tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58816493554472452562024-03-13T11:19:07.311-04:00C'est La Vie Travel & PhotographyDozens of countries, hundreds of adventures, endless of moments and counting...Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.comBlogger312125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-9358880702037794032017-09-13T02:59:00.000-04:002020-08-11T22:11:09.330-04:00Was the Duke MBA Worth It?<div class="featured-media" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 40px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">A version of this post was originally published on the <a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/2017/09/12/krystina-nguyen/was-the-duke-mba-worth-it" target="_blank">Duke Cross Continent MBA Student Blog</a> from the Fuqua School of Business.</i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> </i></div>
<div class="featured-media" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 40px; margin-top: 0px;">
<img alt="Me with a few classmates posing during graduation, was my MBA worth it" class="attachment-original size-original wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" data-lazy-src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576.jpg 720w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576-20x13.jpg 20w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576-150x100.jpg 150w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576-688x459.jpg 688w" data-was-processed="true" height="267" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576.jpg" srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576.jpg 720w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576-20x13.jpg 20w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576-150x100.jpg 150w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Nguyen-and-others-e1573059679576-688x459.jpg 688w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; width: 886.125px;" width="400" /><div class="caption" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15.3px; font-style: italic; padding-top: 5px !important; text-align: center;">
No goodbyes, just a celebration</div>
</div>
<div class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
Yes, and not just for the reasons you think. Going beyond business, it taught me some surprising life lessons.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
My classmates and I graduated a few months ago as proud MBAs. We kept our full-time jobs, studied as students both in-person and by distance, traveled to international residencies across five countries, and bonded over world adventures and 10,000-plus group text messages.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
When people ask if it was a good investment and what I learned, how can I describe the experience and the newfound wisdom? Reflecting back on the past two years, a Duke MBA is worth much more than a business degree as I learned some powerful life lessons.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0270af; font-family: domine, georgia, serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 30px !important; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Listen to Your Younger Self and Don’t Stop Laughing</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
As adults, we tend to allow our day-to-day responsibilities overtake the younger carefree versions of ourselves. My best MBA experiences involved dancing with blisters, talking into odd hours of the night, traveling to new places, and watching sunrises. We don’t nearly live these moments often enough as we get older.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
As grown-ups, we often let pride stop us from asking for help because we feel like we should know better. But the reality is that no one knows what they’re doing. We’re all just trying to make good choices with the information we have. <a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/2015/06/16/steven-hu/beyond-the-business-case-study-talking-with-the-ceo?category=academics#.WWaGb-mQzIU" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Like a business case study</a>, there are no right answers in life. You take chances and make decisions on the incomplete data you have. And your younger self will be the inner voice that tells you to seek adventure, stop and laugh, and look fear in the face.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0270af; font-family: domine, georgia, serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 30px !important; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Find People That Make Goodbyes Easy Because It’s Not Really Goodbye</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
<a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-1794" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;"><img alt="A Winnie the Pooh quote about goodbyes, was my MBA worth it" class="alignright wp-image-1794 size-medium lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" data-lazy-src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-300x300.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-156x156.jpg 156w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-40x40.jpg 40w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-76x76.jpg 76w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh.jpg 610w" data-was-processed="true" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-156x156.jpg 156w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-40x40.jpg 40w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh-76x76.jpg 76w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Pooh.jpg 610w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-family: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1.5em; max-width: 45%; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;" width="400" /></a>Some classmates joined the Cross Continent MBA program because they had never left the country and wanted international exposure. For others, we chose this experience because it matched our lifestyles. We’re often labeled as “nomads” or “globetrotters,” never staying in a place more than a couple of years and buying as many one-way tickets as round-trips.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
In a bittersweet way, this means that we’ve become adept at saying goodbye. I went to graduation to close this chapter as I had every time other experiences ended. To my surprise, no one said goodbye that weekend. Perhaps the nature of the program got us used to coming together every few weeks and then <a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/2016/11/16/1519/how-distance-learning-works-in-the-cross-continent-mba" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">working on virtual teams</a>. There were no tears, just celebration and laughter. The hugs were normal hugs that you give someone at the end of the night or after a vacation. It was as if we knew we’d see each other again soon. It was refreshing. It was beautiful.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0270af; font-family: domine, georgia, serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 30px !important; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">You’re Not an Island and You’re Never Alone</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
I spent the better part of my adult life priding myself on being fiercely independent—living life on my own terms—but this experience has shown me how naïve I’ve been. Friends and family were always there even if it wasn’t obvious. Particularly for the past two years, I was never on my own. Dukies were always there. It was my classmates and their friends who helped me move apartments and <a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/2016/05/09/krystina-nguyen/how-my-mba-training-saved-me-on-a-6500-foot-cliff?category=at-the-residencies#.WWaBnumQzIU" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">climb 6,500-foot cliffs</a>. They were there to attend my martial arts black belt ceremony. It was a Dukie I first called when my grandmother passed away.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
I was never alone and the Fuqua community was there even when I didn’t realize I needed people the most. They say an MBA is good networking for your career prospects, but I find the most valuable aspect is to have people in your corner when life doesn’t work out the way you planned. Because when you don’t get the dream job, when you’re disappointed, or when that unimaginable Thursday afternoon phone call comes, you realize that you’re never alone no matter how many miles away you may be.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0270af; font-family: domine, georgia, serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 30px !important; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Growth and Character Come from Tough Places Rather than Checkmark Successes</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
<a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-1796" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;"><img alt="A quote about life testing a person's will, was my MBA worth it" class="alignright wp-image-1796 size-medium lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" data-lazy-src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-300x300.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-156x156.jpg 156w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-40x40.jpg 40w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-76x76.jpg 76w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock.jpg 720w" data-was-processed="true" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-156x156.jpg 156w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-40x40.jpg 40w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock-76x76.jpg 76w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-Clock.jpg 720w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-family: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1.5em; max-width: 45%; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: 18px;">When I met my classmates, their professional and personal successes easily impressed me. However, I soon learned the raw tragedies that became a part of their stories. Sick parents, the death of loved ones, diseases, divorces, heartbreaks, the feeling of not being good enough or doing enough. In an MBA program, you get to see people holistically as the blurry lines between the professional and personal reveal accomplishments and personal battles. Though tragedies don’t define people, the scars are to be remembered and the comebacks to be admired.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
I find it ironic, but not coincidental that two of the hardest years of my life were also the best. I didn’t realize it then, but I spent the last two years experiencing the pain and the happiness of falling in love. With my classmates, with the experience, with life all over again with both its ups and downs.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0270af; font-family: domine, georgia, serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 30px !important; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Trust the Journey as You Chase After the Opposite of Loneliness</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
I recently took up surfing, and they say that you can never win against the ocean. Like life, you’ll often wipe out, but it’s worth it to catch that one perfect wave. I’ve learned to trust the experience and continue hustling. One moment, the world is crashing down on you, the next moment, you’re living and working near the beach with a sun-kissed tan. And that Duke MBA? It’s the best safety net there is.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
<img alt="A quote about life taking unpredictable turns, was my MBA worth it" class="alignright wp-image-1795 size-medium lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" data-lazy-src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-300x300.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-156x156.jpg 156w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-40x40.jpg 40w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-76x76.jpg 76w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote.jpg 600w" data-was-processed="true" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-156x156.jpg 156w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-40x40.jpg 40w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote-76x76.jpg 76w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/09/Krystina-Was-it-worth-it-quote.jpg 600w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-family: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1.5em; max-width: 45%; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;" width="400" /></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
<a href="http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2012/05/27/keegan-the-opposite-of-loneliness/" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">In her final essay</a>, Marina Keegan wrote, “We don’t have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did, I could say that’s what I want in life…It’s not quite love and it’s not quite community; it’s just this feeling that there are people, an abundance of people, who are in this together. Who are on your team.”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
A good MBA will teach business and management skills. A great MBA will provide you with a network of people to call on for anything. An extraordinary MBA, like the one I found at Fuqua, will empower you to become the best version of yourself and motivate you to help others on their journeys to better themselves.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
Sometimes I wished a did a full-time MBA program as I could have seen the people I loved every day. Then again, the Daytime MBAs were jealous of us traveling the world with 100-plus friends while pulling in a professional salary. Everyone’s MBA experience will be different, but what I do know is that it’s an understatement when they welcome you into the Fuqua community. You’re joining a family, and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/krystina-nguyen/find-your-passion-but-mor_b_8017120.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">you’re joining a tribe</a>. And if you’re lucky like me, you’ll find love and the opposite of loneliness.</div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-9827429079913635312016-08-19T02:59:00.000-04:002020-08-04T23:23:53.262-04:00Why Diversity at Fuqua Gives Me Hope for Tomorrow<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
</div>
<div class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">A version of this post was originally published on the <a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/2016/08/18/krystina-nguyen/why-diversity-at-fuqua-gives-me-hope-for-tomorrow" target="_blank">Duke Cross Continent MBA Student Blog</a><span id="goog_287920400"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_287920401"></span> from the Fuqua School of Business.</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> </i><br />
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
<br />
It’s 3:30 a.m. and I can’t sleep. This happens from time to time as the 80% humidity in New England makes a summer heat wave unbearable. But perhaps, the world has finally caught up with me.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
As a content writer and an MBA student studying international business, I spend a significant amount of my time reading current events. In terms of seeing theory put into practice, there’s no better time to study global business than now.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
As a part of Fuqua’s program, my classmates and I travel to five different regions of the world and examine macroeconomic trends and political institutions in our core course <a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/2015/05/19/jennifer-petoskey/exploring-global-markets-and-institutions-in-india" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Global Markets and Institutions</a>. While in Latin America, we analyzed the spiraling economic indicators of the Brazilian recession. We’re currently studying the elements of government structures in the Middle East and watched with great interest the coup attempt in Turkey.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
We’ve seen firsthand, the incredibly tough and chaotic times in the world. It hurts that by the time I finish writing this piece, there will likely be another mass shooting—one that could have been prevented. It hurts that we need a movement asking for lives to matter, because it’s a given that lives should matter in the first place.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
But I know this brokenness isn’t all of the world, nor is it how the world has to be.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
Through the Cross Continent MBA, the world I’ve experienced is one where an American-born Syrian, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, and a bi-racial mom can travel together for a shared dream of visiting the Taj Mahal, designated as a <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a> for being “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-1505" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;"><img alt="four classmates standing in front of the Taj Mahal provide a great representation of diversity at Fuqua" class="alignnone wp-image-1505 size-full lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 1044px) 100vw, 1044px" data-lazy-src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped.jpg 1044w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped-156x88.jpg 156w" data-was-processed="true" height="359" sizes="(max-width: 1044px) 100vw, 1044px" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped.jpg" srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped.jpg 1044w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-Taj-Mahal_cropped-156x88.jpg 156w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 18px; margin: auto !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
The world I know is one where days later, my classmates and I would celebrate our own version of <a href="http://www.holifestival.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Holi, known as the “Festival of Colors</a>”, as colored water and powders are playfully thrown around family and friends. It’s a celebration of colors and love. How appropriate I get to celebrate with my friends who identify as black, Jewish, Colombian, brown, Nigerian, white, Indian, and more?</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-1504" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;"><img alt="students celebrating Holi symbolizes the diversity at Fuqua" class="alignnone wp-image-1504 size-full lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 828px) 100vw, 828px" data-lazy-src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped.jpg 828w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped-156x88.jpg 156w" data-was-processed="true" height="359" sizes="(max-width: 828px) 100vw, 828px" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped.jpg" srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped.jpg 828w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-holi-cropped-156x88.jpg 156w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 18px; margin: auto !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
The world I know is where individuals originally from Pakistan and India, two countries with a long history of tension, can stand as friends in front of the remnants of the Berlin Wall, a symbolic paradigm of a city once divided and now united. And where two Americans, one raised Buddhist, one raised Muslim, can share in their interests and similarities while celebrating their differences.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
<a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-graphitti.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-1503" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;"><img alt="students posing in front of the Berlin Wall, diversity at Fuqua" class="alignright wp-image-1503 size-medium lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" data-lazy-src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-graphitti-225x300.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-graphitti-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-graphitti-152x202.jpg 152w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-graphitti.jpg 720w" data-was-processed="true" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-graphitti-225x300.jpg" srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-graphitti-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-graphitti-152x202.jpg 152w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/Krystin-Diversity-graphitti.jpg 720w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-family: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1.5em; max-width: 45%; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;" width="300" /></a>In another core course, <a href="http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/cross_continent/cross_continent_curriculum/culture-civilizations-leadership/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Culture, Civilizations, and Leadership</a>, we study cultural frameworks to apply as we work through business situations. What I love is that we’re able to have tough conversations in and out of the classroom. On separate occasions after nearly 12-hour days of classes and activities, 70-plus of my classmates gathered to honestly ask one another questions and discuss our personal experiences around race, gender, class, sexuality, religion, and more. We listened to each other’s perspectives without judgment.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
Though I’m proud to be a part of this community and proud to have a <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dear-america-its-time-embrace-our-discomfort-get-out-bubbles-bill?trk=prof-post" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">dean that encourages empathy amongst disagreeing perspectives</a>, I know as a business school and as individual leaders of consequence, there’s more we can do around diversity and inclusion systematically as a school and personally with our biases. But when I look at these photos, the diversity at Fuqua and celebration of it, it gives me hope for the future and reminds me that even in the toughest times #LoveAlwaysWins.</div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-78023088142221324842016-05-09T23:59:00.000-04:002020-07-28T00:02:18.844-04:00How My MBA Training Saved Me on a 6,500-Foot Cliff<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">A version of this post was originally published on the <a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/2016/05/09/krystina-nguyen/how-my-mba-training-saved-me-on-a-6500-foot-cliff" style="color: #771100; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Duke Cross Continent MBA Student Blog</a> from the Fuqua School of Business.</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> </i></div>
<div>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My MBA training came in handy on this mountaintop" border="0" class="attachment-original size-original wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 902px) 100vw, 902px" data-lazy-src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300.jpg 902w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300-100x100.jpg 100w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300-768x768.jpg 768w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300-20x20.jpg 20w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300-688x688.jpg 688w" data-was-processed="true" sizes="(max-width: 902px) 100vw, 902px" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300.jpg" srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300.jpg 902w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300-100x100.jpg 100w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300-768x768.jpg 768w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300-20x20.jpg 20w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-travel-mates-1-e1583431975300-688x688.jpg 688w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: gibson, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "gibson" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.3px; font-style: italic;">My travel mates designated as “Team Xi’an”</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
MBA lessons can prove practical in unlikely places.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
I’m hanging off the side of Mount Huashan in China, dubbed “<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/mount-huashan-hike_n_4262641.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">one of the most dangerous and terrifying hikes in the world</a>.” Attached to the mountain by a questionable 4-foot harness, I have to walk across a 1-foot wide wooden plank. Looking down more than a mile to the ground, I’m remembering that I’m deathly afraid of heights.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
Of course, this was my idea to begin with.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
