Frostburg State's Short Term Summer Study Abroad Trips

(Courtesy of Lynn Valley Insurance)

The goal of this blog has been to give ideas and discuss student travel, both around the FSU campus as well as abroad.  As this shall be my final post of the semester, I found it only fitting to discuss two study abroad opportunities that will take place over the Summer of 2014, as sponsored by the College of Business Global Experiential Learning.  These two programs which are open to any student in any major are: "Destination China" and "Experiencing Ecuador."  Both of these trips allow students to take a small trip to the corresponding countires in the middle of taking an online class, where the trip would serve as a gap in the online class.

Photo of me sitting on the Great Wall during my trip to China last Summer
as a US Student Ambassador. 

For "Destination China," students will go on a trip to China from 5/30-6/11 where they will be able to see some of the historic and world renown sights that China has to offer in a short time span.  Some of the highlights that the trip includes are the following: visits to China's capital Beijing, as well as their economic capital of Shanghai, a boat trip down the Yangtze River, a modern factory tour, as well as first hand experiences of Chinese culture and cuisine.  The students will visit four areas of China which have been chosen to show students the fast diversity of modern China.  The four areas which were chosen for this experience are: Beijing, Xi'an, Rural Shaanxi Province, and Shanghai.  Now when it comes down to the academic aspect of this experience, the classes which students are to choose from would be: IDIS 350 China in the 21st Century, ECON 490 Special Topics in Economics, and MGMT 699/690 Special Topics- Management in China.

FSU students in Ecuador last summer.
(Photo from FSU's Study Abroad Facebook Page)

"Experience Ecuador" will take students down to South America to allow them to become culturally immersed in the rich and ancient culture that is that of Ecuador.  This program, like "Destination China," will take place right after the culmination of the Spring 2014 semester, with the online class starting on 5/27, yet the trip will take place from 6/4-6/14.  Whilst in Ecuador students will be able to: visit the capital of Quito which sits at 9,000 feet above sea level, visit with Ecuadorian business leaders, visit and tour Banos Mineral Springs, engage in service opportunities in local villages, as well as visit shop in traditional markets.  The trip will take students to the following major areas: Quito, Otavola, a city know for artisans, Banos, Cuenca, an arts rich history center in the Andes, and Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city and seaport. The classes that students will be able to take corresponding to this trip are the following: IDIS 150 Leadership for Success, IDIS 350 Leadership in Latin America, or MGMT 490/690 or LEAD 499 Special Topics in Leadership in Latin America.


I had the opportunity to briefly speak with Dr. Jeffery L. McClellan, one of the Faculty Leaders of "Experience Ecuador" about the advantages of these programs and why students should capitalize on these great opportunities.  Dr. McClellan started off by telling me that, "In all the educational experiences that I've been involved in, nothing has been as life changing as study abroad."  When asked to explain this he said, "The amount of learning, personal growth, and change that one experiences while abroad is astounding."  I completely agree with that statement considering the amount of personal growth I experienced during my 7 months abroad in 2012 and how big of an impact that experience had on me as both a person and as a student.  When asked about the experiences that make these two trips worth it, Dr. McClellan said, "Its cool and fun.  You get to meet people and learn about a culture while being involved in a once in a lifetime opportunity."  Finally before Dr. McClellan had to run out for a meeting, I asked him to leave a one sentence pitch or tagline for the trips, to which he left me with the following message about these trips, "Incredible experience to combine learning with a one in a lifetime experience."

Program info:

1. Application Deadline is 12/6/13!!!
1. If you are interested, pick up an application and work on getting staff recommendation letters now.
2. Contacts:
1. "Destination China:"
1. Dr. Suzanne McCoskey
2. "Experience Ecuador:"
1. Dr. Jeffery McClellan
3. You must have a valid passport for both trips since you will be traveling outside of the US.
4. The cost of the trips are broken down into 3 payments to make them affordable.
1. There is an $150 Administration fee do at time of application.
5. Scholarships and Financial Aid are available for these trips.
6. Finally, take advantage of these great opportunities!
1. I know that if it were not for me graduating this Spring I would take full advantage of these opportunities.  

I'd like to take this time to thank everyone for reading my blog and hopefully I was able to give ideas to people and help them get out of their dorm room and experience the world that surrounds us!!

Thanks again!

