Author: Samuel Tew

The flight to Korea is a whopping 14 hours long. With that many hours on a plane, combined with the time difference, I will arrive in South Korea a mind-bending FULL DAY AND FOUR HOURS LATER than when I left Chicago. Flying West also means that we are flying in the opposite direction of the earth’s rotation, meaning that although I am on this plane for a full “night,” it is glaringly bright outside for the entire flight.

Many people dread the idea of flying. Whether it be the fear of heights, the fear of flying, or just the general agitation that security and airports so often provide, many people just loathe the entire experience. Not me. I actually love to fly. I love (almost) everything about it.

Here are the Reasons Why Flying and Airports are Awesome!

1. The people watching!

I could spend hours in airports just watching people come and go. Of course, you don’t get as many of those tear-jerking greetings we used to observe when friends and family were actually allowed to wait inside the terminal at the gate (can you BELIEVE that used to be allowed?) It’s so fun to guess why people are going to where they are going. You see young men dressed in full Army garb. You see the inevitable family walking through O’Hare airport in the middle-of-winter, hair-braided, flip flops on, fried red everywhere but their blaring white bathing suit straps and where their sunglasses used to be. You see the 50-year-old woman still smiling cheek-to-cheek, wearing Mickey Mouse everything, and carrying a giant, almost life-sized stuffed Minnie Mouse (do they need to buy an extra ticket for those things?) Maybe that woman had always dreamed of going to Disney World, and she finally made it!!

2. The stores!

Filled with glossy beautiful magazines, all of the latest and hippest books, all those little travel gadgets you never knew you needed, those last minute souvenirs of wherever you just were. Forgot to buy that Gatlinburg shot glass for your Aunt’s sister-in-law’s collection? No problem! It’s all here in this little gift shop! Ok, sure, most of the shops are the same. And yes, okay, they are totally over-priced. Of course, you could have bought all of these things in Walgreen’s or with your 40% off Borders coupon. That’s not the point! There is nothing better than having a little extra time before your flight, and browsing through the latest gossip or news magazines. Even if I already have two books in my bag for my trip, it is always hard for me to resist the temptation.

3. Food

What is it about airports that suddenly makes fast food and chain restaurants appealing? For some reason I get great pleasure out of eating in airports. I might be alone on this one.

4. Layovers.

Again, others may not agree, but I really enjoy layovers. Being in airports is cool! Sometimes they have shops. Sometimes I’ll walk around scoping out all of the fine dining options. Sometimes I will just park my butt near my gate and people watch, eat, absently stare at CNN on the flat screens, or catch up on emails.

5. The Excuse to Relax

You know what’s really awesome about flying? You can’t do ANYTHING. That might frustrate some people. But for me, it is a welcome excuse to sit and do nothing.

6. NAPS

You can take naps. Whenever. You. Want. You can’t do that at work! If you’re on a date or in class, and you are really tired, it is NOT okay to fall asleep. That’s not true on a plane. Because no one is expecting anything of you, in fact, they’d prefer if you’d sleep! It is perfectly okay to pass out in the middle of a movie, or after you read the same paragraph in your book five times. Feel like sleeping? You go right ahead. And I always encourage drooling on your neighbor.

7. No Distractions

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the plane can be that place where you can actually focus 100%. Whether you need to write that paper, type up that report for work, catch up on your blog writing (ahem), or cram in the last 100 pages of this month’s book club book, you can do it here. There is no Facebook, TV, texting, or phone calls.

8. Killer Views

You can see amazing aerial views. Have you ever flown into New York, Chicago, or Miami at an angle where you can see straight down onto the whole city? It’s so cool! You can see the desert, mountains, ice caps from a view only possible from a plane. Just make sure you get the window seat.

9. Meeting Strangers

You often have random conversations with complete strangers. You can get some interesting stories from that old guy sitting next to you. Now, this is not to be confused with the chatty Cathy that initiated conversation and will not shut up. You know those naps and doing nothing I mentioned before? These people can totally interfere with that. Some of them will not stop talking until you land. I find that the best time to cut these conversations off is when the plane takes off.

10. Movies

You know that movie you wanted to see a month ago in the theaters, but you just never made it? And now it’s in that awkward void between the theater and DVD/Netflix release? It’s here! This is where it went! You know that movie you were too embarrassed to admit that you wanted to see? It’s a foot in front of your face. Do not worry, you can watch shamelessly in the comfort of your very uncomfortable coach seat. I won’t tell. (What?? There were no other options!)

