The So Called First Capital

As much as I have posted online about my travels and Adventures, I've not actually taken the time to sit down and write a post about my home city. Although it is small, it is mighty. And although I might give it a bad rap, there is actually some good to be said about York County and York City.

York City likes to style itself as the first capital of the United States, although it was actually the 4th. It is the fourth Capital after Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Lancaster claimed their spots. The first national capital happened to be 8 years later in New York City in 1889. Nonetheless, however, there is still a rich amount of history. There is a Heritage Center that has documents that were signs 200 years ago, as well as information pertaining to the genealogy of most individuals who ever lived and died in York County.

By and by, the county was settled by a mixture of Irish and German settlers. now, when it's not busy being riddled with problems, is actually quite nice. York has gotten the rep of being a mobile food court now though, however, as restaurants and small business change. Rent is fairly cheap here. there are few things that make York hit the radar, but here is a couple of the things that do put it on the map.

The first thing is our fair. York County had the first fair in the history of the United States shortly after the country was settled. It is also the longest consecutive running fair in the United States. Every year, there are many attractions and vendors that come into York to put on a show and enjoy themselves. There are also things such as baking and vegetable growing contests, camel rides, local farmers exhibits, musicians, actors, and carnival rides.

We also have timeline arcade and a large ice arena, and both are cool ways to have fun on a weekend. Down in central city, there are a lot of dance clubs of varying types, what's the most notable one being the Swing Dance Club in downtown York. Close to that is the strand capitol, and not-for-profit entertainment venue that hosts lots of small acts every single year.

York is also a culture hub that is home to many small markets, that I described in another one of my posts. there is a little bit of something in York for everybody, you just have to know where to look for it. we may be tiny, but we are mighty and we are progressive, and that is what matters most about one of the cities that was one of the first capitals of the United States.

The Shoe House

the Haines shoe house is an eccentric piece of art that dwells in Hellam, Pennsylvania. It resembles a 25x47x17 work boot, as they were originally sold by Mahlon Haines in the early 1900s. It also happens to be a right shoe, specifically. There is also a small dog house in the back, also shaped like a shoe, that was once 6ft tall, but has since sank into the Earth to become about 2 ft tall.

The story of Mr. Haines, as I discovered for myself, was a very unusual one. His sister owned a department store, and he worked for her after graduating from high school for quite some time. However, instead of being automatically promoted through the ranks, his sister made him struggle through the ranks, which eventually upset him to the point where he quit and decided to strike out on his own. He worked a bunch of odd jobs before landing a small gig in Ohio with his then fiance. She eventually left him, and all he had left to his name after losing both her and the job were his engagement ring, a couple of bucks in cash, his bicycle, and the clothes on his back. So, being originally from Southern Pennsylvania, he set out for home. His bike broke down, and he decided to sell his engagement ring and buy 10 pairs of shoes. He then set up a kiosk at a local market and sold the shoes, retaining his prophets and then increasing them. He became really good at making shoe deals, he realized he was on to something, and quickly started selling shoes that were refurbished from Hanover Shoe Outlet.

To promote his Empire, Mr. Haines spent an exuberant amount of time walking around town and giving out free pencils, mirrors, fans, and pocket protectors that had his business information on them. As of the early 2000s, some 1,500 fans had been recovered. needless to say, his business grew, he settled down and married, and eventually retired with several million dollars in assets. It was at this point in time that he was able to purchase a yacht and enjoy his life at sea, as well as return to the mainland to participate in community improvement projects and play with a softball team that was intended for individuals 75 and older. every time he got a home run, the team manager carved a bulldog for him, totaling a collection of 23 Bulldogs. eventually, he moved out of the shoe house that he built to advertise his business and open up for tours, and rented out two guest rooms. he hired a maid who also acted as a chauffeur, made some extra income off of renting out the shoe house rooms, and then built and lived in a house across the street from it. He passed away from respiratory failure on Halloween of 1962 in his 80s, settling 1.5 million dollars to various charities in the Boy Scouts of America, and leaving his widow with the shoe house, the house across the street from it, and enough money to live a comfortable retired life until she passed away.

When she passed away, the house set for a couple of years before an orthodontist purchased it to live in it. Eventually, he would come to pass as well, and although the house was left to some of his co-workers, they didn't know what to do to upkeep it. Eventually, Mr. Haines's granddaughter, who was an architectural contractor, purchased and restored the then rotting house to its former glory. It was rented out there on out as an ice cream store and tourhouse, and its history is preserved well into this day.

As for myself, I have quite a few impressions of this tiny house that I spontaneously explored one afternoon. First of all, they always have, and continue to this day, to sell wonderful ice cream. They also having a lot of cute souvenirs, and the tour of the house itself is very affordable at $5 per person and free for children. This makes it a great spot for both tourists and locals to visit. if the house was not designated as a tourist attraction, it is one that I would honestly consider staying in for a night. I hope that this shoe house has inspired other unusual houses to pop up around the globe. I know that there are glorified bunkers and treehouses, but I really want to see more things like the shoe house.

Although there typically isn't a whole lot to see in south central Pennsylvania, going for a day hike and then replenishing your battery with ice cream and a tour of the shoe house is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. the story is a lot more complex than just a fairy tale about the lady who lived in the shoe, although it is another wonderful metaphor. Go check out the shoe house today!

The Wonders of Couchsurfing

Have you ever been in a pinch and needing somewhere cheap to stay when traveling around? Or have plans suddenly changed and you've come somewhere and have a day or two where you have nowhere to stay? And when they did, did you wish you have a random person's couch or futon to cash on at no cost?

Okay, maybe just me. And the 14 million others that use it.