-JAscher

Penn Alps Artisan Village: The Perfect Place To Grab A Gift For Mom

As the end of the semester nears we also approach the holiday season.  Granted, the holiday season is one of the most sought after times of the year since everyone is in high spirits and the mood is generally positive.  Yet, there is one aspect of the holiday season that some people, including myself do not look forward to:  getting a gift for my mom.  My mother, like many others is very hard to shop for.  It's not the fact that she is very picky, rather the complete opposite.  My mother is the type of person who will appreciate any gift from anyone, so the real struggle that my brother and I have every year is to find something that she really likes and this year I believe that I may have found it.

Penn Alps Restaurant and Craft Shop is located in Grantsville, just 15 miles away from the Frostburg Campus and is home to the Spruce Forest Artisan Village.  The Artisan Village is a small area at Penn Alps with resident artists who practice their craft daily for any and all to see in small restored log cabins located on the property.  The artisans range vastly from blacksmith to soap maker and have items for sale in the studio's.  The artisans are very friendly and are more than willing to talk to you to explain their craft including the process as well as showing your what they are working on.

Screenshot of Directions to the Artisan Village

While there are a range of artisans, there are a few whose work I really enjoy.  Gary Yoder is a master bird sculptor, whose pieces are sheerly amazing.  He takes a few months to create intricate carvings of birds which can be almost identical to the real thing.  I would strongly suggest clicking on the link above and viewing his artwork, as for it is truly amazing.

A few of the cabins from the Artisan Village. (Image From: Panoramio)

 

I first heard about the Artisan Village from my roommate Martin Proulx who took me there earlier in the semester when his parents came up for a weekend to visit.  In a brief interview, Martin told me a few of the reasons why he goes to the Artisan Village a few times each semester.  When asked how he first found out about it, Martin said, "We took a field trip there my first semester up here (Fall 2010) for a class in my learning community "Experiencing Appalachia"."  I later asked him what his first thoughts of the the Village were and what makes him go back every semester, to which he responded, "Just the artists.  I find it really cool that these artists are able to set up shop in a cabin and area able to work on their craft at their own leisure as long as they med the required hours per week of being in their workshop." Martin continued with, "I also like to go and see what else they have completed. For example the man who carves wood into birds says that it can take a few months for him to finish a project so its neat to go back and see the finished project."

The Spruce Forest Artisan Village is a place that I would strongly suggest that students go and visit for the following reasons:

1. To check out how cool and neat the area is.
1. It is a small compound of cabins that resemble an classic artisan villages.
2. To view some great artwork and craftsmanship which is something which is a relieve compared to the mass produced decor that is found in stores such as Crate and Barrel and other home good stores.
3. To meet and talk with some amazing artisans.
1. They are very friendly and enjoy talking to people about there crafts.
4. To gain a sense of "culture."
1. There is something that can be said about the feeling one has after view some great pieces of work that is handmade by professionals.
5. To purchase some really cool stuff.
1. You can get anything from soaps and lip balms to handmade metal jewelry that is made personally for you or someone for this holiday season.

Winter Is Coming: A Brief Rundown of Local Ski Resorts

When  many people ask me why I chose to go to Frostburg State, rather than other schools in the University of Maryland System my answer is always the same: snowboarding.  I, like many other students here at FSU, enjoy the pleasures that come from going down a snow covered mountain and cannot wait for the slopes to open up.  At FSU, we are lucky enough to be located within a little more than an hours drive from three great resorts.  The purpose of this post is to give the reader basic information about the following resorts: Wisp Resort, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, and

Wisp Resort:

Image via skimap.org

Wisp is a personal favorite of mine, and is a very well rounded resort.  It's location just west of FSU makes it easy to reach and great for spontaneous trips when one finds out that a class is canceled.  Wisp has a good mix of trail types, and is great for beginners.  While Wisp does not offer the best skiing on the East Coast, the level of connivence it has to FSU students makes it second to none.

• Wisp is the closest ski resort to FSU, located around 50 minutes away in McHenry, MD, right on Deep Creek Lake.  
• Wisp has 32 trails, which amount to 10.5 miles of skiable terrain.
•  Hours of Operations
• Lift Tickets
• Interactive Trail Map
• Directions

Seven Springs Mountain Resort:

Image via skimap.org

Seven Springs may possibly be the best skiing on the East Coast south of New York State.  While Seven Springs only has one more trail than Wisp, its wide breadth of trails and vast skiing area set it apart.  Seven Springs is offers a unique type of diversity that many other resorts in the Mid-Atlantic region do not offer.  I would recommend Seven Springs to anyone who is looking to go riding from first to last chair since it is only 47 miles and about an hour away while offering some of the best skiing around.

