When you travel, you learn things about yourself and the world around you that you would’ve never known otherwise. Traveling is transformative—it can change your perspective on life, confrm and shatter your idealistic images of places and cultures, and it can show you who the people you are traveling with truly are. Te bird’s eye view from a plane is but one of the perspectives that you will experience on your journey—your perspective might be the view outside your car window, what you see while looking up at a monument, or from a change within, refected outward: your own perspective that you take with you wherever you go, like souvenirs you gather along the way.
In this issue, Insight Magazine wishes to whisk you away to destinations from Vegas to Japan. We hope each page is a portal to another city, country, or idea. Travel as a college student can be difcult and sometimes unachievable because of our obligations, from classes, fnances, careers, friends and family. Although some of our issue is about the travel of our writers, there are also ways to do so that can be attainable whether it's through imagination or planning a doable mini-trip to a destination near Reno.
Over the course of the semester, the Insight team has worked hard on the 2024 issue. Many meetings dealt with organization, order, and debates. Te journey of producing this issue was one that our staf, interns,
Letter edited by Hanna Villegas and Lola Works
and volunteers took, joining us as we worked around the theme. But over time and afer plenty of communication, we are proud to share the issue with the University of Nevada and the Reno community.
- Makenna Skowronski
All photographs included in this magazine were taken by Clayton Posey unless otherwise noted
The INSIGHT Team
Heather Saxe Art Illustrator
Jace Ouchida Art Director
Clayton Posey Photo Editor
Zoey Cambley Staf Writer
Hanna Villegas Copy Editor
Makenna Skowronski Executive Editor
About the Magazine
In your hands is the latest edition of Insight Magazine. Our hope is that you will see a refection of yourself in these stories in some form, whether through the written pieces, photography, or designs. Tis issue is a result of a tremendous amount of hard work, collaboration, and love. It is also a representation of a student publication decades in the works (with origins from Artemisia, the university's yearbook, dating back to the 1800s).
Insight Magazine is proud to have placed ffh in the category of People’s Choice and eighth in the category of Feature Magazine at the 2020 Associated College Press Journalism Convention.
Tank you for supporting us. We hope you enjoy these stories as much as we enjoyed creating them. If you are interested in getting involved with us, visit insightunr.com or our Instagram, @insightmagazineunr.
Table of Contents
A Decade Later, 2014 Makes a Comeback in 2024
Hawai'i: Can Costs Outweigh Colonization
Discovering
When it comes to travel, you’re typically booking that fight to escape from your current reality or, you’re trying to immerse yourself in someone else’s. Travel destinations can easily be called “basic” depending on who you’re around. I’m sure you’ve heard more than one person tell you they’re going to Cabo for spring break, or Maui for summer. Hey, maybe you were the one packing your colorful swimsuits for those destinations. Conveniently forgetting sunblock so you could come back to school with a new tan. Regardless of where you may have gone, or where you may go, you probably have been called basic at some point in your life. But, is that really such a terrible thing?
People usually refer to others as “basic” when someone tends to follow popular trends and mainstream ideas. While basic may be used as an insult nowadays, it isn’t necessarily a negative thing. Let’s debunk the myth that being basic means lacking authenticity. Sure, snapping a picture in front of the Eifel Tower might seem like the ultimate tourist move, but who’s to say that moment isn’t genuine? For many, it’s a lifelong dream fulflled, a memory to cherish forever. Being basic doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the beauty and signifcance of iconic landmarks.
Now the word “basic” and its meaning are entirely subjective. Maybe you’ve been called “basic” before because you decided you liked the new bathing suit brand everyone is buying, or the new water bottle others are frequently seen with. So, just because your taste happens to be similar to others, that makes you basic? What’s so terrible about having the same fashion sense or preference as the person next to you? Everyone wants to be original, but originality itself is a myth. We as humans are constantly inspired by a multitude of
Basic, Is it Bad?
Beach Towels and Bucket Lists:
Embracing Basic Travel Trends
By Lauren Juillerat
trends, ideals, and hobbies that come together and, in turn, form our own unique characteristics. Te media or popular social media platforms set what we as a society deem as “trendy.” Whether it’s your favorite celebrity wearing a new brand, or taking a picture of their favorite travel getaway spot, I’m sure you’ll be inspired by that image circulating in your media. Others who also like that same content will in turn be inspired by the same trend. So, I can guarantee you have the same hobbies or travel ideas as others around you but that doesn’t mean you’re not “original.” Your interests will shape original experiences that will create everlasting lessons and memories for you. Being basic is inevitable but so is being unique. Enjoying popular activities and trends can add a sense of comfort and familiarity to otherwise unknown places, and can actually enhance your traveling experience. For instance, going to the Louvre in Paris is a very popular activity that may be seen as “basic.” But going to this magnifcent museum will open your eyes to a multitude of art, history, and cultures that you weren’t aware of prior. Or let’s say you’re going to Italy. Who wouldn’t want to try their famous gelato! Tese popular adventures will enrich not only your brief travel stay, but your life in general.
Being basic also fosters connection. Shared experiences – whether it’s waiting in line for that one souvenir or bonding over a mutual love for a popular food – create moments of camaraderie with fellow travelers. It’s shared moments that ofen lead to lasting memorable stories. So, next time you’re packing your bag, why not indulge in the ideas others seem to gravitate towards? Pack that lipstick everyone is raving about, buy that disposable camera, and fnd things to incorporate into your own being that make you unique. Te term basic will
always exist, but being basic in itself is not a bad trait. Sharing passions with your peers is a wonderful concept, and so is discovering new ones in a foreign place and incorporating them into your own. Afer all, life is too short to worry about being basic.
the black, mirror-smooth water refecting the dramatic outlines of the Rocky Mountains, against a brilliant orange sunset. Te world is silent except for the sound of my own breath catching from a raw combination of cutting cold and unfltered beauty. In that moment, I felt a connection with nature more poignant than any I had felt before, and through it, I forged a deeper connection with myself. In the frigid waters, I lef behind a week’s worth of hardearned sweat and a life’s worth of selfdoubt. I was alone, a thousand miles from home, on a trip that even a month earlier I could not have imagined committing to.
My frst-ever solo trip took me halfway across the country in my surprisingly ofroad-worthy Prius. Te trip gave me plenty of opportunities to either fail or prove to myself exactly what I am capable of. Each day, I learned more about where my limits are and, more ofen, where they are not. I came back home with a new perspective on the world and more confdence about my place in it. As someone born and raised in Reno, my trip made me understand how truly massive and varied our country is. I met dozens of people who each had their own stories and along with them I saw countless beautiful places on my own.
A month of gallivanting around the country did not make my worries or problems disappear, but when I come against a problem in my life, I have tangible evidence that I have the power to overcome it. I took on seven national parks, ffeen thunderstorms, and six thousand miles — I can handle the problems that college suburbia throws at me.
Anyone can take their own version of
Going Solo: A Quick Guide for Traveling Alone
By Niko Mastick
a solo trip. Doing a solo trip is an amazing opportunity for people to learn about themselves and have a great deal of fun along the way. Being alone can seem daunting because you have to rely only on yourself, possibly for the frst time, but taking that frst leap will be worth it.
Te frst rule of a solo trip is that it should be fun, but not easy. Growth happens when you stretch your limits, so I suggest doing an activity you enjoy that pushes beyond your usual routine. Personally, I am a planner, so I made it my personal goal to wake up every
morning not knowing where I was going to sleep that night. Setting goals can help you get the most out of your trip while still giving you the space to have a good time.
Secondly, practice makes perfect! Do not limit yourself by expecting your frst solo trip to go perfectly. Personally, I learned early on that that my tent was not waterproof when I ran into a thunderstorm on the frst night of my trip. I have since upgraded and now know that I should be more thoroughly checking my equipment on future trips. To continue traveling solo take what you learn from your previous trips to keep extending the boundaries of what you are capable of.
Finally, the best time to start planning your frst (or next) solo trip is now. Although college can be an incredibly busy time, it also has a degree of fexibility that might not exist in many workplaces after we graduate. Traveling during college Tis can give you the space to start dreaming of your solo trip, whether you are able to travel during a school break or sometime in the future when life is less hectic, beginning it is the frst hurdle.
Tis transition time between childhood and adulthood is also the best time to push yourself. Staying in your comfort zone has many benefts when trying to juggle everything that comes with being a college student, but it can also make you complacent to a degree. It’s essential to fnd a balance between allowing yourself time to enjoy the simple moments of life and challenging yourself to help achieve your aspirations. Consider seizing this moment’s perfect opportunity to have an adventure instead of coasting along in comfort.
Your adventure can take many forms. My trip became a camping road trip because I love the outdoors and nature. I felt fairly confdent I could both stay out of serious trouble and enjoy myself. Your trip should similarly be your own. Here are some ideas for you to start planning your solo trip:
A place to start would be to think about somewhere you’ve always thought about seeing but haven’t gotten the chance to. A road trip can be a great place to start. Sleeping in hotels is usually pretty risk free, while camping, including sleeping in a car or camper van, can be very cheap or even free if you’re willing to do some research into local campgrounds.
If you are not too picky about a destination, a quick weekend trip fying to a new place can be as low as $50. Set aside a weekend to go on a trip, pack an overnight bag, and look for cheap, last-minute fights to somewhere you’ve never been. Sleeping in a hostel is a great option for a trip requiring something with minimal spontaneous planning or a quick place to sleep for a night.
On the more expensive (and less adventurous) side, booking a trip with a tour company can be a great way to meet new people, travel to exciting places with an expert, and make memories that can last a lifetime. While a guided group trip is not a solo trip in the traditional sense, it is a fun challenge in its own right.
Another option is a solo staycation which can take away the stress of planning a trip while still allowing you to dip your toes out of your comfort zone. Treating your backyard like a campground or spending a night at a local resort hotel can be a nice change of pace, while allowing you to stay near enough to take care of any pets or other obligations at home.
Te possibilities for solo trips are endless, truly the only thing stopping you from beginning your next adventure is you.
Photos by Zoe Malen
Prepare for an undertaking of philanthropy and activism. Te nonprofts and organizations in this article span from the familiar scenery of Nevada to the distant horizons of Asia, Africa, and the Pacifc. Nonprofits and organizations ofen advocate for a chosen cause because they lack support for the issues they address, or sometimes their mission is not addressed elsewhere in their community. Te following organizations and nonprofts range from local to global in scope. Hopefully, by reading about these four organizations, you will feel a sense of urgency to fnd one that resonates with you, inspiring further research or simply educating you on these movements. Tere are countless ways to get involved, and in this case, taking the frst step could be as simple as reading a snippet about what each of these organizations do every day.
Return Strong
Local (Nevada)
Return Strong is an organization in Nevada that began during the pandemic in 2020 and came together from women who had loved ones who were incarcerated. Te organization fghts for decarceration, which involves policies aimed at reducing the number of people held in custody or under custodial supervision. Te group aims to “change the culture of incarceration in Nevada,” and deals with the mishandling and neglect that occurs in the Nevada Corrections system. During Covid, issues that had been present previously escalated with the pandemic, sparking this organization to educate lawmakers in Nevada and our community on the negative ideologies surrounding those who are incarcerated. Return Strong also advocates for bills by talking to inmates and through their advocacy team that help prisoners with fnances and the ability to access medical care. To contribute to this organization, people
Local to Global: Nonprofit Guide
By Hanna Villegas
can donate, volunteer, and simply educate themselves on the organization’s work through their website and newsletter.
Website: https://www.returnstrongnv. org/
Disability Justice Project
Global in Asia, Africa and the Pacifc Te Disability Justice Project focuses on storytelling to create systemic change. Tey also train human rights defenders with disabilities all over the world in documentary storytelling. Te organization sends out camera kits to fellows and supports people with disabilities to reclaim the narrative of disability justice. DJP is partners with many other organizations, such as the Disability Rights Fund and the Center of Independent Documentary. To be involved and aware of DJP’s work, one could watch and read the stories they share, as the project focuses on multimedia journalism. You could also apply to be a fellow by keeping an eye on the organization’s newsletter to keep up to date on the opportunities to get involved.
