If you didn’t find time to study abroad as an undergraduate and are thinking about going to graduate school, now may be the perfect time to look into opportunities overseas. Plenty of prestigious universities around the world offer graduate degrees, and when you study abroad, you’re getting more than just an education – you’re getting to experience a different culture and gaining a broader understanding of the world.

Pick the right program: If you have already begun a graduate program in the United States but would like to study overseas, talk to your academic adviser and ask if your school has any partnerships or “sister” schools in other countries; if so, you might be able to transfer to an overseas university.

If you haven’t started grad school, ask your adviser about international schools that have strong programs in your field. Look at the credentials of people who are respected in your chosen field. For example, if you find that all your favorite scientists earned their master’s degree at a certain school, that’s probably a good choice for your graduate studies.

Get your finances in order: Some graduate students qualify for scholarships, but often, students must obtain loans to cover the costs. Another option is to set up a work-study program at the university abroad, or if you will be living overseas for a year or more, you could get a work visa and possibly pick-up a part-time job in your destination country. Take a look at exchange rates, so you can understand the buying power of a dollar. In many countries, the dollar is worth less than the local currency.

Finalize travel details: Once you know where you’re going and how you’ll pay for it, it’s time to make your actual plans. Plan to arrive at least a few days in advance of when your classes begin, so you can adjust to the time change.  Find a student travel insurance plan, so you know you’ll have access to medical care while you’re overseas.

Set up a home abroad: The last step – and one you may have to wait a little longer on – is to find a place to live. If you plan your studies through a U.S. university, the staff will likely help arrange housing for you. If you’re directly enrolling in a graduate school abroad, though, you’ll be in charge of finding housing. Look into any on-campus options and ask the university for recommendations about nearby places to live. If you’re just going to be renting an apartment or flat, landlords will often not let you sign a lease more than a month or two before your arrival date. And once you find a place to live, make sure to ask whether furniture and appliances are included.

Although you’re going to a different country to study, take in the sights while you’re there. When you get your master’s degree and land your dream job, you may not have another opportunity to travel overseas for a while – if at all – so make the most of the experience.

You want them to have the best educational experience possible, but it’s your job as the parent to make sure your children are on the right track. You already know studying abroad could be an enriching experience, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for your student or your family. Don’t worry, no matter what your student says, other parents do have the same concerns as you. Fortunately, the answers to your questions are easy to find.

Will my child be safe?

You’d be worried about their safety even if they were going to school in the next city. Sending your kids out into the world alone is a difficult thing for a parent to do. Crime is everywhere, but whether they’re at home or abroad, your children can do several things to decrease their chances of being a victim. Most study abroad programs provide an option for students to live with a host family while in school. Knowing another set of parents is keeping an eye on your baby may help you feel more secure. 

What about her health?

Whether your child is going to study in Europe or any other country, purchasing a student health care policy should be part of her pre-trip organization plan. Health emergencies can happen, and having the proper insurance will ensure your daughter gets the best care possible. While living abroad, she may try new foods and come in contact with pollens and other allergens she’s not used to. Getting minor colds, allergies and upset stomachs is expected. You may choose to pack a small medical emergency kit for her, just leave all medications—prescription and over-the-counter—in the original packaging.

Will he get a good education?

Of course! Research the study abroad program carefully and confer with stateside advisors to learn which overseas credits will transfer back to the states and which won’t. The process is much the same as if he were transferring to another school in the United States. Regardless of the country, some schools will not accept some credits from other institutions.

How will I stay in touch?

Cellphone, email, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Skype; technology has made it easy to stay in touch with someone living overseas. Remember, he’s not going to a remote area of the Alps where there’s no Internet connection, he’s going to a university.

The study abroad coordinator at your student’s current school can answer all the questions that arise as you and your student discuss the idea of international study. The experience of living in a new culture, speaking a new language and learning how to rely on himself will benefit your child now and in the future. It’s a big decision, and one your family needs to make after considering all the pros and cons, but there’s no doubt that spending a semester or more studying abroad will enrich your child’s life and broaden his horizons.

Actor Jeffrey Damnit’s headshot highlights the piercings on his nose, eyebrows and ears

Piercing or body piercing has become increasingly popular, both among the young and not so young, nowadays. Walk down any street, in any city, in any country and chances are you will always bump into someone who has, at the very least, one kind of body piercing.