• 2012-2013 was the 4th consecutive year that TransWorld SNOWboarding readers rated Seven Springs to have the Best Parks and Pipe on the East Cost, as well as in the Top 5 Resorts on the East Coast.
• They have 11 different lifts to maximize the efficiency of skiers getting up the mountain.
•  Trail Map and Mountain Info
• Operation Hours and Lift Ticket Rates
• Directions

Whitetail Mountain Resort:

Image via skimap.org

Whitetail is a resort that I attend frequently during winter break since it is about midway from my house in Germantown to Frostburg.  Whitetail is in my opinion the lesser of these three, yet is still a quality resort for the Mid-Atlantic region.  Whereas Seven Springs and Wisp's trails tend to be wider with more room to cruise around, Whitetail's trails tend to be much more narrow and steeper on average.  Whitetail is also the furtherest away at 71 miles.

• Whitetail has 23 trails and a Vertical Drop of 935 feet.
• Whitetail has 9 ski lifts to get riders up at a rate of 15,000 skiers/hr
• Winter Resort Map/Info
• Hours and Rates
• Directions

Ski season is approaching rapidly, so get ready. I will be bringing my snowboard up when I get back from the Thanksgiving Holiday to maximize my potential to go snowboarding this season.

Dan's Rock Overlook: A FSU Must Go

View atop Dan's Rock Overlook

Now when I started this blog I said that I would be doing posts about travel both internationally as well as in the Frostburg area.  Considering that it has been a while since I have focused on the Frostburg area, I decided to take a little trip to Dan's Rock on Dan's Mountain on Tuesday since my 12:30 class was canceled.  For those who are unaware, Dan's Rock is a large rocky outcrop with an expansive Eastern and Southern views just miles away from Frostburg State University.

A road sign depicting the upcoming turn towards Dan's Rock Overlook 

Getting to Dan's Rock from Frostburg State University is relatively simple as for all one needs to do is drive a few miles to Old Dans Rock Rd SW, then continue driving on that road until you reach Dan's Rock Overlook.

Dan's Rock is approximately 8 or so miles from FSU

Once at Dan's Rock, feel free to park your car in the parking across the road from the overlook and go exploring the view as well as the "tagging" that many people do when they first visit. 

The view of Dan's Rock Overlook from the park

A note on "tagging:" Many of the college students feel the urge to "tag" that they were at Dan's Rock and spray paint all sorts of things on the rocky outcrop.  I urge you to please take into consideration that if you are thinking of "tagging" Dan's Rock, not only are you vandalizing the area, but you are also leading to the abundant pollution that exists there.

A small sample of the "tagging" that occurs at Dan's Rock Overlook

A few quick facts about Dan's Rock Overlook according to SummitPost.Org:

1. Dan's Rock Overlooks' Elevation is 2898 ft / 883 m.
2. You can view the Potomac River and into West Virginia along the ridge lines on a clear day.
3. "The mountain's first name is named after Daniel Cresap. Daniel Cresap who was the son of a pioneer was famous for climbing a tree while going after a bear. According to the story the tree fell on the rock, making the name become Dan's Rock. "
4. Dan's Rock is located on the front section of the Allegheny Plateau.
5. There is a small caver under the overlook if you are daring enough to climb down to it.

The cave under the overlook



A day around Frostburg.

Students hanging out on the benches between classes

(Right to left: Carl Davis, a student who wished no to be named since she was wearing a Towson sweatshirt, and D'asia Magginson.)

A gathering of 8 Alumni restock on FSU apparel.

A horde of students stock up on what may be their meal before the weekend.

Studying Abroad: 3 Personal Stories

After last weeks post about the option of studying aboard in the United Kingdom to earn a graduate degree, I have decided to interview three people who either are currently, or have studied abroad in the past. This past week I was able to conduct Facebook interviews with one Frostburg State student, Gabby Blassou, a Junior who is majoring in Early Childhood Education, as well as two of my friends, Ben Silverman and Jesse Simpson from my time studying abroad at Tel Aviv University.

