Abroad Magazine

abroad Your guidebook to the world

Best Airports Around the World pg. 11

Myanmar Your next travel destination pg. 29

Behind the Scenes Of The Travel Industry Page 17

Traveling Teens Inside the epidemic of teen abroad programs pg. 23

4. Photo Spread 5. Letter from the editor 6. Contributors Meet the Crew!

8. 10 Tips for Packing A guide to the most efficient packing for your upincoming trip.

10. airports Abroad The Best Aiproprts to fly into around the world.

14 High Flying See the luxsury theses airlines can offer.

16. Econimic Aviation Get the best prices for you next flight.

10. airports Abroad The Best Aiproprts to fly into around the world.

20. top 10 places to visit around the World Ten placaes ypu should visit around the world for all travelers.

22. Teens Abroad A look student abroad programs around the world.

26. Starbucks Around the World How Starbucks made its way from a local community to a local coffee shop.

28. Myanamar An indroduction to the beautiful contry of Myanamar.

32. Get Set! Behind the sences of movies tours traveling the globe .

34. Bringing Social Justice Learn about Amanda Lengnick-hall 38. Photo Spread

S. Luren

Holger Heinze

Ricardo Adelaide Aloha Mahalo

4 Abroad Magazine Loggan Wigler

Logan Wiggler Paule Knete

Koh Samui

It is truly fitting that a magazine like Abroad, took its staff on such a journey. We all had an incredible experience creating this piece, and strove to share with all our readers the remarkable beauty of exploration, as well as the abundance of opportunities that the travel world has to offer. The road to making Abroad was a long and arduous one, with exhausting days of typing, Illustrator and Indesign struggles, and countless lunches spent formatting and reformatting every aspect of the magazine until we deemed it publication worthy. We strove to create not just a magazine but a work of art that would exemplify the unique and inspirational aspects of any journey. Our mission was to show everyone the countless options that travel offered, from student abroad programs and book or movie tours, to traversing the most beautiful places the world can offer. We tried to make traveling a little easier, with packing recommendations and tips on how to fly when on a budget, and wanted to make the roaming of this remarkable planet available to everyone, no matter their age, wealth, or other resources. From the sea shores of New Zealand to the glaciers of Greenland, from the skyscrapers of Dubai to the remote villages of Thailand, the world is a beautiful place that must be appreciated and explored. St. Augustine once said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.�

So go ahead, experience the whole story.

Macy Nelms

Your Editor-

Elisabeth Torres-Schulte

Abroad Magazine 5

Gracy Par

Caroline Medina

Freshman at LASA High School Gracy Duh Par loves to eat sushi and asian spring rolls. As an avid fan of Korean Drama and K-pop, Gracy loves to draw anime. Her daily routine comprises of a good amount of sleep, to eat and stay healthy.

Freshman at LASA High School Caroline Medina loves cats, The Beatles, skiing in Colorado (no black diamonds, though), and a cup of earl grey at the end of the day. She has an admiration for resting in bed under numerous blankets and long roadtrips through New Mexico.

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All Art Credit: Elisabeth Torres Schulte

Macy Nelms Freshman at LASA High School Macy Nelms loves to practice the aerial silks. Macy enjoys spending her free time hanging out with her friends. She loves traveling, and hopes to visit Greece and Indonesia.

Willa Scanlon Freshman at LASA High School Willa Scanlon loves to dive, play piano and guitar, and go on hikes with her family and dog. She travels often, and dreams of one day to hike all 58 national parks. Willa looks forward to going on her second big backpacking trip this upcoming summer.

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10 Tips for Packing

Find out how you can saved time and be efficient in your packing By: Duh Par

1.

Roll clothes ( to save space)

3.

Make sure electronics and fluids are accessible (airport security)

5.

Rolled up clothes pack neatly in luggage

put electronics and fluids in the front pocket so you can take them out easily

Wrap up fragile things wrap glass and other breakable objects in clothes or bubble wrap

7.

Abide by airport security guideline

9.

Make sure essential things are Accessible

check to see what you can bring on the flight before packing

Place essential thing on the front pocket of the luggage

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2.

Bring clean clothes Wash all clothes before you leave yo minimize laundry during trip

4.

Bring medications (Only if you take them)

6.

Snacks for the trip (you will be hungry)

8.

Make sure to store Jewelry safely

10.

Wear comfortable clothes

Make sure you have all the necessary medication.

Bring a favorite snacks like, potato chips

put your jewelry in a secure, safe place, like a purse.

dress for a long day of travel

sources - USA Today A Gannett company

Brief Reminder Before you start packing..

Research..

- Weather - Transportation - Packing Limit ..of your place

Keep In mind . .

- Length of staying - Baggies limit - Space for souvenirs

photo credit by: PanJoyCZ

Essential

(type of trip doesn’t matter, all the item listed below are needed) • • • • •

toothbrush toothpaste Shorts & long pants ( prepare for different weather) Sandal or Shoes (to be comfortable) Charge cell phone ( in case of emergency)

• • • • • • •

Hot/ Tropical weather

Hat Sunscreen Bug spray Sunglasses Umbrella ( can rain anytime) Water (prevent dehydration) Swim suit (if you have plan to swim)

Cold/Snowy Weather

• • • • • • •

Winter jacket Long socks boots snow pants ear muff mitten gloves Scarf

Abroad Magzine 9

ou have just completed your 10 hour flight, and now have a 12 hour layover. At this point you are exhausted from traveling. You just want to take a nap, perhaps a shower, so you find an information desk and ask about what type of services the airport have.

The worker tells you that they only have one service that offers a place for you to rest, and it is for airport lounge members only. These memberships can cost up to $400 a year, which is not practical for most people traveling. So you end up having to take a nap on the uncomfortable benches by your gate, hoping no one will steal any of your belongings while you are catching up on some much needed sleep.

