Around the World in 340 Days

Lunch in the Real World

2009-11-06T08:57:00.003-05:00

Good morning lovelies. Aren't you just so completely surprised that I'm blogging so early this morning? No? Just me :) okay. Anyway, since I'm up early to give my friend a ride to the airport I thought I'd catch up a bit. I haven't told you about my Armory Square lunch yet! My friend Laura graduated last year but she's from the Syracuse-area and has a new job downtown so we could think of no better occasion than to lunch at one of the fine establishments there.

It was a rather gloomy day last Friday (somewhat like this one) but the lighting for photographs was right on. Before she got on break I walked around the quaint Armory Square. As far as downtown is concerned, this area is the creme de la creme with many chic cafés, boutiques, venues, and sites of pampering (aka salons, I need to visit one soon, yes need.)

After chatting it up with the boy as I strolled, she came 'round the corner and we sat down at BC. With a nouveau-American menu and downtown casual atmosphere, this is a great spot for a meal with friends. It was actually founded by a former Nobu manager and her husband :).

To begin I ordered a cup of the Roasted Acorn Squash soup which came with a fluffy side of bread.

It was deliciously creamy, spiced and topped with some cheese (of which I forget the exact name of). I could have gone w/o the cheese but I am completely on a squash-kick so was perfect.

As an entrée, I had the Spinach, Apple & Walnut salad topped with pickled onions and shaved carrots. It tasted wonderfully fresh, although I did have to ask for the walnuts because they forgot about them. How is a plain veggie-salad supposed to hold me over until dinner-time? Exactly.

Later, when it was time for her to finish up her work day, I headed around the corner to Freedom of Espresso. There I had a scrumptious little latté and worked on some school assignments. I know, very hip and cool of me ;) I will be doing similar things this upcoming weekend alongside my ever-studying boyfriend. On a more exciting note, however, we will also be going to the Museum of Chinese in America so I can do research for an upcoming article, and possibly visit the Bronx Zoo as well. Hope you have a wonderful weekend planned!

You drive me crazy

2009-11-05T17:54:00.006-05:00

And :) my second post on GoBackpacking.com is up! Check out my book review and chau for now.

Infinity plus One

2009-11-04T21:50:00.008-05:00

Ahoy there maties! I am absolutely uninspired today! I have so many things racing through my mind and yet I feel like I'm physically stagnant. Let's see if I can create some sort of perspective here: My second blog post at GoBackpacking.com is going up tomorrow and I will continue to write for the site weekly. My debut on another (soon-to-be-announced) site is scheduled for November 10th. I just filed my diploma request and will be registering for classes, for my last semester, next week. What do I want to do with the rest of my life afterwards?

I went out for frozen yogurt last night as a treat for myself. Problem is, aside from the raspberries (yummy), I didn't really enjoy it. I think I may want to give up dairy. Kind of? I have to pitch an story idea in my cut-throat editing class tomorrow. After that, I have about a week and a half of resting, academically at least, but I can't get my mind to slow down enough to enjoy it.

I haven't been to one yoga class all week. Registration for this six week term begins and I think I'm losing exercise-commitment steam. This happens too often. Maybe it's because the weather is getting cold again and I'm not ready? At Thanksgiving this year, I'm not sure if I'm even interested in eating turkey. I do not miss meat, and at this point it's actually quite unappetizing.

I'm going technically going home this weekend. It's not exactly home because I'll be staying with the boy. I haven't seen him since I've been sick. But I may very well have landed an amazing interview with someone from a museum that will work in a new article for my news class. My family "stuff" has still not been resolved. Maybe uninspired isn't the right word, how about crazy?

P.S. This is my last attempt to try a statement that is slightly less confusing.... Go Yankees! ;)

The perfect woman

2009-11-03T20:04:00.006-05:00

One of my classes was cancelled this afternoon because my poor teacher (of whom I adore) has swine flu :(. The extra free time, however, was very much appreciated. My magazine editing professor, Harriet Brown, is heading the BODYTALK Project, and today I made my contribution. "BODYTALK gives people a chance to record commentaries about their relationships with their bodies, appearances, food, eating, and weight."

"...because the more we talk about these feelings, the more shame and stigma will fall away." We're receiving bonus points for participation, but I am very interested regardless. I believe this entire thing is fabulous; we will achieve progress is through dialogue. I'll also have you know that I spoke for about five minutes straight, we'll see if anything gets chosen for NPR :).

I have certainly come along way and thus had a lot to say. At this point though, I think I've reached the ultimate: a healthy body image and healthy food choices. Research has shown that women who accept their bodies the way they are seem to be more likely to adopt better eating habits. Furthermore, "Those who scored higher on measures of intuitive eating also showed higher levels of self-esteem, coping ability, optimism, and ability to deal with stressful situations."

I am so thankful. Gena recently wrote an incredible post about food just as food. Leslie, another favorite, responded with her own insight in not just one, but two posts regarding her food philosophy. I agree with both of them. Also in the blogosphere, if you'd like to see a rare case of body diversity in the media, be my guest and walk on over to Blueberry Hil.

Across the country, and the world, our bodies come in all different shapes, different sizes and different colors. We must learn to appreciate our uniqueness, and in doing so, treat our bodies accordingly. In the end, though perfection does not exist, beauty is universal.