The interview I conducted with these three individuals was brief yet informative as for all three were very busy and only had a few minutes to chat when I interviewed them. The questions that I asked each interviewee were the following:

1) Introduce yourself: Name, year, major and where you are abroad?

2) Why did you decide to go abroad? 

3) What is life like living abroad? 

4) How have you grown as a person, if you have at all? 

5) Would you recommend studying abroad to other students? Why/why not?

The first person to respond to my questions was Gabby Blassou. Miss Blassou answered the second question by stating, "I decided to study abroad because I've always wanted to and I am half African half Irish I lived in Africa for 5 years and I wanted to know my moms side(which is Ireland) and it's an exchange program." Gabby is enrolled at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland, which has a direct exchange program through Frostburg State University. Miss described living abroad as, "The easy life." She continued to describe how the education system was different in Ireland as for, "Studying here it's only an final assessment where you have one test compared to the states where it's continuous (where I find it easier as continuous)." While we were discussing why we would recommend people to go abroad we both came to an agreement after she stated that, "All in all, if you don't go abroad...educationally or recreational then whats the point? Life is about new experiences, banding new friendships, and creating new journeys. That's the key to "life" honestly." I would like to thank Gabby Blassou for participating in my interview and wish her the best of luck during her semester abroad!



Gabby Blassou enjoying her first Guinness in Ireland.
(Photo from Gabby's Facebook and used with permission)


The next person that I was able to interview was Ben Silverman. I met Ben in the Spring of 2012, while we were both on a study abroad program at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel. Ben and I were both fortunate enough to play on the Israeli National Lacrosse team during the Summer of 2012 in the European Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Ben opened up the interview stating that he decided to go abroad as for, "I decided to a abroad because I wanted to have the experience of living in a new country and culture and to get away from the Canadian winter." To me that makes perfect sense as for Tel Aviv is located right on the Mediterranean Sea and we were able to view the sea from campus. We began talking about how we both changed as individuals for the better as a result of our time abroad and he proclaimed that, "Studying abroad help me grow as a person because it gave me opportunities to have experiences I never would have had otherwise." Silverman concluded the interview by saying that he 100% recommends studying abroad to anyone and everyone and said that is what you can expect when you study abroad, "Life abroad was very different. It was much more exciting, discovering new parts of the city and country everyday. Meeting different people from the around the world and submerging myself in a different culture."




Ben Silverman is dressed up as Santa Claus in Tel Aviv, Israel for Purim.


The final person that I was able to interview this week about studying abroad was another friend that I met while abroad, Jesse Simpson, who is currently studying abroad again in Israel at Interdisciplinary Center Herzlyia, and is in his second year there pursuing a degree in Communications. Simpson and I spoke just briefly as he was very busy with coursework, yet was able to make an exception for an old friend in myself. Jesse spoke about the differences between living in Toronto, Canada and Israel as vast yet rewarding. He went on to say that, "life is very different, especially being across the world... hard to adapt to learning a new language, different foods, climate..." When it came about as to why he chose to study abroad, he was in a similar sense as Miss Blassou as well as Ben Silverman as for he wanted to try something new, "Decided to go abroad mainly for a new experience (get out of a city I've been in my whole life), and because I've always loved Israel & my parents encouraged it." Simpson concluded his interview by saying that he would tell anyone to study abroad, even if only for a semester as for it helps your grow immensely as a person to which he has, "definitely grown by becoming more independent from adapting to a totally different way of life. also grown socially by being forced to meet new people/ and language."



Myself and Simpson (Right) at our study abroad programs end of the year party,
With my roommate, Jon Yedgerova, popping up behind.

All and all, I would like to thank all three of my interviewees: Gabby Blassou, Ben Silverman, and Jesse Simpson, for taking time out of their busy lives to answer a few questions for me to help me assemble this blog post about personal experiences studying aboard. This is just a very tiny snapshot of what life is like abroad from three individuals, yet there are many more out there. If you are thinking about studying abroad, please talk to anyone and everyone who has done it in the past to learn more and hear some great stories, as for I'm sure they would not mind talking to you about their time abroad.

