TRAVEL

The art of getting lost Traveling on the clock

Profitable and meaningful

Values of travel:

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CONTENTS
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adrenaline 2 Mountaineering, and soul-searching 6 Airport adventures 8 Awakening in the Middle East exchange brings 10 International travel to your home Values of travel: Profitable and 12 meaningful 13 Traveling on the clock

14 The art of getting lost 16 Humanitarian excursions 18 Finding common ground 19 Living the Mormon life industry forecast 20 Travel 2013
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Mountaineering, adrenaline and soul-searching

By Summer Teixeira

alancing a 10-member family and teaching recreational management at BYU-Idaho doesnt stop Steve Kugath from being an avid outdoorsman. Having spent hundreds of days and nights mountaineering across the United States and Europe, Kugath said he wants to keep active until the day he dies. I want to go places. Ive been a lot of places, but not really, Kugath said. Theres something about this sense of exploration I have in wanting to see the world, and theres nothing stopping me. Much like Kugaths desire to see the world, there are plenty of others like him, choosing to spend their free time or their workdays getting their adrenaline kick. Fox News published a list of James Bond-worthy adrenaline sports in exotic locales, including swimming from Asia to Europe, hang gliding in Venice and cycling the Death Road in Bolivia, according to the Fox News website. Where lies the motivation to experience such extreme travel? Why not simply travel first-class, visit a famous museum, take a photo in front of a well known monument and go home? Everybody has their passion, Kugath said. Doctors explore heart surgery, lawyers explore court cases and I explore the world through recreation. Were all alike in this way. As for me, Ill never stop pushing to have what it takes to endure whatever nature throws at me. Kugath traveled to his first European country, Switzerland, when he received an opportunity to do temporary summertime work at a hotel management company there, helping the company establish recreational management opportunities on their site. After having visited Switzerland nearly 30 times, Kugath said he thought his first trip to Switzerland

wouldve been his last. That first leap of faith was one he said spurred decades of satisfying soul-searching. When the company invited me to return back every year after that first year in 95, I thought, You want me to come back? Well, let me think about it yes! Kugath said. While traveling can be financially, mentally and physically exhausting on an individual, according to The Digital Courier website, Kugath said everything hes ever known has pointed his feet toward a life of traveling, despite the sacrifices. Ill always do what it takes to get out, breathe the fresh air and see new people, places and things, Kugath said. Its in my blood. Its a part of me. While he was working in Switzerland, Kugaths wife encouraged him to see the sights a little bit. He said it was the best advice hed ever received, because it opened his eyes to one of his now greatest loves: the mountains of Switzerland. Avid traveler Shirley Sinclair wrote about the Swiss mountains as the gateway to many, according to the CQ News website. You want mountains? Youre surrounded, Sinclair said. You want to play James Bond for a day? ... the pice de rsistance ... everything seems on a grand scale.... However, recreational travel can bring its unexpected bumps in the road. During one particular trip, Kugath said he was lucky to take his wife along, with a day planned to visit Paris. But with work schedules changing and flights making situations complicated, his wife ended up seeing Paris without him, and he ended up climbing

Ill always do what it takes to get out, breathe the fresh air and see new people, places and things. Its in my blood. Its a part of me. -Steve Kugath

another mountain without her. Despite the fumble, Kugath said it was one of the most rewarding experiences of their marriage and that they both still love that memory today. Travel advisor Kate Thomas, creator of the Travel with Kate website, said she found her true definition of travel when she thought, I travel for the lure of becoming the best, most true version of myself. Most recently, Kugath has balanced his university teaching with being a mountain guide. He works for a company that hires him occasionally to guide groups across the Tetons, which Kugath said is some of the most incredible, dangerous terrain in the western United States, and a place he has grown to love more than most.

