view of new york from nj city

Prepare for Extended Travel – 7 Steps to Mentally Prepare Yourself

It took us a while to realize the simple problem: in our pre-departure packing fervor, we’d taken no time to mentally prepare for our travels… Learn from our mistake. Take these steps to get ready for your extended trip so you can start enjoying your destination as soon as you arrive.

Washington DC view and Cherry Blossom

Things to Know about Washington, DC Monuments at Night

I’ve lived in Washington, DC for almost five years and am getting ready to move. As with many places I’ve lived, I’ve enjoyed “playing tourist” while I living here. However, even after doing so many things and seeing so many sites, I still have a few things I either want to do again or experience for the first time. I also put together a list of what I will miss and won’t miss about living in Washington, DC as it helps me appreciate what I had. At the same time, it helps me to remember what I didn’t like, hopefully making moving a little bit easier. Here are some things to know about Washington, DC, whether you are visiting for a short stay or moving here. Things to know about Washington, DC I always heard that, second to Washington, DC’s Cherry Blossom Festival, the best time to visit our area’s … Read more

two guys gardening

In Defense of Food – Quotes, Guidelines, and Review

Partly because my last book review post Eat, Pray, Love Quotes was well received and partly because selfishly I want to have my notes from this book in one place for a reference I pulled together my favorite quotes from In Defense of Food…. But I contend that most of what we’re consuming today is no longer, strickly speaking, food at all, and how we’re consuming it — in the car, in frongt of the TV, and increasingly, alone– is not really eating, at least not in the sense that civilization has long understood the term.” “But who knos what else is going on deep in the soul of the carrot.

Icelandair aircraft

Resources for Volunteering Abroad and Why You Should Do It

In Volunteering Abroad: 10 Things to Know Before You Go, we discussed everything you should think about before you sign up. With proper planning, it can be the experience of a lifetime. Volunteer Travel Programs Local and Abroad – Volunteer travel is an amazing way to see a place, get to know local culture, and leave a positive footprint. We volunteered while traveling through Argentina. We learned a ton about WWOOFing — World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms — and had an amazing experience at Chacra Millalen. It’s been awhile since we’ve written about volunteer travel and since summer is here (or so it feels in Minnesota today) with summer vacation planning underway, I thought I’d revisit the subject focusing specifically on volunteer travel abroad versus volunteer travel locally. Local vs. Abroad Volunteer Travel Whether its sandbagging for a flood emergency in Fargo or picking strawberries on an organic farm … Read more

Icelandair aircraft

Volunteering Abroad – 10 Things to Know Before You Sign Up

Volunteering abroad can be an incredibly rewarding experience. You get to spend a few weeks or months saving the rain forest or building houses for people who can’t afford them. Every program is not a good fit for everyone. But there are so many different places and types of work to choose from, you’ll definitely be able to find one that works for you. We’ll cover everything you need to consider when deciding on a program for volunteering abroad. Do your research about volunteering abroad Not all volunteer abroad opportunities are created equal. Some cost money, others are free. Some require commitments of 3 or more months; others only ask that you stay a week. There are so many important things to consider before planning a trip to volunteer overseas. Here’s our top list. 10 things to know about volunteering abroad before you sign up Location This is one of … Read more