Dance Class Blog

Far too often we get caught up in the necessity of cooking in order to eat and forget the absolute joy that can be found through the act of cooking. Of course this isn’t limited to stovetop cooking. There are many men and women around the world who find baking to be an extremely pleasurable pastime in addition to traditional stovetop cooking or even barbecuing on a grill. The main distinction occurs in how you perceive your cooking projects.

How Do Your View Cooking? While this question is asked somewhat rhetorically, it is a question you should ask yourself and answer. Do you view cooking as a chore or duty or do you view it as a project? There is something much more exciting about embarking on a new project than getting around to a loathsome chore. If you do view cooking as a chore the more important question might be why?

Some common reasons that people dislike cooking include the following: lack of skill, lack of confidence, boredom, or you could simply dislike the inevitable clean up far more than you enjoy the process of cooking. For each of these, there are solutions if you are willing to make the effort.

A lack of skill when it comes to cooking can be easily corrected in most cases by taking a few cooking classes. Classes are offered for varying degrees of skill sets and are meant to help you develop your cooking talents while teaching you the basics of meal planning and preparation. You can increase your skills by taking more classes down the road.

While a lack of confidence is a little more difficult to address having a few ‘dinner parties’ in which your quests can compliment your culinary talents can often solve this particular dilemma. The key in this process is to plan your menu carefully and remain well within your comfort zone. You will be amazed at the wonderfully rich and delicious meals that can be prepared with very little effort if you are willing to sift through the recipe books in order to find them.

Boredom in the kitchen is perhaps one of the easiest problems to fix there is. The solution is exceedingly simple-find a challenge. Try cooking Thai or Indian cuisine. Try more difficult recipes. Try making only meals from scratch or simply try broadening your use of spices and seasonings. There are many things you can do in order to bring some excitement back into your kitchen. You may even discover hidden talents and tastes in the process.

There will always be clean up. My suggestion is to make a deal with either your partner or your children and they can draw straws over who cleans up. Of course if this won’t work in your family, you could always turn over a new leaf and clean as you go whenever possible. This makes the clean up process after dinner so much simpler to handle that it is well worth a few extra minutes during meal prep.

Cooking for pleasure is really the only way to cook. If you have difficulties when it comes to finding the enjoyment and entertainment value of cooking, perhaps it’s time you bring some fun back into your kitchen. If you’re barbecuing, put on some Jimmy Buffet and dance around your kitchen. If you’re cooking Italian find some nice Italian music to set the mood. Bring the fun back into your kitchen and you will find that cooking is a pleasure rather than a chore.

Jackson Sloat
http://www.articlesbase.com/cooking-tips-articles/how-cooking-is-pleasurable-744951.html

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Dieting for Health

There is no greater reason to diet than for your personal health and well being. Those of us who are overweight know better than most the risks and possible consequences that may result because of our weight. Much like smokers however, the risks do not always seem quite so cut and dry until we reach our very own turning point. Whether your eating habits are born of an addiction to certain foods, an emotional need, or years of learned behavior and conditioning things will not change until you completely adjust your eating habits and your lifestyle choices.

Dieting for many has become a lifestyle in and of itself with people rapidly flip-flopping or yo-yoing from one diet to another with little success and growing despair over a sheer lack of results. The truth is that until you decide to forgive yourself for your failures and get right back on the wagon, so to speak, after falling off no diet is going to be successful. A simple diet isn’t going to magically make the pounds disappear and constantly depriving yourself of those things you enjoy most may have a more detrimental effect than a positive effect.

The number one thing most people need to learn is that dieting isn’t always a good thing. What most people who are overweight need more than anything else is to incorporate positive lifestyle changes into their daily routines. People scoff at the notion of taking the stairs or parking farther away and yet those are perfectly plausible methods of working a little more physical activity into your day. If those do not work for you how about learning to dance? Seriously, there are beginner dance classes in most communities that will welcome and invite dances of all ages, sizes, and fitness levels if you are willing to make the effort. What a great way to get fit, learn something new, and have fun without filling deprived.

Another great thing about an activity such as a dance class (consider ballroom dancing with your significant other) is that you are not eating or tempted to eat during the time that you are dancing in most cases. Another great thing is that you are burning those calories you didn’t eat. If dancing isn’t you thing, try joining a walking club or finding another hobby. Anything that gets you on your feet and away from the temptation of your refrigerator is a good thing when it comes to dieting and weight loss. You cannot lose a significant amount of weight by dieting alone. You must incorporate physical fitness into your daily routine in order to achieve those immediate and visually stunning results that many dieters are hoping to achieve.

Another pitfall when it comes to dieting is that people give up far too quickly. Just as the results are beginning and progressing people get tired of the process or frustrated that they aren’t accomplishing enough dramatic weight loss as quickly as they had hoped and give up all together marking off yet another failure when they could have achieved greater success than ever before if they had stuck with their original diet plan a little longer.

One more thing you should remember when it comes to dieting is that the scale can be your best friend or your worst enemy when dieting. If you are weighing yourself every day in hopes of watching the scale tick off yet another pound you are dooming yourself to failure. You will never achieve the results you are hoping for you if you are going into depressive bouts of Rocky Road or Chunky Monkey every night because you didn’t lose 10 pounds overnight.

When it comes to dieting there are very few diets that work, one of the best at moment on the market is the Strip Fat Diet 

Simon Fusco
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/dieting-for-health-717447.html

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Stress always goes hand in hand with health. Depending to the stress level of a person, the impact of stress in the body can range from minor sweaty palms right through to being fatal and causing death. In order to manage stress and health better, you must first be familiar with the severe effects of stress in the body.

*Physical & Behavioral Signs Of Stress*
Stressors can be either external or internal. External stressors involve situations in the workplace, death or illness in the family, or by simply becoming angry. On the other hand, most of the stress that people experience is self-generated or internal. A person usually creates his or her own stress but this indicates that the person has the choice or doing nothing or something about it.

Your major body systems are all affected by stress.
When a person feels stressed, there will be an increase in heart rate, and an elevation in the blood pressure levels. The continuous pressure in the heart can also make a person vulnerable to cardiac arrest and other cardiac-related problems.

