DESTINATION:
THE AMERICAS
DESTINATION: THE AMERICAS - May 2012
In This Issue... City Profiles........................................................................................PG. 2 Prime Pastimes AND super sights........................................PG. 16 A look back in history...............................................PG. 24
GRAPHS..............................................................................................PG. 25 VOLUNTOURISM.........................................................................PG. 28
Travel chronicles.............................................................PG. 29 mind your manners.........................................................PG. 46
souvenirs from coast to coast....................PG. 48 The Bookworm......................................................................PG. 50 Movies to get you In the mood ..........................PG. 54
Carpe Diem, Seize The Carp! By Allan McConnell Mississippi River, United States
P. 8
Bask in The Beauty of Anguilla By Patrick Hovet Anguilla, Lesser Antilles P. 9
P. 11
Paradise Ruined By George Thornton La Lima, Honduras
Family Fun Awaits in Costa Rica By Margot Melchiode P. 3 Arenal & Los Suenos, Costa Rica
Let Go of Fear, The Thrill Is Near By Megan McGoey P. 2 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Adventure Calls From South America’s Best Kept Secret P. 5 By Marianna Salas San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
city profiles
[1]
Let Go of Fear, The Thrill is Near By Megan McGoey Whether your idea of adventure is simply getting out of the daily routine or as extreme as cliff diving at record heights; Buenos Aires, Argentina is a great place to let loose. For the most intrepid of travelers, the wide range of activities will leave anyone with the utmost unforgettable trip. The rush you feel while soaring through Argentinian winds with a picturesque aerial view is well worth the $240 price per person. One thing to remember before booking this 6 hour day trip beginning at 8:00 am is the requirement that you must be less than 198 pounds and over 17 years of age. Also, a fee of $28 is added on for foreign insurance. Do not let your lack of experience or equipment prohibit you from this excursion. The helpful staff provide each participant with all of the safety necessities, transportation, and a commemorative disc of pictures so the fearful expression plastered on your face as you flew through the air can follow you even after your time in Buenos Aires is over. For the more laid back animal lover, a 9 hour trip to the Estancia Don Silvano Fiesta Guacha is highly recommended. Experience the true Argentinian culture from Monday to Sunday (except not offered Wednesday) with a snack of empanadas and world class wine, preceding a
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guided visit to the beautiful ranch, and an exhilarating horse back ride. All of this is then followed by a folkloric dance and music show, samples of a delicious barbecue lunch (otherwise known as asado in Argentina) and more wine, plus an entertaining finale showcasing Gaucho Skills. For those unaware of the true meaning, gaucho is the term for a nomadic horseman. This is a magnificent and relatively inexpensive ($72 for children over 11, 70% of this for children 4 -10, and free for children under 3) way to enjoy the rural aspects and traditional culture of Buenos Aires. The colors, the beat, and the atmosphere: three aspects of tango that will move you to the dance floor. The perfect way to submerge yourself into the sea of lively rhythms and intoxicating steps of this famous dance practiced all over Latin America begins with a one and a half hour lesson. Replenish your taste buds and relax with a mouthwatering meal after your lesson. After this, you will be transported to the Milonga where you will witness a professional dance exhibition that will only make you want to showcase your newly learned skills more. To make the experience even more enjoyable, the bilingual staff is prepared to help you with whatever you need. The venue of the 6 hour trip varies from day to day and includes all of the above for a two person price of $180. When you return to the motherland, show off your marveloso moves and everyone else will take the steps to rise to your level. Unwind and give your feet time to recover from those dancing shoes, while you drift through the clouds in a hot air balloon. Buenos Aires offers a calming picturesque setting that will
cause you to forget that down below people hustle and bustle throughout the streets. $225 gets you and a friend a 45 minute balloon ride and a full memory card on your camera. Beware that this trip is offered only in the summer on Monday through Friday in the evening. Although the trip is 45 minutes, the required travel time including the air-time is 4 hours. After spending the day soaking up all of the outdoor and indoor activities the capital of Argentina has to offer, spend a night out on the town at one of the many hip and trendy eateries tucked away on the streets of Buenos Aires. Try places like Lavalle 941 for traditional creole barbecue and do not forget to sample the delicious apple pancakes. For a busier nightlife, visit the Prodeo Lounge where creative cocktails and unique appetizers are served left and right. Bring the fellow daredevils, who accompanied you on your adventures, to this high end restaurant suited for large groups. Gaze at the stars and mystifying skyline, while you inhale each bite, through the retractable roof. If one of these ventures is not quite suited to your liking, ask your hotel concierge for something more up your alley. On your excursion to this hispanic metropolis, plan to come into contact with astounding activities that will remind you to Viva la vida loca.
Family Fun Awaits in Costa Rica By Margot Melchiode Looking for a family friendly spring break of a lifetime? Then Costa Rica is the place for you! What do you think of when you hear Costa Rica? What you probably do not know is that it is kid friendly, fun for families, and is filled with adventure that the entire family can enjoy with natural forests, monkeys running across hotels, and relaxing beaches for everyone to enjoy. Costa Rica has many convenient and memorable day trips. Also it has numerous beautiful cities, towns and beaches that are amazing. Two of those cities in Costa Rica are Arenal and Los Suenos. An action packed place to visit in Cost Rica is Los Suenos. At the beaches of Los Suenos, the snorkeling is amazing. It has beautiful turtles, wild life, and sharks that are not found in most areas of the Untied States. Almost every hotel in Los Suenos is on the beach, so you can wake up and enjoy a walk on the beach or a hike up the many trails that you will encounter. The Marriott in Los Suenos, which is fairly inexpensive, is located on the beach and has various activities on the grounds, such as tennis, and golf, and only a couple miles away is Jaco beach.
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vel Tra
through the trop ical
rai
n
ts
res
fo of
Costa Rica
Relax sea sid
e at
Jaco Beach is the most popular beach for surfing, snorkeling, and fishing. The waves are not too rough, so it is an ideal place for beginners to learn. A guided fishing trip out of Jaco is not to be passed. The variety of fish that you can catch is unlike any you can find in the oceans in the United States. The guides will even cook the fish that you catch right after your excursion for you to enjoy on the beach. Also an endless amount of restaurants can be found in Jaco. The Hookup is a restaurant and sports bar with games and live music inside. Another amazing place to visit in Costa Rica is Arenal. Arenal is two and a half hours from Los Suenos and the trip is not only easy but worth it. In Arenal, the Springs is one of the most famous hotels in Costa Rica. The Springs resort has over 30 natural spring pools, waterfalls, and even a couple slides for all ages. There is also a swim up
Lo
s
Sue n
os
Beach
bar and grill. Near the resort there are hikes you can take to rivers and even an on-site zoo filled with lions, jaguars, and a variety of monkeys. Straight across from the hotel is an active volcano that you can hike around. Though it is not for little ones, the canyoneering in Costa Rica is amazing. Desafio is the best company to rent equipment through and is fairly cheap, and an ideal activity to try if you are a little older. The mountainous terrain makes it ten times better with waterfalls over 300 feet tall, and at the bottom of each are little pools. Also, the intense white water rafting is amazing with drops over 12 feet high. At night, a trip downtown for a typico Costa Rican dinner really hits the spot. Adventure in Argentina! Now, what do you think of when you Tango, skydiving, horseback hear Costa Rica? Fun, exciting, kid friendly, riding, and hot air ballooning! and beautiful. The endless willthenot Buenos Aires activities is perfect for more daring of travelers. be forgotten. The only question left is... When are you coming?