Website: https://disabilityjusticeproject. org/
Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
Local (Nevada)
Tis is private nonproft corporation founded in 1980 in Nevada by fve of the state's existing domestic violence program directors. Tis organization deals with advocacy, support and education. NCEDSV helps provide Nevada’s direct service organizations that assist victims of domestic violence and their families. Tey ofer training and educational events for their members and staf, ensuring they follow best practices when it comes to learning about healthy relationships and preventing sexual violence. NCEDSV provides technical assistance (direct problem-solving ser-
vices) to Nevada’s domestic and sexual assault service programs and providers. Tey also support the enforcement of legislation and policies that enhance safety for victims and their children, hold perpetrators accountable, and create sustainable funding sources for programs. To engage and stay aware of current domestic violence issues, the NCEDSV website has many articles and educational forums about domestic violence. You can also donate to support the cause to help domestic violence victims. Website: https://www.ncedsv.org/
Red Equity
Local (Nevada) and over 10 states
Red Equity is a menstrual equity movement and organization that combats period poverty one period package at a time through advocacy, action and distribution. Period poverty afects millions of women in the United States, and this organization is unique in that it addresses the three pillars of “distribution of period products, advocacy for legislation, and conversational advocacy to end the stigma around menstruation.” Red Equity’s mission is to serve as a guiding organization for people or entities passionate about ending period poverty, diminishing the stigma around menstruation and promoting menstrual equity everywhere. Te organization provides essential products to people in over 10 states including Nevada. Red Equity ofers many ways for the public to be involved. You can support by donating or attending a distribution day where individuals assemble packages with feminine hygiene products. Other ways to help include organizing a period package drive, educating yourself about period poverty, or even participating in internships ofered by the organization. Website: https://redequity.org/#about
I’ll never forget the frst time I visited Lake Tahoe. I was 13 years old, attending a statewide cross country meet in Reno. My coach drove our small team up from Las Vegas in a large mom van. I had no idea where Reno was or how far it was from home (I slept most of the drive), but I do remember being disgusted by the grimy downtown casino we stayed at, and unimpressed by the dusty running trail that served the race.
We lef early in the morning to return to southern Nevada, giving the team ample time to stop for an hour or two on the shores of Lake Tahoe. I was blown away; not only did the natural beauty of the lake contrast so sharply with how I perceived Reno, but I had never before seen an inland body of water so large. We stopped at a beautiful beach dotted with large boulders and accented by towering pine trees. Te water was crystal clear, and sunlight sparkled across its mesmerizing shades of blue. Te sand was as sof as the beaches I’d previously visited in California and Texas. It was immediately apparent that Tahoe was a far cry from the murky, rocky waters of the far more familiar Lake Mead.
I followed the older kids in our group as they scampered across the boulders resting in the water. As we got further from the beach, I began to see small fsh darting about, as well as a crawfsh lurking in the shallow water. Te coarse rock that we’d been climbing on lef my hands feeling raw, but I was far too entranced by my surroundings to care.
Soon afer, one of the older boys announced he had found a clif jumping spot. I’d never heard of clif jumping before, so I followed him up the more earthy, rocky side of the park until we reached a boulder that leaned out over the water. It was a fairly tame jump; it couldn’t have been
Memories of Tahoe
By Riley Overstreet
much more than a ten foot drop. Visible directly below the water’s surface were several rocks and a small spot of sand.
Afer a quick demonstration of the jump’s safety, courtesy of the older boy, the rest of us took turns running of and climbing back up. I was inevitably peer pressured into participating as well, and took the plunge against my better judgment. It was indeed safe; the light distortion caused by the water made the rocks appear closer to the surface than they were. Te water had been far colder than I was expecting, and I quickly scrambled back onto the rocks. But the intoxicating rush of adrenaline I’d received was an entirely new feeling for me, and I loved it. I’d always liked swimming, yet fying into the water from a rocky perch elevated an already enjoyable endeavor. Tere was also a sense of camaraderie to be found in leaping into the water with others; I was scared but I wasn’t alone in my actions, and this was my frst time experiencing that.
We lef for home shortly aferwards, and I didn’t visit Lake Tahoe again for another fve years. Upon returning to Reno for college, I would come to learn that the beach I’d visited was Sand Harbor State Park. In the spirit of exploring the same beach that I had such fond memories of, I recruited a vehicle-owning friend of mine to take me to Tahoe.
It was late February, and while it was actually quite pleasant down in Reno, the mountains were capped with snow and the Tahoe shoreline sufered from a biting, blustery wind. My friend and I wandered a paved trail on the larger, more southern little peninsula that juts out into the lake.
Various sandy paths broke from the main trail, drawing visitors down to the rocky shore. I scaled one of the boulders and ad-
mired the view. Te strong winds sent waves careening into some of the larger rocks that sat a few meters out in the water, serving as bulwarks against the frigid water’s will. I longed for a warm sun that would permit me to wade out and climb them as I once had.
I found the spot where I clif-jumped on the small northern nub of Sand Harbor. It was really just a sloped rock above some deep water, and unless the water level had substantially risen, the jump couldn’t have been more than a couple of feet. Regardless, it was nice to fnd the very same spot that had brought me so much joy in the past.
Soon afer we began driving back to Reno, snow began to fall. While certainly not a hidden gem, as the beach is very popular, Sand Harbor still stands out in my mind as a place where I learned far more about our state and myself. An alpine paradise and a day spent in far more company than I was used to; who could ask for more? To me, the Lake Tahoe experience has been far superior to that of any ocean, and I’ll most certainly be back.
Starting Line
It’s 4:30 a.m., August 26, and Hayden Cofng is driving around the switchbacks circling Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Eliana Gorov, his girlfriend of two and a half years, sits in the passenger seat and turns on music. A low reverb sounds throughout the car as the frame of his racing bike rattles in the trunk. Cofng turns up the music. As the sun rises, Cofng will be competing in his frst triathlon in Lake Tahoe.
A few hours later, a whistle goes of and a battalion of athletes dive into the freezing water for the frst leg of the race. For the event’s spectators, squinting to see the athletes they know amid the harsh morning rays, there isn’t much to do once the race has started. Grandparents, friends, and partners zoom into their phone’s cameras until their athletes are mere pixels, bobbing on the open water.
“If you’re lucky, you’ll see me twice during the race,” Cofng said. Suddenly he was gone, starting the nearly 3-hour-long race.
Practice
Cofng trains multiple times throughout the week for all of his races. Recently, Cofing won a 5K at a local park. Over the years, he has become no stranger to placing. For an athlete engaged in many races a year, the 22-year-old found that he competed better against himself than others.
Te Patagonia-clad athlete can be found sipping a Starbucks espresso afer running with his club. Cofng is not training for any particular race at the moment afer Tahoe. He thought about racing in this year’s Pumpkinman, a triathlon around Boulder
A Triathlete Introduces Himself
By Jace Ouchida
City and Lake Mead in Southern Nevada on Halloween weekend, but realized it wouldn’t ft his schedule. He does not mind not competing each time, having already competed in the race in 2019 and 2021.
“I lucked out,” Cofng said about the Lake Tahoe race. “Lake Tahoe is a very rare start-fnish since the transitions are in the same place.”
Cofng normally competes in the Olympic individual triathlons, which includes a 0.93-mile swim, 24.8-mile bike and a 6.2-mile run. In most triathlons, switching from swimming to biking to running happens at diferent places along the route. Normally, this involves setting up the needed equipment for each leg the night before. However, at Lake Tahoe, these transitions all occurred in the same area, making the race accessible for more competitors to prepare and race on the same day.
In high school, Cofng played tennis all four years. Additionally, he ran track for one year and ofen jokes he was a linebacker. In 2017, he started jogging, which quickly turned into running.
Te following year, he competed in his frst big race, the Summerlin Half Marathon in Las Vegas, Nevada, his hometown.
“And I started to really enjoy it, so I should train for something scary,” Cofng said. “Because if you’re scared you want to train for it. Fear motivates people to do creative things.”
In 2020, Cofng competed in a race in San Diego which brought a handful of new experiences. Having to start in the water without anything to kick of of was a challenge. Te triathlon, put on by San Diego
State University, felt similar to a party for Cofng, running in the morning and then hanging out with his teammates on the beach for the weekend. Cofng, a vegetarian, enjoyed the local tacos between practices.
“It was the atmosphere, it’s kind of hard to explain,” Cofng said about the San Diego triathlon, revealing it was his favorite competition so far.
Although he had an opportunity for sponsorships when on a cycling team years ago, he buys his own equipment to train and compete. Most of his purchases are online, though he ofen peruses bikes in stores around Reno. Te Patagonia outlet in downtown Reno, which Cofng frequents, is a great place to marvel at racing bikes on car hitches.
“ Tere’s not a lot of money in triathlons,” Cofng said. “No one knows what it is.”
Although more common than the other “-thons,” such as biathlon or duathlon, triathlons still live in the shadow of the more popular marathon.
Cofng understands the dangers of the sport. One of Cofng’s friends in highschool, Mark Wilbourne, faced a nearly catastrophic accident while biking in Southern Nevada a few years ago. While cycling in Red Rock Canyon, an erratic driver brakechecked Wilbourne, paralyzing him from the neck down. Wilbourne was not unavailable for contact. Although Cofng doesn’t race solely in honor of his friend, it is evident Cofng tries to be as safe as possible during these races. He pointed out a dark mark on his index fnger, a battlescar from repeated hits against lane dividers while swimming. Proof, along with once having
a compression fracture in his shin, of his dedication.
Before moving to Reno, Cofng attended the University of Arizona, Tucson. He found it to be a great place to ride a bike.
“ Tere was a great network of trails,” Cofng said. “ Tere were dedicated bike roads, cycle paths. It was great. It was like one of the best cities in the world to have a bike.”
At the University of Nevada, Reno, Cofing declared a computer science and engineering major and a mathematics minor with a discrete and operations research emphasis. Currently he is in his fnal stretch before graduating, which he plans on doing in the spring of next year.
Balancing a 21-credit course load with a workout regimen is challenging, yet Cofing is not too worried. Even though he races triathlons and shorter races, he is not currently preparing to do any longer distance races, such as an Ironman.
“It’s like the only hobby you can have, it’s like a 20 hour a week commitment usually,” Cofng said. “You’d be out there for 12 hours and race a century on your bike.”
He likes his balance as it is. He is a frequent visitor and member at Basecamp, a local rock climbing gym that overlooks Te Reno Arch. Wednesdays are bike nights and he tries to plan runs with his club on campus as ofen as his schedule allows.
Te Club
It can be difcult to get a club going on campus given the many steps that ASUN (Te Associated Students of the University of Nevada) requires to become ofcialized and receive funding. As the president, Cofing is still working on getting this accreditation.
Brendan Dowling, a Nevada Teach Math major and avid runner, has been working as the vice president of the yet-to-be-ofcial club. Tere’s around 60 members in the club’s group chat, though numbers vary for how many join each practice.
“It’s supposed to be more competitive, a little bit longer distance, and more workouts to be more race focused,” Dowling
said, listing the reasons how this new running club difers from a similar club already on campus. Last spring, the two ofcers had a class together and Cofng noticed Dowling’s track backpack.
“He asked, ‘Are you trying to start a club?’ and I said yeah,” Dowling said. Te pair hopes for a larger turnout as track season nears and support from ASUN next semester.
Finish Line
At breakfast in Lake Tahoe, waiting for Cofng to get closer to the fnish line, Gorov shows a picture of her and her roommate’s pet chinchilla holding up a small sign cheering him on. Gorov, a journalism major at the university, tries her best to attend as many of his events as possible.
“I just want to support him so that when he gets to the fnish line, someone is there to cheer him on and congratulate him and I also want to make sure that he has the time during the week to train,” Gorov said.
Gorov meets back up with Cofng afer being stuck in trafc. In the time she was gone, Cofng had fnished the race. As the majority of athletes are just now crossing the fnish line, Cofng steers his bike toward the car and gets in.
“ Tis will save my life,” Cofng said about the bottle of what appeared to be baby formula, but was actually Ultragen, a sports recovery drink. Despite its rancid appearance, Cofng swears by it.
Te trek back to Reno is quiet, save for NPR. Between Bill Kurtis’s remarks and the AC blasting, Cofng, exhausted with good reason, is concerned he may have accidentally cut through somewhere, an athletic crime punishable with disqualifcation. Gorov pats his shoulder, reassuring him that that couldn’t have happened.
Between the forest of identical trees and the quick transitions that athletes have to take between legs, Cofng had become lost.
“It’s hard to describe it,” Cofng said. “You’re almost always disoriented, unless you’re in the middle of the bike, the middle of the swim or the middle of the road. Imagine you’re swimming, and then you do a push up, stand up, and then start running.
You’re gonna be a little dizzy.”
Eventually, Cofng found someone who seemed confdent in his direction, and latched onto his path.
In the car, Gorov checks her phone. Cofing placed frst in the running section and third overall with a time of 2 hours and 44 minutes. Out of 231 competitors, Cofng is relieved. Although he placed 59th for the swim portion, he had some words to share.
“Winners never swim and swimmers never win,” Cofng said, and it seems that his advice has held true. In a fnal word of wisdom, one that motivates him to race, Cofng shared a quote by Ken Kesey.
“I’d rather be a lightning rod than a seismograph.”
South Lake Tahoe, Nevada is a tourist area, but for people in Reno and surrounding Northern Nevada towns, it is the go-to spot for a one day adventure. My experience on February 16th was one of many, but it was the frst day being at Heavenly Resort with my friend.
