Robyn's Wanderings

Sunglasses required for Himalayan hillsides

“Put your sunglasses on, because you ain’t going home till the morning comes.“ Frank Sinatra

Yes, the blog has been quiet for a while and hibernating much like our blogger in Toronto, Nicola Arnold. Luckily both the blog and our Toronto-based writer are back!

And what could be better to bring her back? Well spring and the sun of course. How is she going to see it? Well maybe some sunnies? Or perhaps a pair of aviators? You’ll just have to read and find out:

Clocks have changed, snow has melted, layers are unraveling, and sunshine is creeping out. And in my case, eyes are squinting.

I said adieu to my favourite sunglasses in the fall, and not just because it was wintertime. I inadvertently cut short their lifespan. One fall day in October I swung my legs out of bed and stood up. With a resounding CRUNCH (or was it just a tiny snap?), I broke my beloved red sunglasses in one swift step. Darn it!!

Now, as Canada creeps out of a wintry hibernation, I’m realizing I need to hit the shops to find another pair. For a few snowy month, who needs sunglasses? Granted there are, of course, sunny days that break up the monotony of a white winter. Then there’s the occasional winter getaway to a tropical (or sub-tropical ie. Bermuda) destination. Or even ski trips where sunglasses are required. But overall, lack of warmth = lack of sunglasses.

The French Alps, sunny side up

RIP spectacles. No, they were not expensive nor designer. No, it was not the end of the world. Replaceable of course, but they were just the best glasses I’d had in awhile and had their benefits too. It was a memorable buy – a 2-for-1 deal that I shared with my friend, buying at the same time cupcakes and enjoying a lazy spring day eating cupcakes in the park with our new summer accessories. Colourful red frames. Reflective lens making for fun photography. Sat in place without nerdy adjustments. Bought days before my 6-week trip to India (with temperatures soaring in the 40′s Celcius and sunshine beating down… much needed protection!).

We got 2 for $25... sunglasses of course, not cupcakes!

“My look is attainable. Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large sunglasses, and the little sleeveless dresses.“ Audrey Hepburn 

Let’s take our sunglasses and make them internationally & culturally cool:

- if I had travelled to Australia or South Africa, I may be sporting some sunnies
- if I was still gallivanting around Paris or Chambery, I would be saying mes lunettes de soleil
- if I was in the US of A, I’d be rocking some shades
- if I wanted to rock out to 1980′s music, I’d would belt out Corey Hart’s “sunglasses at night“.
- if I wanted to be trendy I’d have Aviators, or Ray-Bans, or some hipster style…

The kids definitely enjoyed rocking their sunnies as well

Where had my sunglasses had the pleasure of accompanying me on my journeys? Well, bought in Hamilton, Ontario, they were then transported to the sunny beaches near Hamilton, Bermuda. Their first main trip included several weeks in India, proving to be a great photo-taking device for Himalayan hillside sunsets and Taj Mahal, amongst other sights. Next, their adventures led them to Scotland, Germany and Croatia for some summer sunshine and family/friend reunions. Finally, they settled in Toronto where they ended their days prematurely.

“It’s 106 miles to Chicago. We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark and we’re wearing sunglasses! ………. HIT IT!!“ Blues Brothers movie

Visiting Taj Mahal when it was 49°C (120°F)

As the sun is here to stay, it’s time to go hunting for a new pair of sunglasses. The sunlight hours are extended and new adventures await…

Having a rough time? Sit down. Take a break.

We’ve missed Robyn’s Wanderings and the bloggers that bring us much needed travel inspiration. Luckily Nicola is back and she is bringing us…..a bad day.

We all have them and whether traveling or not, there are ways to overcome these setbacks. What was Nicola’s bad travel experience? Ah well….you will have to read to find out!

Hello once again! Long time no see. Things have been busy, travels replaced by daily life… and to tell the truth, there have been a few hiccups recently.

Bad Day

When you are cheap in life, I must admit, life is cheap to you. Nevertheless, the flaws in the plan are all part of the bigger webs we weave. Undoubtedly, we all claim to have 20/20 vision in hindsight. When it’s all been put into perspective, thought, we have been gifted (or is it cursed?) learning experiences. The worst disasters that we encounter, in life and travels, can make for the best storytelling in years to come.

Cancelled, cancelled, cancelled... what's Plan B?

