Owl Magazine SPRING/SUMMER 2017

SPRING/SUMMER 2017

Facing the Mountains How to Embrace a Life of Adventure

Pedaling the Peaks p. 8 Traveling Through an Artist’s Perspective p. 20

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

Editor’s Note: EDITOR IN CHIEF Bre Mascetti

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Nick DeMent, Deanna DiBartolo, Sheila Mallay

WRITING STAFF

Chelsea Bradley, David Bogner, Eric Walther, Erin McEvoy, Julie Podczaski, Nick Rynes, Stephanie Perkins, Tracy Smith, Uchenna Ifeacho

PHOTOGRAPHY SPECIALIST Joshua Eller

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOGRAPHY

Gabrielle Larose, Jess Kavanaugh, Joe Shetz, John Davis, Stephanie Hallock, Nathan Milner

ART DIRECTOR John Parks

DESIGN SPECIALIST Brianna Breece

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Therese Gilmore, Precious Palmer

BUSINESS MANAGER/DISTRIBUTION Rachel Mitchell

Being from a small town and living in the same house my whole life, I can admit I am not much of a traveler. I do not possess the need to explore foreign lands, which is exacerbated by my fear of flying.

After reading the stories from passionate explorers, I am amazed.

These local people are out living the dream by traveling from hostel to hostel, meeting new people, learning new languages, and receiving stamp after stamp in their passport.

I do not own a passport, nor have I ever. But now I intend to.

In this issue of Owl Magazine, we explore other countries and bring you along for the ride.

If old European towns are up your alley, on page 5 read how one local found herself in Scotland enjoying the scenery.

Not all trips are to tropical beaches. On page 9, a couple voyages to Alaska where their snow-filled fun had them taking in sights by air, land, and sea.

Adventure can be found in your own backyard. On page 10, read about what Harford County has to offer.

Traveling around the world with nothing but the necessities may seem frightening.

We had some questions for a solo traveler who explored more than ten countries in one year (page 12).

Scientists discuss the cause of wanderlust on page 14.

Disney is more than the happiest place on earth. On page 16, read about a skateboarder’s fulfilling trip with Disney on Ice. Hiking and camping along a rocky mountain boulder prove to be riveting. On page 24, read about a challenging yet satisfying adventure in South America.

Whether you prefer hiking the trails or exploring the boardwalk down the street, adventure can be found around every corner.

Enjoy the journey!

CHIEF ADVISER Claudia Brown

CONTENT/TECHNICAL ADVISOR John Morin

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

CONTENTS

5

Destination Dublin Street

Experience Scotland through the eyes of a solo traveler.

16

Skating Through Life

Read about a student’s experience traveling with Disney on Ice.

30

Inside the Hobby of Railfanning Discover this pastime and the lasting memories it creates.

ALSO INSIDE:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

An Alaskan Adventure

9

Find out about an excursion taken on the Denver Glacier.

20

An Artist’s Perspective

Witness the world through a photographer’s lens.

32

Hope for the Children of Haiti Learn about the hardships that come with adopting from Haiti.

Time for Tea p. 4

Traveling Solo p. 12

Coming to America p. 6

Thirst for Adventure p. 14

Around the Globe with HCC p. 7

Facing the Mountains p. 24

Pedaling the Peaks p. 8

Beauty on the Go p. 34

Travel on a Budget p. 10

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Time for Tea

By Erin McEvoy | Photography by Eric Walther | Owl Staff

Tea by Two offers an authentic High Tea experience.

Hidden in the heart of Bel Air, guests explore cultural traditions from the other side of the globe at Tea by Two. The pristine white walls of the tearoom are decorated with a variety of teacups. The tearoom also offers a boutique-like gift shop that has a wide variety of goods.

“Presentation is key,” employee Vanessa DeBoard says. “If you ask any

Since opening their doors in 2001, owners Erin Bradley and Janet Meyers have done an excellent job at captivating the British experience.

Traditionally, high tea is served at 11a.m., but you are welcome to make reservations Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To enjoy the full experience, I suggest ordering the High Tea. This

between, each guest is sure to find a tea they love. My personal favorite is “French Toast,” a black tea with maple and brown sugar.

Next, you will be served a tower of goodies which starts off with my favorite snack, freshly made scones.

After adding some sweet cream spread, it is a treat so good that one could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

What makes Tea by Two different from the average restaurant? Employee Jordan Williams says, “We change our scone flavor and sandwiches about every week, so you’re sure to have a different, delicious, experience every time.”

The remaining items are a balance between sweet and salty options. This includes small bite size cucumber sandwiches or ham spread sandwiches, lemon cake, and other recipes that are rotated throughout the seasons.

No matter your age, the dining experience offered at Tea by Two is exciting and unique. It is easy to make any trip here into a fun tradition to be enjoyed with friends and family.

“With sixty different tea options, every person is given a wide variety to choose a unique flavor.” of our customers, we are confident they would say we nailed it.”

This tearoom experience makes you feel as if you are in downtown London rather than downtown Bel Air. With limited seating available, making a reservation is suggested when planning a visit.

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option charges $22.99 per person and includes unlimited tea, a soup or salad for each person, and a tower of sandwiches and sweets to share.

With sixty different tea options, every person is given a wide variety to choose a unique flavor. From black teas, green teas, and everything in

Tea by Two can be found on Main Street just moments away from downtown.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

VOICES

Destination Dublin Street Photography & Article by Stephanie Perkins | Owl Staff

My sights were set on the radiant locale of Playa del Carmen, Mexico while planning my last vacation. With my boyfriend by my side in such an exotic setting, I was bound to have a great time. Unfortunately, we ended our two-year relationship within weeks of us finalizing our resort reservations.

With my vacation time set in stone at work, I had to figure out where I would go. I knew I wanted to keep my potential trip international and that I would most likely be traveling alone.

My grandmother always prided herself on our Scottish heritage and I had not been to Europe since I was a teenager. After booking my flight to Edinburgh and informing others of my plan, I received mixed reactions.

Many of my friends and family were thrilled to hear that I was taking such an exciting trip. Once I mentioned I was traveling alone, their excitement turned to worry. The thought of a young woman traveling alone frightened them, regardless of how well I’ve traveled on my own over the last decade.

Although many of them sounded like they had seen Taken too many times, I tried my best to put them at ease. I was slightly anxious to be all-alone in a foreign place, but my excitement to be exploring new places outweighed that feeling immensely.

After arriving to Scotland, I made my way to the hotel. I definitely felt like an out-of-place American amidst the new city and looming jet lag. I wandered down beautiful, old streets unsure if I was even going in the right direction.

I turned a corner and found myself walking down this picturesque sloped street lined with charming townhouses with cobble stone roads. As I looked down Dublin Street with its

The colorful storefronts in Edinburgh are said to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

waterfront view, I knew I was destined to take this trip.