11. Being Waited On

You get waited on hand and foot! THEY bring the food and drinks to YOU. They don’t WANT you to get up! This is the perfect opportunity to embrace your laziness EVEN MORE. International flight bonus: Multiple free meals, free wine, free slippers, moist towelettes, endless movies to choose from in your own private entertainment system.

Some Perks Specific to Today’s Flight to Korea:

I’m flying Korean Air, and it has been a totally pleasant experience so far. With most US based airlines cutting out any frills to survive (I have to pay for peanuts now, seriously? And you are going to charge me to check a bag?? No blankets?? I digress.) being on a nice airline is a positive change.

They give you a choice of a western or Korean meal. Of COURSE I chose Korean! This is Korean Air! And I’m flying to Korea! And what did they serve, but one of my favorite Korean dishes – bibimbop. It is a bowl of vegetables that you mix with rice, red pepper paste, and sesame oil. It came with an instruction card in how to prepare it. So fun! It also came with seaweed soup and kimchi (of course).

I have also been pretty productive this flight. I have done some work, written this blog, started my book, and read almost the entire Korea Lonely Planet.

We are flying above the North Pole! Right now! Maybe it’s not technically the North Pole (I didn’t see Santa, so it obviously wasn’t), but if you look out, it is white ice as far as the eye can see. I have never seen that before! Very exciting.

Alright, time for one of those naps.

by Dariella Fernandez, Greenheart Travel Volunteer Abroad Participant in Costa Rica

Before going to Costa Rica I had been told that Ticans eat rice and beans, however I could have never predicted the huge amount of these two foods they really eat.

Pinto, rice and beans mixed together, is eaten for breakfast. Rice and refried beans along with a few vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower is served for lunch. Rice and freshly cooked black beans with tortillas and eggs is made for dinner. This is repeated everyday with some variables, of course, but with the rice and beans remaining constant.

As a self proclaimed very picky eater, I was at first extremely thankful that the staple foods were things I enjoyed. However after about a week and a half, this began to get very old.

Luckily different foods I enjoyed were served as well. Fresh fruit such as pineapple, watermelon, mango, or apples were sliced up to eat with every breakfast.  Pasta with a buttery, cheesy sauce, a salad with cucumbers, or a hard boil egg was often made for lunch. For dinner, my host mom cooked the best homemade French fries, tortillas, mashed potatoes, and fried plantains. Although I will not miss eating rice and beans, I will certainly miss all the other wonderful and often new foods served in Costa Rica.

Hopefully I can replicate a few of them at home!

by Jill Robinson and the Greenheart Travel High School Scholarship Winners to Costa Rica

The Greenheart Travel Scholarship winners were up to an early start for their second day in a new country. The four high school students: Braulio, Fernando, Nitza and Luzmaria had a full day of cultural events to initiate them into the Tico way of life. First stop, Espiritiu, for a crash course in coffee at the Cooperativa Naranjo coffee plantation for a tour and tasting.

“I can finally say that I am head first in Costa Rica,” Nitza Solis wrote in her journal. “The ‘toe test’ (to see how cold the water is) of Costa Rica is finally over. I am officially here! The activity that stood out to me was the coffee taste testing. It was so good and an authentic piece of Costa Rica. I never knew there are coffee tasters, much like wine tasters.”

The four students had arrived without much of a taste for this morning staple, but as the day progressed, an appreciation for the hard work that went into a morning cup o’ joe had grown tenfolds.

“When we arrived at the coffee plantation we met our tour guide whose name slips my mind, but right away, he took us to try two different types of coffee,” Fernando Arce wrote in his journal. “They were both fresh and very good. Then he took us on a tour and told us tons of information about coffee. He had a lot to say, and I was glad because there was a lot I needed to learn. We then entered a small house and our tour guide asked me and Braulio to grind the coffee in a type of machine and for Luzmaria to pour water to make the coffee. We then drank the coffee we had just made, which was really good as well.”

With the help of a caffeine kick following the coffee tour and presentation, Braulio and Fernando accepted a challenge to pass a test of Costa Rican strength. The tour guide handed them their ax and let them each have a try at a log before them. To break it in half meant they were ready to marry, a status neither of them were too eager to earn, but both of them kept a good sense of humor throughout the attempt. After the fun, the students piled into their “tour van” and rode the roller-coaster of pavement back to where their new host families awaited.