Earn Your Graduate Degree Abroad In The UK

Two weeks ago, I received an email from Frostburg State University's Center for International Education about a program being put on in the Lane University Center about the possibility of getting a Master's degree in the United Kingdom.  I decided to go to the program to just see what it was about because I felt that it would be an interesting blog post and that it would give me a different perspective as I search for graduate programs.  Little did I know that attending this presentation would lead to me to fill out five applications to attend graduate school in the United Kingdom.

Jonathan Shadel presenting about Across The Pond in the Lane University Center

The presentation was about 45 minutes in duration and was put on by Across The Pond, a company that is partnered with 33 of the UK's top universities to help facilitate the process of American students searching, applying, and finally getting settled at a university in the UK.  The presenter at this program was a Frostburg State alum and recent graduate with a Master's degree in International Relations from University of Exeter, Jonathan Shadel.  During the course of his presentation, Shadel spoke about the unique experience of earning a masters in the UK as well as some of its perks compared to the US.  A few of the perks of going abroad for a graduate degree that Shadel spoke about were:

1. Graduate Degree's in the United Kingdom are recognized and fully equivalent to their United States counterparts.
2. Most graduate programs in the UK are shorter than in the US with 9 months of study and 3-4 months of dissertation.
1. Graduate programs in the US are generally around 2-3 years as for they follow the semester system and are not continuous as they are in the UK.
3. Graduate programs are mostly cheaper in the UK generally less expensive due to their duration.
4. US Federal loans are accepted in the UK, so anyone can study over study overseas.
5. Experience gained while studying overseas gives you an invaluable edge against competitors in the job market. 
1. Shows that you are willing to step outside ones comfort zone.

After the presentation, I received a business card from Shadel and filled out an online Interest Form about my interests in earning a graduate degree in the UK, including what field I wish to pursue as well as preferred location.  About a week or so later, I received a personal email form Shadel with basic information about various schools in the UK where I could seek a MA in International Relations, as well as information about what I should be looking for in those schools to help aid in my decision. Shadel also gave me more information about how Across the Pond would help me free of charge to apply to 3-5 schools as well as help with the process of getting a student visa and finding housing.

Screenshot about Graduate degrees in the UK from Across The Pond's website

After a few more emails back and forth, I have decided that I will postpone my applications until next semester as I plan on raising my grade point average from a 3.279 to hopefully above a 3.3 out of 4.0.  As I continue to think about the possibility of earning a graduate degree in the United Kingdom, the more likely that reality becomes.  I hope that this post has helped give you some insight into the possibility of earning a graduate degree in the UK with the help of Across The Pond.

If you would like more information, or wish to contact Jonathan Shadel: jonathan@studyacrossthepond.com  

Surviving A Hostel Part 2

Now that I have introduced hostels and what they are, we will now go into how one would acquire a bed in one.  Just like hotels, there are many different hostels in any given city and one of the most difficult aspects of the process is deciding where you are going to stay.  The easiest way to find a hostel would be via the Internet; with two of the most popular websites being www.hostels.com  and www.hostelbookers.com.  If you do not have access to the Internet, you can always use a telephone book or just show up and see if they have a vacancy.

For this post I am going to walk you through how to book a room using www.hostels.com.

Hostels.com's Homepage

As you can see from this screenshot, Hostels.com's homepage is very user friendly and easy to navigate.  For this upcoming "Trip" that we are going to book, we will be going to Goa, India from October 23-28th.  If you did not already know, Goa is a province of India on the coast of Arabian Sea. 

Goa is in the center of the screen

Now that we have decided where and when we are going, we need to look for a hostel to stay in for the duration of the trip.  Upon hitting the "Search" tab on the homepage, you are redirected to a page filled with listings.

Hostels.com listing page

As you can seen from the screenshot, it has the listings in the center with a section to filter the results on the left of the screen, as well as tabs to sort by at the top.  Now, we are going to look into the top rated hostel and book a stay.

The top rated hostel is Evershine Guest House with a 91% rating based off of 9 reviews. In their listing, Evershine states that they are a welcoming guest house located in the rain forest with a peaceful and fun atmosphere.  Evershine states that they are a 5 minute walk away from the famous Anjuna Beach as well as from a flea market.  They expand into their location is walking distance away from a a post office, yoga studio, as well as restaurants.  

Evershine Guest House's info page

Further down the page, they have their rates listed with everything from a Basic 4 Bed Dorm, to a Superior Single Private suite.  The rates at this hostel are relatively cheap (as is the rest of India) with prices going from $4.28 to $13.71 per night.  