When traveling overseas you may not know which airports will be best to fly into. “The best� means, they have practical and interesting amenities such as computers available for use or places where jet lagged travelers can rest. They may offer a variety of restaurants for all appetites such as a quick meal from a fast food restaurant or if you enjoy sit down dinners you can enjoy an expensive dinner at a high 10 Abroad Magazine

end restaurant. It is also very import while traveling that you can make your way through security quickly but not have to be worried about your safety either. Knowing which airports you want to fly into next is important, so that you have the best travel experience possible and get to your destination relaxed and ready to experience a new place.

Jill Fry a frequent flyer says,

when asked what the best airport she has flown it to is.

The airport really is huge, the third terminal being 18,440,000 sq. ft. The airport has sleeping pods as well as extremely nice lounges equipped with showers. They also offer prayer rooms segregated by sex, because of the very strict prayer schedule in Islam. Andrea Keene who visited the airport on vacation during the summer says,

Photo by: Patrik Nemes

Y

The Dubai UAE Airport

Photo by: Lip Jin Lee The departures area of the Singapore airport.

Another very highly rated airport is the Singapore airport, this airport was rated number one in the world in the Skytrax World Airport Awards.

The Singapore airport has unique amenities such as a swimming pool on the roof, a large slide for children, and a beautiful interior design. The security is fast and thorough which can make traveling a lot less stressful. The airport also has many great lower priced restaurants, which can be helpful when you are traveling. If you need to rest after a long flight the airport has a handy sleeping lounge, for only $6 you can get a shower food, and take a nap. Or if you want

to use the internet, they have a computer area for your convenience. If you are interested in nature the airport has a butterfly garden, where you can see many beautiful exotic butterflies. To get from one place to another the airport provides a tram that comes every four or so minutes, and takes you to your gate.

Flying into an airport that is confusing or doesn’t have the services that you need can be a nightmare. When you are traveling internationally it is always important to know which airports to avoid, so that you have the best travel experience possible. You never want to be stuck in a situation that

is inconvenient or uncomfortable. These airports may differ based on your personal traveling style, but overall travelers want to have a smooth experience at airports so they can get to their destination as soon as possible.

Ms. Keene was visiting Rome, and when she got to the airport there had been a fire.

This caused her to says, “FCORome’s major airport” The Fiumicino – Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, better known as the Fiumicino Airport. Has an abundance of features that you may consider outdated, this is mostly because of the fact that Rome

Abroad Magazine 11

Photo by: Elizabeth Buie The first floor of the Dubai UAE airport.

is such an old city filled with Italian culture that can be overwhelming, or chaotic. Most airports are truly an ample depiction of the place you are, so the Rome airport the same type of old feel that the city itself gives off.

Keene says,

... In addition, you had to check in at one terminal and then board at a different terminal, which can be pretty far away. Another thing I noticed throughout Europe is that they don’t have boarding groups like we do in the US. Everyone lines up in one big long line, which means you have to stand around longer and the boarding process is more chaotic and confusing.”

According to The Guide To Sleeping In Airports a travel website that conducts a survey every year, the Port Harcourt

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International Airport in Nigeria (PHC) was rated the worst in the word. “This has to be the most corrupt airport in the world. ‘Bring money’ as they say in PH. It’s a standing joke,” says a recent visitor of the airport. The airport does not provide many seats of working air conditioning for your comfort, and the customer service is rude and unhelpful.

Airports have roughly the same dynamic, people are in a hurry to get where they are going so they can reach their destination as soon as possible.

Photo by: Elizabeth Buie A gate in the Rome FCO airport.

People may be killing hours waiting for a flight, nerves are often frayed. But usually, there is something of the culture reflected in the airport, can is because the airport may be the only part of a place you get to see, until you board another flight.

Top Airports in The World 2014 1. Singapore Changi Airport 2. Incheon Intl Airport 3. Munich Airport 4. Hong Kong Intl Airport 5. Tokyo Intl Haneda Airport 6. Zurich Airport 7. Central Japan Intl Airport 8. London Heathrow Airport 9. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport 10. Beijing Capital Airport According to The World Airport Awards

Top Airports in The U.S 2014 1. Frankfurt Airport 2. Cincinnati Airport 3. Denver Intl Airport 4. San Francisco Intl Airport 5. Atlanta Airport 6. Seattle-Tacoma Airport 7. New York JFK Airport 8. Dallas/Fort Worth Airport 9. Minneapolis-St Paul Airport 10. Boston Logan Airport

Photo by: Thierry Caro

According to The World Airport Awards

A terminal at the Rome FCO airport.

Abroad Magazine 13

Elisabeth Torres-Schulte

7

walled in seating. In addition to high quality entertainment systems, First Class passengers are provided with Sony headphones, which cancel out close to 95% of noise. If that weren’t enough, you get to take home the loungewear and slippers given on board.

E. Russavia

two meter bed, enjoy champagne bread, and a steak or lobster entree. Other lighter meals are available upon request throughout the flight. Other amenities are pajamas, RIMOWA toiletry kits, and Fiji water.

F

Enjoy ANA Airways a five course meal and

A. Lupalo

9

Before Eva Air lying down on your

lying doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. In fact, these flights make air planes seem hotel worthy,

they just come with a

hefty price tag.

10

Qantas Airways

8

David Lytle

Garuda

Indonesia

An 82 inch bed is perfect for relaxation, and toiletry kits and pajamas are available. Your 23.5 inch screen has hundreds of programs and even internet access. A multi-course meal is offered, with foods from Indonesia, Japan, the Middle east and Europe.