This past summer, my 114 classmates and I began our MBA journey as a part of the Class of 2016 in the <a href="http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/cross_continent/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Fuqua School of Business Cross Continent MBA Program</a>. Living and working in various parts of the world, we enrolled in the working professional program to allow ourselves to earn an MBA while keeping our full-time jobs. A core part of the program is to attend international class residencies and essentially travel the world studying, going on corporate visits, and immersing ourselves into various cultures.</div>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_1461" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: right; font-family: gibson, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1.5em; max-width: 45%; width: 235px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-plank-walk.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-1461" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;"><img alt="Krystina - MBA Lessons plank walk" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1461" class="wp-image-1461 size-medium lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" data-lazy-src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-plank-walk-225x300.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-plank-walk-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-plank-walk-152x202.jpg 152w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-plank-walk.jpg 720w" data-was-processed="true" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-plank-walk-225x300.jpg" srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-plank-walk-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-plank-walk-152x202.jpg 152w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-plank-walk.jpg 720w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 15.3px; font-style: italic;">Hiking the “Plank Walk” at Mount Huashan…smiles cover up our fear of heights!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-1461" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.3px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px !important; text-align: center; word-break: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
Our first international residency was to the powerhouse of China, whom the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/china-overtakes-us-as-worlds-largest-economy-2014-10" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">IMF deemed the world’s largest economy</a> just a few months prior. A handful of us decided to arrive one week early to explore Xi’an before classes began. During my travel research, every web site stated that we couldn’t miss out on the infamous “Plank Walk” at Mount Huashan, a sacred Taoist mountain located in the Shaanxi Province.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
The route is a complicated one. After about 2.5 hours of climbing up steep, vertical staircases (and we took one of the easier routes), the trail leads to the edge of a cliff. Before reaching the “Plank Walk,” there are steel rods about 2 inches long and holes in the rocks to climb down. The wooden plank is only a foot wide and to top it all off, there is only one exit. So as you attempt to walk or climb one way, there are other people attempting to walk or climb the other way around you. Carpe diem!</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
Flashing back to day 2 of our MBA orientation during the first residency at Duke, every student went through a <a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/duke-mba/2015/10/27/maria-labandeira/working-in-teams-makes-anything-possible?category=why-fuqua#.VlYfh16VnCY" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">team-building ropes course</a> in small groups at the <a href="http://www.triangletraininginc.com/" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #000999; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Triangle Training Center</a>. The goal was to practice our teamwork and communication skills, capitalizing on each other’s strengths while identifying and improving upon our weaknesses. As I was hiking in China, I couldn’t have imagined that the same skill sets we worked on during the ropes course (and the entire class term) would come into play.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt="Krystina - MBA Lessons blue devil" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1460" class="wp-image-1460 size-full lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" data-lazy-src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-blue-devil.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-blue-devil.jpg 960w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-blue-devil-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-blue-devil-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-blue-devil-156x88.jpg 156w" data-was-processed="true" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-blue-devil.jpg" srcset="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-blue-devil.jpg 960w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-blue-devil-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-blue-devil-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/global-executive-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Krystina-MBA-Lessons-blue-devil-156x88.jpg 156w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: right;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "gibson" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.3px; font-style: italic;">The Blue Devil was a crucial member of the hiking team!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "gibson" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.3px; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
While climbing down the cliff, I couldn’t see directly below me, so I depended on my classmate to tell me exactly where to put my feet. Afterwards, I had to direct my other classmate where to go and predict the upcoming path for her. As people attempted to walk around us (and often we didn’t speak the same languages), split-second decisions had to be made to stay on the safest route. More importantly, given somehow that we <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">all</strong> were afraid of heights (no one wanted to admit it until the few days leading up to the hike of course), we had to support each other so we could face our fears and encourage each other to push through the exhaustion from the long day.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
When I first researched Duke, I knew of the emphasis placed around teamwork—which is not necessarily the case at other business schools. However “Team Fuqua” was simply a phrase I had heard before starting the Cross Continent program. As this experience has shown me and as every day passes, I’ve found that the spirit of “Team Fuqua” goes beyond a methodology. It’s a community of trust that has taught me to be a better leader, teammate, and communicator that can take on a boardroom or a 6,500-foot cliff.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: gibson, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">
<em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">Watch the video to see Krystina and her team’s treacherous route</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_GIeGdmQUXM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_GIeGdmQUXM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-76844593021597430742016-03-09T23:59:00.000-05:002020-08-02T22:22:47.432-04:003 Things Managers Can Do for Gender Equality (Leading to Better Teams and More Profits)<em style="box-sizing: inherit;">This post was co-written by Robin Moriarty, PhD.</em>
<br />
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.75rem; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Early on in my career, I interviewed for an Analyst position with the Managing Director of a Wall Street bank, a fifty-something-year-old male. After the typical interview questions, the conversation took an unforeseen turn as he took a keen an interest in my background — nonprofit work on social issues — as it was atypical from other interviewees. After discussing some of the topics I had worked on in the past, he inquired, “Tell me. As a manager, what can I do for gender equality?”<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.125rem;">Study after study shows that </span><a href="http://www.gallup.com/businessjournal/166220/business-benefits-gender-diversity.aspx" target="_blank">diverse teams produce better results</a><span style="font-size: 1.125rem;">. We know that companies with women in leadership positions are also </span><a href="http://fortune.com/2016/02/08/women-leadership-profits/" target="_blank">more profitable</a><span style="font-size: 1.125rem;">. Though we have data and have built general consensus that gender equality is yes, a good thing for successful business outcomes, what concrete actions can we actually take?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem;">While it must be recognized that there are <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/24/opinion/a-colleague-drank-my-breast-milk-and-other-wall-street-tales.html" target="_blank">systematic barriers and HR policies</a></span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem;"> that formally contribute (or don’t contribute) to gender equality, here are three practical tips that managers can employ if they want to start removing gender bias from their organizations:</span></div>
<div class="content-list-component yr-content-list-text text" data-rapid-cpos="6" data-rapid-parsed="subsec" data-rapid-subsec="paragraph" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: ProximaNova, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 720px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 705px;">
</div>
<strong style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Evaluate performance reviews based on performance metrics rather than primarily on an employee’s personality characteristics</strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">A <a href="http://fortune.com/2014/08/26/performance-review-gender-bias/" target="_blank">2014 study by Kieran Snyder</a></span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> demonstrated that regardless of the manager’s gender, women are more likely to be given negative feedback surrounding personality rather than performance. Even when critical feedback was provided to men, it offered constructive suggestions around work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Language was key: often, negative words associated with personality characteristics such as “bossy, abrasive, emotional, aggressive, and irrational” were used to judge female behavior, while only the use of “aggressive” to describe personality — which can often be perceived as a positive trait depending on the organization and industry — could be found in men’s reviews.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="2016-03-08-1457453888-2931282-performancereviewsgraphic1.jpg" src="https://images.huffingtonpost.com/2016-03-08-1457453888-2931282-performancereviewsgraphic1-thumb.jpg" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">One solution that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/gendered-language-in-performance-reviews-2015-10" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></span><span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> suggests is “to be clear and consistent about the criteria on which employees are evaluated.” Stating this criteria up front, and including both business metrics and behavior expectations, is critical for laying the groundwork for fair performance reviews.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Additionally, when reviewing behaviors, which are important to business and organizational success, try flipping the script. Ask, “How would we judge a man for doing the same thing?” as Frank Bruni suggested in his latest </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times</em><span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> editorial "I<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/opinion/sunday/if-donald-trump-changed-genders.html" target="_blank">f Donald Trump Changed Genders</a>." </span><span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flipping the script can help a manager to reveal when perceptions of behavior are related to gender and then decide how to handle accordingly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Considering that performance evaluations lead to promotions and pay increases, it is important to recognize and correct for our biases to ensure that staff are evaluated on the quality of their performance and not on unintentional gender biases.</span><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></strong>
<strong style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Ask employees what they can/can’t do rather than make assumptions about their personal lives</strong><br />
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">A rising star’s name was recently brought up during a meeting for a new project lead. Another colleague had mentioned that she was pregnant and unfortunately the position would require international travel. Instead of leaving the discussion there and assuming that she would not be interested in traveling or taking the lead, one of her sponsors made the smart move of actually consulting her. The result? She was more than willing to take on the role, travel included, and the project was a success. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alternatively, I’ve also seen situations in the reverse: one of my single, male friends was assumed to be fully capable of travel because he didn’t have commitments to “tie him down.” He eventually left the company because of fatigue from jetting around the country all the time. The company lost a valuable employee because of assumptions about his personal life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through <a href="https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/education.html" target="_blank">implicit assumptions</a></span><span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a manager could mistakenly believe that they know enough about an employee’s situation to make decisions for them. Therefore, as a good rule of thumb, regardless if the employee is a man, woman, young, old, married, or single, it’s important to talk to the individual to see if they can and want to do the special project or take on the bigger role. Don’t let your own assumptions about someone else’s personal life drive decisions about their future.</span><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></strong>
<strong style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Facilitate meetings so all voices are heard </strong><br />
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant have <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/opinion/sunday/speaking-while-female.html?_r=0" target="_blank">pointed out</a>,</span><span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> there is often an unfortunate bias that can occur during meetings. They observe, “When a woman speaks in a professional setting, she walks a tightrope. Either she’s barely heard or she’s judged as too aggressive. When a man says virtually the same thing, heads nod in appreciation for his fine idea.” I’ve also seen this happen with senior vs. junior members, older vs. younger colleagues, experts vs. generalists, and certain nationalities vs. other nationalities. When interruptions occur or one team member’s comments are overlooked, it takes great employees to notice this and call it out as well as a great leader to facilitate the meeting in a more inclusive direction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1746301435"></span>Project Aristotle at Google<span id="goog_1746301436"></span></a> had researchers examine what made successful (and therefore profitable) teams. They found that “on the good teams, members spoke in roughly the same proportion, a phenomenon the researchers referred to as ‘’equality in distribution of conversational turn-taking.” Thus, it’s in the manager interest and team’s benefit that all team members are heard and heard well. As <a href="http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legalwhiteboard/2012/04/different_power_rules.html" target="_blank">research shows</a> </span><span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">that women’s comments are dismissed and even punished compared to men’s comments, facilitating inclusive meetings can help address gender bias that occurs on a routine basis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gender equality and open, diverse environments are a must in today’s businesses. By being intentional in these practical approaches, managers can contribute to reducing gender bias and having more successful teams.</span>Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-66652984505060268192015-12-14T23:59:00.000-05:002020-08-01T18:18:55.938-04:00Are Millennials Redefining the American Dream?<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>An original version of this blog can be found on The Huffington Post <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/are-millennials-redefinin_b_8805056" rel="" style="color: #771100;" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span><br />
<em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></em>
<em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">This post was co-written by <a href="https://gutsy.world/about/" target="_blank">Robin Moriarty, PhD</a>.</em><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></strong>
<strong style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daily articles are written about Millennials, but are they really that different from their Baby Boomer parents?</strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get a cubicle job, a perfect marriage, two large cars, and a white-picket fence in the suburbs. Though these symbols are often associated as key to the “American Dream,” they are based on a <a href="http://www.ultraswank.net/kitsch/american-dream-1940s-1950s/" target="_blank">post-WWII1950s world</a>, </span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">a world that looks much different sixty years later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the Baby Boomer generation (those born between 1946 to 1964) came-of-age, the core beliefs in working hard for success, prosperity, and social mobility existed, but Boomers added the ideas of self-realization and self-fulfillment — so much that they were dubbed the “Me Generation</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">” (<a href="http://www.thewire.com/national/2013/05/me-generation-time/65054/" target="_blank">which only a few seemed to remember</a> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">after </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time M</em><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proximanova, "helvetica neue", helvetica, roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">agazine</em><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> published a cover naming Millennials as the “Me Me Me Generation”). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now Boomers are hurling the stereotype</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">s of <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/Freind/Duke-University/2015/04/16/id/638992/" target="_blank">narcissism and entitlement</a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to a</span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> whole generation made up of their own Millennial offspring (generally defined as born 1980 and after). But are the Millennials actually that different from the Boomers? After all, the core, capitalistic American value of achievement and success is alive and well across both generations. Perhaps the younger generation isn’t having a shift in fundamental values, but rather Millennials are simply defining the symbols of success differently and in a way that makes sense given the economic and technological realities of their generation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Note: According to Pew Research, a nonpartisan fact tank, the often overlooked Generation X (born 1965-1979) experiences the left out <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/05/generation-x-americas-neglected-middle-child/" target="_blank">"middle child" syndrome</a></span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in these debates particularly as they only represent 65 million vs. the 75+ million each of the Baby Boomers and Gen Y/Millennials.). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the post-war economy of the mid-20th century, <a href="http://www.history.com/topics/baby-boomers" target="_blank">corporations were profitable</a>, </span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> consumer goods were plentiful, and opportunity was ripe. Thus, for the Boomers, “success” has typically meant focusing on financial stability (the bigger the salary the better!), a high-achieving career, living a suburban lifestyle, and owning assets from big houses to fancy cars. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Millennials grew up in quite different times in the world. Many graduated at the height of the recession with <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2014/11/08/credit-dotcom-tuition/18417721/" target="_blank">tuition skyrocketing over 1,120 percent since 1978</a>,</span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> saw their parents struggling to keep a work/life balance, experienced their formative years hyper-connected and more global than ever, and had years of dealing with increasing severity of issues from <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/04/climate-change-continue-hurt-america-if-do-nothing" target="_blank">climate change</a> </span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/us/how-often-do-mass-shootings-occur-on-average-every-day-records-show.html?_r=0" target="_blank">gun violence</a>.</span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Thus, “success” seems to mean an abundance of experiences rather than an abundance of things, a career that provides a basic level of financial enjoyment as well as <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/find-your-passion-but-mor_b_8017120" target="_blank">one that's fulfilling a passion</a>,</span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a lifestyle that promotes health, and social media accounts that depict all these achievements (whether for better or for worse).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lauren Stiller Rikleen, President of the <a href="http://rikleeninstitute.com/" target="_blank">Rikleen Institute for Strategic Leadership</a> </span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">and author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/You-Raised-Us-Millennials-Workplace/dp/1627225854" target="_blank"><i>You Raised Us, Now Work with Us: Millennials, Career Success, and Building Strong Workplace Teams</i></a>,</span><span style="font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"> writes:</span><br />
<div class="content-list-component yr-content-list-text text" data-rapid-cpos="10" data-rapid-parsed="subsec" data-rapid-subsec="paragraph" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: ProximaNova, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 720px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 705px;">