Taking of from Reno, Nevada bright and early in my trusty Subaru, Brooke and I prepared ourselves for a day of snowboarding and beautiful views. While Northstar Resort is our usual spot, Brooke wanted to experience Heavenly Ski Resort in the heart of South Lake Tahoe since she had never been. With clear roads, our drive was safe and quick and ended with a killer parking spot at the bottom of the Tram .
Suiting up and strapping in, we made our way to the base of the mountain at California Lodge. We are not experts by any means, but we managed to skip the bunny hill.
“I can’t look behind us,” Brooke said, as we continued to climb higher on the Gunbarrel lif. I turned around, and afer some searching, noticed my car sitting in the parking lot, now the size of a small ant in a sea of ants of multiple shapes and colors.
Never say ‘Last Run’
Photos and Story by Tenyson Fowler
“ Ten don’t.” For some reason, those were the two words I came up with for a comforting response. She was obviously uncomfortable being so high up on the mountain, but I shrugged it of and kept my eyes on the skiers racing down the moguls.
We managed to successfully get of the lif and make our way down to the Umbrella Bar where we spent most of our breaks between runs. It sits near three lifs going to three diferent spots on the mountain; Patsy’s, which brings you back to the Tram, Groove, which goes to a few blue ski runs and the tricks area, and Powderbowl, which leads higher up the mountain with greens, blues, and black diamonds (do not try this on your frst day skiing).
Getting on Powderbowl was slightly intimidating, but people on either side of us steered away once it was our turn for the lif. We got a six-person lif all to ourselves, which I can only think to blame on our apparently obvious limited experience.
Brooke and I quickly found a green run named Maggie’s of of Powderbowl that we went down four times in one day. It was a large enough space and a small enough number of people that Maggie’s provided an excellent area to work on technique.
Te Powderbowl lif can take you multiple places, but Brooke and I made our way to the bottom of two other lifs that can take you to the highest and second highest point on the mountain. We went up Canyon to do the frst blue run my friend has ever done: Ridge Run.
While Ridge Run was longer than other runs we’ve done, it was more difcult as well. Te steepness of the slope and the larger number of people racing down made
it harder to weave through the bumps and slices in the snow. Even with that knowledge beforehand, I still took my frst and only fall getting of the lifs that day.
When the lif slows down towards the end, usually it holds enough speed where it propels you forward and you just have to focus on balancing. However this time, the lif slowed down to a speed so slow I could not use the momentum to my advantage. Te hill down from the lif was steeper than any I had encountered before. Tis irritating combination made my loose foot slip from its position and catch on the edge of my board, forcing me to waddle down the steep angle.
Tink of it like taking part in a potato sack race with your friend, except your friend is actually just your other leg strapped into the board that refuses to listen. In short, I fell. It wasn’t a painful fall, except for the bruise on my tailbone the next morning and a small blow to my pride.
Te tumble did not shake the fact that going to the top was completely worth it, especially because we were fnally able to see the lake and take photos, being the tourists we were.
Te photo barely does the view at the top of Ridge Run justice. Te water was a deep blue and the surrounding mountains made a beautiful border around the lake. Ofentimes, people from the Reno area take advantage of how amazing the nature is in Tahoe. I try not to fall victim to this, especially since I am only here for the time it takes to get my degree. I urge you to take time to appreciate your surroundings, even if your view is the same as every other day.
Te snow Feb. 16 day was not full pow-
der, but not pure ice either. Te sun was shining the entire day and I was thankful to be on the shady side of the mountain with a thin layer of fabric covering my face.
Afer we fnished Ridge Run for the frst and only time that day, we met up with two friends at the Umbrella Bar. All four of us went down the ever famous green run for our 2 more, skip the last run. Tat’s one thing in the ski-world to note: it’s bad luck to say the words ‘last run’, so avoid it at all costs.
Tese two friends were lef behind shortly afer we began. Before you say my actions were unsportsmanlike and unfriendly, our friends were not inexperienced and it was only a green run. Tey made it down the mountain, I promise.
Now that we were done for the day and saying goodbye to our friends, Brooke and I hopped on Patsy’s and made our way to the Tram. Te tram always has a good view, and it did not disappoint on the day of our trip. I managed to get us a spot at the window looking down across the lake and the city of South Lake Tahoe.
“I didn’t even know the window was open,” Brooke said, already halfway down the mountain. It was at that moment I realized maybe, just maybe, my friend was afraid of heights.
Once we landed and stripped down to our base layers, we both sat in the car until it had warmed up. We both decided it was the best day in terms of how well we snowboarded. I hope we get another one of those days with even better pow (that’s what the cool kids call fresh snow these days) this season.
Now keep in mind being a tourist is something that no one should ever be embarrassed about. My fall was just a part of the experience of any sport and especially in skiing. Being a tourist means you’re branching out and visiting places. Never apologize for trying to explore a new environment. Taking in the view, the people, and the surrounding life gives visitors a chance to give respect where respect is due.
Photos never do anything justice, of course, but it serves as a memory. If the view is beautiful, take a picture.
Playing Tourist
By Zoey Cambley
Las Vegas
My childhood was flled with castles, pyramids, fountains, pirate ships, volcanoes, the NYC skyline, the Eifel Tower, and gondolas galore. I have never traveled outside of the United States, let alone to the East Coast, but I have seen glimpses of the entire world from my childhood backyard. I was raised in the mecca of sin and fashy lights, where the ring of slot machines still beckons and the smell of cigarettes is comforting. Tat’s my hometown: Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is one of the most popular tourist destinations, with top-notch hotels, highly esteemed clubs, magnifcent shows, and sites to see from all over the world. Vegas is one of the wildest communities to be a part of. With being the most anti-childlike city Vegas’ only purpose was to serve as an adult Disneyland flled with booze and bad mistakes. Yet I will always have a sof spot for my hometown. Te city truly raised me, made me tough, and taught me never to judge anyone.
Most kids who were born and raised in Vegas did not get the colorful childhood that I had. Tey were raised in Hender-
son or Summerlin and saw the Strip from a distance, a far reminder of the temptations that lay beyond. I was engrossed in the heart of Vegas, having two parents who worked in hotels, the Strip was my constant playground. My mom and I frequented the M&M store, stopping occasionally at the Coca-Cola store, and we gathered snacks for the Bellagio fountain show. I never knew what would surprise me next; I could walk down the street and see Spider-Man, a guy with a parrot, and showgirls before I even reached the end of the block.
Finding things to do for kids in Sin City was hard, so my mom got creative. When we were at a hotel, she’d let me have races in the hallways, surf on bellhop carts, and jump back and forth on the queen beds. But most ofen we played a game called “Tourists” where we would venture out to the Strip or Downtown and visit all the tourist spots and pretend we were seeing it for the frst time. Since we were balling on a bud-
get, my mom would get us tickets for the Monorail, the above-ground train for transportation on the Strip, and we’d go to all the free destinations: from the gardens at the Bellagio or the bird habitat at Te Flamingo or the heavenly skies on Venetian's ceiling. We got to see all the cheap destinations through this subway-like chariot.
Playing tourists always included getting dressed up, never straying away from my mom nor accepting any risque “playing cards” from strangers, and faking diferent accents. One night my mom and I became southern belles from North Carolina, the next we were Aussies taking on the big city. We always had a background story, and bonus points for dressing the part. Hideous Hawaiian print shifs, check. Plastic Barbie camera around my neck, check.
Baseball hats and dad shorts, check. No matter what we wore or the accents we tried out, my mom and I bonded through playing the tourists and trying to make the city a little more kid-friendly.
Now refecting, I do not know if playing tourists was entirely appropriate, but it exposed me to all walks of life and enriched me in the center of my city. Playing tourist shaped my ravenous imagination and set the stage for my wildest dreams. Although I have a love-hate relationship with Vegas, one issue being that the city is center stage for debauchery, I cannot deny its infuence on me. Te times my mom let me explore the city like it was a feld trip at the Springs Preserve, however, one with drunk people instead of wildlife, educated me on real life. I saw real experiences of what my city brings out in people, albeit not entirely PG all the time, educational nonetheless.
As an adult who can now participate in all the activities I was excluded from as a kid, the city has lost its charm. Te tacky early 2000s facade has faded as I grew up and now I see a new city with top sports teams and a large sphere that has a mind of its own. Te sin of the city is now hidden with the glitz and glamor. My parents still work on the Strip, yet the allure of their jobs has ceased and been replaced with the reality of how my city has grown up, as I have. No more outlandish pirate shows at Treasure Island or getting balloon animals from Te Excalibur. No more crazy outfts or accents. Just as Vegas is becoming a powerhouse of a city, I am too. It is comforting, yet jarring, to know that the city that raised me is fnally growing up as well.
One of the greatest aspects about attending the University of Nevada is our proximity to great music scenes. Te occasional visits by huge artists such as $uicideboy$ during their 2023 Grey Day Tour at the Reno Event Center or City Morgue’s upcoming performance at Virginia Street Brewhouse on April 30th are two of thousands of examples. With our proximity to large festivals such as Burning Man, the options are virtually unlimited. Are any of these performances worth your money, or are they just corporate ploys designed to steal your money and provide a mediocre experience?
Personally, I always recommend individual performances or the direct tours of artists. Vast venues such as Coachella or Burning Man are plagued with issues. Te now infamous stranding of over 70,000 people in Black Rock Desert during the 2023 instance of Burning Man is just one famous example, as these artists ofen do not even perform even if they have an obligation. For example, Frank Ocean refused to participate in Coachella, leaving fans in the dark and providing the excuse of medical issues, despite initial reports that it was a production issue stemming from his fippancy. It seems the quality of music is consistently associated with the amount of efort required for an artist to secure their performance, meaning the tours they are personally involved with are the ones they probably care more about.
Luckily, Reno is a hotspot for artists. Every genre of music is present, ensuring there is a scene for you in the world’s smallest city. If you enjoy Hip-Hop, Nelly is scheduled to make an appearance at the Nugget Casino and Resort on June 15th, and southern legend YelaWolf will perform at Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
Are Music Performances Corporate Ploys?
By Seth Polston
on April 6th. And as always, Nevada itself ofen brings artists to campus to usher in the new school year, such as T-Pain and Flo Rida in years past. Speaking of, Flo Rida is returning to Reno with Nelly on June 15th. It seems people cannot stay away from our town for too long. Our proximity to Vegas contributes to this beneft, as you can easily schedule a short road trip if one of your favorite artists is near. While not all events are corporate ploys, heavy research should still be required before you make any purchases. It is paramount to ensure the artist is advertising their visit well before the actual event. If the artist makes no attempt to advertise they are performing it is doubtful they will actually come to the city or at the very least be nearby in Las Vegas.
Music brings a community together, and that shared enjoyment can ofen mean the creation of lifelong friendships. Concerts are a great way to meet people with simi-
lar interests, and it is one of the main commodities of Reno. Take the time to look into who is visiting Reno, as I bet at least a few of those individuals are present on your playlist at this moment. And while music events are ofen very expensive, the University provides this staple experience ofen at the Lawlor Event Center. Tere is also a local music scene at Te Holland Project ofen ranging from $10-20 dollars. Te Holland Project is an all inclusive music initiative founded in 2007, located at 140 Vesta Street. With roughly 15 performances each month, Te Holland Project is both an afordable option if you desire to attend a concert and a great way to connect with the local music scene. Each new trend and artist originates from stages like these, and your next obsession is ofen hidden in these types of performances. Te music scene of Reno is never unavailable, and the artists you love will ofen come to you at your time at Nevada.
Oregon is neither new nor welcoming to me. Eugene, Ore. has acted as a transplant college town for me, making frequent visits to see my boyfriend who goes to the University of Oregon; but, I could never shake having to watch my step in the public park and subsequently having to hose of my entire lef foot because it was caked in mud.
I fnd myself there ofen, just as I did at the beginning of the new year, but never to the coast.
Coming from Las Vegas, like a lizard, I thrive in an average of 90 degree weather — so, the Oregon coast was another monster I had yet to defeat. Te amount of wetness and damp sidewalks increased tenfold, and so did my fear of ruining the new Adidas Sambas I got for Christmas. Te coast is the antithesis of all things I believe in. Afterall, I have a vitamin D defciency, so the Oregon coast would not do me well in the health category. Although, once a psychic told me I thrive closest to water. However, the landlocked state I hail from was devoid of one thing I yearned for: a lighthouse.
Te tall and narrow structure was a mythical creature to me. Tey are everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Tey sit in the corners of my grandma’s beach-themed guest room and tiny statues of them lurk on the shelves of Goodwill, but I had yet to see one in person. And on Jan. 4, mounting my steed (my boyfriend’s gold Suburban) and with my trusty manuscripts of places to conquer on my quest (Google Maps and Yelp). I faced my fears and conquered the Oregon coast in my fateful quest to discover a lighthouse in Newport, Oregon.
