She travels so much, she must be rich...

"I don't earn enough money to travel.", "I work and study full-time, I just don't have time.", "I pay bills and stuff, trips are a luxury I can't afford."


Have you ever said or thought any of those things?

If yes, I'm sorry to say, but you are simply making excuses for your own lack of commitment. I'm serious. It might be unconsciously, yet they are still excuses. Why? Well, travelling is a huge commitment and until very little time ago, it was seen as an activity destined only for those who had a lot of money to spend in leisure. But times changed, and so must your mindset, or else you will really never leave your place.

Sigh. I can't deny I wish I were rich, though...

Many people who know me believes I am rich. I hate to do this, but... I'm not rich. I come from a family who does well, I can't deny that. But now, at the age of 21, I have my own life and responsibilities. I have to pay for my own expenses, help with the household expenses and provide for myself. And I have a full-time job as an assistant to a multinational's direction board, which, trust me, is a great opportunity but the pay if the one of an assistant. But that's what I got, and that's what I work with. I also have a great, profound, desperate urge to travel. And every year now, I somehow manage to leave the country. How is that possible, being only an assistant, a student and above all, a young adult?

In my opinion, travelling and exploring the world is something essential for personal development. When you decide to leave your own private place, where you feel so comfortable and where all you know is, you're conditioning your mind to the survival mode. That can be thrilling, scary, exciting, it depends. But once you're surviving, you will find out that everything changes. You will be more inclined to talk to others - of course, you'll need to ask information, to get directions, or even to connect to people. You will pay more attention to things around you - to get familiar with the new environment, your perception will increase greatly. You will feel the need to find your own place, and soon enough you'll be adapting to the new situation. Yes, you'll be a new person. The routine is over, the adventure is on. Of course, the best time to do it is when you still don't have as many responsibilities. Once marriage, kids and everything come, things would get harder, planning would be different. During the past few years, there has been an increase on the number of people aged 17-25 who travel abroad, no matter if it is for leisure, education, work or other reasons. Young people are travelling more. And, by old logic, it shouldn't be - after all, at a young age, we all are still completing our higher education, we're struggling with the adventures of our first jobs, we're learning how to pay bills, what are taxes and why do they get all our money, why do I need a roommate agreement... Then what's going on?

Basically, young adults already are on survival mode, you know? All that "learn how to adult" deal is enough to activate the most primitive instincts. Also, travelling has been made incredibly easy, especially for this public. I will share some of my experiences and tips for adventurers like me. To make it organized, I will put it as "What I learned in the world of travelling"

• Visa, passport... - There are different rules for passport and visa for each country. For instance, people with an European passport do not need a visa to enter the US if you're staying for less than 90 days; residents of any Latin American countries do not need visa or passport to enter any Latin American country if you're not staying up to 3 months. Brazilians do not need visa to visit Europe, except when it exceeds 90 days. There are just a lot of rules. But if you wanna travel the world, you should know them well, at least the ones specific to your country. If you intend to visit a country that require a visa, you need to know where and how you can apply for one - like when I applied to get my American visa, I had to go to São Paulo where the Consulate is located to go through the process. Make sure the bureaucracy doesn't spoil your fun. Consider the type of your trip, the length of your stay and the country you're visiting, and get all the documentation necessary. Usually, tourism trips are the most uncomplicated. But if you intend to do a course, for example, or spend a semester abroad, or go to a Work&Study program, then you will definitely need to provide more documents to prove where you're staying, what you're doing and if you have means to afford your stay. Luckily, if you will do this through an agency, they will most likely give you a list of things you need to have in hand: passport, visa, recommendation letter from school, a declaration from your bank, etc. Just visit the Government's website dedicated to tourism and immigration, and you should be fine. Remember also that, as a general rule, you must have a passport valid for at least 6 months before its expiration. Don't make the mistake of travelling with a passport way too close to its expiration date. Always keep it updated. Now, you've given the first step!

• Where to go? - As a hopeless romantic, I say: go wherever your heart commands. But well, let's keep it practical. There are so many kinds of places in the world, but you are one individual with your own tastes, needs and goals. So, if you're considering travelling, maybe try to first evaluate those three points about yourself. And consider budget too, of course. So, to make it simple:

• Backpackers: Personally, my favorite kind of trip. Backpacking includes going through adventures across different places, usually with a low-budget and a lot of energy. You're more likely to meet new people and live unforgettable moments.

• Goals: If you're looking for a trip where you can meet many different places, get in touch with the people, meet the heart of the culture and most likely do crazy activities, then that's definitely your kind of trip. Of course, you will need a lot of energy and good adaptation skills.

• How it works: Get your favorite T-shirt, an extra pair of shorts put it in your backpack and go. Okay, maybe not only that. But basically, backpacking consists in keeping things simple. The term comes from the fact that those travellers usually go around with very few luggage, maybe a backpack or a small travelling bag. They take only the necessary things: a few changes of clothes, hygiene items, the documents and whichever else they deem needed. It's simple because you're always ready to go. The point of backpacking is to go around, to meet different places. So backpackers spend few days in each location before moving on to the next. Backpacking is becoming more and more popular through the years.