One of the best things about traveling alone was doing whatever I wanted at any given time. Every venture I made was my choice and

alone accounted for about two thirds of my pictures for my entire trip.

I found myself not taking nearly as many pictures after that day; I was so immersed in the exquisitely preserved architecture and rolling hills, I felt it

“I was slightly anxious to be all alone in a foreign place, but my excitement to be exploring new places outweighed that feeling immensely.” it was incredibly satisfying. Some of those choices, however, were costly.

I decided to book a tour for the day after I arrived. I ran to the meeting stop and made it just in time to watch the tour bus drive away. Not only did I have to pay for the tour I missed, but I had to pay to reschedule.

Despite the mishap, I was able to enjoy the panoramic views from Edinburgh Castle, priceless works of art in free galleries, and gorgeous, sprawling cemetery of St. Cuthbert’s. That day

was more important to soak up the experience instead of constantly snapping shots.

I firmly believe that the lesson in this new chapter I am embarking is to find the beauty in every situation.

I could have been upset that my trip didn’t go as planned, but I kept myself focused on the new opportunities those misfortunes had made instead.

I’m not sure where my next trip will be or who will join me, but I’ll be ready to go it alone again.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Coming to America

By Uchenna Ifeacho | Additional Reporting by Bre Mascetti | Photography by John Morin | Owl Staff

As we drove down the dirt roads in Nigeria, the potholes would rattle our rusted car. The streets were lined with broken down vehicles: scraps that were sent over from the United States. As a child, I could only dream of the fancy cars and shiny buildings waiting for me in America.

I boarded the airplane at eight years of age flooded with mixed emotions. I was distraught leaving my friends and extended family behind in Nigeria, but thrilled to start my new life.

My father moved to Maryland where he would work long hours in order to provide for our family. He would send us clothing and toys, but saved the majority of his earnings to fly our family to him years after he initially arrived.

Although we packed few suitcases, they were filled the American clothing my father had sent us. We knew America would be different, but we were prepared to adjust to the customs.

On the airplane, I received my first bite of American culture: pizza and movies.

With a 12-hour flight ahead of us, the airline played the movie Liar Liar, starring Jim Carrey. It was different watching an American film. The actors were Caucasian and spoke in perfect English. I was used to watching

Uchenna Ifeacho came from Nigeria to the United States when he was eight years old.

to our cuisine of rice, beans, and soup.

Later I would learn to appreciate good, fresh pizza.

When we arrived to the United States, my father picked us up from the airport in a new shiny minivan.

Unlike the cars in Nigeria, this car did not rattle, jerk, or break down on the road.

We drove through cities with tall buildings and bright lights. My dreams had come true.

from the vending machines. In grade school, kids were cruel.

I was different even though we had the same backpacks. I had a different accent and would stand to answer questions.

Later, the kids who would laugh at me would laugh with me. Growing up in the same neighborhood, we would bond on our walks home.

Having graduated from HCC’s Mass Communications program, I am now

“We drove through cities with tall buildings and bright lights. My dreams had come true.” films set in villages where the actors wore sandals and spoke with African accents.

My first taste of pizza was tainted from the plane. The crust resembled cardboard and I was not used to eating melted cheese. In Africa, we were used

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The first stop to our new home, Maryland, was a McDonald’s. I ate my first hamburger and drank my first fountain soda.

American food took some time to get used to. As I started school, I would sell my school lunch to buy snacks

attending Towson University with plans to graduate in the fall of 2017.

I appreciate the sacrifices my father and family endured to provide my brothers and me with a better life.

Now the tall buildings and bright lights are my home.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

COMMUNITY

Around the Globe with HCC

By Sheila Mallay | Owl Staff

HCC students gather in front of the Tower of London, located in England.

Imagine roaming through ancient Mayan cities or exploring dense rainforests instead of sitting at a desk.

Imagine diving through prestigious barrier reefs and feasting on delicious local cuisine.

An adventure like this waits in Belize, and can be achieved through the International Travel Program.

Susan Sullivan is a massage therapist who learned about HCC’s International Travel Program through one of her clients. During her trip, she stayed for two weeks in a group home in Belize.

She graduated from the nursing program that same summer, and said she enjoyed the entire experience.

The International Travel Program allows students to choose a semester and travel abroad for a credited class.

Students get the opportunity to travel to another country for about ten days and experience a different culture first-hand.

Dr. Stephanie Hallock, Professor and Coordinator of the International Travel Program, describes the program as a “life-changing experience.”

Julie Rothwell went to Greece and Italy in 2008. She is currently the Student Activities Coordinator, and urges students to get on board. She says, “You see things you’ve never seen before and learn about yourself,” about traveling abroad.

The program offers a nursing practicum in Belize, where nursing majors can travel for two weeks to practice nursing in an underdeveloped country.

Danner also states, “Students come back with their eyes opened and are very appreciative of what they have here.”

Before the trip, professors tell their students how to travel, pack, and what to expect. Students are given a preplanned itinerary and travel with a local tour director and translator, the instructor, and an HCC representative.

The students are always with a group, so they don’t have to worry about being by themselves.

In 2008, students did a service-learning project in Greece and Italy. At one point, they even shared a crowded basement at a church in Italy and taught Afghan refugees English and colored pictures with them.

Hallock mentioned that many of those refugees had never met an American, and that interaction with the students made them curious about Americans and wanting to travel to the U.S. themselves. She calls it the “global ripple effect.”

The fee to travel abroad is generally between $2800 and $3000, which includes airfare, lodging, transportation, and meals. Students can also use any forms of financial aid and loans they have to help pay for the trip.

“Students come back with their eyes opened and are very appreciative of what they have here.”

Students get the opportunity to travel to rural villages and see how different their healthcare and living systems are.

Professor Madelyn Danner started the nursing program in Belize. “It’s dirty and dusty and you can’t drink the water,” she says, “but it’s the awareness that that’s how a lot of people live in the world.”

HCC’s mission is to dedicate the college to “lifelong learning, global awareness, and social and cultural enrichment.”

The International Travel Program offers an unbelievable experience that is only a few steps away.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Pedaling the Peaks

An Experienced Cyclist Shares His Adventures

By Julie Podczaski | Owl Staff

Riding through the morning sun in the mountains of Colorado, a cyclist passes wild elk and coyotes. His only concern is, “Did I put out the camp fire?”

This was the reality that John Davis, a fitness instructor and cycling coach at HCC, faced while camping in Colorado for 28 days. Davis recalls waking up at sunrise every day during his trip.

Davis and his wife hiked, backpacked, cycled, and lived outdoors at a Kampgrounds of America site. Starting in Castle Rock, the couple moved on to Boulder, Estes Park, Ouray, the Four Corners, Mesa Verde and then Durango. “I bought a pair of cowboy boots in Durango,” laughs Davis.

While the destinations were planned, every day was different. “I’d wake up around 6 or 7 a.m., prepare food, and decide if I was going to go into town, hike, cycle, play in the wa-

HCC instructor John Davis, pictured second from the right, has been cycling for 37 years. and California. “I don’t think there’s a road I haven’t ridden on in Harford County,” he says.

