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by Mattie

Hanging Out with the Mafia

Aug 31 2011 in Europe, Italy, Pondering without Direction by Mattie

Mafiosi

My girlfriend and I were at a subterranean restaurant in the industrial port-city of Catania, Sicily. Cargo ships filled the harbor, shops sold horse-meat kebabs out of their doorways, and salt water flowed from the faucets. Ever since we’d landed in Sicily, the atmosphere had been one of fine suits, cigarettes, and Alfa Romeos. And [...]

Reflections on Egypt

May 8 2011 in Cultural Experiences, Middle East & Africa, Pondering without Direction by Jennifer Choban

Reflections on Egypt

I had gone out early to try to beat the heat, so the street was relatively quiet.  A man in an expensive looking track suit was jogging towards me on the other side of the road.  Seeing me, he crossed the street, ran up and took my hand in both of his.  “Welcome to my [...]

Not “My” Life

Oct 9 2010 in Pondering without Direction by Jennifer Choban

Why do I think I need more when I’m not on the move?

Unhurried, less concerned with material things, living in the moment, full of gratitude, easily satisfied.  This is the person I would like to be. I am a lot more like her when I’m traveling.
When I moved to Mexico, I sold off many of my possessions and stored those I kept, including two closets full of [...]

Quitting Abroad

Sep 21 2010 in Pondering without Direction by Louisa Rogers

quit-smoking

The year I spent in Bangor, North Wales stands out in my memory as the place where I discovered Linguistics and learned how to study. And it was where I first hitchhiked. But when I look back on that year it’s not what I did that changed me; it’s what I [...]

Forever in a landfill: Bottled water not just bad for environment

Sep 29 2009 in Eco Adventures, Pondering without Direction by green goddess

Water – it makes up 70 percent of the planet. It also is important for our survival, even more than food. But toxins are threatening our water and our bodies, and one of those main sources of those toxins is plastic.
According to the Beverage Marketing Corp, the average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water [...]