The following scenarios may bring to mind some of your own meltdowns, misadventures and moments of truth: 

- you locked yourself out of your room, car or apartment
- you lost your bus, subway or train pass
- you discover bed bugs, cockroaches or mice in your hostel, hotel or accommodations
- you walk down the wrong street in a large city, realizing you are the only visible female…
- your bank card declines when you try to buy a flight, train or bus ticket online
- you miss the last train to the airport so you catch a taxi, just to sleep at the airport for your 6am flight
- you discover that your roommate has a gun in the room – real or BB gun, you are none to sure
- your laptop, passport and wallet are stolen on a subway, just days before you join your family for the holidays
- you catch a stomach bug the day before a 14 hour train journey in 35C heat
- _____________ (substitute any & every alternate storyline here)

Alanis Morissette spoke the truth a bit when she gave us Ironic.

But out of all these misfortunes there are memorable travel stories and – if they don’t make you cringe, scowl or burst into tears – maybe (way) further down the road, even laughter! Ridiculous situations are bound to happen to you, whether alone or with others. First, make sure you are safe. Second, deal with it the best way you know how. Third, ask for help.

Ask a stranger to take a photo of you... and you may be giving your camera away!

My first solo catastrophe in European travels is memorable to this day. My first weekend-getaway-turned-catastrophic-pity-party… including being “stuck” in Paris, inclement weather, low-cost airlines, lengthy transit times, lack of communication with my hosts, and mishandling a common (albeit irritating) situation. Anxiety was high, logical thinking was on the back-burner. I tell the twisted tale still, 5 years later, knowing that my reaction to such a situation today would be different.

And India? An interesting tip about travelling in India: Make your Plan B before Plan A. Smart? Yes. Necessary? Yes. Don’t touch India with a 10-foot pole? Don’t be silly! Just be prepared that you can never be (fully) prepared for India.

"And that one time in India, when we were stranded on our camel safari... a bit too close to the Pakistan border..."

Days, weeks, months, or years later, you will recount the stories. “Remember that one time…” and you will continue to embellish or downplay the situation. Journeys can be a slap in the face, but at least you will be wiser for next time. If there is a next time!

Travel bureaucracy

Almost every country has it. It?

In Vietnam, for example, I was told by a guide that if he wanted to leave the country on a holiday he had to have a substantial amount of money in the bank (and proof of it), a good job to return to and apply to his government for a pass.

In India, I was told of a boyfriend trying to go to Canada to visit his girlfriend. Though he applied for a visa, he was denied.

What is this? I am talking about travel bureaucracy. It’s everywhere and it’s not only about leaving a country, but also entering.

For example when I tried to travel between Laos and Cambodia only to be required to pay  an “entry fee” to every man standing along the border in a uniform! Ok, so it was only US $1 per man, but still annoying.

And Bermuda? Well my home country is no different. Seemingly ridiculous procedures surround entering and leaving the country too.

I had always heard some stories, but on my recent trip to Toronto I actually got to be on the receiving end. I’m such a lucky girl!

I will give the Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport customs guy one excuse: it was Christmas Day and I am sure he did not want to work, but lots of people have to work on Christmas. Still, I will give him that small leeway for his response:

“Hi, I need to register my camera,” I said.

“Do you have proof you bought it in Bermuda?” said the small man in a crisp blue uniform as he poked his head out of the barely-wedged-open door.

“Uh, well it was a birthday present, so no I don’t have a receipt.”

“Well, I’m not saying you are lying, but we will not give you a registration. Too many people sneak items into Bermuda.”

Bermuda might be beautiful, but.....

OK, I should explain the policy. Bermudian residents are required to purchase items in Bermuda or be prepared to pay duty of 35% on items acquired abroad.

To avoid the duty, we can register electronic devices (usually the only items we are taking that are the most expensive and hardest to prove you had before you left) before leaving the Island. This registration is delivered in the highly modern form of a yellow slip of paper!

Yes, there is no way you will ever lose that (sarcasm is free).

The yellow paper, however, is not a minor detail. Instead it is a Bermudian resident’s “get-out-of-35% duty” card!!!! Can you imagine?

Why, you ask do we have to pay such a high price? Well, the argument is that if government increase the price of purchasing items abroad, Island residents will be more likely to “Buy Bermuda” (I have my opinion about this economic policy, but that is a different blog entirely).

