Plans for School

2009-07-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

So I'm trying to further my education and prepare for my master's and hopefully for a doctorate degree. I am currently looking at doing something with international law/ relations or/as well as international communication/studies and conflict management/peace-building. As of now I am thinking of attending one of the following schools: University of Queensland, University of Melbourne, American University of Cairo or George Mason University. What do you all think?

Euro/Middle-East/North Africa Trip

2009-06-07T22:49:00.001-07:00

Plans for the Future

Euro Trip

For the past, well forever it seems I’ve always wanted to go to foreign places and see new things, meet new people and just explore. As a kid I never liked doing the same thing for too long: I loved to go see the great outdoors and make new discoveries. I have had a recent rekindling of this old sensation to travel as I was talking with one of my friends about his trip to Europe. He told me of how he went to see exotic places like the Vatican in Rome as well as the Ifle tower among other great feats of mankind. Not only this but just getting to see life on the basic level from other cultures is fascinating in and of itself. I have recently been making plans as to what countries and what parts specifically that I hope to see.

Unfortunately I am confronted with several problems in my attempts to travel through europe. How to start; funding and finding travel companions. Also, where to start can be quite difficult too. Once I have these figured out, theoretically everything should be a lot more smooth.

I’m thinking that I’d like to start in Ireland. A few places I have to visit are Dublin and Belfast because that’s where my family comes from. Honestly I have little idea about what is fun to do or see there but honestly I could care less because part of the stategy that I like to take when I travel is just have lots of time with only some idea of what to do, that way when you talk with the locals who probably know the best places to visit, you can be easy going having not overbooked your time in any one place with things to do.

Once I’m done seeing what I need of Ireland the next logical place is the United Kingdom. I’m of Scottish decent and would definetly like to see the Northern parts and learn what I can about my heritage. I also am a huge futbal (soccer) fan and play for my University in Hawaii, so seeing the Manchester United Stadium is a must as well. Anything else would simply be to check out some historical sites of England and Scotland.

Next I think I’d like to see France, especially Paris, I hear it’s absolutely beautiful at night with the many lights that illuminate its streets and buildings. The countryside would also be a fantastic site to see if it’s feasable with time.

Working my way south to Northern Spain I definitely want to go to Madrid and see the life as well as the Real Madrid Stadium. It’s unfortunate that I’d have passes through Pamploma too soon to see the running of the bulls.

I then I head West into Portugal. I’m not really sure what’s there of what they have to do, but I admire their soccer players as well as the architecture and styles of designs they implement in even their most basic households; it’s simply beautiful. The bid cities is where I’ll head; Porto and Lisbao.

After Portugal it’s back to Spain, but this time, the Southern part. I’ll work my way to the straight of Gibralter, then on to Malaga. I definitely have to get to Valencia as well as Barcelona to pay respects to the 2009 Champions League winners, plus see the where they practice.

Upon leaving Spain I head back north up through France into Switzerlan. Again, im not too sure about what there is to see there but am intersted to just explore. Maybe I could open an account in one of their worldclass banks they have. Definitely the chocolate, I don’t even like chocolate much but theirs is to die for.

I continue heading north until I get into my motherland of Germany. I’m over half german so I’m sure there is a lot I can connect with there. I want to spend much of my time seeing big cities, the Autobon, and also the farmlands and mountains. If I can I’d like to do a little family research and see where my family came from. I love the food as well, I’m practically a carnivor so I should do well there.

From there I head south into Italy. This too is another country where I’d like to spend more time than in other countries. The food, the language, the whole culture; ah it’s exquisite. I need to see Genova, Rome, Venice and all of Southern Italy too.

I’m hoping from there that I can jump across into Greece and spend some time seeing some of the relics from the Ancient Greeks. The food I hear is also to die for and I will have to put it to the test. I’m thinking both inland areas as well as costal Athens.

I have a few friends who live in Bulgaria and so I’m hoping to see them as I prepare to make my way down around the Mediterranean. Again, I know little about the area but just hoping to see it and have fun learning.

Turkey, specifically Istanbul, well known to me only for it’s cymbal making skills of over half a millenium. As a drummer I hope to see the factories in which Istanbul and Zildjian cymbals are manufactured. Of course food and other things will be delved into with great desire.

Syria, I have no idea. The only time I spoke to someone from there he mocked me for being American and “trying” to play soccer. After asking where he was from, I vicariously mocked him by asking him where Syria even was. Yeah, he was pretty pissed, but he deserved it. So yeah, I’ll check it out.

Continuing on south I enter Israel with its rich history of racial and political conflict. A final paper I did was on Israel and so it would be fantastic to see the areas which I learned about. It is also my plan to see where Jesus went in His ministry and see some of the sites that he visited like the olive garden and the towns and villiages he taught in. I also know a few people there and would love to see them again and where they live.

I will finish my travels in Egypt. Seeing the Sphynx and the pyramids as well as Cairo would be a dream come true. One of my good friend’s father is there now for work. I’m hoping that I can get some information on what other sites and parts I should visit there.

All in all I hope to be able to accomplish this great feat. If any of you have questions or (more preferibly) any suggestions, please let me know. Like I said, I really know little about any one of the countries in which I hope to be traveling.

Thank you,

Shuffy