Gerryaldy

Sources: Websites of Eva, ANA, Qantas, Garuda, Etihad, Turkish, Qatar, Cathay, Emirates and Singapore airlines

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6

Etihad

Airways

You can actually get an apartment in the skies. Complete with a private sitting room (the sofa turns into an 81 inch long bed) and dining area, as well as a 26” HD TV.There are multi course meals served, as well as some of the world’s finest wines.

E. Travelarz

Relax on an 83 inch bed after your eight course meal, complete with fine drinks from the open bar. A 17 inch touchscreen TV, a personal phone (texting is optional), and internet access are also available.

3

Qatar

Features a 90 inch fully

1

Singapore Airlines Featuring a double bed, enclosed by sliding doors

flat bed. The entertainment includes a 26 inch TV screen, multiple plugs for electronics, cell phone access and huge fold out tables. The menu features the best of arab cuisine, and was designed by two world renowned chefs. To top it off, passengers are provided with their own amenity kits and even designer sleeper suites by Giorgio Armani.

Blackwych

T Otter

and blinds, with a luxurious sitting and dining ensuite area. Singapore Airlines boasts having the most comfortable bed in the skies. The simplest meal plan is a five course meal, and features the works of world renowned chefs, whose skills are illustrated in foods from Singapore, Japan, India and the rest of Asia, or you can design a custom menu that will prepared and served especially for you. Passengers are greeted by their personal attendant and with a glass of Dom PĂŠrignon Vintage 2004 champagne. Travelers are, of course, provided with loungewear of the best of quality, as well as a toiletry bag that includes either French perfume cologne. Singapore Airlines also has the biggest screen in the skies. Their suites come with 27 inch LCD screen, and other entertainment includes texting, internet and charging ports.

5

Turkish Airlines

4

Cathay Pacific

your journey in a private suite, with wooden finishes and fine leather. Dine on multi-course meals from China, and relax in the luxury on board spa and lounge. A wide variety of sophisticated drinks are available...all on the house.

E. Russavia

T Otter

2

Emirates Embark on

Pyonk Omeyama

A wide variety of drinks, and a number of award winning entrees that are switched out periodically. Fully reclining seats, Aesop amenity bags, sleep suites and There are over 350 films and videos available, and fully hd touch screen TVs, leather seats and all cotton 500 thread travelers can even text count sheets await Cathay Pacific and email on their flight.

The seats recline into a 75 travelers. The multi-course meals inch bed, and travelers can are made to order, especially for the passenger. choose from a variety of complimentary toiletries

Abroad Magazine 15

ick es ra nt W G by Ph ot o

Travel agents are known to be costly, especially when one can do almost all their booking online, but, the agents themselves claim otherwise.

By Elisabeth Torres-Schulte

I

n just six years, airfares have risen by 17%, rising from an average domestic air fare of $343 in 2009, to $401 in 2015. According to Time magazine, travelers will spend $28.5 billion in extra airline fees...$5 billion more than in 2013. How can we combat the sky-high prices of aviation? What options for deals are even left?

The travel world has become so stressful and expensive, it seems like all the things going into a vacation make the vacation more hectic than relaxing. Nonetheless, this can be avoided.

Travel can still be economically reasonable, if one works with the every resource available. Travel agents help their clients get the best deals possible, and airlines offer special deals when one works directly with them. Contrary to what recently added fees might suggest, one does not actually have to sacrifice all customer service for a lower price.

You really can be treated decently without paying an arm and a leg.

16 Abroad Magazine

Says Jo Anita smith, a travel agent at Marchi Travel Services, located in Galveston, Texas. Travel agents can sort through a huge range of prices, guaranteeing one the best deals available, and can check for lower prices as the time of departure nears.

Travel agents can save you anywhere from$500 to $100 on air flights.

Simply having a vast knowledge of the travel world allows travel agents to be more efficient in their booking and find the lower prices the public may not know about. “[We] can wade through a lot of the overabundance of information and narrow down a perfect fit for all travelers,” Smith says. Travel agents provide an easy preparatory process for the traveler... they do it all for you.

Travel agents make the entire trip planning experience so much easier. “[E]ven though you can buy from the provider directly...we offer service the providers cannot, simply due to the

volume they handle,” Smith says.

They get to know their clients, including information such as what airlines the clients prefer, what the clients prefer to have in a trip and more. “A good travel agent will have a whole profile with all your information on record,” says Lu Ann Fichera, another agent at Marchi Travel Services . Travel agents work much more efficient than booking everything by oneself. First of all, they have access to more organized and systematic resources, such as the Global Distribution Network System, which can sort through every flight available, during a set time period and with specific sites of departure and arrival, in only eight seconds.

The system works with every airline in the world, except South West, which refuses to work with any other system other than Southwest.com. Despite all this, a travel agent always tries to save their customers money, so they will do the extra work necessary to get the best prices. In fact, Marchi Travel Services actually books the most flights with Southwest, as it has few additional fees, low fare prices, and no bag fees.

So this all seems great, but what can travel agents really guarantee you?

“We assure our clients we can meet or beat any legitimate offer,” Smith says. “Sometimes our clients think they can get it cheaper by shopping online, or going to the provider directly…but we assure them we guarantee the best legitimate [one].”

Photo by Jo Anita Smith

Dolphins leap outside of a cruise ship carrying Smith and Fichera’s Clients late evenings and around midweek as the best times to book flights. She also recommends booking early. “We book cruises and packages and tours

up to 2 years out,” she explains.

“That allows us to secure the best rate at the time and continually check for specials between the day it is

Photo by Jo Anita Smith

Online sites frequently use the “bait and switch” method, or when a site uses false advertising to seem more appealing to travelers. Smith claims

A trave poster in the Marchi office shows a resort the agents have sent travelers.