I have two problems with this checking system:

1. when an item is purchased in Bermuda, no one issues a yellow piece of paper. One might think that is important especially for, I don’t know, a camera which is almost definitely going to leave the island and one that might also be a present that the receiver should never know the price of…..I’m just saying.

2. if I do buy abroad (gasp!) and pay duty on the item, there is no way to show that the payment I make (all 35% of it) directly relates to a camera, etc…. So when I turn-up to customs at a later date there is no way to prove that, if I have not bought my item in Bermuda, that I paid duty on it. (I would show you a picture, but these are such high commodities, an extra form is just not possible to get!)

Instead, the form groups together all goods in a particular category i.e. clothing and footwear, and we pay the duty on the total amount. There is nowhere to actually list the items you are declaring and therefore, no way to reference the duty you paid on them. i.e. the customs’ officer was asking me for something I literally could not produce.

Get-out-of-Jail yellow customs' slips!

Let’s be honest here too, if a traveler manages to outsmart the bureaucratic process that is installed to just put more money in government’s coffers and sneaks their goods into Bermuda…..can we really penalize them at a later date? I don’t think so.

Tourists, you are not exempt! You can also be subject to these problems, especially if you are visiting residents. Travellers are allowed a $30.00 excemption on goods they plan to bring into Bermuda.

Bermudians? Well the first $100 for each household is free and then duty kicks in and so do the yellow slips!

So what happened with my recent trip, you ask….well I had to leave the Island with my camera bought in Bermuda (there was no way to send it home before the flight) and prayed that when I returned to the Island I could outsmart the process.

Did I? Well, you’ll have to come back tomorrow to see what happened…….oh and for some fun travels to Quebec City!

Living near the CN Tower in Toronto

What do you know about your fellow traveler? Well for most of us we have been following our weekly blogger Nicola Arnold so we know a bit. But you others?

Well here you go. Her very own, “About Me” page. Where has she been? You just have to read and find out:

Last weekend, I met up with some university friends for dinner in downtown Toronto. That’s the great thing about being based in Toronto, now, – having attended a university one hour west of here, a lot of former school friends and housemates live in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).

We work, study or live in/near the city, so it’s great to catch up on news & relive the good old days! One of the girls was my roommate from our first year of school. According to her, when I moved in to our dorm room I asked her which countries she had been to, to which she awkwardly replied, “Well, I haven’t travelled much… but I’ve been to Florida!”

Starting university, my travel experience was a little bit different (although I had been to Florida too!). I was fresh off a European travel whirlwind from my Rotary Youth Exchange year in France, where I had spent 10 months exploring not only northeastern France but also Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg which were all bordering the region of France where I was: Lorraine.

Say hello to Köln (Cologne), Germany

The “where have you travelled” question popped up again recently in my Toronto wanderings. I found myself talking to a representative at the Adventure Travel Company in downtown, where I was looking into several products they offer.

At his desk, the guy had an “About Me” page relating to his travels. It was a neat way to learn more about him, where he had travelled and where he hoped to go next!

So, I decided to mirror the “About Me” with my own travel experiences for this week’s post!

I’ve seen a lot so far, luckily… but there is so much more to conquer in the world.

Here it goes:

Title: Adventurer/Wanderer

Location: Toronto

Country count: 27 Countries visited: USA, Canada, Bermuda, England, Wales, Scotland, Sweden, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Vatican City, Monaco, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, South Africa, India, Japan

Favourite country: hmmm… France. 

Next trip in my dreams? The Maldives. Realistically? New York City

The Maldives.The Maldives in my dreams... one day!

I don’t travel without… a Swiss Army knife, a spork, a water bottle and toilet paper (hey, you never know).

I travel because… Bermuda is a rock in the ocean, there is so much more to explore in the world!

My favourite travel moments are… the spontaneous adventures with travel buddies, especially when the unexpected happens and you have much to laugh about.

Beware of dodgy people along your journeys (like her?! Nicola...for anyone who has not followed her posts!)

As an aside: If you find yourselves in the Canadian cities of Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver or Victoria… hunt down an Adventure Travel Company for more interesting travels, tours, and adventures!

The ATC offers many tours and excursions that are a great way to see the world. With slogans like “Epic Destinations. Epic Activities. Epic Hosts” and “It’s your life. It’s your adventure. What are you waiting for?” they seem to be experts in their field.]

In the words of Julius Caesar: Veni, Vidi, Vici!

Rolling around in the Thar desert

What do we have from our wanderer Nicola this week? Well last week we were taken around the world in sunsets and this week….. dogs!