how to laugh at a situation because everything was so The opportunity my nine children have had with your legs dripping wet from the underground bad, you just cant to live here has been tenfold of any other chance creek and your arms dead from holding on for so toomind can play tricks on you. Thats when they would have in a busy urban location, take things long, your Kugath said. My kids beg me to take them on my I let the Lord help me and I let my focus set in. serious or else life trips. I have before, and I will continue to involve Traveler Nomadic Matt, creator of the Nomadic is going to website, get said you never know when you might them so their skills can be whatever they want Matt them to be. I love that they love it with me. face the unexpected. If theres one thing Ive you down. While it may not always be easy to travel with learned from my years of traveling, its that even the -Brittany Ficklin family, Europe travel extraordinaire Rick Steves, best-laid plans can go awry, Matt said.
of Rick Steves Europe website, said not to lose heart, because sometimes the payoff with your children will show years down the road. Your child may surprise you one day by mentioning a painting in Madrids Prado or recalling a fact about Romes Colosseum, Steves said. Besides building memories, your investment in a trip now is a down payment on developing a true citizen of the world. Kugath said this is 100 percent true of the relationship he shares with his children. One of the humorous moments he experienced was with his young son, who is an avid hiker. During one particular argument, his son yelled out, Yeah, well, I dont like hiking with you, Dad! Kugath said it was incredibly difficult to keep a stern face as the boy came to him later to apologize for saying such a hurtful comment. Humor within the family and among Kugaths university students are what has kept Kugath strung together over the years, as he has made hundreds of climbs and difficult decisions. During one climb, Kugath said his degree in psychology may have been finally utilized as he was able to talk a few students through claustrophobia, various fears and overall anxiety. Its not an easy place to be in, Kugath said. When youre in a very tight space with your gear and a dozen other students squished around you, 4

Just give me a mountain, Kugath said. Give me new people, new sights and a challenge, and Im there, 100 percent in my element.

Kugath said that when he does any all and types of traveling, he is hyper-prepared because of the thought of leaving his family behind if something bad were to happen to him. This is an avenue of life that takes expert skill and focus, both of which Ive always had to work hard for, Kugath said. So, when it comes to preparedness, Im spot on as much as I can be. Thats for the benefit of my loved ones back home. Youd better believe I think of them 24/7 when Im hanging from a cliff. Kugath said his father, who invented a mechanical arm used by NASA, played a significant role in his career choice. He said his fathers prominent success was intimidating, and when Kugath discovered he wanted to master recreational management, it made for an interesting confession to his father. However, his father and mother supported and encouraged his every step toward the dream of traveling the world. His parents were always just that supportive. I look back now, and I wonder why they were so incredible trusting, Kugath said. When I was 14 years old, we were on a family vacation. I expressed desire to make the most of the situation and go on my own through 15 miles of Yellowstone. I just wanted to backpack, and my parents thought about it for a little bit. Kugath said his parents gave in to his request, and said, Well trust you. Be safe.

As a freshman in high school, Kugath set off on a solo Yellowstone backpacking trip. He said it was one of the most invigorating choices of his life, and prepared him for everything about the man he is today. What an adventure, Kugath said. Fueled every bone in my body. However, Kugaths father was concerned about Kugaths providing for his family. Kugath said when he heard President Henry B. Eyrings recent talk about his father pushing him to complete physics, and Eyrings interest lying only in management, it felt like it was Kugaths life in replay. I, too, had my doubts about my ability to provide for a family while being an outdoorsman, Kugath said. But thankfully, the Lord has provided and Ive been able to do what I love most. Though Kugath completed his degree in psychology, the best therapy he ever wanted to be involved in dealt with educating others about the outdoors and recreation. Kugath said he pursued a masters degree in recreation and his travels have taken him so far since then, but most importantly, his family has been blessed because of his love for traveling. Not only is my family happy when Im happy, but they can enjoy this with me, Kugath said. While Kugath said adrenaline and self-mastery are his main goals for traveling as much as he does, and the idea that without being an extreme athlete, you can still get out and see the world in ways that help hone your life skills and teach you to apply good principles. Today, Kugath deals with fibromyalgia. His limitations have changed his traveling habits, but he said that his determination is not to be underestimated as he plans to do dozens more solo trips in the next few winter months, the first one he said will just be a quick night on top of the Tetons to get a nice picture of the full moon. In what he describes as his drug, Kugaths travels are what he said a never-ending quest that he hopes will take he and his family around the world for the rest of his life. Just give me a mountain, Kugath said. Give me new people, new sights and a challenge, and Im there, 100 percent in my element.