The digestive system is also affected when you are stressed. Some people can experience diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dryness of the mouth and the throat. Stress may also cause sleeping disorders, nausea and in some cases even a tightness of the chest, neck, jaw and the back muscles. You may also experience tooth grinding.

Often there are also changes in behavioral patterns noticeable in a person experiencing chronic levels of stress. Smokers normally experience an increase in smoking patterns. Aggressive behaviors and hostility towards others and even inanimate objects are sometimes linked to a person being easily startled. A person?s diet can also be affected by the irregular eating habits caused by stress.

Some people who cannot handle stress unfortunately resort to increased levels of alcohol and drug use. Additionally, unhealthy compulsive behavior, impatience and carelessness are also the behavioral effects of stress.

* Long Term Implications of poor stress management *
Long term stress in your life will badly affect your health and wellbeing overall. During stress the body produces hormones that enable the body to cope with the current situation. Short term effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and corticosteroids include tense muscles, queasiness and an in increase in breathing and heart rates.

The long term implications of these hormones include allergic reactions, digestive disorder, heart disease, fatigue headaches and migraine. Even some cases of impotence and premature ejaculation can occur in men or erratic menstrual cycles for some women. When the body continuously releases these hormones your sleeping patterns can also be affected and can sometimes lead to chronic insomnia. With severe cases of stress, it can cause eczema, ulcerative colitis, mouth and peptic ulcers and recurring muscular aches and pains.

* Healthy Lifestyle to reduce stress levels in your life *
How a person identifies stress is important to their overall health. When the stress becomes too much to handle, the damage to their physical and mental well-being can be irreversible. Living a healthy life can help a person cope with stress easily.

* Tips for Better Managing Your Stress *
Although a build up of stress can result in major risks, it can also be a positive catalyst for change in your life. Do not let stress accumulate without making the necessary lifestyle changes, otherwise the result can be fatal. By recognizing the stressors, you can put each of them in place and deal with them one by one. Remember that stress can be a healthy signal that you need to make some positive changes in your life, and that now is the best time to make decisions.

* Breathing And Relaxing to Control Stress *
Oxygen is obviously very important to the body. Taking a deep breath adds oxygen to the system, which can help you relax.

Take a short walk in some fresh air, go get a glass a glass of filtered water and do something that can change your focus onto something positive. Try smiling and take a short moment focusing on something else other than your problem. Watch some funny videos before you start your day or listen to comedy audio tapes when you drive in traffic. By the time you get back to your problem, it would not seem nearly as undefeatable.

* Enjoy The Good Things Of Life And Be Positive *
When you let stressful events build up, you can forget to enjoy the good things of life. Remember that life offers many more important things other than work. Reserve some time to actually recognize the good things in your life. Practice being grateful for what you have in your life.

* Know Yourself and Work on Your Limitations *
By recognizing your limitations, you can evade situations that can usually lead to the piling up of work. And you do not need to take responsibility for the work that some one else has left undone. Do not burden yourself with the problems of other people.

If you continuously beat yourself up with needless guilt, not only will you be unable to manage your stress but you will instead worsen the situation.

There are other several ways to help you manage your stress. If you are into self help books, sometimes taking time reading your favorite book can help you in putting the problem out of your mind, or help you to come up with creative solutions. Taking a warm bath and watching your favorite show on TV can also help you. Always remember that the keyword in better stress management is Relaxation.

* Strategies to Use for Avoiding Stress Build Up*
Stress build up can pose major health risks to you in the long term if you do not start to deal with it now. Often times, people who do not know how to handle stress find themselves in rehabilitation facilities that offer twelve-step programs that could help them recover. So have a policy that stress avoidance is always better than cure. Learn to avoid stress build up through simple strategies that you could practice in your free time.

* Learn To Have Fun *
Look into yourself and find something that you are into. There are bound to be some games or fun activities that you can enjoy by yourself or with friends and family. Find the things that you enjoy the most. Hobbies are helpful activities to enhance the overall relaxation process.

Drawing and gardening are great stress relievers but you are not limited to these two. You can practically put your hands on anything that you enjoy doing. Maybe start collecting something of interest as a hobby. Take some craft classes, or learn to dance. If there was a sport you enjoyed in school, you might be able to start getting back into shape with that interest again. Learn that it is fine to have a little fun after hard days of work.

* Taking Better Care Of Your Health *
If you have a predetermined health condition, stress can greatly aggravate that condition. Maintaining a healthy diet and physical activity levels can help you in avoiding the health risks from stress.

Healthy eating at home can help you lose some spare pounds around the stomach, since most people who are stressed-out tend to gain more weight than others. Planning ahead is an important step in eating healthy. Do your shopping for weekly groceries, and plan your home meals every week. Keep your cooking simple and fast to reduce your daily stress. Eating healthy does not mean that you need to prepare a four-course meal. A simple balanced meal with the combination of protein, fresh fruits, green vegetables, wholegrain bread and not too much fat is enough to get you going. You can even find healthy recipes online. Eating organic produce also helps to eliminate many of the toxins that can stress your body. Drink plenty of filtered water and reduce your caffeine and soda drinks.

Exercising can help you cope with stress easily. You can also enroll yourself in weekly gym classes or dance classes depending on how much free time you have. Through gentle and consistent exercise your body releases more of the endorphins that increase your feelings of wellbeing. It does not have to be overly strenuous, just enough to get a slight sweat and glow to your skin.

* Ask For Support When you Need it. *
Never blame yourself for the cause of stress as this will only worsen the stress that you are already feeling. Do not build a wall around you whenever you are feeling stressed and never let yourself feel helpless. Ask family or friends to assist you to cope. Stress is an enemy that you can triumph upon with the help of loved ones.

* You can use Spiritual Practices For Avoiding Stress *
Practicing meditation can help you clear you mind in stressful situations. Seniors use prayers as stress reliever. Prayers can also maintain emotional stability. Learn what you need to maintain your Mind, Body, Spirit Balance for your overall wellbeing.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/master-the-skill-of-stress-management-to-improve-your-health-wellbeing-683766.html

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The Sun waits patiently in the Time exchange zone to commence the morning shift, a duty he had assiduously discharged from time immemorial. He looks at the Time judge, clothed with the garment of precision and wealth of experience. An unbiased umpire, (in the competitive regulation reign between the Sun and his colleague the ‘Darkness’) saddled with the responsibility of raising the green flag to approve of the Sun’s ascension.

