Personal Stories

Studying abroad: Parties, culture and languages

Studying abroad: Parties, culture and languages

08/06/2010
Personal Stories, popular posts, Travel Prep
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5 years ago I made the choice to go abroad alone for the first time. Yes, I was going to be an Erasmus student (for the non-Europeans among us: exchange program initiated by the EU). The impression most have (including me) is that Erasmus students are on a semester or two long vacation with a minimum of effort studywise and a whole lot of partying with other[...]
Take my Breath away: Climbing HALF-EVEREST

Take my Breath away: Climbing HALF-EVEREST

07/20/2010
Guatemala, Inspiration, Personal Stories
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My friend Julie and I are currently volunteering for a fair trade women weaving association, which is located in Quetzaltenago (Guatemala). As we have our weekends off, we always plan some trips. Guatemala is known for its volcanoes, that´s why we decided to climb up a volcano - so why not start with the highest in Guatemala and all Central America? Yes why[...]
When the drugs don't work

When the drugs don't work

07/08/2010
Personal Stories, Thailand, Travel Tips
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Picture this: You’re backpacking alone in a tropical exotic country, far far away from home with all its comforts, amidst language barriers that are amusingly out in full force, travelling with companions randomly met on your journey… then you wake up at 2am throwing up last nights stir-fried chicken and vegetables with a fever and feeling like you’ve [...]
Dear Ryanair - you suck.

Dear Ryanair - you suck.

07/02/2010
Personal Stories, Travel Tips
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It's pretty common knowledge that Ryanair is probably the cheapest airline out there. Everyone knows that they are the biggest crooks in the history of airlines but we all book them anyways, don't we? My first "I'll never fly Ryanair again" situation was when I flew from Düsseldorf/Weeze (which is actually their first trick: they are not even allowed to [...]
Dubious achievements in travel - it doesn't get much worse than this

Dubious achievements in travel - it doesn't get much worse than this

06/30/2010
Personal Stories
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The National Geographic posted this hilarious video on their travel blog and it made me laugh so much that I had to post it here for you guys to check it out. Watching it, all the mishaps that happened during my travels suddenly seemed a little bit smaller. I'd even go with another broken foot before I live through the stuff shown in this clip. video [...]
New York, I love you (but you're bringing me down)

New York, I love you (but you're bringing me down)

06/26/2010
Cities, New York, Personal Stories
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New York and I have been enjoying a love/hate relationship ever since I first set foot in this town at the tender age of 18, equipped with a homemade ID stating that I was 22 and a grand appetite to discover all things Americana. Before moving there in summer 2006, ending my world trip that had just taken me through 25 countries and 5 continents, I had on[...]
Tragedy on the Road: Pippa Bacca

Tragedy on the Road: Pippa Bacca

06/18/2010
People, Personal Stories
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A friend and I were talking about hitch-hiking when I first heard about Pippa Bacca. Unfortunately the story is not particularly encouraging or uplifting, but one I feel is necessary to share with Travelettes. (To read the New York Times article where I got most of my information, click here.) In 2008, Italian performance artists Pippa Bacca and Silv[...]
Volunteering in India: feedback letter by Sigrid from Norway

Volunteering in India: feedback letter by Sigrid from Norway

03/30/2010
Inspiration, Personal Stories
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Last week we published an article on volunteering abroad, filling you in on your options on how to take part in a volunteer program without spending horrendous amounts of money. In reply to the article reached us an email by a girl from Norway called Sigrid Bjorbekkmo who told us about her experience with a program offering volunteering in India for money. [...]
Road trip!!!

Road trip!!!

03/11/2010
Personal Stories, Road Trips
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Dear Travelettes, the other day, as I was chatting with my homeboy Anthony over in Austin, Texas a subject came up that has long been on top of my list-of-things-to-do-before-i-die-or-get-married. For dramatic effect I will recreate the conversation. Anthony: Dude, I have girl trouble, I might need some advice on this. Katja: Dump her, Anthony, she is[...]
Travelettes – the survey: The catastrophe day

Travelettes – the survey: The catastrophe day

03/01/2010
Inspiration, Personal Stories
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A while ago, the travelettes asked you to answer some of our most burning questions in a survey. We wondered about your best and worst travel experiences, about failures and mishaps as well as the time when you laughed and loved on the road. Many of you told us about wonderful travel experiences, but some also missed your flights, were robbed and one poor gi[...]