Absolutely Spooktacular

2009-11-02T22:40:00.005-05:00

What can I really say? No tricks, just treats. Hope your Halloween was just as happy :)

Smile, the universal language

2009-11-02T07:39:00.001-05:00

Oh my gosh, I am so wired right now! I have been awake since 4:40 am this morning finishing up work for today. Yes it was a happy halloweekend ;). Anyway, since I have about a half an hour until I have to get ready for yoga, I thought I'd let you know how my weekend with my Mom ended...

On Sunday morning we awoke to the dull Syracuse weather. By contrast, we felt bright and sunny and well-rested. Rather than go out a movie the night before we simply bought one and watched in from the comfort of our B&B bed.

After taking showers and getting ready, we headed downstairs for the second part of the promise, breakfast. We joined the 10 other guests at the dining room table for coffee, fruit, juice, and muffins.

In true Sunday morning fashion, however, we were also served a plate. On it, two delectable slices of french toast with macadamia nuts and a pear and pineapple compote along with bacon of which I ever so politely passed on. Maybe the boy will have to try this for his next special breakfast?

We then drove back over to campus and walked around through the familiar and unfamiliar. I finally had the chance to go inside this store, for example.

A few hours later we headed over to Dolce Vita for lunch. Neither of us were hungry, per se, but my mom was boarding a train soon for the five hour ride home. Basically we had no other choice but to try the new "international bistro bar and kitchen" that I had read about in the paper :).

According to their website, "Every two weeks Dolce Vita presents a new menu of authentic dishes from around the world to compliment our world-infused daily menu, which takes simple American staples and infuses them with flavors from around the globe. " Yum.

To begin we ordered the sun-dried tomato hummus appetizer. My Mom and I were both blown away by how good it was. However, to be a multidimensional critic, I will warn that DV's Bloody Mary is anything but good. My mommy told me so.

As for our entrée plates, we ordered two large salads. Even my mom said that she didn't feel like she had eaten enough greens in the past weekend so she couldn't think of anything else that she was craving more. Ah, I have taught you well :).

For dessert we each had brownie square that the B&B owners so generously left in our bedroom. I love brownies, love 'em! Not sure if you're aware, but I'm neither a fan of cakes (except carrot) nor pies (other than apple) so these scrumptious baked goods are most often my dessert treat of choice.

At that is that, within two hours my mom was on her way home and I was back at my Syracuse home. My last two weekends have been so wonderful that I doubt that these next few will be able to compare. Ha, speaking of: I will recap some of my trick or treat activities soon but for now, I leave you with these quotable magnets. They surrounded our table at DV. Happy Monday my sweets!

Hapa

2009-11-01T10:00:00.005-05:00

Different racial mixes interpreted by America's Next Top Model. Please discuss...

Central New York Tourism (2 of 2)

2009-10-31T10:36:00.004-04:00

Good morning beautifuls, HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I dressed up as a Jack O'Lantern last night and drank a tad too much celebratory Ithaca beer. I hope you were able to celebrate and enjoy yourself :). Today shall be a productive work day and tonight, I'm going to be the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom tree, letters and all. But let's not get carried away with plans, I haven't finished telling you about the weekend with my Mom...

Upon leaving Skaneateles we stopped at a liquor store to buy a bottle of local wine and sample a few whites. There were only two open bottles, both exquisite. Still, we made sure to clean our palate's in between with the most wonderful pieces of toast with a goat cheese and eggplant tapenade.

The sky had become cloudy again by this time so we went on our way to dinner. Problem was, we weren't sure where exactly we were going, and instead ended up looking for halloween costumes.

That didn't last long though, there wasn't much selection and I was worried that if we got to the restaurant too late that they wouldn't be able to seat us. I hadn't made a reservation. Problem is, we were still lost, so my Mom and I stopped in this adorable knick-knack store to see if they knew how to get there.

The storekeeper had no idea, so we thanked him and looked around to kill another half an hour. Little did we know that he had gone to the back, looked up our destination on Google, and printed it out for us. Ah, the kindness of strangers. Both of us were so surprised when he brought it out to us.

Once we hit the corn fields we knew we were getting close :) our dinner destination was Elderberry Pond Farm. You may remember the boy and I going last semester?

My mom and I were the first ones to discover it and since then, have told the world. After having a mono-like virus sophomore year for about two weeks she came up to make sure I was alright, and I had my first real meal here. It was and is, absolutely spectacular, an evolving menu with the freshest ingredients.

To begin I had a bowl of the butternut squash soup with crème fraîche and my mom enjoyed the same in a cup. As you can see, it was beautiful, and please believe me when I tell you it was equally as delicious.

Are you my mother? Lucky me :).

For some odd reason my appetite was off and I just ordered an appetizer. I had their signature crab cakes on a bed of fresh greens and homemade roasted red peppers. 'Twas delightful.

My momma, however, was quite hungry so she ordered a full meal. I'll have you know that when our meal was served, she turned to me and literally said, "ha-ha, I got squash." because I had just finished telling her how much I loved it. Too funny. There were also roasted mashed red potatoes and grilled halibut... don't worry I helped her eat it, she let me ;).

To end our wonderful meal we each ordered a small pot of tea, mint for me, and split dessert. My mom and I had one of the dessert specials of the day, an apple pear crumble a la mode. Mmmm.