“Not yet”, his gentle eyes convey the message, unwilling to face the risk of a query from the Creator for his ill- timed decision. The Sun warms up one last time, to get on to Life’s field of play, enthusiasm getting the better part of him. He senses his time has come, and moves closer to the touch line, eyes on the umpire waiting for the signal to lift off. After a couple of seemingly stretchy seconds, he recognizes the ritualistic smile dangling at the corners of the umpire’s mouth, who calculatively raises the green flag on the dot of the approved hour.

The Sun nods in appreciation and begins the gradual ascension process. The Darkness in compliance with the regulated natural laws, starts the retraction process, slowly folding up his blanket stretched self from the sky. The chord of envy strikes within the heart of the Darkness as it glares menacingly at the rising Sun. Despite this apparent resentment towards his colleague he’d taken over working shifts from since creation days, the darkness takes an exit bow before the one he considered a formidable and undefeated opponent.

Lagos yawns and stretches his 3,5777 Square kilometres body in response to the rising call, as the tendentious figure of 9 Million multi- ethnic based inhabitants, awake to face the challenges of a new day. Lagos state, once capital of Nigeria, was created on May 27, 1967, but zoomed off administratively on April 11, 1968. The state has indubitably metamorphosed into Canaan land, unapologetically retaining the title as the “Economic and Commercial nerve Centre of the Nation” for the umpteenth time. Taking into cognizance the mega opportunities that abound in the Green land with regards to Tourism, a high influx of Tourists and Investors to the “Centre of Excellence” (formerly tagged as the State of Aquatic splendour) has been recorded.

The State with certitude is the Land of Aquatic splendour, courtesy of its location along the littoral lines of the Country.  Tourists tootle down to the various sandy beaches (Victoria/Bar, Lekki, Eleko, Alpha, Coconut, kuramo, Akodo, Whispering Palm) where Nature’s tranquility medicine offers a guaranteed rejuvenating experience for the flurried, forlon, sombre incarcerated and enthusiastic fun seekers. The Ocean sends out an informal invitation to the tourists, for a momentary embrace, to which some eagerly respond to. Splashing contest courtesy of the breaker erupts chortles from different angles. Tourists can enjoy the horse rides, or simply take a walk on the sandy beaches. Those who opt for a beautiful tan can recline comfortably on the locally made beach chairs, or simply stretch out on the sand. Tourists can also relax in the cool shady comfort of the ingenuity made local beach huts, and tap into the mirthy feeling pervading the beach, while they gladly undergo the life- enhancing therapy, soothingly administered by Nature. Picnics, beach parties and games (volley ball, soccer) uplifts the downcast and gives fun seekers the passport to Funtopia.

The Exquisite Sea side Holiday and Leisure resorts (whispering Palm Beach and resort, Eko Tourist beach resort, Galilee Holiday resort, Halem Sea side resort, La Campagne Tropicana, Funtopia Leisure resort) provides the idyllic environment for those who cherish quietude, with jovial attendants at their service. A “home away from home” feeling is guaranteed to flood your very being. There’s never a hum-drum moment in Lagos state as more investors are ploughing their resources in to the city’s fertile soil. 

History prone tourists can also avail themselves of the opportunity to travel back in time via the creative time portal, provided by the “Mobee Museum”, Badagry, to the slave trade era, and for a fleeting moment share in the psychological trauma, anguish and pain our ancestors passed through when they were stripped of their inalienable rights, and forcefully subjected into wearing the chains of slavery spearheaded by the colonial masters, as they cried out, longing to be set free from their bonds.

‘Relics of the Slave trade era’ such as the ‘mouth lock’ (used to prevent them from speaking), ‘hand lock’ (used on children), ‘hand chains’ (used in fastening them to trees), ‘neck chains’ (used to link the neck of a slave to another while moving in a single file). The “Slave market”, served as the contractual base where slaves were traded by the kings in return for bottles of gin given to them by the slave merchants. The slaves were then transported to the “slave port”, a.k.a “The point of no return”. The name was based on the established, undisputed fact, that once the slaves were on board the sailing ships, they could “never return” to the land of their birth. The bowl where the slaves drank from while their hands were tied to the back, and “The Canon gun” used in fighting the slave traders pursuant to the proclamation of slave trade abolition in England, invokes the reality of a past inhumane era. 

The “Early missionary cemetery”, the “first well” built by the missionaries can also be found in the land’s historic tourism data base. The “National Museum” Onikan proudly displays vital relics of the past, including but not limited to the replica of the ‘Festac 77’ symbol, traditional Benin bronzes, weapons used by sango (a.k.a god of thunder) revered among the Yoruba tribe in ancient times, outfits of masquerades, original crowns and full regalia worn by kings from different ethnic groups, warrior’s outfit laden with local charms, a chain mail version worn by another tribe, weapons of warfare such as spears, swords, Dane guns (of Portuguese origin before the locals began making theirs), the gun used during the second world war, “bullet- ridden car in which the Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated in” while on his way to the mosque on Friday 13th February 1976, amongst others.

“The National Arts Gallery” showcases the finest of artistic ingenuity works to those who have an interest in the Arts. The “Verekete shrine” where Richard Lander was charged with espionage and proven not guilty after drinking and surviving the concoction prepared by the juju priest, the fallen “Agia tree”, under which Christianity was first preached in 1842, are found in the town of  Badagry, replete with mind blowing, yet emotionally draining sites and relics from its historical archives.