Abroad Magazine 17

Travel agents never compromise their clients safety, either. “Younger travelers, by definition, like more adventure and social experiences,” Smith continues. “But just like any traveler, they want to be sure their trip is of a good value and safe. We provide that assurance with every trip we plan and book!” Travel agents will work to get the most economic, safe and memorable trip possible, no matter their client’s age.

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Travel agents seem like a great way to go, but if you’re still not hooked, Dan Garton, an American Airlines manager, supports working directly with the airline. “The airlines love to have that contact, and as a result, they will sort of reach out to you periodically, and extend offers to you... maybe some unique prices,” Garton says.

These benefits could include getting more miles, or other offers with said airline’s partners. “..Because the airlines love to have that direct relationship with you, they will do everything they can to make it worth your while to book [through] them,” Garton finishes. Still, airlines probably won’t get you a lower fare than a travel agent. The airlines have agreed to give travel agents full content, meaning the airlines will not undercut the prices the travel agents have access to. On the other hand, airlines will offer promotional fares not usually publicly available and target a specific audience, such as young women. If one has established a relationship with the airline, they have a better chance at notification about these special offers.

When asked if airlines ever offered travel agents better flight prices than those posted on their websites, Garton swiftly disapproved.

...that would give the customer the exact opposite motivation, to book with [an agent] instead of the airline,” Garton states. “Its very rare, and really a mistake.” He is an avid proponent of direct interaction between airline and traveler.

Even if we can get an inexpensive flight, we still get to deal with decreasing amenities. We want our full

can of soda and our free checked bags. Despite these complaints, Garton claims these decreases in amenities actually allow for lower prices, and airlines are justified in cutting back. “It started when the airlines were struggling to survive, many of the airlines actually went bankrupt, and as they were struggling to prevent themselves from going bankrupt, they were doing everything they could to increase their revenue,” Garton begins.

The airlines turned to the marketing practice of unbundling, in which they began cutting back on amenities until the flight ticket would only pay for the bare bones minimum.

“You can really offer the lowest price that a person can ask for,” Garton continues. “The airlines started by providing all of [the conveniences] and then now allow you to buy back all those unique services that you really want. So if you buy the cheapest ticket, and then you show up and you want to check your bags and eat a meal on the plane, they’re gonna charge you more.”

Photo by Donna Mcmillun

booked and the day you leave town!” Travel agents can almost always get the best deal, and they know their clients well enough to know if a slightly cheaper fare will still offer the amenities the customer prefers.

Although they’re known for booking cruises and travel packages, travel agents plan any type of trip, tailoring it to each individual client, young or old.They make certain they know their clients’ requests and needs, tailoring each vacation to the client, and fits their price and time restrictions. “You don’t want to suggest a package with first class airfare and a 5 star hotel in Europe for a struggling college student.” Fichera says. “At the same time, for a couple celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary, you don’t [typically] want to suggest backpacking across Europe.”

These agents really have your best interest at heart- they require your satisfaction to get future business.“We can narrow down a perfect fit for all travelers, and young travelers are no different.” Smith adds.

Dan Garton discusses future plans to implement additional fees during an American Airlines meeting.

Garton assures. “They listen to it, they research it, they look at the flight the person was on, what sort of disruption occurred, if the customer was complaining about a ticket, they’ll look into what went wrong, so every one of those complaints will be responded to.”

American Airlines has about 400,000 customers a day, and they are not even the biggest airline. With all those people, there complaints will always occur. Often times, customer complaints are situational flukes, so airlines look for trends in disatisfaction. When a trend spikes, a team jumps on the issue.

Still, one will always have to deal with delayed flights. “No airline messes around with safety,” Garton says. “First of all, you’d lose all your customers, and secondly, the government would shut you down. All airlines will delay or cancel flights if they think the situation would be unsafe.”

Maybe “safety is our top priority” is more accurate than we think.

No matter how you decide to book your trips, the world of travel will

soon change. The future of flight isn’t looking great economically speaking, as oil prices continue to rise, but terrific changes will soon occur.

Garton notes the impact of technological advances on aviation, especially as the technology becomes truly pathetically old fashioned.

he laughs. “They call this GPS system next generation, which is hilarious, because the technology is like, two generations old now.” Technological advancements would greatly benefit a variety of aspects of flight, including efficiency and communication amongst airplane.

Garton also predicts the evolution of truly global airlines, meaning that an airline would not center itself in an individual country. An example of this would be American Airlines and

British Airways merging. This would slightly lower costs, and make the whole travel experience run much more smoothly. “Today, customers have to piece together itineraries, and it’s just a patchwork right now,” Garton says. “The customer doesn’t know the rules, if they’re going to get miles, if they get a free checked bag...with a global airline those questions would be answered and make travel a lot easier.” The future of travel is definitely one with turbulent winds, but flight will hopefully change for the better.

The world of flight, so bound for change...and yet still so difficult to navigate for the average traveler.

Whether you turn to a travel agent who, according to Smith, “bring[s] an enthusiasm to travel that an online site just cannot duplicate,” or heed the advice of Garton, the travel experience can be a priceless one.

Photo by Chet Snedan

He compares the situation to buying a cellular plan for one’s phone- if one buys the minimum amount of data possible and then goes over, the data company will charge the customer more. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but the airlines may have a point in their unbundling.

Even if the stripped down flights can be excused, the airlines continue to disappoint when customer complaints flow in. Garton assures you this doesn’t occur, they just take time to fix

Dan Garton poses with a model airplane at the American Airlines Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.

Abroad Magazine 19

Top 10 Places TO Visit A look into a few of the best places to visit around

4 The Dominican Republic’s white sand beaches have an abundance of high class resorts. These resorts are perfect if you enjoy having an all inclusive relaxing trip. While you are relaxing on the beach with a drink in hand you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the blue Caribbean water.

