Happy New Year!

According to the ancient Mayan calendar, the world will end on December 21st, 2012. Apparently there's going to be an apocalyptic flood to wipe out all of humanity. While it sounds like something out of a Steven Spielberg film, it's funny to see papers from newsstands around the city with headers like, "How Will You Spend Your Last Year on Earth?"

I read one of these papers on a commute one day, and I was really surprised with what people had said. Nobody wrote that they wanted a billion dollars, or to own ten BMW's, but rather people wanted things that are attainable...like to quit their jobs and travel, or to get a divorce, to see their friends more, to find love. There's really nothing stopping us from being happy...we put these limitations on our own lives. So while the world isn't ending in 2012, let's live everyday like it's the last.

Here's to a new year full of traveling and adventures. Here's to a new year to make our dreams happen. Happy 2012 everyone! "For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice." - T.S. Eliot

January 2012 will also mark the one year anniversary of this blog, and in a year, it's definitely come a long way. As of today, I have 134 followers, and countless more subscribers, a total of 158,349 page views, 492 blog comments, and readers from all parts of the world. None of this would be possible without you guys...so thank you! :)


Lastly, the new year isn't complete with a set of resolutions and a to do list. 2012 will be an eventful year  as I'll finally be graduating uni and moving abroad. Here's my list below. What's on your list?


My 2012 to-do list & resolutions

• Graduate uni and receive my BA degree this spring! Can't wait!

• Move to Europe this fall. I'll either be moving to Germany in September if I get the teaching position (fingers crossed!) or the UK on a holiday working visa in October. 

• Apply for international grad schools this summer for September 2013. I've already started looking for programs I like and have found some in Germany. I'll most likely do my Masters in International Relations, or something in that field. 

• Pay off my student loans by the end of September. This should be possible....hopefully I can find a part-time job at a sports bar during the summer as well so I don't miss out on watching the Euro Cup and the Olympics!

• Work on a collection of art this summer so that I'll have an art portfolio to bring with me to Europe.

• Continue going to the gym at least 5 times a week. My gym routine has been going well for the last few months...

• Work on this blog. I know whenever I'm busy I tend to neglect this blog, but in the new year, I'm going to try to post at least one entry a week, if not more. Especially since I will be traveling a lot this year, I'll have more to post about. I also want to change the direction of this blog...right now, it's a bit scattered with random "top 10" lists and scattered posts about travel. I might try to make it into a more personalized travel journal by the end of the year, and share more stories about my life abroad...

• Become fluent in German. It's definitely become a lot better this year through my intermediate German course at uni. If I get the teaching position in Germany, I think I'll definitely be a lot more comfortable speaking it. 

image source: http://renaissanceconsignment.blogspot.com, sodahead.com

Merry Christmas!

Feliz Navidad!

Joyeux Noel!

Fröhliche Weihnachten!

Shub Naya Baras!

Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto!

Buone Feste Natalizie!

God Jul or Gledelig Jul!

С Рождеством!

Holiday Holidays...to wherever you may be! Drink lots of eggnog and be merry!

                                                     love, Michelle

7 Interesting gifts for your traveller friends

One thing I hate about malls is that everything looks the same. No matter what stores you go to, everything is probably produced in the same factory somewhere in Asia. This is especially bland when you're trying to do some Christmas shopping, and you're forced to sort through rows of generic looking sweaters to buy, wrap and gift.

Usually when I'm abroad, I love browsing quirky shops and clothing boutiques and buy things and find interesting and fun things to give friends and family on birthdays or for Christmas. I was pleasantly surprised the other day however when I discovered this Diesel Surplus boutique that sold not just Diesel, but also Tom Ford, Marc by Marc Jacobs and G-Star in this small but really trendy shop relatively close to home, where I was able to finish my Christmas shopping. It's kind of nice when you discover a nice hidden place like that, isn't it?

Anyway, with only a few days left until Christmas, here's a few interesting gift ideas for your traveller friends, for those who are in need of some ideas.

1. Vintage maps
I love maps and I love vintage things, so why not vintage maps? Like most travelers, I always find maps to be an endless source of possibilities as it's great for planning trips, and reminiscing on past trips. If your friend already has a world map, subway or transit maps also make for a great present, especially if it's a city that brings back fond memories. Make sure you obtain these maps legally though! I remember when I was living in Chicago, stealing maps from the subway became a pretty big issue...

2. A Scrapbook
With the popularity of digital cameras and Facebook, I feel like hardly anyone ever prints out their photos anymore. It's sort of a tradition in my family to browse through our photo albums during Christmas, and I still remember the excitement of looking at my photos after I get them developed from a trip. A scrapbook, put together with a collection of photos and captions from a backpacking trip across a country or continent would be something I can see being cherished forever.

3. Calling cards
While the idea of giving calling cards as a gift seems a bit boring, we all get a bit homesick on the road, and sometimes those calling cards can feel like they're heaven sent.

4. eReader
I much prefer reading paperbacks, but with publishers such as Lonely Planet creating travel books for the eReader, an eReader seems like a good alternative to lugging around heavy travel books. Especially with the Kindle or the Kobo reader costing only around $100 these days, it seems like a reasonably priced method of always having books to read on the road while avoiding overweight luggage fees.

5. Moccasins
They're light, comfy and great for walking. Plus who doesn't want to channel their inner hippie?

6. Travel journal
While a journal seems like an obvious gift for a traveler, it is something that definitely won't be sitting in their closet collecting dust, like for example, a hand-waving disco Buddha. I always bring a few journals with me on the road, and they always get filled up by the end of my trip. Try looking for journals that are eco-friendly, hand-crafted or with lots of side pockets or storing photos, ticket stubs, or (more excitingly!) love notes.

7. Polaroid camera

These are possibly the greatest invention on earth. They're fun...instant, and therefore guaranteed to bring instant fun. It's a must have for travelers who especially can't be bothered to painstakingly edit through all their photos and great for capturing "in the moment" moments. And developing those pictures make us want to shake it, shake it, shake it like a polaroid picture. 

image source: www.viator.com