If you’re looking for an adventure close to home, the Susquehanna State

So, what is it about cycling that drives Davis to just about every street in Harford County? It’s the freedom he feels being able to travel on the most self-sufficient invention ever created.

“I don’t think there’s a road I haven’t ridden on in Harford County.” ter, or hang out around the site,” Davis says. Some days were spent at 13,000 ft altitude.

“Being at a higher altitude makes physical activities harder for some people and then they get sick. Cycling for 16 miles up changing grades was okay, but the altitude is what makes it challenging,” Davis explains.

Davis has cycled for 37 years in places such as Illinois, Pennsylvania,

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Park is a great place to start. “You can hike, run, mountain bike, fish, cycle, or even bring your dog!“ “I wish there were more young people cycling,” says Davis. Most cyclists are between 40-70 years old in the Harford Velo Cycling Club. “There are a couple local bike shops in Bel Air like the Bike Doctor,” adds Davis. “All of the owners are really cool and helpful, if you’re looking to start riding.”

“It’s the risk involved when you’re peddling next to 100 cyclists hoping someone doesn’t make a wrong move,” Davis says, “and not everybody has that hook.”

“It’s like when you hear a good song, it drives that emotional component inside of you. Or you eat something good, you know?” he says.

“It’s a cool thing. It’s what I do.”

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

An Alaskan Adventure

VOICES

Article & Photography by Brianna Breece | Owl Staff

The huskies prepare to mush on the Denver Glacier.

When thinking of a romantic vacation, maybe an island getaway comes to mind. But for my fiancĂŠ Joe and I, we had another idea.

Joe and I had the opportunity of a lifetime in 2014. While on a Princess Cruise line through Alaska, we booked an excursion with Alaska Icefield Expeditions, Inc. For about $550 per person, we had the chance to go sledding upon the Denver Glacier.

We began with gearing up before the helicopter arrived: lacing our boots to walk on the slippery glacier floor and fastening our orange safety vests.

From the port of Skagway, a helicopter took us flying over the cerulean waterfalls, through the mountaintops, and then landed us on the Denver Glacier. Our excitement grew as we took in Alaska’s sights leading to our adventure.

We arrived to the camp by train and were given a tour by our guide Luther Buhr. He showed us where the workers and dogs lived. Each dog was

linked to a long leash and had a white doghouse to live in.

Most of the Alaskan Huskies were a light tan color, some were a dark chocolate brown, and others were gray.

One of the huskies had a beautiful tan coat and bright blue eyes.

Buhr explained life at the camp. To support themselves and the dogs, the guides receive supplies through helicopters. Other than leaving for personal hygiene once a week, the guides stay at the camp throughout the season for tours and taking care of the huskies.

As we were preparing to begin our dog sledding adventure, the guides broke us into groups of four. Joe and I were paired up with another couple.

We hopped onto the dog sled. I chose to start on the back where I would help guide the sled. The huskies were ready to go, rustling in their harnesses and eager to take off. A stake was the only thing keeping the energetic dogs from taking off too soon.

Buhr released the stake and the huskies bolted. As we started moving,

I felt a rush of adrenalin. Guiding the sled was a remarkable experience. We dashed through the snow, the sled bouncing up and down along the path.

We traveled in a circle around the wide glacier for about 45 minutes.

There was so much to take in at once: the cold wind on my face, the breathtaking views of the glacier, and the beautiful Alaskan Huskies driving the sled.

Our sled stopped to allow the dogs a snack and for passengers to stretch their legs. During the quick break, we were able to meet and bond with the dogs. While I was crouched over petting one of them, it managed to stick its paw in my mouth.

Taking in the breathtaking views of the Denver Glacier, bonding with these dogs, and feeling the cold Alaskan air while sledding was the experience of a lifetime.

Although costly, my dogsledding excursion was exhilarating. I recommend considering an Alaskan adventure for your next vacation.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

DIY

Travel on a Budget

By David Bogner | Additional Reporting by Chelsea Bradley & Stephanie Perkins | Photography by Josh Eller | Owl Staff

The waterfront town of Havre de Grace offers a memorable view.

If your bucket list resembles mine, “traveling” is near the top.

Transportation, lodging, and things to do are typically what you may consider or stress about when traveling.

However, with proper research, these can be made easy and affordable.

To beat normal travel expenses, ground transportation is a good way to reach any destination, however, driving your own car can be costly when adding up gas, tolls, and the general

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wear and tear on your vehicle. Fortunately, both Megabus and Boltbus offer fares starting as low as $1.

Paying for activities can add up while traveling on a budget. Sites like Groupon and LivingSocial offer ideas and deals on local activities.

Use sites like Booking.com or Trivago.com to find cheap yet secure hotels. There is affordable travel everywhere; all you have to do is look in the right places.

If you’re looking for more local places to explore, look no further than Catoctin Mountain Park, a breathtaking national park located in Thurmont, Maryland. If you like adventures and challenging mountain trails, or hiking to a magnificent waterfall, then Catoctin is the place for you.

Located in Western Maryland, hiking Cunningham Falls, swimming, or canoeing down the lake can be any nature lover’s fun-filled day.

Admission to the park is free, and it is open from dusk to dawn.

On the occasion you are craving a more inspirational atmosphere, the Smithsonian American Art Museum located in the District of Columbia, is the perfect place for you. With no cost to enter, the museum offers an extensive variety of paintings, sculptures, contemporary craft, and many other masterpieces.

If exploration and education of nature excites you, Harford Glen Environmental Education Center could be a good place to spend your time. Many trails of different difficulty levels allow guests to either hike rough terrain, or stroll and take in the view.

Harford Glen offers education about surrounding nature not only to schools, but to any individual who wants to learn about the surrounding nature.

Any jazz lover who simply can’t be satisfied by just one performance can attend Havre De Grace’s Mardi Gras parade annually during February.

Larger than life floats and jazz bands swamp the streets as hundreds of locals come to celebrate.

In recognition of the traditional French roots and Fat Tuesday, spectators can enjoy a variety of authentic creole and Cajun food at the fair.

“Traveling does not have to be stressful or expensive.”

You are encouraged to dress in crazy colors and feathers, enjoy all of the Cajun and creole foods, and listen to the jazz music from local Benny Russell. The buzz of New Orleans is sure to stick with you.

Traveling does not have to be stressful or expensive. With these cheap and easy tricks, you will find great transportation, lodging, and things to do.

LOCAL AND LOW-COST WASHINGTON, D.C.

Our nation’s capitol offers plenty to do for everyone. If you don’t feel like dealing with the hassle of city traffic, check the MARC train schedule to avoid the headache.

Things to Check Out: Lincoln Memorial Crumbs and Whiskers Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History

NEW YORK, NY

The city that never sleeps is always ready for new visitors.