Couchsurfing was started by a bg roup of guys who were tired of having to pay for lodging when they were traveling and also wanted a cool new way to meet people. And so, Couchsurfing was born.

To be a member on couchsurfing, you simply need to sign up and list your place as being available to stay at. From there, you can choose to host people (if your housemates are alright with it), is say that you are 'maybe' or 'not' accepting guests. From here, you can build a network, meet other surfers, and best of all, find places to stay when traveling.

When I wrote this post, I'd only stayed with two couchsurfing hosts. Both people were lovely human beings who offered me food and drink and welcomed me in after long days of traveling in Scandinavia. I felt right at home, like I was catching up with an old friend - and not once did I feel like my safety was jeopardised.

So folks, don't knock it until you try it. It could be your ticket to traveling the world at large without having to worry about breaking the bank finding places to stay if you're open to the experience.

My Experience with AirBnB

My Experience with AirBnB

In the 21st century, there is an increasing demand for cheap accommodations, as more individuals are now using their savings for global travel. Many Millennials especially are realizing that the world is big, and there is many things that are worth seeing. As such, traveling jobs have become more and more frequent, and hotels are taking this into consideration and profiting. And so, Airbnb came along as a potential solution. Let me share a little bit of back story with you.

Brian Chesty started Airbnb in its infancy in 2007 with friend and co-founder Joe Gebbia, running the first Airbnb out of their spare room in the back of their apartment to try and generate passive income to help afford rent. They brought on a few more people, pitched their ideas to several funding platforms, and eventually found the funding to launch their idea worldwide. Their idea picked up steam in 2011, and now has grown into a global powerhouse.

So naturally, as soon as our friends turned me on to them, I needed to check it out for myself. I like to take trips, and I hate spending money. So, it seems like a good trade-off. I took my first trip Wes, only getting as far out as Cleveland for now. This would be my first Airbnb experience. I set up a profile using my Facebook account, pitched a couple messages to potential hosts, and after working around double scheduling from some individuals, I finally found a place to stay. The process of making a payment and getting in contact with my host regarding details of the location was extremely easy, and so far, every Airbnb I’ve stayed at has been extremely communicative. After all, you would want to make sure a stranger knows the lowdown on your house rules if they're staying with you and your personal home, too.

After buying my first Airbnb, I browsed around the website itself a little bit more. There are several filters you can utilize to search for specifics on your home stay, including how much or how little you would like to spend, exact locations, what type of Hose do you want, what type of amenities you'll need, and how many people you can accommodate. There are also different tour guides that operate cheap tours through Airbnb and different experiences. There's a horse farm in central Pennsylvania there was actually advertising when I looked. The application itself is very user-friendly and feels like you are truly establishing a personal connection with whoever you reach out to. You will write a story in your biography about yourself and your travels, and so will your host, and as such, you will establish rapport long before you step into their house.

As far as the experience itself goes, every guest house I have stayed at has been under $70, and has more than served its purpose well. Every guest house I've stayed at also had several extra guest rooms, and I use this opportunity to make friends with the other house guests that were staying there. I also made friends with all of the hosts, using them as International friendships and connections. Because of staying in guest homes with multiple rooms, I now have friends from several different countries. Because of this, Airbnb felt more like a private hostel then did a hotel room.

The only negative thing I can find about Airbnb would come from the people itself rather than the app. I've already had several potential hosts flake out on me, and the communication through the app itself needs a little bit of improvement. Otherwise, I prefer this to purchasing a hotel room 9 times out of 10. You'll make so many connections that you never knew existed just by staying and somebody's basement. Literally. I've had a wonderful experience so far with Airbnb, and will continue using them until the end of the line.

Crabs, Birbs, and Starz

Baltimore is another wonderful city that lies close to my hometown of York. Although most people don't realize this as such, Baltimore is home to many small but important items. And, some of them are listed in the title of this post. I will now systematically review some of the things that makes Baltimore what it is.

First and foremost, it is a cultural Hub. Throughout the years, the demographic has severely shifted away from Germanic and Irish descent and become more mixed in ethnicity. There are several restaurants around owned by Indian people, African American people, Hispanic people, are there Asiatic call Sarah, and so much more. On nearly every single block, you can find a hub for a different culture or group of people.

The one downside to this, however, is that there is a lot of disputes between people, and a lot of poverty and crime in certain parts of the city. As such, if you are going to Baltimore at night, it is advisable to take at least one other comrade with you. It is the sad unfortunate truth that I must warn others about, pertaining to big cities with high population density.

Baltimore is also home to Inner Harbor, and Metropolitan epicenter of Commerce and Industry. Not only are there attractions like the Baltimore Science Museum, the Baltimore aquarium, the Baltimore Zoo, Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum, and several excellent concert venues, but it is also home to the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is home to most of the East Coast domestic crab imports, and home to several difference indigenous species of wildlife. As such, there are many environmentalist initiatives to support the Chesapeake Watershed and to preserve the surrounding area by reducing carbon emissions and waste output. The bay itself is beautiful, and there are ferries that serve the greater Baltimore Maryland area allow one to be on the water.

Aside from all of these wonderful attractions, Baltimore is also home to the Baltimore Orioles and the Baltimore Ravens, to sporting’s most prominent sports teams. Both of these teams have amassed many awards and accolades throughout the years, and their stadiums are within a 15-minute commute of one another. Many major sporting events and charity events happen if both of these stadiums every single year.