Man’s best friend comes in all shapes and size, levels of domesticity, can be housesat or even beggars on the street and Nicola takes us from France to India and……..

Who let the dogs out? Does the dog in the desert in your little corner of India believe he will be fed if he hangs around on the camel safari? Can we be won over so easily by his cute tricks and the rolling around in the sand? Should we touch him or is there a risk of rabies, fleas or aggression? Should we call him Sandy or is that name too simplistic?

Amongst other animals at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve was this wild canine

Who let the dogs out? When you are in South Africa, big cats are the main attraction – but do wild dogs also feature in your “must see” animals at a game reserve or on safari? Do you joke that your sweet & lovable domestic dog comes from an ancestry line of African wild dogs? Can you pretend you are in a special edition version of the Lion King movie and start singing Hakuna Matata in the your dusty jeep?

Jonah? Nice to meet you

Who let the dogs out? When your friends are away on holidays and ask you to house-sit, are you allowed to let the dog sneak into the living room? Can you resist those adorable puppy eyes, or should you be stern and leave him outside the sliding glass doors to watch you watching TV? Do you make references to Jonah and the Whale? Should you pronounce his name Joe-nah or John-ah? Does it even matter – isn’t it just your love and attention that he is after, after all?

Just another day at the French markets...

Who let the dogs out? How do you react when a child sitting next to you in a cafe exclaims, in great jubilation, “Maman, maman – c’est un SAINT BERNARD!!” [Mom, mom, it's a Saint Bernard!!]. Does your mind automatically think of Beethoven circa 1992? Do you then start to think about other dog movies, such as All Dogs Go to Heaven, or  Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey? Have you ever even seen a Saint Bernard before? Is it tonnes cooler knowing you will always say “Saint Bernard” in a French accent… San Bernar? Do you ever wonder if the dog has any relation to the real saint, Bernard? Does the scruffy man who you occasionally see in your French town know what an awesome pet he has?

The attack of the puppies

Who let the dogs out? Do you melt when you see a puppy, even if you are a cat person or not so fond of bigger dogs? Does it make you really wish you had your own dog, or give you great flashbacks of your own childhood four-legged friend? Why does the puppy that has his leash tied to a chair in a restaurant look like a fuzzy bear furball?

Before the big purple dinosaur, there was Barney the dog

Who let the dogs out? Do you look back at photos of your family trips to the US and see not just your outdated clothing and hairstyles, but also your lovable childhood pets? Do you laugh like crazy thinking about the time when your friend (who just moved to America with her family, including her curly-haired dog) sent you some dog fur in a zip-lock bag when she wrote you a letter? Do you remember when both you and your best friend had dogs and you used to pretend they were brothers/sisters, or cousins, or related by forces stronger than you knew (just like you and your friend)?

Feta cheese, olives and (hot) dogs.

Who let the dogs out? What crosses your mind when you think of hot dogs – would it bring up images of dogs in Greece, lying around in 35°C (95°F) heat? While you are exploring Athens (with Grease Lightning on repeat in your head), do you come across dogs sprawled all over the steps of the Acropolis or the front stoop of bank buildings? When you rest from the afternoon heat wave, sipping iced tea and eating baklava, does a scrappy dog sniff around for leftover food like a gold-digger? Do you witness one dog lobbing bricks off a cliff at another one in a dog fight? Do you wonder why there is a dog on the Athenian roof, when you were under the impression that it was roosters that adorned rooftop?

Your childhood best friend

Who let the dogs out? Do you proudly tell people that your dog’s name was unique – Chipo, a name of Zimbabwean origin, meaning “gift”? Can you remember when your dog ran right through the screen dog in your living room and left a huge hole behind? Do you laugh knowing that even though your dog was what you lovingly call a sidewalk specialty from the SPCA, he would tear the ligaments in both hind legs as an overexuberant puppy and have to wear plaster casts for a month? Did you take him for walks to the beaches in Bermuda and watch him run away from the waves like a scaredy-cat… I mean, dog?

Rome, Italy

The time has come that the days start waning early (well if you’re in the Northern hemisphere), TV’s turn-on early and mornings arrive even faster! Have no fear, our Wanderer Nicola, has some sets from around the world that can entertain you on these dark nights.

“Un bon croquis vaut mieux qu’un long discours“.