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P. Hovet
Adventure Calls From South America’s Best Kept Secret By Marianna Salas
Situated in the center of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, on the shore of the lake of the same name, San Carlos de Bariloche is a year-round adventurer s paradise teeming with activities for everyone from the avid climber to the fly fisherman. Surrounded by a ring of mountains all over 2000 meters high (Tronador, Cerro Catedral, and Cerro Lopez being the most frequented of the many), this hidden sportsman s paradise is located in the heart of the Patagonia region of Argentina. Sporting a very wide variety of activities year round, it is a must for anyone who likes a little adventure to their vacation while not breaking the bank. In the summer, there is a huge variety of activities to suit
anyone, even the kids! Favorite pastimes in Bariloche include: hiking the foot trails of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, climbing El Tronador, and cycling on the multitudinous trails that run through the park. For those preferring a little splash to their day, kayaking and rafting along the Rio Lamay or the Rio Manso and even windsurfing in the Lago Nahuel Huapi. Along the shorelines of the lakes lie many perfect fly fishing spots as well. Nature hikes and trekking are also popular in the summer months, and for anyone on the really adventurous side of the spectrum, paragliding in the foothills surrounding Bariloche has become quite popular.
In the later months of t h e y e a r, t h e s u m m e r sanctuary turns to a winter wonderland with snow up to two meters thick, generating a skier s haven. Bariloche s most popular ski resort lies atop Cerro Catedral and has slopes of all difficulty levels. The town is also famous for its chocolate and is said to have the best chocolate in all of Argentina. Bariloche has a uniquely swiss atmosphere, into which their chocolate fits right in. It all started with La Mexicana , the first chocolate store in the town, a definite must-visit for all chocolate lovers. Regarding food, this is where you get the good stuff! Two of the best local restaurants have to be El Boliche de Alberto and La Continued on Pg. 7
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Fonda del Tio. Argentinian cuisine has a unique blend of flavors and is some of the best in the world. Lodging is painless in Bariloche. If you are looking to stay in your comfort zone, one can find four-star hotels for less than a hundred dollars a night, but for those wishing to go for the more rustic hostels, upscale ones are about $20 a night. Yes, you could say you get a lot of bang for your buck in Argentina. There is no need to rent a car in Bariloche, as the public bus service is excellent and very cheap. Currency in Argentina is the Argentine Peso, but ATMs are quite common in the downtown area of Bariloche. Anyone on a quest for a frugal, fun-filled adventure? San Carlos de Bariloche is most definitely your place to be. This is no ordinary vacation spot...this is true traveller s bliss.
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Carpe Diem, Seize The Carp! By Allan McConnell
In 1973, water treatment plants introduced one of the most invasive species of freshwater fish now taking over the Mississippi River at an alarming rate, the Silver Carp. The Silver Carp were originally from Asia, but, Silver Carp being filter feeders, were introduced into water treatment plants on the Mississippi River to control the growth of algae and plankton. They were also brought as a food fish. Some of the fish escaped and began breeding i n t h e r i v e r, a n d w e r e practically unknown until recently, but it is estimated that there are now approximately thirteen tons of
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Silver Carp per mile in the Mississippi River. Silver Carp are very good at traveling upstream, and pose a very real threat of invading the Great Lakes. Dams have
slowed their progress north, but it is still illegal in some places for fisherman to use Silver Carp as bait. Silver Carp are not known to successfully breed in lakes, but it is always a danger.
Silver Carp can grow to be two to three feet long, the longest one recorded in the U.S. being 48 inches long, and can weigh up to 40 pounds. Silver Carp are filter feeders, meaning that as they move through the water, they filter it through their gills and catch small organisms, like plankton, and swallow them. Their numbers threaten another famous filter feeder inhabiting the Mississippi, the Paddlefish. Silver Carp are related to the Bighead Carp, another species of carp in the U.S. that was introduced from Asia. Unfortunately, Silver Carp pose a threat to humans, as well as the native wildlife. Silver Carp are also called flying carp for their ability to jump nearly 10 feet out of the water. The carp jump when they are frightened, and they usually swim in large schools, so if a boat passes too close, they scatter. If someone is unlucky enough to be in their line of trajectory, it is very possible that the fish could break their jaw, or worse. Water skiing and inner tubing have been discouraged in any areas where Silver Carp are present. The locals of these invaded areas realize the Continued on Pg.[7] 11
TROPICAL P ARADISE
Bask in the Beauty of Anguilla By Patrick Hovet
Nestled within the Caribbean Sea, the northernmost island in the archipelago of the Lesser Antilles is the hidden paradise of Anguilla. This island, with a population of only 13,500 natives, has become an extremely popular honeymoon destination. Not without reason, though. All the amenities in this picturesque haven are too extensive to list, however a few include the lavish Moorish villas overlooking the turquoise ocean and white sand on the enthralling beaches. These, as well as the other edifices on the island contain unprecedented living conditions: phenomenal luxury spas, five-star restaurants, and exotic tropical Rainforest-like gardens. This, among other things are the best the island has to offer. The gardens are perfect for an early morning or late night intimate stroll with beautiful scenery. A couple can relax extravagantly in these top-tier spas and eat in style at Anguilla s fine restaurants. For the more active of days, the island contains tennis courts, yoga and pilates facilities, fitness training, and most unique to the island: water sports. Also, due to the fact that
OF ANGUILL A
alcoholic beverages happen to be the primary export of Anguilla, most of the hotels and villas offer a complimentary bottle of rum upon arrival. With all these incentives, one can easily come to the conclusion that Anguilla is unparalleled in honeymoon gratification. One setback for some newlyweds is that the cost of staying in Anguilla is rather high. Most listings range from $1,000 to $1,600 per night, not to mention the cost of all the fringe benefits such as dining and spa treatment. Obviously, the utopia of Anguilla is not for everybody. For those who can afford it, Anguilla really is the ideal honeymoon destination. Can you name any better way to spend a weekend with one s new spouse than waking up in the morning to a scenic view of the Caribbean Sea and beach. Then later on in the day, enjoying one of the island s best spas together just after embarking on the water skiing adventure of a lifetime. Next, the couple can savor one of the delectable five-star restaurants. Then finally to end their perfect day, a slow, romantic walk on the beach in the striking sunset of the Caribbean Islands. Clearly, the island of Anguilla offers all a young couple could ask for and more. A truly adventurous, luxurious, intimate honeymoon location for a couple looking to spare no expense on happiness.
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ASCENSION TO DETAIL
M. Salas
threat and are doing their absolute best to rid their waterways of them. There is even a competition to catch and kill as many as possible. The most common method is to go out on the river with a boat full of people, each one holding a large net. Then, the captain would drive through the schools of fish and entice them to jump, everyone ready to catch them.
Another popular way to kill Silver Carp is called bowfishing . Bowfishing can be done with a regular bow and arrow, the newer compound bow, or a c r o s s b o w. In each case, there is a strong line attached to the arrow, so that the fish can be pulled into the boat. Bowfishing is usually done for sport, not as a way to exterminate the fish. Each different tool has its own advantages. The compound
bow can offer more power through the use of pulleys, and the crossbow sometimes has an attachable fishing reel to save energy. It is usually done in small groups and can be done by shooting the fish while it is still in the water, or, in a slightly more dangerous way, the fish can be shot while they are jumping. Silver Carp will most likely be a continuous problem for years to come, but hopefully, their population will be controlled enough that they will no longer be considered a major problem.
Paradise Ruined
towns. The family traveled north to the beautiful beaches in Tela where they snorkeled in the crystal clear Caribbean Sea. She described the amazing By George Thornton Mayan ruins of Copan, which are about three hours My father spent the first six years of his life from La Lima in the southwestern part of the living on a banana farm in La Lima, Honduras. He country. She talked about the hundreds of different told stories of riding his pony Sporty up and down the rows of banana plants, and how he cut down bananas with his machete. He was the cowboy chasing away the rustling iguanas making sure the crops were protected. It sounded wild and free. It was his father who was really protecting the bananas, because it was his job as a plant pathologist to eliminate banana diseases for the United Fruit Company. My Aunt Lisa also told stories about life in La Lima and the nearby
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kinds of birds and wild orchids in the forests. sounds like paradise, right? Not quite.