• Recommended to: Either if you're travelling alone or with a group of friends, backpacking is a wonderful experience. However, it's not very enjoyable if you have in your group children, elderly or people who aren't too willing to explore or can't travel with few luggage. Backpacking involves trying to being part of different places, and everything happens very fast.

• Nice places to go: Now, it depends on your tastes. There are many places where it's possible to backpack without spending much. Here are some of the best ones - 

1.  Europe - The favorite destination of Brazilian and Latin American backpackers. There's no need to have a visa to go around the countries, and they are just so close to each other that it's possible to get from one country to the other in a matter of two hours. You can get a bus, a car or a train to wherever. From Germany to Austria is less than one hour by plane, a bit more than two hours by train depending where you're at, and from Vienna to Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary, it's only a couple of hours by bus. There are even train packages that offer unlimited trips for a period of time through Europe for a very affordable price! You can meet the exotic Portugal, take a train to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris and then have a glimpse of the Pope at the Vatican all in a matter of three days. Yes, it's THAT awesome! Of course, it is much easier if you're already from Europe. If you're from any other part of the world, most likely you'd need to fly to the nearest European country and start your journey from there. Even so, backpacking across Europe would prove to be an incredibly cheap trip.  

   

   Of course, backpacking across Europe makes wonderful stories for... special purposes ;)

2.  India - Not being biased here (I am one huge fan of India, extremely fascinated by its culture), but this is one great place to backpack. It's just so diverse that as you go around, you will feel like you're not even in the same country. Not to mention, it's really cheap to travel across India: transportation, food and lodging, even entertainment... all fits inside your wallet. Of course, depending where you are, you will pay a little salty price for a ticket to India, and you will need a visa. One thing you need to keep in mind though: India can be very conservative, so there will be cities in where you will need to pay extra attention to dressing code. Not to mention, there is a culture shock all across the country. You will most definitely experience things you never thought you would, like eating with your hands and waging your head to show you're friendly. There are historical monuments, street fairs, wonderful festivals and incredible food all over the country. However, there are some things to be careful about; like the conservative nature of the country, mostly found among elders. I've also heard that Indian men tend to be very flirtatious towards foreign women. There should also be a note regarding sanitation: make sure you will eat in places where you can see your food being handled and you know where it's from. But good food doesn't necessarily means expensive food -  you can spend less than 3 dollars in a full meal in a good restaurant!  

   

   By the way, I have a deep, eternal love for Bollywood movies, and for Shah Rukh Khan <3

3. Thailand - In Thailand, you can stay in a very comfortable place with meals for about 20 dollars a day. It's one of the cheapest countries for backpackers, and one of the most appreciated by tourists, due its wonderful landscapes; there are amazing beaches, wonderful religious monuments, a crazy nightlife... Not to mention Thai people are usually very friendly. You can also go from one city to the other easily, since the buses are incredibly cheap. Even though the Thai language is a pain for most of the world, you will probably find many people who can speak English decently and will be happy to talk to you. And if you're lucky, you can see a paper lantern festival! No fortune needed... well, maybe for the actual plane ticket. 

   

   Seriously, how wonderful is that?!

4. South America - not to boast or anything, but my continent is a pretty damn great place. Most countries speak Spanish, with the exception of Brazil, where we speak mainly Portuguese; Guiana, where they speak English; Suriname, where they speak Dutch; French Guiana where they speak mostly French; and the Falkland Islands and the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, which are British territories, and English is the official language. In South America, there is a most incredible clash of cultures, a great mix of all kinds of people and things. In Peru, you will find the relics of ancient civilizations, like the Machu Picchu. The Andes cover Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina, so if you're an adventurer, you will enjoy the climbs. Argentina is also a great place to go; people can enjoy a great climate, and even see it snowing during winters. There are even ski centers in Patagonia. But for those who are not a fan of the cold, the Iguazu waterfalls and jungle are a natural blessing, and one of the most searched destinies.There are even Inca colonial sites in the north of the country. Brazil... well, my beautiful and beloved country, what can I say? The biggest country of Latin America, is practically a backpack trip itself; going through the many states can take weeks, but it's worth it. In Rio de Janeiro, there's the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, and the famous beaches. In the Northwest states (Pernambuco, Ceará, Bahia...), not only the littoral is breathtaking, but there is a great remembrance of the African roots of its population, shown in music, food and dressing. The South states (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina...) were colonized by Europeans, mainly Germans, so it's common to see German architecture in the houses, and they still celebrate Oktoberfest. São Paulo is the biggest of South America, where all the business take place, but it also offers some great culture bits, like the Museums dedicated to the former Imperial family of Brazil, the monuments of the Independence, the nice Asian communities where a visitor feels like they've just entered a whole different country... In the North, there is the great Amazon forest, and tourists can enjoy the regional food, which is mainly fish with rice and vegetables. There are festivals dedicated to the native culture, and beautiful river beaches. Okay, I should stop talking. 
   