The cheapest way is usually the Megabus; the earlier you book, the cheaper it tends to be.

Things to Check Out: Rockefeller Plaza Sugar Sweet Sunshine 9/11 Memorial

LANCASTER, PA

This quiet town still has plenty to offer only an hour drive away from Bel Air. Experience the Amish markets and more modern shopping outlets they have to offer.

Things to Check Out: Lancaster County Central Park Chameleon Club Bird-in-the-Hand Farmers Market

PHILADELPHIA, PA

A historic city that’s only an hour and a half away? Sounds like a plan.

It’s instinct to go for the cheesesteak, but don’t miss out on all of the other amazing restaurants that fill the City of Brotherly Love.

Things to Check Out: Franklin Institute Victor Café Philadelphia Zoo

ANNAPOLIS, MD

It’s only a short drive to Maryland’s capitol and a gorgeous waterfront.

Take a walking tour, go sailing, or even a helicopter ride.

Things to Check Out: Maryland State House Red Red Wine Bar Sandy Point State Park

Ferries provide inexpensive transportation to New York’s national landmarks.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

PROFILE

Traveling Solo Q&A With Gabrielle Larose

By Owl Magazine’s Editorial Staff

At 20 years of age, Gabrielle Larose journeyed to various countries.

Gabrielle Larose, a native of Harrow, London, took a 12 month trip where she visited 10 different countries. Now residing in Castlebar, County Mayo in Ireland, she continues to travel. We caught up with Gabrielle recently to discover more about her solo adventure around the world.

Why did you take your trip?

Where did you visit on your yearlong travel?

Before I left I didn’t put a lot of thought into why I wanted to travel, I only knew that I did. I had family that traveled when they were my age and they set the example for me.

Now that I will be leaving again soon, the things that I look forward to most are the new daily experiences, making new friends from all over the world, and having a unique type of freedom rarely found in any other way. I’ve been home for three months and I’m already getting itchy feet, traveling is addictive!

I started my trip in Canada, traveled down through the United States, and into South America. I spent four months in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Colombia. I then spent a few months working in New Zealand, met a friend in Germany, and took a bus through France until I got to my final destination in the Jersey Channel Islands.

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Where did you stay?

I spent a fair amount of time living and working on farms through the WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) website. They help locate families willing to let you live with them while providing labor as compensation. I also stayed in a wide variety of hostels through AIRBnB hosts and Couchsurfing.

How much did your trip cost and how was it funded?

I don’t have an exact number for how much it cost. It was a long time and there was incoming and outgoing funds so it was hard to keep track of. I had savings that my parents had started when I was a kid for university, a car, or something, I also worked for two years before I left, just shop work. I was still in school for most of it.

Even so, traveling was more expensive than I anticipated.

I was inexperienced as to finding the cheapest way of doing things, a lesson I think it’s fastest to learn the hard way. By the time I got to New Zealand, I was pretty much broke, but I found a job and worked for a few months to fund the rest of my travels home.

It’s definitely possible to do it on your own, but I am so grateful to my mum for being the selfless person she is. I couldn’t have traveled the way I did without her and I was lucky that I knew she was always there to help if I got stuck in a tight spot.

Did you feel safe while traveling alone?

Most people I met were generally welcoming and friendly.

If I was lost, I never felt unable to ask someone for help.

However, there is something daunting about being by yourself in a country that has a bad reputation, like Colombia.

I met fellow travelers there that had been mugged and there are always horror stories being passed around in hostels. It is important to use common sense and avoid deliberately putting yourself in danger. Whether I was just lucky, travel smart, or a combination of the two, I never had any trouble. For the most part if you avoid trouble, trouble will avoid you!

Since young women traveling alone may be more likely to be targeted, did that affect what you would wear?

My personal preference in clothing tends to be fairly practical especially while traveling. My normal clothes were hiking trousers, boots, and T-shirts; that tended to dissuade a lot of catcalling. I met a lot of fellow women travelers and most of them were dressed in practical clothing too. Backpacking doesn’t lend itself to the latest fashion trends!

For anyone who does prefer dressing in more fashionable or revealing clothes, it’s important to be respectful of the culture you’re choosing to be a part of. If a country is

typically very conservative it is a better idea to see what the locals are wearing and emulate that.

Were you ever concerned about encountering criminals or corrupt police?

South America particularly has a bad reputation for corrupt police and I almost regretted doing research on Colombia before going there; It was nearly enough to scare me off.

It was common to meet someone that knew of a friend being mugged. In one particular case, a man I knew from a hostel in Bogota was taken by the police and essentially ransomed off to his friends for his release. It didn’t stop me from going, but I was extra wary and took a few precautions.

I even bought a cheap wallet to keep small bills in for dayto-day use in case I was robbed.

Thankfully it didn’t end up being necessary and the only thing I had taken from me in the year was my phone- which I assume was pickpocketed.

Did you experience any discrimination because you are gay? What advice do you have for others?

I was surprised that I didn’t experience any overt homophobia while I was traveling through some countries.

For example, I was pleasantly surprised at the acceptance of a lot places in South America.

I took no steps to hide my sexuality and usually coming out isn’t considered a conversation starter with a stranger. If you do, that could be the time it goes wrong and ends with a hurtful comment or a hate crime. Being from the UK, one of the places I was more nervous about traveling to was actually the United States. It was recently placed on a list of countries that would be risky for LGBT people to visit.

There is not much advice I can give only that if you are traveling somewhere known to be unwelcoming to LGBT people, don’t take any unnecessary risks. Personal safety is more important that anything.

Are there any places that you would not visit again? Why or why not?

Through my many travels, I have not yet found a place that I didn’t want to visit again. Every country has nice spots and bad spots. The great thing about traveling is the freedom it gives you; if you dislike one place, you can just move on to the next. Some parts of New Zealand I didn’t particularly enjoy, but I moved on to places I did!

What advice would you have for anyone that would like to plan a trip like this?

My advice for people setting off is that while it’s useful to budget, after you’re finished you may want to crumple it up and throw it out of the window as it’s going to be nearly impossible to stick to. But there’s always ways make traveling a little easier and it pays to do your research before you leave.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

SCIENCE

Thirst for Adventure

Why Some People Live Life on the Edge

By Nick DeMent | Owl Staff

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Strength and determination invigorate a focused rock climber as he struggles to push his body and soul upwards inches at a time, slowly but surely overcoming gravity and nature itself. As he fights for every ounce of ascension he feels the wind on his skin, the static in the air, and the satisfaction of the victory he knows he will soon achieve.

While rock climbing is just one example of a plethora of activities sought out by those seeking new excitement in their lives, there are many who would be just as happy sitting on a couch watching Netflix.

The behavioral pattern commonly associated with thrill or “novelty” seeking is called “wanderlust,” or an innate and undeniable desire to experience new things and places. It varies from person to person in its intensity, from simple novelty seeking to a voracious hunger for new knowledge.