I don't like the "all in moderation" phrase. I think that there are certain things one shouldn't eat, and I know that there are particular things I don't eat, but I do think that a well-deserved homemade treat is worth it every once and while. The sweet ending, delightful beginning, and lovely company made for one of my favorite meals to date.

As I've said in the past, I highly recommend this restaurant, it never fails to provide a memorable and tasty experience. Now it is back to that to-do list, wow-e. Whatever you do for the rest of your day and night, have a fun, safe, and happy one. Take care!

Central New York Tourism (1 of 2)

2009-10-30T10:35:00.006-04:00

Hi friends, thank you for your kind words yesterday. These past two weeks have been pretty crazy but I really will be alright. I promise not all of it has been bad! Remember when I mentioned that I'd had a Mommy weekend? Are you ready to hear about it? I know I am :).

It all began on Saturday morning. We awoke bright and early to a hearty morning meal at the bed & breakfast. Soon after we stopped by my school and then headed west to Auburn, New York.

Also the hometown of the Art Nouveau stained glass artist, L.C. Tiffany, son of the founder of Tiffany & Co. The houses and churches we looked at were beautiful, although it appears as though I forgot to take photos.

We didn't stay long though, I wanted to head over to the picturesque town of Skeneatelas, but my mother's growling tummy had something else in mind.

Angelo's apparently ;). For some odd reason there were very few places open, it was either pizza or bar food, which meant that we each had a slice with as much veggies as the establishment could muster (mushrooms), and split a beer at the bar afterwards.

Then we drove over to the quaintness that is Skaneateles, NY. The lake was beautiful and the weather cleared up. In between our lunch and dinner my mom and I shopped, or window shopped rather. I would have loved to buy a piece from this particular art gallery but I can't yet afford it :).

Besides arts, crafts, and jewelery, many of the shops sold holiday items as well. Some items were cute, others a bit scary, where do you think this table of singing doll figures falls? Ha.

In between we also stopped for coffee. My mom and I hadn't slept well the night before so we certainly needed it. We could have gotten a cookie or two as well, but neither of us were hungry enough :).

The weekend was technically supposed to be a family weekend but I was happy for it to be just my mom and I. Since I'm the oldest of three, there was a time when I had her all to myself, and I'm not gonna lie, I still miss it. I feel so lucky to be so close with her.

Nonetheless, I would've also liked to share such a day with every one else. Oh well, things happen. We ended our day with a antiquing and then drove to the middle of nowhere for dinner.

Ha, I'm only half kidding. It was very much the pleasant evening, I'll be sure to tell you more about it tomorrow. In the mean time, I'm off to call my roommate and meet a graduated Syracuse-area friend of mine for lunch at a Greek restaurant. I must also make sure I make the Mix it Up (an international conversation group) meeting at five this evening. Hope you have a fantastic Friday!

Vino & Queso

2009-10-29T09:46:00.006-04:00

Good morning sweet peas. Please excuse my absence yesterday, I just really couldn't bring myself to blog. There's just a lot of things going on outside of school that are dragging me down: I have health and family stuff that I'd rather not discuss on the blog, and then, to top it off, someone towed my car about 10 minutes before I left class yesterday. The reason that I drove this time? I didn't want to give myself another excuse not to do laundry. So yeah, my car is currently in some yard while my laundry is taking over the back seat :(.

Rather than be upset about it all though, I decided to drink away my sorrows. Haha, just kidding, promise :) I was excited for wine & cheese night simply because I love my wine and my cheese. My roommate and I were the first ones at the bar that night. Pathetic? No. Dedicated? You betcha.

I have never been able to go out on a Tuesday night, never, except maybe freshman year which doesn't count, so this was exciting. And I was quite impressed with our little spread! The bar had offered us this complimentary fiesta, if you will, so nobody knew quite what to expect. Of course I took food pictures even if I hardly touched it :).

I didn't do much as far as dressing up, just added some heels to my previous outfit that day, obviously going for a classy look ;). It was really fun regardless, though. There were about 10 people there, a few my age, and half two years younger than me, the new girls in the house, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to get to know them better.

So that was that, it was a worthwhile good time and I definitely enjoyed myself. It's actually quite ironic, however, that I decided to go out during this week because halloween is huge and I'm sure my weekend will be packed with social plans. Oh well, I'll deal :). I'm an uninventive jack-o-lantern, by the way. it's cute, just not creative, but I may just steal one of my friend's green diamonds for the next night. She is going as a SIM...genius, I know. Dressing up can always get so fun--do you have any idea who or what you are going to be?

Picture Day

2009-10-27T19:09:00.012-04:00

Hope you enjoyed that lovelies ;) but if you'd like to actually read something by or about me...

Find out why and how I'm semi-anti-Twitter; and still happily use it anyway. (http://twitter.com/Danielle052988)
Check out my first contributor's post to GoBackpacking.com

Now, about that blog award I was talking about from my soul mate, Leslie. Thanks again girl!

I would like to pass this on to two three very dear bloggers and friends of mine...

VeggieGirl, my first commenter, and one of the coolest people I know :). She is both sweet and sarcastic, honest and encouraging, intelligent and talented, and I love her for all of it. Every time we hang out, I have just about the best time ever. A few weeks ago, she was featured on Plates from Around the World, and like I said then, I cannot wait to see her again soon!

Another generous contributor who I adore is K from KsGoodEats. Not only has she been a very active and supportive blog reader throughout my travels but her writing about her own adventures completely entertain me every day. Plus she always eats the most simple and yummy vegetarian things, especially when in Italy.

