Christina Marie's Travel Blog

Hi I am curious what program you went through to teach overseas and whether you would recommend it?

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:16:41 -0400

The program I went through is called Teachers for Vietnam. I think they’re a good organization and you should consider them. The memories I got from teaching abroad will stay with me forever! Enjoy!

My blog has moved!!

Mon, 02 May 2011 13:27:41 -0400

You can still enjoy the same great travel stories at my new site: www.thejewricantraveler.com!!

Education in Vietnam

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:05:09 -0400

An old student of mine recently reached out to me requesting I proofread her paper on the importance of education in Vietnam. Some of the statistics listed in her paper surprised me, such as 40% of students in the Mekong Delta dropped out of school in 2009, most of them being upperclassmen. Whether this statistic is accurate or not, I can’t actually say for sure, but from what I saw during my travels, including outside of Vietnam, I wouldn’t be all that surprised.

I saw first hand the unfortunate instances of when parents had removed their children from school in order to have them work and support the family. One of them being at one of the family vegetarian noodle shops I ate at regularly. I always thought this one girl that worked there was rude and unfriendly (but the food was awesome, which is why I kept coming back). At any time of the day she would be there and it annoyed me to see her.

I later discovered from one of the other English teachers that she was only 14-years old (I thought she was at least in her mid-twenties) and that she was taken out of school to help the family. It broke my heart to know that she was so young working all hours of the day (not to mention I felt like the biggest jerk). It also killed me to know she wasn’t able to attend school while her younger brother was. After that I didn’t mind her attitude in the least bit and I even made more of an effort to smile at her.

I suppose there are two lessons to take away from this post: The first being don’t judge, and the second being that of the importance of education, not just for Vietnam, but even for here in my own country.

Click ‘read more’ to read my student’s essay on the importance of education …

Education is one of the ways to help our country be richer and more developed, which is why the government concerns itself with education so much. However, many students drop out which causes many difficulties for the development of education. It is a problem that many people mention. Let me tell you about this situation, the reasons, the consequences, and the solutions for students dropping out in the Me Kong Delta.

The situation
Forty percent of students in the Me Kong Delta dropped out of school in 2009. Older students drop out the most.

The reasons
Students that do not understand the work become bored and tired in their studies. Many parents are busy earning money and cannot watch their children study. They think that their children still go to school, but in fact, they do not.

Some parents haven’t recognized the importance of studying. They think studying is a waste of time and money, and that the children should work to earn money to help the family.

Some other reasons include the situation of the family, such as parents fighting which influence their children to not go to school. Another reason is that they were born in a poor family and since the fee to go to school gets higher and higher, they have no money to pay for it. Other people live far from school and it makes it very difficult to go.

The consequences
It is harmful for the children in the present and in the future. When students leave school because they feel sad, bored or unintelligent, it makes them more troublesome. Moreover, since they aren’t learning, it is difficult for them to find a job. Additionally, they will become a burden for their family, society and themselves.

The solution
We should raise the education quality to decrease the rate of bad students. We need to classify the level of students accurately. We need to choose the best teachers to educate students, especially students in the ninth grade.

We need a combination of help to ensure our students are getting the best education, which includes school, family and society. Schools must announce to parents immediately when students demonstrate strange behavior or get bad grades. Families need to make sure their sons and daughters are studying. Society needs to create the best environment for poor students to go to school. We should help and support them the best we can!

Mini vacation to Stowe, Vermont

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:04:32 -0500

Until recently, I found it hard to believe that I managed to take a 21-hour flight to Vietnam and have yet never managed at least a five-hour drive north of NYC (that didn’t include New York). So for my first trip of 2011, three of my closest girlfriends and I headed up to Stowe, Vermont for a weekend filled of skiing, hot chocolate by the fireplace and the most important - relaxation! Also, I wanted to hit the slopes for the first time in my life and continue on my path to doing things I’ve never done before.

We got a great deal to stay at the Stowe Mountain Lodge through Jetsetter. Our stay at this luxurious lodge was nearly half off what it would normally be and our room was pricing at about $2,300 if we booked last minute. The price we paid to stay here, which included the room for three days, two nights and lift tickets, was only about $250 per person!

The interiors of the lodge were beautiful and everyone was very accommodating. It must be a prerequisite for the staff to be gorgeous because there was eye candy everywhere. The best part of our lodging was the room because it was equipped with a full kitchen and fireplace.

When it was time to hit the slopes, my one girlfriend and I decided to take lessons since it was our first time. We headed to the practice area where we shared mini slopes with five-year olds.

Later that night, we headed to the outdoor hot tub. It was an incredibly relaxing atmosphere having the mountains in the background, snow falling on your head and being submerged in hot water.

