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August 17th, 2010

Geocaching: All Who Wander Are Not Lost

This is a guest post by Julie Henning, Feed Me Editor, Road Trips for Families.

You can check out yesterday’s post for an intro to Julie and the other travel bloggers I met at BlogHer. Please join in me giving her a warm welcome to our little coffee spot!

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All Who Wander Are Not Lost!

Kids today are “high tech.” Gaming, cell phones, and texting (OMG, LOL). Heck, sometimes we use email to communicate, even though we’re all inside the same house. With all this instant gratification and even the GPS lady to answer the age-old question, “Are we there yet?,” how do we unplug without completely alienating ourselves?

One solution: geocaching. Sometimes known as a high-treasure hunt, people all over the world are playing the game. By creating a team name on the official geocaching website, www.geocaching.com, you can join in with the ¾ of a million other people in on the secret. Regional clubs, outings, and even geocaching events are also growing in popularity.

In a nutshell: someone has some stuff, they put it in a waterproof container and hide the container in the woods, the city, or even an ocean. Noting the “coordinates” (latitude and longitude – bring a compass), the location of the container is uploaded into geocaching.com database. Now…say you have some stuff, some free time, and a sense of adventure; simply log in to geocaching.com and punch in you zip code. Returned to you will be a list of nearby geocaches. (Geo=earth, Cache=data)

The people who hide geocaches sometimes use tiny containers and rappel up rock outcroppings in an “extreme sports” challenge. Our family picks caches that are kid-friendly, not too far from the road, and typically don’t involve anything other than tennis shoes and an iPhone (we use the Groundspeak Geocaching iPhone Application).

We have a container in our car full of stickers, temporary tattoos, rubber lizards, bouncy balls, rings, and other penny carnival treasures. Upon finding the geocache, we sign a log book with our team name, take some stuff, and leave some of ours. Linking between the iPhone app and the compass on the phone, we “usually” find the cache without too much trouble (geocaches can’t be buried, but are sometimes placed under rocks and in hollowed out trees). It’s important to return the geocache exactly where you found it, and take the time to log your find on geocaching.com. Some geocache owners even leave a disposable camera in their container as a photo log (this is especially fun when kids are involved on both ends).

For families going on a road trip, one way to explore different regions of the country is to incorporate geocaching into your vacation. Many visitor bureaus, state parks, and even resorts maintain their own special geocaching programs as a way to teach social studies, geography, and even history about their region. Many of these programs are on geocaching.com, some are not. Visit the Geocaching column on Road Trips for Families to get some ideas or just call ahead.

Reading a book like the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching may be particularly helpful if you are considering a bigger adventure or investing in technology like a handheld GPS unit specifically used for finding geocaches. Whether you research, jump in, or dabble in a geocache or two, you may just be surprised to find that you get as much out of the game as the kids do. The sense of mystery, adventure, and teamwork may just be enough to call “family bonding” by another name: go 4X4 it!

What do you think? Have you ever geocached before — on your own or with the kids? Let me know how it went and what tips you might have! If you’ve never done it before, do you think you might give it a go? I’m going to give it a try locally first before heading out on a big road trip (here is the link to Ottawa geocaches — it looks fun!).

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August 16th, 2010

Some fellow travel bloggers I’d like you to meet!

I’m really thrilled to be hosting a guest post tomorrow by Julie Henning of Road Trips for Families!

But let me back up a little in order to introduce her …

While I was at BlogHer, there were “Birds of a Feather” lunches that we could join. I dropped into a seat at the “travel” table and met some really cool women who run really clever blogs. These included (and please let me know if I’ve forgotten someone!):

Traci from Go BIG or go Home: a blog which chronicles the visits a small-town family takes going to “world’s largest” attractions — from world’s largest fork to the world’s longest continuous sidewalk. (And yes — I am totally going to convince her to come to Ottawa to write about our world’s largest skating rink!)