5

1

2 3 Peru has many choices for all types of travelers. In you are interested in history you can visit archaeological sites such as Machu Picchu one of the Seven Wonders of the World or Chavín de Huántar a large site built in 1400 B.C.

According to Lonely Planet

Argentina the 8th largest country in the world located in South America has beautiful mountains perfect for skiing in the winter of during the summer you can explore Buenos Aires and try some delicious empanadas and try Argentina’s famous tea.

20 Abroad Magazine

Despite its name Greenland is covered in 80% ice. If you have ever considered visiting the arctic this is a great place to start. With the lowest population density in the world, this isolated country is a great place to adventure away from the worries of the chaotic world.

According to Lonely Planet

The Swiss Alps are a great place to visit during the winter for a variety of snow sports such as skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing etc.

If you do not enjoy the cold then visit Switzerland during the summer then visit the city and try some delicious Swiss cheese.

Around The World By: Macy Nelms

the globe

7

While in New Zealand you can enjoy a variety of outdoor sports such as kayaking, bungee jumping, jet boating, white-water rafting, hiking and skiing. Or if you are more interested in the movie scene you can visit the locations of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

8 9

6 10

You can visit South Africa’s beautiful clear water at the Muizenberg beach. This iconic beach with its colorful beach houses is a great place seeing all of the exotic fish and ocean life.

When visiting the United Arab Emirates the main city to visit is the city of Dubai. In Dubai you can view the modern architecture from above on a hot air balloon ride, or visit the cities mall with around 1200 stores.

According to Lonely Planet

Indonesia has an abundance of lush rainforests filled with many different types of animals. While in Indonesia you could enjoy a tour of a volcano or go scuba diving in the Bali Reef.

In Thailand you can visit the many temples that have been there for thousands of years. If you are more interested in the beach you can visit one of Thailand’s beautiful beaches, and relax while enjoying the vibrant scenery.

Abroad Magazine 21

The great wall of China in Beijing, China

Teens Abroad

Photo by Brian Snelson

An inside look on the new epedemic of young adult travel abroad programs

By Willa Scanlon Thai elephant

23 Abroad Magazine

Photo by Remi Rossi

eenagehood is a time of independence. It’s a time to come into your own as an individual, and discover who you are. It’s a time to expand your horizons and gain perspective. For boths teens and parents this newly discovered drive for independence can be hard to manage. Teens lifestyles are in many ways restricted and it is difficult for them to find a way to become themselves.

Many teenagers across the globe have found the perfect solution; travel abroad programs. These programs give teens a chance to be away from their family, explore new places, challenge themselves, and discover who they are.

“We’re going to take students into very unfamiliar settings that will be challenging for them but that will help build character and leadership skills, help them overcome mental and physical challenges, and just become more aware of how much they can achieve that they maybe thought they couldn’t do,” says Sue Fitzgerald, admissions advisor for Outward Bound, and adventure based travel abroad program.

Through research, interviews and studies both teens and professionals have all came to the same conclusion; travel abroad programs are a significantly beneficial and life changing experience for young adults.

“Studying abroad has definitely made me a more adaptable person. I’m starting to get used to doing things here that I would never do at home such as taking a public bus to school, learning at an indoor campus, or drinking milk for breakfast.”

These are the results of the caligraphy classes students in Lewis’ first program took!

Janae Lewis, 17, is currently studying abroad in China for the second time. She first studied in China the summer of 2014, in Shanghai, and then returned to China this fall to spend the 2015-2016 school year in Beijing

This year, Lewis is studying with School Year Abroad, one of the oldest and most acclaimed study abroad programs. She takes prestigious chinese classes, as well as English, Pre-Calculus, AP Environmental Science, and Chinese History, while also being fully immersed in Chinese culture.

Having previously lived in Arizona her whole life, the move to China was a large change, both the first and second time. “Studying abroad has definitely made me a more adaptable person,” she says.

“I’m starting to get used to doing things here that I would never do at home such as taking a public bus to school, learning at an indoor campus, or drinking milk for breakfast.”

““It was the most eye-opening, amazing, and incredible experience I’ve ever been apart of.”

This is a common trend in teens that have traveled abroad. Travel abroad students often show a growth in flexibility, perspective, and insight. “When traveling abroad, your worldview shifts,” says Emily Hanson, Digital Response Lead for People to People Abroad Program. “Your mind is opened to new ideas and you gain a deeper understanding of how to relate to others.”

Claire Krause, 15, left her home of Bozeman, Montana to travel abroad to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand this past summer. She spent two weeks at the sanctuary, learning about and

24 Aborad Magazine

Photo by Finlay Scanlon

T

A lot of programs, like the ones attended by both Krause and Lewis, allow teens to stay in complete contact with their parents and families throughout their trips, which helped decrease feelings of missing home.

On the flip side, some programs, such as Outward Bound, have no tolerance for electronics.

“Our courses are done with a student having to disconnect electronically, so they don’t have cell phones, or computers or anything with them,” Fitzpatrick says. “I think that can be something students don’t want to do, and yet once they do it they always come back to us and say we just realized how much we lacked the interpersonal skills we gained on this course.”

Often times the teenage years can be a rocky and hard transition. Teens are unsure of their role in the world and often experience feelings of worthlessness or low self esteem. Interestingly, travel abroad programs can be an effective cure for

Photo by Steve Evans

working with elephants. Unlike Lewis, she had traveled abroad before, but never without her parents.

Participating in a travel abroad program was a Christmas present from her parents, and Claire decided to travel with Global Leadership Adventures to Thailand because of her interest in wildlife and environmental conservation.