Airport adventures
By Alta Connor

hile traveling can be an enticing adventure, sometimes the bumps in the road start before you even board the plane. For BYU-Idaho students Brittany Ficklin and Sandra Cuevas, they were just trying to do what they have always been advised to do show up early before a flight departs. But for this particular mishap, early should have been earlier for the Ficklin and Cuevas, who were trying to make it home for the holidays. Upon arrival at the checkout desk, they were told they are not in the system. The US Airways representative found no record of their names or boarding tickets. There was seriously only two people working for a line of 50, and so they were really rushed, said Ficklin. Ficklin said she and Cuevas were put on the back burner while the airline continued to help others. They said they would get someone to help us but no one ever came, Ficklin said. If they had focused on us for a few minutes, everything could have been solved a lot easier. Two hours later, they were given the green light, but had to sprint to catch their flight. Unfortunately, their troubles werent over. [The Idaho Falls airport] wasnt even the worst part, said Ficklin. Cuevas and Ficklins flight from Idaho Falls to Colorado got in late, so again the two raced to catch their next flight. Smooth travels followed as they traveled from Denver, Colorado to Charlotte, North Carolina. But from Charlotte to Charleston, South Carolina, Ficklin and Cuevas had to work through further issues. Ficklin and Cuevas were on the plane and had just related their excitement to one another about seeing their families after months of being away from home, especially after everything theyd been through on the trip. Seconds after we had said this, the pilot tells us that the weather is bad in Charleston, and we are going to have to turn back around, said Ficklin. The pilot said, You all are going to have to make arrangements to come back tomorrow.

Back in Charlotte, Ficklin and Cuevas spent the night in the airport that they had just left. According to the US Airways customer service plan, they do not provide hotel accommodations when a flight is canceled or causes a missed connection due to circumstances out of their control. This includes weather and Air Traffic Control decisions, if the delay occurs in the city where the person is from or if the flight is diverted to an area close to the final destination. We raced wheelchairs, replied Cuevas when asked what they did when they had to spend the night in the airport. Ficklin said, It was 3 a.m. and we were so bored. We had been there for like five or six hours, and we were rolling around on wheelchairs. We were going to have to be there for another six hours. But Ficklins and Cuevas parents and siblings were waiting for them. Andrew, Ficklins brother, said their mom cried when Ficklin called to tell her she would not be able to see them that night. BYU-Idaho student Seth Cope had a similar experience. When we got close to Phoenix, we couldnt land, so we just flew circles long enough that we were going to run out of gas, Cope said. We had to fly to Tucson and fill up. When he was in Tucson, another flight dealt with an emergency, so Copes flight was delayed even longer. When he made it back to Phoenix, his connecting flight that would take him to Salt Lake City had already left. I had to sleep on a bench in the airport until the next flight at 7 a.m. the next morning, Cope said. According to the Airlines for America website, there are over 19,700 airports in the United States. From those airports, there are nearly ten million flights a year, according to the BuzzFeed website. With the vast amount of airports and flights in the United States, it seems eminent that there are going to be people spending the night in airports. Additionally, there may understandably be confusion with tickets, boarding passes, delayed flights, baggage and possibly even mechanical problems with the plane. During a different traveling experience, Cuevas related her experience while flying into Charlotte, North Carolina, when the plane malfunctioned.

They told us the front landing gear didnt drop down properly, said Cuevas. They had to use the emergency brakes, and we slammed into the front of our seats. No one was hurt in this crash landing, but Cuevas said this experience frightened the passengers on board, including Cuevas. Despite the problems that can frequently arise when traveling by airplane, both Ficklin and Cuevas plan to fly again; Cuevas will fly through Charlotte for Christmas, and You have to learn said she has gained how to laugh at a more patience from it all. situation because You have to everything was so learn how to laugh at a situation bad, you just cant because everything take things too was so bad, you just cant take serious or else life things too serious is going to get or else life is going to get you down, you down. said Ficklin. -Brittany Ficklin According to the Examiner website, an estimated 25 million passengers will be boarding flights during the upcoming holidays. This may present many opportunities for overnight stays in airports all over the United States, but a prospective traveler can learn from the experiences of those who have already encountered mishaps and dealt with them in stride. The Examiner website offers tips of how to make ones trip more enjoyable: bring earplugs, a cushion or travel pillow and a mask to put over your eyes. It doesnt hurt to add a little humor to the situation, too, as Ficklin and Cuevas suggested trying out wheelchair racing. For Cuevas, although she said she prefers to drive, she still flies. Ficklin said she plans to travel the world, even after the experience she has had with flying. I like to see new places and see the different perspectives on how the people live, said Ficklin.