Before embarking on the journey, I prepared by tying my hair up with a bandana and listening to a lot of Karen Dalton and
Land-locked Lionheart Sees a Lighthouse for the First Time, Conquers The Journey
By Emerson Drewes
Vashti Bunyan to calm my nerves about ruining my clean hair with the humid air. Te plan for my day was simple: oysters for lunch and then, the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. It needed to be simple — I couldn’t overwhelm myself with swirly-twirly beach things because of my aversion to sand.
However, my pessimism about water was proven wrong when we parked on the curb in front of our frst stop: Mo’s Seafood and Chowder. Te exterior of the restaurant was cartoonish with baby blue shiplap walls on the outside and a red, white and blue overhang with writing on it with their name and some items from the menu — clam chowder, fsh and chips, and, of course, oysters. Te interior looked like an aquarium graveyard mixed with an early 2000s Red Lobster (my favorite restaurant as a six-year-old): swordfsh and crabs on the wall, fsh statues, fsh drawings, fsh photos, fsh nets, pirate ship wheels and buoys.
Te waiter was kind like an auntie. She had a round fgure and sweet, red plump cheeks. For the life of me I cannot remember her name, but she looked like Sandra so I will call that for the sake of the story. When I ordered my four oyster shooters, she exclaimed “you won’t need any zinc for a week!” I was hooked in that instant. Alongside my zinc-flled appetizer, I got a tuna melt with a side of their “world famous” clam chowder. In that moment, it dawned on me I had never had clam chowder, but with Sandra I knew I was in safe hands.
Te meal was not remarkable, but fulflling. Nothing to write home about, but I wasn’t there for the food; I had bigger fsh to fry. Te tuna melt was solid, but defnitely from canned tuna, the clam chowder had good favor and was well-seasoned, and the
oyster shooters were fresh and salty as can be.
We tipped well and started the drive to the lighthouse. As we walked along the curb back to the car, we heard guttural yelps coming from the boardwalk. Tey were loud and sharp, but familiar; they were sea lions — upwards of thirty of them. Tey all lay on a small slab of wood in the water, fghting desperately to hold onto any piece of dry land they could. It was an absolute spectacle; there was not a second of silence whilst the sea lions squirmed around, stepping on each other and pushing of the animals on the edge.
Tis herd of sea lions was belligerent, which was evident by the scars lef on their bodies from being bitten in the past. We enjoyed belly laughs and howling impressions of the pinnipeds. It rounded out our meal to a perfect “dinner and a show” type of concoction.
Te main event was upon me — the lighthouse. I felt like a small kid whose feet could barely touch the ground. I kept the windows down while we drove there just so I could breathe the same air as we approached, and I hate having the windows down, a lá clean hair from that morning. Questions swirled in my head: What does a lighthouse even do? Does anyone live there anymore? Will it be red and white striped? Will the light even be on?
All my worries about the damp day faded and my questions quelled when we passed a small grassy knoll to see the thing my childhood self dreamed of. Te Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was, indeed, a very tall structure, white with a gray roof and a small house-like building in the front of it. Te ocean lies below it with billowing, long,
green grass adorning the clif and small rocks stuck out of the fery waves. A small walkway surrounded it with very strict instructions from a sign to not step on the greenery, and I traced it with my own footsteps as I let my imagination run wild like the small, rambunctious child I once was.
I imagined a damsel living at the top, a fght happening below her for her hand, or a small big-bosomed mother tending to her small child in their lowly lighthouse and that child going on a mighty quest to save the world from a beastly sea monster. Alone I walked around it, giggling to myself.
I let the salt burn my nose as the wind blew of my bandana. I took pictures while pointing at the lighthouse to send to my family group chat. Nothing about it was Instagrammable, but it was regular and comfortable. My boyfriend and I smooshed our cheeks together to get a photo of us at the lighthouse, both of our faces freezing and bright red from the wind chill.
Te moment calmed as my childlike vigor went back to her pink bedroom in my brain while I sat and pondered. My mind was silent for just a moment as I felt ageless and like seafoam. Ten I realized I had to fy home alone without my mother and do laundry by myself.
Tat day was not just a bucket list item I could cross of — I really conquered something. I’m not sure what, but I have my underwear to fold while I think about it.
Oregon
Photo by Jace Ouchida
Sequoia
For many, having the opportunity to see diferent parts of the world is an ultimate life goal. From the solemn, misty clif sides of the Irish countryside to the bustling streets of Tokyo, it’s a common dream to see all the unique cultures and landscapes our Earth has to ofer. Despite this, the physical process of traveling is usually flled with dread. Te waking up early, the sitting in uncomfortable spots for long amounts of time, and the lingering anxieties of potential unpreparedness either from yourself or others who are a part of the trip. “It’s about the journey, not the destination,” is a beloved quote that’s been pasted onto many bumper stickers and badly-edited facebook memes for a long, long time. Tis statement has been utilized to add enjoyment to the procedural parts of traveling. For many, the journey absolutely sucks. I, on the other hand, ofen enjoy it more than the destination itself; particularly with road trips.
If looking out the window and eagerly announcing “cows!” upon seeing a feld full of cows isn’t your thing, there are so many other wonderful aspects about road trips. Some may see a road trip as a day trapped inside the constraints of an arrival time, focused on getting somewhere more exciting than where you started. I, however, see a road trip as the perfect time to do all my favorite things with someone else: eat snacks and talk about our deepest secrets. You don’t fully know someone until you’ve been on a road trip with them.
Sitting inside the familiar space of one’s car while driving through an entirely new place always seems to reveal the things about a person. Te day starts of with all parties involved wearing their comfort clothes to get them through the long drive, whether it be a parent’s old band t-shirt or a signifcant other’s jacket. Everyone
Road Trips Are My Love Language
By Ryann Casagrande
in the car brings their favorite snacks to share; the more junk food the better. As the drive progresses, you trade music, learning what albums defned the eras of your lives and why a song earns the “favorite” status. During the long drive you catch up on the gaps in each other’s life stories, and freely talk about what one thinks about the world when traveling both far and deep within it.
A road trip is my favorite way to get to know someone—if I ever invite you on one, it’s the highest compliment. Tey’re cozy, intimate and enriching practices that are seen as the transition to an experience rather than an experience itself. While you’re set on traveling somewhere you have a clear vision of, the scenery along the way is ofen previously unknown and captivating in its own way.
For me, it’s nice to remind myself about my road trip experiences that have made me fond of this form of travel. On social media, we ofen see curated and glamorized journeys as well as destinations. From Instagram posts of private jets to TikToks of renovated and aestheticized #VanLife adventures, we ofen see depictions of travel that are unattainable for most people. Depictions of luxurious or rootless travel seem far out of reach. When I see these ways of traveling I start to feel stuck inside my house. Ten I think about the time I drove to Oregon with my signifcant other, and how we were able to see beautiful mountain ranges laced with river rapids from the comforts of our PJs. I’m reminded of the many times I have driven up to the university with my best friend, and how I learn something new about her each time we pass through rural, forgotten spots of the world.
My road trip memories hit me with a warm nostalgia I’m always eager to return
to. Nothing from these experiences necessarily deviates from the average travel debrief with friends and family, and the details are far from Instagram-worthy. However, being disconnected from the unrealistic leisures of expensive travel, small cozy moments are the little things about road trips I’m going to hold dear to me, no matter how much time passes. If you are planning a road trip soon, I hope the experience is enjoyable, comforting, and relaxing through all the ways you make it so. Tough, no matter what you decide to do to enhance your next road trip, I do expect you to say “cows!” whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Te best journeys become treasured memories because of the company you keep. When you remember an event, you think of what you did at the same time as who you did it with. However, with chaotic schedules and stacked classes, who has the time to travel the world? Te next best way to emulate travel is through a similar shared experience. Travel movies allow you and your friends to envision a new world and create interpretations of wondrous environments completely foreign to yourself. Te greatest of the genre will make you cry, laugh, or contemplate the perils of exploring what our planet has to ofer.
For those seeking a romantic European getaway, “Before Sunrise” a flm by director Richard Linkletter starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, might be right up your alley. Te frst in an epic trilogy, the perils of modern love and the risk of choice are exposed through layers of passion, and impeccably written dialogue. Spurred by a case of FOMO, one of two main characters, Celine, abandons her schedule and transportation back home in order to spend a night in Vienna with Jesse. Slow and methodical characterization leads to intense attachment, and an appreciation of the complexity of human experience.
“Before Sunrise” is mostly casual conversation and unbridled curiosity, leading to questions regarding self identity. Two individuals choose to remove themselves from the world and its obligations, suspending their priorities in order to just live as themselves if only for a moment. By learning about the history behind each other, Celine and Jesse question the point of their goals. In the end, is it the joy of passion that you should pursue despite the fnite lengths of human life, or are your obligations as important as they seem?
Travel is a Movie
By Seth Polston
Deply and Hawke’s characters both change dramatically in “Before Sunrise” and become diferent people by the conclusion of this story, but that’s entirely the point. Vacations, adventures, and journeys all have one thing in common: the expenditure of time. Travel is the willingness to change as an individual, the inclination to meet new people. Vienna for Celine and Jesse and travel for you can fulfll the same thing; the desire for change.
But if you are looking for levity, “Paul” a 2011 comedic road trip movie starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Seth Rogan remains one of the most hilarious travel movies of the 2010s. Us Nevada residents look at the sky and know in the back of our mind some of those shooting stars could stem from Area 51, but “Paul” actualizes that fantastical inference. Friends Graeme Willy and Clive Gollings visit the United States from Britain, embarking on a road trip to the San Diego Comic-Con while stopping at UFO sights along the way. Willy and Gollings save Paul, an alien who crashed on the planet many years ago, and proceed with an adventure to get him back home.
Slightly crass and a little cheesy, “Paul” is most enjoyed with copious snacks and other indulgences. Trough this foul mouthed alien, “Paul” parodies tropes of the science fction genre, acting as a homage to the similar movie concepts that inspired it while providing a story flled with both action and jokes. Te flm provides a perspective of America and the deserts we have grown accustomed to, is flled with a wonder not applied to the residents of the Mojave. It shows that not every vacation needs to be a life changing experience, as they are also just the perfect distraction everyone needs. What’s better than spending time with friends in a new place with no obligations?
However, travel is not always as safe as it seems. “Into the Wild,” a biographical flm directed by Sean Penn and based on the story of Christopher McCandles, shows how dangerous travel can be if you are not prepared. Chris ventures into the Alaskan wilderness, tired of the monotony of modern society. Over the next four months, Chris withers away alone in the wilderness despite multiple accomplishments. Te story of an intelligent man dying not because of the validity of his principles, but because of a lack of experience is captivating. Te human struggle to survive is encapsulated by the apathy of the wilderness, detailing how small we are compared to the laws of nature. “Into the Wild,” is the best at showing just how ofen we overestimate our capabilities, the perfect flm to watch so you remember what not to do on your next camping trip. Chris had a respect for nature stemming from its beauty, but we should use his story as a reminder to have respect for its dangers, and to always adequately prepare for the region you plan to visit.
Travel can bring joy, love, and pain. While “Before Sunrise” is close to a cinematic masterpiece, containing beautifully written dialogue and heart-rending confict, all these flms explore the spectrum of experiences one can have while traveling, and serve as nice ways to tide yourself over until your next actual adventure. Trips like the ones shown in the flms can change who you are fundamentally or protect you from the monotony of ordinary life by providing a laugh, but with new terrain comes new consequences. Let movies be a reminder of the joy you can experience in the new places, and sometimes a guide on what not to do. Who knows, the next flm you watch could inspire the next journey you decide to take.
When considering top travel destinations in the continental United States, your mind might frst jump to the rolling hills of the wine vineyards of California, or the great expanses of boundless wilderness that composes Oregon. Perhaps you dream of a vacation to the beaches and sunshine of Florida, or an educational trip through the deep colonial history of New York.
All this goes to say; when a list of destinations within the 48 continuous states comes up, New Mexico is very rarely at the top of someone’s list. In fact, when I informed many of my peers that I would be spending my winter vacation in New Mexico, the most common response was “Why?”
To be honest, when my parents asked my brother and I if we would like to spend Christmas and New Years with them in Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico, I was skeptical at frst. Te most New Mexico meant to me was a fat desert state with a few cactuses and an abundance of Pueblo-style homes. My brother and I didn’t even know where New Mexico is, and still might be confused.
However, during my trip through Santa Fe, I found the state and the region of its little capital city is full of surprises that make it a top-tier travel recommendation from me.
Although most of New Mexico is desert, the state has quite a bit of elevation. Te city of Santa Fe itself sits at almost 7,000 feet, and is surrounded by mountain ranges breaking up the straight desert skyline. Te 7,000 foot elevation gives the New Mexico winters a bite and chill that may be unexpected to some visitors,
Northern New Mexico: An Overlooked Travel Destination
By Em Tomeo
such as myself. I have to say I was thoroughly disappointed when I packed my entire suitcase for weather in the mid-50s and walked of the plane to a 15 degrees, a cloudy day with just a touch of snow foating down onto the tarmac.