It Aunt Lisa: Not really in La Lima. Since United Fruit Company left in 1962, La Lima is now like a gated community, a suburb of San Pedro Sula If you are traveling today to La where wealthy company executives live. Lima, what should you know? Aunt The dangers are in the cities and on Lisa had many suggestions, the main highway. The cities are because she continues to visit filled with tough gangs and Honduras regularly. motorcycle bandits who target anyone who appears to have Destinations: America: How money. Even the locals are in many times have you visited danger. Last year a farmer was Honduras? La Lima? robbed and killed on his way back Lisa: Besides living in La Lima to his farm after selling his coffee from 1949 to 1962, the family went beans at the market. back in 2002. I have been to There are security checkpoints every Honduras five times in the last four 15 miles with Honduran National years with my church doing Guards carrying M-16 s mission work. checking passports and Destinations: America: papers. It is for the What cities did you tourists protection, but visit? it is also the main road Lisa: With my church group that the drug cartels use to we would fly into San smuggle cocaine to Pedro Sula and then nearby border take SUVs into the countries. It is very rural areas in the sad to see people so mountains where we desperate because of were building a school the poverty. and a church. Destinations: One beautiful America: Any other town we visited was tips for the average Copan Ruinas, right traveler? near the Mayan ruins Lisa: There is safety of Copan. The town is in numbers whether in friendly and there is a a city, airport, rural wonderful museum town, or the forest. about the amazing Always travel with the ruins, beautiful group, at least 4-6 surrounding countryside, and even a zipline people and never wander off the path. Travel with through the forest! You definitely should go there. someone fluent in Spanish or find a local interpreter Destinations: America: Are there any dangers in you can trust. La Lima? Continued on Pg. 14
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G. Thornton
The suggestions and information below are given by the US Department of State for Americans traveling to Honduras. Ø You must have vaccinations/inoculations for Hepatitis A + B, tetanus, measles, and mumps. Ø Malaria and Dengue fever (kind of like malaria) are a danger and you have to take malaria pills and wear long sleeves and pants and use plenty of DEET for protection from mosquitoes. By the way, there is no cure for Dengue fever. Ø The drinking water is impure. Only drink bottled water. Brush your teeth with bottled water. Ø Better to eat cooked food. Fruits should be peeled before eating. All produce should be thoroughly washed with soap and water. Ø Beaches are generally not safe after 4PM. Good chance of being robbed. Ø Better to eat dinner at the hotel and not go out at night because tourists are often robbed, pick pocketed, or even kidnapped. Ø Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry. That makes you an easy target for robbery. Carry your important items like passport a n d
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Ø
Ø Ø
Ø
money in a concealed pouch. The weather is tropical, but hot. The rainy season is May to September, which is also hurricane season. Honduras has many tropical storms every year, and in 1998 Hurricane Mitch devastated the coast and many banana and coffee farms. Many of the police are corrupt and work with the organized crime gangs. The Peace Corps pulled out 158 volunteers from Honduras in January 2012 after one of their volunteers was shot during a robbery on a bus. They decided it is too dangerous for its volunteers. The last and most frightening danger is that Honduras has the highest per capita homicide rate in the world at 82.1 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants.
Honduras is a country of lush forests, exotic animals, amazing Mayan history, and beautiful beaches. It is also a country that is very poor with huge problems with gangs, corruption, and drugs. Sadly Honduras is in ruins, and not the Mayan kind. If you plan to visit this land you must remember to take these precautions.
Peru’s Favorite Soft Drink A. McConnell
PRIME PA
SUPER
STIMES AND
SIGHTS
TO DO...
1
BY MARGOT MELCHIODE
Scuba diving in the clear, blue waters is a popular undertaking for anyone seeking a bit of island time. The caribbean waters sport an amazing variety of underwater sea life. All of this and more make the Bahamas a very memorable experience.
2
The soccer games in Rio de Janeiro are exciting and entertaining for the whole family. They are one of the most popular activities to attend in Brazil. before enjoying an intense game, there are numerous tours around the soccer stadium.
Flying through the trees of costa rica’s amazing rainforest at incredible speeds is exhilarating. For anyone in search of a true daredevil adventure, a canopy tour in costa rica is not to be overlooked.
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3
4
For over 25 years the intense volcanos have been a must see if you’re looking for the adventure of a lifetime. The incredible sight of the molten lava just a couple feet away is breathtaking and the view at the top of the volcano is simply perfect.
Traveling from the glowing Las Vegas to the natural wonder of the grand canyon is exhilarating. The view outside of the helicopter is a rare and unforgettable experience.
6
5
Skiing in Colorado. Colorado is a popular skiing destination with its white snow and monumental mountains. The multitudinous ski resorts make Colorado perfectly ideal for any veracious skiers or anyone seeking thrill.
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TO SEE...
1
BY MARIANA SALAS
Niagara Falls -- The largest waterfall in the world near the border between the U.S. and Canada. A true natural wonder of the world and Canada’s most distinct landmark.
2 Macchu Picchu -- A dreamlike city above the clouds. The Peruvian utopia is one of the most visited places in South America and not without reason. Perfect for the adventurous traveler looking for a hidden gem in the forests of Peru.
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Mt. Rushmore -- A miraculous monument to many of the most profound United States presidents of all time. The patriotic traveler will especially be in awe at this national wonder.
3
4
Times Square -- A brilliant centerpiece to the spectacular concrete jungle of New York City. Any lovers of big cities will absolutely adore Times Square.
6
Galapagos Islands -- A tropical archipelago west of South America containing absolutely scenic beaches as well as breathtaking tropical rainforests. One of the most beautiful places in the world.
5
Yellowstone -- One of North America’s greatest national parks containing a super volcano amongst other wildlife. An ideal travel spot for a North American family. [21]
america’s favorite water
MAKING 1776: America declares
independence from Great Britain
HISTORY 1492: Christopher Columbus discovers America
1831: Charles Darwin sails 1861-65: The American Civil War
to South America while researching evolution
1917: America declares war 1941: America declares war
against Germany in World War I
against Germany and Japan in World War II
1961: U.S. sends troops to 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis
Vietnam War
1969: Neil Armstrong walks 1982: Falklands War begins
on the moon
and ends
September 11, 2001: May 1, 2011: Osama Bin
Terrorists bomb the Twin Towers in New York City
Laden killed by American troops
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BY ALLAN McCONNELL
GRAPHING:
BY PATRICK HOVET & GEORGE THORNTON Percentage of people who do not pay taxes in U.S. 50
37.5
25
12.5
0
1950
1970
1990
2010
U.S. Federal Spending 2009 Social Security Health Veterans Benefits
National Defense Net Interest Other
3%5% 3% 3%
Medicare Education
Income Security Transportation
21%
9% 10%
19%
13% 14%
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Highest Murder Rate in U.S. Cities Murder Rate 50
37.5
25
12.5
0
New Orleans
St. Louis
Baltimore
Detroit
Newark
Oakland Washington DC
Percentage of Child Obesity in U.S. 20
15
10
5
0 1970
1980
Difference in Population By Thousands
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1990
2000
2005
[27]
HELPING HANDS BY ALLAN McCONNELL
! If you are looking to do volunteer work while you are in North America, then join the Rebuilding Haiti Organization. They are involved in projects such as teaching children in schools, feeding children, treating patients in hospital tents, and a construction project because of the recent 2010 earthquake that devastated the island. The organization has helped thousands of people in Haiti and you can too. ! If South America is your destination for voluntourism, then join the Projects Abroad Organization. They are working on projects all across the continent including working on reserves in the Amazon Rainforest, teaching soccer to teens, feeding children, or giving kids an education. There are many other projects in the making all over South America for you to be a part of as well. ! Another organization that could use your help is the Volunteer Headquarters. They have done work all over the world but also in Mexico. In Mexico, projects that this organization is involved in are teaching, childcare, environmental programs, and computer tutoring. The only requirements to begin volunteering are to be of 18 years of age and to speak English well. There are many people that could use your help in Central and South America, so join now. [28]
Maybe Canada’s Not So Bad The High Lights Festival
One Festival I Will Never Forget El Dia De Los Muertos P. 37
P. 41
We Should’ve Stayed Home The Highland Festival
P. 39
Don’t Mess With Texas...Unless You’re From France P. 43 The Super Bowl
Worlds Apart Yet One In The Same P. 30 Inti Raymi
Redefining in Rio P. 32 Carnaval
Travel chronicles [29]
Worlds Apart Yet One In The Same By Marianna Salas A wakeup call is what I like to think of it as: the day I had a heart attack. One moment I was happily jogging down the same path I had jogged down for three years and the next I was clinging to life on the edge of darkness.
