Bliss

Thoughts spiraling: Education, jobs, love, & loss. Just a couple months left until I’m out in the ‘real world.’ The unhinged thoughts drain me. Should I follow the rules to get ahead or play by my own rules to be happy? Travel the world living on a few dollars, enjoying what I truly love, or be comfortable in business from the same place I’ve always been? I don’t want to follow the crowd; I want to be successful in my own way, not what society deems to be successful. Money is meaningless if you don’t have a purpose for the money other than materialism. I don’t know how to get to that place. I don’t know how to get to a place where I don’t get tied down to a person or place, where I don’t need a highfalutin education to be someone that I don’t want to be, other than wealthy or financially comfortable. Nothing in this society is ever enough & no one is ever happy with what they are given. I don’t want this for myself & I don’t want this for the future generations that come after me. In the minuscule amount of years that I have lived, I have learned to educate myself through experiences I have gained, become wiser in the mistakes that I have made, & the challenges I have faced, & I try to not dwell on them & move on. I have learned to become stronger from the people I have met who have lifted me up & that who have pulled me down. I have learned to never change my beliefs for someone else & to always know that I have control of my own destiny. What I have learned & what I will continue to learn is to be myself, follow what I want, & I will get to where I need to be in the end. Bliss.

Until next time... ciao 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielviewyoga

Getting a college degree in the US-An expensive social class status

The more I hear about college abroad, the sadder it makes me feel. Although I love Pace University dearly for its location, professors, & students, the cost of a Pace education is unbelievably expensive & students graduate paying off debt for decades. Pace isn't even in the top tier of schools & yet students pay $50k per year to attend (without financial aid, that is).

Then I hear stories about schools abroad where public university education is free, fully paid by the government. Another story to consider: CEO of Family Dollar, Michael Bloom, recently on the show, Undercover Boss, has an associate's degree from a community college. He didn't need an expensive US university degree to be the success he is today, but even millionaire, Mike Bloom feels lesser than those with a 4-year degree. So why are people trained to think that spending tens of thousands of dollars will get them ahead for sure? Why is an American 4-year degree the absolute way to go to "make it"? I am not saying that a US education isn't worth anything; education in the US is great. The US has amazingly intelligent professors who have so much knowledge & experience.

However, for the price students pay, professors do not see nearly enough of the benefits, nor do the students. Students who graduate college with enormous debt & in this economy are faced with this horrible job market. Also, why is there such a stigma against community college? Community college is a great way to save money & earn prerequisite credits that students need to take in any college they're in. Unfortunately, many students learn early that community college is seen as "a low education" & "not the best education to get." But if you are undecided in what major to pursue (like I was) or trying to save money (like I wanted to do), then community college is a great option. So my purpose in this post is to say that the most expensive way isn't always the best way, regardless if it's Harvard or any of those big names. Nothing is worth the stress of debt after graduation. Yes, education is important, but get it the smart way, not the easiest. You don't want to be spending your first paycheck on paying back loans.

Until next time... ciao 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

The real truth about the brassiere and how it's affecting your "Titzlings"

Get this: I just read this article, and research has shown that bras do not help support women's breasts! Mind-blowing, I know. In fact, bras ruin the muscle in women's breasts for the muscles deplete from constant support. So who's genius idea was it to make bras such a trend and a mandatory article of women's everyday clothing? Leave it to Otto Titzling (yes, you read right. I said TITZling) to invent the bra in the 1930's so women look more sexually appealing to men. The lesson here, go braless. If you're at home all day, sleeping, or whenever you feel comfortable not wearing a bra, don't! It's better for you and your appearance and your breasts will thank you. FREE THE TATAS!

Until next time... ciao 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

One more year until my life begins...

There are so many issues in this world that are far worse than mine: poverty, starvation, homelessness... However, my problems are still problems & need to be addressed right here & now for my own sanity. I have one year until I graduate college. ONE. That means one year until I start my life on my own. Not that my parents are kicking me out; It’s quite the opposite actually. Nevertheless, I’ve been dying to get out on my own in the world & support myself. I just don’t know what I want to do with such newfound freedom & responsibility.


 Here’s my most recent Facebook status that may clear up (or confuse) what I am trying to say: “So many options to choose from & only 1 year to decide. What the heck am I going to do with my life!? Live in Warwick/get my masters while working at West Point, teach English in India, work in NYC/live in Queens with Dad, live in Italy with Mom & get my masters? Can someone just assign me an awesome job that has lots of vacay time to travel, make loads of $, & involves my major? K, thanks.” As you may have gathered, I am conflicted with staying close to home (Warwick), the place that has sent me off the grid (emotionally) & grounded me all at the same time, or elsewhere where I may not feel as connected but may have a better chance at a career. I am also conflicted because money in my family is very important because we work hard for it. Nevertheless, I am not striving to be filthy rich. I want to be surrounded by people that I enjoy being around, eat good food, & travel as much as I can. As long as I have those 3 things fulfilled, I’ll be happy. & maybe a puppy too. I love puppies. On top of all this confusion, I have one problem that is at the forefront of all of my problems-my relationship. Am I stable enough to be in a relationship right now? How can I let Sam go when he is the best person I have ever met in my entire life? Morals, ideals, beliefs, & my future are completely scrambled, but I am now realizing that this blogging thing is a great way to figure this stuff out (even if no one reads it). Thanks, Blogger/Google+, for saving the day. =)