Te cold and elevation do make New Mexico a surprisingly diverse ski destination. Ski Santa Fe, located just a short drive outside of the capital city, is a sunny and well-maintained mountain perfect for all levels of skiers. Te overall vibe of this mountain is something between the many blue run heavy, family-owned ski areas dotting the mountainsides of New Mexico and Taos Ski Valley, one of the most challenging ski areas in the country.
Bordering sacred Native American-owned land, Taos Ski Valley sits on the dark side of the mountain. Starting a day at Taos Ski Valley right when the lifs open will face you with windchill, blowing snow, and temperatures delving into the negative 10s to 20s. Not only are the conditions brutal and suited for only the most hardcore skiers and snowboarders, the mountain itself is a beast to behold.
Taos Ski Valley is the most mogul-heavy mountain in the country. For my non-ski bum readers, moguls are the lumps and bumps that you do not want to be on unless you know exactly what you are doing. In addition to the many mogul-flled runs, Taos Ski Valley has mostly black diamonds and double black diamonds. Tere isn’t much room to learn for novice skiers, but for the avid winter sports afcionado Taos Ski Valley might just be a winter heaven.
“If you can ski Taos Ski Valley, you can ski anything!” A local mountain patrol employee, Jo Fortier, said in a post-ski
cheer over some homemade bufalo chili. As a visitor who experienced a day starting at 7 a.m. on the Taos Ski Valley mountain, I am inclined to agree with her statement.
Not only does New Mexico ofer a challenging yet entertaining array of outdoor activities, the culture of the area is rich. Te people of the state are proud of their home, but don’t wish to push it on outsiders. Instead, New Mexicans enjoy taking part in the appreciation of their state culture with little regard for the outside world’s opinion.
From Mexican cuisine that has been crafed over generations to become a refned regional masterpiece to the classic traditional Pueblo fry bread, the food culture of the state should be revered at the same level as the southern Mexican cevicherias or the bistrots of the French. Every dish at the local Mexican restaurant was served sizzling, and with a story behind each. Te tortillas aren’t just handmade—they have been handled by the owner's grandmother who lives above the restaurant, enriching the food with generations of care. Te recipe for mole can’t be requested—it exists only in the minds of the women of the restaurantour’s family. And fry bread bought on the pueblo streets doesn’t come from a prepackaged mixture—it is hand-ground and formed each day. I could swear that the handmade clay homes and hearth fres that the food is cooked in afect the quality. With the layers and layers of tradition that goes into even the cooking process, this is the defnition of “made with love”.
Te complex gastronomical scene of the region provides sustenance for New Mexico’s famed residents: the artists. Te entire city of Santa Fe is like an art installation.
Te pueblo-style architecture has a storybook feel that makes the simple act of going outside an aesthetic experience.
Tis comes from New Mexico’s deep traditional art history. Troughout the city’s buildings and storefronts, the Pueblo people’s cultural artist works of costumes and turquoise stone are intermixed with traditional Spanish and Mexican ceramic, tilework, pottery, jewelry setting and bright embroidered clothing. Tese pieces can be found in museums, yes, but are more authentically sourced from the street vendors and little storefronts lining the downtown areas. In front of the Palace of the Governors there is a line of artists and their handmade work with generations of creativity put into the pieces.
Te history of Pueblo and Spanish art of the state has drawn artists throughout the American art movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. Contemporary and modern art has a strong place in Santa Fe as well.
One of four Meow Wolf installations can be found in the backstreets of a warehouse district in the little city. Renowned worldwide for its wild view of interactive modern art, Meow Wolf can be a fun exploration into the art for a modern art lover. For someone less inclined to the modern arts, it can be a confusing thrill, or even just a fun game and activity. Te city has been called home by artists such as Georgia O’Keefe. One of the city’s attractions includes a museum of O’Keefe’s work and her life story.
History indeed, New Mexico is rich in its world records. When stepping of of the plane in Santa Fe Regional Airport, I was greeted by an array of airport swag stating “It ain’t new, and it ain’t Mexico”.
Tis hilarious statement is more true than just a joke said by locals. New Mexico is home to the Bandelier cave dwellings, some of the oldest records of human civilization we have. Tis record of civilization isn’t dead either; Taos Pueblo is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage
Site. It is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States, and the culture still lives on vibrantly. I was able to attend a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebration at Taos Pueblo, and although electronics and photography are not allowed inside the walls of the village, the traditional dances and ceremonies are not pictures that will ever leave a person’s mind.
Anyone who says that early world history can only be found in full record in Europe and Asia, not the Americas, is ignorant of the contents of the New Mexican Native American culture.
All in all, New Mexico is a destination that has oferings for any type of traveler eager to explore and to learn more. Skiing, cultures modern and ancient, art and natural wonders are just some of the many hidden treasures of the state. Don’t count it out, and maybe count it in for your next domestic-fight vacation or trip.
If you were asked what are the ingredients in making the perfect girls’ trip, a few options may come to mind. It might be the places you decide to travel to, the music everyone decides to play, or even the things everyone plans to bring. Multiple components need to be taken into consideration when planning a perfect girls’ trip. It takes an immense amount of organizing and teamwork to execute a trip, and it can be organized into fve essential elements. Tese fve elements of trip planning can either make or break the dream road trip experience, so read carefully and take notes.
The Designated Roles
When it comes to road trips, four is the magic number. Tink of a traditional car, two in the front and two, maybe three, seats in the back. Five girls would be too crowded, there would be no room to move around in the back. Plus, always work in pairs and make sure everyone has a partner so no one is lef out. Four is the perfect number, two in the front and two in the back. Every person has a valuable role in making this trip work; there is the pilot, the navigator, the DJ, and the food distributor.
Te pilot’s only goal is to drive and to keep her eyes on the road. She can remain calm under pressure and not get distracted by the chaos that might ensue in the back or on the road. Te passenger seat is the navigator, probably one of the most underestimated roles in a road trip. She is the co-pilot and makes sure the driver is taking all of the right roads and exits, especially when the group is in unknown territory. Don’t let the driver be responsible for navigation, that is simply too many vital responsibilities one should have in a girls trip.
The Dichotomy of a Girls’ Trip
By Samantha Wagner
Te navigator makes sure the GPS is situated, that the driver has everything she needs before hitting the road, and helps monitor the back so the driver’s only concern is getting to their destination safely. As controversial as this may seem, the navigator should NOT be the DJ. Trust me, I have been the brave soul who becomes the navigator and the DJ. Having to keep track of all of the songs shouted at me from the back of the car that must be queued next while also making sure we don’t make a wrong turn of a clif was not an easy feat. So, for the navigator’s sake, let’s have someone else take the role of the DJ. Tere are four people for a reason, are you still taking notes?
Te DJ is right behind the navigator. Her job is to have planned and created the road trip playlist beforehand, and keep the music going throughout the whole drive. Each song is essential to creating the vibe within the car, one wrong song and the mood is of-balanced. Te DJ must be open to the musical interests of everyone in the car and include everyone in the making of the setlist. She is the connecting link between every girl in the vehicle and no matter what kind of navigation chaos is occurring up in the front, the music must persist.
Last but certainly not least, is the food distributor. Her responsibility is to provide and make the snacks beforehand. Te cooler must be set and packed to the brim with everyone’s favorite snacks and must be accessible at all times. A hangry driver or a hangry navigator is a recipe for disaster. It is the snack distributor and DJ’s job to keep the back organized and to keep everyone’s moods in check through continuous tunes and full bellies.
The Perfect Playlist
Te DJ has one of the toughest jobs in the group. Not everyone has the same music taste and not everyone will agree with what the “perfect playlist” entails. Te type of music played can even depend on what destination the group is heading to, or what season it is at that exact moment. So, let’s set the scene. Arguably, one of the best times to plan a road trip would be mid-tolate spring; not too hot, not too cold, and almost summer but not quite. It is not a girls’ trip without some angsty teen music by Taylor Swif or Olivia Rodrigo. Another automatic-add are some oldies but goodies like ABBA or Spice Girls. Let’s not forget some indie-pop undertones like Declan McKenna or Pixies. And of course, some folk hits to get everyone immersed in the great outdoors with some Noah Kahan or Te Lumineers. With that being said, here are some must-add songs to the perfect playlist (in my humble opinion):
“Brazil” by Declan McKenna
“Here Comes Your Man” by Pixies
“Wannabe” by the Spice Girls
“New Romantics” by Taylor Swif
“Dancing Queen” by ABBA
“Mr. Brightside” by Te Killers
“Cleopatra” by Te Lumineers
“ Te Passenger” by Iggy Pop
“Deja Vu” by Olivia Rodrigo
“Send Me On My Way” by Rusted Root
The Essential Items to Pack
Now, with this specifc girls’ trip in mind, a car of four means packing light. A backpack or two maximum for each girl, plus the tents and camping supplies that will be
stufed in the back. Aside from the obvious necessities like a cooler, wallets, clothes, and maybe even a frst aid kit, here are some essentials that many may forget.
Bug spray and sunscreen are a must, an extra emphasis on bug spray, and even that may not be enough. Some tips that I have acquired from camping include stufng laundry sheets in my pockets (Trust me, it works) and investing in bug-repellent bracelets. Nothing is worse than getting a nasty mosquito bite on the frst day of the trip, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring itch relief cream too just in case. Hand sanitizer and portable chargers are also a huge must, and make sure those portable chargers are charged and ready to go beforehand. It gets cold at night too, no matter the season, so make sure to have plenty of blankets and layers on hand. But arguably
the most important road trip essential that will make or break the trajectory of the entire trip, is a backup chapstick. Don’t just bring one, bring two at least, come on are you keeping up yet! It is so easy to lose this small item anywhere, on a hike or at the gas station, it can happen anywhere. Prepare to lose it, and make sure to bring another one just in case. Chapped lips on a long drive or a far hike are nightmares and no amount of snacks or pop music can fx them.
The Elite Destinations
Tere are countless places to go on a road trip, even if we narrow it down to staying on the West Coast and around Reno. Let’s also take into consideration how long it takes to get to the fnal destination from Reno. Five or six hours should be the maximum hours to drive somewhere, and still, there are so
Los Angeles
many beautiful places to visit in that radius. If headed west into California, three hours from Reno is Lassen Volcanic National Park and three hours from the park people can explore the beautiful hiking trails of Napa Valley. Ten up North of Reno is Oregon, fve and a half hours away is Crater Lake National Park and Upper Klamath Lake where the waters are calm enough to kayak and paddleboard! And of course, just a short hour away is Lake Tahoe, another perfect destination to hike, swim, and explore with the girls.
The Getaway Car
No matter where everyone decides to go in the end, no matter how much planning is put into it, not everything will go as planned and there will always be detours. So, plan for the unexpected and have the getaway
car ready for any sudden changes. Make sure to have each other’s back and brave the challenges that may come your way.
So, if someone asks you what makes the perfect girls’ trip, there is only one right answer. It doesn’t matter what music is played, the snacks that everyone brings, or even the places that everyone decides to go, the most essential ingredient to the perfect girls’ trip is the people you have around you on the trip. Te dichotomy of a girls’ trip is to ride the waves with the people that matter most and see where life takes everyone. And in the end, if everyone ends the road trip with unforgettable stories to tell and has formed unbreakable bonds, then congratulations, you have successfully executed the perfect girls’ trip!
It feels like just yesterday we were smudging chapstick on our phones to get a blurred photo aesthetic while using Instagram to drastically oversaturate an already vibrant image. It’s almost hard to believe that it has been a decade since 2014. Tis year was one of the most nostalgic and memorable years for many people. Social media was a newer concept and YouTubers were the infuencers of fashion and viral trends such as the Kylie Jenner lip challenge.
Te colorful, tacky trends of 2014 were some of the most creative times for D.I.Y. artists. Duct tape wallets became a musthave and lip syncing to popular songs on musical.ly was a daily routine. Although nothing can emulate the nostalgia of ‘14 quite like the pop rock music that was released. Many people say that early 2000s music is some of the best. Artists have yet to replicate the same feeling and sound of Summer 2014.
“Steal My Girl” by One Direction was typically blasted out of the speakers of our parent's or friends' cars. Usually while we stuck our heads out the window and embraced the warm honeysuckle-scented air and welcomed the hair tangles the wind would leave us with. “She Looks so Perfect” by 5 Seconds of Summer, “Somebody to You” by Te Vamps, “Anaconda” by Nicki Miniaj, “Summer” by Calvin Harris and “Black Widow” by Iggy Azalea were the most played songs on our playlists. Summer was the time to be alive. Nothing felt better than putting on an orange-tinted fake tan, redying the faded blue in your hair, and painting your nails a neon pink before hitting the beach with your friends. And when it wasn’t summer, anxiously anticipating all the fun things you’d do instead of paying
A Decade Later, 2014 Makes a Comeback in 2024
By Lauren Juillerat
attention to your English teacher’s rants about “Romeo and Juliet.”