<blockquote style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #757575; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 5px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 15px 15px 30px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.75rem; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Millennials reject the notion that success is measured by income and long hours... They see success as including the opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their families. And they are not embarrassed to include among their key priorities the need to exercise and maintain friendships. Further, they will seek workplaces where the growth and development of employees are a strategic focus and where a culture of inclusion and respect is a priority.</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.75rem; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 1.125rem;">The real question is whether the Millennials’ current definition of success will change. Are these simply characteristics of a life phase and Millennials will eventually become like their Baby Boomer counterparts seeking material symbols to show off their success? Or is it going to be a long-term, sustained difference of focus on experiences rather than things? After all, once upon a time, the Boomers themselves were hippies who also </span><a href="https://www.culturecoach.biz/meetthegenerations.html">demanded social change</a><span style="font-size: 1.125rem;"> through the human rights movement and questioned authority before settling in to the pursuit of happiness via the pursuit of things.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem;">Until then, let’s end the back-and-forth between the two generations. After all, the mid-90s born teenagers of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-06-18/nailing-generation-z">Generation Z are set to overtake us all<span style="font-size: 1.125rem;">.</span></a></span></div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-24188120111575783052015-08-24T23:59:00.000-04:002020-07-30T00:16:56.955-04:00Find Your Passion, but More Importantly, Find Your People<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; white-space: normal;"><i>An original version of this blog can be found on The Huffington Post <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/find-your-passion-but-mor_b_8017120" rel="" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; white-space: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to the Conference Board, a New York-based research nonprofit group, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">only <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2014/06/20/most-americans-are-unhappy-at-work/" rel="" target="_blank">48.7% of American employees are satisfied with their job</a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Career articles advise working-age adults to “Find Your Passion,” but the issue is...</span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">it’s still difficult to figure out how</em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. The reality is that there’s no guidebook out there as our lives are so diversely unique.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are in the predicament of figuring out your passion, it is recognized that you are ultimately a part of a privileged group. How lucky are we to have the time, stability, and choice to figure what we want? Unfortunately, <a href="http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/09/why-generation-y-yuppies-are-unhappy.html" rel="" target="_blank">choices and expectations themselves can be unknown and overwhelming</a>. I fear; however, that we too often get stuck in our day-to-day routines and miss out on what we truly need...that perhaps we get so blinded by what we’ve always done that we can’t identify and lose track of what we actually want. But most importantly, because of this pursuit of a higher meaning, we often forget the people around us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Throughout the years, I’ve become convinced that more important than trying to figure out a passion is building a foundation of good people, those of whom may ultimately lead you to unexpected paths and unpredictable careers. And simply enough, when you’re surrounded by good people, life just gets better.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are certain transformative experiences that demonstrated to me that relationship-building trumps any individual pursuit.</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Collective activism is more empowering than your own journey </strong>- In 2006, the United Nations Secretary-General estimated that <a href="http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/resources/fastfacts_e.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2.7 billion people lived on less than $2.00 a day</a>. I felt a calling to do whatever I could and set out to serve for 27 months with the US Peace Corps in West Africa. The Cameroonian community members I lived and worked with; however, taught me more than any technical skills I taught them. We may have lacked electricity and a budget, but we were able to create a <a href="http://www.krystinastravels.com/2012/09/peace-corps-project-grand-opening-of.html" target="_blank">community market for 8,000 residents</a> based on the power of bringing people together and a strong a sense of community.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">A good network can alleviate doubts and encourage action</strong> - <a href="http://startingbloc.org/" target="_blank">StartingBloc </a>is a 5-day institute that has brought to date 2,000 Fellows together to cultivate social impact ideas. In August 2014, Kat Alexander came in with a small website called <a href="http://reportitgirl.com/" target="_blank">Report, It Girl</a> that serves as a safe and moderated space for survivors of sexual assault to heal. It had zero user-submitted stories and though a survivor herself, she didn’t know if it was worth pursuing. Her pitch was voted first place, another Fellow soon joined her team, and the community even kept her accountable to pursuing her idea. One year later, Report It, Girl has grown to 3,000+ users globally, is fiscally sponsored by <a href="https://www.sexualhealthinnovations.org/" target="_blank">Sexual Health Innovations</a>, and was featured on <a href="http://www.ffwd.org/mapping-out-tech-nonprofits/" target="_blank">Fast Forward’s tech-nonprofits list</a>. Her next step as CEO beyond scale and funding? She plans to connect to other social entrepreneurs to continuously grow her network of good people.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Supporting others on their paths can be humbling and motivating</strong> - If you dare stereotype Millennials as lazy, visit one of the residencies of <a href="http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/cross_continent/" target="_blank">Duke Fuqua’s Cross Continent MBA</a>. Each year, 100+ students enroll to complete an MBA in 1.5 years while working full-time jobs. The students are professionally successful and individually ambitious, but we’ve a built a “we’re-all-in-this-together” mentality. Need an accounting help at 11pm? Want 100 people to cheer you on after a triathlon? Contact a fellow CCMBA classmate...or even all of them. Academically, this program is teaching me how little I know. Personally, after meeting each other at our first two-week residency, I’ve feel like I may be at home within the network based around the world.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have a friend who's a fighter pilot for the Marines Corps and flies and F-35, the newest stealth fighter plane in the world. He's the toughest guy I know with bucket list items checked off form running 50-mile races to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Even fighter pilots; however, must always fly with 2-4 other jets in formation serving as wingmen. Their mantra is built on system of mutual support to always look out for one another. The last time we spoke, I asked him about what retired fighter pilots miss the most. Was it the covert missions? Flying jet planes? The most common answer was simply "brotherhood."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You don’t necessarily need to sacrifice large amounts time or money for transformational experiences or to find good people. Building and cultivating a network could be in the form a <a href="http://leanin.org/" target="_blank">Lean in Circle</a> or simply appreciating your family and friends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the end of the day, find your passion, but more importantly find your people. They may just get you to your passion after all.</span>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-80698950639209187332015-07-28T23:59:00.000-04:002015-08-22T09:50:45.579-04:005 Must-Dos for Preparing for the Cross Continent MBA Program at Duke University<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A version of this post was originally published on the <a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba">Duke Cross Continent MBA Student Blog</a> from the Fuqua School of Business. </span></i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The wait is finally over and I’m here on campus at Fuqua for <a href="http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/cross_continent/" target="_blank">Cross Continent MBA </a>(CCMBA) orientation. As excited as I am, I can’t help but
reflect back a few weeks to my thoughts as this MBA journey was about to
begin.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was two weeks before the course materials arrived for our reading
period, and just one month before orientation and our first residency. I
felt like an 18-year-old undergraduate again, getting ready for the
first day of college. <i>How challenging is it going to be? What will
my classmates be like? Will the food really be as good as everyone makes
it out to be?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This time around, however, I’ll have a little over six years of work
experience under my belt, continue a full-time job on top of being a
student, run a career consultancy on the side, have significant bills
and responsibilities including these new student loans on top of my
current student loans—did I mention I chose to put myself through this?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alas, the academics, travel, cultural experiences and <a href="http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/cross_continent/network/" target="_blank">Team Fuqua network</a>
makes choosing the CCMBA a winning choice for me. As I’ve received a
ton of advice from others, I’d like to pass on my 5 must-dos for MBA
preparation in Fuqua’s Cross Continent program.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdSEhO056-Q/Vdh9HCMtNYI/AAAAAAAAEPw/L0noHDu0Usg/s1600/Krystina-Fuqua-banner-1024x709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdSEhO056-Q/Vdh9HCMtNYI/AAAAAAAAEPw/L0noHDu0Usg/s320/Krystina-Fuqua-banner-1024x709.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>My classmates during our Fuqua scavenger hunt on the first day of orientation </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Get started early on the preparatory work.</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can’t emphasize this one enough! Our class had to work through 20 to 40 hours of <a href="http://www.mbamath.com/" target="_blank">MBA Math.com</a>,
turn in an accounting quiz after watching and reading accounting
lectures, and fill out tons of paperwork on the Incoming Student Website
(ISW).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I applied during Round 2 to increase my chances of a scholarship and
then started doing the early assignments for incoming students
consistently in April. By the time the middle of June rolled around, I
was essentially done with them and didn’t have to deal with stressing to
make any deadlines. Plus, you can help out your future CCMBA friends
and classmates with advice on how to best navigate the process for which
they’ll be truly grateful! (Note: for MBAMath.com, my strategy was to
skip the pre-quizzes as it will save you time, especially in the
subjects where you’re more proficient, but make sure you ace the
post-quizzes!).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Connect with classmates on social media and start networking as soon as possible.</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Filling out my student bio on the ISW and joining the CCMBA ’16
LinkedIn and Facebook groups were the first things I did. This allowed a
slew of streaming requests and personal messages to and from fellow
classmates. I also attended a <a href="http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/alumni/connect/fuqua-around-the-world/" target="_blank">Fuqua Around the World</a> event.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What were the results of getting connected before class started? I
was able to have study sessions with other Boston-based students,
commiserate immediately when receiving emails about the amount of things
to do, and even collaborate on ventures (I had a LinkedIn exchange
encouraging another student to start her own career consultancy and
we’ll be giving each other future referrals in the areas of our
expertise—the power of Duke!). One student created a WhatsApp group that
50 of us have joined, so it’s a lot of texts, but you’ll get everything
useful from soccer results to when new action items go up on the ISW
that require your attention.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/Krystina-quote.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-1277"><img alt="quote that relates to MBA preparation" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1277" height="165" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/Krystina-quote-300x165.jpg" width="300" /></a> </span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Cut out the fat.</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is my new mantra in life in general. With limited hours in the
day for everything, I’ve decided to only do the things that absolutely
must get done or I really want to do. Doctor checkup? Crucial for my
health. Read that pile of magazines that I’ve been meaning to get to?
Sorry, they get thrown in the trash. I don’t apply this rule to my
cooking though, especially as I love bacon.<img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/cross-continent-mba/wp-includes/images/smilies/simple-smile.png" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Accept that life is not going to stop for you.</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vA5A7qxO9Wg/Vdh7zb8dBkI/AAAAAAAAEPk/OC-JiI6w1gs/s1600/Monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vA5A7qxO9Wg/Vdh7zb8dBkI/AAAAAAAAEPk/OC-JiI6w1gs/s320/Monkey.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Hanging out with this little guy in Panama was the perfect pre-MBA vacation!</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I told my friends and family that my life for the next 1.5 years
would be working, studying, and working out. Beyond prepping for CCMBA
in the last few weeks, I’ve torn an ankle tendon and started physical
therapy, underwent the joys of apartment hunting, and was asked to take
on a new position at work. Life’s a ride no matter the choices we make,
so hang on tight!</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Relax!</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It’s summertime in North America, so hit the beach. Travel, binge on
Netflix, spend time with your favorite people, and even reach out to
ones that you haven’t seen in a while. They’ll be excited for the next
chapter of your life too!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These are things that I’ve realized while jumping into the journey of
full-time professional and part-time student. If you have any questions
about your own must-dos before starting the admissions process and
CCMBA journey, <a href="http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/cross_continent/apply_cross_continent/" target="_blank">reach out to Admissions</a>. They can help and even put you in touch with current students who can share their unique insights.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-85873677409520588042015-05-11T09:00:00.000-04:002015-09-25T20:48:00.731-04:00Gi2C Guide: Must-Try Restaurants in Downtown Beijing<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This post comes from my friends over at the Gi2C Group, an internship provider in China. Careful reading this post as you might get hungry enough to jump on a plane to do some great eating in Beijing!</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beijing is a superb place to live if you are a foodie. Not only is the authentic Chinese food in the Jing delicious and extremely diverse, but you also have a plethora of international delights that will whet your appetite. Don’t waste your time cooking at home in Beijing. Even if you ate out every day, it would take you several years to try all of Beijing’s fabulous restaurants. Save yourself time by avoiding the multiple trips way out to IKEA to stock up on kitchen supplies and instead focus on finding a good job to pay for your soon-to-be crazy high food budget. You’ll also want to invest in several pairs of pants with quality elastic waistbands.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Almost all of our <a href="http://www.gi2c.org/" title="Gi2C">Gi2C</a> interns are new to China and Beijing, which is exactly why we wrote this guide.We want to help Beijing interns and everyone else enjoy the great China capital of Beijing to the fullest. Literally. You will get very full living here. If you live close to the Second and Third Ring roads on the east side of downtown Beijing, you will want to get out and experience the following five eateries for yourself:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LqZ7oaYKsPs/VU4mHoPRRZI/AAAAAAAAENU/3MjHp4wvtYM/s1600/1-Gi2C.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LqZ7oaYKsPs/VU4mHoPRRZI/AAAAAAAAENU/3MjHp4wvtYM/s320/1-Gi2C.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>P</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>hoto courtesy of Gi2C Guide</i></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Makye Ame Tibetan Restaurant 玛 吉阿米</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">11A Xiushui Nanjie, Jianguomenwai Chaoyang District</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">朝阳区建国门外秀水南街甲 11号</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hours: 10am – Midnight</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Makye Ame has excellent Tibetan food as well as dinner entertainment. The restaurant is extremely hard to find but think of it as your own secret location and enjoy the hunt to discover this delicious treasure. Food is not cheap at Makye. Dinner for two may cost you around 500rmb (US$80) for four dishes depending on which dishes you choose and how much Tibetan butter tea you drink. If you are looking for an internship in Tibetan dancing (a competitive industry for internships), this is the place for you. Dust off your business cards and get ready to network. The Tibetan dancing and singing begins at 8pm.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ie8PNG03Ag/VU4mcqmcQWI/AAAAAAAAENc/8wlCUK5z7tw/s1600/2-Gi2C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ie8PNG03Ag/VU4mcqmcQWI/AAAAAAAAENc/8wlCUK5z7tw/s400/2-Gi2C.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo courtesy of Gi2C Guide</i></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Bazha Tongga Tibetan Restaurant 巴扎童嘎藏餐吧</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Southwest corner of Dongzhimenwai Dajie and Xindong Lu Chaoyang District</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">朝阳区东直门外大街新东路十字路口西南角</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hours: 10am – Midnight</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As you walk up the stairs of this restaurant on the busy corner of Dongzhimenwai, you walk into a whole new world, magic carpets and all. Tibetan relics and adornments surround you as you take your place at a wood table. The menu boasts a great deal of dishes; however, when we were there, some were unavailable. The wait staff are extremely entertaining and are more than happy to break out in song if you ask them. They also provide good recommendations if you have no idea what to order. Dishes are mid-priced which means dinner for two might run at most 300rmb ($50). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylz5kzG6Vzs/VU4mzBoLmzI/AAAAAAAAENk/idIgUO20Has/s1600/3-Gi2C%2BGuide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylz5kzG6Vzs/VU4mzBoLmzI/AAAAAAAAENk/idIgUO20Has/s320/3-Gi2C%2BGuide.png" width="313" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo courtesy of Gi2C Guide</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Middle 8th Yunnan Restaurant中八楼</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Zhongba Lou, Sanlitun Zhongjie Chaoyang District</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">朝阳区三里屯中街中八楼饭馆</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hours: 11am – 11.30pm</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You might not expect to find such a classy restaurant serving Yunnan style food hidden away in a tiny,dirty hutong, but that’s what we love about China: the surprises and new discoveries. The food can get a little spicy so if you are sensitive, be sure to ask the wait staff to keep it mild for you. One item to absolutely order from the menu is their rice wine, which is served in a giant piece of bamboo. It has a relatively low alcohol content and tastes simply divine. If you’re in a rush, it is advisable to make reservations ahead of time as Middle 8 is often quite busy. However, they provide great snacks shipped all the way from Yunnan in the waiting area which makes having to wait not so bad. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-neNNC5SqS6M/VU4nAdQ6gRI/AAAAAAAAENs/-0B2N8HEfhI/s1600/4-Gi2C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-neNNC5SqS6M/VU4nAdQ6gRI/AAAAAAAAENs/-0B2N8HEfhI/s400/4-Gi2C.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo courtesy of Gi2C Guide</i></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. Haidilao Hot Pot 海底捞火锅</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2A Baijiazhuang Lu (next to No. 80 Middle School) Chaoyang District</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">朝阳区白家庄路甲 2 号 (八十中学西侧)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hours: 24/7</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One simply cannot leave China without having hotpot. Hot pot comes in all shapes and flavors in China but a foreigner favorite hotpot destination is Haidilao. The customer service is superb (which is extremely rare in China), there’s a variety of food to make any picky eater happy and you are able to play games, eat snacks, or even have a manicure while you wait to be seated. They also provide a play area for small children. What’s not to love? Be sure to make a reservation well in advance as this place is almost always packed. Eating hotpot is something to do with a big group of friends, but if there are only two of you expect the bill to be around 200-300rmb ($50). If this Chaoyang location isn’t convenient for you, they have multiple locations around Beijing. In advance of your first visit, you’re welcome. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-PpDTM6CHk/VU4nA4-3jxI/AAAAAAAAEN0/UVwe4uPcp5o/s1600/5-Gi2C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-PpDTM6CHk/VU4nA4-3jxI/AAAAAAAAEN0/UVwe4uPcp5o/s400/5-Gi2C.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo courtesy of Gi2C Guide</i></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. Xiaodiao Litang 小吊梨汤</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">14 Baijiazhuang Dongli, Chaoyang District</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">朝阳区白家庄东里甲 14号</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hours: 11am-9:30pm</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Xiao Diao Li Tang is off the radar of most foreigners. However, they have several locations around the city, and oh my, do they have yummy, home-style food. This particular location can be a little tricky to find as it’s down a small alleyway but once in the general area, simply show the locals the address and they will point you in the right direction. If you’re craving Chinese comfort food, look no further. Prices are also quite reasonable so don’t be shy about ordering too much. Two people ordering four dishes might end up with a bill slightly over 100rmb ($15). If you’re a Gi2C intern on a tight budget, this is the place for you.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let us know what you think of our five favorite east Beijing restaurants in the heart of downtown! You can read more info about life in Beijing and other <a href="http://gi2c-blog.org/2012/06/19/5-must-visit-beijing-restaurants-for-new-interns/" title="5 must visit Beijing restaurants for new interns">delicious restaurants</a> at the <a href="http://gi2c-blog.org/Categories/Listings/life-in-beijing/" title="life in Beijing">Gi2C blog</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This Beijing restaurant guide is brought to you by <a href="http://www.gi2c.org/" title="Gi2C">Gi2C Group</a>. Gi2C
has been an internship provider in China since 2008 and has become a
leader in the China internship industry. Gi2C’s goal is to help students
and young professionals not only gain China work experience but also to
help them understand China and Chinese business culture. Gi2C provides
tailor-made opportunities for interns to work for a variety companies in
multiple industries based in China. Gi2C also provides daily support
for Gi2C interns as needed for the duration of their stay in China.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">This has been a sponsored post with our partner <a href="https://www.helpgoabroad.com/" title="HelpGoAbroad">HelpGoAbroad</a>. Note that I would not post content that I would not agree with.</span></span></i></span></span> </i>Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-86099065820621657912015-05-04T09:00:00.000-04:002015-05-05T23:35:02.048-04:008 Do’s and Don’ts of Volunteering Abroad<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This post comes from </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Alex Bradbeer, the creator and author of Finding
The Freedom, an adventure travel blog focused on adventure and crazy off the
beaten path destinations.</span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">P<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">erhaps you have a
‘gap’ year to fill before university? Maybe you want a break from the 9-5-work treadmill?