5. Sri Lanka - in terms of money, Sri Lanka is probably one of the best destinies for travellers. Everything is affordable, and food and accommodation are just incredibly cheap. Sri Lanka is a small country located just below India, an island the locals like to call "small miracle". Culturally, it's just as diverse as any south Asian country: you can visit wonderful Buddhist temples, Hindu monuments, Tamil festivals... The spicy food will surprise you at first, but with time, you won't be able to live without curry and hoppers. Since Sri Lanka was a British domain until very recently, most Lankans can speak English fluently, along with the official Sinhala and Tamil languages. The Mount Lavinia area has wonderful beaches, while Colombo has wonderful temples, museums and sportive entertainment.  People are very friendly - you can make friends really quickly and be calling each other nangi, akki, malli and aiya (those are, literally, little sister, big sister, little brother and big brother - but good friends use these denominations among each other). And don't be offended if someone calls you 'auntie'. 

   

   Note to self: must one day ride an elephant.

• Students: Many people get excited about the idea of taking a semester, a course or even a full graduation abroad. Most are turned down by the school fees and the living expenses. But it doesn't have to be so expensive. In fact, many people can study abroad and spend just what they'd usually spend in their home town.
• Goals: You're there to study, of course. Probably, you want to break free from your school and challenge yourself to learn in a different place. But you also want to have fun, get to know a new culture on a deeper level and feel home. That is a must.

• How It Works: To study abroad, depending on your course, you're most likely going to need a special visa. Up to three months (90 days) in most countries, a visa is required. Also, you will need special documents from your school: declarations of educational level (translated), letters of recommendation, personal statements, sometimes even exams of proficiency. But calm down - it's not too complicated. Some schools and universities have special programs for students who want to go abroad, and they are more than willing to provide the necessary documents and help you to get whatever you'll need. There are also agencies specialized in finding courses and schools to match a student's profile, and they too help with documentation and visa. Depending on your home country, the list of documents you'll need to provide will be bigger. I'll list some of the best programs and organizations that are famous for providing students with semesters, internships and even full courses abroad. Check if your uni/college is part of them:

1. ERASMUS - Erasmus stands for European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, and it's a non-profit international organization that allows students to exchange. So, if you're European, Erasmus offers a great opportunity to spend at least 3 months abroad, studying in another country. There are no extra fees from the universities. The costs of housing are greatly reduced through internal networking of the program, and some students can even get grants that will cover other expenses. Students from high school and higher education can participate.
2. Institute of International Education - A non-profit organization that helps students from all over the world to exchange. It manages over 200 exchange programs for scholarships, training and leadership.
3. OeAD (Österreichischer Austauschdienst) - If you want to study in Austria, the OeAD is a service that helps finding, comparing and evaluating choices for Austrian education. Thing is, to study in Austria, German is required in most institutions.
4. Campus France - It is a French agency that promotes international mobility for students and teachers. It manages the reception for foreign grant holders students in France as well as aids French students abroad.
5. DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) - a service that runs and manages over 250 programs for foreigner students in Germany and German students abroad.
6. ISEP (International Student Exchange Programs) - it's a network of over 300 colleges and universities all over the world that help each other providing international mobility for their students.
7. Laureate - an international network of colleges and universities that provides opportunities of exchange programs for full semesters or Masters abroad. It has several different programs and events that students can attend abroad, most directed to leadership and social entrepreneurship. 

• Best places to go - When it comes to studying, there are some countries that really make it easier. Here's a list of them:

1. Finland - Finnish universities are free of charges. No joke. They are tuition free. However, the cost of living can be expensive. You'd most likely need to work, and for that, you must speak Finnish. Despite this fact, there are many courses offered in English.
2. Norway - same as its fellow Finland, Norway's universities are tuition free. But the cost of living is not very cheap. 
3. Germany - State-funded universities do not charge fees, and the ones who charge are mostly 1000 euros per year. Non-European students may find higher prices though. However, German programs for international students can help with housing and livng expenses. Most courses require German, although there are classes in English.
4.  France - low tuition fees for Europeans and non-European students, and affordable rates for accommodation and other living expenses. French is mostly required, although a few courses are only in English.
5. Ukraine - there are really low fees for some courses, specially Engineering and Medicine. And to make things better, the bureaucracy is little - no need to show a bank statement, all payments are made upon arrival. You can take courses in English as long as you present a valid English proficiency certificate, such as TOEFL. And the cost of living is not expensive, students can even work during the summer.
6. Italy - the average of the tuition fees is 1000 euros per year. It may vary for international students. However, Italy offers different kinds of accommodation, affordable for all. It's known for being the best place of studying Arts.

• Language courses - another kind of study you can do abroad is a language course. Nothing better than learning German in Germany, English in England or Mandarin in China. There are many agencies that offer courses that go from 2 weeks to 3 months in different countries. It may depend on the student's fluency in another language. It's easier, because since it's mostly less than 3 months, visas may not be mandatory. 