Just give me a mountain, Kugath said. Give me new people, new sights and a challenge, and Im there, 100 percent in my element.

Awakening in the Middle East

By Jessica Diamond

he primary motivation in young adult travel is the quest for personal growth, according to Wandering Youth: Travel Behavior by Jay W. Vogt. BYU-Idaho student Jacob Justice said that for him, travel is about learning about different cultures and getting to know new people. Justice has traveled to numerous countries including Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, Germany, Spain, Costa Rica and Argentina, with his most recent trip made to the Middle East. College-age individuals travel more than the generations before them, according to Schrage, Shohan, & Van Eeden, 2001 Leisure Travel by Students: A Three-Country Study. Justice said he travels more than his parents did when they were his age because they have stressed the importance of learning and gaining experiences ever since he was little. The first time I traveled or had a big trip was when I was 14, going back east, Justice said. You just

learn so much through travel. It was from my parents and I think that was a huge motivation for me to travel. An experience from Justices most recent journey to the Middle East increased his love of travel, as he lived in Jerusalem for four months studying with the BYU Jerusalem Study Abroad program. The Jerusalem center is situated in east Jerusalem in Palestine, and students had to travel through Palestinian neighborhoods to reach the old city. My friend and I were coming back from the old city on the bus and we were getting dropped off at the Jerusalem center, Justice said. When we first got on the bus, I remember looking in the very back, and there was a Palestinian kid who was about 17 years old, and I just remember judging him, in a way. Justice said he thought to himself, Okay, Ive got to watch out for that kid. When they got off the bus,

Justices friend realized she had left her camera on the bus. It was too late to stop the bus, so they decided to cross the street and wait for the bus to come back around. Right when we crossed the street, a vehicle pulled up and it was that kid who I had judged, Justice said. He handed us the camera and drove off He didnt expect anything from us. Justice said that this experienced opened his eyes so much. I realized that us as Americans we dont understand the Arab world or the Middle East in general, Justice said. We dont really understand what is going on in Israel or anything on that side of the world. Justice said that experience made him want to get to know people around the world even more,

especially in the Middle East. He said he wants to help people understand so that when they think of the Middle East, theyre not going to think of terrorists or billionaires or oil, but instead think of the people and know there is good there. You know, a 17-year-old kid that loves to play soccer all the time and do stuff with his friends is willing to give a camera to a tourist, Justice said. Justice said it is not a question of personal growth, but rather about not being ignorant and learning about other people. Part of avoiding ignorance is listening to what the locals in different areas think about Americans, said Justice. [People in the Middle East] see Americans as very loud and obnoxious and kind of crazy, Justice said. Once I heard that, I thought, Why arent they like us? I had never even thought of that, and I realized that, yeah, we are very loud. Justice said he felt a sense of peace in the locals lives, and that they were very reverent. They respect people around them and who they are, Justice said. I thought that was really cool and interesting to see that, and I realized there is a time and a place for everything, and we really do have to

respect our surroundings and other people and be considerate. An informal poll of 30 young adults ages 18 to 29 showed that the main motivators to travel are to experience and learn about different people and cultures. This seems true for Mitchell Grant, also attending BYU-Idaho, who said that for him, traveling is an opportunity to not only learn about other cultures, but also to strengthen his faith. For Grant, it was that plus a quest to deepen his faith. He said traveling to Jerusalem had always been a dream of his. We have some family friends who went [to Jerusalem] back in the day, and they said that some of the best things they did for their children to help them with their testimonies, besides missions, were to go to Jerusalem, go to the Holy Land and make that pilgrimage, Grant said. Grant said his eyes were opened to a lot of things while in the Middle East. We think that we are devout in our faith here, Grant said. We go to church three hours a week and to seminary every day, but they have the call to prayer, which is a prayer that comes on over the loudspeakers and echoes throughout the whole city. It comes on all the time. I swear

it comes on more than five times a day. Its like once an hour. Theyll go to dome of the rock, the Jews will go to the western wall and theyll pray. They are so devout. Grant said it was quite the experience to watch. Its cool to see how they practice their religion, Grant said. Its way cool to see different cultures. I was immersed in it. You find yourself in Jerusalem. Grant said that words cannot describe the feelings he would get as he talked with the people he met in third world countries. They were so content with everything they have, which is nothing compared to what we have, said Grant. We complain because we dont have the newest iPhone and all these things we take for granted, and we get upset if we dont just have it handed to us, and its kind of expected. Grant said the people of these countries have a different perspective. They are just so happy and so real and living life like it doesnt matter, because really, when it all comes down to it, it doesnt matter, Grant said. What matters is your relationships with your family members and what you learn and take away from this life, not the things you have.