The ‘First storey building’ in Nigeria, with its antique architectural design is also located in Badagry, and welcomes visitors who are eager to get a glimpse of its  interior parts. “The wooden stairs, Missionary trust fund, Copy of the Bible translated from the English language to Yoruba” can still be found in it. “Glover Memorial Hall” prides itself amongst other things as the venue where the “first film exhibition” took place in August 1903, which triggered off the movie era that  successfully paved the way for  various Cine film productions from the Nigerian movie pioneers (Ola Balogun, Eddie Ugbomah, late Herbert Ogunde, Adeyemi Afolayan a.k.a Ade Love (father of Kunle Afolayan of the “Irapada”, “The Figurine fame”), Ladi Ladebo, Moses Adejumo, Adebayo Salami and Afolabi Adesanya) and later the emergence of the Home video revolution which birthed Nollywood. The throne of the Nigerian Movie Industry (Nollywood) is located in Lagos, which has become the second largest movie producing Industry in the world as at 2009 and a good number of the stars(actors, actresses, directors, film makers, producers and others) live and work in Lagos.

“The National Theatre” Iganmu , a magnificent architectural masterpiece, plays host to remarkable theatrical performances and other entertainment inclined events. The “Heart beat of the Music industry” is also located in Lagos which has also produced world class high flying artistes such as Tu face Idibia, P-Square, D’banj, amongst others. A plethora of music promenade shows, concerts powered by various entertainment and Blue chip companies takes place at different times in the year. Some foreign artistes have performed in Nigeria such as 50 cents, Beyonce, Akon, Nas, Neli, Y- cleff , Shaggy, Sean Paul, Kirk Franklin, Donnie Mcclurkin, amongst other top rated ones. 

The International exposure and great opportunities abound on a mega scale in Lagos and Nigerian artistes are relocating from different parts of the world and the country to partake of the ceaseless flow of milk and honey. Artistes enthusiastically look forward to major Awards ceremony held at various times during the year. A few of the Nigerian artistes who have won MAMA, Kora Awards are based in Lagos. The state is incontrovertibly the seat of Entertainment, also hosting stand-up comedy shows (Basket Mouth uncensored, AY live, Live N Naked, Crack your ribs, Nite of a thousand laughs, Stand up Nigeria) and dance (with venues where you can dance to hip hop music , and of course salsa, yeah salsa! ) 

The “Silver Bird Galleria, Nu Metro, Genesis Deluxe, City mall cinemas”, offers movie goers/lovers the opportunity of watching latest flicks from Hollywood and even Bollywood. The feeling of watching flicks from a wide genre, and eating popcorn makes edgy tourists feel more relaxed and at home. The “Lekki conservation centre”, “The Remembrance Arcade”, “Tafawa Balewa Square” are remarkable sites/monuments spread across the state.

Tourists can also participate in various festivals held at different times in the year such as the popular “Eyo Masquerade and Olokun festivals” which comes out tops on the list besides the “Fanti carnival, Lagos beach carnival”, off the hook “Lagos international jazz festival and Black heritage festival” poised to hit the Nation big time. The “Badagry Christmas carol”, “Ovation red carol” powered by the publisher of Ovation magazine Dele Momodu, gives tourists a wonderful, memorable time. 

A variety of mouth watering luscious local cuisine such as “Pounded yam and Egusi soup”, “Amala and Efo soup” with assorted meats (beef, pomo, shaki, offals a.k.a round about), “Garri/Fufu and Edikang ikong, Afang, Nsala soups”, “Isi Ewu”,  are amongst hundreds of delicacies available for consumption from the multi ethnic based groups represented in the state. Tourists can also decide to order for “spicy fresh fish, beef, and chicken pepper soup” or opt for “fish, beef or chicken suya” available at various spots and compliment same with various brands of drinks and good mellifluous music, especially at night. They can also decide to get a wide variety of snacks from various fast food joints ( Eateries) located in different axis of the state such as Mr Bigg’s, Tantalizers, Sweet Sensation, Tasty Fried Chicken, Chicken Republic, Mama Cass amongst others. Fun enthusiasts ritualistically storm night clubs and other events places dominantly on Fridays/ Saturdays to have fun. 

Luxury Hotels with an untainted record of International hospitality services with state of the art security are located in major parts of the city such as “Eko Hotel and Suites”, “Sheraton Hotel and Towers”, “Protea Hotel” and of course if you’re tired of spending time on land, the massive exquisite “boat hotel” floating on water serves as the tempting alternative tourists would love to fall for. “Ikoyi” and “Federal Palace Hotels” are also eagerly flocked to by Tourists. Continental dishes drawn from occidental, oriental and other areas are prepared by experienced chefs and a range of world class exotic wines are available, much to the delight of tourists. Tourists can also opt to dine at the various exquisite restaurants such as “Tanjia”, “Marcopolo”, “Bonzai”, and “Golden Gate”.

The bee hived Murtala Mohammed International Airport plays host to numerous tourists, as most flights into Nigeria are recorded therein. Besides, various Travel agencies, Tour companies have their offices in Lagos, with tour guides ready to give them an insight to the local communities and various sites. Souvenirs can be gotten at the shops and local fabrics, jewellery, shoes, bags, wares and various items of interest to Tourists made by different tribes resident in the state can be bought at the local markets situated on the Island and the Mainland. They can also shop at the “City mall” Onikan or at “De palms” Lekki where a large number of people flock to buy various products especially at (“Shop rite”, “The Game”). Other notable shops include “Park and Shop”, “Mega Plaza”). Tourists can also have access to the aerial view of the landscape via helicopter services, or take jolly rides in ferries, cruises, and car hire services on offer by private companies.

The Sun takes its mandatory bow before the natural elements, and earthly creatures inhabiting the terrestrial and aquatic domain with its ruler “man”. They in turn in one accord give an acknowledging nod embedded in an appreciative silence for yet another job well done as the darkness gradually comes on the scene watching once more with envy as the sun retracts its visually blinding rays with grandeur. To the human eye, the convergence point, portraying the beauty of the setting Sun can only termed as Nature’s magnum opus. The beautiful sights and sounds ably projected by the zillion dazzling lights from the residential and non-residential buildings, street lights, invokes a mesmerizing effect on passers by who constantly reel out words of admiration at the breath taking sight.

The Executive Governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola SAN, is driven by the passion to transform Lagos into a “Mega city”, no doubt a herculean task, but one he’s set his heart to accomplish and certainly will. The state is indeed the “Centre of Excellence” and proudly runs with the Tourism flag ahead of its counterparts. Tourists who have visited the beautiful city have debunked the unpleasant rumours propagated in their countries, having under gone the memorable experience of a life time. Lagos state indeed ranks as one of the Top tourism states in Nigeria and as our charismatic, vision driven Governor constantly declares “Eko oni baje o!”