Or you might be someone who has taken ‘early retirement’ and now wants a new
direction in life.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><a abroad="" href="https://www.helpgoabroad.com/volunteer-abroad/" title="volunteer abroad"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Volunteering abroad</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> is a great way to
see new countries, learn about different cultures and grow as a person. Is it
for you? Well, here are 8 ‘do’s and don’t’s to help you decide.</span></span></span></span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"> </span></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Do think about why you are doing it</span></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"> </span></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Be clear about
what you expect to get out – and give to – the experience. Is it mostly about
philanthropy, training, self-development or one big adventure? It’s fine for it
to be a mixture of those things but try to analyze which is the most important
to you, as this will help you pick the right project.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Do think about where you want to go</span></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U2eCzrrcy7A/VUT7MgsdX2I/AAAAAAAAEMk/On_jDEv95LA/s1600/Photo%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U2eCzrrcy7A/VUT7MgsdX2I/AAAAAAAAEMk/On_jDEv95LA/s1600/Photo%2B1.jpg" height="276" width="400" /></a></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Could you cope with the humidity of a city like Singapore? Copyright CC
User Khánh Hmoong on Flickr</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span></i></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Location is always a major decision for
those thinking about living abroad and volunteering abroad</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. Lots of factors
will affect your decision – climate, language, culture, distance from home. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Interrogate
yourself: Can I cope with a very humid climate? Will I survive in a quiet rural
location with a patchy electricity supply and unreliable Internet? Do I feel
comfortable in very conservative societies where women might be expected to
cover up and behave modestly? </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
Do ask lots of questions </span></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LTm9RfnvxfQ/VUT7SCJUUxI/AAAAAAAAEMs/LumZ-aSM8WI/s1600/Photo%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LTm9RfnvxfQ/VUT7SCJUUxI/AAAAAAAAEMs/LumZ-aSM8WI/s1600/Photo%2B2.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Teaching is a popular volunteer activity, Copyright CC User Rex Pe on
Flickr</span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If you’re paying a
fee to an agency to secure you a volunteer placement, get clear answers about what
it covers. Will medical insurance, for example, be included if you get ill? </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">You will also need
to know how many hours a day you will be expected to work and what support
there will be when you are ‘in country’. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
Don’t be afraid to do some serious vetting</span></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Whether you are
planning to apply directly to a charity or NGO or use an agency that
specializes in placements, make sure you check them out thoroughly. Find out
how long they have been in business and scour the Internet for online
information and reviews by past volunteers.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Look for
transparency. Reputable organizations should publish their accounts or be happy
to share them with you. It’s totally acceptable for organizations to have a
margin of profit for overheads and paying permanent staff, but they shouldn’t
be exploiting volunteers and communities for profit.</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span>
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
Don’t make assumptions </span></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nNNkK9V600A/VUT7W62uleI/AAAAAAAAEM0/AdwvPSKbW7I/s1600/Photo%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nNNkK9V600A/VUT7W62uleI/AAAAAAAAEM0/AdwvPSKbW7I/s1600/Photo%2B3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
</span></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Researching a country like Cambodia’s history is crucial for volunteers,
Copyright CC User Bryn Jones on Flickr</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Read as much as
you can about the history and culture of the country you plan to visit. It may
turn out to be very different from your initial thoughts. Not only will locals appreciate
the interest you have taken when you arrive, but it will also enable you to
pack the correct clothes for visits to mosques and temples – and indeed
people’s homes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<h2>
Do prepare for leaving</h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Think about taking
out medical insurance, even if you are covered by the organization you will be
volunteering for. You may want to take part in sports or activities not
included in their plan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Do you need any
vaccinations or Malaria tablets? Make sure you have an ample supply of any prescription
drugs that you will need while you’re abroad. It’s also a good idea to take
basic medications like painkillers, antibiotics and anti-histamines in case
they are hard to come by.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Make photocopies
of your passport and credit cards. Take one set with you and leave one at home.
This is useful if the documents and cards get lost or stolen. Compile a list of
emergency numbers – both of people you can call if something happens and that
can be called on your behalf in the unfortunate event that you are injured. </span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></b><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<h2>
Do try to be enthusiastic</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1r8zcMlxVUc/VUT7bVEOpZI/AAAAAAAAEM8/-ECbEp1knEM/s1600/Photo%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1r8zcMlxVUc/VUT7bVEOpZI/AAAAAAAAEM8/-ECbEp1knEM/s1600/Photo%2B4.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Volunteering
with a smile in Peru, Copyright CC User VISIONS Service Adventures on Flickr</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When you finally arrive abroad, try to be
upbeat. There’s nothing worse than a grumpy volunteer, except perhaps 2 grumpy
volunteers! Accept that some of the things you might be asked to do will be
dull and tedious and undertake them with a good heart. You will only get out
what you put in - and no one wants to be remembered as a whiner. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<h2>
Do support local businesses</h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Everyone
loves a McDonald’s burger when they have been eating goat curry everyday for a
month, but don’t routinely eat in western food outlets. Your custom is
incredibly important to local restaurants, hotels and businesses. It ensures
that money stays in the community and it will also help support entrepreneurship.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Embrace the fact that you will be leaving your comfort zone and be
prepared to go with the flow. After all, there’s no point in </span><a abroad="" href="https://www.helpgoabroad.com/" title="HelpGoAbroad"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">volunteering abroad</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> if you just want to duplicate your life at home</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span> </span></span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><br /></span></span></i></span></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><br /></span></span></i></span></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">This has been a sponsored post with our partner <a href="https://www.helpgoabroad.com/" title="HelpGoAbroad">HelpGoAbroad</a>. Note that I would not post content that I would not agree with.</span></span></i></span>Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-15020564790280504962015-03-05T15:55:00.003-05:002015-03-05T15:56:37.261-05:005 everyday actions you can take to support gender equality (and they’re not all what you’d expect)<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Note to reader: </span>An original version of this blog can be found on the Oxfam America First-Person Blog <a href="http://firstperson.oxfamamerica.org/2015/03/5-everyday-actions-you-can-take-to-support-gender-equality-and-theyre-not-all-what-youd-expect/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</i> </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">From kids’ play to hashtags, change starts with our individual actions.</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Draw a picture of a time you’ve witnessed discrimination. Walk across
this line if you agree with the ideals of feminism. Discuss who tends
to do the chores in the family and why.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can you imagine a workspace where co-workers are honest enough to
take on issues like these? That’s what we aimed to do at an Oxfam
workshop on gender equality that I attended in Senegal recently. Oxfam
believes in <a href="http://blogs.oxfam.org/en/blogs/14-05-23-beyond-headcount-transformative-leadership-womens-rights">putting women’s rights at the heart of all we do</a>, which is why we partnered up with <a href="http://genderatwork.org/OurWork/OurPrograms/GenderActionLearningGAL.aspx">Gender at Work</a> in a global project to promote women’s participation and empowerment.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Coming out of the workshop, we had action plans: increasing budgets
for gender projects, performing theater skits to build awareness about
sexual abuse, and so on. However, what also struck me was that we had
opened up an honest and supportive space to discuss our own attitudes
toward gender roles and what gender equality meant for us in our
personal lives.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In my job, I spend a lot of time discussing technical aspects of
gender in development, using terms like “power analysis” and “theories
of change.” Through exercises like the ones above, however, I remember
that change starts with individual actions and how we treat people on a
day-to-day basis.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.oxfamamerica.org/take-action/events/international-womens-day/">As we approach International Women’s Day on March 8</a>, here are 5 simple, yet unexpected ways we can all support gender equality in our everyday lives:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Encourage the kids in your life to play as they wish.</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you go to any toy store, the section marked for boys has sporting
equipment, action figures, and race cars. The section for girls?
Princess dolls and play vanity sets. What messages do we send when these
are the general choices we give our kids?</span><br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-CU040Hqbas" width="560"></iframe>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></center>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A viral Christmas video, above, depicts a four-year-old girl’s
frustration (however adorable) over how a store’s “girls” section was
full of pink toys and the “boys” section was full of blue toys. She
wishes the two genders could buy both colors. Let’s take a moment to
challenge our own stereotypes of what toys our sons or daughters playing
with. <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/12/24/president_obama_gift_sorting_obama_breaks_down_stereotypes_about_toys_for.html">Even the Obamas are breaking down stereotypes too!</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was at a friend’s house recently and she and her husband have two
kids. At one point, both the kids were in the play kitchen cooking and
blending juices before running off to make castles with building blocks.
My takeaway? Both were happy kids and encouraged to do what they
wished, defiant of stereotypical “boy” and “girl” toys.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Support films and media with women as leads and directors</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">From 2002-2012, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/25/movies/on-many-fronts-women-are-fighting-for-better-opportunity-in-hollywood.html?_r=0">less than 5 percent of the top 100 box-office domestic releases were directed by women</a>.
The lack of representation in mainstream Hollywood has warranted
attention and concern from average moviegoers to celebrities like <a href="http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20141007-where-are-the-women-in-hollywood">Ben Affleck</a>. Reese Witherspoon <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/03/reese-witherspoon-feminism_n_6605836.html">started a production company</a>
because of the lack of women as the lead star in movies. The result?
Her movies “Gone Girl” and “Wild,” based on a true story of Cheryl
Strayed hiking 1,000 miles alone on the Pacific Coast Trail, received
accolades and Oscar nominations.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The organization <i>Miss Representation</i> works to also combat harmful stereotypes and sexism in the media. <a href="http://therepresentationproject.org/take-action/take-the-pledge/">You can join 100,000 others and sign the pledge here.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Stand up to street harassment</span></h2>
<br />
<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_15663"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="hollaback" class="wp-image-15663 size-full" src="http://blog.oxfamamerica.org.s3.amazonaws.com/firstperson/2015/03/hollaback.jpg" height="720" width="498" /></span><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="figcaption_attachment_15663"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Image via Hollaback! http://on.fb.me/1vSXWNj</span></figcaption></figure><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some studies show that <a href="http://www.ihollaback.org/resources/">80 to 90 percent of women have been harassed in public</a>.