There are many reasons behind body piercing. Some do it as a rite of passage (ie. When a girl gets her ears pierced when she turns 13), some to rebel or conform to society (no one else is doing it / everyone’s doing it), others have their body pierced for cultural reasons (ie:  nose rings among Indians), and others do it for no particular reason (ie. “I just felt like getting a nose ring”).

In the past, individuals who sported more than the usual amount of piercing on unusual body parts were treated with suspicion. Today, society has become more tolerant of those with body piercings, and this may be due to the prevalence of piercings among Hollywood celebrities and musical superstars. Admit it, Lenny Kravitz, even with all his piercings, looks amazingly hot, right?

 A Short History

A Mali Peul Woman with a Septum Ring

The practice of piercing  been present for a long time. The oldest mummified remains (roughly 5000 years old) were discovered sporting earrings, while nose piercing can be dated as far back as 1500 BC. Lip and tongue piercings are common in African and American tribal cultures. And if you think piercing your “privates” is a new phenomenon, you’re quite mistaken. Ancient Romans are reported to have practiced nipple piercing, while  genital piercing was said to have been done in Ancient India c 320 to 550.

So Where Do You Want  It?

To maintain the wholesomeness of this post, all piercings that will be covered are those that are done from the neck up and will start with the body part closest to the top of the head and work our way down.

Eyebrow/s

Anti Eyebrow Studs

Piercings done around the eye area and on the eyebrow are called eyebrow piercings. These are usually vertical in orientation – placed from the bottom to the top of the eyebrow, but can be done horizontally as well  (refer to image above). These horizontal piercings are called anti-eyebrow piercings.

Nose

Ring on the left nostril

Five different kinds of piercings can be done on your nose, so if you want to have something done in that area, you have to be very specific. The most common kind of nose piercing is the one done on the nostril, and the jewelry used is either be a small nose bone (stud) or a captive bead ring. A variant of nostril piercing is called the high nostril piercing. Usually done with studs or nose bone, high nostril piercings are generally located closer to the bridge.

Piercing can also be done on the bridge of the nose – that area between the eyes. The piercing is inserted through the skin and should never go through the bone. Bridge piercings have a high rate of rejection thus it is not as popular as other forms of nose piercings.

Nasal septum piercings are rising in popularity, even though this particular piercing heals longer than others (usually within a month and a half to 3 months). In nasal septum piercing, great care must be taken to ensure that the cartilaginous wall between the nostrils is not pierced – just the small gap between the said cartilage and the bottom of the nose.

The other two nose piercings are the Vertical Nose Tip (or rhino piercing) which goes between the nostrils and up the tip of the nose; and the Nasallang - 3 different piercings which goes through both nostrils and the septum. This is the most difficult nose piercing of all.

Ears

9 areas to choose from!

Ear piercing is probably the most accepted and most popular kind of all piercings. Most ear piercings are done on the earlobes (No. 9 as per the image) using standard studs, hoop or dangling adornment. Some, however, choose to deliberately elongate or increase the diameter of the holes on the earlobes. The other eight areas, as shown on the image, are identified as follows:

1. Cartilage 
2. Industrial
3. Rook
4. Daith
5. Tragus
6. Snug
7. Conch
8. Anti Tragus
9. Earlobe

Ear piercings that go through the entire cartilage rim of the ear is called the Forward Helix or  Ear Head Piercing.

 Cheek/s

Cheeky Piercings

Former child star Amanda Bynes recently made headlines when she was spotted in New York sporting matching cheek piercings. This form of facial body piercing goes through the facial tissue and into the oral cavity. They are usually done in pairs with both piercings located symmetrically on either side of your face (akin to dimples). Some people who have had cheek piercings experience slight nerve damage on the pierced areas which result in “man made dimples”.

Lips

Image courtesy of India Garcia

As with your ears and nose, there are many ways you can wear a piercing on your lips. The most popular lip piercing is called the Monroe piercing, an off-center piercing above the left hand side of the upper lip, mimicking the Marilyn Monroe’s famed beauty mark. An upper lip piercing on the right hand side of the face is called the Madonna piercing, named after the original Material Girl, Madonna. When you have the Marilyn and the Madonna piercings on your upper lips – these two are collectively called Angelbites.