Overall, the trip was amazing and I highly recommend everyone to take a trip to Stowe, Vermont. If you had time, make sure to stop by the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory on your way out.

To view the rest of my photos from Vermont, visit my Flickr photostream by clicking here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbrodzky/sets/72157625997665045/.

Photo of the Week: Willis Tower in Chicago

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 10:12:14 -0500

I’m ecstatic to announce that I’ve just recently accepted a new job, where I will not only be doing what I enjoy doing, but will also require me to visit my client in Chicago frequently! Here’s a photo from my last visit to Chicago’s Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower). This photo is almost symbolic of how I’m feeling: A little nervous to take that first step, but doing it anyway and being a rock star (and I hope this photo speaks volumes considering I’m TERRIFIED of heights).

To view the rest of my photos from Chicago, visit my Flickr photostream by clicking here.

Notes from Vietnam: Vietnamese Lunar New Year

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:33:57 -0500

“Dear my teacher!

Vietnamese Lunar New Year is coming, I am excited to enjoy it. Our school will have 2 weeks off from 27Jan to 9Feb. This time for me to come back my home town, decorate my house, prepare foods and visit my relatives. This is also the good chance for me to see my old friends and visit my teachers. On occasion of Vietnamese New Year, I hope that you and your family will be healthy, lucky, and happy!”

Notes from Vietnam: Happy New Year!

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 09:22:00 -0500

“Hello teacher!

I haven’t signed in Facebook, so I wish you a Happy New Year by email. May your New Year be filled with the happiness and so much health! Your cute student, :-)”

It’s almost time to celebrate yet another year coming and...

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:12:00 -0500

It’s almost time to celebrate yet another year coming and going. Enjoy this video of Bill and Hilary Clinton dancing to Frank Sinatra at the 2009 New Years Eve Ball Drop in Times Square. Working in PR at that time definitely provided some perks, such as getting front row seats to taking tons of pictures and capturing this video!

My goodness how time flies by! Tomorrow marks one year since I...

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:51:12 -0500

My goodness how time flies by! Tomorrow marks one year since I headed off halfway around the world to Vietnam. I’m amazed how I got the courage to leave my job, sublease my apartment, say goodbye to all my friends and family, and hop on a 22-hour flight in order to do something like I’ve never done before.

Here’s a picture of me with my favorite class. To this day I receive emails from students telling me how much they miss and love me. They were worth leaving everything behind.

Bali - My favorite desination in Southeast Asia

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 09:43:21 -0500

If there was one destination in all of Southeast Asia that I could revisit, hands down, it would be Bali. Even though the island is small, there are so many different types of landscapes and activities so there’s something for everyone. Once I got off the plane, picked up my luggage and went outside, I remembered to try to catch a cab from outside the airport gates. By doing this, I eliminated the airport tax!

The airport in theory is only a 15-minute drive from Kuta, a town known for shopping, bars and surfing; however, because of all the traffic, it took at least 40 minutes to get to where a few guesthouses were located. I’m lucky I came during low season (May) because everything was cheaper than normal.

Kuta usually attracts students from Australia and New Zealand during Spring Break. Although I was enjoying my solo traveling experience, Kuta would have been a good place to travel with at least one other person. It wasn’t the easiest place for me to meet people and I didn’t want to be one of those creepers sitting at the bar alone. The best part during my trip to Kuta was the most amazing hour-long massage I got for only $10USD (after tip)!

Instead of staying there longer than two days, I headed more inland to Ubud, which is where Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love lived. I easily met two other foreigners on the van ride over who let me tag along. They found in their Lonely Planet that locals in Ubud curse the book because of the influx of tourist that flock to their small town.

Ubud was an amazing place to visit and I wish I could have stayed there longer. It was so quaint and I was in good company. Two attractions that we enjoyed included the Sacred Monkey Forest and watching a traditional Balinese dance performance.

In summary, Bali is worth visiting and I highly encourage people to take a trip if their able to. To view photos from my time in Bali, please visit my Flickr photosteam by clicking here.

Photo of the Week: Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:12:08 -0500

Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center (2008)

25 Accomplishments in 25 Years

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 09:41:00 -0500

To commemorate my 25th birthday, I thought it might be fitting to list out 25 life accomplishments thus far. Some are unique to me while others can be said for everyone. Feel inspired and enjoy!