So long… auggiepo@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

Augusta okon

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SPAIN INSANE

by

Elaine Emily T. Abonal

I was the team leader of a group of college students for one of the Institute for Foreign Study’s (IFS) semester break exchange program to Salamanca, Spain. I have never been to Europe before then and I am minoring in Spanish so needless to say, I was so excited and so ready to go! It was a dream come true! Being an exchange student and experiencing first hand a culture completely different from your own and away from the protective wings of your parents is one of the life-changing things that I would never have gotten if it weren’t for the programs like these.

Four years ago, I went to Appleton, Wisconsin for a whole year as a high school exchange student for a gap year. I can still say today that I am a much better person because of it. I gained life lessons that have helped me throughout college and I know will help me in the future. That experience also helped me be a good team leader or an “ate” to the other girls who have never been away for so long before. I was also living proof and a spokesperson to the parents in letting them know that they were making the right choice in letting go of their kids – even for a little while – so they can experience the world on their own.

Four words: Best. Sem. Break. Ever.

Everything was completely different in Spain. Everything was in Spanish (of course), they ate at the weirdest and latest times (lunch at 3 and dinner at 10!), there was public display of affection everywhere (which actually made for an interesting way to watch people – hah), the weather was almost close to freezing (remember, it was November!), they strictly obeyed the siesta (the town is dead for 3 hours) and then party like crazy during their fiestas (there’s no way anyone would go home at midnight – it only starts then). Salamanca is also known as a UNESCO World Heritage City and one of the most popular and most beautiful places to visit. I never cared much for architecture before, but there definitely was magic in the golden walls of Salamanca. There were students from all over the world and of course, being a majority of girls that we were, we definitely went loca seeing all those guapo Spanish boys, from the Universidad students, Prince Felipe of Spain (Yes!!! He was in Salamanca for the day and we were so lucky to see him!), Andre – that one Brazilian student in our school that all us Filipino girls loved, David Beckham during the Real Madrid game (Okay, he’s not Spanish, but still!), to even the chico that sold stamps in magazine stands. It was fun for us to get the attention that we did since we were the foreigners – like someone staring in your face, a non-Spanish university student saying that you were a 15 (“quince”) on the 1-10 belleza (beauty) level, and some good looking boy saying, “Hola guapa, que tal?” We took things in stride and just laughed at ourselves and what was going on because everything was different, and the Spanish just loved to live life. We were young and I don’t think there was a better time in our lives to be in Spain.

The first time I had desayuno (breakfast), I was shocked and said to myself, “That’s it?!” My host mom – Leonor – left a glass of orange juice, butter, and one piece of toast on the table for me. I realized that in Spain, they really don’t eat so much in the morning. After breakfast, I would walk for around fifteen minutes through the cold but sunny streets of Salamanca to get to Spanish class. Everyone walked in the morning – people going to work, grandparents doing their daily routine, parents dropping off their children to school, and hundreds of colegio and Universidad students rushing to their classes.

Then, I would see the other Filipino girls and other foreign students in our language school, Enforex, and give each other the double, and get to class. I had the coolest, craziest and most interesting profesores who made learning Spanish not only challenging and easy at the same time, but also fun and up-to-date. Did you know that Spanish girls never change their surnames and that only one person is supposed to pay when a group of friends go out? My class was made up of one Japanese girl who was so much better in Spanish than I was (but couldn’t pronounce the rrrr’s!), an older guy from Slovakia who just wanted to learn a new language after he retired, a Brazilian boy who was cool and nonchalant because Portuguese was close to Spanish anyway, another Filipina friend whose presence made me feel more comfortable, and a sweet blonde German girl who would always invite me to parties. I looked forward to go to class everyday and was muy excited about what new thing I would learn next.

Classes would last from 9 to 2 pm and siesta would begin. Everything was closed and during that time all of us Filipinos would go back home and have lunch with our host families. I would be insanely hungry by then since I wasn’t used to the eating schedule, but since it was their biggest meal of the day, I was eventually full right away. My host mom always prepared soup, two (note: TWO!) main courses, a lot of bread, and yogurt for dessert. Honestly, the food for me was okay and I guess the weirdest thing I ate was rice and tomato sauce – nothing else. It’s for sure though, that the españoles loved their olive oil because I must have had it in every meal (olive oil is cheap there). My host parents were home during the siesta for their work break so I would talk to them a little bit and get to practice my Spanish before I took a nap.

By 5PM, everything comes back to life. Tiendas would start putting back their abierta (open) signs, people would start filling the streets again, and others would start walking back to work. In my case, I would meet up with the other Filipinos or other friends I made in classes, and we tried out the different cafeterias and restaurantes near the Plaza, went shopping crazy by going to Mango, H&M or Zara and had our daily routine of Spain’s well-known and muy rico chocolate con churros. We saw movies in Spanish and didn’t care if we didn’t understand most of it, just hung out and sat around the Plaza Mayor – the most beautiful part of the city – to watch the people, walked around in the cold of the city to see the sights and just for the sake of it, took hundreds of pictures of anything and everything, and just breathed in the culture and magic of everything that was going on around us.

After having dinner out, going back home to do homework, resting or hanging out with our families again, I would meet up with mis amigas under the famous clock of the Plaza Mayor an hour before midnight. Late at night, high school to university students would go out for a night of ir de marcha (going out) and stay out until the madrugada (wee hours of the morning). Hundreds of people, mostly students, would wait and meet up with their own friends before they went to the bars and discos. Thursday was the official night of going out and everyone, of all shapes, sizes, nationalities, ages, and even genders – go out. No other people party like the Spanish do and they know how to have a good fiesta. I enjoyed every minute of it. It was a good and fun way to meet other students and also to dance to Spanish music. (Bailamos!) With everything that was going on around you, and all the guapos y guapas, you just had to dance. I don’t think I’ve ever danced that much in my entire life! All the bars were next to each other so we would walk from one place to the other and completely forgot about the cold. Who would have thought that the streets could be alive and scattered with young people at 3AM – on a Monday? Friends met up and enjoyed before finally going home and walking through the well-lit and safe streets of Salamanca.