Cheryl from Kimberley Seldon Design Group: Among Kimberley Seldon’s claims to fame is that she is the Decorating Editor of Canada’s Style at Home magazine. And Cheryl is the Group’s Events & Media manager. I really liked Cheryl’s quiet style and after the event I seemed to bump into her everywhere!

Anne and Sophie from Hip Travel Mama: This blog is geared to families who love to travel and like to do it in style. This is how they describe the site: “You know that mom at school, on the playground, or at work who always has the scoop on the hippest places to go, shop, dine and play? Here you have access to parents like you who share your passion for luxury travel, good food, wine and fashion.” And for the record, both Anne and Sophie were hip.

Emily from Country Inns & Suites by Carlson: Emily is the Social Media Manager and her business card says: “I’m Emily. Let’s Talk.” I checked out the site and it has a really helpful Destinations & Activities section where you can learn more about as well as find out about any destination-specific offers and specials.

Glennia from The Silent I: This blog shares family travels, both foreign and domestic locales – from Greenland to Galapagos, Tokyo to Tripoli. I was really intrigued to hear that many of the travels are inspired because of her husband’s love of solar eclipses. I love a good excuse to travel! (okay, any excuse!)

Lisa from Frisco Mama: I didn’t get much of a chance to connect with Lisa, but I did manage to have her business card in my pile of BlogHer treasures. I checked out her blog and it’s an ode to San Francisco, her home town. I have yet to visit this city and when I do, I will definitely skip the guidebook and go right to Lisa’s blog. I know I’ll be in good hands!

And last but not least, I met another Julie. We were sitting right beside each other at lunch, so we got to chat a great deal. Before leaving the table, we promised to keep in touch. Sure enough, a lovely email arrives to me this week with the subject heading “Lunch with Julie.”

Julie’s travel specialty is road trips for families. And this is a subject that I really want to learn more about — not just where to go, but how to do them in such a way that all of the family — adults and kids! — get the most enjoyment out of the experience.

Her blog answers this call with a section titled “Feed Me” on how to travel without eating fast food and chicken trips the entire time (a major pet peeve of mine!); another titled “Tech & Gadgets” with reviews and overviews; and last but not least, a section on ”Geocaching,” which is a kind of high-tech treasure hunt that I see great potential in making road trips more fun for my family.

Just as Glennia uses solar eclipses as an impetus for a family trip, on Road Trips for Families they suggest using geocaching as a reason for heading out on a road trip. They call it Going on VaCachen™ (with a Facebook page here).

I wanted to learn more about this and I thought you might find it interesting too! So Julie has been kind enough to share a glimpse into how geocaching works and some tips for how we can get started.

Tune in tomorrow for her guest post on geocaching!

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September 1st, 2009

Letter from South Korea: Part 2

In my first “Letter from South Korea,” we covered off the basics of who, what, when and why Meaghan Harrison chose to leave Canada and teach English overseas. Now, in Part 2, we can learn a bit more about this experience on a personal level.

A Street-view

You’ve been in South Korea for six months now … what’s been the most challenging aspect so far?

The most challenging is just the day-to-day life. The majority of Koreans don’t know English, so basic things like going out to eat can be made difficult. You have to plan your actions much more carefully. If you walk into a Korean restaurant and do not know how to order something in Korean (in most restaurants there are no menus anyway), then you probably aren’t going to get any food. Although living here can be challenging at times, it really is a learning experience and has made me respect and admire immigrants in Canada much more.

The most rewarding?

The kids! I was going to put them in the most challenging aspect of Korea, but really they have given me the most rewards. When I started school in the beginning of March, the kids knew some broken English and I had to constantly tell them to stop speaking Korean. Now most of the kids do not speak any Korean at school, they can write and they can read sentences. They truly amaze me. Although some days can be so challenging, they can always make me laugh at least once a day! In Korea, it is totally acceptable to be very playful and loving with your kids as a teacher, in fact it is expected. It is so nice to be able to pick them up, hug them and kiss them. I will miss that if I ever teach in Canada.