Probably one of the most important things about Baltimore is its government and American history. Many government workers and Space Engineers are employed in Baltimore because it is halfway between Washington DC and Harrisburg, which are two major areas of government work. This was able to be initiated because Baltimore is home to Fort McHenry. When the British Invasion happened in the 1800's, Francis Scott Key was on a boat in the harbor witnessing the bombardments on Fort McHenry, which inspired him to write the poetic piece that would later become America's national anthem. The Fort is still open and accessible for visitors to this day, and small tours around the surrounding area and Proving Grounds are often lead.

So this being said, if you are ever in northern Maryland, check out Baltimore and the surrounding area. There are lots of things to see and do, is this entire area and several square miles have been industrialized quite efficiently.

Homemade Scoby!

to make kombucha, you need a scoby. SCOBY is an acronym that stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. To make the probiotic drinkvof kombucha, you need one of these. This recipe will show you how to make one if you don't already have one.

7 cups of water

1/2 cup sugar, preferably granulated

5 bags black tea, or 1 tablespoon loose tea

1 ucup nflavored, unpasteurized store-bought kombucha

1) bring 2 cups water to a boil with sugar. boil for 5 minutes.

2) Remove from heat, and steep the tea for 5 minutes. then, strain into an airtight container.

3) Add the store remaining weter to cool the mixture to room temperature. when it has cooled, add the store bought kombucha. if there are any small blobs in it (baby scoby's), make sure to add them, too.

4) Cover your mixture with a cloth or paper towel and rubber band it shut. Store your mixture in a dark and cool place for 1 to 4 weeks until a thin layer forms on the top of the liquid. This film will be your new baby scoby!

5) Your mixture can be used to start your first kombucha batch or as a cleaning agent, as it will be very strong and vinegar-like. Your SCOBY will take uniform texture and color after the first few batches of kombucha, where it will start to reproduce and give way to nee scoby's.

And there you have it folks! Your very own scoby for kombucha. You can find my kombucha recipe here.

Homemade Kombucha

Kombucha is a healthy and functional beverage that is full of probiotics, which can help improve joint mobility and mood. It is made using a scoby, which is a parafilm that contains lots of healthy bacteria and yeast. Using this scoby, you will be able to brew your own kombucha at home.

It is not terribly difficult or time-consuming to do this, as long as you have to write materials. So without further Ado, let's get started!

either eight tea bags or 2 tablespoons of tea. you can do black tea, green tea, or a mixture of the two.

3 quarts of water

1 cup of sugar, preferably cane

2 cups of starter liquid from your last batch or a store-bought kombucha

one medium sized scoby

 I prefer Temple of Heaven Gunpowder Green Tea and/or Deep Assam or Darjeeling tea. sometimes, for a little boost of antioxidants, I'll throw in a teaspoon or two of matcha powder.

Not everybody is going to have a scoby when they start this process. Here is another post I've done on how to make one at home from store-bought kombucha.

1) put one quart of water in a pot. Add half of the sugar and bring to a rolling boil.

2) after 2 minutes of boiling, remove the water from the Heat. Stir in the rest of the sugar and the tea, and allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes.

3) using a fine-mesh strainer, strain into an airtight container. add the rest of the water to cool down the mixture to about body temperature.

4) using vinegar to wash your hands to prevent contamination, take the scoby out of its original container and place it in your mixture. At the start of a liquid from your last batch or home batch at this point as well.

5) cover the container with tightly woven cloth or napkins, and make it airtight using rubber bands.

6) store the container in a dark and cool environment for 7 to 10 days. This will allow anaerobic respiration to occur, which will cause the tea to ferment.

7) after this amount of time, remove the scoby, place it and its own container, and place your home brew kombucha into airtight bottles for refrigeration.

At this point in time, you can add other materials to the jars for a second fermentation and flavoring, leaving these containers in it dark and cold environment for 3 or 4 days. This Toby can be reused, and you can either let it grow in a dark full environment or keep it alive for up to a month in a refrigerator. I personally like to add a tablespoon of ginger to my patch for additional flavoring, but some people use fruit or fruit juice, flavored tea, herbs, or spices. It all depends on what you're into.

Congratulations, you have now brewed your own kombucha at home! Now rinse and repeat for healthy probiotics.

Marketeering

iI there is one thing that people in central Pennsylvania are good at doing, it is going to markets. The benefit of going to markets is that you can meet a lot of humble people that have worked their fingers into the Earth to provide a quality product free of contaminants and pesticides. It will also make some friends just by interacting with these people, and understand that there really is a subculture behind going to Market.

Now, some of you may think that it is odd for me to be talking about going to Market on a travel blog. However, this is also a culture blog, and I will be talking about stories from people and places. And in central Pennsylvania, this is one of the closest things to culture that we have (save the Amish).

In central Pennsylvania, there are lots of large markets that are open on various days of the week. In my hometown of York, there are three major markets; Central Market, Penn market, and Eastern Market. central Market, Penn market, and eastern Market.  Central Market is open from 7 to 3 on Tuesday Thursday and Friday, and features a lot of locally grown fruits, Agriculture, and spices. They also have a few nice cafes. Pain Market has similarities but focuses more on Antiques and old time things, and is open every Tuesday Friday and Saturday from 7 to 3. Eastern Market has a big emphasis on buying in bulk, and is open every Friday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Where is a flea market and Farmers Market open every weekend from about 6:30 to 3 or 4 depending on what stalls you go to. They have a big emphasis on fair trade and supporting the community.

Further away from me are Green Dragon and Roots, with Roots being open on Tuesdays and Green Dragon being open on Friday's all day. Both are run largely by the Amish, but have a lot of other individuals that come and sell their Wares. Further out is burkholder's in Renningers, which are both also open on various parts of the week. Depending on how you play your schedule, you can essentially visit a different Market within an hour drive one another every single day of the week and spend your entire day there.