I’m alive and healthy
I lived in another country for six months (Vietnam to be exact)
I graduated from college with a bachelors degree
I overcame a delayed-speech problem when I was younger
I went into foster care as a teenager and came out stronger
I got to travel part of the world …some of which was done solo
I have loved and been loved in return
I managed to climb up Mount Kota Kinabalu, a 13,435-foot (8.9 kilometer) high mountain on the Borneo side of Malaysia
I bought both my cars …then donated them when I didn’t want/need them
Made life-long friends
I came back from Las Vegas with more money than I left with
I’ve never smoked a cigarette
I’ve cried from laughing so hard
I fed and bathed abused elephants at the Elephant Rescue Park in Chaing Mai, Thailand
I saw Celine Dion in concert lol
I joined a sorority and have made sisters for life
I have inspired people (or at least that’s what they told me)
I paid off my student loans
I visited the room where the Last Supper supposedly took place in Jerusalem
My video on Bill and Hilary Clinton dancing New Years Eve in Times Square has hit nearly 10,000 views on YouTube!
I’ve managed to accept life the way it is
I’ve prayed in a church, synagogue and Buddhist temple
I have experienced nirvana …twice
I’ve learned to forgive and move on
As of yesterday, I am once again debt free

In the next 25 years, I plan on accomplishing tasks such as combating wrinkles, landing myself a sugar daddy, praying my metabolism stays the way it is or I’m screwed, adding another zero to my yearly salary, and writing a book on foster care. Here’s a toast to the next 25! :-)

Notes From Vietnam

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:58:35 -0500

It’s been five months since I’ve lived in Vietnam and I STILL get emails from students. I can’t describe how much I love them.

“Dear Teacher! this morning I took a speaking test, I tried my best and I got 4.5/5.Thank teacher so much! I am having trouble with my listening,but I promise I will try and practice more to improve it.!!!” - Moon

“How are you today? it’s long time no speak. We really miss you, do you think about us. Where are you now? New york, or where! are you happy with whatever you’re doing? teacher, do you usually remember or tell about us to your friends? but we usually tell about you, you guys are very lovely.” - Julie

As part of religious expression among Balinese people, they...

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:23:23 -0400

As part of religious expression among Balinese people, they perform these very ancient traditional dances. Take note as her eyes open really wide and she shakes her shoulders every few dance steps.

So after travelling and living around Asia for a while, what's your favourite fruit? or the fruit you'll definitely be missing?

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:46:07 -0400

Without a doubt, I loved rambutans. They were so funky looking on the outside, while sweet and yummy on the inside! I think I’ll write a post about the fruit I ate there in a future post..thanks for the idea!

Here’s a video I submitted for a contest through Every...

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:58:00 -0400

Here’s a video I submitted for a contest through Every Child Matters, a nonpartisan child advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. that makes the needs of children and families a national political priority. I’m excited to announce that my video was one of the second place finalist. Even though I draw like a five-year old and my video is completely cheesy, I’m happy someone else enjoyed it.

My adventures in Jakarta, Indonesia

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:14:00 -0400

One of the last destinations on my five week backpacking adventure was Jakarta, the capital and largest city in Indonesia. Before I arrived, I learned that Jakarta was dubbed ‘The Big Durian,’ which for those who are familiar with this type of fruit, know that it smells like swamp ass; however, to many people, it has a sweet, delicious taste.

When my friend and I arrived at the airport and picked up our luggage, we were overwhelmed by number of taxi drivers trying to win our business. (Tourist Tip: we were forewarned by a few friends to not take any of the taxis inside the airport gate, but to rather walk outside and hail one there. By doing this, you avoid the any airport tax and save money.)

After arriving to a friend’s house to drop our stuff off, it was time to tour the city. There were a couple destinations we enjoyed visiting, but overall, Jakarta doesn’t have many attractions or get a large influx of tourists, and apparently has been the target of numerous terrorist attacks.

On the other hand, almost all the people I’ve met from Indonesia in general, turned out to be some of the nicest people I’ve ever encountered. If any of you should decide to visit Indonesia and check out Jakarta, you wouldn’t need more than a day.

Here are a few images from our trip:

To view the rest of my photos from Jakarta, please visit my Flickr photostream by clicking here.

I’ve been getting some amazing feedback from people...

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:18:00 -0400

I’ve been getting some amazing feedback from people regarding my Vietnam photo/video montage. Don’t forget to check it out!

Photo of the Week: Baha'i Gardens in Israel

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:29:12 -0400

With the Jewlidays wrapping up this weekend, I thought it would be fitting to display one of my favorite photos taken from Israel: The Baha’i Gardens in Haifa.

To view the rest of my photos from Israel, please visit my Flickr photostream by clicking here.

This cute monkey was trying to crack open a rock thinking there...

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 14:05:09 -0400

This cute monkey was trying to crack open a rock thinking there was food inside. This video was taken at the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud - Bali, Indonesia.