Traveling Insights: An Inside Perspective

Hi there, Looking back at my last post on this blog, I realize that I had two drafts going to talk about my last day on my trip to Italy.  When I think back on that time, almost a year ago now, I am stunned at how much I have grown intellectually since then.  So let me catch you up in a few paragraphs, and then I'll get into the real meat of this post--my visit to the University of Minnesota last week to explore their Masters in Urban and Regional Planning Program. Rewind to last September...The thing that comes to mind is a steep learning curve about myself and my preferences for the kind of life I want to lead.  Not at all what I expected from my attendance at an international conference about Slow Food.  Excited upon my return, I emailed someone about starting a Slow Food Chapter in Lawrence, and missed the date of a webinar which would have introduced me to the process of getting one going. Fast-forward to December.  I've turned in my applications for...

Alright, so this post comes a little late, but honestly I've been feeling very pessimistic lately and it's been preventing me from wanting to write because I'm afraid that some of my pessimism might come across in my blog posts.  Well, my thoughts are getting in the way of me focusing on my homework, so I'm just going to take the time to get it all out.  That's what these experiences are supposed to do, right?  Get you thinking and seeing your world in a different way.  I'm afraid that even after having traveled abroad before, I'm still experiencing reverse culture shock.  I'm unhappy with how many overweight strangers I see and upset with myself for driving my car.  I'm going slightly insane I think, but I'm going to do my best to explain the photos below, taken during my Slow Food Youth Network Think Tank day, a full day spent with other Slow Food Youth members to work in groups to solve a problem.  Our problem?  Solving the rural-urban gap. ...

I have to make sure that I get this down before all of the days start blending together.  I wasn’t able to get to my post this morning because I had an assignment due today I needed to finish, but here I am, 12:20 a.m., recalling the crazy events of yesterday.  It started reasonably well.  I had a fabulous breakfast (pictured below) and managed to get to the rail stop right as it came, which was pretty cool.  I knew how to get to Valentino Park and decided to explore a little, sign up for the Walk ‘N Eat tour now that my first day had officially started (and they were closed when I got to the park the evening before), check out some of the booths, and try some free samples.  My first official activity of the day was my volunteering shift at the USA tent, where I showed all of the visitors pictures of my work at JCCC, my new job in the butterfly house, and other sustainability projects I’ve worked on.  What a wonderful energy! Fir...