Dress codes weren’t a priority. Fishnet leggings, chokers, skirts, and army boots were the fashion statements of the time. Long straightened hair, space buns, braids, or bobs were some of our favorite hairstyles that we’d typically post a picture of on tumblr during our lunch period. While these memories will forever be a part of us, we had to grow up and leave behind the oversized fannels and the aggressive side parts.
However, despite 2014 being a decade ago, some of our favorite trends haven’t lef. Rather, they adapted and grew up with us. Musical.ly became TikTok and, in turn, became one of the biggest social medias we use today. Instagram is still popular and flters are still edited over photos, just with less saturation. While YouTube may not be as popular as it once was, and tumblr is retired, Snapchat is still used and Twitter has provided a place for us to vent about the nostalgia of 2014. And those playlists we had 10 years ago are still frequently listened to when the frst waves of summer heat begin to roll in.
While we may have outgrown our old tumblr wardrobe, we haven’t outgrown the nostalgia. 2024 is very diferent from 2014 but in many ways, it never lef. Fashion trends are still undertones of popular clothing today. Fishnet leggings, ripped jeans and army boots are still staples and dyed hair is loved, if not more loved now than it was 10 years ago. Our childhood selves will always be a part of our identities. Enjoy this decade because 10 years from now, we’ll be reminiscing about our lives in 2024.
Traveling to Hawai’i
Can Costs
Outweigh
Colonization?
By Zoey Cambley
Are you planning a trip for spring break? Or how about summer? Tere are many options: beaches, mountains, and cities galore. Maybe a trip to San Francisco or New York or out of the country? Plentiful places to see, and too many options to choose from. However, there is one popular destination you should think twice about traveling to: Hawai’i.
Hawai’i is one of the top destinations in the world, with beautiful waterfalls, lush land, and breathtaking beaches. However, it is Indigenous land for native Hawaiians. Hawai’i is land that is being monopolized by the U.S. government and corporations to appease tourists. Now tourists have completely outnumbered natives, with a 30 to 1 ratio. Terefore, it is hard to escape tourism infuence on the island because it drives about a quarter of the revenue for the state, accumulating to 19.8 billion dollars in 2022. Due to reliance on tourism, most Hawaiians end up working in the tourist industry, which provides most of their income but is one of the lowest-paying industries. It is also important to take into consideration that Hawai’i is one of the most
expensive places to live as current residents spend 42% of their income on rent. Making tourism a systemic issue to examine and see if it is one you want to be a part of.
Te director of the Indigenous Governance Program at the University of Victoria, Hōkūlani Aikau states, “I think folks need to understand that global corporate tourism is fundamentally an extractive industry. I don’t think people think about or want to think about going on vacation as contributing to extraction. But that’s exactly what they’re doing. It’s an uncomfortable truth” Traveling to Hawai’i is perpetuating this systemic reality. Since sovereignty was ripped from the Hawaiian people and Queen Lili’uokalani was overthrown, Hawai’i has been stolen land. However, the residents of this land are now reliant on the revenue generated from tourism in order to survive.
As of late, Hawai’i has also faced large economic setbacks from the fre that was in Maui in the summer of 2023. Te fre devastated the land in Lahaina and killed 100 people, not to mention since the fre the
unemployment rate has reached 10% because tourism has dropped by 70%. However, natives are not begging for tourists to come back, and in fact, over 3,500 signed a petition against travel to Maui. Yet, the Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, has granted access to travel in West Maui since October 2023. While many people have protested this, Governor Green reasons, “It’s my job as governor to support them, to be thoughtful about all people and to make sure Maui survives, because people will otherwise go bankrupt and have to leave the island, and have to move out of Maui.” While it is hard to ignore what fgures like Aikau are saying, it is even harder to fght against Gov. Green’s reasoning and the fact that these residents are at risk of losing their homes if they don’t let visitors in.
Ten there are websites like Golf Pass endorsing going to Maui in 2024 as a way to “help with the economy” and “keep islanders employed.” Te site highlights that Maui has some of the best golf courses, yet does not acknowledge how the fre in La-
haina may have afected the ability to visit these courses. Tis kind of encouragement results in over-tourism since it causes an infux of tourists only staying at private corporate golf resorts and not supporting local businesses. Which is the reason Hawaiians are hesitant to let people visit.
Tourism is a double-edged sword and has severely limited Hawaiians’ agency. Te website Green Matters advocates people are free to visit Hawai’i, but should do so respectfully and give back to the community. Ways to give back to the locals in Hawai’i includes tipping generously, supporting local businesses, and even volunteering at clean-up sites or other sustainable organizations. Another native Hawaiian travel website cites the biggest thing to remember is, “ Te 'āina (land) and the Moana (ocean) are a part of the fabric of our culture and people. Tey are part of our home. And like any home, including your own, we hope that you will treat them with respect,” demonstrating how some locals are allowing people in but in a respectful manner that helps instead of hurts the land.
It is key to look at one of the foundational fgures and activists of Hawai’i and see the answer staring us in the face. Haunani-Kay Trask, a former professor at the University of Hawai’i and a lifelong beacon in the community, asserts, “You cannot just dance hula and go to Hawaiian language class at night and think you’re going to get a land base. You can’t do that. Cultural people have to become political. It’s not just political people like me who need to be more cultural. Our culture can’t just be ornamental or recreational. Tat’s what Waikiki is.” She goes on to say resisting this appropriation of the culture and disregard for stolen land is what should ignite the fre for the Hawaiian people’s power. Trask’s sentiments should extend as a deterrent for traveling to Hawai’i and perpetuating the colonization any further.
Tere are a plethora of places to explore that are not as afected by a colonized history as Hawai’i is. Hawai’i has magnifcent shores and diverse biodiversity that is getting destroyed by over-tourism. Te land is eroding at the cost of a few palm tree pics and lounging at swanky resorts. Stopping all travel to Hawai’i is easier said than done when the majority of revenue is built of of the exploitation of tourism. Like Gov. Green fears, a cease to all travel would potentially leave native Hawaiians at risk of losing their homes, and therefore connection to their land. Some of the travel
websites suggest there are ethical ways to travel to Hawai’i, like supporting local businesses and not staying at corporate hotels like Hiltons or Marriotts that extort native Hawaiians to do a hula performance or surf lesson. However, if you do your research of the cultural history of the hula or how important the water is to Hawaiians, then you are appreciating the culture and learning how to travel ethically. While I think that the debate on traveling to Hawai’i is complex, I still agree with Haunani-Kay Trask that there is no reason to travel to Hawai’i unless you or your family are from Hawai’i or you are visiting native Hawaiians that live there. But the decision to travel to Hawai’i is ultimately up to each individual , so I am just asking you to think twice before booking your ticket and fight.
As I stood in the maze of alleyways that wound into the medina of Chefchaouen, intensely cerulean blue paint seemed to coat every surface. Stray cats darted between alleys and pointed archways latticed with drooping vines, and intricate tapestries and rugs were propped in front of open shop doors. Scents of turmeric and cardamom hung heavy in the air. Every half hour, the melodic droning of Islamic calls to prayer, broadcast from megaphone-lined mosque towers every few blocks, cut through the bustling noise of the medina.
Amidst this exotic and enticing beauty, I stood holding a parcel roughly the size of a shoebox. It was wrapped tightly in brown paper and wound with packing tape to the point of strangulation. As I contemplated my new purchase, a wave of buyer’s remorse sank my heart into my shoes. I was the new owner of a Moroccan rug — the very item I had sworn I would never purchase.
Afer six sweltering but exciting weeks digging in the Moroccan countryside, I had watched every member of our archeology team walk away with a rug (or three). Most of the gang was now preparing to return to the States with their beautiful woven pieces. It was true, these rugs captured the mystical feel of wandering through Morocco’s ancient medinas, with the saltwater breeze at your back and the promise of delicious tagine dishes waiting to be discovered. I, on the other hand, had only just begun my travels. Still ahead were six weeks of trekking through Europe with one backpack and a shoestring budget, followed by a fourmonth move to Tailand. Tere was no space allotted in my backpack or my budget for impromptu home furnishing purchases.
As ridiculous and regretful as I felt holding my rug, I let out a chuckle as I recalled
Swept Under the Rug - a Wary Tale from the Medinas of Morocco
Photos and Story by Rachael Clawson
my dear friend Zoe’s rug story, to which my blunder paled in comparison. We were in Tangiers for the weekend, taking a break from the relentless pickaxing and artifact processing of our Roman-era archeological excavation (which mostly involved a group of undergrad students sitting in the hot sun scrubbing mud of of pottery shards with toothbrushes). With its winding white plaster alleyways and daunting fights of stairs that scaled this hilly seaside city, Tangiers felt magical and bright. Squinting out over the horizon, you could just make out the fuzzy outline of Spain across the strait of Gibraltar.
Our excavation team had been granted a few hours of free time to roam around and take in the splendor of the souk — the colorful and chaotic local marketplace. Dozens of stalls lined the steep, winding streets, boasting slippers and piles of fruit and unsettling mannequins wearing conservative dresses. Vendors wrapped in hijabs sold sugarcane juice, aromatic ground spices and freshly dried dates, ofering an endless array of stimulation and ensuring that your roaming eyes would never know boredom. As you wound deeper towards the center of the city, the streets narrowed and the outdoor stalls transitioned to shop doorways, beckoning you in with antique brass items, intricate lamps, and unique leather bags. Slightly dusty and full of exotic and antique splendor, the medina was full of exciting possibilities. For Zoe, the rugs were the most exciting – they hung from the walls and lined the alleys, taunting her with the tantalizing desire to bargain.
We were all terribly excited to barter. Te graduate students had flled us in, giving us all the necessary tactics on the drive over. Striking a good deal was an art form in Morocco, and a practice that was expected at
the markets. Tey told us not to show too much interest in any particular item, to be willing to pull the walk-away-card, and to consider how much you would be willing to pay before cutting in with a lowball quote. Don’t worry about not knowing numbers in Arabic, they said. You can just type digits into the large calculators each shop owner keeps on hand until you settle on a price.
Our free time to explore the city had long expired, and we still hadn’t heard from Zoe. Arriving a full 45 minutes behind, she strolled triumphantly up the countless stairs, her face beaming with the satisfaction of a good deal. Our friend Cooper trailed behind her, looking to all the world like Quasimodo — tackling the stairs hunched over with a huge oversized parcel balanced on his shoulders (the stairs really did seem infnite; I climbed no fewer than 94 fights that day).
Joining us at long last and intently ignoring Cooper, who insisted that Zoe had somehow made a grave error in her amateur eforts to barter, she described with delight the authentic antique double-sided Berber rug that she now owned. Cooper kept badgering, trying to convince Zoe that she had been scammed and had paid the price in Euros, not in dirhams. One euro is worth about 10 Moroccan dirham, so if Cooper was right she had paid ten times more than she thought. Zoe wouldn’t listen. “I know how money works, Cooper!” she bleated defensively.
Sealing the deal and using her credit card to pay, Zoe was elated until at some point on our journey home, Cooper’s eforts fnally sank in, and she began to question the transaction. Frantically checking her bank account, her heart plummeted and instantaneous panic set in. Te monetary difer-
ence was ghastly, for instead of paying what she had thought was 2,500 dirham (€250), she had instead been charged 2,500 euro! At this point in her young life, this was the largest purchase she had ever made, and it was nearly exactly the value of the beloved horse she had recently sold.
Regardless of her blunder, it turned out that Zoe really did know how money works. Within two hours, she had found a buyer in the U.S. who was willing to pay $4k for her rug. Zoe called and adamantly demanded a refund from the rug vendor, who reluctantly agreed to wire her €800. We retrieved her consolation prize from Western Union the next week, and Zoe walked into our fat with fat bundles of cash tucked under each arm. She became the local money vendor for our whole excavation team, and I have the hilarious image of her sitting on her twin bed, fanning out hundreds of bills and finging them around our drab room as we pretended to be absolutely flthy rich. Needless to say, Zoe had the best exchange rate in town.
A few weeks later, I had said a tearful goodbye to my pal and her rug, and continued on my journey through Morocco. Ten
I found myself in the beautiful blue alleys of Chefchaouen. Drawn in by an unquenchable thirst to form human connections, the cultural anthropologist in me was dying to be invited into someone’s house to share an enlightening conversation over tea.
So, you can imagine my utter delight when I was strolling down a picturesque avenue with my boyfriend and we heard a kind man call out, “Hello! Where are you from?” Breaking out our limited Darija phrases, we quickly became enthralled by his excitement of an upcoming trip to California. Eager to share about our respective homes and cultures, our new host invited us into his living room to enjoy a pot of tea with him. Te conversation fowed as easily as the seemingly endless tea. We discussed food, lifestyles and livelihoods, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the countless rugs and tapestries folded neatly in tall stacks and tacked to the wall for display. Our host caught my wandering gaze, and instantly shifed the conversation to his passion: rugs.