International exchange brings travel to your home

By Summer Teixeira

hile many Rexburg families may not have the opportunity to travel due to its cost, one affordable way to bring culture to your home is by opening the door to international students. Dozens of international exchange students are waiting to be transferred to a host home in the United States. Tracy Barney, international exchange coordinator for the Education First (EF) Foundation, said she encourages families to open their hearts and homes to these youth. University members can have great influence upon these students experience here in the states, as the visiting students can frequently visit campus during their studies and with their host families. Local participation means ordinary families are doing extraordinary things to improve our community, Tracy said. Its a 10-month commitment for a lifelong fulfillment. The EF Foundation works to find high school admission slots for the students. Once the slot is available and the student is accepted, a place to live is the next task. There are nearly 100 openings in local schools every year, and the international students seeking homes are 15 to 18 years old, traveling from their homes in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Spain. Creating this international melting pot in our small communities is wonderful for those of us who may never go to another

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country, Tracy said. Its also incredibly rewarding to watch our own children learn from them. Parents can bring international students into the mix, proving an opportunity for learning for everyone in the home. Denise Wahlquist, of Rexburg, said when she opened her home for this program, it was an invitation for another culture to bless her life. The students weve hosted are respectful of our family life and enjoy us as much as we enjoy them, Wahlquist said. However, I learn much more from them than they learn from me. The EF Foundation website, among others of the like, said the programs top priority is the safety and wellbeing of each and every exchange student from the day they arrive in the U.S. until the day they return home, because hosting should be a very positive experience for all involved. Suzanne and Linden Barney, of Rexburg, agreed to temporarily host Basil, a Swiss exchange student, until he could find a permanent home. Within about 24 hours after meeting Basil, the Barneys said they no longer considered theirs a temporary home for the student. He became part of the family, called us Mom and Dad, and changed how I experience my own traditions, Suzanne said. Living our American traditions through Basils eyes made our lives that much more fun. I cant say enough good things about what hosting has done for our family.

Families interested in hosting can contact Dan and Tracy Barney at 356-0848 or 8814341, or at tracybarney68@ hotmail.com. Interested hosts can also visit the EF Foundations website at www.effoundation.org.

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Values of travel: Profitable and meaningful

By Alta Connor

ow can you make the most out of your travels? guest author Emiel Van Den Boomen asked on The Art of Traveling website. The answer to all things travel (seeing what others dont) ignites a new power. This power I have called the Opportunity Factor. The opportunity factor includes recognizing and reaping the benefits of traveling, thus assisting powers beyond our knowledge, from the far-reaching aspects of global economy to the personable values of making memories and enjoying life.

The Traveleffects website reported that three in four adults 55 years and older still remember vacations they went on when they were kids, and that they remember these experiences more vividly than they do other events such school or birthday events. BYU-Idaho student Mckenzie Nielsen will be returning to Spain this summer, a place she visited with her family when she was younger. When I was 17, my parents wanted us to gain more perspective of the world, and Spain made sense because we could learn a skill in Spanish at the same time, said Nielsen. We went for a year and a half and went to public school there. According to the Traveleffects website, 75 percent of parents say that travel costs within the family are justified because of the memories created.

Travel creates memories

Economic Growth

Travel costs not only provide memories for families and boost the economys growth, but also promote happiness. BYU-Idaho student Azie Russell said she likes travel because she likes to see new things. It makes me happy because it is something out of the everyday normal, said Russell. At the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, a debate whether money could buy happiness was not successful, according to the CNN Travel Travel boosts economy website. With the economy in an unpredictable state, However, the debate whether or not travel makes big-box industries shouldnt be relied upon to fulfill one happy was an obvious yes. yearly quotas. Dr. Stefan Klein, author of The Science of Goldman Sachs chief economist Jan Hatzius didnt further comfort in outlook for worldwide progress as Happiness, said, The pleasure of discovery, the joy of he said he expected another relatively weak year for meeting people from other backgrounds and finally the thrill of tasting food I would not get to at home growth in the global economy for 2013. usually far exceed all strains of traveling. A 3 percent growth is expected to occur; a percentage point that Hatzius said is below the potential growth rate. International travel is an ideal, economy-boosting $$$$ industry to the rescue. According to the Traveleffects website, in 2011, $$$ spending related to traveling was $813 billion, which supported 7.5 billion jobs within the United States. $$ Traveling not only helps economic growth, but is also a way to add character, experiences and memories to the travelers mind.