If you see this sign, you'll know you're in the right area for GD.

When preparing to initiate in the market going culture, you must bear in mind timeliness and money. If you go earlier in the day there will be more products, but if you go later in the day, whatever products that are left, you will be more likely to get for a cheaper rate, as the farmers and salesman do not want their products to go to waste until the next week. For instance, I got a free pound of turnips and rhubarb when I shopped at Green Dragon because the Mennonite Farmers that were selling them running low on time and energy and trying to get home. However, one of the spice stalls cinnamon sticks ran out by noon, which meant that I had to get up closer to 6:30 to get there early enough. Whatever you do, make sure that you bring plenty of cash, and bring it in paper form. Although some Market Salesman take credit card, a majority of them rely on paper currency sales, as it is their non taxable portion of their income that they rely on.

Although there is now a growing initiative to promote local businesses and product producers such as farmers and Craftsmen, it is still a daily struggle for many more than you might think. Most of a farmer's income comes directly from the products he is able to produce, and as such, their lives are pretty much tethered to their farms and living as cheaply as possible. You can read my post on supporting local businesses to get a clearer idea of why Market culture is so important.

iI you have a growing list of products to pick up and you want to spend less but get a good quality, then I highly recommend going to a local market near you. It doesn't have to be any of the markets in York Pennsylvania, as there are plenty of markets and every corner of the globe. But, for the same reasons listed in my other post, supporting the market culture is a sure-fire way to make connections and induce happiness.

How to Travel on a Budget

The older I've gotten, the more my Wanderlust has grown. And as such, I've taken more and more trips, both domestic and abroad. Respectively, people have asked me how I go about doing it, knowing that I never necessarily worked in a high-paying job during and after my undergraduate years of college. Once you learn the secrets to budgeting, it isn't all that difficult. And today, I'm here to show you some tips and tricks on how to do it.

1) Make a list of places that you would like to go.

This part of the process is fairly intuitive. Before you step outside your front door, it's important to know where you think you'd like to go. Start by compiling a list of places that you would like to visit, and fines out what some of there average prices are for items. Websites like blank will help you determine the average cost of items as it Stacks up to your hometown so you can prepare accordingly.

2) Establish connections online and some of these locations.

If you are like me when I was younger, then you likely have played a lot of online video games. Guess what? This is one of the best ways to meet new people from different places. Every time you add somebody on Xbox, put them on your friends list after a friendly conversation on RuneScape, or play successful game of OverWatch, you will make a new connection in another part of the world. Sometimes, that is all it takes as well. If you go to school, you can meet potential travel destinations by getting involved with school clubs, especially ones that involve multiculturalism and students of different ethnic or faith backgrounds. From there, you can ask to be introduced to their friends, send them an email correspondence, and get the ball rolling wherever they live as well. And if this isn't enough for you to meet people, there are hundreds of websites online the people used to meet people, especially penpals. Through one penpal website, I met a girl from Russia, a guy from Denmark, a girl from Morocco, and two girls from China.

3) Travel around the deals.

Now that you have a reason to go and potentially a person to visit, it's time to book your flight. Or, to hop in your car. Either way around, there are lots of travel web sites out there that offer deals on a frequent basis. If you follow other travel agents and travel bloggers, they will likely link you to website or two that they use that has good deals as well. Going somewhere you slightly want to go to that is on sale vs going somewhere you really want to go that isn't quite in the off-season can be the difference of hundreds of dollars.

4) Find cheap lodging, which can lead to other Connections in other places.

Although several travel websites and flight pages will offer you combined housing/car rental/flight packages, it is often more efficient to do the app for mentioned your own way. Regardless, you will be paying for luggage separate most of the time, and you will be paying an insurance deposit for your rental car regardless. Hotels can also quickly rack up the bill. Globalfreeloaders.com and couchsurfing.com are two websites in which you list your couch or spare room to host guests and visitors, and in return, they extend the favor to you. Hostelworld.com is a comprehensive list of 35,000 hostels around the globe, and also provides information on what their bloggers have found around the world. Airbnb are two of my personal favorites, as they let you rent out a private room in somebody's home. There is also the option of staying at a farm (typically running price is between $80-$100/night) or at a monastery (you can find alot of places for $40 a night or so).

5) engage in work travel jobs.

I have met up with a couple of people that have traveled the world's, done really cool things, and developed amazing friendships, all due to traveler jobs. There are several web sites out there that I used to subscribe to in regards to this. Workaway is the website where you are able to trade services with somebody in exchange for room and board, and some places will give you a stipend as well. Some allow you to be a nanny or an Au Pair in exchange for room and board. Going through TEFL, you to become certified to teach English as a foreign language, what you can become a lifelong career for some people. Certain companies well also provide you with these opportunities. For instance, I interviewed with English first and Ameson Year in China, and both companies would have paid for a flight to China, got me certified to teach, and also give you half a year worth of rudimentary Mandarin Chinese, as well as a stipend for travel alongside your salary.

6)Undershoot on what you need to buy to survive.

If you're traveling on a budget, you likely are okay nixing some of home's comforts. That being said, a fast food sandwich and store brand apple juice will do just as fine as a fancy lunch that doesn't fill you up near as much. Try to bring as many things as you possibly can from him outside of perishable and not exportable items, such as food and certain liquids and medicines, and only by what you absolutely need. The exception to this rule is if you are planning on doing a food tour of some sort, or going on at or where food is included. There are plenty of web sites out there that advertise discounted travel fair and tour guides. That being said, if you know that you can survive on a very minimalist diet while you are traveling, it will serve you well in the long run financially.