Evershine's Price Index

After reviewing Evershine's facilities and policies under the price index we are now going to select and book our room.  I selected 1 guest from the tab to the far right of the Basic 4 Bed Dorm and the total of my stay will be $22.10.

My total cost

 From here I selected the "Book Now" tab and was taken to a basic billing page, where it shows a receipt of your transaction and asks for your billing information.  On that page you have the option to pay in either US Dollars, British Pounds, or Euros.  Naturally, if you decide to pay in a currency different from USD, the rates will change.  You also have the option of buying cancellation protection in which you would get your 10% down payment back, but considering it is only $4.21 I think I'll pass. From here you just fill in your info and complete your booking like a normal Internet sales transaction.

Billing Receipt

Congratulations on booking your stay and I wish you the best on your trip.

A few pointers for your first hostel stay:

1. Get a lock for your pack/suitcase
1. Most hostel goers are friendly and honest, yet you don't want to walk into your room and see a stranger rummaging around your stuff.
2. Go in with an open mind and open heart
1. It makes your stay much better once you meet people and make friends with the staff and visitors.  You never know who you are going to meet and what adventures they will take you on.
3. Go to the grocery store
1. Most hostels have kitchens for the guests to use.  Buying food and making it yourself will save you money compared to eating out every meal.
4. Have your memories be your souvenirs
1. Yes, I know that handmade wooden monkey is really unique and would look great on your mantle, yet how the hell is that going to fit in a 40 liter pack filled with clothing.
2. Bring a camera and take pictures to show your friends and family where you went and what you did.
1. Also, pictures are great for reflecting upon the trip later in life.
5. Bring a notebook
1. Get a travelers notebook and bring it with you to keep track of your thoughts and reflect.
2. They are great for sharing your story as for written words are most likely going to last longer than your memory.
1. Plus, it's easier to give it to your mother to read rather than tell her EVERYTHING about your trip.
3. Moleskine Classic Notebook
1. A good inexpensive notebook that is great for traveling.

Alright, well that is it for this week, I hope you all go out and book a trip soon and wish you the best of luck.

-JAscher

Surviving A Stay In A Hostel Pt. 1

In a segway to next weeks postings, I am here to give a brief introduction about Youth Hostels and why I feel they are the best places to stay while you are traveling.

When it comes to cheap accommodations while traveling, nothing is cheaper than youth hostels.  Youth hostels are hotels targeted towards young people who are traveling around an area. When you stay at a hostel, most times you will be staying in a "dorm" or a large room with many bunk beds.  Some hostels have you crammed in like a can of sardines, while others have private and semi-private rooms.  Hostels are cheap, common, and allow you to meet other travelers who you can make connections with and go exploring with.

When many people think of hostels they think of sketchy and grimy places where you will most likely be robbed or mugged.  While I cannot say that does not happen, it is not the norm.  Please check back next week as I give a more in depth look at hostels and give you reasons as to why you should stay at one at some point in your life.

Hanging out with my roommate Dan Gitlitz (Shirtless in the center) and the Irish gang one morning after a long night of exploring the nightlife of Budapest.

Debunking The Most Popular Myths of Student Travel

When many students think about recreation in college, many of the students think of drinking and partying.

Myth 1:  There is no place to go outside of campus/my college town.

This is one of the most popular things that I have heard students say over the past week, and it is nothing more than a bold faced lie.  One thing this myth does is anger me as well as makes me lose a little faith in my fellow peers.  The biggest way to debunk this myth is to just go walk around your college town and talk so people.  Doing that in Frostburg is far too easy for it not to be accomplished. Just now I took the easy route and looked at the Wikipedia page for Frostburg, MD. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frostburg,_Maryland#Local_art_and_culture  On that page there are countless items of interest including, yet not limited to: The Frostburg Museum, the arts walk that occur on Main Street two times a year, as well as the train depot.  In the end, this is not a myth at all students just need to go outside of their dorm room and explore their surroundings.


Myth 2:  Even if there is a place to go, I don't have any way to get there

I heard this from many students, most of them Freshman, who do not have a vehicle up here at school. While I will acknowledge that yes, this is a hinderance for those who do not have access or have friends with a vehicle that can be used to get to father away locations.  A simple way to fix this issue is to use public transportation.  Most schools have access to public transportation to allow students to get around the area.  For the schools that are located in larger cities, public transportation can be used to travel the city and get around to the various places and sights.  While yes, not having a car makes student travel more difficult, students can use public transportation or they can go to places that are within walking distance to travel and get off campus.