Not okay. Luckily in today’s world of social media, local activists in
84 cities and 25 countries have powered together to grow <a href="http://www.ihollaback.org/resources/">Hollaback!</a>, a movement to end street harassment. They’ve even made simple infographics on <a href="http://www.ihollaback.org/resources/responding-to-harassers/">how to respond to street harassment if you experience it yourself</a> (taking into account safety first!) and <a href="http://melbourne.ihollaback.org/2012/11/15/how-to-approach-street-harassment-a-bystanders-guide/">what you can do as a bystander if you witness catcalling on the street</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4) Include boys and men in the conversation</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="heforshe" class="wp-image-15664 size-610nc" src="http://blog.oxfamamerica.org.s3.amazonaws.com/firstperson/2015/03/heforshe-610x511.jpg" height="511" width="610" /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Image via HeforShe http://on.fb.me/17KnIIr</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A common misnomer is that gender equality only means focusing on
women, but as the name implies, it’s about equality of the genders. Both
men and boys need to be included in the conversation and more so, be
advocates of change for themselves and the others around them. In her
popular September 2014 speech at the United Nations Headquarters in New
York, Actress and UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0Dg226G2Z8">Emma Watson officially launched the HeForShe Campaign</a> calling on everyone to participate in the fight against gender inequality.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Watson states, “<i>Both men and women should feel free to be
sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time
that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, instead of two sets of
opposing ideals. If we stop defining each other by what we are not, and
start defining ourselves by who we are, we can all be freer.” </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As the HeForShe Commitment states, “Gender equality is not only a women’s issue, it is a human rights issue.” <a href="http://www.heforshe.org/#take-action">Make your commitment here today</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. Use social media to bring attention to gender imbalances</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gender?src=hash">#gender</a> ratios like this, we're ready to take <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/genderavenger?src=hash">#genderavenger</a> to the next level: <a href="http://t.co/kxAB0PzMuo">http://t.co/kxAB0PzMuo</a> <a href="http://t.co/x1ww8O0vXX">pic.twitter.com/x1ww8O0vXX</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">— GenderAvenger (@GenderAvenger) <a href="https://twitter.com/GenderAvenger/status/571397199206031361">February 27, 2015</a></span></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Have you ever read a list about top people in professions and see women barely represented (or <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/how-the-economist-got-its-list-of-top-economists-wrong/">no women, in the case of <i>The Economist’s</i> Most Influential Economists of 2014</a>)? Attended a concert, conference, or event and notice that only male voices are being heard?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Get on that phone and tweet away! Gina Glantz, an Oxfam America board member, recently started <a href="http://www.genderavenger.com/">Gender Avenger</a>,
a “community dedicated to ensuring women are always part of the public
dialog.” Beyond bringing attention to those event organizers and
article authors of the lack of female representation, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23genderavenger&src=typd">#genderavenger</a> is a pretty sweet sounding hashtag to use!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Think social media can’t be a real way to create change? Check out how <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotBuyingIt&src=tyah">#NotBuyingIt</a> created a movement and <a href="http://www.upworthy.com/how-some-tweets-sparked-a-movement-that-launched-an-app-that-might-just-end-sexism-in-advertising-re2-8a?c=utw1&utm_content=bufferc377e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer">the world of advertising</a> in the Super Bowl took notice, addressing sexist advertisements.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These 5 ideas are just a start. What are you going to do today to contribute to gender equality?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<hr />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>This March 8, honor women worldwide and join Oxfam’s International Women’s Day celebration. <a href="http://www.oxfamamerica.org/take-action/events/international-womens-day/">Send an eCard to friends and family here</a>. </i></span>Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-57404016977674225852014-06-26T23:59:00.000-04:002015-10-04T12:54:05.198-04:00A Day (or Rather Morning) on Lake Titicaca and the Uros Islands<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca (pronounced "Lake Titihaha" by locals) is said to be the original birthplace of the Incans. It's the world's highest navigable body of water and won its infamy by its hilariously fun-to-pronounce name.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The morning is the best time to visit the lake and the Uros Floating Islands that sit in the middle of it - usually you can catch great lighting and good weather. Riding the reed boat is only ~10 soles, so hop on to get great pictures riding on the lake and bring your passport! You'll be able to get an official Lake Titicaca stamp on the second island. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of the Uros people also sell souvenirs to tourists and are open to showing you their home (and letting you take pictures) as well.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mWC1lZDz2Z8/VhFYtxYv8hI/AAAAAAAAEQg/H3Tzi7-gfxQ/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mWC1lZDz2Z8/VhFYtxYv8hI/AAAAAAAAEQg/H3Tzi7-gfxQ/s640/IMG_0231.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_KZmHB_gyM/VhFYOXiXPmI/AAAAAAAAEQI/BHV7QpqnwRg/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_KZmHB_gyM/VhFYOXiXPmI/AAAAAAAAEQI/BHV7QpqnwRg/s640/IMG_0245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-foTNBrenCgY/VhFYZyEb-XI/AAAAAAAAEQY/-43e0ETqfgU/s1600/IMG_0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-foTNBrenCgY/VhFYZyEb-XI/AAAAAAAAEQY/-43e0ETqfgU/s640/IMG_0282.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pIekLmpyqwI/VhFYQg6TQjI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/omQ5JGEBVZQ/s1600/IMG_0279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pIekLmpyqwI/VhFYQg6TQjI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/omQ5JGEBVZQ/s640/IMG_0279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Lake Titicaca and the Uros Islands are worth the morning visit if you can spare it!</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_2vGvURwe3Q/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_2vGvURwe3Q?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-46182266919813606562014-06-24T23:59:00.000-04:002015-09-28T10:46:59.273-04:00 Inti Raymi, The Inca Festival of the Sun at Sacsayhuaman, Peru<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Princesses, male virgins, llama sacrifices, and fire. What more do you need?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.discover-peru.org/inti-raymi/" target="_blank">Inti Raymi, the Inca Festival of the Sun</a>, enacts 500-year-old traditions of the Incan empire. Though the festival has become more touristy in recent years, it was once considered the most important ceremony carried out in Cuzco. This June 24th festival celebrates the Incan New Year and winter solstice when the sun is furthest from this side of the planet. Thus, the Incans would perform for the Sun God in order for him to come back. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are two choices you can make leading up to the festival at Sacsayhuaman (3km from Cusco): 1) Walk the route with the paraders from the town to the hill or 2) Get to Sacsayhuaman early and secure a seat on the hill for a good view. It's highly recommended to go to Sacsayhuaman on another day when the ruins are opened, as <a href="http://ephemerratic.com/slide-sacsayhuaman-cusco-peru" target="_blank">it's one of the few ruins you can literally "slide" down</a>!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As our hostel worker, tour guide, and waiter all gave us different start times the night before, we decided to hike up before 9am. Note: You can also take the scenic walk on the right side or no steps on the left side. Dealer's choice! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Admission is only 20 soles to sit on chairs on the same level of the festival, but for a more local experience, you can "tailgate" with community members by sitting overlooking everything. Luckily, we were able to secure front-row seats between the nicest families where we spent the next six hours or so enjoying the festival.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Though the show didn't start until 1pm, we had a blast with everyone in the crowd. Snacks were sold like a baseball game and everyone was more than happy to trade food back and forth.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
c<img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--TPqwDghN68/VJxlJdsMOgI/AAAAAAAAEKU/Xyf6TjETsoY/s640/_DSC0463.JPG" width="640" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQTDDtNgmxw/VJxlFoowJKI/AAAAAAAAEKE/86k5lN-IQfc/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQTDDtNgmxw/VJxlFoowJKI/AAAAAAAAEKE/86k5lN-IQfc/s400/IMG_0105.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RkOp7gTu1eE/VJxlFAscOgI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/aOG45e7Lsjk/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RkOp7gTu1eE/VJxlFAscOgI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/aOG45e7Lsjk/s640/IMG_0141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Inti Raymi, the Incan Festival of the Sun, at </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sacsayhuaman</span></i></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After the sacrifice of the black llama, we headed next door as there was another festival going on with street food and even a bounce house. Tip: At any restaurant you go to, make sure you ask for "the menu." We paid 10-15 soles (even cheaper in most places) for a three-course meal consisting of an appetizer, a soup, the meal, and a drink - delicious!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vTN4V4NenEk/VJxlFBkieJI/AAAAAAAAEKA/NhTLbXqpIWA/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vTN4V4NenEk/VJxlFBkieJI/AAAAAAAAEKA/NhTLbXqpIWA/s640/IMG_0190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Take a close look as the brown llama is kissing Lindsey!</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FWSWoMwa3fQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FWSWoMwa3fQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-63972184659862482882014-06-23T23:59:00.000-04:002015-09-25T21:33:40.539-04:00One Day Trek to Machu Picchu!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As the #1 tourist destination in South America, <a href="http://www.machupicchutrek.net/how-many-tourists-visit-machu-picchu-annually/" target="_blank">Machu Picchu draws over one million tourists annually</a>. Though built around 1450, the Incan site was not discovered until 1911. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Machu Picchu is one of world’s most iconic archaeological sites and in 2007, the site was voted one of the <a href="http://world.new7wonders.com/?n7w-page=new7wonders-of-the-world" target="_blank">New Seven Wonders of World</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the more hard-core outdoorsy folks, you can hike the multi-day 26-mile Inca Trail covering mountain, cloud-forest, sub-tropical jungle, Inca paving stones, ruins, and tunnels. It's quite an experience, but reservations typically need to be made up to 6 months (or more) in advance given that permits are only issued for 200 trekkers a day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can also look into one-day hikes to </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/peru/machu-picchu/secrets/" target="_blank"><span class="st">Huayna Picchu</span></a> (as long as you book at least 2-3 days in advance or get up extremely early as it's restricted to 400 people/day) which allows you to hike to the peak that looks down on Machu Picchu. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We did the simple one-day tour (thank goodness due to my altitude sickness!) with a 5:30am pickup from Cusco and a 6:20am <a href="http://www.perurail.com/train_routes_and_timetables.php?id=2" target="_blank">Vistadome Train</a> to </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aguas Calientes, the base of where you catch half-hour buses to Machu Picchu. Orignally debating between the Backpacker train or the Vistadome Train, we were glad the former seats were sold out! With the comfy seats and breakfast and snacks of pancakes, grapes, jam, quiche, etc., the 3.5 hour train ride was a perfect experience with Vistadome. There is also an infamous fashion show by the staff of the train on the evening returns which is quite an entertaining experience in itself!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Note: Don't be so preoccupied with photos that you leave your bag (with passport, money, and return train tickets!) at the Temple of the Sun like me. You'll likely get it back as the security at Machu Picchu is quite good, but it'll be a stressful situation. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="en-gb"> </span></span> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YNY4H51vVcs/VJxkVb4hOfI/AAAAAAAAEJM/McY5NZ5MOlw/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YNY4H51vVcs/VJxkVb4hOfI/AAAAAAAAEJM/McY5NZ5MOlw/s400/IMG_0045.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0pZ8owHp0SU/VJxkVvUhT3I/AAAAAAAAEJQ/yF_ZtTnbl6k/s640/IMG_0043.JPG" width="640" /> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Rise and shine on the Vistadome Train!</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_OpqGCh5I3M/VJxkYUHATYI/AAAAAAAAEJk/F4vqgDONUkw/s1600/_DSC0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_OpqGCh5I3M/VJxkYUHATYI/AAAAAAAAEJk/F4vqgDONUkw/s640/_DSC0199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KZ0io62z4Z0/VJxkcx8SjTI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/xh_wt63JptQ/s1600/_DSC0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KZ0io62z4Z0/VJxkcx8SjTI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/xh_wt63JptQ/s640/_DSC0233.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Zn8p3DmcEk/VJxkbZFqLII/AAAAAAAAEJs/iO1YIw2HL50/s1600/_DSC0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Zn8p3DmcEk/VJxkbZFqLII/AAAAAAAAEJs/iO1YIw2HL50/s640/_DSC0316.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k56_VQwPwAw/VJxkV1Qc9KI/AAAAAAAAEJU/fM4tVJoQMFk/s1600/IMG_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k56_VQwPwAw/VJxkV1Qc9KI/AAAAAAAAEJU/fM4tVJoQMFk/s640/IMG_0263.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Machu Picchu it all its glory. Check off the life to-see list! :)</i></span></div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-23913282212656467132014-06-22T23:59:00.000-04:002014-12-30T16:19:25.752-05:00Pisac Market, Sacred Valley, Peru<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xgWKUgO02cc/VJxj7nyCddI/AAAAAAAAEI8/Ia0sKgzGDXw/s1600/_DSC0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xgWKUgO02cc/VJxj7nyCddI/AAAAAAAAEI8/Ia0sKgzGDXw/s1600/_DSC0163.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> If you happen to find yourself in the Sacred Valley of Peru and need to do some shopping, head no further than Pisac! A small Peruvian village at the Willkanuta River, Pisac holds a large market every Sunday and is well-known for its ruins that sit atop a hill. Just an hour and a half from Cusco by bus, it's worth a stop over on your way to Ollantaytambo or even just an afternoon trip. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For anyone looking to alpaca meat, head on over to the street of Calle bolognesi. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ayahuasca-Arte-Cafe/229994713729066" target="_blank">Ayahuasca Arte Cafe</a> is not only delicious, but credit card accepted and TripAdvisor approved!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A note for travelers is to take it easy given that Cusco is <span class="st">11,150 foot </span>above
sea level meaning that altitude sickness affects up to 70 % of people.
That night, that statistic included me! At about 36 degrees Fahrenheit,
I woke up freezing cold with shallow breathes. Bundling up with another
jacket significantly helped, so make sure to stay warm, drink plenty of
water, and take it easy to acclimate! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ao3xauJcCU/VJxj-aiRX5I/AAAAAAAAEJE/V828EHdbvoo/s1600/_DSC0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ao3xauJcCU/VJxj-aiRX5I/AAAAAAAAEJE/V828EHdbvoo/s1600/_DSC0194.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZVCsZVP2SY/VJxj5aajV6I/AAAAAAAAEIw/0JB0CCbMMMA/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZVCsZVP2SY/VJxj5aajV6I/AAAAAAAAEIw/0JB0CCbMMMA/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4MgYiU1rZ6Q/VJxj50UtaxI/AAAAAAAAEIs/muA20EzkglA/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4MgYiU1rZ6Q/VJxj50UtaxI/AAAAAAAAEIs/muA20EzkglA/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Lindsey Dattels and me exploring Pisac from the Mercado to the Ruins</i></span></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-xgWKUgO02cc%2FVJxj7nyCddI%2FAAAAAAAAEI8%2FIa0sKgzGDXw%2Fs1600%2F_DSC0163.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xgWKUgO02cc/VJxj7nyCddI/AAAAAAAAEI8/Ia0sKgzGDXw/s1600/_DSC0163.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-4MgYiU1rZ6Q%2FVJxj50UtaxI%2FAAAAAAAAEIs%2FmuA20EzkglA%2Fs1600%2FIMG_0031.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4MgYiU1rZ6Q/VJxj50UtaxI/AAAAAAAAEIs/muA20EzkglA/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" -->Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-16559988573808205662014-06-21T23:59:00.000-04:002014-12-23T17:11:35.496-05:005 Things to Do in Lima, Peru<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After last year's adventure to <a href="http://www.krystinastravels.com/search/label/Ecuador" target="_blank">Ecuador</a>, I was excited to return to South America to Peru, a traveler's top destination. After a night's sleep from a late night airport arrival, the day was spent exploring the capital city before heading off to Cusco for the one and only Macchu Picchu. If you're up for running around the largest city of Peru, here are five things you can do with a day in Lima:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>1. Watch the Magic Water Circuit Fountain Show at Parque de la Reserva</b><span class="st"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="st"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="st">Parque de la Reserva has easily become my new favorite place. More than a dozen fountains colorfully and even interactively light up a downtown park. Paid for by the Lima municipal government, the treasure of the night is the <a href="http://www.parquedelareserva.com.pe/en/circuit.php" target="_blank">Magic Water Circuit</a> (</span><i>Circuito Mágico del Agua</i>) in which water and light shoot into the sky against a background of music. Well worth the $1.50 admission and open after sundown Wednesdays-Sundays. Truly magical!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/WXhltcQgcsQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4wv4KIwmNVM/VJnToy_BBzI/AAAAAAAAEH0/VbDNRedheFs/s1600/_DSC0146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4wv4KIwmNVM/VJnToy_BBzI/AAAAAAAAEH0/VbDNRedheFs/s1600/_DSC0146.JPG" height="264" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>A magical night watching the Magic Water Circuit Fountain Show!</i></span></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Paraglide over Lima</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This one is for all the adventure seekers out there! At <a href="http://www.mirafloresperu.com/turismo-miraflores-lima-peru/parque-del-amor.php" target="_blank"><span class="st">Parque del Amor</span></a> ("Love Park"), you can grab a parachute and literally...jump off a cliff! For ten minutes, you'll glide over between Larcomar, a multi-level shopping complex, and the Pacific Ocean. Most of the guides only speak Spanish, so good luck if you don't (I don't either!). The ride and a DVD with a few photos will cost 205 soles (~$70US). Do this at your own discretion...some <i>may</i> consider the ride a bit sketchy!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0uAWDbfn4QE/VJng9q5X_GI/AAAAAAAAEIU/kxin9udxNBw/s1600/IMG_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0uAWDbfn4QE/VJng9q5X_GI/AAAAAAAAEIU/kxin9udxNBw/s1600/IMG_0183.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hfOqCVMeEyw/VJnTlvWEH-I/AAAAAAAAEHc/Q9zVOMH3sMA/s1600/Paragliding%2BOver%2BLima.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hfOqCVMeEyw/VJnTlvWEH-I/AAAAAAAAEHc/Q9zVOMH3sMA/s1600/Paragliding%2BOver%2BLima.JPG" height="208" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Paragliding over Lima. I'm much more scared that I look!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Explore Miraflores</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Miraflores District is the upscale neighborhood of Lima know for shopping, gardens, beaches and flower-filled parks. Think of it as the Beverly Hills (I was lucky to have a friend living here). Take some time to explore <i>Parque Kennedy</i>, Miraflores' central plaza, with its regular flea markets and art exhibitions and if you're up for a night out, head out to <i>Calle de las Pizzas</i> ("Pizza Street") once the sun sets.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://flaneurabroad.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/larcomar-mall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" id="irc_mi" src="https://flaneurabroad.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/larcomar-mall.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Miraflores District. Photo courtesy of</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://flaneurabroad.wordpress.com/" rel="home" title="A Flâneur Abroad"> A Flâneur Abroad</a></span></span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>4. Walk Around the Huaca Pucllana Ruins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's the greatest juxtaposition to be in a city standing on top of ruins from 200AD. <a href="http://huacapucllanamiraflores.pe/" target="_blank">Huaca Pucllana</a>, Quechu for "a place for ritual games" is built from staggered platforms out of adobe and clay. The ruins served as an important ceremonial and administrative center for the Lima Culture Society with eventual use by the Wari Culture. If you bring along a student ID, entrance is only 5 soles (~$1.50US).</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt7i15fh_oY/VJng6pdrcuI/AAAAAAAAEIE/GG9CkkLPOmM/s1600/IMG_9328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt7i15fh_oY/VJng6pdrcuI/AAAAAAAAEIE/GG9CkkLPOmM/s1600/IMG_9328.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9J1jvZNOKIo/VJnTmfFcluI/AAAAAAAAEHk/9X3uf2DNKB0/s1600/IMG_9332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9J1jvZNOKIo/VJnTmfFcluI/AAAAAAAAEHk/9X3uf2DNKB0/s1600/IMG_9332.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Monica Dykas and I take a tour of </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Huaca Pucllana</span></i></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>5. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For a less touristy crowd, take a bus to the <a href="http://www.maclima.pe/" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Art</a>. Though it only has 3 rooms, the current exhibition of the intersections between locals and tourists in Cusco proves a solid visit. Again, bring along a student ID as admission is only 2 soles (~$.50US). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SY5jjmrNZaQ/VJnTmTtLnzI/AAAAAAAAEHo/CyXpiT8heqA/s1600/IMG_9354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SY5jjmrNZaQ/VJnTmTtLnzI/AAAAAAAAEHo/CyXpiT8heqA/s1600/IMG_9354.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Outside the MCA</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lima's a great place to explore, so enjoy it all! What are your top five things to do in Lima? </span><br />