It was Napoleon Bonaparte who gave us these words of wisdom, meaning “A good sketch is better than a long speech”. I’m trying to avoid the adage “a picture is worth a thousand words”, which is a phrase we’ve all thrown into a conversation at one time or another. Nevertheless, I shall steal the premise.

Crikvenica, Croatia

This weekend’s theme? Sunsets. The sun is setting on the month of October, and Daylight Saving Time approaches. The sun will soon set on autumn as we head into winter coziness. In the Northern Hemisphere, at least.

Thar Desert, India

While on the camel safari above, in India, we spent the night under the starts in the desert. I remember clearly that our safari coincided with my mom’s birthday, who was celebrating all the way in Bermuda. My fellow travelers and I slept under the stars, and I remember thinking that the moon would eventually make it over Bermuda and we’d share the same moon! Wherever you are in the world, you will look up at the same moon as family & friends far, far away.

Notre Dame, Paris, France

One magical quotation captures the essence of a fabulous sunset:”The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.” – Pamela Hansford Johnson

The picture below is a segue for next weekend’s blog theme:

A sandy sunset

At Robyn’s Wanderings, we are nothing if not inquisitive about any & every topic that has to do with travel.

Stay tuned for more… I am doggedly preparing you a treat, make no bones about it! 

“Simple exchanges can break down walls between us, for when people come together and speak to one another and share a common experience, then their common humanity is revealed,” President Barack Obama.

Where in the world would you study?

“Why do you want to go to Florence for a semester?”

I was not quite sure how to answer my parent’s question. Why wouldn’t I want to go to Florence, Italy? More importantly, why wouldn’t anyone want to live there?

I was tempted by sarcasm, but I resisted realizing my study abroad choice would be quashed if I did. So, instead I mounted my case.

My problem? My university in the United States did not have a programme in Florence, Italy. Did that stop me? Have you followed this column?

Of course it did not stop me. I went online and started my research. I found a great programme through Fairfield University, which had a partnership with a college in Florence and courses so I could finish my double major and graduate with my peers.

My case was mounted and I presented my research.

“Plus, a semester in Florence would give me a chance to continue learning Italian and it will cost the same as sending me to college in the United States for this semester.”

I was given the green light and applied for the Fairfield programme and years later I sat down to write this week’s Rock Fever column: studying abroad and why every student who about to leave Bermuda in the upcoming weeks should apply!

Before I go any further in this column and you tell me that Bermudians are already studying abroad when they choose to leave the island for a college, I will say this: studying abroad, in this column, refers to taking a semester or two away from “regular” college to “try” a different country, culture and community.

And now I move to reason one leads me to the timing of this column: don’t procrastinate! The applications are going to be due soon, are easy and take no time with the help of your college’s study abroad office or, failing an office, this website: Global Student Experience: http://www.gseabroad.com/can help.

Add stamps to your passport by studying abroad!

Which brings me to reason two for study abroad: it is a chance for college-age students to experience a culture that is completely different from their own in the safety of a college setting. Case in point? I studied in Florence which allowed me to live in Italy without having to organize my own apartment, figure out transportation or traveling alone.

Ok parents, you have your child safe in school abroad, but you’re worried about finances. Well reason three for a study abroad programme: you will be paying the same if not less for the school programme your child would be attending in the US, Canada, or England, but now they will be in Morocco, India or Italy! Possibilities also abound for students to receive scholarships for studying abroad too! They can ask their study abroad office for more information (or work two jobs before studying in London like I did).

Worried about their studies? Well reason four for travel abroad is: the programmes are so developed that your child will be able to find courses abroad to satisfy their degrees in economics, english or even social work! Don’t believe me? Visit here: http://www.studyabroad.com/ for more information.

Which brings me back to you, students. Reason five: you will be able to finish your degrees so do not give up studying abroad no matter what your programme of study. I managed to complete a double major in English and Women’s Studies while studying in London for one semester and Florence for a second semester in my four-years of studies. Visit your study abroad office at school or failing that, visit the websites I have already suggested in this column.

Reason six brings me back to Florence, which is: do not give-up on studying abroad if your college does not have the country or programme you want. I was able to study in Italy because I found a programme through a different college. Yes, my application process was slightly more intense and I had to do more to ensure my credits would transfer, but I spent three months walking past the Duomo in Florence and traveling to Rome for the weekend. Fair trade? I would say so.