When long barbells are used to adorn Angelbites instead of traditional studs, the piercing changes its name to Crayfish. Two two rings are placed side by side on your lower lip, this piercing configuration is called Spider. A piercing on your philtrum (that indentation on top of your lips just below your nose) is called a Medusa. A piercing on your labrum (the hollow below your bottom lip and above the chin) is called a Labret. If you add a lip ring beneath your Medusa, you now have what is called a Cyber. Other lip piercing variations are called Poisonous Snake, viper, and Anti Bite.

Tongue

Image courtesy of Rodrigo Delgado

Finally, tongue piercing! This form of body piercing, where the center of the tongue is pierced, is probably the second most popular piercing (with ears / earlobes being the first) today. The reason for the popularity of tongue piercing can be attributed to the fact that a lot of celebrities have this, and probably because this piercing isn’t overtly visible. People who work in fairly conservative business environments can get away with wearing tongue rings.

There are other forms of body piercing done on other parts of the body – most of these are not for the faint of heart.

Caring for your Piercings

Whether you have wholesome piercings or not-so-wholesome ones, you have to make sure that you take care of your piercing – and that goes beyond the few days or months after you’ve had it done. Futhermore, you also need to take care good care of your jewelry used on your piercings – and this is especially true for jewelry used for piercings in the nose, mouth and cheek areas – as these are prone to infection.

If you want to have a piercing done, do not, under any circumstance, attempt to do this by yourself. Do not solicit your best friend to help you do it either. It is best to have your piercings done at piercing salons or piercing studios. There are many piercing places all you need to do is to select one that is hygienic and make sure that it is a legitimately run business.

Piercings open your system to various forms of infection, so it is best to pay a little extra to have it professionally done. By investing on properly done piercing, you can be assured that your piercing will not cause you any trouble, and that you will enjoy having this on your body.

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia and Flickr
(click on the photos to be redirected to source image)

Pay up! Pay up!

Admit it, you are in debt. It’s all right, being in debt, in one way or another, is quite normal in today’s world. Gone are the days when items are paid in full (and in cash). Nowadays, people put purchases on credit or get loans to buy bigger and more expensive items such as cars and houses. Owing money or being in debt, unfortunately, has almost become the norm rather than the exception to the rule. However, this does not give you (or anyone for that matter) an excuse to dig yourself a deeper debt hole, or run away from your obligations. If you owe others: banks, financial institutions, friends, and relatives, money – you have to pay these off.

No, this article will not delve into the ways you can reduce debt. This article will focus more on how you, as a person, should behave when you find yourself in the red (and are having a hard time paying).

Be Honest

The first thing you should do, especially if you are married, is tell your immediate family the situation you are in. They need to know because your repayments will have an impact on the family’s overall spending habits. By being upfront and honest with them, they can understand why you’ve cancelled that trip to Disneyland to another year, and they can adjust their respective lifestyles as well.

Next, talk to your banking adviser and tell them that you’re having trouble meeting repayments, and ask if the bank can present you with options you can consider. There are many ways the bank can help you – they can restructure your mortgage, give you loan to be put against your mortgage, and they can even consolidate your credit card bills into one so you only pay a smaller interest rate.

Then, if you owe friends or relatives  money you need to be honest with them too. Just because they are your relatives doesn’t mean you can treat them any differently from lending institutions. If anything, you should be more upfront with them because helping you out financially is neither their job nor their responsibility. Take the initiative and, based on your cash flow, create a payment plan and present this to them. This will show them that you are sincere about paying off what you owe and give them a chance to adjust their budgets accordingly.

Be Modest

Showing off a brand new car, boasting about your new Louis Vuitton bag, posting pictures of you having a grand holiday in the Bahamas – all when you’re having trouble meeting repayments, or sticking to your payment plan is just plain tacky. No, you don’t have to “look the part” and walk around like a pauper when you’re in debt. Just act normal and don’t brag! Showing off more expensive items while missing payments will give people the wrong impression and will think that you’re still spending irresponsibly.

Why should that matter? That’s none of their business. Maybe so – but put yourself in the shoes of your lenders. How would you feel if someone who owes you money, missed a payment due to some sob story about his financial difficulties, posts pictures of his flash new car on Facebook? Wouldn’t you think – “Hey! He’s got funds to buy a car but not pay me back?!”? You probably would not want to lend him money ever again, right?