• Work - if you're looking for a work experience abroad, then you will definitely need assistance from agencies and/or schools. Basically, you can't just apply to a job abroad and go at your own risk. Special visas are required for people who will work abroad, and a lot of documents and their translations. So, to keep it simple, let's try to divide the working types:

•  Volunteering - One word: amazing experience. Volunteering works across the globe can be of so many kinds... You can work with education, environment, leadership, sports, politics, social work, health, awareness, empowerment... The list is immense! And you can be sure you will be doing a good thing, changing lives and helping the world. You can find international organizations that can assist you. Usually, those trips tend to be less expensive than a touristic one, because the fees of the program may cover transport, food and housing. Here's a list of great and responsible organizations that offer volunteering experiences abroad:

1. AIESEC - as a former member of AIESEC, and a former exchange student of the organization, I can assure you this to be one of the best ones. AIESEC is an international non-profit organization for students around the world that promotes exchange. Every city that has an AIESEC office is sure to send and receive students to/from all over the world. These students are encouraged to take part on volunteer works - so basically, you can volunteer to teach English in Asia, take care of children in Africa, be a trainee in an office in Central America... there are thousands of programs in thousands of cities across the globe. The best part is that the AIESEC team that welcomes the foreigners assist them in everything they need: from the job itself to entertainment and leisure. You'll make great friends and make a difference in the world. AIESEC charges an incredibly low fee, and most of the programs offer housing in host families and other facilities to help reduce costs.
2. ISV (International Student Volunteer) - one of the biggest and best volunteer programs of the world, ISV offer opportunities in countries such as Thailand and Costa Rica, and chances of working closely to help social issues. It's a really mind-opening experience, and it assists the volunteers at all times. The fee is affordable, and you can spend from 2 to 4 weeks.
3. Volunteers For Peace - a network that helps people around the world to find volunteer programs directed to peace-making. They charge 500 dollars as a fee to cover accommodation, food and material, and there are many destinations and flexible durations. Perfect for people engaged in social work.  
4. Volunteer HQ - a very affordable way of volunteering, this is a program that offers opportunities in over 30 countries. The fee of registration is 279 dollars, and depending on where you want to go and how long you wish to stay, there's an extra fee to cover accommodation, food and material. You can stay from 2 to 24 weeks.
5. GoEco - it's an organization turned to ecological projects. It covers eight regions and offers affordable fees depending on location and duration. Perfect for nature lovers and environment protectors. It also has humanitarian projects, if ecology isn't really your thing.
6. WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) - This is interesting: you stay with a host family that lives on the countryside, and you must help them with daily farming activities. The deals are from 4-6 hours of work in exchange for accommodation and food. The duration of the job is negotiated between the volunteer and the host. It's nice because it gives a different perspective on agriculture activities. 

• Internships - Many students finishing their degree want to have an internship experience abroad, and it's being made possible and affordable by many agencies and programs. It's possible to get the required internship and get wonderful experiences in your field on another country.

1. AIESEC - It's not only for volunteers! AIESEC also offers traineeships. The difference of this service is the duration - volunteers spend from 2 weeks to 3 months, and interns, up from 3 months. The fee is a bit higher, but still very affordable. Interns are encouraged to stay with host families, and they are paid for their internship as well. Usually, the companies that hire the interns are one of the many sponsors of AIESEC - big names of the business world, therefore, great opportunities.
2. CIEE - CIEE is an organization that offers opportunities in different areas: business and corporation, media, tourism... Most internships take place in Europe and Asia.
3. Intrax Global Internships - this network connects with big names of the business world, such as the Hilton Hotels and BMW. It has 11 destinations, spread around the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. Depending on your choice of destination and length of staying, fees vary.

• Work&Study - It's a bit different from internship programs. While internships allow people to act in their study field, those who opt for a Work&Study program may work in unrelated fields. Actually, most of these jobs are: waiter/waitress, hotel host/hostess, cashier, translator, interpreter... Still, quite a great experience. Except that, for these cases, the best thing to do is to contact your college or university. It's much safer; due the fact these jobs are very popular, they tend to offer more risks of disappointments and bad deals.

• Tourists - It's a personal classification; of course backpackers are tourists as well. But, to me, a tourist trip would be more like a relaxed time in one place, enjoying its finest attractions.
• Goals: If you don't want to adventure much, just relax, enjoy the sightseeing and calm attractions, have comfort and privacy, this might be the best choice. However, it may cost a bit more
• Common Destinations - Just some of the most searched places, and my personal favorites (haven't been to all, but all of them are in my "to-go" list!)

1. Disney World Resorts - Located in Orlando, it's the dream of every child, teen and adult. I first visited it last December and completely fell in love -- I'm 21! However, be ready to pay a bit more. The Disney World is already an attraction itself; it has many parks, and one day might not even be enough to enjoy all the wonders of one single park. So, best thing to do is to plan ahead what you want to see, and buy the Disney Pass. I'll also include here the Universal Studios parks, which are worthy seeing, and they too need full days to enjoy at least most of its attractions. The food sold inside is great, but pricey. Buying snacks in a Walmart before may be a good idea. Just don't come inside with lunch boxes - it's not allowed. Overall, it's the most magical place in the world, I mean it. I felt like a child and I just can't get over this feeling. Housing inside the resort is expensive, but there are hotels nearby who are more affordable and that even offer free transportation to the parks, if you schedule ahead -- I recommend the ones at the International Drive. Don't miss the Magic Kingdom. And oh, don't be afraid to ask the characters for photographs! They will gladly sign your book! 

   

   A whole new wooooooooorld!