Travel brings happiness

$
Less Travel More Travel

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Traveling on the clock

R
By AshLynn Snider

eceiving a flight itinerary as part of a work schedule might not be average for most, but for Matthew Longmore and the estimated seven million working outside the U.S., scheduled takeoffs are something the heart cant miss. An American expat living in China he serves as a liaison for an international company based out of the U.S with offices throughout Southeast Asia. You could put me in a taxi, blindfolded, and I could tell you by the way they drive which country I am in, said Longmore. Longmore said he attributes his familiarity with the roads hes traveling to the fact that its a means to an end hes passionate about. His first trip abroad, at 17 years old, was as a foreign exchange student in Germany. Four months abroad were all it took for Longmore to realize that studying, living and working internationally was his lifes ambition. Somewhere between the hundreds of boarding passes, lost luggage bags and connecting flights, Longmore said he learned crucial lessons that helped him become a trusted employee. This is the life I dreamed of living, said Longmore. The details of the dreams I had might not be the situation I am in, but I have had to let all that go in order to live as much of my dream as possible. Misconceptions in travel can be a hindrance to success in business and personal life. You cant have it all, and you have to be willing to sacrifice by letting go of a lot of the expectations that you might have with your travels, said Longmore. For this American expat, he said his love for traveling is unchanging. On the clock or on his own time, he said the importance of traveling with an open mind means he never loses sight of reality. Longmore said he still makes time to leave a birthday gift on a friends doorstep, 24 hours before the party, as he leaves to board another plane. Everyone thinks its this glorious lifestyle, but its actually not for everyone, Longmore. While traveling the world may not be for everyone, but of his weekends in China, Iraq and Mexico, Longmore said he wouldnt change a thing. 13

The art of getting

lost
By AshLynn Snider

or Michaela Huber, being lost is exactly how she likes it, as she calls it embarking on an adventure. When thousands of miles separate her from connecting to any kind of Internet signal, thats when she knows she has found her happy place the art of getting lost. Its a kind of freedom that cant be defined, said Huber. If I can look my hotel up on Google maps, I have already lost one of the most important elements of travel the beauty of surprise. Huber said when shes planning a new trip, narrowing down the location is key. Choosing a spot for your own adventure means a chance to educate yourself, learn the history of your chosen area and also get to know neighboring countries. The Travel.State.Gov website, which provides resources to prepare for getting lost the right way, said, We want you to be prepared as possible before you go. The website offers different links of information for various countries around the world, including travel alerts and warnings that provide a clear perspective about current potential dangers in each location. BYU-Idaho student James Gottfredson has traveled most of western Europe and said there is a key to navigating unfamiliar territory. Getting lost on purpose, but having reliable

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Hubers travel bag tips

Duct tape Emergency kit Purse with a zipper Backpack Compass A small watch Translation dictionary

transportation, is imperative to a wonderful time abroad, Gottfredson said. Meaghan Pruden, also a BYU-Idaho student, served a religious mission in the Philippines. She said its important to look like you know what youre doing and act confident while in a foreign country. If you look like you dont know what you are doing, its a dead give away you are a tourist, which is dangerous, said Pruden said. Hubers latest excursion was a monthlong sabbatical to Belize. She said that when she first arrived on the island, she took care of the essentials, by finding food, clothes, water and hygiene, and then by renting a room from a local and finding transportation. For twenty euros a day, I would rent a car and drive all over the island with a loaf of bread and watermelon from the street market, Huber said. Having a map can always come in handy, but for this day trip, it stayed in the bottom of her backpack. Huber said that while it can be daunting to just let go of the homing instinct, its then when when a traveler stumbles upon hidden hotspots or goldmines, Huber said. Theyre the places that cant be found on a tourist map. When I used to travel strictly by map and city guides, I really was just following someone elses interests. Huber said it wasnt until she put the maps away that she discovered a new love for travel. It became an adventure for me to find my own goldmines, Huber said.