Be Careful

Finally, if you’re in the process of paying off a debt, you have to be careful of all your expenditure. Avoid the traps that got you into this “mess” and be aware of money-saving practices. If you know something will happen in the future (ie: birth of your baby, moving to a new house), start saving up for this as early as possible. Don’t delay setting funds aside until the very last minute.

And once you’ve paid everything off, create a “contingency fund”, which you will only access in extreme cases of emergency.

Image courtesy of Wasst

The Trend

While people traditionally take down Christmas decorations on the exterior of a home soon after the holiday has ended, many people leave indoor decorations like trees up for an uncomfortable amount of time. People have reported seeing Christmas trees in the homes of friends and family members until March or even April of the following year. Some people even tend to leave exterior decorations like lights up until January or February.

The Effects

Leaving Christmas decorations up well past the actual holiday they represent is a bad decision for a number of key reasons. For starters, part of the appeal of Christmas decorations is that they’re special. You don’t get to see Christmas decorations whenever you want – you’re supposed to wait until late November and December to enjoy all that they have to offer. If Christmas decorations get left up until April, they lose a little bit of that quality that made them so special in the first place. Additionally, leaving Christmas decorations up well into the New Year can easily be interpreted by some as a sign of laziness on behalf of the homeowner. Everyone knows that Christmas decorations can be a pain to put up and take down each year. Failure to do so, however, will surely bring a lot of judging looks each time a person steps into your home or drives by it.

Additionally, leaving your Christmas decorations and Christmas trees up too long can represent a potentially fatal safety hazard. If you have a live tree in your home, it’s important to realize that the tree has a limited lifespan. As it continues to sit in your home it will dry out. The dryer it gets, the more likely it is to catch fire if your Christmas lights get too hot or happens to spark. Putting your tree up too early in the year can also cause it to dry out before you even reach the holiday, which is another reason why it’s important to not put your decorations up too early or leave them up too late. Getting judged for having your decorations up too late is one thing. Experiencing a catastrophic house fire that you could have prevented is something else entirely.

Rule of Thumb

When it comes to putting up and taking down your Christmas decorations each year, a general rule of thumb can help guide you through the season. Black Friday, the name given to the day after Thanksgiving, marks the official beginning of the holiday shopping season. It also marks a perfect opportunity to drag out  the artificial tree for all to enjoy. January 6th marks the Epiphany, which is the official end of the Christmas season. It also marks the perfect chance to put your decorations into storage until the next year rolls around. Leaving your Christmas decorations and trees up any longer than January 6th is far too long.

Positive!

Let’s break out the bubbly – rather, sparkling grape juice (remember, you’re pregnant so no alcoholic beverages for the soon-to-be mum), you’re having a baby! A gazillion things must be going through your head and just don’t know where to start! Whew, take a minute to step back, breathe deeply and organize your thoughts. Yes, your life will change but  that doesn’t happen when the baby is born – it starts NOW!

Now that you know you’re having a baby, you have to start preparing for your baby’s arrival. No, preparing for the baby does not mean redecorating your spare room to create a nursery that can rival that of Beyonce’s Blue Ivy. There will be lots of time for that later – the first thing you have to do is to look after yourself.

Remember to Exercise!

Take Care of Yourself

Your body will be the baby’s home for the next 7 or 8 months (depending of course, on when you found out that you’re expecting), as such, you have to make sure that your body is in tiptop condition. You will have to make sacrifices because everything you consume will somehow, one way or another, affect the little one growing inside you. If you’re fond of having a glass of wine with every meal – you’ll have to forego that and opt for orange juice. If you regularly work 60 hours a week – you’ll have to cut that down to a more manageable (and less stressful) 37.5 or 40 hours (discuss your situation with your superior and perhaps suggest alternative working arrangements). It goes without saying that your diet will most likely also need to change but before you start stocking up on kale, spinach and all sorts of green leafy vegetables, you have to make sure you consult your doctor first.

Have regular check ups

Visit Your Doctor Regularly

Regular medical appointments is essential when you’re pregnant. During these checks, the doctor not only looks at the baby’s progress in your tummy, he/she also monitors the state of your health. The doctor will check that your blood pressure and sugar levels remain at normal levels during the duration of your pregnancy. If these fluctuate, the doctor can address any issues before matters get worse. If you have any worries about your health or that of your baby, discuss your concerns with the doctor. Your doctor is in a much better position to give you advice than the mommy-threads that you will hit if you do a random Google search.