On weekends, we went to school-arranged trips and with that we saw the Aqueducts of Segovia, toured around the magical and caste-like city of Toledo, visited and went in the different museums of Madrid, like the Museo del Prado (my favorite) and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. I was able to see the most famous paintings of Picasso, Dali, Miro, El Greco, and more. We even got to watch a Real Madrid soccer game and saw the most famous futbol players in the world play – Beckham (!!), Ronaldo, Raul, Robinho, etc. Those names may not seem much to you but being the ex-futbol player that I am and futbol being practically a religion in Spain, it means mucho mucho mucho!

I had the BEST time – and I’m sure everyone did too. But I have to say that it was not always the easiest, like everything else. There was definitely a feeling of being overwhelmed in a completely new place, loving and being scared of everything in it, missing and actually not missing home at the same time. Some people got homesick for a couple of days, a couple got intimidated by the language, and one girl even got an allergy and had to go to the clinic to get a shot. I thought that being an exchange student for a year in high school would easily prepare me for everything. But to be a team leader was different. It was daunting in the beginning because I thought about all the responsibilities that I had but I quickly learned that nothing really prepares you to be one. You just do it. I became a team leader by using the skills I learned in life and in my past exchange experience, by sharing what I knew to the others and telling them that what they were going through was completely normal, and by having understanding and a lot of sense of humor, and by giving lots of love and hugs. Being a team leader multiplied my usual growing up during any trip. And that will definitely always be a good thing.

I think the other, and major, thing that I loved best about Spain didn’t actually come from there. It was the group that I was with. For some reason, we instantly bonded and mixed together all our different and crazy personalities. We made for an interesting group – one girl shopped almost everyday, another girl broke a poor German boy’s heart, the only guy with us for sure had a renewed understanding of the female psyche, another girl learned to laugh at herself when she said the wrong thing to a waiter. Being in a loving group like that made it easier to have a better time in a foreign land because there was always someone to lean back on, complain to, and have fun with.

Three weeks may seem like a short time, but I feel that personally and for the other Salamankers (that’s what we call ourselves), we left Spain and came back being a little bit different, more open minded in our perspectives, a lot more thankful for our parents and the things that we have here at home, and a hundredfold richer as persons. We have more than a thousand digital pictures from all of our collections put together and we will never forget what we experienced in Spain. Being there and experiencing everything that happens when you’re an exchange student again, and actually helping the others have that kind of experience too, made me remember that being an exchange student is one of the best things anyone could ever experience. You gain so much more than you can imagine and the effects can last you a lifetime. If I could be an exchange student in every part of the world, I would. I wish I could share what I know now to everyone and I just wish people actually get to experience the same thing.

When we were going in the airport to leave the Philippines, some girls were reluctant to say goodbye and some parents were beginning to cry. It IS hard to let go but deep inside I knew that the same parents would be happy and proud of the same thing. I knew that we were going to have the best time ever. And we did. Muchissimo.

email: elaineabonal@yahoo.com

Elaine Abonal is in her senior year in the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines, as of 2006.

Elaine Abonal
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/spain-insane-726837.html

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A lot of great ideas happen when two or more other ideas collide to form something completely new.

Think of this like those old chemistry movies we used to watch in school. You had all of those atoms floating around and when two collided — bam! A chemical reaction. Maybe something new was created. Maybe something exploded. Or maybe it all fizzled out and nothing happened.

Well, a similar reaction is going on inside your brain or muse. Except instead of atoms floating around they’re pieces of information or other ideas. As they drift about, they occasionally bump into each other. When that happens, you may get a new, third idea. Or a big explosion. Or absolutely nothing at all.

Now, if you have lots of atoms, or information and ideas, you’re going to get lots of reactions. Some will fail. Some will be so-so. And some will be hot — so hot, so full of energy, they’ll have the power to change the trajectory of a business. Or even a life.

The problem occurs when you don’t have lots of random information and ideas. Fewer atoms mean fewer reactions. On top of that, you still have to weed through the invariable duds. So the odds of landing that one amazing idea drop considerably.

But not to worry — there’s good news. You can increase your odds of getting those great ideas. Better yet, it’s fairly easy and painless. Below are three ways to get started.

1. Read, read and read some more.

Of all of these, this one is probably the scariest. But, it also has the potential to be the most powerful. Traveling has so many fabulous benefits for your creative soul I could write an article just about that, but for now I’ll limit my comments to brain food. I know, I know, I can hear the groans already. “But I already have too much to read. How can I fit more reading in?” Never fear, there are ways to do this. (Remember I did say this was painless.)

Michele PW
http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/need-a-great-idea-feed-your-brain-670980.html

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If you are anything like me, you would not consider exercising as your favorite pastime. In fact, you may downright hate exercising. However, exercising is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle, and without it you definitely will not be able to lose weight. There are certain tips, however, for learning to love exercising, even if you truly hate it. So..

First, try finding some exercises that you do like to do that should work out all of your body, but if you absolutely hate doing one kind of exercise, then look for another to take its place. You do not have to do crunches to strengthen your core muscles. You do not have to do lunges to work out your lower body. You do not even have to run—you can replace it with cycling or swimming. Find the exercise you like to do and your workout will seem more enjoyable right away.

You can also find other activities you like to do and make them work for your body. For example, if you like working on your garden, try doing some exercising like raking or mow your lawn by hand. If you enjoy the winter weather, you can try ice skating with friends. No matter what you like to do, you can find ways to get some exercise. Thanks to the introduction of the Wii and games like Dance Dance Revolution, you can even combine video games and exercise.

Another great tip to enjoy exercise is to train with your partner or find a training partner. When you work out together, you can help one another stay motivated, even if you do not love exercising. With a partner, you can have fun as well, trying things like tennis or challenging one another to meet certain goals. Trainers can also provide this for you, as well as to show you new and fun exercises to help you avoid getting bored or feeling overwhelmed at the gym.