The most fun?

To be able to work at a job I love and respect. I have never had a job that I truly enjoyed like this. It makes every day fun.

The most bizarre?

I think just being a ‘foreigner’ is the most bizarre. People stare at you no matter where you go. One time I was on the subway and I saw a man taking a picture of me with his cellphone, trying to pretend he was texting. It is a very strange feeling to stand out, and it doesn’t necessarily feel good. I don’t think it is really rude to stare in Korea, so people will literally just sit with their eyes on you non-stop. The younger Korean people are very nice, in my experience; but some of the older Korean people don’t understand why we are here and can make that very clear (sometimes using negative words for white people). Basically being a foriegner anywhere must feel bizarre, this is just my fist experience with it.

Meaghan and her husband Adam Smith

You are there with you husband. Do you think you would have made this choice if you were travelling alone?

I know I would have made the same decision if I was alone. I always wanted to travel, this is just one way to do it. Having said that, my husband has made this experience ten times more fun and easy. We always have each other no matter what, which makes living in a new country much easier than it is for most people. Many people come to Asian countries to live and end up feeling very alone and isolated, because I have my husband I can avoid that kind of homesickness. We have been able to share the ups and downs together and I feel so lucky to have him here by my side.

A typical Korean restaurant

How do you spend your free time?

What we like to do most is have good food and be with good people. When you eat Korean food, it is a very social activity. All the food on the table is to be shared, and it can take many hours to finish. It is definitely my favourite thing to do here.

When you complete this experience, what do you hope you can walk away with?

So many things … I will have a better opportunity to get into good schools for teaching, as many of them see experience as a requirement for acceptance. I will have a better understanding for different cultures, specifically how difficult it is to live in an unknown country. I have also seen a side of my husband I didn’t know existed. How giving and gentle he is with the children, has made me love him even more. A deeper appreciation for Canada and all the space and beauty we have. And finally, I hope to walk away with money in my bank account and to be debt-free!

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August 30th, 2009

Letter from South Korea: Part 1

How does a recent graduate stay hopeful?

The unemployment rate for youth climbed to 14.9 per cent in May, says Stats Can. One in five young adults have moved in with a friend or relative, says Maclean’s. Most are suffering from recession anxiety, says the Calgary Herald.

If you’re graduating soon, recently graduated or a parent of one of the former, I hope you’ll take heart with this “Letter from South Korea” post.

Below, you’ll find Part 1 of my interview with a 24-year-old recent graduate from a Canadian university who has chosen to teach English as a second language in South Korea.

Meaghan Harrison @ National Museum of Korea

Her name is Meaghan Harrison, and she’s a fiesty young woman who I’ve known since birth. I’ve always admired her beautiful outlook on life. Hand her lemons and she honestly wouldn’t think to do anything else but throw a lemonade party.

What made you decide to leave Canada?

Ever since I was a little girl and saw my big sister (you might know her, she happens to write an interesting blog in Ottawa) travel after university, I knew I wanted to do the same. I thought I might do some back-packing around Europe, but that didn’t really fit well with my economic situation. Teaching overseas is the perfect way to meet both of my goals: travel and pay-off student debt.

Job opportunities are pretty limited in Canada right now. You can take a low-wage entry position (which I did for a while), but this makes it extremely difficult to make rent and pay-off student debt. I actually made more money waitressing, but I wanted to get into something different.

How did you pick South Korea?

Gyeonbokgung Palace

As soon as I decided I wanted to do teaching abroad, I started researching on the internet and contacting friends that had done the same thing. I just kept hearing great things about South Korea and I got in touch with a recruiter who really helped me decide that South Korea was the place to do. Some of the other Asian countries are more expensive to live in, and South Korea has a reputation for better contract and employment conditions.