Finally, since I just realized that I was technically supposed to send this to only one person, I've decided to pass it along to yet one more :) Gliding Calm. She is such an amazingly beautiful and understanding doll. Fact is, her texts and comments never fail to brighten my day! And, I seriously cannot wait to hear all about her upcoming trip India.

P.S. If you haven't already picked up your Nov/Dec issue of Fitness magazine, please make sure to do so! You can find another one of my articles on page 106. Yes, I do still find that thrilling :).

No day but today

2009-10-26T19:00:00.004-04:00

I love RENT. Um, yeah, anyway :) hi everyone! I hope your Monday has started off the week well. As I mentioned ever so slightly in the last post, as much as it is nice to look back at all the places I've been, all of the food I've eaten, and the things I've done, I must make a conscious effort every day not to dwell. This past year and a half has contained some of the most exciting and life-changing experiences ever, but life certainly hasn't ended, haha. I should still enjoy every day as it comes, I can still make the most of now.

This week for instance. Why I'm loving it:

It's completely stress-free, or practically. My midterms are finally over! Plus, I'm on top of all of my current and upcoming assignments. Looking forward to a regular sleep schedule and daily yoga classes.
My beloved graduate roommate is coming up to visit this Halloween weekend! And I finally have a costume! C, if you're reading this, I'll call you tonight with details.
On Tuesday my house is having a Wine & Cheese party. Paired with my extra free time, carefree attitude, and holiday enthusiasm I couldn't ask for a better occasion to celebrate ;)

What make this week and today extra special to you? Comon' I'm sure you can think of something!

It could even be something as simple as breakfast. This morning I had an amazing bowl of oats, almond milk, strawberries, banana, and almond butter. According to my wonderful raw guru, this is not the most energizing combo, nor is it ideal to digest, but it certainly kept me full all morning, even through an hour and 15 minutes of grueling vinyasa yoga :).

By the way, if you haven't already noticed, these photos are from around my room :) the desk area that I didn't have a chance to show you before. This decorative inspiration, for example, was a gift from my Mom since she dedicated the "I hope you dance" song to me many years ago. Oh and she came to visit this weekend too! But more on that tomorrow, I promise it's worth the wait.

To make up for my rule-breaking morning meal ;) I stuck with the basics for lunch. A huge-jass spinach salad with a hard-boiled egg and tuna made for the perfect protein-veggie combo. You see, I may be eating differently than I have been, but real food is real food, and luckily, it's available in almost any part of the world.

Speaking of travel (whether we were or not, haha) I'm contributing to another blog! I will be featured on GoBackpacking.com and my introductory post is scheduled to go up tomorrow. Check it out :) And if you're following me on Twitter, I'll let you know exactly when and where. So excited!

Back to the food: a starch-based meal to end the day. Carol didn't make any veg-friendly options for dinner tonight but she did make brown rice with vegetables. So, I heated up mushrooms and chickpeas, added it to the mix, and then continued to add more and more broccoli as I cleared spots for it on the plate :). And there you have it! A day in the life of Danielle as a U.S. college student.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra."

Fresh & Clean

2009-10-25T21:33:00.005-04:00

Just had one of the best showers ever. Only preceded by the best yoga class today. It was hot, it was invigorating, and it was just what I needed. This past weekend and week has been both horrible and wonderful. Now, I honestly feel renewed in every way, and it's not just because I'm kicking off another 340 posts ;). But, before we completely move forward, I'd like to look at the breakfast, lunch, and dinner from my yesterdays.

Breakfast in Cuenca, Ecuador, unique from the instant coffee and bread morning meal of mi familia.

Lunch, the main meal, consisted of the fresh juice, the occasional soup, a main plate, and salad.

Dinner was virtually non-existent, unless there was a family get-together. This could mean a full plate or just coffee and dessert.

Breakfast in Santiago, Chile was green tea/coffee and stove-top avena with walnuts, banana and flax.

Lunch was a frittata with salad on the side or a gorgeous salad in and of itself.

Dinner was a hearty meal of legume-based soup and various ensaladas, as per usual. When it got warmer, however, my host-mom and I also had our fair share of salmon.

Breakfast in Strasbourg, France often was made up of coffee/tea, yogurt with mix-ins and French bread spread with some type of seasonal jam.

Lunches were simple since I usually ate them between classes with ingredients from the market.

Dinner, on the other hand, was anything but, and included multiple plats which my host-mom always so beautifully presented on my place mat.

YUM, that was fun! Any questions? Haha. From now on we're going to look towards the future and the foreign adventures that lie in that unknown sphere of time, although I can't promise I won't bring up international memories from time to time :) Have a great night and I'll see you tomorrow!

Three Hundred and Forty

2009-10-20T09:16:00.027-04:00

Hello darlings, I apologize for keeping you waiting all day. (Btw, following me yet? Please do: http://twitter.com/Danielle052988). I hope it went well!

Anyway, here's the deal: my official blogiversary was April 8th, 2009. Yes, it completely passed us by, and quickly. I didn't realize that I had been blogging for a complete year until May, which I guess would mean that I'd been blogging for a 13 months :).