<br />Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-15812006192380692082014-05-11T23:59:00.000-04:002014-05-12T12:38:56.448-04:005 Ways to Make Extra Money to Travel the World <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"How do you have money to travel?" </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a question that I frequently get asked. As a lifelong nonprofit professional and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/04/average-student-debt-2012_n_4380946.html" target="_blank">a millennial with student loan debt</a>, any discretionary income is a luxury. Beyond being diligent about budgeting and saving, I've had several side businesses throughout the years that helped to fund my travels. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are five of my favorite "side hustles" that will get you extra cash to help finance that next trip!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ng-PKNo3_-o/U3AbcUUOIdI/AAAAAAAAEFo/8jCjzykKvTY/s1600/1000000-dollarsus-debt-ceiling-visualized--stacked-in--100-dollar-bills----16394-dak2mgwk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ng-PKNo3_-o/U3AbcUUOIdI/AAAAAAAAEFo/8jCjzykKvTY/s1600/1000000-dollarsus-debt-ceiling-visualized--stacked-in--100-dollar-bills----16394-dak2mgwk.jpg" height="313" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I wish I could sit on piles of money like this woman! Courtesy of <span class="irc_dsh"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.travelsworlds.com/us-debt-ceiling-visualized-stacked-in-100-dollar-bills-16394-2.html"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">www.travelsworlds.com</span></a></span></span><span class="irc_dsh irc_msc"><a class="irc_hl irc_msl" data-ved="0CAYQhxw" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=stack+of+100+dollar+bills&biw=1366&bih=631&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSWQmJ2UIJiiWcwhpFCxCwjKcIGjwKOggCEhT2Cu0buBTGGoUkvRCGFv4UyAvgFBogmovRSmCOQSeDQhW-QOm4YTICJi1IBlS99TFZlZQRKakMIcNDfDZoTj6s"><span class="irc_idim"></span></a></span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>1) Provide Referrals</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is an such an overlooked way to get extra cash and requires little time. Companies are always looking to hire good people and the best way to do that is through its own employees. Check with your HR to see how much you can earn by referring a friend or contact to an open position - your friend gets a job and you can snag anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Company doesn't offer anything? Recruit for other companies that do! For example, <a href="http://www.krystinanguyen.com/" target="_blank">Vecna</a> pays you $4000 for a good referral whether you work there or not! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finished a professional development class? Enjoyed a tour? Love your dentist? As a client yourself, likely those businesses and services you've already paid for have referral bonuses. I've racked up a list of my own Deals & Discounts of my satisfied customer experiences <a href="http://www.krystinastravels.com/p/blog-page_3.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2) Participate in Research Studies</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love this one. When I was in college, graduate students and professors were always looking for subjects for their research. Usually, this consists of playing computer games and answering surveys typically paying $20/hour or more. I would do these between classes fairly easily and hey, you are contributing to research! Personally, I don't do anything evasive (like blood tests), but to each their own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Studies are sometimes very general (such as healthy adults between the ages of 18-45) or very specific (right-handed females who drink an energy drink a day), but can be lucrative. The most recent one I did was for <a href="http://mclean.harvard.edu/research/clinical/" target="_blank">McLean Hospital</a> - $200 for a day of playing games and a free MRI scan. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Beyond online research databases, check your university newspapers, community boards, and even public transportation ads.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />3) Launch a Side Business or Freelance </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is my favorite type of side hustling. Outside of your day job, what are you passionate about? Or at least hey, what can you do outside the 9-5? Maybe it's graphic design or pet-sitting. Maybe you promote networking or nightlife events and get people to attend. Try things out and see what works for you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For me, I always had a knack for resume writing and getting jobs. As part of a new year's resolution, I launched my <a href="http://www.krystinanguyen.com/" target="_blank">career consulting</a><a href="http://www.krystinanguyen.com/" target="_blank"> website</a> aimed at helping young professionals jobs - go side hustling!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.krystinanguyen.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.krystinanguyen.com/" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezsCYq01SAg/U3Aad5c6XgI/AAAAAAAAEFg/jm-wYu9G5Ug/s1600/KN+Consulting.JPG" height="212" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Looking for your dream job? Let's talk!</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>4) Sell Old and Unnecessary Stuff</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This one is pretty typical. I've found that travelers typically have less material possessions that the average person (except for their storage boxes of souvenirs of course!) and selling is the way to go to de-clutter and get extra cash.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Got old textbooks? Send them in with free shipping to <a href="http://www.textbookrush.com/sell/cash-for-your-books.aspx" target="_blank">Textbook Rush</a> or <a href="http://www.chegg.com/selltextbooks" target="_blank">Chegg</a>. Clutter around the house? Have a garage sale on a sunny day. Got unused giftcards? Exchange them for cash with <a href="http://www.giftcardrescue.com/" target="_blank">Gift Card Rescue</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I often enter event raffles as the prizes far exceed the ticket value. $1 for a snowboard? If I win, that snowboard's getting sold!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>5) Work as a Brand or Event Ambassador</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a great way to not only get entry into cool events, but earn a decent cash flow typically anywhere from $12-$25 an hour. I worked the U.S. Open of Surfing years ago manning a keychain-making booth and earned $400 over the 4-day beach festival. In Boston, I managed a talent casting call for a weekend for $230. Not too shabby!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gigs can be found on sites such as <a href="http://www.textbookrush.com/sell/cash-for-your-books.aspx" target="_blank">Craigslist</a> or local promotion agencies. What is nice is that if a company likes you, they'll often keep calling you back. Also note that you should never need to front money for membership or access to these events. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Of course, use proper discretion when working side businesses as you should only do whatever you are comfortable with. From some or all combination of these side hustles, you could earn yourself a nice vacation!</span>Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-53687169387414138832014-03-10T09:00:00.000-04:002014-05-12T09:42:00.035-04:007 Things Every Female Traveler Needs to Pack<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Note to reader: This post was originally featured on </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.theredgoes.com/7-things-every-female-traveler-needs-to-pack/" target="_blank">There D Goes</a>, a lifestyle blog for women.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>If you know me, you know I love to travel. I’ve gone all over the
world on all different types of trips from relaxing, luxurious vacations
to to “I can’t believe I did that” adventurous, budget backpacking
trips and everywhere in between. But no matter where you go, there are
always a few “must haves” for women travelers. Luckily, Krystina Nguyen
at the travel blog, <a href="http://www.krystinastravels.com/">C’est La Vie</a>, was willing to share her packing tips and recommendations. Enjoy! </i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It’s your moment. You’ve booked the ticket and have the vacation time
blocked for the next week, weeks, or if you’re lucky enough, months.
You’ve run around the last few days finishing up work projects or school
assignments. In a few hours, you’ll jump on that jet plane to backpack
Europe, sip piña coladas on Caribbean beaches, or trek from temple to
temple in Southeast Asia.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But wait…what are you going to pack?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I took a <a href="http://www.contiki.com/">Contiki</a> trip in
2008, my 42 other travel buddies voted me “Best Packer.” Before every
trip, I research what’s culturally and weather-appropriate and grab my
Ziploc bag full of 3oz. toiletries that’s ready to go at a moment’s
notice. However, whether I’m traveling for work, <a href="https://www.couchsurfing.org/">Couchsurfing</a>,
getting lost in the Amazon, or taking a girls trip, I’ve come to learn
there are essential things that can make the life of young female much
easier on her adventures!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="A photo of Krystina with her backpack " class="aligncenter wp-image-421" src="http://www.theredgoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Krystina-with-backpack-413x1024.jpg" height="400" width="161" /><i> </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I live by the philosophy, “Take no more than you can carry” which for my petite self means minimal baggage!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>1) Quick Dry Towel</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b><br />
Unless I’m staying with friends or at a fancy hotel, my quick dry towel
is one of the first things to go into my backpack. Though extremely
light, it can absorb up to 8 times its weight in water and then wrings
out dry in just minutes in airy temperatures or a few hours in more
humid conditions. As its super compact and folds up neatly into a pouch,
I love traveling with this – great for the gym too!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="A photo of quick dry towels from REI" class="aligncenter wp-image-423" src="http://www.theredgoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Rei-quick-dry-towel.jpg" height="312" width="400" /><i> </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Source: REI.com</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>2) Long Scarf or Shawl</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b><br />
A long scarf or shawl serves as a variety of functions from keeping you
comfy on cold airplanes to serving as a barrier against questionable
hostel bed sheets to hiding a purse at a crowded street market. If you
forget to pack one, then buying one is a great souvenir to have.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="Krystina on a hike with a scarf for sun protection " class="aligncenter wp-image-422" src="http://www.theredgoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Krystina-with-scarf-1024x768.jpg" height="300" width="400" /><i> </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Need sun protection when you’re hiking 15 miles across Dogon Country in Mali? Long scarf to the rescue!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>3) Ciprofloxacin a.k.a. Cipro (for those just in case situations)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b><br />
You’ll need to see a doctor or visit a travel clinic for this one. Cipro
cures both traveler’s diarrhea and UTIs. No further explanation needed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>4) Non-locking Carabiners</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b><br />
This simple tool has saved me on so many occasions. I’m not a fan of
having a million locks on my bags, but a carabiner can make it difficult
for anyone to jiggle my backpack open and prevents my backpack from
opening on itself since I packed too many clothes. It’s also a great
space saver to attach shoes or water bottles!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="Krystina's backpack with carabiners" class="aligncenter wp-image-420" src="http://www.theredgoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Krystina-carabiner-picture.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>5) Pocket Knife</b><br />
Yes! Empowering and useful, a pocket knife is any girl’s best friend.
You never know when you’ll need to peel an avocado or cut open…well
anything! I personally prefer the SwissCard style pocket knives as
they’re shaped like credit cards and can fit into a wallet, but see what
you prefer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="Krystina's Pocket Knife " class="aligncenter wp-image-424" src="http://www.theredgoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Krystina-Pocket-Knife-picture.jpg" height="287" width="400" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>6) Health and Property Travel Insurance</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b><br />
This is particularly important for international travelers. You never
know when the worst-case scenario can happen and you always want to be
prepared. Travel credit cards often offer benefits for cardholders, so
make sure you know what’s available to you. For those 26 or younger, as
well as teachers and students, <a href="http://www.statravel.com/">STA Travel</a>
can provide the International Youth Travel Card which provides basic
sickness and accident travel insurance for international trips for just
$25. I was able to get travel medical insurance for three weeks in
Ecuador for just $36 and property insurance for a year for my DSLR
camera (including theft and accidents) for $99 with <a href="http://www.tripinsurance.com/">TripInsurance.com</a>. <a href="https://www.internationalsos.com/en/">International SOS</a> is popular as well. Whatever you choose, be prepared!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>7) Travel Journal</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b><br />
Last and for me, most important, is a travel journal! While so many
moments will take your breath away, jotting down a few notes on how you
felt and what you did will let you reflect on how truly amazing the
experience is. After you get back, you’ll want to remember that name of
the incredibly delicious gelato shop or the generous tour guide that you
want all your future friends to request on their journeys. Trust me.
Years down the line and after the trip is over, you’ll thank me for this
one!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Those are my seven. What are some of your “must packs?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Krystina Nguyen is a </i><a href="http://www.krystinanguyen.com/"><i>career consultant</i></a><i>
and nonprofit professional living in Boston. Her previous travel
adventures include being spat on by an elephant in Vietnam, repelling
down waterfalls in the Andes, and mistakenly crossing the Chadian border
only to end up doing event set up at a wedding. You can follow
Krystina’s adventures on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Krystina_Nguyen" target="_blank">@Krystina_Nguyen</a> and read her travel
blog, </i><a href="http://www.krystinastravels.com/"><i>C’est La Vie</i></a><i>.</i></span>Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-92228824083174512862014-02-24T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-24T08:00:14.696-05:00Top 10 Things to Do In Costa Rica<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>In 2007, I
took my first international trip to Costa Rica and fell in love, not
only with the country, but the adventure of traveling itself. I started
C'est La Vie a few months after that trip so it was never documented on
this blog, but I've always wanted to share the attractiveness of the
country as it still sits as one of my Top 5 Countries. Lucky enough,
Devon DeMars of <a href="http://www.theredgoes.com/" target="_blank">There D Goes</a>, just came back from the land of "Pura Vida" and I couldn't agree more with her list of things to do. Enjoy!</i></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Planning for (or daydreaming about) a trip to Costa Rica?
It’s a popular destination for those looking for adventure and leisure alike,
but there are some definite “must-do’s” when going to this Central American
country. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 1) </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Go ziplining</b></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You’ve probably heard about this before, as
it is a popular activity in Costa Rica. There are several different zipline
companies in different areas of the country, but one fun place to do it is in
Monteverde where you will be able to glide down several different ziplines over
the lush cloud forest. One zipline company I recommend is <a href="http://www.skyadventures.travel/index/index.html">Costa Rica Sky
Adventures</a>.</span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PnIu9LOMD_g/UwkAPWUUbOI/AAAAAAAAD98/yG_La0FhKp0/s1600/ThereDGoes+Ziplining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PnIu9LOMD_g/UwkAPWUUbOI/AAAAAAAAD98/yG_La0FhKp0/s1600/ThereDGoes+Ziplining.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Snapped a picture of my mom’s nervous smile
before our first zipline!</i></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 2)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grab some coconut water</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Costa Rica can be warm and humid, and
you’ll want to stay hydrated, so do it with one of the freshest and healthiest
drinks available – a coconut! They are inexpensive and easy to find, generally at
a stand on the side of the road, where the merchant will machete chop it open
for you then and there. So refreshing!</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 3)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Explore the cloud forest<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Costa Rican cloud forest is famous for
its numerous flora & fauna species. It’s best to explore with a guide who
can point out all the interesting plant and animal life that you might not have
noticed without a trained eye. (Trust me on this.) You can often find monkeys,
sloths, bats, lizards, birds and butterflies in their natural habitat and snap
amazing photos.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BSVuAoJ7BrE/UwkAaSynpjI/AAAAAAAAD-E/uscbREOWSTU/s1600/ThereDGoes+Monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BSVuAoJ7BrE/UwkAaSynpjI/AAAAAAAAD-E/uscbREOWSTU/s1600/ThereDGoes+Monkey.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 4)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Visit the Arenal Volcano</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Arenal Volcano and surrounding town of
La Fortuna is a highlight of many tourists’ trips. With a lush tropical
climate, the scenery is beautiful and the imposing view of volcano is
impressive. La Fortuna is a small town with several restaurant choices, shops,
and things to do.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 5)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dip in the natural hot springs</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While you’re near the Arenal Volcano, stop
by a natural hot spring! Most of these hot springs have been turned into
beautiful pools, where guests can relax and test out the different temperatures
of the pools before enjoying a traditional Costa Rican dinner.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 6)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Take a “Tico Tour”</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A “Tico Tour” is a day trip to a small,
local village where you can explore the lifestyle of small-town Costa Rica.