Lastly, try taking some classes. Exercising classes are a great way to meet new people, learn new exercises, stay motivated, and above all, have fun. Most gyms offer low-cost or free exercise classes or you can check out options at your local community center.

Staying motivated if you hate exercising can be hard, but set goals and do not quit. You need to exercise as well as diet if you really want to lose weight. Make exercise fun and it will not seem like such a chore.

Dave Parry
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/hate-exercising-here-are-some-tips-for-you-715575.html

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I have long desired to visit the famous Acapulco, ‘the city that never sleeps’, where the rich and famous have been visiting or residing since the 1950’s when Hollywood stars such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and the Kennedy’s would come to visit and mingle amongst the glitzy atmosphere that seems to be automatic along the Pacific coastline of Acapulco Bay. The perfect tropical warm weather year round, blue clear skies almost every day, the stunning sands of Acapulco Bay, and the endless choice of top class hotels, restaurants, shopping and entertainment was what I finally got to experience when I vacationed here with my family.

The holiday was one I and my family will never forget! It was both relaxing and exhilarating all at the same time. We stayed in two hotels, one being Las Brisas Hotel, one of Acapulco’s more luxurious hotels which made me feel like a millionaire for the week, took care of every possible desire I may have had, and was the perfect Acapulco vacation Rental and destination experience. The second hotel was the oh-so elegant and stylish Fiesta Americana Hotel, which once again surpassed every expectation I had of how one should vacation in Acapulco.

There is so much to do in Acapulco, that it is virtually impossible to get bored, even with children. One of the highlights of our vacation in Acapulco was the La Quebrada cliff divers, which put on an amazing show of bravery and skill when they perform their daring dives off the natural cliffs into the waters below. Diving displays are usually daily at 1pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, & 10pm (but check with your hotel for any variation to these times). Usually at least 3 divers will perform at each set performance time. There is a well placed public viewing deck where you can get a great view of the La Quebrada cliff divers. But I would suggest that, if you don’t have children with you, then take advantage of watching this amazing performance from the comfort of the Plaza Las Glorias Mirador Hotel. Mix the performance, a few cocktails, then a lunch or dinner on the hotel’s outdoor terrace, and it all makes for one very romantic outing.

For the children, there is an endless array of water sports for children of various ages along the beaches, and there are two beaches, Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla, which are smaller and located away from the tourist hustle and bustle that the main Acapulco beaches seem to have. Here you will find very calm, more shallow waters, with much shade, perfect for the younger ones. A water park, called Centro Infantil CiCi, located on the main street Avenida Costera Miguel Aleman, or known locally as “The Costera” features water slides and toboggans, a wave pool, roller coaster, and dolphin and seal enclosures with shows as set times during the day. There is also Mundo Marina, an aquarium, located between Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla, which has a variety of water slides, marine animal exhibits, restaurants and gift shops, which kept the children amused for some time. Also along The Costera, you will find a park with an array of carnival rides, roller skating rinks, skateboard ramps, and go karting tracks, to name but a few.

But if you would like to get away from the beach and water based activities, then I would suggest to visit the Fuerte de San Diego, which is an impressively restored 17 th Century fort built to protect the city against pirate attacks. Within the fort is the Museo de Acapulco, which offers an interesting look into the area’s historical significance, and Mexico ’s rich cultural and traditional past. It is easy to reach, keeps the children entertained and interested, and is a good place to escape the hot afternoon Acapulco weather.

Some of my personal highlights, apart from the stunning beaches to relax at with a good book, or the shopping along The Costera at the Centro Acapulco Real Estate, would have to be the extensive variety of water sports, and the restaurant and nightlife. Firstly the water sports available all along Acapulco Bay is impressive. I had always considered myself to be an active outdoors person, but didn’t realise the variety of water activities available. I had a go at the usual beach water activities such as banana boat rides, a trip on a glass bottom boat, a cruise around the Bay on a chartered sail boat, peddle boats, and snorkelling. But I decided to venture out and try parasailing, which was very exhilarating and the quality and professionalism of the staff gave me all the confidence I needed to attempt this. I also hired a wave runner, which I didn’t expect to be as enjoyable as it actually was, which explains why I went back the following day for another go. The hire place gave me excellent initial instructions and the equipment for hire was of very good quality. Two things I didn’t try were hiring a small sail boat, and scuba diving. Although my husband went scuba diving and obviously had a wonderful time, as he went back a few days later with our eldest child.

The nightlife is truly what Acapulco is about from sunset to sunrise! Whether you are after a quiet romantic dinner, lively cultural meal experience, or would prefer to spend a few hours in a bar with live music, or dance the entire night away in one of the many impressive nightclubs. The nightclubs, mostly located along The Costera, range from the norm to the sublime. Such as Fantasy, which is popular with the thirty-something crowd which offers a great Spanish feel in music and food, with some great views over the town and Bay, to Alebrije which is a huge nightclub which seats around 1,200 people, where a typical Friday or Saturday night begins with a slower pace and quickly builds into a disco display of music, lights, and a dance floor full of people covered in foam! Alebrije opens at 10.30pm and goes all night long till dawn. Two other popular nightclubs are Andromeda, a techno club popular with the 18-25 crown where the theme is set on what feels like a submarine with the entrance over a dramatic torch-lit moat. And Enigma gives an Egyptian feel, where the music is predominantly Spanish but does vary, and it also offers a great view of Acapulco Bay from the glass-walled dance floor. For some great bar and restaurant experiences to make your Acapulco vacation more memorable, The Costera offers bars with varied atmospheres, and restaurants with specialised cuisine menus. Keep in mind that the restaurants vary greatly in price, although you don’t need to spend a fortune to get great tasting food and great service!

For the males who may not be so interested in spending the majority of a 2 week vacation in Acapulco either in the shops or lazing on the sandy beaches, there is always golf, fishing or tennis to keep you occupied. My husband spent much time on the golf courses around Acapulco . There are 4 championship golf courses, all located south, near the airport and easily accessible to from the main tourist area. The courses at the Tres Vidas and the Mayan Palace were what impressed my husband the most. Their challenging fairways, impressive scenic views over the Pacific Ocean , and the quality of the clubhouse, hire equipment and amenities kept my husband busy for several days on the greens. The other 2 courses are the Acapulco Princess and Pierre Marques which adjoin each other.