7) Always - and I mean ALWAYS - Take advantage of free and discounted items.

Using coupon books bought at airports as well as Groupon has saved me a plethora of precious cash, as I found coupons for lodging, food, parking, entertainment at night, taxis, and pretty much anything else you can think of. There are several other websites like Groupon that you can subscribe to that all have discounted where's and fares. Also take full advantage of the hospitality of others. When I was in Cleveland, I got free breakfast because I meditated with the Harris. And Iceland, I talked to the owner of the restaurant I went to, and because he likes my interested in his business and personality, I got two free beers at his second restaurant out of the deal. Never turn down free for anything, and also remember the one you least expect it, the free things will come to you.

7)As Shia LaBeouf once said, quite literally, "Just Do It. Don't let your dreams be dreams."

I know several individuals who are traveling the world full time, and they aren't rich. They're finding websites like this one or this one for temporary work, offering their skills, and just going out and doing it.

Here's a case study for you: If I chose to drive up to Poughkeepsie New York instead of fly up, the flight would have been $200 more expensive then the tank and a half of gas that it cost me to get there and around. I met a connection at College, who happens to be my girlfriend at the time, and they put me up for a few nights for free. In exchange for a couple hours of music, I got two nights worth of dinner and some wine. I utilized their knowledge of New York and New York City to navigate for all of the deals, which included a beautiful lunch at a Foods truck stop for cheap one morning. Breakfast every morning was cheap, as I went out and bought a small container of granola, as well as having some eggs that they had at the house for me. We utilized the dads Commerce miles on the subway to get a cheap parking pass at the cheapest subway station by her house, and bought a one-way pass into New York City at student rate. In New York City, we went to as many free exhibits and stores that we could to see things and Window Shop. We returned home with another one way ticket, since this option was more cost-efficient than buying an all day pass.

End result - keep in mind some of these tips and tricks, and you will succeed at planning your adventures. I'm going to reflect upon one of my trips, specifically when I took my first solo trip up to New York.

Run like the Tarahumara

Rarámuri, also known as the Tarahumara tribe drama descended from the Mongollan (Uto-Aztecan) culture after 300 ad and descended into the Canyons of Chihuahua, Mexico, in the 1400s after the Conquistadors came. they quickly found their Nish as Trail runners and Messengers between tribes in different parts of the valleys and canyons, author name translates to tribe of the running feet. The average cross-country athlete trains 50 km a day and is in pain and Agony afterwards. The people of the Tarahumara tribe find Blissful joy and running, are always smiling when they are competing in there long distance races Tama and can train up to a hundred kilometers per day without injury or pain. with myself being an avid hiker, this long distance endurance thing really appeals to me personally, and so I decided to look further into it. I watched a few miniature documentaries Chelsea what they were doing differently compared to the rest of the world. here's what I noticed:

1) They were either flimsy running sandals or Nothing at All.

The Tarahumara believe in grounding, which means getting positive ions from the surface of the Earth as they run. Studies have been done to show the barefoot running improves body circulation and reduce the stress levels. Of course, being somebody that has run their foot on gravel before, I can't imagine running Barefoot through the woods or rocky Canyons should be all that comfortable. however, it is something that we should try, as it is part of their success and their happiness and overall well-being.

2) They are strictly nose breathers.

They take long breaths in, long drags out, and do it almost exclusively through their nasal passage. Their mouth is used instead for smiling, which I will get to in just a second.

By going against the grain of "in through the nose, out through the mouth", you allow more nitric oxide to build up in your nose, which boost your energy and testosterone levels, and allows anaerobic respiration to take place in your body, which will process toxins in your fat cells more. Strictly nose breathing during intense exercise and depriving the body of excess oxygen is quite similar to altitude training. And for an even better workout, you can cover your face with a surgical mask or cloth, which will allow even less oxygen in. Carbon dioxide is not the enemy here.

3) They find joy in running.

Running is their lifeblood, and they always look forward to their daily exercise. Instead of meeting it with Agony, they meet it with a smile. As they pass other trail runners, they are smiling and carrying on. Similarly, they travel light and are ready to break into a run or adventure at any time.

4) Group participation is key.

Studies show that running as part of a group not only promotes Esprit de corps, but boosts your engagement levels as well. The Tarahumara tribe always runs as part of a group, because they believe then no race and life is ever run for sole proprietorship.

5) let your heels heal.

Even though they do quite a good bit of running, they never run using their heels of their feet. Instead, they bounce in a Spring Lake motion off of the balls and front part of their feet, which continuously propels them forward with minimal effort and injury. When studying this foot strike, researchers soon learned that it was an essential part of maintaining Wellness whilst out on the trails running. stepping on the hill and rolling the foot and traces strain in the lower back and the ankles, whereas using only the balls of their feet about full impact and transfer of energy between the ground in the foot.

6) Waste no time or energy.

In both running and field work, the Tarahumara believe in the conservation of energy. When they are running very long distances with no breaks all day long with minimal calories, every single bit of energy intake and output matters. As soon as break time is called, all of them immediately sit down and rest. When they are running, they're keeping a steady pace, as it allows the most consistent burn of energy.

7) Go hard.

The Tarahumara are hard workers, always brewing homemade corn beer like tecate or tesguino, and find no shame in their culture of beer and work. although they remain poor financially, they are rich in soul and life simple, steadfast lives. They worked, farmed, ran, and partied hard, and still never looked beat after a 50 mile race.

At the end of the day, this is a tribe of incredible super humans that are very gifted in the art of long-distance travel and running. Individuals of any age and exercise backgrounds can take something away from their way of life in their approach to getting things done.