After what seemed like forever in the Intensive Care Unit and a lot of reflecting, I came to the conclusion that from that day forth I was going to treat every day like it was my last. After all, you only live once. I began to form a bucket list, things I absolutely had to do such as summit a mountain and meet Bear Grylls; however, one thing hit me. Two years ago, on a volunteer trip to Cuzco, Peru, I met Alejandro,
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(he preferred Alex, though, because it sounded more American) a boy living with paralysis of his legs in a village called Hausau. Being a Yankee, I felt as out of place as ever and almost ashamed of how much I had compared to
how little he and his family had. Nevertheless, he was so excited to meet an American and was fascinated by my Nike running shoes. He became my confidant on the
trip, showing me around the town, zipping all over in his expertly decorated makeshift wheelchair. My final day in Hausau, Alex asked me a question I will never forget.
You make me walk
again? I was stunned. He had
never even mentioned anything about his condition to me before. I answered with a promise, a promise to help him walk again.
Those five words kept running through my head in the ICU. That was the day I decided I had to go back and do whatever I could to help Alex. Before I knew it, I was packing my bags to return to Peru. I am not a biomedical prodigy nor am I God...how on earth am I going to keep my promise? I stepped off that plane in Cuzco on a mission. I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I was going to try. The thought of failing Alex nearly tore me apart, yet
still drove me. I was welcomed back to Hausau with open arms and Alex s now seemingly permanent ear-to-ear grin, yet the guilt that
Of course. We can go in my Jeep. It s no problem, I d love to take him, I interrupted, But what is Inti Raymi?
abdomen. Time was running out for Alex. But the smiling, light-hearted boy showed no fear. Señor Mark, quieres, uh, see Huitzi? Who is Huitzi? I asked. My cüy! He going like you, he said with
traditional dances each year in Cuzco. Alex s father promised to take him for his eighth birthday before his accident. Now it s just the two of us, and I can t make it all the way to Cuzco.
haunted me two years ago was reappearing in the back of my head. It was not until later that I found out that Alex s paralysis had spread to his
a smile. Alex introduced me to Huitzi, a hedgehog that had become Alex s best friend. He was a cute little thing and he brought so much joy to Alex. He helps me forget about my legs, Alex explained. Later that evening, while Alex was feeding Huitzi, his mother pulled me aside. I know Alex doesn t have much time left. We are so poor here and we don t have a car, but Alex wants to go to Inti Raymi in Cuzco this year. It is too far for us to walk -
She explained to me that every year a festival was held to honor the Incan sun god, Inti, celebrated with beautiful costumes and
When Alex came back in, I told him the news. I swear on my mother s lasagna, I have never seen someone so happy in my life. But something seemed to be bothering him. Can we bring Huitzi? he asked with a laugh. Sure, I nodded. As I lay in bed that night, my promise to Alex floated back to me. I still had no idea of how I was going to make a paralyzed boy walk again. Would he be disappointed? Of course he would, Mark. I have to find a way. I can t let him down. Not like this.
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Redefining in Rio By Megan McGoey
As I hauled my baggage through the Louis Armstrong Airport of New Orleans, I couldn t help but notice the immense number of photographs lining the walls of Gate A. They all had one thing in common: their showcasing of Mardi Gras in the Big Easy . I began to imagine the Brazilian version of Fat Tuesday that I would soon be witnessing first hand. My first thoughts were the debates over which bakery earns the title of best king cake, the inevitable stench that floods the streets during each parade, the detail seen on each float, the drunk and disorderly conduct of bystanders, the feeling of victory that surges through one after reaching up to grab that limited edition bead before the person behind you got it, and the electrifying beat radiating off the instruments of St. Aug s Marching 100. I let these thoughts drift me into an air borne slumber, which was interrupted by the pesky flight attendant hovering over me with the drink cart. Two ginger ales and the first Hunger Games novel later, I was out again. This time my nap was terminated by the booming voice on the loud speaker. Good Morning folks the clock reads 10:22 and the forecast is sunny and cool this Friday in Rio de Janeiro. As we prepare for
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landing please place your seat in the upright position. Don t forget to keep your seatbelt fastened at all times, and turn of anything with an on/off switch until further notice. Thanks again for flying with Delta Airlines. I suddenly felt overcome with excitement and curiosity. It was clear that my mom did not feel the same way. The look on her face as the Galeão International airport staff reported that all of the luggage stored in the belly of the plane had already been distributed was evidence backing my theory. My mom, being the only one out of the five of us without her luggage, did not take this well. I would not call this a slight differ in opinion in feeling about the trip as of now either; my mom was enraged to the point of dropping obscenities every few words and loudly regretting not packing light and in a carry-on. I can almost hear the sound of the hundreds of dollars put towards the contents of my suitcase being shredded to pieces. Okay drama queen, the contents are not gone forever... They just might not make it in time for this trip. I could almost read my dad s mind. My 19 and 17 year old brothers, on the other hand, had their headphones in and were way more focused on Jay-Z s latest than my (once easy going) mother s wardrobe malfunctions. After a complaint to the head honcho and a voucher for bonus miles added to our frequent flyer card, we were out of there. Are we in the right spot? The question popped into our minds as we all glanced in Dad s direction. The travel agent requested by a client of my dad had obviously lead us a stray. I scooped the hair from the neck into a ponytail while my brother, James, gave the argument that possibly we had
been misunderstood by the foreign cab driver, even though my mom was convinced that her directions must have been comprehended. Mom, speaking in an unbearably slow voice and a slight hispanic accent does not amount to speaking his language, criticized the younger of the two brothers, Nick. The anxiety building within me only brought back the heat of the hottest month in the southern hemisphere that I had temporarily escaped with my new hairdo. This hillside hood was not the ideal paradise, but that did not stop it from becoming our lodging for the next week. When we reached the dust filled room, I threw my bags on the bed simply because there was no visible floor space. On the plus side, if I woke up in the middle of the night I could literally roll out of bed and land in the bathroom. After a quick sunscreen application, we set out on the streets to get a lay of the land before Saturday s festivities began. It was the morning of February 18th, and the celebration kicked off with the crowning of the Fat King, King Momo, who received a larger than life key to the city from Mayor Paes. Like Rex, Momo was the face of Carnival; only his exposure commences the four day fiesta, rather than concludes. I surveyed the crowd of hundreds of thousands of tourists just like me, experiencing this one of a kind Brazilian holiday. My optimistic mood was slowly returning. The vivid colors decking the floats waltzed in and out of my vision and the sounds of the bloco bands rang through my ears. Our first day of carnival was only a small dose of the lively culture experienced throughout the next few days. On our late night walk back to our dwellings, it seemed as if the sound only got louder and the lights brighter. To our surprise, the further we traveled from the downtown heart of Rio, the bigger the celebration seemed. Especially in the surrounding flavelas, or slums. A mysterious man, seeing the puzzled expressions donned on the five of us, made his way toward our family slurring in a heavy accent No tienen electricidad o agua, pero saben tener un buen tiempo. My spanish is far from perfect, but this was understandable. Simply put, a lack of necessities was not stoping these people from partying. In New Orleans, we would respond Laissez les bons temps rouler! or let the good times roll. With nothing to lose, we followed this stranger through the crowds to the massive street party filled with low class Brazilian men and women alike, whom we knew absolutely nothing about. Except for one thing: they sure could move. I quickly felt my face redden. My concept of dance consists of the occasional line dance with directions, not this simultaneous dance that seemed as if it had been rehearsed since Ash Wednesday of the previous year. I envied the flow of their bodies as the samba carried on. The man,
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whose name still escapes me today, lead the way to the shouts Gustavo! Gustavo! Gustavo! Gustavo was about five feet and seven inches tall, looked to be about 24, and is what I would call muy guapo. We observed as Gustavo danced with girl after girl until he was interrupted by our new friend. The two had a quick incomprehensible conversation and turned in our direction. Welcome to Rio de Janeiro! Your first carnival, is it?" questioned Gustavo in our native language, rather than his. Our lack of rhythm, steps, and confusion were probably dead giveaways. No, some
would say this is not our first carnival; but it will definitely be one to remember. We shared stories with Gustavo, who purchased Rosetta Stone after saving up three years of household chore salaries to matriculate the English language on his own time, and even learned a few of his effortless moves. The next morning I was dragged out of bed by the persistent knocking at the door. I wiped my eyes and swung the door open only to find Gustavo on the doorstep. We decked out in the carnival costumes and masks handed to us and headed for the door. From the street side
samplings of espethinos (shish kabobs), miho verde (grilled corn), and tapioca to our participation in the samba parade; Gustavo and his one of a kind tour guide tips were quite a catch in our parade. The crowning of the king, authentic curb side cuisine, striking samba, flamboyant flavelas, and tour guide Gustavo now go hand in hand with the images of moon pies soaring through the air, blinking beads, endless shouts of Throw me something, mister, and the atrocious attire seen on the 610 Stompers that resurface whenever I hear the words Fat Tuesday.