2. London - Something about London fascinates people from all over the world. The possibility of seeing so many historical places and touristic spots are surely tempting, but the Londoner environment is somehow so pleasing that one cannot resist. Tourists love to see the Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Westminster Abbey, the London Bridge, the Thames, the many castles and palaces which belonged to nobility and today are museums, and even try to get a glimpse of the Queen or one of the royals! Now, London can be really pricey, since the cost of living is relatively higher than most European countries. Still, there are places where you can get cheap housing and meals. You will also notice a great social diversity, which makes London even more awesome. And oh, maybe visit Doctor Who's studio???? 

   

   London, baby!!!!

3. Australia - It's a wonderful mix of modern and historical. Australia has from colonial houses to wonderful modern art museums. The wild life is also something that catches the attention of people from everywhere. The natural diversity is something that can't be seen in many places. Not to mention Australia has wonderful beaches, and galleries, cafés and museum located near the sea coast. Sydney's Opera House is also something worth seeing: a perfect example of modern architecture. Don't forget to search for wombats, koalas and kangaroos!   
   
4. New York - Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today... New York is never boring. There's just so much to see that one trip is never enough. In the city that never sleeps you can find people speaking any language you can think of. In Manhattan, there's 99% of all the famous touristic spots, but it's always worth it to visit the four other districts: Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx and Staten Island. Don't miss the Meatpacking District, that despite its name, is now one of the best party spots in Manhattan; the Pier 17, which used to be a fish market and now has a mall, restaurants and open fairs. It's also where you go if you want to take a boat to see the Statue of Liberty. The Brooklyn Museum is also worthy to visit, with an amazing ancient Egyptian and Asian collection as well as American modern art. Then there's Central Park, one of the most famous places where people enjoy jogging, having a picnic or just walking to relax; the view is wonderful at any season of the year. If you're like me who has a thing for the United Nations Organization, you can also visit its venue, an impressive 155meters tall building designed by famous architects such as the Brazilian Oscar Niemeyer. There's also the Museum of Natural History, just by the Central Park, and home to over 30 millions of Pre-Historical artifacts; it also has special showcases of Astronomy from time to time --- if you're a "Friends" fan, that's where Ross worked! Speaking of Friends, oh, I so wish to visit Monica's apartment and have a snack at Central Perk...   
    
   
   
   
   
5. Istanbul - A trip to Turkey is like entering in a world where everything is mixed in a wonderful psychedelic showcase. In Istanbul, you will find religious buildings where you are not really sure what religion they represent --and to me, that's the most wonderful thing ever! You can find mosques and churches with Muslim, Christian and even Ancient Egyptian relics. The religious representations are breathtaking, and the monumental  Grand Bazaar is the perfect place to get souvenirs. It's where you will find the most amazing mix of scents and flavors as well; the Turkish culinary is one of the finest in the world. Old buildings from the Medieval era are still preserved for public visits, and one can truly feel the reminiscences of the era when that country was the controller of the sea routes and the biggest negotiator between the European and the Indian areas. And when it used to be called Constantinople.   

   

   Can I go there already?

6. Tokyo -  One of the biggest cities in the world, Tokyo is a mix of tradition and modernity: in the same city, you will find the wonderful Imperial Palace and its Gardens, a memory of the Japanese glorious Imperialism. There are also many Buddhist temples and sanctuaries with the typical Ancient Japanese architecture, even monks who dress the same outfit as it used to be worn centuries ago. The Museums are filled with artifacts and arts from Ancient to Modern Japan, there is even a Sumo Museum. And if you're a fan of anime, there will be plenty - and I mean plenty - of souvenirs for you to buy, from every anime you love and even those you've never seen in your life. Not to mention, there are many buildings that will make you think you just entered a sci-fi universe.  

   

   My first "anime" <3

   
   
   
   

• When to go? Now. Don't miss out. Don't postpone. Just go. It's an investment in your own mind and spirit that nothing can replace. (Of course, don't quit your job and leave. I meant as in, plan it out for your next holiday, your nearest vacations, those 4-5 days off you'll have next month... Just take it and go abroad. Trust me, nothing can compare to the feeling of freedom that travelling can give you.)

Whoa, that was one long post. I hope I managed to inspire you people. Here are some other links I find useful for travellers (includes tips on tickets, luggage, destination, etc):