Wrath of the Gods

on the third full day I spent here, I was able to spend a little bit more time doing creative things. 

Modern Market for lunch with two friends who were also visiting from my hometown of York Pa, and whom then spent much of the day with me. We drove to Aurora to see the Century 16 that was attacked, snapped a photo, and immediately fled for Colorado Springs.

My friends Shae and Caryn took me down to Co. Springs. The drive was gorgeous.

Garden of the Gods was an Ute Reservation until 1860 when pioneers came in. it was renovated by a plethora of people before becoming public domain in 1909. to this day, it is constantly added to and spans 1370 acres. Pike's pea, named after Zebulon Pike, never made it to the top of the 14,000 foot mountain. The view from the top of this mountain inspired Katharine Lee Bates to pen America the Beautiful on a 1895. Alot of the original formations that the Red Rock indians inhabited 3400 years ago still remain today. And so, I decided to meander out into the park.

And here I learned, in the Midwest, if you see a cloud, you RUN.

I then got trapped in a monster hailstorm underneath a rock in the center of the park. I eventually said screw.it and bolted towards the visitor center, getting bombarded and gashed open in the process. I made it to a parking lot, where I found a pleasant Hungarian woman and her family waiting out the storm. Out of the kindness in their heart, they gave me a ride back up to the guest center, where I hailed an Uber to reunite me with my friends.

Wherever you are, Hungarian Family, Köszönöm!

My 20 minute uber ride took me through Old Colorado City, capital pf Colorado for 5 days. people come from all over just to race there and in Pike's Peak. I came back up to my friend's apartment, changed clothes, and got ready for the rest of the evening.

I ended up having the same Uber to go to and from the next two locations. he was a very nice guy from Ethiopia who moved to Colorado about 8 years prior. my first destination was to be Columbine High School, to see the current state of affairs after the horrible massacre 20 years prior. it was easily the most sobering part of my trip to Colorado, and I'm very fortunate that I got to pay my respects to it.

The hillside by the school was extremely placid.

Dinner that night was at Casa Bonita, a beautiful addition to downtown Denver, and a definite tourist spot. They had all you could eat meat enchiladas for $16, but being vegetarian, I had to get a special order (which cost more). They had a gift shop in this Spanish Caballero-themed place, as well as an arcade and a diving show.

Holy House!

Visit Denver sometime - just avoid the hail.

Why I became a content creator

when I was finished with my undergraduate studies, I realized that I needed a new outlet. Erase alleviate stress and anxiety. I'll break from the normal 9 to 5 job. So that's when I decided to become a content creator.

But just like every young and aspiring content creator, I didn't know what kind of content I wanted to create. After all, there are more and more YouTubers getting discovered every single day, and more and more blogs launching like wildfire. Every. Single. Day.

I didn't know where to start, where to begin. but then it suddenly dawned on me, that I had a passion that I was serious about. One that I could dump all of my time and energy into.

And I was in the middle of Georgia, looking at the tallest mountain in the state. And I said to myself, I'm going to be at the top of that. and then, I can conquer anything.

The views that inspired Big World Small Feet.

Traveling, culture, and hiking. I realized I was one of the most and I was damn proud of it. and so, I realized that I wanted to see the world and share its Beauty with everybody.

And so, the rush inspires me, that day, and every day. I wanted to feel the cold light of day again. To 

feel the Sunshine upon my skin. I know that I must drive, get out of the house, make myself useful.

However, I don't find any usefulness and going to bars or clubs or hitting the city. I'd much rather be found on the road, discovering new places, meeting new people in nature.

But of course, it's different for everybody. Just as not everybody finds enjoyment from the mountains, not everybody finds enjoyment from the beaches. You just have to find what works for you.

I will be posting a lot of new material in the next few days, so don't miss it. just as well, don't forget to check out my stores and subscribe.

Harper's Ferry

Harper's Ferry is a quaint town that sits on the borders of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This little inlet is a historical constitution and battle site for the Revolutionary War, with many historical buildings still standing to this day. Also a particular note are the Shenandoah and Potomac River, which converge here at this town. This small Port Town also happens to lie between two mountain ranges with excellent hiking, Maryland Heights on one side and Loudon Heights on the other. With the total population being right around 300, this small town thrives on its history and tourism, visitations of one of the most famous Roman Catholic churches in the states, parts of the B&O Railroad, several gift shops, Old damaged sewage canals, military buildings and bases, and an awesome little park overlooking the two converging rivers.

At the mouth of the river.

Although there wasn't too much to the town, it was nice to be able to stop here to recharge our batteries, get souvenirs, learn about history, and eat a small lunch before heading home from a day full of hiking. We were in the Shenandoah mountain range that day, with a good part of the Appalachian trail running parallel to Harpers Ferry. They are so proud of their part of the trail, they actually have an Appalachian Trail Conservancy building station in the center of town. It is one of the most highly trafficked parts of the trail, especially due to proximity to town and the overall toughness of this part of the trail.

Even though we didn't spend a whole lot of time here, I would definitely have been more impressed if we got there earlier in the day when all the historic buildings were open. We wandered in and around the sewage canals, The Boarding House, and the signing house, but as far as the barracks and other important military buildings, we didn't get to see a whole lot. I definitely recommend starting here earlier in the day and then moving on from there if you want to actually see all the cool things in the town.

The main road in and out of town.

