Fluently speaking a foreign language is a talent that I would love to acquire. I would love to be able to carry on a conversation with someone who speaks French and Spanish. Spanish especially would help in the field of marketing and advertising because the Latino market is huge and will continue to get bigger in the years to come. If a person can speak fluent Spanish, they will be able to communicate with any Latino brand successfully and have a hand up in the mainly dominating English speaking market here in the United States once the Latino market grows.
I took a couple high school Spanish classes so I do remember some phrases from the language. Hopefully by having some background in it that might help me when I decide to pursue trying to really become fluent in the language. I have researched how I can start to learn Spanish on my own instead of enrolling in a class. Rosetta Stone is an option that I found, but be prepared to spend some money. It has great reviews though so who knows it might be worth it. The complete Rosetta Stone Spanish set retails for $599.00 on their website. That seems like a fair price to me considering how much one would spend on numerous Spanish classes. This is what the set includes:
Interactive Software
Audio Companion™
For your CD or MP3 player so you can review Spanish (Latin America) while on the go.
Headset with Microphone
For use with our state-of-the-art speech-recognition software.
Live Online Lessons
Mobile Companion™
Spanish (Latin America) learning application for your iPhone® or iPod Touch®.
If traveling is on your list you may be interested in flying. Flying can be a costly endeavor, but it doesn't have to be if properly planned. Here are some tips for making your vacation and dream trip easier to enjoy.
Remain Updated- Check online, read the newspaper, and contact the airlines to stay informed about cheap tickets. Some companies will announce their lowest price fares for a limited time, take advantage of these.
Book Early- Typically, the earlier you book, the cheaper the price will be. Take this into consideration and try to buy tickets at least 21 days before the flying date.
Be Flexible- If you are not in a hurry to reach your destination, then be flexible with journey days. Most airlines often have cheaper days in the middle of the week.
Check Timings- Flights leaving early in the morning or late at night usually have cheaper rates as well. Also, flights with a few stops in between are cheaper than non-stop flight.
Inquire About Discounts- Before purchasing your ticket; ask the airlines reservation assistants about offers or discounts. Sometimes they will have connecting fare or travel package discounts.
With these tips in mind you can find discounted airlines tickets with enough planning and research done ahead of time. If it is a last minute trip decision, there is much less opportunity for discounts and you will just need to buy what you can find.
Anytime I watch a movie (like one starring Steve McQueen or Humphrey Bogart), I'm inspired to make one myself. Not like a home movie or Youtube video, but a real professional film. And, I think if I made one it would be a fictional piece along the lines of Bullitt (starring Steve McQueen) or Little Caesar (starring Edward G. Robinson).
One of the main things that are great about movies is that it's kind of a multi-faceted, broad art form. In other words, it has a mass appeal and is exhibited through both sight and sound, as opposed to music for example which is through just sound. Just deciding what kind movie to make and how to go about it can be quite a task, not to mention making a movie that's actually worth watching.
So if I enjoy movies so much, why not make my own? Yup, making a movie definitely belongs on my bucket list.
What's funny though is that while making a real movie is on my bucket list, there was an actual film released in 2007 about non-other than a bucket list. Ironic?
The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, is about how "two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die." I haven't seen this movie yet. But you know what? This is going on my bucket list too.
I have spent all of my New Year's Eve's in the lovely city of St. Louis. Someday though, I want to spend it in New York. Just once in my life, I want to celebrate the New Years standing in the street in Times Square New York watching the sparkling ball drop with thousands of others. I am sure this wouldn't be an inexpensive trip, with it being on New Year's and all-flight, and hotel rooms raise prices during this time, so it might possibly take me a little while to save up for it, but I am willing to do that.
After I watch the ball drop in times square then it's time to party! I'll head on over to the Bowery Ballroom. The Bowery is one of the best venues for live music. Refurbished into a music venue in 1997, the Bowery Ballroom is a chance to see singers and bands everyone else will see two years from now and some that haven't forgotten their humble beginnings (Green Day just played the Bowery to launch 21st Century Breakdown.) Patti Smith, The Roots and Passion Pit are among the 7 musicians playing New Year's Eve. Unfortunately there's no VIP admission like many other ballrooms in NYC. You have to buy tickets to each of the shows.