Have you always been interested in teaching?

In some ways, I always have been … but I never thought I would want to be a teacher as a full-time job. I enjoy working with children and I also did some hockey coaching for youth when I was in university. And I can remember, when I was very little, that I used to hold classrooms in my bedroom for my stuffed animals! I even gave out assignments and graded how each one did; I think my stuffed lion animal was my best student!

With students

Now that I am actually teaching full-time, I can definitely see myself doing this when I return to Canada. I really love my job. I teach kindergarten level now and if I end up teaching back in Canada, I would like to teach older children. But this is an excellent way to start – if you can teach six-year-olds to read, write and speak English, then anything is possible!

Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon!

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August 3rd, 2009

Robson Rambling: A Recap

Berg Lake

My “baby” brother Adam (he’s 26) saved me from some expensive life insurance after I posted “His Next Great Adventure.” The four of them were not, in fact, climbing Mount Robson, but instead were hiking Berg Lake Trail. They are all back safe & sound now, and thrilled with their adventure-filled time together. Even though Adam is supposed to be sweating it out on some kind of graduate computer-y thesis-y thing, I badgered him into sharing his trip with us. He also takes amazing photos. Enjoy this guest post! Here goes …

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Well Julie’s hubbie, our brother and father and I recently returned from an epic 6 day camping trip on the Berg Lake trail. The last time we were able to do this all together was years ago in Frontenac Park in Ontario. This was back when Dad and I were total backcountry newbies, believing that sporting ridiculous 6 inch hunting knives was obligatory (Dad still does by the way), that it was always necessary to hang a tarp rain or shine, and that a different t-shirt for every day on the trail is a suitable use of backpack space and weight.

Approach to Hargraeves Glacier

I like to think we’re leaner and meaner now. For instance, on this trip I only brought one t-shirt! However, I don’t think the weight saved from this innovative thinking exactly offset the 30 pounds of salami, 4 litres of wine, and 1 decanter of whiskey we decided to hump up. Our brother and I estimated that we were each carrying 65 pounds. If that didn’t clue us in that we were perhaps carrying too much, the occasional query and incredulous looks from other backpackers certainly did.

Reef Icefield

But Veni, Vidi, Vici, as some backpacker from the ancient times liked to say. And what a trip it was! Starting on the Southern side of Mount Robson, the Berg Lake trail takes its travellers on a 20km route around the mountain, gaining 1650m along the way, and deposits them facing the Northern side of the mount, replete with the stunning Berg glacier and its frigid lake. Along the way, travellers are treated to the breathtaking scenery of the Valley of a Thousand Falls (some amazing falls, but less than a thousand in my opinion).

A Marmot in Alpine Meadow

And that’s not all! Once reaching Berg Lake, the traveller is offered the choice of some incredible day trips. I think for all of us, the highlight was a jaunt up Snowbird pass. What’s to see?? Well for one you walk along the Robson glacier moraine (whose core is actually ice itself!!), and drink in the glorious site of Robson glacier and the torrential melt water gushing away from its toe. After that, you climb out of those harsh environs into an almost fantastical alpine meadow, complete with frolicking marmots, who I must assume have built up some form of utopian society. Finally, you lug yourself up yet another climb, get to the top, and stop. Stop because you’re confronted with an unforgettable site below you – The Reef Icefields. Ice and snow and desolation stretching away as far as you can see. Nothing moves out there, except the ice, in its achingly slow trek across the earth.

Alpine Meadow

Oh oh, I’m beginning to wax poetic, never a good sign from someone who’s literary inspiration lately draws directly from computer science papers. But for me, the scenery was only partner to the main draw of the trip – meeting a challenge with those closest to you, laughing on the way, eating together, and laughing again afterwards about all of our follies. Despite walking close to 90km, I ended the trip completely recharged and refreshed. Or maybe it was the 10 inch pizza, New York steak dinner, and ice cream I ate immediately afterwards?