If you are planning a hike in the Shenandoah or the Appalachian Trail the next day, this can be a perfect place to stop, grab and All American bite to eat, unwind, and get up nice and early the next day. There's a couple of AirB&B spots nearby, as well as rather cheap hotels and lodging. Even if you're just passing through the area or coming close to it, it is absolutely worth a detour if you can afford to do so. It is also worth stopping to learn about John Brown's military seizure and the abolitionist regiment's attempt to end slavery back in 1859. And, if all else fails and you're not the biggest history buff, it's got incredibly scenic views for breathtaking photo opportunities, and is the Midway point between three different states.

My Ancestry

Growing up, I was always told that I was a variety of different ethnicities. I grew up believing that I was part Native American, Pennsylvania Dutch, in German. Eventually consulted with my grandmother on my dad's side, and found out that apparently, I was also French and English. At the time, my parents and I were skeptical. But one day, I decided to have my genome sequenced, and my ancestry plainly laid out for me. This will be the day that I would see without a shred of a scientific doubt once and for all what I am.

23andMe is an interesting concept that allows you to send a saliva sample to a laboratory and received genetic testing results within 6 weeks. For the basic $99 kit (with some occasional discounts), you can have this company sequence your genome to figure out where your ancestry lies. For an additional $100, you can also have them test for health problems that may arise, who exactly your ancestors were, your risk for Alzheimer's and other diseases, and what you inherited from who. This time around, I did the basic model, as it was on sale at the time for $60.

Growing up, I was told that I was European, which made sense given my markedly white skin. But when I asked for an explanation about my tan complexion and why my eyes slant when I smile, I didn't get many explanations. I was told it was because I was Native American, but others thought that I was some sort of Asian. I didn't believe them, until I received my ancestry results. 

As it turns out, I was the first one in my family to have my genome sequenced, growing up I was told it I was European which made sense given my markedly white skin. But when I asked for explanation about my tan complexion and why my eyes slant when I smile, I was told it was because I was Native American. Yet, others thought that I was some sort of Asian. I didn't believe them until I received my ancestry results. As it turns out I was the first one of my family to have my genome sequenced, which meant that I would be the first to know for sure.

After questioning both sets of grandparents, I deduced that I was French, British, Dutch, German, and Native American. When I got my results though, I was surprised to learn that this was not entirely the case. Yes, my makeup was definitely markedly German. However, even though I was about 60% German, I was also about 20% British and French both. It turns out that I was not Native American at all, but I have Italian, Iberian, Scandinavian, and South Asian (Indian specifically) in me. I learned what my paternal and maternal haplogroups were, and as it turned out, I also found that about 2% of my DNA is comprised of Neanderthal. As it turned out, I was quite The Eclectic mixture of things.

If you've ever had a question you haven't been sure about regarding your ancestry, it's best to get checked. You can then send your reports from 23andMe to Promethease and they will sequence your genome results to predict for hereditary illnesses and other things for much cheaper than 23andMe does. Or if you want the complete report, of course, continue forward with 23andMe. By the way around, it's quite interesting to learn where you come from, and a worthwhile investment.

If you are interested in sequencing your genome to determine your ancestry, you can use this link to 23AndMe’s website to figure it out for sure.

Wake-Up Smoothie!

For another beautiful addition to my blog, I would like to share a recipe that I sometimes use that is a great pick-me-up for mornings on the go or for a pre-workout boost. This recipe has most of the major food groups in it, and it contains a great boost of macronutrients as well. When I know I'm going to be traveling, I will make little Ziploc bags with all of my ingredients in them, and double bag it to prevent any leakage from occurring in my lunchbox (as I throw it around in my car quite often) . If I know I have a long day ahead of me, I will prepare a smoothie the night before and refrigerate it in my thermos.

If you feel really creative, you can even try making a fermented or all-natural version using products from Cultures for Health! You can even make your own Yogurt using this Yogurt starter in your kitchen!

So, without further ado, your lean, green, vegan machine!

Example of what your smoothie could look like. Photo Credits go to Tasha.

Wake-Me-Up Smoothie

Makes one huge serving

1 tbsp protein powder (I use pea protein)

1-2 tsp peanut or cashew butter

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup strawberries

1/2 banana

3/4 cup kale

1/2 cup almond milk

1/4 cup coconut or almond "yogurt"

1 Tbsp hemp seeds (optional)

1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

1/3 cup rolled oats (optional)

Steps:

1) Pull out and thaw your ingredients.

2) Unsheathe the food processor.

3) Put everything in the food processor and let'er rip.

4) Enjoy breakfast on the go!

Healthy Vegetarian Soup!

Growing up, I was a huge fan of Legend of Zelda. I remember buying the GameCube specifically to play The Legend of Zelda the Windwaker. I was so excited to get this game, and then when I discovered the elixir so the Grandma makes halfway through the game, I nearly fell in love. So, after drawing some inspiration from the internet, I absolutely had to make my own version of the recipe.

I can't guarantee that this soup will overcharge your master sword with Godly energy, or that it will completely restore your health in Magic points, but it will definitely restore your ability to focus and give you a very healthy serving of vegetables.

and so without further Ado, here's how I make it!

The Finished Product!

You will need:

One tablespoon olive oil

Two tbsp. liquid aminos

Three cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 of a large yellow onion, diced

One teaspoon each of basil and Thyme

1/2 teaspoon of Ginger paste, or 1tsp freshly ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Two ribs of celery, chopped

Two large carrots, chopped

One medium sized turnip, peeled and chopped

One medium sized sweet potato, dice

One medium sized red potato, diced

One small yellow squash, chopped

One small green squash, chopped

Two parsnips, chopped*

Two teaspoons turmeric

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 cup shelled pumpkin seeds

About 4-5 cups vegetable stock, enough to cover the vegetables

One cup water

One bay leaf

Chives and parsley, to garnish

How it’s done:

1) In a large pot, add olive oil and bring to medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger, basil, thyme, and carrot, and sautéed until vegetables start to soften.