Myth 3:  Student travel is too expensive/I cannot afford to travel off campus

This is the most popular statement that I have heard from students over the past week.  This is the big elephant in the room, and yes it does cost money to drive to many places as well as to gain entry to others.  While this is a blaring issue for everyone in college since many of us do not have disposable incomes, there are many ways around it.  The easiest way around it would be to look into the two previous myth's; there are places to go and there is a way to get their without a car.  If students are looking to go somewhere away from campus, say to Pittsburgh for a weekend, there are cheaper ways to travel instead of car.  One of the the cheapest ways to get around would be by bus.  Greyhound has a location on campus where they pick up students and take them to the depot in Cumberland.  In short, there are many ways to travel off campus on a budget, and this is just a short look into how students can achieve it.


I hope that this post helped to debunk three popular myths about student travel that I have heard from Frostburg State University Students, check back later next week as I look into how students can find cheap accommodation while traveling and how to get the best deals.


Location of the Greyhound pick-up:
 http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=190157



-Jason

Hanging Out and Enjoying Some Home-Brews at the Appalachian Festival

Today while wondering around the Appalachian Festival I noticed that a good portion of the people weaving their way in and around the tents and presenters were drinking out of brown bottles.  Being a self-aware college student, my first thought was that the University had lifted the ban on drinking on campus and that these festival attendees were embracing the sprit of this.  After spending five minutes researching this and trying to figure out where everyone was getting these bottles from, I found it by way of a table under the larger tent.  At the table was a sign that said “Home-Brew Sassafras Root Beer,” with Ian Cheek, a Frostburg State student, behind the table serving these brews in recycled beer bottles for a $2 donation.

(Sign on the table)

After this discovery, the vast majority of my time at the Appalachian Festival was spent in discussion with Cheek about the making of the root beer along with other things that can be brewed from local flora and fauna.  As it turns out, although he was manning the table Cheek did not in fact make the home brewed root beer, rather his friend and fellow FSU student Gabe Echaveri makes the root beer but he was at a presentation for a class, so Cheek was just filling in. 

Cheek and I talked about making root beer and he provided me with rough instructions on how Gabe made the patch I was drinking at the table. (Instructions provided below)

(Ian Cheek, on the right, and a friend enjoy the root beer)

   

Instructions:

1.     Either purchase or harvest the root of a sassafras albidum plant.

2.    Dry out after it has been thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned of all dirt.

a.     Note: If you bought the root, then you would not need to dry out the root as for it already has been.

3.    In the largest pot you can find/have, boil the dried root in water with vanilla bean.

a.     You are to boil until the liquid has a deep rich red color.

4.    Once the boiling liquid has reached the desired color, add brown sugar.

a.     Add brown sugar to taste.

                                                                 i.     Note: If you would want it very sweet, add more sugar.

5.    After the brown sugar as dissolved into the liquid, add champagne yeast.

6.    Pour the root beer into bottles and cap them.

7.    Allow the root beer to ferment in the bottles, until fully carbonated.

a.     This will take around 3-4 days.

Also featured on the table were books about the edible plants of Appalachia as well as recipe books on what you can make with them.  One the books that I spent some time looking at was entitled, Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers, which was filled with beer recipes from across the globe that can cure any ailment. 

(Herbal recipe books)

All and all the Appalachian Festival was filled with many different things that embody the spirit of the region as well as everything that makes this region so unique.  There were things for everyone at the App Fest including yet not limited to:

·      Puppet Shows in the Children’s Tent

·      Food vendors selling everything from fresh kettle cooked popcorn to Italian sausages

·      A petting zoo with goats

·      Arts and Crafts handmade by local craftsmen/craftswomen

·      Live music

·      Rocky Gap State Park Rangers with live Owls

·      Finally the biggest bait-and-switch of the event: an anti-wind farm group, ANCHOR: Allegany Neighbors & Citizens for Home Owner’s Rights.

o   The group had a big tent set up with what appeared to be information about wind turbines, yet it turned out to be a group supporting Code Home Rule Bill No 2-09; which goes against the plans of wind farm corporations.