Learn how to bathe your baby

Attend Pre-Natal Classes

Please note that pre-natal classes are different from pre-natal care. Pre-natal care revolves around medical visits and checks (see above) whereas pre–natal classes focus more on what you and your partner will experience before, during and after childbirth. First time mums are encouraged to attend pre-natal classes as it will give you a bit more insight on the new life that you will lead. Women who already have children do not need to attend pre-natal classes – however, it wouldn’t hurt to go. Child-rearing practices change over the years. What could have been acceptable a decade ago may no longer apply today. Your doctor should be able to tell you where to go for pre-natal classes.

Save for emergencies

Start Saving

You should start on a financial plan the minute you find out that you are expecting. Some expectant parents take the financial implications of pregnancy for granted. They spend everything on cribs, prams, baby bottles, clothes, and other things that they forget to have a contingency amount, for those “just in case” cases. Sure, your insurance company, employer, health-care provider may say they will shoulder the (full or partial) costs of childbirth. But what happens if, your insurance will only cover natural deliveries and not emergency C-sections? What if you (or your partner) get fired or made redundant before your baby is born? What if your health care provider will only pay your medical bills if you give birth at one of their accredited hospitals (which you wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot barge pole). If you find yourself facing one or more of these situations, you’ll be glad you had some money set aside for this purpose. If your pregnancy and delivery goes according to plan – and you didn’t have to dip into your emergency fund – then well and good. You’ll have the funds to buy cribs and the like.

Stock up on Diapers!

Stock Up on Essentials

Finally, you should start stocking up on baby essentials such as diapers and baby wipes. On average, a newborn baby uses at least 10 -14 diapers a day – so you will need a lot. Don’t buy a whole truckload though, remember that your baby will grow and the diapers for infants will not be ideal for a baby that’s 3-4 months old. Buy enough for a month or two, and see how you go from there.

Having a baby is a massive, lifetime responsibility. You will now have to take care of another human being for the rest of your life. But it’s not all that scary and generally, it’s not that bad. Mums the world over will attest to the fact that having a baby is the single, most exhausting but most rewarding experience any person can ever have.

Good luck on your new adventure!

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia, Justbecause of Flickr, French Touch Mom of Flickr, Tax Credits of Flickr, x86x86 of Flickr

Sometimes the changes we see in our home aren’t problems in their own right, but symptoms of other, hidden issues. It’s inevitable that any home will experience changes due to wear and tear and just simple aging, and maintenance comes with the territory of home ownership. But some problems can pose much more serious concerns than others, especially when they involve your home’s foundation.

Some degree of foundational change is expected over time, as soil surrounding your home shifts. But the integrity of your entire home is riding on the foundation, in the most literal sense. In order to protect the structural strength of your home – and avoid costly repairs – all homeowners need to understand the warning signs that could indicate problems with the foundation.

Following are five of the most common warning signs that your home’s foundation may be deteriorating:

1. Cracking in outermost walls

Cracks in a home’s outermost walls can be caused by a number of problems – most notably, soil erosion or contraction. In new homes, vertical cracking may simply be due to the house settling after construction, and generally, cracks narrower than three millimeters aren’t cause for concern. Wider cracks – or those that move along a wall in both a vertical and horizontal plane – could indicate a home’s foundation is shifting in a way that’s causing structural damage.

2. Sloping floors

Erosion or other foundational sinking at one end or corner of the home can create uneven floors that separate from the walls where the settling or sinking is significant. The separation of floor from wall is more significant than floors that are just slightly uneven because it indicates a negative change in the foundation rather than the less significant problem of floors that are a little bit off-level.

3. Cracked flooring

If your flooring has cracked, it’s likely due to the foundation settling unevenly across its base. There are many reasons this might occur, one common reason being shifting soil.

4. Sticking doors and windows

Cracking commonly develops around doors and windows, since these are the weakest points in a wall. But if you notice a door or window is sticking when you try to open or close it, or that it doesn’t full close all the way, it’s possibly a sign of moderate to severe shifting in the foundation. Sticking doors are often a sign that the frame is shifting on the foundation, which could compromise the structural integrity of the home.

5. Separated or cracked moldings

If you notice cracks or fissures in the moldings of your home, it might indicate foundational movements that are causing walls to shift, separate or fall out of square. This is even more likely the case if you identify other cracks or inconsistencies near the moldings.