Scientists have been researching possible causes into what causes this insatiable itch that some people possess. The answer, some say, is in genetics.

Enter the DRD4 allele, which is the fourth of seven dopamine receptors along a genetic chain. Specifically, the Human Gene Database defines it as a “D4 subtype G-protein coupled receptor.” According to their research, the gene has been associated with “various behavioral phenotypes, including autonomic nervous system dysfunction, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and the personality trait of novelty seeking.”

But there is another side of this hypothesis. Human behavior is barely, if at all, influenced by genes and you could have the most receptive DRD4 of all time and not feel any sense of existential boredom.

According to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics; an English research council based in London that focuses on human behavior on a biological level, genes are merely blueprints for what we look like and that’s about it.

In their own words “genes determine which proteins are made. They do

not determine which behavioral or personality traits an individual possesses.”

The common conjecture thus far has been that while genes may play a subtle part in the workings of your desires, ultimately it is shaped by a combination of these genes and your environment.

In an interview with HCC Biology Professor Jaclyn Madden, this idea of a “correlation” between the two was clarified. In addition to agreeing that a correlation between genes and the environment were a likely cause, Madden states, “many of the traits in our bodies are ‘polygenic,’ meaning that we have multiple genes impacting certain traits for certain behaviors.”

There is more evidence that the DRD4 receptor has a concrete affect on the development of ADHD in children.

“Genes are linked to behaviors,” Madden says. “There have been studies

through study of the DRD4 strand. All this may seem muddled and mostly scientific hypothesis at this moment in time, but Shaw has found physical differences in the biochemistry of the brains of children who have the specific “risk” compared to those who didn’t.

Shaw states, “Interestingly we also found that if you have this variation of the gene, that you have quite a distinct pattern of cortical or brain development – the cortex, the gray outer mantle of the brain.”

When asked her personal opinion on the topic, Madden remains on the fence, “I think it’s possible, but its still too early and there are so many questions. There just isn’t enough evidence.”

So it definitely seems this little guy has an affect on certain minute processes in our brains, but it is not a determining factor in the end result

“The behavioral pattern commonly associated with thrill or ‘novelty’ seeking is called ‘wanderlust’ … ” that show there could be a genetic predisposition to ADHD.” The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines ADHD as a “persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivityimpulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.”

The DNA Learning Center has an ongoing study of the DRD4 allele and its relation to ADHD. Professor Phillip Shaw, a lead researcher at the facility stated that “if you have this 7-repeat variation of the gene, your risk for having ADHD is increased, and this has been found in many studies.”

That being said, their goal is to find ways to predict and help treat ADHD

of our mental development. When it comes to human behavior, nurture seems to win against its diametric cousin, nature.

As here I sit and mellow into a symbiotic relationship with my couch, there are others who are scaling titanic mountains, mapping ancient cave systems, and traversing the abyssal seas, challenging Poseidon himself and his big golden fork.

So for all my fellow couch wimps whose trips to amusement parks consist of fetching ice cream for their daredevil friends as they wait for them to dismount the terrifying metal snake that roars overhead, fear not, for you really aren’t any different from them.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

FEATURE

HCC student Eric Walther enjoys the freedom skateboarding allows.

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Skating Through Life Adventures on the Road with Disney on Ice

By Eric Walther | Photography by John Morin | Owl Staff

“Snow cones, get your snow cones here!” Proud parents and grandparents clamored for my attention before the shows and during intermissions.

A happy brood of excited children stretched off into the distance as each icy treat was passed down the row.

It was February, but warm air blew in through the open doors of the arena. The bleak and bitter winter weather of Maryland was two thousand miles away. Now I was working in a new city each week as a vendor with Disney on Ice. Five days a week we worked long hours to prepare and perform a successful show. It was a fierce schedule of setting up, selling, and tearing down. We were a diverse team of more than a hundred people from all over the world.

The days were long but mutual excitement carried us through even longer nights probing the city and laughing together back at the hotel rooms.

The licensed character mugs filled with flavored ice, the primary source of my income, practically sold themselves. For hours before each show we would ground ice for snow

cones, spin cotton candy, and set up tables full of souvenirs.

We were united by our toil and teamwork in our shared strange destination. I felt utilized, respected, and needed. It was like boot camp and we all succeeded or failed together. We were young, energetic, unattached, adventurous, and so free.

Skateboarding proved the ideal way for us to explore our new surroundings, simultaneously gawking like a visitor, but participating like a native.

We never looked at maps, we just rolled down the streets; pulled along by luck and gravity. We discovered

were below me, obscuring the ground.

My reflection in the window was still unfamiliar. New muscles were engaged in what I had come to think of as my traveling grin.

I never looked like that back in Maryland where I spent my days escaping reality, hiking in the woods and my nights downing vodka.

Something was missing, and the usual paths were not satisfying me, but I had no idea where to turn next.

Leaving home was as much an act of desperation as it was of adventure. I had literally run away from my problems; my depression

''We never looked at maps; we just hopped on our skateboards.'' huge parks, historical buildings, beaches, and local shops. Every Monday, we said goodbye and boarded a caravan of buses or a 747 to get to the next city.

Now here I was, thirty thousand feet up, doodling on a napkin. Clouds

and discomfort could not find me, I was moving too quickly and had energy again. The sporadic attempts at college, warehouse work, and playing in a punk rock band were resting peacefully, finally. ›

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My trip had many surprises. I went swimming in Texas in March. A few weeks later, we were surfing in California. It was the first time I’d ever seen the Pacific Ocean. The water was clean and blue and warm. The sun was shining on a new beautiful day, sometimes that’s all it takes.

In quiet Indiana we played arcade games at Chuck E. Cheese. When we bought groceries in our new towns, we pushed the cart down the streets, through the lobby, and right onto the hotel elevator. We got up early to for complimentary breakfasts at the hotels. In San Antonio, we ate so many burritos from the breakfast bar that I thought the concierge was going to kick us out. We almost got ticketed when we leaned our skateboards against the Alamo.

In Arizona, I slept on the balcony each night where I could see hundreds of miles into the distance across the flat landscape. I saw William Shatner in our hotel lobby in Hollywood. I was about to tell him how much I loved Star Trek when Marilyn Monroe joined him. Then I realized all these people were impersonators hired by the hotel.

I could breathe out here! I could afford a relaxed spontaneity, both financially and emotionally. I never felt out of place because there was no reason for me to feel in place, I was migratory.

I was a comfortable outsider and my coworkers were fellow strangers on this journey.

On the road, I found myself talking to my parents honestly for the first time, the distance between us somehow bringing us closer. I called old friends to tell them where I was and what I had seen. I was enthusiastic and talkative instead of distracted and indifferent. I could experience fondness and nostalgia for the hometown and people I felt so out of step with.