Hubers travel bag tips

Duct tape Emergency kit Purse with a zipper Backpack Compass A small watch Translation dictionary

Hubers travel tips

Never check luggage. Always keep money in multiple places. Keep a small notepad with pen and paper. Always be conservative in manner of dress. Remember, quality over quantity.

While creating a travel itinerary can be beneficial, Huber said there is a high risk of becoming consumed with accomplishing plans and rejecting the idea of acting instinctively. Travel isnt always predictable, and sometimes when youre not enjoying your time one place, its important to listen to your intuition. Be okay with leaving that spot and finding something else to spend time exploring, Huber said. Be mindful of the amount of time you have in specific places. If you spend too much time in one place, you can get bored easily. With so much to learn, experience and explore while traveling, sometimes its pertinent to learn to go with the flow. Being flexible is an effective quality to have, especially when it comes to travels, said Huber. Especially when youre enjoying a certain place enough to be able to to stop and say, I dont need to do A, B, C or D. I can continue to do what I am enjoying. Huber said that despite the various things that can go wrong while traveling, she comes away from trips with new loves for different sights, sounds, tastes and cultures. Its easy to still have a western experience traveling abroad, Huber said. Western shops and restaurants can be found in a lot of areas because they appeal to the tourist. But if you are traveling to learn of a different culture, make the decision to not act as a tourist. For Huber and many other lifelong searchers of the goldmines, getting lost doesnt mean being in harms way or not returning home; it simply means a journey of the soul. 15

Hubers travel tips

Never check luggage. Always keep money in multiple places. Keep a small notepad with pen and paper. Always be conservative in manner of dress Remember, quality over quantity.

Michaelas travel ti

Never check luggage Always keep money in multiple place Keep a small notepad with pen and p Always be conservative in manner of Quality over quantity

Humanitarian excursions
I
By Jessica Diamond

nternational travel has been increasing every year since 2003, according to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. Service learning, humanitarian trips and other efforts are increasingly what students want to do, according to Neal Waldmdan, WorldStrides vice president. Community service turns off the judging. Here is a list of a few inexpensive volunteer options:

Conservation Volunteers

Conservation Volunteers projects focus on helping to create a more healthy and sustainable environment. The programs it develops are created to involve the community and achieve measurable benefits for conservation, according to the Conservation Volunteers website. A variety of volunteer options are available through the program. There are opportunities to volunteer for just one day, multiple days at a time, as a small group for a vacation, in a youth program and in Australia or other countries overseas. The fee is relatively small and takes care of food and housing.

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Sudan Volunteer Programme

This is a charity organization based out of the United Kingdom, focused on sending graduates and undergraduates to teach English in different schools and universities in Sudan, the biggest and one of the most impoverished countries in Africa. Volunteers also help with projects in the area where they have the opportunity to teach and to work with children that have been displaced due to war in their country. Time periods for volunteering range from six to nine months, with monthly pay. All costs are covered except for the airfare, according to the Sudan Volunteer Programme website.

focused on encouraging peace through volunteerism, according to the United Nations Volunteers website. Volunteer time periods are indefinite since the projects are so varied.

Peace Corps
According to the Peace Corps website, The Peace Corps has been a leader in international development and citizen diplomacy for more than 50 years across more than 139 countries. Related projects include focuses on climate change, pandemic disease, food security, gender equality and empowerment. Peace Corps volunteers serve for two years plus training and live in the area where their project is located.

United Nations Volunteers

The United Nations Volunteers purpose is to contribute to peace and development through volunteer work, helping countries to adopt volunteer programs to help with supportable growth. They help with anything from organizing elections to humanitarian work to encouraging and supporting peace in each country. The efforts are all focused on enabling and developing the country in which the program is working. The organization is a global, 160-country effort

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

The sole purpose of the conservancy is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website. Volunteers help in maintaining the trail in return for food and accommodations. The only cost is getting to the trail, and then food and housing is covered during the volunteer period, which varies in length and can extend to decades if requested.

Community service turns off the judging.