Many Tico Tours include a guided nature walk, a traditional “campesino” style
meal, swimming and/or fishing, horseback riding, and information about the town
and local way of life. Check out the <a href="http://www.sicomono.com/tour/santa-juana-canopy-safari/">Santa Juana
Mountain Adventure</a> tour if this type of day trip sounds right up your
alley.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZq9EMyvNgQ/UwkAmt0xAwI/AAAAAAAAD-M/KnoldfR6CXk/s1600/ThereDGoes+Meal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZq9EMyvNgQ/UwkAmt0xAwI/AAAAAAAAD-M/KnoldfR6CXk/s1600/ThereDGoes+Meal.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">After all the day’s activities of hiking,
swimming, horseback riding and fishing, this meal and view were the perfect way
to end the tour</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 7)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Learn about local farming and agriculture</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Costa Rica has several coffee and vanilla
or chocolate plantations that are interesting to tourists. Visit one to learn
how coffee, vanilla, chocolate or other items are harvested and get a new
appreciation for your cup of joe!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kRrOd2fak5s/UwkBCeJqL-I/AAAAAAAAD-c/GyjVjjRYjdc/s1600/ThereDGoes+Villa+Vanilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kRrOd2fak5s/UwkBCeJqL-I/AAAAAAAAD-c/GyjVjjRYjdc/s1600/ThereDGoes+Villa+Vanilla.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Henry,
owner of </i><a href="http://www.rainforestspices.com/farm-tour/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Villa Vanilla</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, explains how chocolate is created from cocoa beans</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 8)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sit back and relax</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When visiting a beach town, take some time
to relax and soak up the sun by the pool or ocean. Costa Rica is a beautiful
place to kick back, but don’t forget to wear your sunscreen! The country is
very close to the equator, and the sun’s rays are likely much stronger then
what you are used to. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 9)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rent a moped</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Many small tourist towns can be explored on
foot or by cab, but another way is by moped! If you are an adventurous soul,
you can rent a moped for the day or week and use it to get around town. You’ll
feel like a local and make memories as you won’t forget zipping around town.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ovtA7HQYJy4/UwkBOKHFoKI/AAAAAAAAD-k/VnsD3xkxZIs/s1600/ThereDGoes+Moto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ovtA7HQYJy4/UwkBOKHFoKI/AAAAAAAAD-k/VnsD3xkxZIs/s1600/ThereDGoes+Moto.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 10)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Go
surfing </b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tamarindo Bay and other areas of Costa Rica
are famous surf spots that you won’t want to miss if you love water sports.
There are several places to rent surf or boogie boards. If you don’t want to
surf, you can’t go wrong with just exploring the habitat along the beaches and
enjoying the beautiful scenery.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Devon DeMars is a
lifestyle blogger at </i><a href="http://theredgoes.com/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There D Goes</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> writing
about fitness, beauty and travel adventures. When she’s not blogging you’ll
find her always on-the-go exploring her town of San Diego, day dreaming about
her next adventure, training for her first marathon, finding a new favorite
wine, or visiting her friends and family across the country. You can see what
she’s up to on her lifestyle blog or on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/ThereDGoes" target="_blank">@ThereDGoes</a>.</i></span></div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-9879762483135306812013-12-06T23:59:00.000-05:002014-02-20T22:49:46.432-05:00Quick Things to Do in San Salvador, El Salvador<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">People always seem in awe of the places that I travel to for my job. Don't get me wrong as it's quite a privilege and yes, the countries I go to are exotic destinations for many. The thing though is that a business trip is just that: a business trip. My weekdays are filled up with meetings from 9-5pm. However, if I'm lucky, I'll arrive on a weekend and get a few hours to explore. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, if you somehow find yourself with 10 hours of free time in San Salvador:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">1) Search for souvenirs like a tourist, shop at the mall like a local</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A good stop for handicrafts is the Mercado Nacional de Artesanías near Zona Rosa. This small, yet hospitable market is worth 45 minutes to an hour of your time as vendors sell everything from hammocks (El Salvador's staple) to crafts to coffee. After touristy shopping there, head over to Metrocentro, the largest modern mall in Central America, and a very chic place where locals head out on weekends. Yes, there's a Payless and yes, I bought shoes there!</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VTZzX9d-MVc/UwF3eoUAV_I/AAAAAAAAD7w/SbTrxefYd5U/s1600/IMG_1014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VTZzX9d-MVc/UwF3eoUAV_I/AAAAAAAAD7w/SbTrxefYd5U/s1600/IMG_1014.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Metrocentro, the largest mall in Central America, offers holiday train rides</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2) Pay homage at Archbishop Oscar Romero's memorial</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bishop Romero actively spoke out against <span class="body">oppression
and persecutions carried out by the government of El Salvador. Assassinated at the altar just over thirty years ago, he will forever be
a symbol for speaking out against human rights violations.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--5k-5MWqkqQ/UwF3gC5D7yI/AAAAAAAAD74/OYTUXHtVcuo/s1600/IMG_1033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--5k-5MWqkqQ/UwF3gC5D7yI/AAAAAAAAD74/OYTUXHtVcuo/s1600/IMG_1033.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>The altar where Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated </i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3) Spend an evening walking from the Santa Tecle Municipal Palace to the Plaza de la Cultura</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Full of new restaurants, the streets of Santa Tecle provide nightlife more low-key than that of Zona Rosa. At the Municipal Palace, design students of the <a href="http://www.ujmd.edu.sv/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Universidad Dr. Jose Matias Delgado</a> held an art exhibition of recycled household goods while a dance show was held at the Plaza de la Cultura. On the way, don't forget to eat a pupusa at a street vendor!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2HWEyJRH4Oc/UwF3t1q7M1I/AAAAAAAAD8I/fDUvgI8Jklw/s1600/IMG_1092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2HWEyJRH4Oc/UwF3t1q7M1I/AAAAAAAAD8I/fDUvgI8Jklw/s1600/IMG_1092.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> She was so happy to make our pupusas!</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">4) Visit the</span> <a href="http://www.uca.edu.sv/" target="_blank">UCA</a> <span style="color: red;">(University of Central America) with a heavy heart, leave with hope</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">El Salvador is a beautiful country with a sad history of civil war. On the night of November 16, 1989, it was here that a Salvadoran Army patrol massacred six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and
her daughter. The Jesuits were voicing
concerns over the atrocities of human rights violations being committed by the
government during the war. So I should say, now that the war is long over, never forget, always remember, and see the country for the beauty that lies as its heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EnV79RmcZ2U/UwF3ncV0cLI/AAAAAAAAD8A/s-Daetx9T-M/s1600/IMG_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EnV79RmcZ2U/UwF3ncV0cLI/AAAAAAAAD8A/s-Daetx9T-M/s1600/IMG_1063.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> The Rose Garden with memorials of those deceased at the UCA</i></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And for the last hour, I highly recommend dancing with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their helpers if you get the chance!</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></i></div>
</div>
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iz4-qObjpXQ" width="560"></iframe></center>
<br />
<br />Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-21692537675815590582013-08-23T23:59:00.000-04:002013-12-31T11:50:35.131-05:00Adventures While Getting Lost in The Amazon<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As my parents religiously read my blog, let me preface this post by stating no, at no point was I actually lost in the Amazon (cue a sigh of relief from my family members). Rather, Sean Denny and I disconnected from the world for a glorious week. No internet access, no cell phone service, and yes, that means no 4G, Facebook, etc. We had access to a generator for 1 hour to charge up camera batteries, but otherwise, off and free into the Amazon we went!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sean and I have quite different travel styles, so we split up the trip into two parts: mine and his. My week was the adventurous activities portion consisting of <a href="http://www.krystinastravels.com/2013/08/climbing-and-mountain-biking-cotopaxi.html" target="_blank">mountain biking down the live volcano of Cotopaxi</a> and <a href="http://www.krystinastravels.com/2013/08/adventures-in-banos-ecuador.html" target="_blank">repelling down waterfalls in Banos</a>. His vacation would be a week with indigenous groups running around the rain forest and far, far away from civilization. In summation, we both enjoy adventures, but I prefer to stay clean while he prefers to be one with nature - I think we were both good sports!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Fulbright friend had connected us to <a href="http://www.rainforestcamping.com/index.html" target="_blank">Otobo's Amazon Safar</a>i, a family-run well...tour agency. I'm not so sure you can all it an agency as it's just Otobo, who serves as your guide, and then his family members who spend the week with you. Tom and Mariela are the individuals that connect you to Otobo (i.e. they are literate and have internet access) and own a <a href="http://www.ecuadorcloudforest.com/" target="_blank">travel lodge</a> in Mindo, Ecuador unrelated to Otobo's tour. Considering that you take a small private plane deep, <i>really deep,</i> into the Amazon, this tour is as local and truly cultural as you can get!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VcOR_So6oUM/UsI7KNI2r3I/AAAAAAAAD58/wcG-YYWRSq4/s1600/IMG_8705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VcOR_So6oUM/UsI7KNI2r3I/AAAAAAAAD58/wcG-YYWRSq4/s400/IMG_8705.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<u><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Natural Wonders</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have you ever seen untouched natural beauty? A tropical rainforest elevated 400 meters above sea level, Ecuador's Yasuni National Park is considered one, if not the, most biodiverse places in the world. For perspective, the core of Ecuador's rain forest contains more tree species (600+) in one hectare than are native to the continental United States and Canada combined. However, Yasuni National Park is also located on the largest reserve of heavy oil in the country. As of August 15th, President Correa has abandoned his initiative to preserve the park and <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/16/ecuador-approves-yasuni-amazon-oil-drilling" target="_blank">approved oil drilling in the area</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sean and I were lucky enough to spend time running around the lush green forest spotting monkeys, touching anacondas, riding canoes to find caimen and pink dolphins, and so much more; it was an utter disappointment to hear this news. The international community can show support to conserve Yasuni National Park by signing <a href="http://350.org/about/blogs/four-reasons-why-drilling-oil-yasuni-national-park-needs-be-prevented" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hO_5u7tg7Hs/UsLok_LUxUI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/7fV9RyzaHRM/s1600/_DSC0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hO_5u7tg7Hs/UsLok_LUxUI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/7fV9RyzaHRM/s400/_DSC0595.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V6E2HOsU1M0/UsI6wZaIXuI/AAAAAAAAD5k/c0ZCIrtdKjg/s1600/IMG_8621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V6E2HOsU1M0/UsI6wZaIXuI/AAAAAAAAD5k/c0ZCIrtdKjg/s400/IMG_8621.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tL7ro27dcE8/UsI3cIPRPeI/AAAAAAAAD4U/ILpTAJhJ11I/s1600/Macaw+and+Parakeets+KN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tL7ro27dcE8/UsI3cIPRPeI/AAAAAAAAD4U/ILpTAJhJ11I/s400/Macaw+and+Parakeets+KN.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1qHZStCYZek/UsI3IFVIJwI/AAAAAAAAD30/DfH14MzrQvE/s1600/Baby+Lizard+KN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1qHZStCYZek/UsI3IFVIJwI/AAAAAAAAD30/DfH14MzrQvE/s400/Baby+Lizard+KN.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<u><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">H</span></u><span class="contenido"><u><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">uaorani Culture</span></u></span><br />
<span class="contenido"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Huaorani are a deep forest, indigenous group that have lived in the lowland of the rain forest for at least the last 6,000 years. Otobo and his family are Huaorani and welcomed us with the finest hospitality. It was incredible to run with Otobo during hikes - he would have us stop, and while we'd hear silence, he'd hear the footsteps of peccaries and we'd chase after him leading us to get quick glimpses. It was incredible seeing how the Huaorani's lives truly consisted of nature's resources: hammocks and jewelry made from vegetation, weapons made from bark, etc.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e6LeNgwbk1g/UsI3VpqBcMI/AAAAAAAAD4M/0MVD-xyByTs/s1600/Fruit+KN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e6LeNgwbk1g/UsI3VpqBcMI/AAAAAAAAD4M/0MVD-xyByTs/s320/Fruit+KN.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae1nASBC9FU/UsI3Q2rtlQI/AAAAAAAAD4A/Q_v-kJrd2TQ/s1600/Family+KN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae1nASBC9FU/UsI3Q2rtlQI/AAAAAAAAD4A/Q_v-kJrd2TQ/s320/Family+KN.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-de_I6O4hClA/UsI3QSgbC0I/AAAAAAAAD38/aET-z0LrwZU/s1600/Arrow+Making+KN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-de_I6O4hClA/UsI3QSgbC0I/AAAAAAAAD38/aET-z0LrwZU/s320/Arrow+Making+KN.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4KiBf62AbHY/UsI3lMYW7uI/AAAAAAAAD4k/zU8Gn4cHZQo/s1600/HammockMaking2KN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4KiBf62AbHY/UsI3lMYW7uI/AAAAAAAAD4k/zU8Gn4cHZQo/s320/HammockMaking2KN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="contenido"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With the Huaorani, we went fishing, shot blow guns, camped on beaches, painted ourselves traditionally, and laughed a lot despite our separate cultures and languages. I can only hope for the best for the future of Otobo, his family, the Huaorani, Yasuni, and Ecuador. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z33oGHWWXSM/UsLsHQKMW_I/AAAAAAAAD6g/sEiitU2AHLc/s1600/_DSC0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z33oGHWWXSM/UsLsHQKMW_I/AAAAAAAAD6g/sEiitU2AHLc/s400/_DSC0377.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d71AQIzPc2A/UsI6spmRZlI/AAAAAAAAD5c/9cTpjESI8P8/s1600/IMG_8615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-075U8N2uvhQ/UsI59sI1XzI/AAAAAAAAD5E/Lu73UvaYwWA/s1600/_DSC0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-075U8N2uvhQ/UsI59sI1XzI/AAAAAAAAD5E/Lu73UvaYwWA/s320/_DSC0388.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yCR7LR4uyQ/UsI7IE4JVWI/AAAAAAAAD5w/m7aaWqRsnRI/s1600/_DSC0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yCR7LR4uyQ/UsI7IE4JVWI/AAAAAAAAD5w/m7aaWqRsnRI/s320/_DSC0282.JPG" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d71AQIzPc2A/UsI6spmRZlI/AAAAAAAAD5c/9cTpjESI8P8/s400/IMG_8615.JPG" width="300" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zzF5ymJC_c/UsI6ToM0PQI/AAAAAAAAD5U/rAxGpNPG4LA/s1600/_DSC0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2yNMJy3BINI" width="420"></iframe></center>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-35148062635251801682013-08-15T23:59:00.000-04:002013-12-31T13:38:01.240-05:00Adventures in Banos, Ecuador<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Banos, Ecuador, nicknamed "Gateway to the Amazon" is a town full of adventures. Home to more than 60 natural waterfalls, it's no wonder the natural beauty of the city attracts tourists from around the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While in Quito, we booked two tours in advance with <a href="http://www.imagineecuador.com/index.html" target="_blank">Imagine Ecuador</a>: Rock climbing and Canyoning. With fun and humerous guides, safe equipment, and restaurant lunches, they provided great memories for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Note: Buses from Quito to Banos take a bit over 3.5 hours, so plan your trip accordingly!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On arrival on Day 1, we did a half day 2pm tour to climb the Andes Mountains! At the Natural Lava Rock, we spent an hour and a half climbing, but that was more than enough to give us enough bumps and bruises.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Day 2, we headed off to Rio Blanco for a few hours of repelling down 6 waterfalls! Imagine Ecuador describes the canyoning tour as "Negotiate your way down steep canyons by abseiling and jumping waterfalls and
cliffs, cascading down natural chutes and swimming through crystal clear pools.