Which is why you, students, should go abroad and Rock Fever reason seven: Three days or three months in a country, which would you choose? Without a doubt three months! Be a tourist no more and take the chance to better understand a different culture, learn the language, meet new people and actually enjoy weekend trips into countryside you previously only saw on the covers of olive oil bottles.

Now for reason eight parent/s, sponsors, basically anyone supporting a college student financially, close your eyes. Ok, students seriously when in your life will you be able to live in another country on the bill of someone else???? Fill-out the application already!

Ok parents open your eyes and let me win you over now. Reason nine is: a study abroad programme will make your daughter or son more attractive to employers. With an international workforce and clientele in Bermuda who would be better to understand the different cultures than someone who chose to live in a different country? Those who have studied abroad, of course! They will be more confident (they would have to be to travel to a completely different country) as well as being better placed to understand these different cultures and the rules!

Travel to India for a semester and enjoy an entirely new culture!

Which brings me to my last reason for a study abroad programme (which, by the way could be a semester at sea) is for you students: a chance to expand your worldview and therefore better yourselves. Ok, when I spent three months in India I wasn’t studying abroad, but I could have been. The lessons I learned traveling through that country changed me forever. I had never seen poverty like that before or since and I found it very difficult to return to Bermuda. The trip also gave me a very different view on my life ambitions.

Before I finish this article I want to apologize for not taking you on a vacation as I promised last week. So I will next week. But only if you have applied for your study abroad programme! Until next week, adios.

You can have your wedding cake and eat it too… or wear it!

I couldn’t think of a more appropriate topic for today’s blog post: destination weddings. Why? Well that’s because one of my longest-serving and best friends will be getting married this Friday!

Our wanderer Nicola must have read my mind as she travels through the different destinations and their wedding traditions this week. What do they do in India? Who wears kilts? Tell us Nicola!

Weekends in the summer are wedding primetime.

In July, I attended a wedding where one of the girls at my table said she has been to 8 weddings this summer. And yesterday?  Well my hairdresser said she was attending a wedding this weekend.

Of course, people flock to Bermuda in the summer for weddings – overseas family, destination weddings or honeymoons. As summer in Canada is  “limited edition” (short & sweet), you have to act fast or else more than just the cake will be frosted… unless you want your special day to be extra “white”!

If you get hitched in Scotland, you may need white Wellington boots and umbrellas on your wedding day.

In the southern hemisphere, December/January is wedding season – summertime and Christmas holidays. My South African cousins were both married in December, but sadly the dates fell around my undergraduate exams… twice!

In fact, as a testament to how spread-out my family is, my other cousins live in Australia and 2 out of 3 are now married. While they held their weddings in April/May (autumn time), my exams and commitments STILL kept me from celebrating with them. At this rate, I shall miss my own wedding…

My cousin’s wedding in Sydney, Australia, with the cake baker none other than his younger sister!

And in India? On the first night of our 4-week stay with an Indian host family, my roommate and I were bombarded with our host parents’ wedding albums… all four! Their photos were spectacular, capturing the colours, the traditions and joyful celebrations that were a part of their wedding ceremony – although our lack of Hindi/English communication left an air of mystery as well.

We later learned that the married women in our village wore a red powder along their hair parting. This is Sindoor, a mixture of dried turmeric and lime, which indicates that they are married. Widows will no longer wear the Sindoor, but they may still wear bindis. A bindi, the traditional dot on a woman’s forehead, is worn by married women in India, but may also be worn by unmarried girls and children. The specific meaning of why someone sports a bindi depends on the occasion, the colour and the shape.

One of the women in our village in Northern India, wearing the Sindoor and bindi.

The two weddings I have attended in my university town were for friends that I met while studying, but in both instances we met on exchange in France – one during a semester in Paris, and the other over a year abroad in the French Alps. French is the language of love, after all, and the romantic charm of both the City of Lights and the quaint Alpine towns is incontrovertible. [That is, at least, because neither couple has had the chance to visit Greece… yet!]

An appropriate champagne flute for a bride who studied in Paris, and a couple that got engaged during a visit to the Château de Versailles.

Everyone does their wedding in a unique way, and if there is Scottish lineage in your family, you may find yourself surrounding by kilt-clad men. Who take great pride and joy in swishing their pleats and posing for photos. Chances are that if you are brave enough to sport a kilt… you won’t mind basking in the glory!

So to wrap up wedding weekend, here’s a glimpse of the cheeky side of weddings – no pun intended!