This was not a spontaneous cure to all my problems, but my travels rejuvenated me. Those months on the road revived my confidence and drive. I had performed a demanding job, saved money, and made great memories with new friends. I learned

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Eric Walther returned to HCC after more than a 20 year hiatus.

I was the same person no matter what part of the country I was in, but also that I was capable of more than I thought.

It took 15 more years of evolution and growth before I could begin to fully participate in life. I worked odd jobs, kept odder hours, and secluded myself in a treehouse. I hiked thousands of miles, fell down, grew up, learned to trust, and fell in love.

Finally, I can apply the perspective I have so carefully gained through time: friendship, conversation, and life

experiences. Getting away became a new foundation that helped me start over and trust my instincts.

Now I am attending school at Harford Community College. My relaxed outlook is a universe away from the anxious insecurity I felt the first time I was here, more than 20 years ago.

The world does have a place for me after all. I’ve discovered fertile ground to grow the potential that’s been a dormant seed in me all along.

Now being back home is the adventure.

Poems from on the Road...

Goodbye, Pittsburgh Here I go again even though I had a great time Breaded okra in my belly, peace in my mind Looking out a bus window, too black to see Everyone's asleep so my smile's just for me Write a letter to my father with the sun over my seat Outlook's so expanded in just under two weeks Clear off the cushions, use empty shoes for cup holders Time so smooth and fast I don't feel at all older It's all here for me now, I'm up out of the pit Now I can really be fine instead of just fake it Carried along by the tide on to Indiana or anywhere Sleeping comfortably upright without another care I never felt so at home as I did that third night so far from it Staring into the sky from the seventeenth floor at layered streets New friends playing games behind me, take 2 drinks for looking at her Here I was in the kitchen, cars below followed etch-a-sketch lines Why was I there, why was I so happy? A prediction had come true.

I had said one day I'd leave and start over and this was practice I've escaped every doubt I used to have, they're barred from Pittsburgh This time it's finally different, the corners of my mouth pulled higher I can't be stopped, I've been restarted, rolling like the roadboxes I loaded Building up speed, grabbing everything I need, feeling finally freed

The Freedom of Doubt The people I ignore the most are the ones with the answers Feeding on their congregations like rotten, malignant cancers No one can tell me anything about my life that's true I won't accept a category and end up a pawn like you Kill me on the day I say I've got it all figured out That would mean I'd given up and disregarded all my doubt I know I'll never know why I'm alone and why I'm here I won't believe in fantasy just to avoid my fear Humans make up gods and ideals to justify empty existence Then spread the word to a lost herd that never had a chance A few will always resist and start another clique of fools Rebels claiming independence enslaved by their own new rules When more than two people join forces something ugly often occurs Transformation into automatons with strict programming and no nerves -Eric Walther, June 2001

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

FEATURE

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

FEATURE

FACING THE MOUNTAINS

How to Embrace a Life of Adventure

By John Morin | Owl Staff

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Confessions of an Insomniac It’s 3 a.m. and the dogs are back.

My traveling companions, Nikolai and Nonki, sleep soundly beside me in the small tent we rented back in Huaraz three days ago. Since then, the tent has proved less than ideal. On our first night on the Santa Cruz trek, high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, the door’s zipper tore off. We managed to create a barrier against the elements, however, using our rain jackets and tape from our first aid kit.

Tonight sleep eludes me. A cold, steady rain is falling, saturating the ground below us. On the other side

of our make-shift “door,” a pack of dogs is prowling the campground, moving from tent to tent looking for scraps of food.

Are they wild? Did they come with somebody? I have no idea.

I switch my headlamp on and our tent glows red in the night. Nikolai and Nonki are still sleeping, blissfully unaware that I’ve been left to guard our tent.

Clutching a trekking pole as protection, I realize I’m thoroughly exhausted. The prospect of sleep offers two nightmarish alternatives, though.

First, the dogs could enter our tent and maul us all while we sleep. Second, altitude-induced sleep apnea has been haunting me for the past few nights and I would bolt upright every few hours, heart racing wildly and gasping for breath.

Instead, with closed eyes, I sit in silence and listen to the rain. This is all part of the adventure, I tell myself.

We’d already come so far, much farther than I ever expected. My breathing calms as I think back to where it all started. ›

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In the mountains of Peru, a curious donkey inspects the writer’s belongings.

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The Road Less Traveled The bus ride from Lima to Huaraz was long but peaceful. The landscape morphed from stunning sea views, to long stretches of dry, arid dessert scattered with villages and then, finally, the ascent upward into the mountains.

Huaraz is the capital of the Ancash Region and its rugged mountains views and treks in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range makes this place a hotspot for those adventuring in Peru. Upon arriving, I felt a change in the mood and atmosphere to what I had been used to in other parts of Peru and Colombia.

The air felt chill and thin. Its residents, a bit more reserved and cautious than other South Americans I’d met, walked briskly down city streets. Mountains, peaking out of the gray clouds, loomed over us, making one feel small and a bit isolated.

Once one ventured farther downtown, however, things livened up. Women in skirts, sweaters and top hats sold their colorful handmade wares near the markets. Hip cafes and restaurants, aimed towards an

increasing backpacker population, dotted the streets.

In one of the main plazas, a llama in sunglasses was strutting around with its owner, allowing photographs to be taken with him (at a price).

In preparation for our five day hike on the Santa Cruz trek, my friends and I opted to take a few day-walks in order to acclimatize properly.

Being so high above sea level, the oxygen levels were much lower which can in turn result in Altitude Sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Symptoms can range from mild to severe, with the most common signs being dizziness, shortness of breath and headaches.

Our first adventure brought us to Laguna Churup, a beautiful azure lake nestled among some rocky mountain boulders. Despite the seemingly easy walk, I felt the first pangs of altitude sickness during our bus ride back into the city.

By the time I got back to our hostel, I had a searing migraine; the worst I’ve ever had. It was so bad, in fact, that I

remained huddled in my bed for the remainder of the night, aching and nauseated.

At the hostel we met two American women, Laura and Jess, who also happened to be park rangers. We bonded quickly with them, appreciating their goofy charm and warm smiles.

Despite my negative experience with AMS after the first hike, I was undeterred. We began planning the Santa Cruz trek together with Laura and Jess and they offered some really valuable tips. They showed us how to fold items, how weight should be displaced in the pack, and other tricks for a lighter and easier trek.

One thing Nikolai would not do, however, was cut pack weight by leaving behind heavy food.

“Just because we’re roughing it in the mountains for a few days, doesn’t mean we can’t have decent meals,” he reasoned. The delicious meals we cooked on that trip— including pasta with bread and homemade garlic sauce—might have even saved my sanity.

Up to the Mountains Had I thought I was at a high elevation before, I was in for a surprise as the bus took us, high and higher, up to the start of the Santa Cruz trail. Even more fantastic is the daring, or perhaps nonchalance, with which Peruvian bus drivers will hug the tight curves rather dangerously, the plummeting landscape mere feet from your window.