Each student had a different host family for the duration of the trip, and the nervousness that comes with meeting someone for the first time began to intensify as they approached each stop. After the initial introductions, they were welcomed into the family as if they were old friends.

“Meeting my host family (Vasquez) for the first time was scary and nerve-wracking,” Nitza wrote. “But once I started to get to know them, they made me feel at ease, especially Dona Dinia. Sometimes it is a little hard to communicate if I do not know a word, but overall I feel that I am not afraid to make mistakes and correct them.”

Luzmaria agreed, and found herself right at home with her new family.

“I love my host mom Danixa!” Luzmaria Guzman wrote. “Never have I so easily conversed with someone new (and in Spanish too!) My host family consists of Danixa, her son, her parents and her brothers and sister! All of whom are just as nice. They say I talk in Spanish well. They hear my Mexican accents, which I think is funny.”

With new homes and families come adjustments, but it is all part of the cultural immersion that is part of travel. These four students welcomed the challenges that awaited them throughout the week, even if it meant going without some of the comforts of home for a while.

“My first night has been good so far,” Braulio Fernandez wrote. “My host mom made fried fish with “pinto” (rice and beans) and salad. It was very good. The only thing that threw me off was that we didn’t eat tortillas with our meal. I desperately wanted a toasty corn tortilla, but I guess they don’t do that here. Oh well. I’m glad that’s my biggest complaint.

P.S. No trouble with heat so far.”

by Dariella Fernandez, Greenheart Travel Volunteer Abroad Participant in Costa Rica

Like most people, my fundraising began with a struggle. I didn’t know who I should send my letters to, or what the letter should contain, or how much money I should ask for. The example fundraising letter on the Greenheart Travel website helped a lot, I just copy and pasted, changed a few things around, and added some info here and there to make the perfect letter.

My next worries were if my letter writing campaign would be enough and, if not, what could I do to raise more money? To get a great idea, all I had to do was look in my back yard, where there are two huge avocado trees. I thought, “who doesn’t love avocados?” From there I found a cardboard box and filled it with Hass and Bacon avocados. I walked house to house around my neighborhood selling them for a dollar each or six for five dollars. I told my neighbors all about how I was going to volunteer in Costa Rica and in just one hour I made $87! Most everybody I asked bought some, and many gave me an additional donation of anywhere from five to twenty-five bucks!

This huge success motivated me to go to garage sales that my friends were having and sell my avocados there. I also took a huge box to work and my fellow employees loved them and asked me to bring them more! From avocados, I made almost $300, and including my letters I fundraised over $1,500. I was pleasantly surprised at how well this worked and I’m sure it can work for others as well. All you need is a box of good fruit!

by Luzmaria Guzman, Greenheart Travel Costa Rica Scholarship Winner

I really think I was meant to be a Costa Rican. Today was very enlightening and really fun. Waking up in Costa Rica was an experience I won’t forget. At the bed and breakfast, Vida Tropical, travelers wake up early to get ahead on their day. Because I heard shuffling outside my room, I lay awake on my bed. I swear with the gradual rising of the sun, I heard many bird calls. Some short and sweet, like “piv-piv-pivv.” But some carried a tone that I cannot match.

I woke up before my alarm rang. At breakfast, I learned that most people here are culturally diverse. Like our hostess, she is Columbian, is married to a New Yorker and has a Costa Rican son. How cool is that?

I loved the coffee tour. I did not know that so much planning goes into getting that ‘cup of joe’ in the morning at Starbucks. The process, the cultivation and collection of the coffee bean could make or break a coffee plantation.

Getting here was quite an adventure. We were stopped by the police! Well, they were just checking passports. Alvaro said they do that to tourists. Our one hour drive to San Pedro, near Javillos, was a roller coaster ride. I have never experienced anything like that. The twists and turns of the road, cliffs just inches away, or in the middle of mountains with lush vegetation for miles.

Rain came at any moment, yet the car sped forward. The beauty of Costa Rican landscape entranced me. It hit home that living in the city can be so depriving. I don’t have this amount of nature around me in Chicago. Yes, that car ride told me many things about myself and what my world lacks.

I love my host mother Danixa! Never have I so easily conversed with someone new (and in Spanish too!) My host family consists of Danixa, her son, her parents and her brothers and sister! All of whom are just as nice. They say I talk in Spanish well. They hear my Mexican accents, which I think is funny. Their home is so beautiful; I’m jealous. They have livestock, and a lagoon with fresh water; one can swim in it! There are fresh bananas in their back yard.