2) Add the celery, turnip, parsnips, cayenne, and liquid amino acids, and sauté over medium-high heat until the turnips start to soften and change color.

3) Add potatoes and squash, and then the vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, for about 2 minutes. Add the turmeric, bay leaf, and pumpkin seeds.

4) Bring to a simmer for about 30 minutes or until all of the vegetables have become soft and tender.

5) When your soup cool for about 30 minutes, and then freaked out the food processor. This soup is traditionally pureed, so nix the bay leaf and puree the soup until it has a creamy consistency.

6) Put into a container to store for later, or divide your soup into bowls and apply the garnishes of parsley and chives.

And now, you're hearty and healthy soup is ready to enjoy! The nice thing about this soup is that you can either drink it out of a cup or you can enjoy it in a bowl. You could, in theory, enjoy it cold like gazpacho, or heat it up over stove top or in the microwave. Either way around, enjoy your soup and Revitalize yourself!

*the biggest thing to mention here is that you want a fairly equal representation of each vegetable in the soup. So if you see that there is more of one vegetable than the other one is all chopped up and ready to throw in the pot, remove some of that vegetable. Save it for later use.

Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language

I am writing this post to compliment my posts about Europe and all of the non-English-speaking places I have been to. In almost every country in the world in which English is not the first language or official language, kids are required to learn the language as soon as they enter grade school. At this stage of childhood development, the brain isn't completely done neural pruning yet, so that developed neurons and axons that dictate language comprehension abilities get an extra dosage of things to contemplate and comprehend. Although it is harder to learn another language as an adult, it is not impossible. Here are a few reasons why everybody should attempts to learn a foreign language.

1) There are so many languages out there.

According to one ethnographic study, there are well over 6800 languages that are still used in the world today as of 2018. 6% of these languages account for 94% of the world's population, which means they are around 400 languages that are used to communicate with other human beings around the world. English, as it stands, is only one of those languages. There are so many languages out there to be explored, and all of them and their own respect just as easy and hard as English.

2) It increases cultural awareness.

The best way to become aware of other people in this world is to experience what they experience through their own eyes. When you realize how difficult it can be to communicate with Outsiders from an Insider's perspective, you will become much more aware of the problems they face.

3) It increases hirability.

There are literally hundreds of jobs out there nowadays that are looking for somebody who speaks at least two languages. If you are one of those people, you just made yourself much more marketable in every single job market. Just think, if you speak Spanish, and your client speaks Spanish, you save the middleman of having to hire a translator.

4) It is intellectually engaging.

When you're speaking a language that you didn't grow up with, you usually need to put some sort of thought into your choice of words, your grammar, compensating for that which you do not know, and of course, understanding the point of view of whomever you were communicating with. Being bilingual increases your gray matter in your brain, too. It came in handy for me when I was in Italy, which you can read about here.

5) Being multilingual is impressive to everyone.

I would argue that currently in America, since we are not made to learn a second language as part of our education, that at least three-quarters of a population are monolingual. When I tell people that I've been speaking Spanish since I was 14, that I've attempted to learn Arabic, and that I've caught myself bits and pieces of Icelandic, German, in Japanese, their jaws usually hit the floor. I don't claim to be good at any of these languages, but it is still an incredible feat that most people would never care to accomplish. In countries like India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, though, having fluency in multiple languages is an expectation. It activates a part of the brain that most people don't otherwise get.

6) Businesses usually start up because of foreign trade.

There are hundreds of small startups every single day, and a lot of them in the twenty-first century are based around some sort of foreign culture or for in trading. You could be part of that start up from the ground up if you spoke that particular language.

7) It breaks down barriers.

There's this dilemma in society called the language barrier. However, if you know even a few words of another language, you can help her move that barrier. You grow closer to people's hearts by trying to relate to them on this basic human level.

8) The friends you'll meet and the networking you'll create.

Whether it is a club in high school, an interest group in college, or something in your professional life, you will always meet people who share the same language interests as you. You'll meet them everywhere and anywhere.

9) Everything you learn about a culture and its nuances.

Although I described this briefly earlier, it deserves further explanation. There are so many things that make up a culture that are derivative of language. And of course, vice-versa also applies. As you are learning a foreign language, you will learn about the people, how they dress, how they act, their sense of humor, their social lives, their food, the where they live, their religion, their music, and so many other unique aspects of their lives. You just gained an Insider's perspective to a whole new group of people to become friends with.

10) You'll feel at home anywhere.

If you've already learned one foreign language, then picking up on bits and pieces of another will become a no-brainer exercise. And should you just so happen to land where are you study the language, you'll be even better off yet. It will surprise you when you're language comprehension abilities will come in handy, especially when traveling somewhere in which your first language is not theirs.

On a personal addendum, being forced by my mother to learn Spanish in high school was one of the best decisions of my entire life. When I worked as a cashier at Giant, I had so many incredible conversations with people simply because their first language was Spanish and not English. I've even had it occur where individuals only speak maybe four words of English,

 and I need to rely on someone else for translation or from my own acquired word Bank. When I took Arabic, I never thought that I would be able to go to a mosque and hold a conversation with the Imam and the adherence. When I started learning Icelandic, I never thought I'd be told by several Icelanders that I have perfect pronunciation and should consider visiting again. The doors that foreign language has open for me have been incredible, and really, I still am surprised that when my language abilities come in handy. I will be going back to Europe, but this time, with better German and Spanish skills yet. And if any of you reading my blog ever go abroad, it will serve you the same gratitude and fortune.