In order to make up for it I decided to wait until an equally as important day to celebrate my blog and my blog readers... and, well, that day has come my friends! This is officially my 340th post. It has been 560 days since I began my blog journey, 18 months since I began to incorporate my passions for food, nutrition, and health into the blog content, and a little over one year since I began traveling with the blog alongside me. How time flies!

Why does this mean so much to me? Because of y-o-u. Since the creation of Around the World in 340 Days I have received nothing but support, encouragement, and kind words from every one of my readers, both bloggers and non-bloggers alike. I've exchanged emails with a few of you who have had questions, words of wisdom, of even just thought pass along a friendly "hello." Whether you are a likeminded college student, a study abroad veteran, a bloggie friend, or my ever-silent boy, I beyond appreciate all of you and everything you've been to me.

The past two posts about what led me to study languages, and ultimately study abroad were both leading up to this: I knew before I left that it would be the "trip of a lifetime," an experience, or rather, a multitude of experiences that would change the way I felt about myself and viewed the world but I could have never foreseen the way it would change me.

I am thankful for every single one of you that have joined me in that process. We both know that for as many ups as I've been lucky enough to have had, there have also been a good deal of downs :). And yet it has truly been comforting to know that no matter how far from how I was, I was never really alone, never forgotten.

Although there is no way that I'll ever be able to summarize the past 560 days and 340 posts, there are a few posts and experiences that especially stand out to me, whether it is because of the impact they've had or the memories they entice. Celebrate... and enjoy...

1) I discovered an inner-strength and confidence, that now, I could not imagine not relying on.

2) I found a best friend in Chilean host mom...

3) ...and my French host mom.

4) I took a leap of faith, despite the complicated details, and allowed myself to fall in love.

5) I questioned my beliefs... when I saw flamingos in the desert and penguins and seals at the beach ;).

6) I got out of my own way to become a runner.

7) I learned that there's another way to enjoy seaweed--in a soup!

8) I handed in my absentee ballot and voted for change.

9) I found that there really was truth in the cliché "you can do anything you put your mind to," when I climbed an active volcano.

10) I hosted my parents in Santiago, Chile and the beauty that surrounds it.

11) I learned how to make my favorite Ecuadorian soup, Locro de Papas.

12) I brought my boy to Chilean cuisine last holiday season, while he treated me to Alsatian dining this summer.

13) I learned how to make vegan banana bread.

14) I came to terms with my body and how it important it is I nourish it.

15) I learned what it means to have beer appreciation at the Heineken factory, wine appreciation at multiple vineyards, and champagne appreciation, in particular, at Taittinger.

16) I reunited avec ma souer while taking a weekend getaway to rural Alsace.

17) I went back to grandfather's Irish roots.

18) I let go of the labels, the guilt, and the restrictions.

19) I had my first taste of Eastern Europe and the kindness of strangers.

20) I galavanted with my SU roommates around Londontown.

21) I landed two amazing internships (probably due, in part, to my writing practice here.)

22) I took my first few exotic steps into Asia.

23) I realized that memories are not forgotten nor can they ever be lost.

24) I had my first-time dinner with some of my favorite bloggers.

25) I survived reverse-culture shock.

26) I went to my first Foodbuzz event... and cannot wait for the next.

27) I found out the power of optimism and a sunny outlook :).

28) I rocked and ran a (hopeful) series of 5Ks.

29) I experimented with raw food and indulged in enjoyed vegan lasagna and ice cream...

30) ...and in doing so, met inspiring mentors.

31) I re-discovered my love for all things yoga.

32) I learned how to internationally eat well through my own experiences.

33) I realized that poetry can explain everything.

34) I celebrated my twenty-first birthday, gaining the privilege to drink one of my favorite beverages of all time, wine.

Cheers! And as a bonus, for good luck, I did it... of which directly translates to "we did it." Now, question: what do you possibly wish for when all the majority of your dreams come true? ;). Answer: perhaps give yourself a blog break, see you this weekend!

P.S. Photos are courtesy of my month in Ecuador, it is an ABC (absolutely beautiful country.)

Modern Foreign Language, Part II

2009-10-19T11:02:00.010-04:00

(A continuation of Part I)

... I wasn't convinced that I could do it. In theory it's easy to take chances, try new things, go beyond where most people have ever been before, and have it all be a solo experience, but in reality, it was terrifying, especially with the pressure I was putting on myself. Nonetheless, I didn't allow my fear to hold me back, I went for it, whether or not I knew I was capable of succeeding.

Every time someone tells me that they admire me for what I've done, that I am somewhat of an inspiration, I really am surprised. I am no one too special, I didn't overcome anything too difficult, I simply put everything I had into achieving what it is that I set out to do... become trilingual and in doing so, grow as a global citizen. This alone is enough to be counteracted with countless "good for you" but the truth is, it shouldn't be a foreign aspiration.

"In the words of Senator Paul Simon, the United States is a 'linguistically malnourished' country compared with many other nations. Despite the large number of individuals from other language and cultural backgrounds who live in various communities throughout the United States, relatively few Americans can boast proficiency in a language other than English. While ample opportunities exist in many other countries to develop proficiency in a second language, exposure to foreign languages in the United States is far from adequate."

I wonder who could argue that foreign language proficiency is actually appreciated in this country. In my International Communications class, we had the opportunity to meet a translator. The first thing he told us was not to take for granted how lucky we are that English is our first language. Unfortunately, that same privilege is what holds us back. "The geographic isolation of the United States and the growing importance of English in the world have contributed to giving Americans a false sense of security vis a vis their need for foreign language competence."