Inside of the Bowery Ballroom
Bowery from the outside
After being exhausted from partying all night long. I will head back to my hotel at the Westin New York at Times Square. Oh yeah, spare no expense here. I liked the idea of staying at the Westin because of the location. Since I am new to New York, and since the city has somewhat of a shady rep, I want to stay as close to all of the action as possible.
The Westin New York at Times Square is right in the heart of all the New Year's Eve fun!
Oooooh, to have (not to mention drive) a Lamborghini! It's a beast of a car. And of all the things one could put on a bucket list, to own a Lamborghini is probably the most expensive (like $200,000 or more). This of course means that it will probably never come true for me. But who knows what the future holds? I haven't even finished college yet.
The beast know as Lamborghini is, to me, one of those iconic "must haves." For some people, it's possessing Babe Ruth's glove or baseball bat. For others, it's riding a prize winning horse. For me, it's owning a Lamborghini. And although Lamborghinis aren't necessarily as rare as a famous baseball bat or prize winning horse, the price tag and exclusive nature of the italian made car make them hard to come by.
Perhaps, I should look at owning a Lamborghini as more of a goal rather than just something on a list. It could be something to push me farther in my career. It's a lofty goal but a worthwhile one too. I don't have to possess a Lamborghini to happy. I'll be just fine without one. But if the opportunity knocks, I'm going for it?!? After all, it's a...Lamborghini.
- John
In March of this year a Florida woman robbed a bank to cross an item off her bucket list. She suffers from leukemia and bipolar disorder, she said, and wanted to do this before she died. Fox News reported that Patricia Edwards, 51, walked into a Bank of America branch in Sanford, Fla., and handed the teller a note demanding money.
Edwards said, "It was something I had on my bucket list... I think everyone should have a list of things they want to do before they expire."
She was arrested three days after committing the crime and said she was not taking her medication at the time. At the time of the article, Edwards remains held on $20,000 bail on two counts of robbery. She told MyFoxOrlado.com, she regrets the bank heist. "I regret everything I did and I accept full responsibility for what I did," she said.
While Edwards declared her illness and medication not being taken, outrageous steps to complete bucket list items is not too rare. In a previous post the MTV show, The Buried Life, was discussed. In one episode the cast pretends to be involved with the CMT's staff in order to gain access to the inside, so Duncan can talk to Taylor Swift. See the full episode here.
How far will you go to cross an item off your list?
I have been wanting to travel to New Zealand since I was knee high to a kiwi. Not only does New Zealand have an unlimited amount of outdoor activities, their breathtaking scenery is reason enough to visit the spectacular country. For adventure enthusiasts, New Zealand is the country for you. Adventure junkies flock to the country to participate in all kinds of sports from snow boarding, to sky diving. You will never be at a loss on what to do for your next adventure fix.
Ski
Zorbing at Rotorua
Rock Climbing
I stay away from real tourist trap kind of spots while on vacations, so I would make it a point to stop at Matauri bay while out in New Zealand. Located on the northern trip of New Zealans, Matauri bay is off the beaten path and yet still provides fun for the whole family. You can camp, swim safely, fish, snorkel, surf, go diving and do some jet skiing.
Matauri Bay
Matauri Bay
When I travel to New Zealand, a particular accomodation I want to stay on is a farmstay. If you are someone who really likes to get in with the culture where you are vacationing, then check out the many farmstays that New Zealand offers. Some farmstays are family-focused allowing children to feed the animals, collect eggs and learn how a farm functions. Other farmstays provide a relaxing environment for adults only.
Sticky notes can be great until your desk begins to look like this...
Many people now have smartphones which can make keeping up with list even easier. Here is a look at five free iPhone applications to help you stay on track.
Errands
One of the more aesthetically pleasing apps with gradients and clipart makes for a fun productivity app. Several colors and text options make for a personalized feel while creating tasks and identifying options including adding an image. All the functions are here with some fun options as well.
Remember The Milk
Requires sign up- this one doesn't have a changeable color palette, but incorporates a simple easy to navigate orange and blue color scheme. While the functionality is simple, it requires a few more clicks than others to get to specific facets within. Finally, it does allow you to enter in detailed information, as well as making multiple lists and pinning the location of where tasks need to take place.
ReQall
Requires sign up- this acclaimed app has been featured in several top app lists. This is a much higher quality app and allows you to record your voice then translates that to text for a memo. You can add locations, sync calendars and more.
