the very last minute. Regardless, here are a few essentials that I always bring along.

Lounging in Fiji.

Lounging in Fiji.

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Easter in England.

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Easter six years ago was quite different than the Easter I had today. There were no Easter baskets, no bunnies, no chocolates or jelly beans, no dinners with family. Instead, I was exploring the city of London with one of my close friends, Meghan.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

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One Way Ticket to Africa.

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This weekend, I finally booked my flight to Africa, and my first one way flight ever. Even though I know my approximate return time, it was quite liberating to purchase a one way ticket to somewhere new and exotic.

My flight leads me to Johannesburg, South Africa, and then I have one more flight up to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. From there, I will join a tour from Victoria Falls through Botswana, Namibia, and back down to South Africa.

Then I will spend a few days in Cape Town – climbing Table Mountain, visiting Cape Good Hope, and swimming with Great White sharks. After a few days, the plan, as of now, is to fly up to Dubai in The United Arab Emirates for a few days. Then book a flight home that connects in Cairo, Egypt, with enough layover time to do a bit of exploring and see the pyramids.

Aside from the one way ticket to Africa and the tour back down to Cape Town, nothing is exactly written in stone, but now that everything is finally beginning to come together, I couldn’t be more excited for the adventure that lies ahead.

Inspired to Make it Count.

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It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted an Inspiration of the Week, but after watching this video, I just had to share it with you all.

Nike asked Casey to create a video about Making it Count. To do this, Casey and his friend, Max, used the budget given to them to create this video by traveling around the world in ten days, the amount of time it took for their money to run out.

Not only is the video inspiring, but it’s also proof that time doesn’t always have to hold you back from traveling the world.

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy:
An Inspiration: Move. Learn. Eat.
India Inspiration.
Vietnam Love.
Big Jet Plane.

North Island Adventures.

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One of the greatest adventures I have had in my lifetime occurred while traveling on the North Island of New Zealand almost three years ago. My cousin, Michelle, who is from Ireland, was spending her summer vacation traveling between Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, and I decided to join her on the last leg of her trip. It would be an experience that would bind us together as sisters from day one.

Self-portrait with Huka Falls.

Self-portrait with Huka Falls.

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Blame it on Mom.

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I blame it all on my Mother; my love of travel, desire to wander, and need for escape from everyday life. Right from the start she made me believe that all dreams were attainable if one worked hard enough, and she helped me fall head-over-heels in love with the world.

Enjoying the ocean.

Enjoying the ocean.

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What I Loved About Aruba: Top 5.

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It wasn’t hard to fall in love with Aruba: warm temperatures, cool breezes, swaying palm trees, and turquoise waters. Everyone was friendly, and I loved that people from all over the world seemed to flock to this beautiful island. That, of course, made me fall in love with the country even more, and of all the islands I have visited, this one would have to be my favorite.

Of course, I love it here!

Of course, I love it here!

While I loved everything about Aruba, there were 5 things that I loved the most about the island.

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World Malaria Day.

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Today is World Malaria Day.  As a traveler, I have had to take anti-malaria pills while traveling, and know just how deadly contracting this malaria can be.  The video below paints a picture of the disease, specifically in Africa, and how, with a small donation, we can all help save lives and make the world a better place.  

Transformation.

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All experiences that we have as humans affect the outcome of who we become. The more we experience, the more transformed we are over the course of our lifetime. Because travel involves opportunities that take us out of our comfort zone, the more we travel, the more chances we have to transform ourselves during our time here on earth.

Pondering life in Aruba.

Pondering life in Aruba.

For me, travel has been the basis of all of my changes. When I wasn’t able to travel, I made changes in my life that allowed me to begin traveling and with each trip I take that transformation continues. I’m not sure I can pinpoint the exact moment I changed, but with each trip I take, I see a significant difference in the person I am each time I return home.

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Africa Plans Finalized.

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On Thursday night, I decided that it was finally time for me to book my plane ticket home from Africa. As thrilling as it was to purchase my one-way ticket there, I actually did have to come home at the end of my adventure. School would start up again in September and as much as I want to one day complete a trip around the world, it wouldn’t start with this trip.

Before booking my flight home, however, I had to do a bit of planning. A few weeks ago, Jeff and I decided that he would come to meet me in South Africa when my tour ended. Our original plan just included spending time together in Cape Town: heading to Table Mountain, seeing Cape Good Hope, and diving with Great White Sharks. But, we had a week together and decided it was enough time to head elsewhere after our South African escapades.

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Discovering Music Abroad.

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Along with traveling and writing, I am extremely passionate about music, which is why while I am traveling, I love to listen to the radio and the music playing at restaurants and bars. And, over the years, I have developed quite collection of music from around the world.

I hate to limit myself by just listening to what’s here in the States because the world has so much to offer. Even while I’m home, I constantly bother my cousins in Ireland and ask them to send me the latest musicians and songs that are out in the UK. But, often the best discoveries are made while traveling the world, and my most recent discovery happened this past week in Aruba.
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Aruban Fears.

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When mentioning that we were headed to Aruba for spring break, Diana and I received our fair share of warnings: “Be careful, girls,” “Don’t separate from each other,” or the simple, “Just stay safe.”  I realize that this island has had quite a deal of controversy surrounding it, but what happened here could have happened just about anywhere in the world. 

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ocean view

I understand why people give warnings to those while traveling, but how unsafe is traveling compared to every day life? 

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The Worst Traveler Ever?

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I was born to travel. I am a person who can adapt easily to change; from a change in cultures to travel plans, I realize that travel isn’t always reliable. I also have great people skills; whether it is asking strangers for help or making new friends, this is one of my strongest attributes. And, I have a thirst for knowledge; I’m extremely inquisitive in all things, but especially about different cultures and countries. All of these characteristics lend to my ability to pick up and travel the world with relative ease.

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Savvy Traveler?

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