Participating in a travel abroad program was a Christmas present from her parents, and Claire decided to travel with Global Leadership Adventures to Thailand because of her interest in wildlife and environmental conservation.

“It was the most eye-opening, amazing, and incredible experience I’ve ever been apart of,” says Krause.

Krause’s program allowed her to fully be a part of the Thai culture and to grow bonds with the elephants she worked with. “We got to be immersed in the thai culture,” she says, “I am never going to forget what I’ve learned there.”

This is an example of the kind of elephants Krause worked with.

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“The experiences that come with studying abroad can prepare any teen for college and adulthood. With the increase of high school study abroad programs, why wait?” for those emotions. “You have a huge increase in psychosocial development,” Fitzpatrick says. “You have a decrease in depression, which often times kicks in for students at that age.”

Traveling abroad can also increase motivation and spark new interests in teens. Lewis, for example, had never participated in a competitive sport back in Arizona, but in China has developed a new interest; wushu, a chinese martial art. “I had never taken martial arts of any kind,” Lewis says. “But this year, I decided to sign up for for a class in Wushu. It’s been quite fun so far!”

Although it is more common to travel abroad as a college student, traveling abroad as a teen can be more effective in the long run. “I think that the teenage years are the best time to start,” Lewis says. “The experiences that come with studying abroad can prepare any teen for college and adulthood. With the increase of high school study abroad programs, why wait?”

As said by Lewis, there are hundreds of travel abroad opportunities, of varied subjects and experiences. With the number of programs, almost any teen is an ideal candidate for traveling abroad. “There’s a lot of different program types,” Krause says, “you can be working with children, or you can be building things, or working with animals. There are so many options.”

As said by Lewis, there are hundreds of travel abroad opportunities, of varied subjects and experiences. With the number of programs, almost any teen is an ideal candidate for traveling abroad. “There’s a lot of different program types,” Krause says, “you can be working with

Lewis walks through one of the many beautiful temples in Shanghai, China.

Lewis stand inside her favorite noodle house in Shanghai, China.

Photo courtesy of Claire Krause

Photo by Finlay Scanlon

Children, or you can be building things, or working with animals. There are so many options.”

Travel abroad programs, no matter the type, push the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of a teens life to a whole new level of maturity. “While it requires a lot of hard work, it is extremely rewarding and will remain with your for the rest of your life,” Lewis says.

The benefits of traveling abroad are endless. One person who gets to see the results first hand is Kary Sommers, Associate Director of the National Outdoor Leadership School, or NOLS. Through her work, she sees students have personal growth in confidence and self reliance. “It’s educational, inspiring, and humbling,” Sommers says.

Traveling abroad helps teens grow into individual, well rounded, and independent young adults, changing their life for the better.

As perfectly summarized by Lewis, “Traveling abroad is rewarding and unforgettable experience.”

Photo by Finlay Scanlon

“Traveling abroad is a rewarding and unforgettable experience.”

Krause bathes an elephant in a Thai river.

Photo courtesy of Claire Krause

Krause holds the trunk of one of the elephants she worked with.

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STARBUCKS R O L D W E H T D N U O R A

Thompson creates his new recipes with a few years in mind.“I create new beverage platforms for Starbucks for their longer term pipeline, usually 3-5 years in the future. This gives our customers new experiences and differentiating reasons to visit Starbucks rather than another place.�

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Photo Credit: Christine Wang @Flickr

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. Finding the perfect recipe for years to come

The Starbucks Affogato Drink

The origin of the affogato drink is the classic Italian dessert.

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.

. Going to the right place Thompson emphasizes how important the place is to finding the best recipe.

He says, “I travel everywhere on the globe to get my inspiration and to connect with people and companies that can help us achieve our goals. This year I’ve traveled to San Diego, CA, Chicago, IL, London, England, Birmingham, England, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Frankfurt, Germany, Lyon, France and Strasbourg, France. “ The best places to find inspiration, he says, “I find that Italy, France and England provide me with the richest areas to explore for flavors, traditions and ingredients.”

3

. Something that draws the eye

Anything that catches the eye of Thompson is sure to catch the eye of a customer in the starbucks cafe. He says, “The things that catch my eye are traditional drinks or meals that either have stayed the test of time or have slightly new twists to them that make them more relevant today. I love when I see something that honors old traditions but might include a new technique or ingredient.”

Thompson says that he prefers familyowned restaurants over chains for their authentic atmosphere. He says, “I like family owned establishments. These folks take a great deal of pride in the food and usually are using family recipes. If a menu has Maria’s las soon it, I’ll definitely order it because Maria was proud enough to put her name on it.”

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. A personal process

Thompson says he sticks to his own way of bringing new recipes to Starbucks. “I try to take the food/beverage experience that I’ve seen or tasted and while keeping it as true to the origins as possible, slightly change it to fit the Starbucks brand and experience. Sometimes that’s harder than other times,” Thompson says.”

. Personality of the food itself

Thompson says that when he was working for Sonic, he created a milkshake while keeping his mother in mind. “I think the recipe that I’ve enjoyed the most was when I worked with Sonic Drive In. We developed a Banana Pudding Blast (milkshake). We used real fruit (bananas), a delicious pudding flavored sauce I developed and real Nilla wafers crumbled on top. We kept the flavors true and it was important to me to use Nilla wafers because that is the only brand my mother used. It was a huge hit with Sonic and they brought it back three Summers in a row.”

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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5

. A certain atmosphere

Starbucks Siren

The famous Starbucks Coffee logo.

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Photo credit by Sheldon Smith

I

f you are looking for a peaceful, exciting, and enriching travel experience, Myanmar is the place to go. After flying under the radar for years, Myanmar is finally stepping out into the spotlight as one of the world’s most beautiful and inspiring locations.