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The next day, Alex, Huitzi, and I piled into the Jeep and set out for Cuzco. The whole 30 miles, Alex told me story after story of his father. Every night when he tucked me into bed, he would sing a song to me. At the end he would always tell me to never give up. Now, every night, I tell myself to never give up. We pulled up to the square in Cuzco right next to the Temple of the Sun. Alex was so excited that his thrill seemed to have spread to Huitzi. I opened the car door and it came to me. I can make Alex walk! I would carry him on my shoulders. Are we going? he asked. Alex, I m going to make you walk, I replied.
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As I hoisted the boy up on top of my shoulders, an elation swept over me. Never in my life had I been happier. I knelt down to let Alex pick up his companion, and walked toward the square. The festival was beautiful. Intricate and colorful costumes surrounded us as the rhythm of the drums got louder and louder. It was Alex s dream come true, all he had ever wanted. For me, it was only a glimpse into the vivid culture of a land I thought I knew. But in that moment, nothing mattered. It didn t matter that he was a boy from a poor village in the mountains of Peru or that I was a man from the Upper East Side. In that moment, we were just two people practically worlds apart from each other letting go of all our cares and truly seizing the day with one another.
The next day, Alex, Huitzi, and I piled into the Jeep and set out for Cuzco. The whole 30 miles, Alex told me story after story of his father.
life had I been happier. I knelt down to let Alex pick up his companion, and walked toward the square. The festival was beautiful. Intricate and
Every night when he tucked me into bed, he
colorful costumes surrounded us as the rhythm of
would sing a song to me. At the end he would always
the drums got louder and louder. It was Alex s dream
tell me to never give up. Now, every night, I tell
come true, all he had ever wanted. For me, it was
myself to never give up.
only a glimpse into the vivid culture of a land I
We pulled up to the square in Cuzco right
thought I knew. But in that moment, nothing
next to the Temple of the Sun. Alex was so excited
mattered. It didn t matter that he was a boy from a
that his thrill seemed to have spread to Huitzi. I
poor village in the mountains of Peru or that I was a
opened the car door and it came to me. I can make
man from the Upper East Side. In that moment, we
Alex walk! I would carry him on my shoulders.
were just two people practically worlds apart from
Are we going? he asked.
each other letting go of all our cares and truly
Alex, I m going to make you walk, I replied.
seizing the day with one another.
As I hoisted the boy up on top of my shoulders, an elation swept over me. Never in my
This Is One Festival That I Will Never Forget By Margot Melchiode What have I got myself into and how in the world did I get here? spinning like a top.
I was lost, disoriented and The crowd was rushing past
me in a blur. People dressed as skeletons, brides
thought no one else was around. I took a deep breath and willed myself to ask him, Umm, excuse me, do you mind telling me what is going on?
and grooms marched down the street, through the
He looks at me like I ve got two heads and
cemeteries, and into the churches. The ground was
says in a voice loud enough for my mother in New
littered with yellow flowers and lit by candles.
Orleans to hear, that today is El Dia de los
Banquet tables of food piled with meats, fruits and
Muertos. Even with my brief spanish background, I
vegetables coaxed me towards them.
Each step I
knew enough to translate that into something along
took, I could feel the vibrations of the music
the lines of The Day of the Dead. I felt 1,000 eyes
moving under my feet. Just a couple of feet away,
on me at once and wished that I were dead. I felt
I saw a man handing out flyers to the crowd.
my face turning red like an apple and I
Finally, someone to explain this crazy situation that
instinctively covered my head in my shirt, pulling
I ve been dragged into. I walked up to him when I
it in like a turtle. The man went on to tell me that each item had significance to the
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Day of the Dead. The skull represented the death
I was enjoying the music and the skull
and sacrifice, the earth represented flowers and
shaped candies that I had bought, but realized that I
bread, the fire represented candles to guide the
did not know my way back to Rosa s house. I tried
souls, the water was to refresh the souls, and the
to ask for directions, but no one knew what I was
wind was to call the souls. He also explained that
saying.
the yellow flowers on the ground were
interested in helping a lone girl.
zempasuchitl. The zempasuchitl were a symbol of
People were drunk and giddy, but not I walked around
with my knees quivering and my heart beating
death. He also told me
fast. The streets were spinning like I had just
This is a time to celebrate one life
gotten off of the whirly twirly ride at the
communicating with another life through
local fair. In the back of my head I was
religious beliefs.
worried I would be hurt by one of
I began to get the idea of
these people. I felt so alone not
what the festival was all about.
knowing what was going on and
The way these people celebrate the
wishing I was back home.
deaths of their loved ones is much
One night over dinner the Diez
different than ours. They choose to
family explained that
celebrate death while we wear black, play
the big festival
was going to be on November 2. I was not
sad music and mourn the dead.
completely focused in, but I thought they
I have always wanted to travel outside of
expected me to know what the big festival is.
the country and when I heard a couple of my
I did not want to ask because, obviously, I was
friends discussing a foreign exchange program, I
supposed to know; so, I told the Diez family that I
decided to investigate what opportunities lay ahead.
would explore the festival myself that day.
Since I studied Spanish for two years, I thought it
thought it would be like any other street festival that
would be wise to explore a Spanish speaking
I have attended with food, music, art, etcetera. I
country.
After a lot of searching, I chose Mexico
was completely wrong. The festival was chaotic,
City and made my reservations to arrive on October
loud, and intriguing. When I said I wanted to go
29, 2012.
alone, they looked at me wide-eyed like I had horns
I
When I arrived in Mexico City, my host
coming out of my head. I did not think it was that
family was eagerly waiting with open arms. The
crazy of an idea. Now, while I wondered the festival
Diaz family was very gracious to me, but they were
alone, I realized why the Diez family thought that it
also very religious and took things very seriously.
was strange that I would go alone. As a giant skull
Sadly, the communication between us was very
was tossed from a balcony and landed on my head I
minimal, for they spoke hardly any English. Rosa,
dodged a bicyclist and was slammed into the side of
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Diaz, is the same age
the building by a pack of teens racing for food.
as me, 17.
