The Holiday season can be a lot of things and on top of shopping and cooking, traveling can really push your stress over the edge. Here are some tips to help holiday traveling go smoothly and be stress free.
A main reason I came to school at St. John’s University was because of their great study abroad programs offered. St. John’s has a selection of programs you can choose from, the most popular being Discover the World: Europe. With this program you would be spending five weeks studying in Rome, Italy, five weeks in Paris, France and then five weeks studying in Seville, Spain. This is set up in such a way so that you’ll have one or two courses in each city, allowing you to fully concentrate on and absorb your course work. Above all, you’ll build a stronger academic portfolio by living and learning in three European cities in one semester.
Other great programs offered are Discover the World: Rome where you can study on St. John’s Rome campus and there is also Discover the World: Paris. All offer a wonderful experience to study and live through different countries perspective and can cost just as much and even less than studying at St. John’s NYC campuses. For more information you can contact Office of Student Financial Services at 1 (888) 9STJOHNS or at studentfinancialserv@stjohns.edu.
With the current state of the east coast due to hurricane Sandy, a main concern and shortage occurring is for gasoline. People have been running to the pumps to fill up their cars, generators and now even snow blowers due to the recent nor-easter. There have been thousands of gas stations, primarily in New Jersey shutting down due to running out of gas. A new plan will be set in affect Friday, November 9th to help ration gas.
New York City and Long Island will put into place an even-odd gas rationing plan to begin Friday at 6 a.m. in New York City and at 5 a.m. on Long Island.The temporary plan means that gasoline will be available to drivers with license plate numbers ending in an odd number or a letter on odd-number dates beginning Nov. 9, Friday. Saturday, Nov. 10, will begin even-number dates for drivers with plate numbers ending in an even number or zero.
Police will be at gas stations to enforce the new system. Be careful and aware of this shortage while you’re planning trips involving driving!
With Hurricane Sandy leaving it’s trail along the East Coast, many have been left stuck inside not allowing to be on the roads. I thought it was appropriate to write a post on what to do when you’re geographically not allowed to travel!
Make A Splash
There’s nothing worse than being stuck inside for days at a time. So why not go out into the neighborhood and get your blood pumping? There’s nothing better than to act like a little kid for an hour and go from puddle to puddle makin’ a splash. It may sound silly but you’ll never know how carefree and fun it is till you try it!
Game It Up!
After being stuck in the house for days, my friends and I resorted to playing some board games that we haven’t played in years. It’s a good time to enjoy one another’s company when there’s not much else to do. Play for money to get the competition going! Some favorites are Monopoly, Clue and Scrabble!
No Power?
Grab a book and a relaxing scented candle! It’s a great way to pass time and get wrapped into another world. Another thing I found to pass time was to just talk to whoever you’re trapped with, family or friends about good times. It’s a great way to feel good and keep light in the room without the lights actually on.
When you’re travel to the Big Apple, you’re trip can be that much easier and affordable with advice from those who experience the streets daily. There’s a lot to do in New York City from visiting iconic places to experiencing gourmet food. However, there is a lot not to do, such as elbow bumping tourists site and overpriced eateries. Like most New Yorkers, the Concierge.com staff has an opinion or two about what’s really worth doing and what’s not. Take advice from the locals.
Need a ride? Skip the pedi-cab.
You’ll see on every street corner those pedal pushers insisting to haul you however far you need to go. They’ll also take almost half you wallet, asking for as much as $25 for pedaling just a few blocks. Take the subway. On an average weekday, New Yorkers take over 5 million trips on the NYC Subway System. That’s because it’s safe, fast, easy to navigate, environmentally friendly, in operation 24/7, and cheap.
No matter how hungry you get, don’t eat at a restaurant in Times Square.
Everyone understands the hype of eating at a restaurant overlooking the bedazzling lights and crowds of people swarming Times Square, but many will never understand the prices. Well-known Applebee’s, Fridays and Red Lobster all located in Times Square nearly double the price of their entrees. Skip the expenses and head two blocks over to Hell’s Kitchen. You’ll find a wider selection of delicious food, for half the price.
If you’re seeking a little retail therapy, don’t shop at Century 21.
There’s no nice way to put this: Century 21 is a zoo. The downtown department store, famous for its deep discounts on designer clothes, is packed to the walls with tourists, aggression, and bad, bad karma. Instead try Lord and Taylor, always neat, elegant and you’ll skip all the crazed stress.
The 10 Rules of Packing
1. The Golden Rule: Take half of the clothes you were planning to bring and twice the money.
2. Take only what you can fit in a carry on. We’ve all lost luggage before, and it’s a pain. It’s more cost efficient and who would really want to spend all there traveling money on a new wardrobe in Poland or something? Also, no baggage claim calls for a easy and quick wait out of the airport!
3. If you must check luggage, ask them to put a “Fragile” sticker on it, which helps ensure your bags will be put on top of the pile and be first off the plane. Also, make sure to put a stick or tag on your luggage to make it easily known it is yours, going through airport security with some one else’s bag is not something you want to encounter these days.
4. Mix and match. Bring three shirts and three “bottoms.” That’s 9 outfits.
5. Books and css are space consuming and heavy. Stick with a Kindle and iPod for a far travel!
6. Don’t be a diva. If you’re the type who has to travel with your own hair dryer and refuse to use the hotels, I suggest you don’t travel so far. It’s pointless and leaves less room for more essential needs.
7. Jackets and sweaters take up a lot of bag space and weigh you down. Unless you’re going to Russia in winter, layers work just as well.
8. If you can bear it, stay away from jeans. They are bulky and take days to air dry. Cotton and khaki are the way to go.
9. If it’s important and can’t fit into your daypack, leave it at home. Stuff gets stolen no matter where you go.
10. Every country sells soap. And shampoo. And socks. And t-shirts. I.e. What you forget, you can buy!
A great event to attend if traveling in Europe during mid October is the 6th international Wine Festival in Macedonia, Europe. It’s a great festival filled with wine and food. This festival takes place from October 9th- 15th in the square Macedonia in Skopje.
Last year’s 150,000 visitors enjoyed high quality wine tasting, snacks and lots of fun. Each night there are bands that play music from 10:00pm to 2:00am. In the center of the city you can sit and order food and fine wine and enjoy the open sky and music. Visit www.vinoskop.com for more information.
A program I am considering is the Wisdom Study Abroad Program which is a trip to India. The program begins in Kolkata where you can study Hinduism and Jainism. The trip also includes volunteering your services at EMPOWER THE CHILDREN, a non-profit organization that works with the street children of Kolkata.You then go to Darjeeling where the studies turns to Buddhism. Each day your classroom will be a different Buddhist monastery or temple where you will study Buddhist art, culture and philosophy. There will be lots of leisure time to explore the markets and to be immersed in the local culture.
The program is all inclusive: international flights, domestic India flights, ground transportation, accommodations, 3 meals per day, all entrance fees, guides, scholars, visa and tuition for 6 academic credits. The program runs from December 27th to January 13th. The program fee is $5695 and financial aid can be used if you currently use it. This is one of our most popular programs and has been filled the last 8 years. The program fills on a first come basis and is already 1/2 filled.
If you are interested in further information you can contact Jim Hagan at wisdom@studyabroad.com.