• TripAdvisor - Need help with hotels, attractions and touristic spots? TripAdvisor offers reviews from other travellers and ratings. You can find useful tips as well, like Wi-fi passwords and where to buy cheaper food.
• LastMinute - This is an intriguing site. Provides great deals for hotels and packages on a "top secret" kind of thing - you only see the hotel name after you pay. It also offers promotional flights and touristic packages affordable for last minute travellers.
• Couchsurfing - Now this is great for backpackers - "couchsurfing" is exactly what the name says. You meet people from other countries online and they agree to give their 'couch' for you to sleep for a few days. Of course, it can either be a couch or maybe a spare room at their place. Nevertheless, it's a great deal, and you have the chance to meet great people. Just be sure to choose users who are verified and have good reviews. 
• HostelWorld - If you're backpacking or you just want cheap deals of hotels/rooms/beds for a short trip, there's this great site that shows hostels around the world. It gives you the option of choosing if you wanna stay in a private room, double room, or if you just want a bed to sleep in a shared room. Great prices and deals --I highly recommend, I've used it before.
•  IFly - If you want to get an insider on airports from all over the world - about flight information, airport maps, directions, parking, transport and even tips on hotels, this is a great site to look at. I especially recommend it if you have to do a connection flight and you don't know the connection airport well. To save time and to avoid losing your flight, this can be very helpful.
• Traveller's Point - This is a community site where travellers from everywhere can share their experiences through blogs, pictures and testimonials. There are forums as well where people can ask questions about pretty much anything. And there is a travel planning widget!
• Lonely Planet - I like travelling alone, so this is great for me. There are tips, planning and services for pretty much everything - hotels, car rental, food, festivals, culture... Not so lonely after all!
• Undercover Tourist - Going to Disney? Save up on passes with Undercover Tourist. Learn how to skip lines and save time. They also offer car rental services.
• The Travel Hack - Always looking for a way to get cheaper/simpler stuff? The Travel Hack helps you out. There are cheaps for booking cheap flights, food tips, pictures, reviews and much more. Wonderful and personal blog by an experienced traveller.

So, remember: you don't need to be rich to travel. Just use whatever you have on your advantage, and be very focused on your goal.

Have a good trip!

And here's me ready to go!

- The Romanov Girl

What do you speak?

I love languages, and everyone who knows me is well aware of this fact. My passion is such that I am never content with what I know and I keep trying to learn new languages.

Thing is, being able to speak as many languages as I do is still seen as a great virtue and an extraordinary talent. By no means I am saying learning a language is just as easy as chewing gum. But I swear, it's not the out-of-this-world phenomenon everyone imagines.

Here are some facts: in many countries, children are raised in more than one language; in Canada, there are some parts where children learn at home to speak both English and French. In India, many families use Hindi, English and other languages to communicate among themselves. There are also many dialects spoken in Asian countries, along with other major languages such as English and Mandarin. It's a cultural thing that I find so helpful and I'm truly jealous of. For many other countries though, like mine, there is only one official language, and all the other ones are taught as a second language. Not to mention, its learning isn't as accessible as is should be. That's, of course, an obstacle. But it's not because you were not raised in a multi-language household that you can't kick ass and speak in as many languages as you want.

First things first: my native language is Brazilian Portuguese. I also have a good fluency in English, due the fact I've studied it since childhood. Spanish as well, since part of my family come from Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. I have a good grip of Russian, even though my lack of practice sometimes gets the best of me, and I managed to get a pretty decent understanding of German. Currently, I am trying to learn Mandarin for professional reasons.

As I say this to some people, they tend to drop their jaws and their eyes are wide-opened. "You're a genius!", they say. Quite honestly? I'm far from it. I can point out several flaws in my knowledge of each of the languages I listed above. But I can communicate and understand, which is already more than many people in my country can. But why? Do I have superpowers? Is my brain different? Am I not human?

There are a few tricks I use. I'll explain each and every one of them the best way I can. (Note: this is mainly for people who are trying to get a second language, not for children who are raised with two languages for example):

• LEARN YOUR OWN NATIVE LANGUAGE WELL - I cannot stress this enough. Being a native Portuguese speaker, I know my language is a hard cookie and it is very hard for many people to learn. But everyone who is born in a Portuguese-speaking country MUST master their own language well BEFORE trying to learn a new one. Same goes for any other language. If your country's native language is English, learn it well. If it's Spanish, learn it well. If it's freaking Welsh, just freaking learn it well. It's not only because of pride and patriotism. When you are learning a second language, during the first few steps we tend to translate everything roughly to our native languages, and we tend to connect the new one to the one we are already used to. So how in the world are you supposed to learn a new language if you have a poor knowledge of Grammar, conjugation and phrasal structure of your own language? You need to have a basis to work with, and that is your mother tongue. Not to mention, depending on the languages, you'll find that they have many similarities and your knowledge in one can increase the learning of the other (like Portuguese-Spanish-Italian-Romanian; German-Dutch-Danish, Russian-Ukrainian-Belarus, etc.) Use what you have in your favour, and never underestimate the power of your own origins. 

• BECOME ONE OF THEM - Okay, this might sound a bit odd. When I was starting to learn English, at the age of 10, I realized that my knowledge about the countries that spoke primarily English was very poor. It was during an activity in my English course, I remember it well - the teacher was doing a Pictionary game with countries; she divided us in 2 groups and asked one student to go to the white board at a time. She would whisper the name of a country and we would have to draw something about this country so our mates could guess what it was. She whispered "United Kingdom" to me, and I was stuck. I knew nothing about it, I was completely ignorant. It was shameful. That's when I learned that knowing the people, the culture and the countries make a huge difference when you are trying to learn a new language. From that day, I decided I would learn all about the countries which first language was English. I grew more attached to USA and UK, of course, mainly the latest, and I pretty much became part of it. I studied the History, the culture, the holidays, the landscapes... I studied the most famous people from each country, the most important events and their biggest achievements. I became interested in their role in the world: what was the political situation? The economy? The social struggles? In no time, not only I had a great vocabulary, my mind was also much more comfortable with the idea of those different cultures co-existing with my own in the world. When I was learning English, in my own odd mind, I would spend hours pretending I was a medieval English Queen giving away orders ("Off with his head!" is still my motto to this day), sometimes a Crusader in mission... today I am happy with pretending I]m the next Doctor's companion (yes, I am a Whovian, and yes, I still pretend I am stuff in my head so I can think in other languages). For Russian, I was a Russian Grand Duchess, a ballerina performing on Bolshoe, a Pushkin apprentice... Well, that was just me. No one has to create an alter-ego just to learn a new language. But why not? Just remember to keep your original self where you can reach it.   