And a game or two, or three, of tennis in Acapulco is a great way to spend some time away from the typical attractions of Acapulco . The modern facilities at the Mayan Palace complex (within the same complex as the golf course) offers 13 courts open to the public, with lessons available, and shower facilities. Within the tourist district, the Park Hotel offers very reasonable rates for those non-guests who would like a game of tennis. The Club de Tenis Panoramic is a small tennis club which offers players 2 neatly kept clay courts, but book in advance for this tennis club as it is quite popular.

All in all, our family vacation in Acapulco was a once in a lifetime experience. There was something for everyone, there was no boredom over the two weeks and the perfect mix of relaxation and excitement. Everything mentioned above and much, much more went in to creating some lasting memories for each and every family member. I can see why Acapulco attracts millions of tourists each year. I had fantasised about taking such a holiday as this, and I was not disappointed!

Author: Jason Keiller

Jason Keiller
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/acapulco-an-ideal-vacation-destination-390463.html

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If you want an exercise that will keep you in shape and that is good for your heart as well, consider tap dancing. The beauty of tap dancing is that the basic steps are easy to learn and you can add your own flair and touches to make it fun for you. Just 20 minutes of tap dancing three times per week is enough to improve your health and get you back into shape.

The first thing that you need for tap dancing is, of course, tap shoes. You can find tap shoes online or at a local dance store. Tap shoes have metal on the toes and heels that make a “tapping” sound when ever you stomp on them. You can also make your own tap shoes. You can basically use any shoe that you want to use from a dance shoe to boots. Once you have chosen your shoe, you can buy taps and put them on the bottom of your shoe. Before you put your taps in place permanently, make sure that they are on the correct place on your shoe as shoes have different soles and shapes.

You can learn tap dancing by taking a class or by teaching yourself with a video. Tap classes are available for all ages from toddlers to senior citizens. There are different types of classes as well. Some use jazz, others use big band type music and one of the most popular tap classes around now uses tapping with hip hop music. If you choose to learn to tap on your own, research videos before purchasing one. Read reviews and make sure that it is for beginners and also has the kind of music you like. The more a video is geared towards the type of music and exercise you want, the more likely you are to use it.

You need to use a solid surface for tap dancing. Taps can scratch hard wood floors, so you might want to purchase a sold surface to use when tapping. You can actually purchase hard “mats” for practicing your tap.

The more you use your arms, the better the cardiovascular workout. Be sure to do slow tapping at the beginning of your workout to warm-up and slow tapping at the end to cool down. The best way to strain muscles and injure yourself is to jump right into tapping without stretching or warming up. Tapping is excellent for coordination and balance as well. You can learn to tap on one foot or tap your feet alternately with your hands.

Tap dancing is a traditional dance that can be made contemporary by using popular music and more modern steps. It is a fun thing to do by yourself or to learn with a partner. A great cardiovascular workout and great way to keep in shape, tapping might be the perfect exercise option for you.

Tim Shank
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/tap-dancing-is-a-good-cardiovascular-exercise-35318.html

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Losing weight doesn’t have to entail taking mystery diet pills or trying the newest fad diet. There are plenty of natural ways to lose weight fast that are lots more fun than starving yourself and going without good food. Here are some healthy suggestions:

Swimming – Take a dip in the pool and do a couple of laps. You don’t need to be the world’s best or fastest swimmer. Swimming really works out your arms and stomach area. You get great aerobic benefits without having to over-exert yourself. You’re simply gliding through the water at your own pace.

If you can’t swim, you can still get the benefits of a water workout. Gently slide into the pool and hold onto the edge with your fingers. Slowly extend your body out and paddle your legs up and down. This gives you the same motion as swimming (except for the arm workout), without you having to go out of your comfort zone.

Fast walking – Walking is one of the best and most natural exercises you can do. We really take it for granted because we walk all the time. However, walking to stay fit is different than strolling from the kitchen to the living room couch.

In order to lose weight, you need to go on a brisk walk. Get your arms pumping and your legs moving. Walk as fast as you can without running out of breath – you should be able to speak and walk at the same time. Start by walking a couple of times around the block, then increase the distance of your walks after you feel an increase in stamina.

Drink water – Drink as much water as you can during the day. Water is a secret weight loss aid that’s right in front of your face. Did you know that your body retains water if you are dehydrated?

You may be dehydrated and not even know it. By drinking several glasses of water a day, you’ll actually allow your body to release all that water it’s been holding onto. If you have ever felt that bloated feeling, this is why. Your body is retaining too much water, which also adds to your weight.

Aerobic dancing – Join a gym and take an aerobic dance class or buy a DVD that teaches you how to do fun fitness dances. People who dance regularly often have great looking bodies, that’s because dancing is really a first-class workout.

Even if you think you have two left feet, nobody’s gonna see you practicing dance moves in the privacy of your home (except maybe family or roommates). There are lots of dance videos on the market. You can learn how to do ballet, hip hop dancing, rumba, traditional fast-stepping aerobic moves, etc.

Weight training – Tone up those flabby muscles and watch the fat melt off quickly. Picking up some light weights and learning to do a little weight training at home or in the gym is a great way to naturally lose weight. You won’t get those bulging muscles, you’ll just tone and firm up muscles and have a more youthful appearance.

Eating healthy – This is a no brainer in a way, but still with all the fatty foods that tempt you on a daily basis, eating healthy is actually harder than it should be. If all you were exposed to in the supermarket was rows and rows of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, lean meats and yogurt, you’d find it easy to eat healthy.

The reality is that you have to walk into that supermarket determined to put these things into your shopping cart. You also have to pass by lots of delicious cakes, fried foods, soda and chips. Make a list of healthy foods to pick up before you go shopping, then put each item in your cart before you go on to shop for other things.

Biking – Hop on a bike and ride around the neighborhood. If you don’t live too far from work, think about biking instead of driving or taking public transportation. Biking is a great way to get an easy aerobic workout. It will also tone up your legs nicely.

Janine Michaels
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/7-natural-ways-to-lose-weight-fast-and-keep-it-off-for-good-678737.html

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