Author: Joshua Gorenflo

To plug in or unplug? This is the modern traveler’s quest(ion) worth pursuing. I suppose there is a time for both, as well as a natural inclination toward one option or the other. I would guess that as the world advances in the area of technology, the temptation is to be increasingly wired. Of course, that’s all subjective to your level of addiction.

How do we get from commercial outrage to united understanding? One step at a time. And maybe the first step for many of us needs to be outside of ourselves and into the lives of someone different, some place foreign. Whether that’s travel to third-world countries or to the neighborhood across town, our better selves are waiting there for us. There is great value in a global perspective.

This is life. Full of heartache and loss and compromise and sacrifice and exhaustion and selfishness and jealousy and hurt. None of that changes because you decide to buy a plane ticket. Waste still collides with ceiling fans. Difficult times still come. And there are healthy ways to deal with hard times, regardless of location.

My friend, James, has chickens named after Star Wars characters. Aside from the best eggs I’ve ever eaten, Darth Sidious and her fellow hen lords are schooling me in all sorts of life’s truths. Especially as a teacher needing tips in classroom management.

Whatever reservations you may have, set them aside and book them online instead. There are some pretty sweet apps out there to make your traveling a smoother, richer, more meaningful experience. I’ll go ahead and save you the suspense now. These essential travel apps are FREE.

Your DVD shelf is packed with good movies shot in all kinds of exotic locales. But how many have motivated you to get out and see them for yourself? With no claims of superiority or comprehensiveness by any stretch, here are some of my favorite stories which ignite a flame for travel under my cush tush.
What are some of yours?

Traveling is a lesson in the art of simplicity. After all, this is your life in a bag we’re talking about. Your choice of items is the nitty-gritty of what matters in serving your purposes abroad. Woe to the one who skimps on preparation. Thinking ahead, doing your research, and making wise investments are absolutely key in learning how to pack for a year abroad.

All of us, teachers and students alike, are just people. People with backgrounds and histories. People with families and fears. People who are influenced and have an influence. Now that I’m on the other side of the desk, I am still learning to see the raw humanity in all those I influence. Especially students with behavioral issues.