Ah, the South Pacific…The name alone conjures up lavish images of palm trees whispering above finely powdered beaches and cerulean lagoons.  It would have been nice to say that I spent a few nights sleeping in a “fale” (a simple open-air beach hut) to get the full South Pacific experience; but my trip to Fiji almost played out like an episode of Gilligan’s Island with me feeling stranded on a resort instead of a desert island….

Researching new ways to apply my basic knowledge of Spanish, I was immediately intrigued with how this exchange program (aka SHAEP) applied classroom teachings to the real world.  After months of exchanging WhatsApp messages, it was excited to travel to Peru with 3 other exchange students…..

Summer festivals are a great way to enjoy your own city, especially after a long week.  When torn between hopping on a plane to escape your ordinary routine or staying local, having easy access to both New York City and the Jersey Shore definitely has it perks.  While some people view the festival experience as being all about embracing the grimy/roughing out weekend elements, this Jersey girl found 4 glammed out summer events to explore…..

If you haven’t brunched in Dubai, you haven’t REALLY brunched!  Sorry not sorry, but the brunch experience in Dubai is in a whole other opulent category…..

Totally embodying the phrase, “you never know where the day may lead,” my EPIC Moroccan trip left me with no other choice but to surrender to living in the moment.  Just days before this magical dinner, we were standing at a JFK Airport gate pleading with the staff to open the recently closed doors to the only direct flight to Morocco. 

Pulling off a 30-day solo Espana adventure requires strategic skills, resources, and planning.  When I speak of resources, I am referring to a network of contacts, places to visit and knowing where NOT to go. Being that my tutor was from Spain, she was my first source. She suggested visiting her hometown of Valencia, Barcelona and Alicante in Spain’s southern region….

Cadillac convertible down, sunnies on and curls blowing in the wind; we channeled our inner Princess Grace of Monaco (remixed with a little Salsa flavor) while cruising through the countryside to a white sand beach an hour outside of Cuba’s largest city. Eager to soak up as much as I could with my limited Spanish, our guide shared historic and cultural facts about his beloved “City of Columns”….  

Not knowing what to expect during my first trip overseas, I touched down in “Bel Paese” with a very open mind.  There was no mention of the racial issues faced by Italian soccer players or the possibility of racial encounters that were fueled by the rising number of African immigrants.

I stress to my daughter that she can do anything she chooses, but it dawned on me early on in her life that I wanted to be her primary example of this.  The vantage point that children have allows them to experience their mothers in such a powerful way. I wanted my daughter to see me bravely travel across the world with friends, so that when her time came she would feel empowered to do likewise.  Similarly, there’s something so endearing about going away and then returning with treats, pictures, and stories to share! After returning home from a trip, I have seen my daughter look at my pictures and listen to my stories with such wonder in her eyes and spirit.