Travel Bugg: Start your travels here
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Free Live Music in Austin, Texas
I read something that said people don’t live in Austin to work; they work to live in Austin. The Texas capital is known for its diverse groups of people, state parks and preserves, and of course, the live music scene.
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I am not engaged
It’s the time of the year when half your friends are getting engaged and the other half are writing passive aggressive posts about it. Despite societal expectations, I didn’t get engaged last year, but I did finish university, hike a tiny bit of the AT, backpack Europe and get a job. I’m happy for my…
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The Color of Hunger: El Salvador reflections
Donate to Elmer and his family here! Earlier in the semester of my study abroad program in Costa Rica, we heard a lecture from Elmer, a painter, artist, poet, and teacher who grew up in a trash dump in El Salvador. Our program did not invite statisticians or economics professors to present facts about food…
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Won a travel writing contest!!
My essay, “Broke and in college: How to fund your semester abroad,” won second place in the Transitions Abroad student essay contest. You can read the essay here. The editor, Gregory Hubbs, had some nice things to say about it, which made my day. Allowing people to travel and study regardless of income or nationality…
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Paris and the problem of selective grief
Today, I grieve for the people of Paris. Over 120 citizens were murdered in terrorist attacks at several locations including a stadium, rock concert and restaurant. In July, I was walking past this same stadium with my Parisian friend Marjorie and my best friend Lav. It is close to Marjorie’s home in the neighborhood of…
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Video: Backpacking Europe
After seven years of planning and dreaming, my best friend and I backpacked Europe in summer 2015. Here’s a video of our travels through Iceland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, England, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Austria.
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My travel essay was published!
My travel essay for Transitions Abroad was published on their website: Travel for All: The Ex-pat vs. Immigrant Debate. It’s about the language we use for travelers based on their economic status or nationality. For example a U.S. person retiring in Costa Rica would be called an ex-pat. Meanwhile a Costa Rican in the U.S.…
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My winning travel essay!
It’s finally here! Last February, I placed in a travel writing contest through the magazine Transitions Abroad. They’ve posted the article to their website so you can have a look here. The name of the essay is Neighborhood of Nations: exploring culture without leaving home. It’s about my internship working with refugees in Fort Worth,…
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Coming Home
I’ve visited a new place every year since I was 17. After constant movement through flights, bus rides and cross-country road trips, it’s curious to come home and be still. Every day I drive to an office, sit at a computer I can’t afford and process pieces of information for other people’s lives. I help…
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Favorite German Festivals
While travelling through Germany we were introduced by our friends and Couchsurfing hosts to the concept of the stadtfest and the volksfest. These local celebrations are a way for people to celebrate their heritage while eating great food, drinking good beer and spending time with friends and neighbors. A city will usually hold a stadtfest,…
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Free things to do in Amsterdam
If you’re like me, you spend months or years saving for your backpacking trip. When you finally get there you don’t have the budget to spend on fancy operas or expensive tours. Thankfully, Amsterdam has plenty of free options to see and do. Ride the ferry to Amsterdam-Noord When you walk out of the train…
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Things to do in Paris (other than visit the Eiffel Tower)
When you think of Paris certain places come to mind: And although these places are wonderful and should be visited, here are a few suggestions for other things to do while in Paris… Savor the macarons When I first thought of Parisian food, I imagined croissants and crepes, until my friend Marjorie introduced us…
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