Rosa went to a little school that I also
I needed someone to protect me. After the
attended while visiting. My first couple days of
huge parade of people came by, I turned the corner
school were exhausting; even though I took a
and there I saw Rosa. I ran to her, pushing the
Spanish class in the United States, I was far from
people in front of me out of the way with fear that
prepared for real conversation. It is so fast and hard
Rosa may leave without me. Jumping into her arms.
to understand. It is like being in a place where you
I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I turned to Rosa
have never been before, and then asking someone
and said the adventures have just begun...
for direction that speaks no English, all I could do was nod my head hoping to answer the question. Though that was a set back, the beautiful sights and amazing museums made up for it.
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We Should have Stayed Home by George Thornton I am going to the Scottish festival known as the Highland Games in North Carolina on Grandfather Mountain. I will be traveling with my father and we will wear are tartans which is a design of felt on anything to represent a certain clan from the MacLellan clan. My father and I are MacLellan clan descendants from my dads Mother side of the family. The festival will have over 160 different clans including the MacDonald clan and the MacRae clan. The festival will be four days long and will have more than 30,000 attendants. I am excited to go and can t wait. My only hope is that nothing goes wrong. We will leave New Orleans on July 10 2012, traveling by car because my father does not like flying. Wonderful a 20 hour car ride with my father, who likes to stop at every antique shop and art gallery on the way to the destination. Also my father becomes very irritated when I am on my cell phone so he is going to make me have conversations with him the whole ride. Finally it is July 10th the day we leave for the Highland Games. I am so excited. We get on the highway and we start talking about what were going to do when we get there. I kept annoying him about getting to the Highland Games, but he kept procrastinating. Finally we left Asheville and two hours later we finally arrived at our main destination the Highland Games. Luckily, we arrived just in time for The raising of the clans
I had no idea what raising of the clans was so I asked a man that looked like he knew because he was wearing a kilt and playing his bagpipe. I asked him, What happens during the raising of the clans? He responded with his Scottish accent, Each clan has a representative that announces their family is participating in the gathering. I was thinking to myself If you laugh at his Scottish accent you might get in deep trouble with the clan he is in. It was very hard not to laugh because he had a heavy Scottish accent. The first day had ended and was great. The Second day was the Highland Athletic Competition. The competition revolves mostly around heavyweight events including Turning the Caber and Tossing the Sheaf. Each event requires enormous amounts of strength. Turning the Caber is event where you have to flip a telephone pole sized tree trunk end over end. Tossing of the sheaf is a traditional Scottish farming sport that started at country fairs in Scotland. The competitor (on this day, my dad) uses a pitchfork to toss a sheaf, a burlap bag of hay weighing 16-20 pounds, over a horizontal bar. Someone told me that the world record is over 35 feet. Dad will have three tries to hurl the bag of hay over the bar. The winner is the one who gets the bag over the highest bar. The event was one of many different athletic events. It was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on the left side corner on MacCrae Meadows. Bagpipes played an entrance song. We watched the first guy walk on the field with his pitchfork. He was dressed in a red and gold plaid kilt. He looked like a cross between a wrestler and Zach Galifianakis. He stuck his pitchfork into the sack of hay and looked up at the pole. He walked to one side of it and started swinging the bag back and forth. Then he shouted, Ah, yah, ye
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salach sheaf! Then, swoosh. It flew up and arched over the pole, 20 feet! The crowd cheered. Now it was Dad s turn. He looked pretty silly in the MacLellan kilt, but I guess we were there to find our roots, right? Dad had been working out for the event, but I didn t think he was going to keep up with these musclemen. He walked with his pitchfork over to the sheaf (bag) of hay sitting on the ground. It had the number five on it. I guess every competitor had his own bag. He stabbed it and looked up at the horizontal pole above. He smiled at me. Ok, you fat sheaf! Everyone laughed. This is soooo embarrassing. He swung the bag back and kind of heaved it up. Swoosh. It was up in the air. Aw, Dad, that s a big miss. He walked to the bag a second time and stabbed it with a fury. Wow, he looked mad. Another miss. I could feel myself getting smaller and smaller. Now his third try, his last chance. This time Dad poked the bag a couple of times, as if he was showing the bag who was in charge. He swung the bag back and forth, back and forth, about four times and then let it go. It went over the pole. I couldn t believe it! Everyone cheered, with me yelling as loud as I could. I was so proud and he was too. This went on with the other guys taking their turns. The height of the bar was raised six inches. It was Dad s turn again. He seemed pretty sure of himself now. He started swinging the bag back and forth and then let go. The bag went up, but something was wrong. Instead of the bag of hay going over the bar it went right at the
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corner where the bar was held up with one of the poles. It hit the joint and next thing I knew the bar came loose and swung down like a pendulum, hitting my dad on the head. I heard screams from the crowd. I couldn t believe what I saw. I ran to him. I m shaking him. Dad, dad, wake up. Come on. Somebody wake him up! I heard a whistle like sound. It was the bagpipes. They were making this really loud screeching sound. I guess it was the emergency call of the bagpipes. Next thing I knew a doctor was there, and an ambulance arrived. What seemed like forever but was probably only a minute, he started to move and mumbled, Hey son. They carried him off on a stretcher to the ambulance. They took us to the Linville City. He had a concussion and big knot on his head. They took head scans to make sure there was no internal bleeding. He had to stay in the hospital that night for observation. He was lucky that the pole was made out of PVC pipe. If it had been wood or metal it could have killed him. I called Aunt Kay and Uncle Mike in Fletcher, NC, and agreed to come and get me, but I didn t want to leave my dad. But I didn t have any choice. I didn t sleep that night worrying. The next morning, the phone rang and I heard a funny sounding accent. I could have sworn it was Scottish. Ready to go sheaf tossing today? They the voice laughed and said, I m ready to find some antique shops. How about you? I knew dad was back and we were ok.
MAYBE CANADA is NOT SO BAD By Allan McConnell Why are you making me do this? complained Roger. I m not making you do anything. You said you would come with me to see my cousins in Montreal for the High Lights Festival. I replied. You never said anything about Montreal. Well, maybe I didn t, but you should still come: You haven t been out of the house in weeks. Come on; help me get the bags. We were still at our apartment in New York packing up for the trip. It was February and the snow was falling outside our window. Roger had finally looked at his plane ticket and realized that we were going to his least favorite country, Canada. Any time I asked him why he hated Canada, he always said that it was boring, that nothing ever happens there, and that anywhere colder than New York would surely kill him. That was the second reason for the trip; I was going to cure his hatred of a place that he had never actually been to. As well as Montreal, we were going to a few places that I had been when I had last gone to Canada. It was about ten years ago on a skiing/ snowboarding trip with my family. We stayed in a small town in Quebec called Mont-Tremblant, where I had first learned to snowboard. We boarded the plane around ten A.M., and we arrived in Montreal about an hour later. My cousins were there to greet us: Eric, his wife Sophie, and Juliette, who preferred to be called Julie. Eric was the only one who could speak English well enough to hold a conversation, but Sophie and Julie could say some basic phrases. Luckily, I could speak French well enough that communication wasn t too much of a problem, but Roger had enough trouble saying hello in French.