At the trail head, we showed the park ranger our trail passes and then began our adventure.

The next five days we scrambled over loose scree trails, hopped over amazingly blue creeks, and tramped over sandy valley floors. And the weather could turn in a minute.

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First it’ll be torrential rain, with water dripping into your eyes and your nose and down the back of your neck.

Then you’ll be wrapping a scarf around your head and damning the blazing sun.

But the views made it all worth it.

There’s a creeping sense of humility one gains when dropped between the soaring peaks of a rugged mountain range. Every other breath is a gasp of awe (or, in my case, you still haven’t fully acclimatized and you’re just gasping for breath, period).

Your muscles ache, and your feet hurt, and your socks are still wet from the early morning rain, and yet...ev-

erything is okay. Better than okay. I felt for the first time in a long while that I had dropped some excess emotional weight that had dogged me for months.

Stripped of electronics and distractions and white noise, one gains a certain peace that life is good. Priorities reshuffle. Thinking becomes deeper and more focused.

So that morning, after the dogs prowled our camp and I struggled to find sleep, I opened up the tent to find a clear morning. The fog had passed and the sun shone brightly.

And there, right outside my door, was the most stunning mountain view I had ever come across.

Black jagged peaks disappeared into the cloud and fog, its sharp edges softened with patches of snow. This dropped down to a large glacier, spread with a gradation of grays. Each crevice and crack was cast in spectacular detail by the glaring sun. Below this, the landscape relaxed into rolling hills, scattered with white rocks and dark green vegetation.

I spent the remainder of that day sitting on a rock, facing the mountain.

There was something deep, spiritual and almost unknowable about the experience. I wanted to study every detail. I wanted to absorb that moment into my soul until it became a part of me.

I’m a firm believer that hardship and friction results in strength and

beauty. I also believe that when one escapes into nature that they will create more opportunities for healthy introspection and growth.

My adventure through South America was one such experience.

Sometimes facing the mountains in one’s life can be daunting, but once you’ve taken that first step, you’re already half way there.

After a grueling several day hike, the writer and his friends celebrate reaching the 4750 meter high Punta Union pass in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

BEYOND CAMPUS

A Trackside Life

Inside the Hobby of Railfanning Article & Photography by Nick Rynes | Owl Staff

The August sun rises over the Allegheny Mountains as a thin layer of fog blankets the valley below. It is an amazing sight as I overlook a massive freight train transporting everything from car parts to underwear.

From New York to Indianapolis, Baltimore and Jacksonville, I have been all around the United States for my hobby of railfanning.

Railfanning, in simple terms, is going out and watching trains go by, most of the time with a camera to take photos of them. This hobby has been around since the first railroad steam engine was created in 1830. The fascination of these giant machines captured the attention of people then, and lives on in the hearts of railfans today.

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Jim Kleeman of Perry Hall, Maryland says, “I was a model railroader in my late 20s, and then became interested in photography. Both of those eventually came together for me.�

I had no clue what railfanning was when I actually began going out to watch trains. My grandmother would take my brother and I down to the Amtrak station in Aberdeen, Maryland. The high-speed passenger trains would zoom by us, one after another. It was such a fascinating sight as a four-year-old. This was the root of my now obsession with trains.

Eventually, I picked up a little point-and-shoot camera and took it with me to the tracks. I was officially a

railfanner. Ever since then I have acquired professional equipment and taught myself how to use it, which has exponentially benefited me over the years.

When one gets hooked into railfanning, or as I like to say, obsessed, one starts to feel like traveling the country in search of new places and trains to take photos of. Many people have traveled across the entire United States of America, and some around the world, simply for trains. With these massive trips across the country, some great memories are made.

I recently traveled to the Folkston Funnel in Folkston, Georgia solely for railfanning. The people in the town fit the stereotypes of southern hospitality, and it is was great to visit. I also make numerous trips to Pennsylvania from Amish country to the Allegheny Mountains. Some of these places I would have never seen if I did not go there for the trains.

Another seasoned railfan is Brock Kerchner of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. In May of 2013, Kerchner traveled to the historic Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, Pennsylvania with his four-year-old daughter, Gabby.

Kerchner chose to take his daughter on this exclusive train ride with tracks built on one of the great railroading landmarks in the world. “It had been my first time to actually ride around Horseshoe Curve, and to share that experience with my daughter, who also loves trains, that was pretty special,” says Kerchner.

“The best part about this hobby is probably the friendships you start and grow,” says Kerchner. “My photography has grown leaps and bounds just because of what people in this hobby have taught me.”

Through the use of social media, like Facebook, you can make connections with railfans across the entire planet.

Europe and Asia are two major continents with a great number of railfans like myself. With each country you visit, including the United States of America, there’s always a nice variety of what can be seen.

Railfanning has grown a lot in the technology age with websites like railpictures.net and trainorders.com. These two websites provide amazing photography, as well as information on the best places to go see trains. Also, you can join a historical society to help preserve the railroads that are no longer in service. These societies are great ways to get started in the hobby, and are full of very knowledgeable people.

“When one gets hooked into railfanning … one starts to feel like traveling the country in search of new places.”

Taking photos of trains utilize basic principles of photography. By learning how to take photos of trains, I apply those same principles to taking photos of almost anything else including sports and nature. This has led to being published in national railroad magazines, as well as inside Union Station in Washington D.C. The opportunities are endless as you progress into the hobby.

No matter what happens in my life, nothing will be able to come as close to exciting as railfanning to me.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

BEYOND CAMPUS

Hope for the Children of Haiti Article & Photography by Tracy Smith | Owl Staff

Baby Gerilyn is carried away by her nanny after getting a bath.

Bon Repos, Haiti. As I climb out of the tattered jeep, little faces emerge from all directions and within moments I am greeted with hugs. It doesn’t matter that I am a stranger to these children.

A little boy wearing just a diaper and clothed in dirt stands before me with his arms raised, inviting me to pick him up. I reach down and pull his little frame into my arms. Others are grasping my hands and legs, smiling at me.

I have arrived at Ruuska Village.

Just outside of Port-au-Prince, amid the drab concrete and rubble remains from the 2010 earthquake, Ruuska Village serves as a safe haven for children and unwed mothers. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimates that there are approximately 430,000 orphans in Haiti.

According to Barbara Walker, the founder of Ruuska, mothers arrive at

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the gate with this one request: “I want you to give my baby life.”

And that is exactly what she does.

“I’m going to be adopted and live in Minnesota,” boasts 8-year-old Kevins, in perfect English.

Little James enjoys a bath in a bucket. Precious Gerilyn is carried away by her nanny to get dressed. Five year old Leissa helps to feed baby Marcus. Until their adoptive parents come to take them home, they are family to one another and I am the newest member.

My first trip to Haiti was to help with disaster relief after the earthquake, but this time I’m here to support my friend Nancy Esposito who is in the process of adopting a little boy.