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Photo credit by Alex Schwab

Another visit-worthy city in myanmar is Yangon.

Yangon is the capital of Myanmar, with a population of over five million, and high tourism rates in the country.

Yangon is known for its exceptional architecture.

One of the most impressive is the Shwedagon Paya, a golden buddhist temple in the center of the city. Citizens reside in study houses, built around strong wood posts placed underground.

Photo credit by Thomas Schoch

Myanmar, often called Burma, is a country is located in Southern Asia. Previously known for being the world’s largest rice exporter, Myanmar is now becoming famous for it’s beautiful ruins, lush agriculture, vast landscape, and rich culture.

Myanmar’s culture is diverse, and unique to the country. There are 135 religious groups, each one speaking a different language.

Bagan is one of the many beautiful cities in Myanmar. Only slightly smaller than Austin, Bagan is filled with mystery and ruin. Many Burmese stories originate from Bagan, the most famous being the love story of Princess Ma Ne Sandar and the kingdom guard Zhan Cit Tar, whose love was broken due to their differences in wealth.

Bagan is often called “The Ruined Empire” because of the thousand buddhist temples built centuries ago that are still standing.

Bagan’s weather is warm, never dropping below 90 degrees. Despite the boiling temperatures, Burmese citizens hardly ever wear sunscreen.

Instead, they wear Ta Nat Khar, a lotion made of wood used to cool the skin and block harmful UV rays. Although taxis and cars are rare in Bagan, the primary forms of transportation is the sidecar, a large tricycle with three seats.The sidecar is the most common form of transportation, and can be seen throughout Myanmar.

Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon Many peoples visiting Shwedagon Pagoda to worship Buddhist temple during noon.

Yangon also displays a wonderful array of colonial- era buildings, awash with color that reflects the religious diversity.

The Bogyoke Aung San Market is another huge attraction in Yangon. it is the largest market in the country with over 2000 shops. The market is named after General Bogyoke Aung San, often referred to as the father of the country.

Yangon is the burmese equivalent to Hollywood.

Many of the famous Burmese singers and actors live in Yangon, and the whole city is filled with life, energy, and creativity.

Bagan, Myanmar Locals riding caravan of cattle to go around the area in Bagan City.

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Almost all of the traditional food in Myanmar is made of glutinous rice. One famous traditional food from Myanmar is called Htamane (sticky rice pudding). It is made of rice with sesame seeds, peanuts and shredded ginger. Other popular snack all through out Myanmr is La Phat Tote (Tea Leaf Salad). Peopel from Burma usually enjoy this salad while drinking tea or coffee. Sometimes people serve this salad when they have important guest or vistor, showing thier warm welcome toward the guest.

And TaNyat (Burmese Candy) is also popular welcoming guests. Most common serve when thee guest is old man or women. It just an another tradition way of welcoming guest.The Ayeyarwaddy river one of the longest river in Asia, both beginning and starting in Myanmar. “The river is one of the pride for Burmese people and their country,� says Tun Tan, a man who visited Myanmar back in 2009. The Gatat river also passes through Myanmar, and is utilized to transport good to other countries.

Myanmar also has many impressive mountain ranges. The largest is in East Myanmar, where the mountains can reach to three thousand feet high.

Myanmar is habitat to many diverse animals.

Primates are known to thrive there, as well as fish. Fishing is a large industry in Myanmar because of the huge assortment and great quality of fish in Myanmar rivers.

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Photo credit by Myanamar

Traditional Textile Fabric Different kind of women wear were show out front at the Fashion store in Myanmar.

Photo credit by Waguang

Almost all of the traditional food in Myanmar is made of glutinous rice. One famous traditional food from Myanmar is called Htamane (sticky rice pudding). It is made of rice with sesame seeds, peanuts and shredded ginger. Other popular snack all through out Myanmr is La Phat Tote (Tea Leaf Salad).

Burma tea leaf salad Combination of bean salad serve in one local house.

In addition, Myanmar is rich with natural resources such as wood, metals, and bamboo.

Myanmar has lots of oil as well, which is very beneficial for its trades with India, China, and Thailand.

Myanmar has five main kinds of agriculture.

First one is called Talc agriculture, primarily used for rice farming.

The second type is called dry agriculture which is the kind of farming practiced in the US.

The third type is called stench and burn.

In this form of agriculture, people cut down and burn a forest and use the soil and land to grow crops.

After the crops have been harvested, that land is no longer valuable and the farmers must find another forest to burn and cut. It is called resonation burn, or “Taung Yar” in burmese.

““Lots of people rely on this agriculture,” said Tan.

The fourth type is alluvial soil farming, or “Kine Jone”. This is where farmers plant their crops in river beds. It can only be used from October through May, because by the end of May the river and river bed are filled with dirt.

The last type is called Soaping Island or “Jone Myaw”. It is where farmers grow vegetables in the water.

Myanmar is the ideal location for any traveler. It’s history, agriculture, and culture are richer than any other country in the world. As said by Tan, “Burma is the best place to visit.”

Photo credit by Rochard

Rice Plantation Burmese women planting rice crop in the mud during the plantation season.

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Dive deep into the world of vampires and werewolves on the mystical Twilight tour in Forks, Washington. Tours are available all year, and include pictures taken by the staff of you with cardboard cutouts of Bella and Edward! Enjoy exclusive access to various locations and sets around Forks, including (but not limited to) Rialto Beach, La Push, and the forest. Bring your rain coats though, because this realistic and memorable tour could get rainy!

You’ve dreamed about going to Hogwarts since you were a kid; drinking frothy butterbeer, wearing house sweaters, and riding around on a nimbus 2000. Now, your fantasies can come true in the Harry Potter castle tour in London, England.