If I have learned one thing over this past year and a half, it is that, "The ability to speak other countries' languages with an awareness and understanding of their cultures is obviously crucial to effective international communication." I don't know if I ever shared this with you all, but within a few days of living in Chile I learned the proper statement to say after finishing a meal, it was not that I was llena or full, but rather satisfecha. "I am satisfied." Genius.

There is an eternal landscape, a geography of the soul; we search for its outlines all our lives. " (Josephine Hart)

Words by Danielle Alvarez. Photos by Kate O.

*I took the plunge! Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Danielle052988

Modern Foreign Language, Part I

2009-10-18T14:02:00.018-04:00

When I enrolled at SU I had one major, magazine, a specified print journalism curriculum offered by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. I'd always enjoyed writing and journalism gave me the freedom to explore many topics, while magazines offered flexibility in style. But I knew that wasn't enough, I wanted to study Spanish as well.

Nearly 75% of my relatives are fluent in Spanish, some of which Spanish is their first language (like in the case of my dad), and I felt inadequate, in a way, for not being bilingual. Growing up surrounded by it, I could almost completely understand it, but when it came to a response, I turned to English. My Spanish-speaking skills were nowhere near my comprehension and I, quite frankly, felt embarrassed about the possibility of making a mistake. So, I studied it in middle school and high school and then decided to continue into my college career with intentions of one day being able to fluently communicate.

Then I decided I also wanted to study French. As you know, I hosted a French exchange student in high school and we became the best of friends. I'd overhear her talking on the phone to her family, watch over her shoulder as she wrote her friends e-mails, and fell in love with yet another romance language. I'd already been so fascinated with the country and it's culture that it seemed quite fitting that I delve deeper into French language study. What better way to familiar myself with everything that my best friend knew? I even thought it'd help me miss her less when she went home.

A different language is a different vision of life." (Federico Fellini)

In my first semester at SU, I registered for both a French, and a Spanish class. I do not have a gift for learning languages, quite the opposite in fact, it was beyond difficult for me; I would get mixed up quite often, but my passion kept me focused. By the time the second semester came around I knew that I wanted to be fluent in both Spanish and French. My language insecurities had me excel in all areas except for speaking yet I knew that there was one way that I could reach my trilingual dream... by studying abroad, for one semester in a Spanish-speaking country and another in a French-speaking country. I soon made a course and requirement plan, making sure that I could graduate on time while still being able to take my year-long language and cultural challenge.

When the time came for me to take the leap of faith and put myself in a vulnerable position in a unfamiliar place with strangers, I could not even describe the way I felt. My friends and family called me "brave, fearless, independent" they asked me if I was "excited," they told me it would be the "experience of a lifetime." I had wanted this, I had been waiting for this, for so long and yet...

Word by Danielle Alvarez, Photos by Kate O.

*I took the plunge! Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Danielle052988

My Big Fat Greek Vacation

2009-10-17T14:39:00.007-04:00

Hello there sweethearts, I hope all is well. I don't have as much time to chat today as I'd like, and neither does my friend Kayla who volunteered to be the fifth Plate from Around the World...

Greece has been my dream destination for as long as I can remember.

So, when I had was abroad in France for the semester with Danielle, and had the chance to explore the country of antiquity, I did my best to see and do all that I could.

When the time finally came, I was thrilled! The landscape, the people, the culture, more gorgeous l than I'd imagined.

And then, of course, the food! They're not lying when they say that the Greek Gods ate well ;-) I'd be happy living the rest of my life on baklava alone.

Learning about this place and it's history for so many years this was most definitely my favorite trip to date.

Thanks so much Kayla! It sounds beyond amazing, perhaps my graduation trip seeing as I went elsewhere last spring break :) ? Once again, if you'd like to participate in this Plates from Around the World series please email a description favorite place, and your favorite foodie memory from there, along with a few photos to aroundthworld340@gmail.com. Opa!

Midterm Feedback

2009-10-16T23:37:00.012-04:00

I'm asking a friend, you, a couple of questions; updates also included:

P.S. I'm kinda liking this vlogging thing and may continue to do it at least once a week now... what do you think? I am clearly not an broadcast personality but annoying or somewhat entertaining?

Jack's a dull boy

2009-10-15T20:08:00.017-04:00

Hello my dears! In my final attempt at procrastination I am going to blog :) and then it's down to all work and no play, I don't have any other choice. Why? Because, well, it is midterm season here in Central New York and I have two to prepare for, in addition to a mid-semester paper and a project. It might actually be a good thing that I'm getting "snowed in" this weekend. Yes, snow, in October, I know. Pitiful.

Ah, how I long for days free from stress and worry (and with good weather.) Somewhat like my last weekend. As I've mentioned, my parents were in Aruba and I was home visiting the doctors to figure out why my hands, fingers, and even toes, were aching so much. The verdict? No idea but I do have to wait for results from a blood test. I don't seem to have arthritis though so I'm just going to have to depend on over-the-counter meds, hope this doesn't become a habit.

Still, besides that annoying aspect of my visit, being home wasn't that bad at all. My grandmother was staying with us because my poor brother has mono, aka she fed me well. On Saturday, I had tea with lunch because I was chilly and by the end of the meal, my tummy was not only happy, but warm. What a wonderful feeling.