Hmm… what a great segue for next weekend’s topic, the kilt [Hint – that is my father on the far left all kilted up… this was neither his first nor last kilt trip!].

Flying home for Easter....

We’ve all been there before – stuck in an airport with nothing to do. For those with laptops we push open the screen and log-on to whatever network we can find for free.

Our wanderer, Nicola Arnold found Toronto’s airport has a sense of humour, while other details caught her eye in her silly travels back home to Bermuda for Easter! Let her show you the way:

Have you ever heard of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum? It’s a musical by Stephen Sondheim, which I saw a number of years ago on Broadway in NYC… with Whoopi Goldberg in the starring role, no less. Check it out here, or perhaps on tour!

It’s a great tale filled with farce, puns, comedic errors, and mistaken identities. These are common twists in entertainment, but they also factors that played a part in my recent return to Bermuda for Easter holidays. The trip was fun, funny (& sunny)… and a tad bit confusing: Was I a resident? An overseas worker? A visitor? Returning home? I was not too sure… so let’s just say half an hour later my bag had been searched and I was let loose on the 21-sq-island I call home (home?).

These are the funny things that happened on my way to the… Rum (well, it is Bermuda after all, home of Rum Swizzle, Dark n Stormy and rum cakes):

At the Toronto Pearson Airport, browsing the shops helped to kill some time. Nothing spectacular, but can be entertaining when you come across aprons such as this…

Funny Apron

These days, you expect free WiFi at airports, and you can easily hop online with a laptop or smartphone. As the WiFi networks showed up on my phone, I was quick to choose “Toronto Pearson Airport” over “ReallyItchyBum” (hmm… really?!)

Itchy bum wifi?

Breakfast & Easter holidays are two great events – one more common than the other! I was in touch with some friends over my break, one in India and one in Sweden. They both sent me photos of their respective Easter meals, noodles in the Himalayas and cake and champagne in Sweden.

Champagne in Sweden for Easter

Noodles in the mountains for Easter

While out & about, I noticed an interesting set of clothing labels… although… I always thought I was “priceless”!

Nicola's priceless?

Easter didn’t come complete with an Easter egg this year, but it did come with chocolate. Not just any chocolate, but HAPPY COW chocolate. Yes indeed, it made us happy :)

Happy Cow

As I was somewhat a “visitor” over the holiday, I attended a traditional Bermudian ceremony that I have never been to before (as far as I recall): the Peppercorn Ceremony. With all its pomp and circumstance, it honours the rent of one Peppercorn by the Freemasons of the Old State House of St. George. Think Bermuda Regiment marching band, horses and wide-brimmed hats.

Peppercorn Ceremony

Lastly, following the Peppercorn Ceremony, we were able to catch the historical re-enactment of the ducking stool… beware of being a “gossip and a nag”, or else you shall find yourself dunked into Bermuda’s waters way before May 24^th (Bermuda’s kick-off day to swim).

Dunking in a stool!

Pack light, and start your adventures with travel buddies in tow!

Sure we normally hear from Nicola Arnold on a Saturday, but this week? Well this week she was busy talking to about 200 students in Guelph, Canada.

Two Hundred Students?!! ? I guess we can give her a hall pass. Plus she has wrapped-up what she said to them, for us, here in her how to study abroad column. Enjoy:

What does every traveller wish to share with the world? Their travels! Travellers bring back more than just stomach bugs and souvenirs from abroad… they are also have a jumbled assortment of adventures, advice, anecdotes, and a dazzling array of photos.

This wish was recently granted to me. Imagine: a large lecture room, full of 200 sleepy students on a Saturday morning. These students are anxiously preparing for study abroad for the next school year. The first presentation of the day  is from a girl who shares with them 15 minutes of photos along with stories and helpful hints… from exchange in France, from village life in India, from travels in Europe and Africa… once she’s gotten over her stage fright by imagining everyone in their underwear! And she’s from Bermuda.

Interested? Want a recap? Here goes!

10 Things I Wish I Knew… Before I Studied Abroad:

1) Prepare beforehand: If you know you are going to study abroad, you will probably be away for 4-8 months (or more!), so…

- Check out airports nearby your area – great for weekend trips!

- Know others going to your destination, or who have been before? They are likely to be interested in chatting to you  – just remember, take their words with a grain of salt, as everyone will have a unique travel experience.