80% of the time is spent in the water." Yes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The beauty was that the waterfalls were so remote, there was no way to hike or drive to them - the only way to see them was to jump off one leading to the other! Amazingly captivating, this was my favorite activity on the trip (albeit it was freezing and scary!). </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnm9Yb6RVy4/Ur33Qc3VnMI/AAAAAAAAD3c/MIp_qM9cTIM/s1600/IMG_8447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnm9Yb6RVy4/Ur33Qc3VnMI/AAAAAAAAD3c/MIp_qM9cTIM/s640/IMG_8447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yUlfb9HWWqc/UpaE2R0K6jI/AAAAAAAADw0/OIfAvgeVb0M/s640/IMG_8534.JPG" width="640" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Having a blast rocking climbing the Natural Lava Rock of the Andes Mountains</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gT8TZ59mn_Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-65723282206754526452013-08-14T23:59:00.000-04:002013-12-27T18:42:26.584-05:00Ecuador's Incan Ruins at Ingapirca<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A simple day trip from Cuenca is to Ingapirca, the site of the largest Incan ruins in Ecuador. Booking a <a href="http://www.viator.com/tours/Ecuador/Full-Day-Tour-to-Inca-Ruins-of-Ingapirca-with-Lunch/d727-3074CEIRI?aid=se1" target="_blank">Full Day Tour with Viator</a> was quite simple as they partnered up with <a href="http://www.graylineecuador.travel/" target="_blank">Grayline Ecuador</a>, a local travel agent. Confirmation was left for us at our hotel, Casa Reyes, and Grayline took care of everything including an English-speaking guide (shout-out to Adrian!), transportation, and lunch at <a href="http://posadaingapirca.com/" target="_blank">Posada Ingapirca<b></b></a> for $50. We did wish that they would have paid for admission, but it's all good!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Special shout-out to our Cuenca hotel owners (a small family of 3) at <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ec/casa-reyes.html" target="_blank">Casa Reyes.</a> We booked with them on <a href="http://booking.com/">Booking.com</a><span id="goog_2074684873"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_2074684874"></span> as they didn't require a credit card and had airport pick up too. They didn't speak English and we didn't speak Spanish, but somehow it all worked out! :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ingapirca ("Inca stone wall") lies in the Canar Province of Ecuador and takes its name after the Inca palace and temple site. Contrary to popular belief, the Incas were not the first inhabitants of Ingapirca, but the indigenous group of the Canari originally settled here before the Incas arrived in the 15th century.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Though it was a long-drawn out battle between the Incas and the Canai, the two communities actually built the community together afterwards! World peace! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PLgrRDtpLVM/UpaED4xe01I/AAAAAAAADwc/F-g1k5gfJ_A/s640/_DSC0201.JPG" width="640" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Favorite view of Ingapirca</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EsfCOIjnqw4/UpaEblydXXI/AAAAAAAADws/4ZkxUpBiuMo/s1600/_DSC0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EsfCOIjnqw4/UpaEblydXXI/AAAAAAAADws/4ZkxUpBiuMo/s640/_DSC0220.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The foundational parts of the original Temple of the Moon</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2CSQWwkipM/UpaFPnLLYOI/AAAAAAAADxM/mCdSZTHpADo/s1600/_DSC0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2CSQWwkipM/UpaFPnLLYOI/AAAAAAAADxM/mCdSZTHpADo/s640/_DSC0206.JPG" width="424" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aquaducts to provide water to the compound</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_vBKsOVwJOo/UpaFF64xFJI/AAAAAAAADxE/GMZtssoUceE/s1600/_DSC0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_vBKsOVwJOo/UpaFF64xFJI/AAAAAAAADxE/GMZtssoUceE/s640/_DSC0226.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In one of the doorways of the Temple of the Sun</span></i></div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-80818340628938875182013-08-13T23:59:00.000-04:002013-12-25T13:52:05.714-05:00Eating Guinea Pigs in Cuenca, Ecuador!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sean Denny and I took an early 6:15am flight from Quito to arrive in Cuenca an hour later. Though quite sleepy, I was glad that we stayed awake to catch the breath-taking view of Cotopaxi volcano. Enjoying the view of the mountain was definitely much better than <a href="http://www.krystinastravels.com/2013/08/climbing-and-mountain-biking-cotopaxi.html" target="_blank">hiking up the mountain</a>!</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHEDd-YlBVs/UroX1LEhU4I/AAAAAAAAD20/au2_XUbhNgg/s1600/IMG_0629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHEDd-YlBVs/UroX1LEhU4I/AAAAAAAAD20/au2_XUbhNgg/s640/IMG_0629.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> Cotopaxi Volcano from the sky</i></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cuenca is the capital of the Azuay Province with the city center listed as a <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/" target="_blank">UNESCO World Heritage Trust site</a>. The colonial city has temperate climate (think California!) and a ridiculously low-cost of living (i.e.$1-$2.50 fixed-prix lunch, $2 for a taxi ride, etc.). No wonder it is dubbed as one of "<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/On-Retirement/2012/04/17/the-best-place-to-retire-overseas-on-a-budget" target="_blank">The Best Places to Retire</a>" by US News & World Report (and many other reports).</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNCtUv8fJPg/UroKJ0rJNZI/AAAAAAAAD1s/bLmmx_K-UJg/s1600/IMG_8367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNCtUv8fJPg/UroKJ0rJNZI/AAAAAAAAD1s/bLmmx_K-UJg/s640/IMG_8367.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> The temperate climate makes it no wonder these ladies are so happy!</i></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After intensive handicraft and souvenir shopping at Casa de la Mujer (100 craft stalls!) and the San Franciso Market, we headed over to the the New Cathedral also known as <span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">the Catedral de la Inmaculada Conception. As </span> the city's main church in Parque Calderon, it took over a century to construct! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6Hlxi8DHzQ/UroYBgj-hPI/AAAAAAAAD3E/DcetGGorYqc/s1600/IMG_0639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6Hlxi8DHzQ/UroYBgj-hPI/AAAAAAAAD3E/DcetGGorYqc/s640/IMG_0639.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Lighting a candle at the New Cathedral </i></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Want to be amazed by a robust selection of fruits and vegetables and have a delicious meat lunch with fresh juice? One of the most impressive markets is Mercado 10 de Agosto, the only market in Cuenca with an escalator.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vgvNh4Eplck/UroJ7bIKS1I/AAAAAAAAD1k/O_H1ApeKaeU/s640/IMG_8362.JPG" width="480" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fabulous fruit and vegetable selection at Mercado 10 de Agosto</span> </i></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Outside the market, Sean and I checked off eating another animal on our list: guinea pig! Cooking the guinea pigs was typical of street food where they were put onto a stick (a very large pole) and grilled. Not too much meat, but a good treat! Note: The pig comes whole with teeth and all. Apologies to any vegetarians/vegans reading this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KCYQR5uQGaE/UroJGSakzjI/AAAAAAAAD1c/rpbUnCKwVSM/s640/IMG_8371.JPG" width="640" /> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Guinea pig delicacy time! </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sVbasolHH1c/UroX2oUT-KI/AAAAAAAAD28/A5e-F9xTyEA/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our first real relaxing day of the trip and Cuenca was the perfect town to walk around and explore. Off to explore Incan ruins tomorrow!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0aB5hG8sOs/UroNZAJoSnI/AAAAAAAAD2I/82IHnFrEGIA/s1600/_DSC0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-50812147008076200672013-08-12T23:59:00.000-04:002013-12-12T09:06:07.029-05:00Papallacta Hotsprings and the San Rafael Waterfalls<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Following yesterday's strenuous climb up Cotopaxi volcano, we took two well-relaxed days at the hotsprings of Papallacta and the San Rafael Waterfalls at Cayambe Coca National Park.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Three hours from Quito (given the traffic), the small village of Papallacta houses local hotsprings that serve as a weekend family getaway for Ecuadorians and a must-stop visit for travelers. Papallacta's location between two volcanoes, Volcano Cayambe
and Volcano Antisana, provide consistent thermal pool temperatures between 36°C to
40°C (97°F to 104°F).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Note: Though the hotsprings are open to everyone, we just missed out on staying at the <a href="http://www.termaspapallacta.com/" target="_blank">Termas Papallacta</a>! Hostels are around the area, but the resort is the place to be. Book in advance - good prices on various Ecuadorian hotels can be found on <a href="http://www.booking.com/" target="_blank">booking.com </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kek-zwxggbM/UpkSejHsdGI/AAAAAAAAD0w/f4CP2_LKl6E/s1600/IMG_8304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RJDcZskYUCM/UpkSc_lIC6I/AAAAAAAAD0o/vBGuJHBWxCY/s640/IMG_8302.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kek-zwxggbM/UpkSejHsdGI/AAAAAAAAD0w/f4CP2_LKl6E/s640/IMG_8304.JPG" width="640" /> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Papallacta hotsprings</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next day we caught a ride to Lago Agrio (about 1.5 hours from Papallacta) to do a small 45-minute hike to the San Rafael Waterfalls. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4_OBAt_1Qeg/UpkSKFbLKXI/AAAAAAAAD0g/TZSXEb1UW0A/s1600/Butterfly+KN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4_OBAt_1Qeg/UpkSKFbLKXI/AAAAAAAAD0g/TZSXEb1UW0A/s640/Butterfly+KN.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Glasswing Butterfly</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Around 500 feet, the San Rafael Waterfalls are the tallest and considered most spectacular in Ecuador. A beautiful sight, this is a highly underrated attraction (perhaps due to the 5-6 hour ride back to Quito). Tag the waterfalls on with a Papallacta hotspring day and you will have a near perfect weekend!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FkLGp4O9kHM/UpaEI4HqLtI/AAAAAAAADwk/VbALF2Ns9wo/s1600/_DSC0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FkLGp4O9kHM/UpaEI4HqLtI/AAAAAAAADwk/VbALF2Ns9wo/s640/_DSC0160.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1yc7dqS9gfg/UpkXlS4okQI/AAAAAAAAD1M/XV6QZwIsiQg/s1600/IMG_0622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1yc7dqS9gfg/UpkXlS4okQI/AAAAAAAAD1M/XV6QZwIsiQg/s640/IMG_0622.JPG" width="640" /><i>San Rafael Waterfalls</i></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5881649355447245256.post-27262144911418599412013-08-10T23:59:00.000-04:002013-12-09T14:16:45.499-05:00Climbing and Mountain Biking Cotopaxi Volcano, Ecuador<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At just under 6,000 meters (~20,000 feet), the stratovolcano of Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Prior to the Inca invasion of the 15th century, local indigenous groups around the Andes dubbed Cotopaxi a "Sacred Mountain." With a pedigree of such caliber, over 100 climbers attempt to make it to the summit each weekend.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Unfortunately, those that wanted to make it to the summit included us! I was actually interested in simply mountain biking, but poor planning and bad luck turned us into two sad, cold, and angry individuals. Moral of the story: If you don't like hiking or nature, don't climb a volcano in overly bleak weather!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W1tesmoCSyY/Upj6i-zzSAI/AAAAAAAADzI/gM3FmO0JD_I/s1600/IMG_8288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W1tesmoCSyY/Upj6i-zzSAI/AAAAAAAADzI/gM3FmO0JD_I/s400/IMG_8288.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> Cotopaxi Volcano a.k.a. a "Sacred Mountain"</i></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We had booked our trips at 6pm the night before the tour with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EcuadorTreasureTourOperator" target="_blank">Ecuador Treasure</a>, a tour company that has the friendliest customer service. We tried booking with <a href="http://www.bikingdutchman.com/" target="_blank">Biking Dutchman</a>, but 1) They didn't have tours the day we wanted and 2) They stated that they couldn't recommend other tours "Because their bikes, guides and service is way below ours." Points loss for arrogance!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our guide stated that because of the altitude and steepness, it would take 1.5 hours just to walk up 300 meters. We would drive up the volcano, walk to the rest stop, walk some more, and then mountain bike back down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Freezing temperatures, rain, and fog disallowed us at most points to see more than 10 feet in front of us. Thus, the beautiful views on clear days could only be imagined. Adding to the fact that I soon became delirious due to the altitude (i.e. thinking the rest stop was only a mirage) and the mountain bike was way too big for me, this was probably the worst of my travel adventures to date.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M1IQifWVx1c/Upj8RMwH-1I/AAAAAAAADzw/-fjlbKStYVM/s1600/IMG_0572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M1IQifWVx1c/Upj8RMwH-1I/AAAAAAAADzw/-fjlbKStYVM/s320/IMG_0572.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CEys8WdzMM/UpkM58gMN8I/AAAAAAAAD0Q/TB_nuiuQKUk/s1600/ctpxi_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CEys8WdzMM/UpkM58gMN8I/AAAAAAAAD0Q/TB_nuiuQKUk/s320/ctpxi_6.jpg" width="292" /> </a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Weather conditions on the day we climbed (left) vs. conditions on a normal day (right). <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photograph courtesy of <a href="http://cotopaxitours.com/">CotopaxiTours.com</a></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Did we climb and mountain bike an active volcano? Yes, sir! Will either Sean or I do it ever again? No, sir! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CGKzxwV9xx8/Upj8KxSMYQI/AAAAAAAADzo/XaHJrS5PxFI/s1600/IMG_0573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CGKzxwV9xx8/Upj8KxSMYQI/AAAAAAAADzo/XaHJrS5PxFI/s640/IMG_0573.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YlZ7DWDoxXA/Upj7gPrtGBI/AAAAAAAADzQ/A84qBASiS8g/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YlZ7DWDoxXA/Upj7gPrtGBI/AAAAAAAADzQ/A84qBASiS8g/s320/IMG_0587.JPG" width="320" /></a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Smiling because we're done climbing! </i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cg4d8Qq7BZc/Upj71Vb-qsI/AAAAAAAADzg/Vp6D700squ8/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cg4d8Qq7BZc/Upj71Vb-qsI/AAAAAAAADzg/Vp6D700squ8/s400/IMG_0590.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Restaurant Achiote in Mariscal. Live music plays regularly too!</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That night, we spoiled ourselves with an expensive dinner (well, $30+/each) at <a href="http://achiote.com.ec/" target="_blank">Achiote</a>. Off to a more relaxing time at the hot springs of Papallacta!</span>Krystina Nguyenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09243675591302962967noreply@blogger.com0