With no lack of detail or enthusiasm, he began to spin the story of authentic Moroccan rugs made by orphaned children and widows from tribes settled high in remote corners of the Atlas mountains. Tese masterpieces, he claimed, were slaved over for at least six months before being loaded on the backs of camels and carted across the desert. Each design was unique, he exclaimed, and represented the artful crafsmanship of a household. His spiel illuminated the exotic elegance and hearty resilience of these intricately handcrafed Berber rugs. How delightful, I thought, to hear this wonderful story told by such a dynamic man while enjoying freshly brewed tea in the corner of his home.
What hadn’t necessarily occurred to me was how far back in this corner of his home we really were. We stirred in an efort to politely be on our way, but he objected adamantly, claiming he wanted to give us a special show of his splendid rugs — just for our viewing pleasure. I insisted we weren’t customers and that we wouldn’t be buying anything from him that day, regardless of how beautiful his products were. But my words fell on deaf ears, and he called his assistant, who began to unfurl rugs one by one, placing them in the center of the foor. Tere were rugs woven from every material; knotted rugs and fat weaves, with pat-
terns ranging from bold and geometric to delicate and ornate. Materials were passed down to us for our tactile participation and admiration. We marveled at the durability of a rug that had “been around for decades, and washed dozens of times,” and the practicality of a fre-proof cactus-silk rug, demonstrated to us by the close proximity of our host’s open lighter.
Between us and the doorway back to the magical blue streets of Chefchouen was the space of two whole rooms, whose foors now lay stacked with dozens of rugs. We weren’t going anywhere. With a grin and a glint of satisfaction at having woven his trap successfully, the dealer capitalized on our love of learning languages. He taught us the words in Darija (the dialect of Arabic specifc to Morocco) for “I want it” and “I’ll pass”, which we were to repeat based on our tastes as his assistant slowly lifed each rug in turn and displayed its qualities for us. My boyfriend Ian and I glanced at each other, exchanging looks of bemused exasperation. As the pile thinned, my hope for escaping empty handed was bolstered, until Ian saw a beautiful wool blanket and proclaimed “bhgit”— I want it. I glanced at him with raised eyebrows. As we neared the end of
the pile, a small blue rug caught my eye. It was gorgeous, with intricately woven geometric patterns in bright reds and yellows and blues, boasting ornate small squares and tight rows of zig-zagging shapes which framed a beautiful central motif. It was truly spectacular, and truly Moroccan. I had never seen anything like it before. To my own surprise, I echoed Ian’s “bhgit”.
At last, we were lef with just the two items we had spoken up for. Neither of us realized that the other wasn’t entirely interested in making a purchase, but we did our best to insist we weren’t there as customers. Tis man was full of adages, which he seemed to toss out as frequently as he inhaled. “You will make money back,” he proclaimed. “You are young!” “It will cost you nothing to ship!” “Life is short! Live — your money will come and go”.
I was mesmerized by the small rug. On a whim, and against my better judgment, I fnally asked the price. “400 euro!” the merchant exclaimed. “ Tat is nothing, such a good deal! You will never fnd another like it” — and he reminded us of the widows and the orphans and the intense manual labor and the long camel rides through the Atlas mountains. I balked. “400?! No way. I would give you €100 max for that.”
My mistake. “DEAL!” he trumpeted triumphantly.
My eyes widened. What had I done? I followed the assistant to the back room in a stupor of bewilderment as my credit card was charged and my rug was packed snugly in its corset of packing paper and tape. Ten, we were shooed out of the shop as the owner settled back into his plastic chair, boasting a look of mischievous satisfaction. I stopped to capture a photo of him, wanting to remember that look in his eyes and my utter disappointment with myself for stepping right into his trap.With chagrin I realized that I had just joined the ranks of the rug-purchasers.
Te nail in the cofn, however, was when we strolled by the same shop later that evening looking for a spot to eat. With seemingly no recollection of the three hours he had spent with us earlier in the day, the rug dealer repeated his exact words from that morning, cheerfully calling out “Hello! Where are you from?” My heart sank. So much for a lovely local cup of tea.
Struggling to pack the parcel into my bags later that night, I was eager to hunt down a shipping service and be rid of this weight and the guilt it brought. While actually a reasonable price for a Moroccan rug, 100 euro was my budget for lodging and food for a week! To my dismay, the DHL shipping service in Fez wanted €270 (293.55 USD) for shipping, a price I simply could not aford. Unable to rearrange my budget any further, I was forced to rearrange my backpack, shoving my rug into a small day pack that I then carried on my chest for the next six weeks.
Tat rug accompanied me on planes, trains, buses, taxis, ferries, and gondolas. It rested on my chest as I climbed up a steep mountainside in the Swiss Alps to reach a remote hostel, and it sat on the bank of a river in Milan as I took a plunge. My rug was carted through Rome, Prague, and Berlin, was my pillow on an overnight ferry from Athens to Crete, and counted as my personal item on my fight to Bangkok. Nestled at my feet like an artisan ball and chain, it reminded me constantly of the need for frugality and of the hilarity of having made a rug blunder in Morocco, just like my dear friend Zoe.
Japan
I started taking French classes my freshman year of high school. All my friends were taking Spanish and I wanted to be diferent. Plus, I thought it was a beautiful language, even though my main source of exposure to French had been “Ratatouille.” In school, I studied grammar and francophone celebrities, and had dance parties to “Alors on danse” by Stromae. Eventually, I made my way into college and continued studying it. I spoke French to my professors with my thick American accent and dreamed of the day that I could fnally set foot in the place I had learned so much about. Last semester, USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium) presented the opportunity to fnally take the leap and go to France.
Studying abroad appealed to me in more ways than just the language aspect. As a student who is also studying psychology and sociology, the opportunity to live with a native host family in a diferent country and analyze how their behaviors and traditions difered from mine was exactly what my brain was craving. With this in mind, I knew I had to apply and experience this for myself.
I decided to just go for it and apply for the fall term, planning everything else around this trip so I could fnally put it into action. I had heard about USAC during freshman orientation and again in almost every French class I took. USAC seemed like the most accessible way to study abroad since the organization is so connected to the university; transferring credits and fguring out similarities in the programs is straightforward with them. USAC made the application process incredibly easy for me as a student, and their staf answered any questions I had quickly and efciently. I was scared about the cost as well, because plane tickets to Europe are not cheap. But surpris-
Discovering My Love to Travel with USAC
By Cadie Peters
ingly, it was similar to a normal semester’s tuition cost, and scholarships and fnancial aid from Nevada can be applied depending on the program and the scholarship.
When I got the email that I had been accepted into the program, I was thrilled. Te worst part of the application process was having to drive to San Francisco and wait all day for the Visa application process. But I was so excited to go that even waiting in a government ofce couldn’t bring me down. As the fall semester approached, I began to pack. I had no idea what I needed to bring to live in a foreign country for four months. I watched a bunch of Youtube videos on capsule wardrobes and the climate in France, and hoped for the best. Te day fnally came to leave, and I headed to the airport early in the morning with my suitcases. A mix of anxiety and excitedness overcame me. It was fnally happening.
« Bonjour! Bienvenue en France! »
My host family smiled at me at the train station as I held my two giant suitcases and tried to smile through the jet lag. I was nervous to live with strangers in their home for an entire semester, but I was excited to see where the journey would take me.
I studied in the southwest of France, close to the Spanish border, in a little town called Pau. Each week I had intense French language courses with other international students learning French which was an amazing way to get to know people with diferent backgrounds. Also, our only common language was French which made us become very creative in how we communicated. I tried to travel on the weekends when I could (although travel is expensive) and spend time with my host family during the week. I ofen spent my evenings fnishing up homework and then playing cards or
watching movies with my family, and reading a book when I had time. When I think back to my semester overall, I remember the strangers that became my close friends in four months. My classmates, professors, and host family helped me improve my language skills and develop a newfound appreciation for cultures I had never been exposed to before.
Studying abroad does come with some inherent difculties. Culture shock is real, and I didn’t believe it until I was a month deep into the semester and missed having air conditioning and a dryer. I was exhausted for a while in the beginning, dealing with jet lag and constant language translation in my head. Te city I was staying in was pretty small compared to a lot of other USAC programs so there wasn’t a lot of nightlife or activities to do during the week. And I wasn’t used to having to do so many presentations and group projects. Te school system is diferent in France: in college you do not get to pick your class times, and school days are ofen fve to seven hours long with a lunch break in the middle. But it was interesting to experience another system outside of the U.S. And yes, I defnitely got homesick by the end. But I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.
My experience studying abroad truly changed my life. I had heard all about the cliches of going abroad, that it would change my life and I would come back as a new person full of introspection and cultural literacy. But I did not realize how true they could actually be until I felt the magic of starting to understand this completely diferent world I was living in. I realized after the semester that I have a love for traveling and getting to know new cultures. And personal growth is exponential when you’re forced to constantly order food and make
small talk in a foreign language. Everything is new, so adjustment is quick in this environment.
Studying abroad allowed me to learn about the world, myself, and this new culture I had only learned about in books. Seeing the Eifel tower in person, ordering a warm chocolatine, and sitting at a French cafe reading a book are experiences I’ve dreamed about for years. But now, I fnally got to experience them. Te semester allowed me to get a better grasp of the nuance of this life we get to live. Afer four months, I learned that hostels are actually not that bad (usually). I learned that Sundays are for sleeping in, playing cards, and visiting family. I learned that I really enjoy having a little sister and a new family. I learned that “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey transcends language barriers. I
learned that if the opportunity presents itself, I will go anywhere in the world just to experience it. And most of all, I learned that life is so much more remarkable than we think it is.
I will never forget the joy in my heart when my host family threw me a Tanksgiving dinner because they wanted to learn more about my life experiences afer I spent months getting to learn about theirs. As we drank warm soup out of paper cups and sipped steaming tea, I taught my new French family to share all the things they were thankful for that year. And in that moment, I realized the immense gratitude rushing through me for this family, this program, and this little town in the southwest of France welcoming me with open arms.
I began my study abroad semester as a scared, exhausted teenager. I lef with a newfound sense of purpose and appreciation for life. Te people around me in this program saw my fears and helped me make the most of my time abroad by constantly teaching and connecting with me. Now that I’m back home, I spend almost every day thinking about my time there: appreciating the friendships I made, the places I saw, and the cinematic experiences I had. Going abroad with USAC allowed me to immerse myself in the native language, culture, and style of life, all while learning practical academics as well. Tanks to this USAC program, I discovered my love for traveling and exploring the world. I cannot wait to go on my next adventure with all the growth I experienced during my time abroad.
Illustration by Heather Saxe
Oceania
In a world full of diversity and cultural richness the desire to travel and explore new destinations is a common aspiration, particularly amongst students. From the allure of iconic landmarks to the fascination of diferent cultures the motivations behind student travel preferences are as diverse as the destinations themselves.
Following the poll Insight conducted in late February asking fellow University of Nevada, Reno students where they’d like to travel and why, many of them shared
The Top Places To Travel and Why According to University Students
By Lauren Juillerat
the compelling reasons behind their travel destination choices.
One of the popular reasons students at the university yearn to travel is due to nostalgia. Many students said they wished to visit places their favorite movies had been flmed in. Greece itself has been the host of many famous movies. Such as “Une femme à sa fenêtre”, “For Your Eyes Only,” and the most popular, “Mamma Mia.” A tale that invokes
childhood memories for all as well as a comforting reminder to take chances and risks in order to achieve lifelong dreams. Several students listed Greece, a dreamy destination, as their top pick simply because of their love for the flm.
Meanwhile other students listed historical landmarks as one of their top motivations for traveling, and traveling soon for that matter. Italy was one of the most popular responses with varied answers as
to why. Food enthusiasts said they craved savory pastas and rich gelato while artists and historians hoped to immerse themselves in the culture and artistic ingenuity of nearly 4,000 year-old architecture. Te reason many travelers are opting to visit this destination soon, more specifcally Venice, Italy, is because it is slowly sinking. A beautiful city that is destined to disappear within the next century is at the top of many student’s bucket lists.
Speaking of beautiful cities, some people said they’d like to travel to a destination closer to home. Te city of Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti which is only eight hours from Los Angeles, California. Some students said Tahiti was a top pick for their next trip due to the proximity to home, remoteness, golden sands, and crystal blue beaches the island ofers. In fact, many were interested in traveling anywhere so long as a beach was nearby.
New Zealand, Tailand and the Philippines are all well known for their remarkable seashores. With a multitude of fun activities such as snorkeling amongst vibrant coral reefs, and napping on warm pillowy sand, it’s no surprise these island countries are so admired. Tese destinations are also an excellent choice if you’re a fan of sweets. Te Earth produces fruit so sweet it almost tastes like candy. Tailand and Te Philippines are home to some of the rippest mangoes. If you’re a fan of kiwis, New Zealand is perfect for you. Regardless of what tropical getaway you choose, you can’t go wrong with one of these!