•  GET IN TOUCH - There are many ways to get in touch with a language. Of course, the best and more adventurous way is to get a plane and fly away to another country - which I highly recommend. If you however either don't have the money, the time or the confidence in your fluency to do so, try keeping it simple and taking smaller steps. Get in touch with their culture. Watch series, movies, documentaries and videos. As I was learning English, I started watching "Friends", and at first, I used to set the audio in English and the subs in Portuguese. After some time, I changed the subs to English. And later on, I needed no subs. That's a very efficient way to measure your development. There's always the music too - listen to songs and try to read and keep up with the lyrics. Don't be shy to sing. And every time you see a new word or expression, research or look it up on a dictionary. This helps a lot. Another great way of getting in touch is to connect with natives. Now, don't go to OkCupid or eHarmony and try to talk to whoever you find over there. The Internet is a most dangerous place and there are all kinds of freaks hidden behind a screen (such as the one who addresses to you at this very moment). But there are plenty of wonderful sites who provide a safe and respectful environment for people to share ideas and talk. There are online forums of all sorts of subjects, sites made especially for people to practice a second language, fandoms... I will list some of my favourite ones below, the ones I've used in my learning processes, that I know are safe and love for the content: 

1. Wattpad - my all-time favourite, Wattpad is a site for people who enjoy reading and writing. It reunites amateur writes from all over the world and it is available in many languages. I use it mainly in English, but I can find stories in Chinese if I search. Not to mention, I met wonderful like-minded people over there, made friends and even met fans in real life.
2. Livemocha - this site is a learning tool that is proving to be very efficient. You choose the language that you want to learn. The best part is that is has the option to do activities which will be corrected by native speakers. You can also interact with them. Truly awesome.
3. Alexander Palace Time Machine Discussion Forum - I was barely 17 when I found this site, all about Russian and European royalty. I am so passionate about the subject, so I had to join, and not only I made friends, I improved my informal vocabulary greatly. Learned all about Internet slangs and whatnots. If you are interested in the subject, that's a pretty neat site to go.
4. Italki - Not a bad site, you can meet really cool people over there who are just as interested as you are in learning a new language. Only thing is, it's paid. If you can afford, I think it's a rather nice one.
5. The Mixxer - The purpose is to find people around the world to practice and to correct you. You might and will meet all kinds of people, so be careful. But overall, it's a really good platform, and you can also learn from natives things courses usually don't teach.
6. Free Rice - Ok, you don't get to interact much with natives here. But you can do a much bigger interaction if you join this site: to each correct answer, this site donates 10 graints of rice through the World Food Programme of UN. It's not only in English. So, great way of practicing and contributing to help end hunger.
 

 

• TRAINING - I must confess that learning the Cyrillic alphabet is one of the greatest accomplishments of my entire life so far. 33 letters, 11 vowels, the rules, oh Lord... But the secret to learning it is continuous training. I'd open my notebook and write each letter again and again, fill a whole page only with one letter, then go on to the other, then go on to the other, and when I did about 5 of them, I'd write them all together. It worked for me. I mostly do that with languages that use a different alphabet, however it is efficient for every language. You keep writing "Buenos dias - Buenas noches" in your notebook, you will surely learn what it means and you won't forget how the spelling. It's a very direct and rough method, but it worked for me. Training can also involve reading and writing, which I do every day. The more you train, the more confidence you gain. 

•  SURROUND YOURSELF WITH FOREIGN WORDS - I learned this trick with my first and most beloved German teacher Sara. She told me to write down in small post-its the names of objects in my bedroom in German, and put each them on the corresponding object. So every time I was in my room, I saw a post-it on my mirror saying "Der Spiegel", another on my bed saying "Das Bett" and even one on my cat saying "Die Katze" (I kid you not. My cat was not too amused). That worked so well, and it applies to any language. Just make sure not to put a post it on a cat. I made this mistake only once.

Here is the proof! Ricky was so not amused...

• SPEAK IT - When you are doing a language course, you'll meet many people that, just like you, are trying to practice their Speaking. That is one of the many advantages of doing a regular course. But if you're like me, you will probably want to either learn a language so out of this world that there are no regular courses for it in your city, or maybe you're so busy all week that you can't find time to join one. To those who learn on their own, there's a great obstacle that is to find those like-minded people around you who are willing to speak with you and practice. I know it well - try find a Russian speaker in Manaus. It's like searching for a specific grain of sand in a beach. Sometimes, I try to incorporate foreign words and phrases in my conversations with friends, nothing too much, but simple things like "yes", "no", "thank you" and "hello". Even so, I realized I might be passing off as annoying and arrogant because of that. As a result, I end up training less and less. This is one of my main problems with Russian - I have relapsed its practice and I'm concerned about my current fluency. What to do then? Well, you can always try to practice with online friends who are also learning. But if you have a really good, understanding friend who will certainly not be annoyed if you try to pull up a bit of your foreign vocabulary, don't hesitate to speak. Just find a mate and speak with them, whatever you got. I talk to myself a lot; sometimes I make questions to myself in one language and reply in another. But that only shows how incredibly messy my mind is.