Until next time... ciao 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

Chania, Crete, Greece

On a whim, I decided I wanted to go to Greece. I looked up RyanAir flights from my mom's apartment in Vicenza, Italy to Greece & found one flight that went to the island of Crete. I was set. I told my mom & she found a bed & breakfast. I booked the hotel & flight & we were off. We left on a Thursday. We arrived a little after midnight in Crete & waited over a 1/2 hour for the car to pick us up, which was set up by our B&B, but it never came. We then asked a cab driver to take us there, but he was unsure of where it was so he called the number that was listed in the email that was sent to me. The owner of the B&B made a mistake & thought we were to arrive the next day at midnight-honest mistake. So my mom & I arrive at the B&B & the owner, Vicky, couldn't have been more apologetic & nice about the whole situation. The next morning, we had breakfast, & it was just me & my mom in the entire room since you can call to have breakfast made at any time of the day. Breakfast was served every day of our trip & we ate outside by the pool, which was decorated to look like paradise, hence the name, Paradise Hotel.

 Mom & I explored the Old Town since we decided to rent a car. The rental was cheap & quite necessary since the B&B is in the middle of nowhere. The next day we visited 2 monasteries (one of them is pictured above), which had amazing views of the ocean & old historic paintings & writings. Mom & I also picked some beans at the monastery off the tree & kept calling them "holy beans." Come to find out, the beans smell like garbage when they ripen & are fed to pigs HAHA. 

We connected so well with the Paradise Hotel staff that we felt like a part of their family. The staff consisted of Vicky, her son, & 2 stepsons, & her husband. What a friendly & welcoming bunch of people to say the least. They told us so much about the Greek culture as well as recommend great restaurants & even sent us to Vicky's husband's mother's restaurant where they gave us free dessert. Everyone on the island of Crete was so warm, welcoming, & are willing to speak English to anyone & find out a bit about the person. Also, even the tourist trap restaurants have amazing food & I am not one for tourist traps. If you ever have a chance, visit Crete & stay at the Paradise Hotel in Stavros on the island of Crete!

Until next time... ciao 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

Adventures with Dad & my Italia Exploration with my 2nd Family

In my final weeks of study abroad, my dad & his girlfriend came to visit me in Barcelona. We ate at great restaurants, visited a lot of the tourist sites, & the two of them went to Tarragona for a day trip. I was really glad they came & it was a great way to end my study abroad program. On April 27th, Sam & I had to fully move out of the apartment & we were on our way to my mom's apartment in Vicenza, Italy. Sam stayed for a week. We toured Vicenza & Rome. Rome was not what I thought it would be: The crowds are insane & the food was not what I expected (it was terrible quality).

Where my mom lives in Vicenza, however, has great food & the best gelato. I have had so much gelato since being in Italy. After Sam left, I went to work with my mom a couple days. Then my best friend Alexis, & her mother & sister came to visit. They spent one night in Vicenza & then we went to Venice & Florence. I did not expect Venice to be all water & to have water taxis & ferries to get around the town. It is a beautiful city & I cannot believe it is so close to where my mom lives.

We took a very nice tour where the tour guide told us the ins & outs of Italy & how the locals really live. Florence was amazing as well. We toured the city as well as took a food tour. That was the most amazing part of the whole trip. Cheese with jelly? Who would think that would have been good. We made 15 different stops on the tour to local restaurants & markets. It was absolutely amazing & I would recommend everyone take a food tour. I left Alexis & her family & took the train back to Vicenza & they continued to travel to Rome. It was so nice that they traveled so far so we could take this amazing trip together & I am so happy I got to further explore Italy!

Until next time... ciao 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

Mom came to visit & Spring Break!

I am officially finished with my study abroad program in Barcelona! I am sorry that I haven't kept up with my blogs, but things have been a bit crazy. But let's start where I left off. After I traveled to Budapest, my mom came to visit me in Barcelona for the weekend. We went to Parc Güell & ate the usual paella. Then I ended up getting really sick & my mom took care of me, which was certainly a nice change of pace from taking care of myself all semester. After my mom left, it was time to board the MSC Cruise ship for my Mediterranean cruise. 30 CEA students boarded the ship, which included 9 of my friends. 

We cruised to Casablanca, Morocco first where we were culturally shocked at how different it was from what we were used to. Some of the children we saw were blind, there was a lot of poverty, & there were not many sites to see other than the mosque. We did not want to pay the tour fee for the mosque so this guy said he could give us a tour for cheap so we went with him. We get to the back entrance of the mosque where there are spiral stairs leading down to a pitch-black basement. Fortunately, they were not out to kill us as it may sound. In the end we paid the guy 5€ & made it out alive. We also ate at Rick's Cafe in reference to the cafe in the movie Casablanca. 

 We then sailed to Cadiz, Spain, which didn't have anything other than a beach. Next, we went to Lisbon, Portugal. It was raining that day so we took a tourist bus around so we could see the sites. I really enjoyed the structure of the town & would love to go back there on a nicer day. Lastly, we went to Genoa where we walked around the town, ate authentic Italian food (& pesto!), & had a wonderful time being with each other. 

 The cruise itself was okay considering the food was not what I'd expect since I've sailed before. But for the price & how many countries I got to travel to with my friends, it was well worth it. It was definitely the best spring break I ever had.

Until next time... ciao 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13