Lastly, one of the biggest infuences for travel had to do with transportation. Many expressed a love of community. Being able to walk from place to place, breathe in the air and take in the scenery without the noise pollution of car horns, road rage screams, and booming bass. A traveler who had already visited the Czech Republic described how she hopes to travel back there one day. Te Czech capital is known as one of Europe’s greatest walkable cities. Everything is within 30 minutes of each other and walking from place to place makes the journey all the more enjoyable. On one of your walks you may be exposed to the Baroque, Gothic architecture of the country, or markets that have a fruity aroma, selling
mulled wine, a spiced, tart and smoky alcoholic beverage that is typically served warmed. Tis destination is a must if you are a fan of fermented fruit drinks. Even if you aren’t, there is no doubt that you won’t discover some incredible things.
Overall, students who want to travel are motivated by a myriad of passions. Whether it be a thirst for adventure, a desire to be enriched by history, or a love of all things foodie related, it’s clear that students seek experiences outside of the classroom. Tey desire experiences that will transcend the textbook pages and enhance their lives through memories. So, the next time you’re thinking about traveling, take a page out of Mamma Mia’s handbook. Take a risk to pursue your lifelong travel dream. Afer all, summer’s almost here.
In the slumber of the winter, I can’t stop daydreaming about summer. Te sun on my face, the trees bustling with green leaves, and the wind
. If I think about summer long enough I can almost smell the sunscreen and sea salt. But alas, I must put on my burly coat and face the reality of snow still frosting on the streets and lust for summer in the distance. However, I have a secret to surviving the lasting winter, rewatching one of my all-time favorite summer movies, “Mamma Mia!” So, let’s embark on this journey and travel to Greece for a glimpse of summertime.
“Mamma Mia!” is one of those movies that is forever embedded in our memories. Whether you hate musicals or not, or for some reason dislike ABBA, this jukebox musical may not have made the same impression on you as it has on me, but I think everyone can agree that it is a cult classic for this generation. Released in 2008, the movie has gained popularity time and time again, usually on TikTok, and has been a beacon of early 2000s saturation and wanting to book a one-way ticket to Greece. Te movie is such a treasure trove of nostalgia, one to go back and sing with all the familiar characters again. My roommates and I, at least, do a full rewatch every year and indoctrinate any new friends into loving Miss herself, Donna Summer.
I do not think it is just the nostalgia or hilarious singing of Pierce Brosnan that keeps “Mamma Mia!” so popular, it is the cumulation of what the flm represents. From the thrilling setting to the ideal of endless summer to the found family trope to fnally fnding oneself. Te flm represents residing in a spot of time where linear time does not exist, instead,
Here I Go Again Rewatching “Mamma Mia!”
By Zoey Cambley
it is measured through dance numbers and musical ballads.
Te movie centers around Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, fnding out who her dad is. Her mother Donna, played by Meryl Streep, had fings with three diferent men in one summer. So, Sophie invites her possible fathers to the villa in Greece that her mom owns for her wedding. When they arrive she hides all her mom’s past lovers in the forgotten attic, and of course, this all doesn’t go to plan. Te plot then develops into not only Sophie discovering herself, but Donna facing her past lovers and asking life to, “ .”
While this flm may be considered kitschy, I think it is perfectly tacky and silly. Te right amount of joy to rub of on all who dare to sit and watch it. Sure, the orange hue and dance numbers may be a little much, but that’s what I think the magic of this flm is. Even Meryl Streep recalled being a little embarrassed while practicing in spandex and singing ABBA nonstop throughout her house, but she came to be really proud of her work. It is also a little cheesy how all the main male actors aren’t the most skilled at carrying a tune. But all of that doesn’t matter, because at the heart of the flm everyone on set was having fun, maybe because they were a little drunk as well, and it shows in the flm. Te main purpose of “Mamma Mia!” is to have fun and illustrate a heartwarming story as well. “Mamma Mia!” is about getting lost on the island of Skiathos, where the movie was flmed, and relishing in life yet to be lived. Te flm makes every summer feel like because it is the epitome of the dog days that can exist forever. With the escape of galavanting on the beach and
singing your heart out, the story permeates the ultimate feeling of wanderlust.
Sophie’s plan only acts as a catalyst for exploring this story and all of its lovable characters. From Tanya and Rosie to Bill and Harry, everyone’s character may be surface-level or not that complex, but they all represent a reset - a time to live in the moment and not live in the past; the movie acts in similar ways. Not everyone can travel to Skiathos and run up the mountain while belting about how , but everyone can imagine it through this flm. Like most movies, it is a vehicle to venture to your dream place, if that dream is a long distance in the future you can live it currently if you have an hour and forty-fve minutes to spare. “Mamma Mia!” ignites everyone's need to travel and explore, the spark to set your journey ablaze. I know I can’t aford to go to Greece anytime soon, but watching “Mamma Mia!” brings the country to me. Transportation is the power of flm, to explore a world of wonder before you embark on it on your own. Te movie is an accessible dream, and most importantly a joyous one, that is why people come back to this flm again and again. So dare I say, and rewatch this comfort flm.
Illustration by Ameda Uwaifo
Riding on a gondola throughout the canals of Venice is one of my favorite things I’ve gotten to check of my bucket list. Despite the intensity of the summer sun, the experience was as idyllic as one would imagine. Street music seemed to follow the thin boat throughout the city’s twists and turns, each new bend of the canal revealing architectural wonders from an earlier time.
Afer traveling through the city by boat and on foot, it wasn’t hard to see how Venice has maintained such prominent cultural and economic relevance since its inception in the 3rd century. Venice’s optimal location within the Adriatic Sea made it the world’s frst ofcial international trade center, the city’s infuence particularly prevalent throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Tis history of Venetian trade seemed to permeate into the present as the streets were lined with food vendors, gif shops, and lots and lots of jewelry stands—particularly glass jewelry. Venice is well-known for its lavish and unique glass art, where many pieces of authentic Venetian glass are still forged using traditional methods. From the opulent statues watching over St. Mark’s Basilica to the fne details within its glass work, Venice seems to capture the meaning of the word “marvel.” Everyone should have the opportunity to see such a romantic, soul-reviving city. Unfortunately, if the impacts of climate change persist, we may be seeing Venice beneath our next gondola ride.
Tat may seem dramatic, but unfortunately the issue of a rapidly sinking Venice is much more dire than we think. Afer establishing deep cultural and international signifcance throughout the island city’s nearly 18,000-year history,
Venice: The Slowly Disappearing City
By Ryann Casagrande
Venice is at risk of sinking by as early as 2,100. To be clear, Venice is not the only place at risk of sinking due to climate change. Other islands such as the Republic of Maldives, Republic of Fiji, Puerto Rico, and many others are at high risks of severe storms or total underwater submersion. Rising sea levels and extreme weather would make local populations in need of refuge, their homelands unable to return to or forever vanished.
Te common threat each of these islands face is the ocean’s sequestering of excess carbon emitted through various forms of industrial production. Climate science tells us that the ocean is one of the largest carbon sinks in the world. As the world’s oceans absorb more carbon, ice from freshwater glaciers melt into the oceans, increasing overall sea levels. On top of this additional water, water tends to expand as the earth becomes warmer, which in total adds signifcant volume to the world’s oceans. Te combination of additional water and expanded volume raises sea levels across the globe. As sea levels rise each year, coastal land mass reduces little by little as the ocean rises above its bordering beaches. Venice, a city of 118 small islands, is certainly no exception to climate change.
Te immediate threat to Venice seems rather minuscule at frst. As of right now, Venice is only sinking about one to two millimeters per year. However, millimeters gradually add up over time, which will bring the city 80mm below relative sea level within 20 years. Additionally, as Venice faces climate-based threats such as rising sea levels and more frequent, more intense storms, the foundation Venice was built on has never been ideal. Te sof earth of the Venetian lagoon
has compacted overtime from the weight of the city, alongside the extraction of groundwater leaving open pockets that need to be flled. Taking all of these factors into consideration, it becomes daunting to think of how the city could be gone within 76 years.
As the fear of the culturally dense, beloved city of Venice sinking becomes a reality, many solutions to mitigate the threat have been discussed and acted upon. Special barriers to keep excess water from entering the Venetian lagoon have been constructed, and groundwater extraction has stopped. While these measures are signifcant, these solutions only mitigate the problem rather than fx them, and only for Venice. In comparison, other islands such as the aforementioned Maldives and Fiji do not exist within a protected lagoon and are far more susceptible to the threats presented by climate change. So, while we protect Venice through measures such as stronger, higher dams, let these fortifed barriers remind us they are needed because of our refusal to address the root issue of climate change. Alongside my memories of the awe-inspiring Piazza San Marco and delicious Italian cuisine, I will never forget the stairwells submerged in the water of the Venetian canals, and how much more of the city will join them if we continue to follow our current footsteps.
With the opening piano keys that melodically call you in, Billy Joel sings the line “Slow down you crazy child”, “Vienna” is the perfect song to encapsulate wanderlust and chasing the future. As one of the most iconic travel songs, “Vienna” encompasses a myriad of diferent interpretations, in the literal and metaphorical sense. Despite the song being released in 1977, it resurfaces with every generation because it supplies the reassurance of taking your time to live in the here and now. When “Vienna” was initially released on album it wasn’t projected to be the sensation that it is, and was actually on the B-Side of the album. However, with the infatuation for a simpler time and escaping the present with a vintage fare, “Vienna” has become one of Billy Joel’s most popular songs.
With each passing generation, the song has become an idolatry symbol for Joel’s songwriting and mentality on life. Joel had a cathartic connection to Vienna since the city is where he was able to reconnect with his father in his twenties and experience the rich culture that it ofers. Being raised on Mozart and Beethoven, Joel saw how the city shaped these composers and altered his outlook on life and music. Although Vienna was a prominent place for Joel, the song focuses on the mentality that he adopted from the city and life itself. He encapsulates the fear of the unknown, the present passing you by, being stuck in the past, and most importantly being paralyzed by the future; all in a simple piece led by strokes on the piano and light tappings on the drums.
Vienna represents whatever future or goal or place that you are coveting. It is the destination that is clouding your appreciation of the current journey you are taking. “Vienna” stands as the overachiever an-
Vienna Waits For You?
By Zoey Cambley
them and cautionary tale of slowing down. As someone who constantly overthinks and obsesses about the future, hearing Billy Joel sing “Slow down you’re doing fne, you can’t be everything you want before your time,” altered my brain chemistry the frst time I listened to it. Te song felt like a reassuring hand on my shoulder stopping me and telling me to look around rather than only forward. As college students, we are constantly thinking about the future; whether that be graduation, career options, or applying to grad school, the fxation on futurities can prevent us from appreciating the present.
Te other reason “Vienna” is so popular is because it goes against the ‘American Dream’ of working until you're dead and latching on to capitalistic success. Afer traveling to Vienna, Joel experienced an entirely diferent world. One where everyone had their jobs, but unlike American ideals, their lives didn’t revolve around their careers. People in Europe have a special way of living, largely including relaxing. Compared to growing up in the bustling town of New York City to then experiencing Vienna with his father, it completely changed Joel’s outlook on life. It fnally dawned on him that growing up and old should be celebrated and that you don’t have to condense all your achievements in your twenties because you have your whole life ahead of you to succeed.
College is a life-altering moment in time when everything is at a standstill but also at an ultra-acceleration that ejects us out of our teenage years into being an adult. Now is a tumultuous time that feels like we are being chewed up and spit back out but also feels like the ride of our lives. “Vienna” represents tittering on the precipice of this transition. Te song is a reminder that we do not have to constantly chase, fght, and
focus on the future because it waits for us. Tat is not to say that we should sit back and let life happen to us, but to a certain degree constantly worrying and only working towards the future blinds us from relishing in the present moment. A conglomeration of being exposed to diferent ideas, people, and places that sets the scene for our adult lives.
Understanding what “Vienna,” represents lessens the power of growing up and facing ‘real’ life. Te song acknowledges that you will still accomplish what you desire while reminding you to make time for everything that is already passing you by. “Vienna” can represent any future goal or dream; from traveling the world to starting your own business, it captures the array of our hopes. So what is the “Vienna” that awaits you? Is it some solo trip across the United States? Or a road trip with old friends? Backpacking across Europe? Getting your Ph.D.? Surviving medical school? Finding your person? Or is it everything? Is the future keeping you from appreciating your life now? If so, go outside, breathe in the crisp air, and look around. Look at the sky and the ground, the birds, and the trees. Go touch grass if you have to! Listen to your favorite song, and maybe get a little treat. Walk around campus or your neighborhood. Talk to your favorite people. Because there comes a time when you realize that “Vienna” does wait for you, so you do not want to look back at this time and barely remember it. Experience the now, the current, the everyday, the mundane, because when you reach “Vienna” you’ll know it was because of this moment.
Yearbook
An ode to the Artemisia, Nevada's yearbook started in 1899 that evolved into Insight Magazine.