“The hardest part about adopting is coming up with the money required and the uncertainties surrounding the process,” the 46-year-old adoptive mother admits.

Esposito took off a week from her teaching position and traveled from Maryland to visit her 2-year-old son, Bruce. When he was just two months old, his 12-year-old mother brought him to the village because she couldn’t care for him. Like the other children, Bruce now has opportunities beyond these walls.

Adopting from Haiti is no small task. There is a mountain of paperwork involved, including a home study, fingerprints, medical exams, psychological exams, and an I-600A to apply for adoption. Each document needs to be translated into French, then notarized, certified by Haiti and finally authenticated.

A trip to the Haitian Embassy is required to have your documents sealed. This becomes what is known as your dossier and it is then sent to Haiti for approval from IBESR (Department of Family and Children Services).

“It’s emotionally painful having to leave Bruce, but I am hopeful that the adoption will be approved and that I’ll be able to return and bring him home by Christmas,” Esposito shares through tears.

I witness their final embrace as she covers his face in kisses and hands him to his nanny.

Could there be a greater Christmas gift than his homecoming?

That was in 2014. Two years have now passed, and while many of the children of Ruuska Village have been adopted and are now living with their new families, Bruce is still not home.

The laws and procedures to adopt in Haiti have changed, affecting families that were midway through the process.

As a result, more paperwork has been required, resulting in greater expenses.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Northern Hemisphere according to the World Food Programme, a human-

itarian agency that is fighting hunger.

Statistics from WFP verify that two-thirds of Haitians live on less than $2.00 a day.

As a country that has still not fully recovered from the 2010 earthquake, Haiti suffered even more destruction when Hurricane Matthew struck on October 4, 2016. The storm left the country ravaged and more than four million children have been affected, as documented by UNICEF. While many families want to respond to the ever-growing needs of Haiti by adopting a child or sibling group, the cost often deters them. Most adoptions take between two and three years and the cost is close to $32,000.00. To reduce the expenses, many families create fundraisers, apply for grants, and some even take out a loan.

Nancy Esposito got married in December 2015, causing her family to grow from two to five. She and her husband Thom have three children together and now they await the addition of Bruce, who is currently 4-years-old.

“When I see Bruce, I imagine scooping him right up and kissing his cheeks and

giving him gifts,” she said. “But he doesn’t remember me so I’m not sure if he’ll run to us and warm up right away or not.”

It’s painful to be apart from her son for so long and the uncertainty can be discouraging.

One thing she does know is this: all of the delays and waiting will be worth it when they are finally united as a family.

Bruce was only 2 when he was living in the Ruuska Village in 2014.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 | OWL MAGAZINE

BEAUTY

Beauty on the Go

By Bre Mascetti | Photography by Josh Eller | Owl Staff

beauty and fashion and more about adapting my personal style to the country I am visiting.”

Preston Justice, an American, agrees: “The key to being stylish while traveling are the cheap night markets in many Asian countries or various cheap hipster store chains around the globe, such as Uniglo in Japan.”

Comfort and style can be hard to obtain, but Nguyen explains that she keeps the clothing “simple and normal” to her everyday wear. “Change [your outfits] up with different accessories like scarves and local fashion items that are picked up or exchanged along the way, be that from markets or hostel buddies.”

Christie Hurley from Baltimore shares, “My tip for females is to wear dresses because they don’t take up a lot of space and only one item of clothing to get dirty at a time.”

“Change [your outfits] up with different accessories like scarves and local fashion items ... from markets or hostel buddies.”

Traveling with just a backpack makes beauty all about adapting your personal style to where you are visiting.

Whether you are backpacking across a mountainous terrain or exploring the old cobble stone roads of Europe, for some of us, style is a must. We spoke with avid explorers willing to share their tried-and-true travel tips on how to stay stylish while on the go.

Being fashionable while exploring comes with challenges, but it is not impossible. The everyday commodities of your home, such as a washer and dryer, sometimes are not available. Nonki Skeef of London shares a solution: “If you’re traveling light for a long backpacking trip, pack clothes that you can hand wash easily and that are versatile.”

Skeef also adds, “Think of thinks you’re not going to get sick of seeing yourself in, otherwise you will drive yourself and your travel companions crazy!”

“With no more than a 12kg backpack,” Stephanie Van Nguyen of Australia explains, “staying stylish is less about

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“If I am camping I don’t bring any make up, just face wipes and lotion. If I am traveling around Europe, for example, I will bring my must-have make up items: foundation, concealer, and mascara” Hurley explains.

“For me,” Nguyen says, “keeping stylish is about staying true to who I am while I am traveling and expression my style in a fun, creative, and culturally appropriate way.”

“Mascara and one trusty stick of lipstick are an essential pack- not to wear everyday,” Nguyen adds, “ but mostly to brighten my tired face on those days where I feel like my face is scaring small children.”

Wearing appropriate shoes for the occasion will enable you to enjoy your trip. “If I know I am going to be hiking, I’ll bring hiking shoes,” Hurley explains. “I never bring heels because most of the time you never know what you’re getting into, so you want day to night shoes anyways.”

Whether hiking or strolling foreign streets, these travelers suggest wearing versatile shoes and dressing in comfortable, appropriate layers.

Nguyen adds her final advice, “Keep a smile on your face … it will compliment any outfit you wear.”

April 21 @ 7:30PM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE SPEAKER SERIES: Dangerous Encounters, featuring Brady Barr A frequent guest on The Tonight Show, Barr is nationally recognized for his work with reptiles.

The Rainbow Fish February 10 @ 7PM Amoss Center Voiceplay February 11 @ 7:30PM Amoss Center Sunday Afternoon Concert Series Presenting Corvus Ensemble February 26 @ 3PM Joppa Hall Assassins Phoenix Festival Theater March 3, 4, 10, 11 @ 7PM March 5 @ 2PM Chesapeake Theater New Shanghai Circus March 5 @ 3PM Amoss Center

An Evening of Jazz The Andrea Brachfeld Quartet March 10 @ 8PM Joppa Hall ERTH’s Dinosaur Zoo March 18 @ 1PM & 5PM Amoss Center Casus Belli: The United States Enter World War I April 6 @ 12:30PM Student Center, Room 243 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer HCC Actor’s Guild April 21, 22, 28, 29 @ 7:30PM April 23, 30 @ 3PM May 5, 6 @ 7:30PM May 7 @ 3PM Blackbox Theater

Visit LIVEatHarfordCC.com for complete event schedule.

National Geographic Live Speaker Series April 21 @ 7:30PM Chesapeake Theater Beauty and the Beast Harford Dance Theatre May 19 @ 7PM May 20, 21 @ 1PM Amoss Center Mr. Charlie HCC Actor’s Guild June 2, 3, 9, 10 @ 8PM June 4, 11 @ 3PM Black Box Theater Legally Blonde Phoenix Festival Theater June 16, 17, 23, 24 @ 7PM June 18, 25 @ 2PM Chesapeake Theater

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