If you suspect that your foundation is settling in a way that may be undermining the structural integrity of your home, don’t ignore the problem in hopes that it will go away. Find a foundation repair professional to evaluate the problem and recommend a course of action.

Embroidery Thread

Sorry, but this post is not about porn-sites (XXX) or about counting the number of significant others you’ve had over your entire life. As exciting as the title is, this post is as wholesome as can be – it’s all about a very relaxing and fulfilling hobby that’s been around for many years – this post is all about counted cross-stitch.

Background of Cross-Stitch

Cross-stitch is one of the oldest forms of counted-thread embroidery in history. Folk museums in most European and Asian countries would have at least one display of an article of clothing that has been decorated with a simple cross-stitch design. Cross stitch samplers, a piece of fabric with letters of the alphabet or numbers usually stitched by a young girl who is just learning to sew, can also be found in museums. The earliest known cross-stitch sampler was created by Loara Standish (daughter of Myles Standish) in about 1653. This sampler is presently on display at the Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth Massachusetts.

Why Cross Stitch

Cross-stitch was first used to embellish household linens such as tablecloths, dishcloths, table napkins and, to some extent, doilies. Though this is still applied today, modern cross stitch patterns have become increasingly more intricate and visually appealing. It is not uncommon to find large cross-stitched projects framed and hung on walls as decorations. Smaller cross stitch patterns are often used to make greeting cards, pillow cases, coasters, placemats and trivets, and are given out as inexpensive yet personalised gifts during birthdays, Christmas and other special occasions.

Where to Start

If you want to try your hand at cross-stitching, but don’t know where to start, don’t fret; cross-stitching is very easy to do, just pick a pattern that is simple enough for you to take on and start stitching. Unlike other hobbies, cross-stitch materials (ie: colored embroidery floss, embroidery needle, and evenweave fabric such as Aida or linen, embroidery hoop is optional) are very affordable and are readily available in craft stores.

Support Groups

There are online tutorials on how to start cross-stitching and, if you want to learn the craft in a more interactive and personal manner, you can join hobby groups, craft clubs or cross-stitching guilds (incidentally, guilds are more popular in the United States and Europe than in other countries). You can also ask for help from your local needlework shops – their staff should be able to give you very good advice.

What’s the Time Frame

Depending on the intricacy of the pattern, a cross-stitch project can be completed in as short as a few minutes to as long as a few weeks (or even months). So if you’re planning to give out cross-stitched Christmas gifts, it would be best if you worked on simple patterns, such as the pillow below, instead of overly ornate ones.

christmas pillow

Happy stitching!

Photos courtesy of Squirrel Cottage and Falalalala

Warm Wool Socks

Socks are probably one of the most under-appreciated garments around. Many people take these for granted and only replace their socks when the ones they own are well worn on the heels (and perhaps, the toes). However, you really shouldn’t wait until your socks are splitting at the seams before you replace them. Do yourself (and your feet) a favor and read on. Maybe you’ll learn to value socks after you understand how these make your life (and the lives of others) more comfortable.

So what are socks? Socks are basically articles of clothing that are worn on the feet. It’s name is derived from the Old English word socc which means “light slipper”. Socc comes from the Latin Word soccus which describes a “light, low-heeled shoe”. The oldest pair of socks was found buried in Egypt in the 1800. These pre-historic socks (estimated to have been knitted between the 4th and 5th Century) were made out of wool single-needle stitching.

There benefits of wearing socks are numerous – but the basic, most important ones are as follows:

Socks Keep Your Feet Warm

This may not be true in tropical climates, but if you live a few longitudes north or south of the Equator, this is something you can appreciate. In colder countries, socks greatly reduce the risk of frostbite and other cold weather-related injuries such as chilblains, trench foot, and frostnip.

Socks Absorb Sweat

If socks keep the feet of those living in cold climates warm, what benefits do these have for those living in the tropics? Well, socks help absorb sweat. The feet, hands, armpits and the groin area, are the largest producers of perspiration or sweat and, the feet alone can produce over 1 US pint (0.47 l) of sweat over a period on 1 day. If sweat is not absorbed by socks, your feet would be susceptible to athletes foot, itchiness and may even emit a foul smelling odor.