Bonjour, cousin! Said Eric, Welcome to Canada. Bonjour Eric, bonjour Sophie, bonjour Julie. I replied. Bonjour Allan. Said Sophie and Julie. This is my friend Roger, this is his first trip to Canada. I told Eric. Ah, bon, welcome Roger, we will be sure to show you the best parts of Canada, and I m sure it will be very fun. Said Eric. I m sure it will. Replied Roger. He had a polite smile on his face as he shook my cousin s hand, but I swear that I heard him mumble the words Yeah, I doubt it. My cousins drove us to their big house in the suburbs of Montreal. It was a two-story house with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a big dining room, a living room, a kitchen, and a den with a big flat-screen TV hanging on the wall. Julie didn t normally live there because she had her own house in the city, but she was staying while we were going to be visiting there. You picked a very good day to come to Montreal because tonight the High Lights Festival begins, and you will be able to see the best of Montreal all throughout the city. Eric told us. The High Lights Festival involves the entire city lit up with millions on lights, with good Canadian foods everywhere, as well as fun games to play, and a big fireworks display. It was the perfect thing to tempt Roger with. But remember, it begins at six and Montreal gets very cold at night. We ll get our snowsuits ready. I said. Excellent mes amis! It was now around eight o clock,
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and we had been at the festival for around two hours. The temperature was somewhere below zero degrees Fahrenheit, and our breath was turning into fog as soon as it left our mouths. Roger had spent the entire time resisting anything that might be fun. By now Eric, Sophie, and Julie had split off from me and Roger to go do other activities and giving me some time alone with Roger. We were walking down one of the streets when Roger stopped in his tracks. What is it? I asked. Do you smell that? He asked. I stopped and sniffed the air. Mostly, it just smelled like cold air, but I did smell something. It was warm, sweet and smelled like melting chocolate. I looked around and saw where it was coming from. It was a little bakery across the street selling what looked like big pizza cookies. I instantly recognized them, and we walked across the street at a brisk pace. I bought one and brought it to Roger. What is it? He asked. Just try it. I told him. Roger cautiously broke off a piece and tossed it into his mouth. His eyes widened, and I could tell by his expression that he loved it. It s called a Beaver Tail. A Beaver Tail is basically a big warm cookie with chocolate sauce and whatever other kind of sweet stuff you want on it. This one that I bought happened to have Reese s Pieces on top. Care to admit that there is one thing in Canada that s not so bad? I asked Roger with a triumphant smirk on my face. No, he replied through a mouthful of Beaver Tail, but this is really good. We stayed in Montreal for the next few days, but then headed off for our next stop from my childhood visit, Mont-Tremblant. This was my favorite part of the trip, partly because I loved to snowboard, but mostly because I was excited to see Roger fall flat on his face while learning how to snowboard. Julie had decided to tag along because she, like Roger, had never learned to ski or snowboard. She said that she thought it d be
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fun, but I suspected it was for a different reason. I had a strong feeling that she liked Roger. We were going to stay in a hotel by the base of the mountain where we could easily get to the lift to the top. After a good night s sleep, we rented snowboards and made our way to the lift. The ride didn t take that long, and we arrived at the top a few minutes later with our snowboards in hand. It was freezing, and the snow stung as it hit our faces. We put on our goggles, and for the sake of not killing Roger on his first try, we went down the easiest slope. Julie and Roger were slowing making their way down, and I was following behind, annoyed that I couldn t go as fast as I wanted to. Roger was being nice enough to Julie: helping her up when she fell down but also trying to impress her by occasionally going kind of fast and then falling face first into the snow. One time his legs curled behind his back, his board still attached, and hit him hard in the small of his back, a move known in snow boarding as scorpion-ing. We finally got down the mountain, Roger with a big, flat, new bruise on his back and a smile on his face, and headed to Bullseye Café, where we all bought a cup of the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted, and Roger finally admitted that Canada was a pretty cool place after all. We walked back to the hotel, and as I looked down, I saw Roger hand in hand with Julie.
Don’t Mess With Texas... Unless You’re from France By Patrick Hovet They re calling it the game of the century here in the state of Texas; Cowboys vs. Texans for the first time in Super Bowl XLVII right here in Houston, the man on TV said as I, Pierre Devereaux, watched from my modest apartment in Paris while finishing the packing of my bags. I was actually headed to the very place about which the TV man was talking: Houston, Texas. My parents divorced when I was very young. Consequently, being the more feminine child, I moved to Paris with my mother while my older brother Danny remained in the States with our father. I was going overseas to visit Danny for the first time in over ten years. The last time I had visited was for Danny s graduation from Princeton Law School. Since then, he had apparently become a huge success at one of the biggest law firms in Texas. He now has a wife and two kids, all of whom I have never met. I drove to the Paris airport in eager anticipation of venturing to this completely new territory. I didn t really know what to expect, but Danny always told me the city had both good and bad qualities, whatever that meant. The drive from Hobby airport to my brother s house was a long one; I got a good look at the city with all of its skyscrapers and such. The sky was a deep gray and the industrious, busy atmosphere of Houston struck
me almost immediately. To me, the city looked big, tacky, and overstated. There was one church that looked more like a convention center to me. It used to be a basketball arena, as I later found out. As it was the week of the Super Bowl, the traffic was unbelievable and the airport filled to the brim. This gave me more time to take in the absolute loveliest place in the world. My brother s family lived in a neighborhood called River Oaks, which I expected to be the wealthier of areas here. I was far from wrong. I pulled up to the incredibly large house, or chateau, which looked like it belonged more in France or England than Texas. I rang the doorbell and a tall, blond, incredibly fabulous-looking woman who introduced herself as Holly answered the door. Unless my brother picks his housekeepers from the Victoria s Secret catalog, I ll have to assume this is his wife. I thought to myself as she called for the man I ve been waiting to see for seemingly forever. Danny came down and appeared thrilled to see me. The two of us, however little time we ve spent together throughout our lives and however different we may seem, have always got along extremely well and greatly enjoy our time spent together. One might think our multitudinous differences (the largest of which might be the fact that I m gay) keep us distant. That s not at all the case; he has always embraced our differences and acts like we have spent our whole lives together. I could not appreciate that more about him, he is definitely the ideal brother. We all ate dinner together after getting an extensive tour of their magnificent house (imported, piece-by-piece, from England in 1895). At dinner we talked about our career ventures and my job as a curator at the Louvre, which they were all surprisingly impressed by. The next day we were planning for a Sunday brunch at the Country Club down the road. Then that afternoon it was off to the Super Bowl, I had never been to an American football game before so I was definitely excited for that.
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Apparently this particular game was a huge deal here, mainly because it was the championship game between the two teams in Texas, but also that the game happened to be in Texas that year. I bade au revoir to my family as I ventured to their beautiful guest bedroom with a definite feeling of excitement for the next day. *** I ll have the fruit salad with an iced tea, s il vous plaît, I said to the waitress, who looked bewildered at that last bit and walked away. Throughout our brunch, a few men and women who must be acquaintances of my brother walked by and greeted him. He would then introduce them to me. Some of them gave an odd look at Danny when I introduced myself. I brushed it off as if it was nothing and we continued our meal. The conversation soon shifted to politics and more specifically, American politics. Danny s oldest, Kenny, asked me what I thought about Barack Obama in office. I responded, maybe a bit too loudly. I think Obama is doing a great job! You could have heard a pin drop. Nearly the entire room was staring directly at our table. Some looked confused, others bewildered, and some genuinely contemptuous. A few minutes later, one waited came up to our table and asked if we were about done, if that s not a cue to get out I don t know what is. My brother paid and led us out. Not really feeling those good qualities at the moment. I m sorry about that, Danny, I said as we neared the monstrous black Escalade. No, Pierre, I m sorry. I love it here but this town and this state have some real problems with bigotry. Some things really shouldn t be an issue but the people here seem to think they are. I
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minded about politics and sexual orientation. Don t let it bother you, man. This definitely reassured me. The fact that I was very politically liberal as well as homosexual was really a non-factor back in France but in Texas all that was very far from expected. I just hope my brother will still be respected just as much by his friends after this episode. One thing is for sure: my already great respect for him just skyrocketed. Walking in the streets on the way to the stadium was absolute pandemonium. Thousands of people roamed about the streets in their flamboyant team-allegiant sartorial. One of Danny s kids remarked that half of these people weren t even attending the game. Danny responded, That s right, football is religion in Texas. And that s really saying something considering how religious people in Texas are. I really admired my brother s sense of irony. His cleverness easily allowed him to point out the good and bad qualities about a place he loved so much. The pre game festivities were ubiquitous and amusing. All these people were having the time of their life at this sporting event. It was a great taste of what life was like over here. We sat down in the private box, which Danny s company owned. I met some of his colleagues, all of whom were very friendly. We sat down and I took in the breathtaking view of the tens of thousands of people enjoying this exclusively American spectacle. When the kicker let the ball fly to begin the game, the crowd cheered louder than I ve ever heard anyone cheer before. At last, I realized that these were the good qualities this place has to offer.