- Bring something from home (Bermudian flag, pins, or why not rum cake?!), since you never know who you will meet or what invitations you might receive!

Eat the local food, such as giant chocolates in Italy!

2 ) Culture: Whether you are living in Bermuda or studying in Canada, US or UK, things change when you study abroad in Europa, Asia, Oceania or the Americas.

-  Your shoe size in North America may be size 7… but in Europe it’s a 37.5

-  In Canada, people tend to eat dinner around 6-7pm. Studying abroad in Spain or Turkey? I can bet you get used to eating a lot later, try 8-9pm.

- If you live with a host family, or share meals with locals, one of my favourite sayings is “the more you eat, the more they love you”… after all, I lived with an Indian host family for 4 weeks!

3) Language: A myth of study abroad is that you must speak a foreign language… (not true!), although you can definitely learn a second language if you wish.

-  Even English is different world-wide(ie. pop = soda = fizzy drink = cold drink)

- miscommunication will abound, but it does make for funny stories (at least, in retrospect since you will probably by frustrated at the time!). For example, when I was at a market in Greece, I tried to ask for 6 oranges but the vendor thought I had asked for 6lbs of oranges! I bet I would have staved off the common cold.
4) Packing: A great rule of thumbs is “Half the clothes & double the money”.

- Don’t underestimate the power of toilet paper/tissues/baby wipes (ie. hostels, backpacking, host families, when you get a cold, picnics, a 15hr train ride),

- Pack a mini sewing kit, a spork (half spoon, half fork), and a quick-dry towel… you can find these things if you raid a travel/adventure/camping store – I promise, they were the best things I packed.

In the Thar Desert in Rajasthan for our overnight camel safari... a thrilling adventure for sure.

5) People: Make connections as much as you can, with locals, native students, exchange students, host families, etc.

- Try to integrate into your university, town/city, and enjoy the new friends.

- If you are still grappling for words in your new language, then try to find children’s songs & books. Better yet, if you know some children teach them English games. Songs are universal, and a smile transcends any language

- Travel buddies “get” each other… you are on an adventure together, and will probably remain friends afterwards too. Plus, they can visit you in Bermuda!

Represent Bermuda... or the country where you study... or both!

6) “Plan B”: When travelling… expect the unexpected! If you follow a plan and a routine, you will have to think outside your normal pathway to handle if…

- There is a strike at your host university?

- Your planes or train was delayed/cancelled?

- Your friends invite you on a spontaneous weekend adventure?

7) Traveller vs. Tourist: If you are spending a semester or a year abroad, this is your temporary home. Enjoy it!

- Eiffel Tower? Climbed it. Great Wall of China? Walked it. Sydney Opera House? Taken that photo. Get off the beaten path and explore something non-touristy!

- Learn something local – perhaps the local dialect or language. Attend a special festival or even better… PARTICIPATE in the special festival!
- Studying in Denmark? Ride a bike. Staying with a host family? Help with chores.

Fav pic of India, in a red & yellow sari of my host mother and holding my host sister, Yogita, just shy of 3yrs old.

Food: You are sure to experience it all… the good, the bad and the “mysteries”! – Try some delectable delights (frog’s legs? kangaroo? blood pudding? )

- Enjoy street food but take things in moderation… and take along hand sanitizer.

- Be green wherever you are, even if it is not how the locals live. Take a travel mug and water bottle with you abroad. Bring reusable grocery bags for picnics and groceries.  But if you are in Europe… don’t expect to be able to take a doggie bag with you from a restaurant!

- If all else fails, enjoy a diet of nutella, pasta, or the local fruit… since you may not find peanut butter or Kraft Dinner where you are studying abroad!
9) Safety: As with anywhere you may live, be smart with your stuff.

- Don’t try to be a ninja, but beware of pickpockets especially in tourist hotspots.  - Consider wearing a money belt when you travel, and if nothing else, separate some emergency money in a few spots in your bags/luggage.

Home for Nicola!

10) Going home: In reality, for me at least, it is always more like “home”?

- Squeeze it all in before you go… lasting memories, over-packed luggage

- You will probably experience a bit of nostalgic/longing/homesickness for your “other home” and the freedom, independence and adventures that you left behind. Turn your travels into action! Write a blog, keep in touch with travel buddies, and definitely add your study abroad to your resume!

- Explaining your experience can potentially turn into a “you had to be there” situation, or a 3500-photo ordeal. Pick and choose your photos and stories to share!