Then I spent an overnight in the Bronx, Fordham University to be exact, with two of my best friends from high school. It has been so long since we were just able to sit back and hang out all together, and my gosh, I cannot even remember the last time we all had a sleep-over :). So much fun, and I'm sure you don't doubt it at this point... they're such talented dancers after all.

The next day I was completely productive, but without a time constraint or any distractions. It's no wonder I did so well in high-school! Ha, check out my fabulous desk set-up. I did commit a health foodie sin though: eating in front of the computer. I couldn't help it though, I was on such a roll at that point and at least I was sitting!

What I ate was a massively delicious salad from Mrs. Greens. I swear that the fact that my grandmother is so interested in healthy living just about makes my life. She almost gets as excited as I do to go to the health food store. Plus, she's ridiculously generous. She let me go all out at the salad bar and bought me a scrumptious jar of creamy, unsalted, and raw almond butter. Yum!

And last but not least, I drove over to Newark, New Jersey for a pre-season basketball game: NJ Nets versus the Boston Celtics. I don't really follow sports that closely but I love watching games live, especially basketball. It's so exciting and I just get to competitively in to it. Quite the trash-talker I am, I'm not gonna lie.

Beforehand, the boy and I stopped at the spot for a beer. We both got Blue Moons. As an FYI- I drank mine out of the bottle, he drank his out the glass with the orange. I think it's funny. Also, I think it's ridiculous that I had never had Blue Moon before the end of this summer, they're so good! That may be because I wasn't of age yet though... oh yeah, the under 21 thing, glad I'm past that.

Did I mention that this entire NBA outing was the boy's birthday present? You may remember that we celebrated it back in July? Either way I bought these in advance so that he could see the tickets themselves but we had to wait until basketball season to actually go to the game. I loved how thrilled he got, it was the first live NBA game for both of us.

And the Celtics won! Exquisite night and weekend. Alright, alright, enough reminiscing already, I have to get back to work! Have a good one and if I don't "see" you tomorrow, Thank God it's Friday!

P.S. As I was about to walk out the door and head to my hard-work nook I came upon a personal revelation... I was invited to go out with two different friends tonight and had to turn them down. I've been asked multiple times if I'm going to the sorority pre-bar later. I'm staying in tonight and doing work that I enjoy. I'm going to a hot yoga class tomorrow then celebrating my roommate's 22nd birthday. All work and no play (may) make Jack a dull boy, but, in the case that I am Jack, he's a happy and healthy one :).

The world is my oyster

2009-10-14T15:32:00.009-04:00

Happy humpday lovelies. Sorry for the delay... as I was doing the reading for my Intergroup Dialogue class this week I came upon a very interesting article about oppression. Just to clarify, those that would be considered oppressed will be found in minority groups based on gender, ethnicity, skin color, first language, age , ability status, religion, sexual orientation and economic class. Unless you're a white middle-aged able-bodied man, I'd say that you fall into at least one minority category, in the United States that is. "When groups begin to empower themselves--by learning more about each other, by unlearning old myths and stereotypes by challenging the status quo--we make the difficult decision to interrupt the cycle of socialization." What cycle you ask? It's not showing up unfortunately, but it went something like this:

[CORE] Fear, Ignorance, Confusion, Insecurity
[The Beginning] Born into World with Mechanics in Place; No Blame, No Consciousness, No Guilt No Choice; Limited Information, Misinformation, No Information; Biases, Stereotypes, Prejudices, History, Habit, Traditions
-->
[First Socialization] Taught on a Personal Level by Parents, Relatives, Teachers, People we Love and Trust: Shapers of Expectations, Norms, Values, Roles, Rules, Models of Ways to Be, Sources of Dreams
-->
[Institutional and Cultural Socialization] Reinforced/Bombarded with Messages from: Institutions, Culture, Churches, Practices, Schools, Song Lyrics, Television, Language, Legal System, Media, Mental Health, Patterns of Thought, Medicine Business (On Conscious and Unconscious Levels)
-->
[Enforcements] Sanctioned, Stigmatized, Rewards and Punishments, Privilege, Persecution, Discrimination, Empowerment
-->
[Results] Dissonance, Silence, Anger, Dehumanization, Guilt, Collusion, Ignorance, Self-Hatred, Stress, Lack of Reality, Horizontal Violence, Inconsistency, Violence, Crime, Internalization of Patterns of Power
-->
[Actions] Do Nothing, Don't Make Waves, Promote Status Quo
-OR-
[Directions for Change] Change, Raise Consciousness, Interrupt, Educate, Take a Stand, Question, Reframe

I hope you're able to understand it. I didn't bold [Action] but rather, [Change], because that is at the foundation of this blogging project. Hopefully I'll be able to achieve it to some extent.

In other news, I am currently working on a project for another diversity-related class, Race, Gender & the Media. We are creating a print publication on many of the topics we cover in class with inspiration from our own lives and growing up in or outside of the United States. Each of us are writing a feature article (about 1500-2000 words) about various aspects of diversity and the media. I'm focusing on SUabroad, seeing as I'm a bit familiar with it ;). Are students who study abroad taking full advantage of their opportunity for cultural integration and self-exploration through their own efforts? Do students actually learn anything as far as a global and cultural perspective is concerned? Or is it simply a semester-long vacation? And, if so, once back in the United States how are their relations with international students in their own country?