MEXICO
• In Mexico when paying for a meal, make sure to place either the cash, check, or credit card directly into the person’s hand rather than the counter. • Although lack of eye contact in the United States is considered rude, quite the opposite is expected across the border. Too much eye contact or holding eye contact for too long is thought of as taunting and unnecessary.
United States
• On a first time visit someone’s home, expect a tour. North Americans love to show off their possessions to anyone and everyone. • North Americans are also very demanding and impatient. This is acceptable to a point, but do not get too carried away. When trying to signal a waiter, raising your index finger is aloud but snapping is one step too far.
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By Megan McGoey
Argentina
• Warning all claustrophobes, stere clear of travels to Argentina. The people of Argentina lack the concept of personal space, and therefore do not keep their distance. • When visiting one’s home, don’t forget to bring a long something special for your host. Common gifts range from candies to flowers. Be sure to bring something for the little ones too!
BRAZIL •Running late? Fear not, it is quite custom in Brazil to arrive 15 to 30 minutes past the scheduled time. When you finally muster the energy to get to wherever you’re going, casually greet the others with “oi.” • Even though the Brazilian atmosphere may seem very relaxed, don’t get the wrong idea. Stretching or yawning in public is not acceptable and comes across very rude.
CANADA • Don’t make a track, leave your shoes out back. Out of respect for someone’s home, make sure to take off your shoes before entering the house.
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•When out and about in Canada, keep your hands free. Neither placing your hands in your pockets or consuming food on the go is acceptable.
KEEPSAKES TO TAKE... Grab a snow globe to keep the scenic views of New York with you wherever you go.
Stash items around your house in these bright, handmade Mexican baskets.
Bring back your very own Canadian moose ornament to celebrate the holidays.
Buy a mini ox cart at one of the many street side markets in San Jose for a true sampling of Costa Rican culture.
...FROM COAST TO COAST
Snag a pair of Brazil’s favorite flip-flops - by Havianas, in all different shapes and sizes.
Save this mini reminder of all of the beautiful turtles you saw at the Galapagos Islands.
Keep warm in the winter with this handmade, colorful alpaca hat.
Savor this Brazilian sweet Brazilian snack, and even bring it home for friends.
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THE BOOKWORM
Exploring Argentina On a Hoof And a Prayer By Marianna Salas
Join Polly Evans on her thrilling adventures throughout Argentina while she fulfills her childhood dream of learning to ride a horse in her 2007 travel memoir, On a Hoof And a Prayer. Instead of learning to ride in the conventional manner, Polly decides to saddle up in Argentina, a country built on horses. Cantering through highland vineyards and snowcapped peaks, she quickly goes from timid beginner to a mini-gaucho, encountering a ferocious dog, a horse intent on bolting, and many other unexpected circumstances. Meanwhile, Polly takes a look into the glorious yet tumultuous history of Argentina, investigating everything from Hernán Cortés s arrival in Argentina to the fiasco of Evita Perón s wandering corpse. On a Hoof And a Prayer is one stampeding story not to be passed up!
A Walk in The Woods Captivates Nature-Lovers By George Thornton Not long after I moved with my family to a small town in New Hampshire I happened upon a path that vanished into a wood on the edge of town. Sounds like a mystery? Not quite. This first sentence from Bill Bryson s travel memoir of his long walk on the Appalachian Trail will keep you foraging for more. His overweight sidekick, Stephen Katz, has you laughing out loud with his craving for Snickers, women, and cream sodas. Will they conquer the nearly 2200 mile rugged terrain stretching from Georgia to Maine? Read A Walk in the
Woods to discover the secrets of the Appalachian Trail and the lessons these two men learn about life and an American treasure.
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Walk The Line Between Combat and Compassion By Megan McGoey Journey through the life of Henry Lee, an American born man, caught up in the enchanting tale of his past that he seems to have lost 40 years ago. After the loss of his dear wife Ethel, Henry struggles to get away from the ways practiced by his own father, the beliefs and practices of a strict Chinese nationalist, and re-connect with his son Marty. Henry s tone strives for a happy medium between bitter and sweet. His conflict always revolves around The Panama Hotel, the dividing landmark of 1940 s Chinatown and the Japanese neighborhood, Nihonmachi in culturally divided Seattle, Washington. This motivating love story, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, written by Jamie Ford puts readers in the position to either continue what has been taught and followed generation after generation, or to defy that in order to risk everything and connect
¡Ciao America! - A Take on The U.S. from A Whole New Perspective By Patrick Hovet
Ciao, America! is the true story of an Italian man, Beppe Severgnini, and his wife spending a year in the place where air conditioning and Lay-Z-Boys rule the world: America. He explores the seemingly ordinary aspects of American life and spins them into hysterical, spot-on takes on the way we live here in the United States. This humorous work changes the way we look at nearly everything in American culture.
True Story of the HeLa Cells Finally Told By Allan McConnell
The Immortal Life of Henrietta
Lacks is a nonfiction award winning
novel written by Rebecca Skloot in 2009. It recounts the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black woman living in America in the 1950s. She died of cervical cancer in a small town called Clover, Virginia in 1951. Her cancer cells were taken without her or her family s permission and were used to create the world s first immortal human cells called HeLa (pronounced HeeLa) cells. These cells were bought, sold, packaged, and mailed to scientists and doctors all over the world for scientific experiments and were used in many medical discoveries, including the polio vaccine, in a multi-billion dollar industry. Her family never saw a dime. They didn t even know her cells were taken until at least 25 years later. The public new almost nothing about the woman behind the cells or her family. The novel recounts the
author s search for the truth about the HeLa cells and the woman they came from, spanning years as it
switches between HeLa s history and the author s travels.
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Sister Chicas Illuminates The True Sense of Sisterhood By Margot Melchiode In Lisa Alvarado, Ann Cardinal, and Jane Coralin s novel,
Sister Chicas, three high school girls, Leni, Taina, and Graciela coincidentally meet each other through the school newspaper club. Immediately, the girls become friends and plan to meet every Thursday for coee. At one of their meetings, Taina shares her anxiety about being forced to have a quinceanera, and is counting on her friends to get her through it. Throughout the novel, the girls encounter many conicts over friendship, boys, and family related issues. Though their friendship is challenged at one point, they learn to overcome the problem, deal with the situation in a more positive way, and form a stronger bond resembling a sisterhood.
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M. Melchiode
rick By Pat
Ho
ve t
Rio: An animated adventure about a sheltered blue bird venturing to a completely new territory: Rio de Janeiro.
Ides of March: The 2011 political drama starring Ryan Gosling and George Clooney that gives an inside look at the way politics and the presidential race operates in the U.S. [54]
Margin Call: A semi-historical look at the financial crisis of a United States investment bank set during the last decade.
Scarface: The story of an ambitious Cuban immigrant whose goal is to achieve the elusive “American Dream,� he does so by becoming the head of a large drug cartel.
Friday Night Lights: This 2006 film gives an inside look at the cultures of small American towns whose cultures revolve solely around high school football.
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Destination :
the americas