Stroll through the cavernous halls of Hogwarts School with the informative audio tour, and look at real costumes used in the film. Make sure to stop by the cafeteria to get a mug of butterbeer!

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The hills are alive with the sound of adventure! Tour by bus the beautiful landscape, houses, and sets used in The Sound of Music. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guides take you from site to site, each one more interesting and exciting than the last. Hear stories about the filming of the movie, and learn littleknown facts about the Von Trapp family, all while enjoying the incredible views of Salzburg, Austria.

When it’s time to channel your inner Bilbo Baggins, get out of your comfort zone and have an adventure of a lifetime - New Zealand’s Lord of the Rings tours are for you. Trip options range from one to 10 days, traveling by backpack or bus.

Follow the path taken by the much loved dwarves and see the locations of some of your favorite fight scenes! All the while, enjoy the New Zealand hillsides, food, and sunny weather.

Sources: Warner Brothers Studio Tour, Team Forks Twilight Tour, Austria Sound of Music Tour, Inside Lord of the Rings Tour

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Photo credit: Wikipedia

A skyline of Nairobi

The skyline of the city bursts with color.

Photo Credit: Shack Dwellers International @ Flickr

Nairobi, Kenya A woman carries water through a slum in Nairobi.

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wo people at their neighborhood gas station. If the first person asks their friend if they believe the gasoline they have bought for their car comes from fair trade, one would say their friend couldn’t know for sure, and who cares? Why does it matter to have reciprocity in the transaction?

Well, it matters a great deal of course, since buying ethically sourced products makes sure the right amount of profit makes its way to those in developing countries, and using ethical principles everywhere lets people feel like they can sustain their morals. We need peace-keeping people in world to maintain balance and harmony with an equal consideration of interests, because the world needs to have order with chaos at bay.

So, a person who does care how their gasoline is acquired also cares about social issues. These are people like Amanda Lengnick-Hall, a teacher and lover of travel, who does her part by going abroad to help in countries like Kenya or Ecuador. She has worked through social issues and much of what she does contributes to many great causes. “I have traveled with a few groups. The first one was Minnesota Studies in International Development and that was when I lived in Kenya for a year. I have traveled with Global Exchange serving on delegations working on various social justice issues: indigenous rights in Ecuador, ecotourism and indigenous rights in Costa Rica, environmental sustainability and education in Cuba, and the rights of nature and farm workers in India,� she says.

Lengnick-Hall sounds like a widely traveled person in terms of experience. She has braved visiting foreign countries speaking languages not including English, and

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even has had fun learning different customs. She says, “In terms of customs, I have always felt that it is pretty important to know at least basic things like greetings and what could be considered offensive so as to be a good traveler, but learning new customs is a lot of the fun part of traveling, too,” To come across as a nice person in a foreign country isn’t hard to do. Basically, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. She explains, “I have found in my experiences that if you are open and genuine, people are excited to share, and even if you think you sound silly trying to speak the language or you don’t quite get something right, there is an appreciation for you trying.”

there was always a moment of panic when I thought, ‘Why did I do this?!’, ‘What am I doing?’, but being uncomfortable means you are learning and growing.”

As a global citizen, Lengnick-Hall does her part by working abroad to help overcome problems in other societies. For example, in the time she traveled to Kenya to assist in fisheries and interact with the society, she got to volunteer for the community and ultimately gain an important appreciation for working abroad to help others.

She says, “I studied half of my time in Nairobi, then worked with a Fisheries Biology organization in Kisumu

This is good to know about when going abroad to help out in environmental projects. One can feel useful, even outside of their comfort zone.

Lengnick-Hall elaborates, “When I lived abroad for a longer period of time or when I traveled alone,

(off of Lake Victoria). I did a lot of things like interviewing people, learning about sustainable aquaponics, attending and speaking at conferences, et cetera. I honestly think the trip was more impactful on me than any impact I could have had on others. It made me realize a lot about how I feel about ‘volunteering’ or ‘working’ abroad. It made me think a lot about white privilege and how my own privileges have affected my life, and thus others.”

When Amanda traveled to Ecuador to serve as witness to the Chevron/Texaco abuses happening to various indigenous populations, she saw everything from pollution to blatant human rights abuses occurring. After all of their hard work, they eventually gained attention into Ecuador parliament and despite all the frustrating violations that Chevron/Texaco was

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

A Glass of Chicha Chicha, a fermented maize drink.

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Photo Credit: Victor Ochieng @ Flickr

Maasai Market, Nairobi In a Nairobian market, there is much commotion. Inhabitants bustle around to buy goods.

making, she had a great time meeting the community she volunteered for.

alone, and I grow in my relationships when I travel with people,” she says.

“They also have a strong female presence in their leadership from the community level on up. I was so, so fortunate to get to be there during New Year’s,” she says. “I got to be a part of their celebrations which included burning the ‘tax man’, a scary looking scarecrow, drinking this drink called chicha which is fermented from various berries and maize which is chewed up and spit into a jar, then buried in the ground to ferment. It is then passed around in a bowl and everyone sits in a circle and sings, talks, and tells stories and drinks from the same bowl, and it just keeps getting refilled over and over.”

Getting the inspiration to move forward may be absent in a place you’re familiar with. That’s why constantly moving around helps us. To keep going to foreign countries for LengnickHall is to keep contributing to the greater good.

Lengnick-Hall says that even when the trips she made to help others achieved their goals and impacted the societies in positive ways, the trips in turn gave her an even stronger impression. “I learn how to be independent if I am traveling

Amanda gives good food for thought: “It is important for me to be socially aware, be a global citizen, and to learn about the world around me.”

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S. Hilamr

Deny Sabri

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Teri Makasi

McLac

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Photo by Liz Scanlon