• BE DISCIPLINED -  This goes for people who do regular courses and also those who study on their own. Discipline must exist in any kind of learning. If you lack discipline, the whole process weakens. If you're in a regular course, the discipline consists in not keeping the learning inside the classroom, but to do the activities at home, to keep looking for new ways to improve, to study something new or something you're not very confident about. If you're learning on your own, you got even more work to do; create your schedule and never ever miss it. If you commit to spend 2 hours every Tuesdays and Thursdays to study French, then do so. Do not miss it or postpone it, because it will become a routine and soon you will have forgotten about your plans. And spend well those 2 hours, do not go on Facebook or stay on the phone 90% of this time. Treat it as if you were in a real class, and don't be content if you finish without having learnt anything new. Dedicate yourself to it. Don't procrastinate.

• BE PASSIONATE - You gotta love what you do. If you're learning a new language, keep one thing very clear in your mind: the reason why you want to master it. Is it to get a job promotion? To travel to a far away land? To meet interesting people from abroad? Get a good reason that will keep you on the learning track, and when things seem too hard, remind yourself why you're doing this and how it is worth it. Be focused and be passionate. In my case, I always remind myself how I want to work for UN, and how it is important to speak different languages. This is what keeps me going through rough times, like when I try to understand why in the world there is such a word as "neuntausendneunhundertneunundneunzig" - is it for torture? Is it to discourage and confuse people? 

 

Well, that is about it. I hope my humble experience with languages was able to help with anything. Best of luck!



- The Romanov Girl  

Why Blogging and What to Blog?

So I am a writer. That's something I cannot help, no matter how much I try to quit. Once you start writing, it's like an invisible door in your mind is opened, and from it, all kinds of strange, unimaginable things flood to your conscience. You can try to close the door, but the flow is so strong it eventually slams it open again, and there you are, once again a whore of your own ideas.


Yeah, a whore, that's pretty much what I am. I'm a old book whore, I'll submit to any plot idea that crosses my mind and I'll be its bitch until it deems itself satisfied. That's life.

However, there is only a certain extent where I can go being a fiction writer. It's amazing to write about other perspectives and get myself into my own characters' minds, truly a self-discovery journey. But you see, at some point, I stop being Sissa and I become Elizabeth, Michael, Jo, Arthur, hundreds of different personalities with their own mind and opinions. That might be the closest I can get to multiple personalities, and I can only hope my true self will always be aware of its own situation (unless I am in fact living a lie and I am not really Sissa... That'd make quite a book).

Anyway, why blogging? Because every writer has a need to express themselves. Some go on perfectly well on putting traces of themselves in their characters and making each one of them a little bit of their creator. That's, of course, awesome, and I wish it worked for me, it'd make my life much easier. Sadly, I tend to find myself confined inside minds that are not entirely mine. I need space to be Sissa, purely and entirely Sissa, without anything else stopping me from it or limiting my personality. I need a writing mechanism that allows me to be my own character and have my voice. I have a great, deep dislike for Twitter - I simply cannot understand it and I find it just not enough for my many complex thoughts. And, I have my family on my Facebook, not to mention I am trying to avoid get too deep in FB posts, being one of the people who hates clicking on the "Continue Reading" link when it is about a random thought or something that it's not related to History, World News or anything that amuses me enough. I do keep a diary now, but I try to merely keep track of my main activities of the day. Really, it's not like Laura Palmer's diary at all, I mainly write "Saturday, woke up at 8am, had breakfast at 8:30 with Sof. At 10am started reading, and spoke briefly to A.B. 11am studied, and 12pm had lunch with Papa." So... Voilá, blog!

Now, moving on to, what to blog?


I'm no expert in anything. Not saying I am a good for nothing, of course. But I have no expertise in any area. What I do though, is always trying new things, and explore new fields/places/people/whatever. So this will not be a specific blog. I won't post daily tips of makeup and hair (quite frankly, I am a disaster). I won't make weekly posts about love and relationship tips (if there's anything I am worse at than makeup and hair, that's it). I won't post the newest inventions and gossips on the world of Nanotechnology. And, most definitely, I will never make a single post about Lindsay Lohan's rehab leave. What I will do is posting a little bit of what I know and think, and I'll try to be helpful as well. After all, I am a writer, a reader, a poet, a traveller, an adventurer, a linguistic enthusiast, a student, a young woman and a human being (the latest is openly debated, but let's keep it as the common sense dictates for now. I'll keep you posted). I hope some can connect to at least something I have to say.


Well, yay, I have a blog! That's gotta be a terrible idea. A monster will be unleashed in 3,2,1...

- The Romanov Girl