The grandparents live so close. A little stream runs through here. Danixa took me to the lagoon and it rained but it was refreshing. The cows are uber-friendly and giant! Seriously, I think I would not mind being a Costa Rican.

by Jill Robinson and Greenheart Travel’s Costa Rica Scholarship Winners

Their journey to Costa Rica began in Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, but the expectations and anxieties had been racing through their minds long before the July 17 departure. Center for Cultural Interchange/Greenheart Travel  High school scholarship winners: Braulio, Fernando, Nitza and Luzmaria were on their way to a country they had never visited, to stay with host families they have never met and to learn more about themselves and the environment then they could imagine possible in a ten-day trip.

“ ‘Getting to Costa Rica’ is the best way to describe our first day,” 16-year-old Fernando Arce from St. Laurence High School wrote in his journal. “Today I really got to know Braulio, Nitza, Luzmaria and Adra (student leader) a lot more. The whole day consisted of actually getting to Costa Rica, which I thought was good, because it gave us more time to socialize. We shared stories about school, friends, family, trips we have taken and even played a couple card games.”

As their journey began, the four students had the challenge of getting to know one another. Coming from different schools and neighborhoods in the Chicago area, the shyness disappeared in time for the final leg of their flight from Atlanta. What they did have in common was their excitement for travel and for the life-changing adventures they were going to have during their volunteer efforts. Touching down in San Jose, Costa Rica, the thick humidity in the air signaled they had arrived. Welcoming them was Alvaro from Proyecto Asis, who offered up some quick facts and a warm smile as they headed to their accommodations for the night.

“Arriving at San Jose brought me such great warmth,” Luzmaria Guzman, 17 yrs.,  from Fenwick Friars High School wrote. “The airport is just an airport, cold and all business. Stepping off my plane was so pleasant. I could just smell the fresh humidity caused by the rain. Alvaro is so friendly! He welcomed us like family.”

They were now in unfamiliar territory. The scenery zipping past their windows began to awaken the realization that they were a long way from home.

“It first hit me when we were driving in the car with Alvaro that I was in Costa Rica,” wrote Fernando. “Seeing the houses and the small stores made me realize that things were a lot different. I definitely think that this trip will help me grow stronger and make me really appreciate what I have in Chicago.”

With a heightened awareness that comes with finding yourself in a new place, 16-year-old Braulio Fernandez from Phillips Exeter Academy said it was the smell of the air that struck his senses.

“I haven’t spent too much time here in Costa Rica, but I can immediately tell you that it’s different from the States, or even Mexico for that matter,” Braulio wrote. “First is the air. After getting off the plane with popped ears, I could make out the smell of charcoal in the air. I thought that perhaps it was just at the airport, but the smell remains even at the small hotel we’re at. Naturally, I can’t smell it anymore after an hour, but it’s unique. It reminds me of the smell before a cook-out; so it’s a good thing… What I’d say is my favorite part so far is the humidity. I’m sure I won’t like it once the temperature rises, but right now it feels nice. It’s about 70 – 75 degrees and humid, making it feel great. I’ve never felt cool humidity like this anywhere. It’s actually a nice break from the Chicago heat. ( I know that sounds weird).”

Settling in for the first night, the four of them re-capped the day’s events, brains buzzing with what was in store for them for the next week and a half. They would meet their host families, and see one of many projects they would volunteer their time. There was a coffee plantation to tour and and a culture to understand. Always in the back of their mind the unknown of how they would meet the challenges presented each day.

“I expect that Costa Rica will have a lot of insects which can turn into an anxiety,” Nitza Solis, 18 yrs. from Fenwick Friars High School wrote. “However, I think Costa Rican culture embraces all living creatures even if that means critters with many legs that annoy and “terrorize” your comfort zone. I am nervous about meeting my new host family and jumping into everything at once. In my prior experience, I had time to open up, but here I’ll be jumping into a family for 10 days.

I expect that the country will be beautiful and the weather humid. I expect many adventures and trying new activities, but some of the best moments in life come unexpected, so I’m looking forward to just that… Once I landed in San Jose, Costa Rica, it hit me that I was actually going to be a part of this awesome experience. I think when I return I will look at the world from a new perspective. It will open my eyes to the nature, fragility and beauty of the world.”

by Ashley Kline, Greenheart Travel Internship Abroad Participant in Ireland

This past Sunday on a break from my internship, I went to a town called Howth, Ireland. Oh my goodness is was absolutely gorgeous!! It is right on the coast about 30 minutes from Dublin. The views are amazing and you can see for miles and miles into the Irish Sea. There are many things to do in Howth, my friends and I did the cliff walk around the mountains. It takes about two hours; it is so worth it. I took a million pictures of the cliffs and down into the water. The views are breathtaking, unlike anything you could ever imagine. You also get to meet people who are also walking; we met some people from Germany, they were so nice. There are different paths to take and you can actually go all the way around and walk for as long as you want. There is also a lighthouse at one end of a cliff.