Things To Do
This is a very basic to do list creator with function over design. You can change a few colors, but nothing too much. It appears slightly bland, but contains all the functions a to-do app should have. A short title and description with optional due date is all it takes for this one.
To Dos
Another quick and easy to understand basic app for to do list. However, this allows a few more details to be added in such as, tags, priority and sharing via facebook, email or calendar. I appreciate the simple checkbox next to the title the most on this as well as the tagging possibilities. This one also is fairly bland in the color choices and imagery, but overall does everything it should- plus some.
Overall they are all easy to use and figure out. My favorite is reQall for the large variety of options, especially the speech-to-text memo recorder. I also enjoyed To Do's as a simple, but fully faceted productivity application. All of these are great for bucket list or everyday notes and grocery lists. Recently, Mashable, an online source for news related to social and digital media, reported on "5 Fresh and Free To-Do List Applications."
How do you keep up with your to-do or bucket list?
MTV has been airing a reality documentary series called The Buried Life, since the beginning of 2010. It focuses on four friends (Ben, Jonnie, Duncan and Dave) as they travel across the US to complete their own bucket list of “100 things to do before you die”, in no particular order. For every item they cross off their list, they help a stranger complete one of their dreams.
The four friends all have different personalities that blend cohesively to complete each item on the list. The show utilizes Facebook with a page full of viewer wall posts of what they wish to do before they die. Almost 1 million users "like" the show and choose to get updates from the show. Also through their Facebook you can see their bucket list and store with t-shirts printed with different items on the list. According to the list posted on Facebook they have completed 64 of the 100 items written. Now, here is a trailer for their TV show.
My name is Jennifer. I am a senior in college and I have a list. This list could be called many things, Adventures in Vida, Bucket List, or simply a To-Do list, but no matter which name you choose it's all the same concept. Do you have a list?
I began creating my list sometime during high school as a way to never forget what it is that I truly want to do. Here is a glimpse inside that list, in no particular order:
Travel to Australia and Egypt
Capture a fugitive
Attend the finals of a professional sport
Create a billboard ad
Spend more time volunteering
Compete in a marathon
Name a star
Learn to play chess
Find a job I enjoy and is financially sustaining
Regularly visit Disney World
All of my items give you a glimpse into my life and what I have interest in. If you do not have a list yet I suggest making one today. There are many websites to help you along the way, including this one for some fun templates, http://www.keepandshare.com/htm/free_to_do_list.php.
Enjoy making your list and let us know, what's number one on your list? We just might use it to do a story on with suggestions!
Dubai is a fascinating land. It is a one of the seven emirates of the UAE (United Arab Emirates). The captivating emirate of Dubai sits on the Arabian Peninsula, south of the Persian Gulf.
Of course, you must be wondering why I'd choose to discuss Dubai. Well to be completely honest, Dubai has just simply grown into a bit of a fascination for me. And, I'd really like to travel there some day.
I'm not exactly sure when my strong attraction to Dubai began. I think maybe it started a few years ago after hearing about it in the news for the first time. But in any case, Dubai is at or near the top of my list for future travel destinations. Why specifically? I'll tell you.
Dubai is an ever growing metropolis that has exploded from the deserts of the Middle East.
(Mid 1960's)
(Today)
The emirate has become a riveting place of art and culture. The architecture is particularly impressive!
Dubai currently has the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa (see below photo).
Here's some more images of Dubai and its architecture.
There's much more in terms of attractions I could talk about, but needless to say, the sites alone are quite magnificent. However, there's another side to Dubai that's just as interesting.
Dubai is quite the business center. Not only does Dubai have one of the world's busiest airports and is a major trade hub, but Dubai is also known for having a very friendly business atmosphere. Plenty of companies, such as Boeing, have facilities there.
I could go on and on, but when it comes down to it, I just really want to visit Dubai (maybe even live there). Among other things, it has the perfect mix of business and tourism which have made it an alluring destination.
To provide you all with a little bit more insight, here's 2 great videos about some of the happenings taking place in Dubai.
Also, I hope you enjoyed this post. Be sure to tell me what you think. - John
We are a group of 4 Webster Students, picked to create a blog about adventures in life that we want to pursue. Anything from learning Spanish to traveling the world! We'll be updating you throughout the Fall 2010 semester on various topics. Follow us on www.twitter.com/adventureinvida for the latest updates!