Autumn

2009-10-12T14:02:00.011-04:00

I think I'm falling in love all over again. Waking to chilly mornings with comfy blankets. Cozy sweaters and boots make their debut.

Eating freshly-picked apples, baking pies, mixing pumpkin into everything. Football games with spiced hot beverages.

Walking in the woods as fallen leaves crunch underfoot. Others, just as colorful, reach toward blue skies. Gusts of cool fall wind rustle their branches.

The fading summer heat, the approaching winter chill... enjoying all that is autumn, while it lasts.

Dance Like Nobody's Watching

2009-10-11T15:24:00.005-04:00

Mark Twain once said, "Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth." I like it. Perhaps it is cheesy, I wouldn't argue that it is over-quoted in high school yearbooks, but apparently, when you leave your camera with my childhood friends, as I did for all of thirty seconds last night, it just works...

Start spreadin' the news

2009-10-10T11:10:00.007-04:00

Good morning lovelies, I'm sorry I haven't been around as promised. Between tying loose ends at school, driving all the way home, and making doctor's visits yesterday, I've been a busy bee. Plus, I had to say hello to the boy before I could check in with you all ;). Anyway, as I spend the day re-grouping my thoughts for future blog posts I'd like to welcome VeggieGirl as the fourth Plate from Around the World. (Disclaimer: as she was cranking out school assignments and baking delights, I organized her contribution.) VG, the girl with a heart of gold that pairs ever so nicely with her air for sarcasm, such a dear friend of mine!

Your favorite place in the world? New York City. Why? I feel like I "belong there." It's just such an invigorating and comforting location, the magic and true allure of "The Big Apple."

These vacations are usually short but sweet. We meet and reunite with fun, fabulous friends, do a lot of sightseeing, shopping, and other leisurely activities, and we savor exceptional meals and desserts. Let's see the goods, VG:

Gotta love NYC's plentiful and delicious organic, vegan, & raw options!

VeggieGirl the chocoholic...who would have thought that this day would ever come??

I make the most of my time by sticking with the restaurants I know and love: Pure Food and Wine,

Pure Food and Wine, Bonobos, Pure Food and Wine, Candle 79 (nothing spectacular (and that is putting it lightly in my opinion...)), more Pure Food and Wine.

After all, it is rather fun when the restaurant staffs remember who you are and your order, haha ;-)

And not trip is complete without frequent visits to One Lucky Duck. Here I am with my half-pint of raw ice cream, always so delectable.

On the last trip, I ventured across the street from my hotel (you cannot really get much closer than that) to the Union Square Greenmarket nearly every morning.

It have been a sin not to purchase at least some of the fresh goodness offered at the market

(I stocked up on organic cherries and packed some strawberry jam to take back home)

I also felt obliged to take an abundance of photographs as well, due to the positively breathtaking and beautiful nature of the farmers market offerings.

If that weren't enough icing on the cake, I am very fortunate to have so many great friends in such a great city - it makes visiting NYC so often all that more special and worthwhile.

We are anxiously awaiting your return VeggieGirl! And, if you'd like to participate in this Plates from Around the World series please email a description favorite place, and your favorite foodie memory from there, along with a few photos of the place/food itself or those that were taken nearby to aroundthworld340@gmail.com. Ciao for now!

My humble abode

2009-10-07T21:30:00.000-04:00

Bonjour! It's about time I revealed more of my bedroom ;) come in and take a peek:

P.S. I made a lot of references to Marie, Strasbourg, and France, so next time you come visit I'll be sure to talk about show you more things from Ecuador & Chile :) it's all about balance baby.

Spice up your life

2009-10-06T19:35:00.009-04:00

Ha, Spice Girls. Good evening my sweets! I've got quite a lot of work to get done tonight so I can't "stay" long but I just wanted to let you in on my recent lunch fixation: SOUP & SALAD. Exciting stuff, I know ;). Ever since Carol and I have gone through the soup recipes she has and added some new ones it really has been though. And a cup of soup on a chilly fall day is the perfect warm-me-up and keep-me-full meal, always completed with a large plate of greens.

I give you, exhibit A.

More often than not I also add some kind of starch or protein to my salad to "beef" them up, thank you yummy homemade hummus! And a spoonful of olive oil and balsamic vinegar make the most perfect dressing.

Anyway, news about ensalada--A recent study, featured on fitnessmagazine.com, found that daily salad eaters had higher level of certain disease-fighting antioxidants. With the swine flu everywhere I turn, I'm gonna need them, and so are you, I'm sure ;).

Flashback time! Once the weather was nice, I found out, almost one year ago, that Coca was also huge fan of huge salads.

I always think of her fondly as I'm crunching away :).

And I think of my beloved mentors at Fitness magazine as I'm "bowled over" by yet another one of their soup recipes. This one is from Ellie Krieger. Carol & I omitted the yogurt that was included in the original one.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Makes: 5 servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped (2 cups)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2-1/2-pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes

6 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons curry powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

Heat oil over medium heat in a 6-quart stockpot. Add onions and saute until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 2 minutes more. Add squash, broth, curry powder, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until squash is tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove from heat, stir in honey, and puree with a mixer or in batches in a blender until smooth

Check out this month's issue for more Souped Up recipes that I helped research! Plus those other two that I, you know, wrote. Still not over it. See you mañana for another video post, g'night!