Also in Howth, there is a marina with tons of boats and a long pier you can walk through that goes far into the water. If the seals are out you can feed them and sit on the big boulders and stare off into the sea, it’s so relaxing. The beach is beautiful and the water is so green it looks like a picture someone drew. There are little shops around and a little ice cream shop, I believe it is called Ann’s that I would definitely recommend. There are also many seafood places around if you want to sit down for a nice dinner. If you think of a typical European town that is Howth in a nutshell. The roads are small and not very wide, there are little houses all around the mountain.

We really lucked out because the weather was perfect the day we went so it made it even better. I would recommend anyone to go to Howth; it’s a perfect day trip! It is very easy to get to; we just took the Dublin bus number 31 and were there in no time.

by Jes Stayton, Greenheart Travel High School Abroad Participant

After that we returned to the hotel, changed out of our school uniforms, and went to dinner, which was delicious. (I still can’t believe that we were required to wear our winter uniforms in what is basically a tropical climate. )  After dinner, I went to a Japanese public bath for the first time.  The public bath was basically a big room with a bunch of showers around the sides and a big bathtub in the middle. (A Japanese bath is more like a hot tub than anything.  You don’t wash in it.)  The big shocker for me was that everyone strips completely to go to the bath.  I was very nervous, but managed to take my clothes off with everyone else.  I was surprised to see that all the other students acted as if this was a normal thing to do.  They laughed and even commented on one anothers’ bodies.  There was none of the awkwardness that I expected.

The next day, we dressed, ate, and packed to leave, since we wouldn’t be returning to that hotel.  We went to the ruins of Nakijin-jo castle, a World Heritage site.  Nakijin-jo was a Ryukyu castle  (Okinawa was the Ryukyu Kingdom before it became part of Japan), dating back from the 13th century.  The ruins were fascinating and still very beautiful.  They commanded a fantastic view of the ocean.

Next, we went to the Churaumi Aquarium, one of the biggest aquariums in Japan.  It was amazing, but very similar to aquariums found in America, so I’m not going to go into detail about it. (Sorry!)  After the aquarium, we went to a nearby hotel, where we ate a fantastic lunch comprised mostly of seafood.  (The Japanese consider food an important part of any trip, so you can usually count on them to have good food. )

After a walk along a very scenic stretch of coastline, we went to Sakima Art Museum.  The museum mainly displays paintings related to The Battle of Okinawa.  (For those who don’t know, the battle of Okinawa occurred during WWII.  It is notable for both the huge loss of life, and the fact that many of those who died were civilians. )  The paintings were very moving, and both I and some of my friends felt a little depressed.  One painting depicted a mass suicide..  It was mainly black and white, except for a huge swath of red on the right-hand side, and a gray-blue toward the bottom.  Looking closer at the gray-blue, I realized that it was a pond, filled with bodies.

We had a long bus ride to the next hotel, and I didn’t talk much, feeling a little sad.  Throughout the trip, I always felt somewhat relieved to sit on the bus, both because of the heat and my aching feet.  When we finally reached the hotel, everyone put their bags in their rooms.  I had been surprised (and impressed) to discover that the teachers (who chose the room arrangements) had tried to put everyone in the same room with their friends.  After changing, we went down to dinner.

Dinner was in courses, instead of all at once.  Everyone had three forks, and a dessert fork and spoon, which I’d heard of, but never seen in real life.  All the students were a little nervous about which fork or knife to use, but everyone seemed to know what to do, despite using chopsticks to eat most of the time.  (Most Japanese people know Japanese manners, and European manners as well.  Isn’t that amazing?  Sometimes I can’t even handle European manners.)  The food was delicious, and I think everyone enjoyed the experience, including me.

Back in our room, my friends and I stayed up late, talking and laughing.  I went to sleep around twelve o’clock, and two of my friends went to bed even later.  This probably wasn’t a good decision, considering the next day we had to get up at 5:30 a.m