Socks Protect Your Skin

Have you ever tried breaking in a new pair of shoes (without socks) and end up with blisters and chafing on your ankles and toes and other parts of your feet? It was awful, isn’t it? By now, you already know that feet sweat and, if this is unchecked and compounded by continuous friction against another surface, you end up with blisters. Socks would have absorbed the perspiration and provided a barrier between your skin and your footwear.

Selecting Socks

Now that you know how important socks really are, you might want to take more time in selecting socks for you to wear, instead of just picking the cheapest one in the store. Here are some tips on how to select socks that will love your feet.

1. Select socks that fit your foot without being too tight or too loose.
2. Discuss your needs with the sales person. The material and make of your socks will depend on how you intend to use them. Running socks are different from dress (work) socks or from hiking socks.
3. If you are prone to blisters, you can try wearing two layers of socks.
4. Throw out thin and worn out socks as they are likely to produce hot spots and blisters.

Knowing that running around without socks can cause smelly, and blistered feet doesn’t make Sonny Crockett look too hot now, does it? If, however, you’re still unconvinced about socks and manliness, consider this: recently unearthed evidence show that ancient Romans actually wore socks with sandals! If the warriors of Sparta didn’t find socks a source of embarrassment  then neither should you.
Photo: Courtesy of Barkbud of Flickr

As Americans, we tend to take our favorite foods for granted, assuming that if we enjoy it, the rest of the world must too. But you’d be shocked and saddened to walk into a Starbucks in Dusseldorf, Germany in autumn in search of your favorite Pumpkin Spice Latte because the locals wouldn’t dream of drinking something that tasted like pumpkin. While eating and snacking in other countries can be an adventure in and of itself, it’s an experience you should include on trips abroad as part of immersing yourself in another culture. After all, you can enjoy a Chicago-style hotdog or bag of boiled peanuts from Georgia once you get back home.

Tasty European Snacks

• Germany. Enjoy pretzels in Germany like you never have before. Large, soft pretzels are popular in the Bavarian region and are often served with mustard or a thick, cream cheese-like spread sprinkled with chives. In central Germany, currywurst is a popular snack consisting of sliced hotdogs in a curry-flavored tomato sauce.
• Spain. Rocky Mountain oysters — you may have heard of them in southern and eastern areas of the United States, but they’re also popular in Spain! Be forewarned, this snack has nothing to do with seafood. Rocky Mountain oysters are fried delicacies made from bull testicles.
• Scandinavia. Fish is a big part of the cuisine in the Scandinavian countries of Finland, Sweden and Norway. Lutefisk is a type of white fish cut into chunks and aged in lye. It has a strong flavor and odor, but is perfectly safe to eat and very popular in the area.
• Ukraine. In Eastern Europe and the Ukraine there’s a popular snack that tastes much better than it looks.Salo is made from cured fatback; it’s sliced thick and served alongside a bowl of Russian borscht and a vodka.

Unique Asian Snacks

• Indonesia. Are you a lover of tropical fruits? Don’t allow the onion-like odor of the durian fruit to put you off. The locals of Indonesia love this fruit, and you might, too. It’s said to have a much milder taste in comparison to its odor, yet durian is banned from many hotels and public establishments due to its smell.
• Thailand. If your snacking tendencies lean toward foods that are fried or crispy, you’re in for an unusual treat in Thailand. Fried silkworms or grasshoppers can be bought from street vendors everywhere. Don’t be afraid to try a taste of this unique, protein-rich snack.
• Cambodia. As long as you don’t suffer from arachniphobia, you might enjoy trying fried tarantulas in Cambodia. This crispy treat is seasoned in a variety of flavors, including garlic and a salty, soy sauce-flavored seasoning.

Keeping Safe and Healthy While Trying International Cuisine

The meals and snacks you try in other countries may not all be to your liking, but they’re sure to become a memorable part of your experience abroad. A reluctance to try snacks and other foods you’ve never heard of or those that are prepared in an unusual way will result in you missing out on a new experience. Skipping a snack might not sound like a big deal, but spending time in another country can be a life-changing experience, and food is a vital part of that.

When trying new foods, it’s always important to do so in a way that promotes safety. Purchase snacks and meals in places that are clean and reputable. Practice good hygiene and wash your hands. Protect yourself with the appropriate insurance in the event you should become ill. Above all, enjoy expanding your knowledge of other countries and cultures by experiencing life abroad through local cuisine.