-Neal Waldmdan,World Strides vice president

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Finding common ground

By Keslie Kerby

acall Herpich felt her pulse quicken as she watched the clock on the terminal wall. If she was not allowed on the flight, she wouldnt arrive to Switzerland in time to start her new job. She often experiences this waiting period before flying, since she uses standby tickets because of her mothers flight benefits. In this instance, Herpich was really worried because she had a schedule to keep. She was traveling to overseas to nanny for a family for about two months. At the last minute, the flight attendants let Herpich on board because of a couple no-shows. This began one of her most memorable trips of the 17 times she has traveled abroad. Herpich said that through her 18

travels, she has discovered that, despite some drastic differences, all people are children of the same father God. This became particularly true when she sat next to a young man who was going to Romania to visit the places he served as a religious missionary. It was great to talk with him, Herpich said. I learned a lot from him. Hes just one of those people that you know is placed in your life for a very short amount of time, but you learn a lot from them I know I was supposed to meet some of those people on the flight. On her way to Geneva, she had a layover in Paris, where she said she had the same experiences with different people. As she left the airport by train and walked to her hotel, Herpich said she took in the bright sights on the way to the center of Paris.

It was a beautiful, scenic, little walk; took me right by the Notre Dame and across the river and then [the hotel] was in my favorite neighborhood, which is in Saint Michel, Herpich said. After Herpich checked into her hotel, she visited the Notre Dame, which she said is one of her favorite sites to see. She had yet another friendly encounter when, in a little courtyard outside the Notre Dame, she met a traveling journalist who writes for international politics. Herpich said the experience was enjoyable because their discussion touched on politics, which she was able to relate to because of her political science studies at BYUIdaho. I love talking to Europeans about politics and their opinions on things just because they have such a different view from what I heard

Living the Mormon life

By Ryan Joyner

he remote town of Rexburg, Idaho can leave many searching for warmer climates, but for Ral Saint Laurent, moving there was the perfect choice for what he called a cultural holiday. Laurents journey of discovery began in Saskatchewan, Canada, where he met with missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I remember their invitation, Will you pray to know the truth? Laurent said. The LDS missionaries continued to encourage him, until, Laurent said, he came to a personal conclusion that he should live the question more than propose the interrogative. With a desire to live the Mormon life, an opportunity came at the right time when Laurent met BYU-Idaho director of Dance Alliance Dale Hillier during the 2013 BYU-Idaho Dance Alliance summer tour in Canada. Laurent said Hillier offered his contact information and a warm invitation to stay in Rexburg if Laurent ever felt so inclined. that it was inappropriate to fall asleep in the Notre Dame. Herpich took the cue and chalked it up to another learning experience. Her layover was over, and she boarded the next plane from Paris to Geneva, where she spent the next two months nannying for a family. Its so great to realize how different people can be but how we are honestly all the same, Herpich said. And I think that just comes down to the fact that we are all children of God. Herpich said she enjoys travel because of the people she meets. And since we have that in common, it doesnt matter how different we are in other things, Herpich said. And its so great, the more you travel and the more you meet people from all these different places, just to see those things in common.

France
By Keslie Kerby

Eiffel Tower This tower was the largest monument in the world until the Chrysler Building was built in New York in 1930, according to the Eiffel Tower website. A printing press was built on the second level in 1889 and the daily newspaper was printed there, according to the Eiffel Tower website. Musee du Louvre This museum is the largest art museum in the world, according to U.S. News It used to be a palace and a fort, according to U.S. News This museum holds 35,000 art pieces, according to U.S. News Notre Dame People started building the cathedral in 1163, according to U.S. News. Construction took about 200 years, according to U.S. News. Tourists can enter the cathedral for free but a small fee is required to climb the 387 steps to the top, according to U.S. News The Palace of Versailles This palace was first a hunting lodge owned by Louis XII, according to the Chateau De Versailles website.

growing up in Utah, Herpich said. They are a lot more liberal than my conservative upbringings. She said the journalist invited her to go get drinks with him, and although she declined, she still enjoyed talking with him. I love forward people who are like, You look like an interesting person, lets talk, Herpich said. He was just genuinely interested in talking to people, and I loved that about him. After talking with the journalist, Herpich said she went into the Notre Dame and sat down in one of the pews. With jet lag setting in, she said she couldnt help but fall asleep in the quiet cathedral. When she opened her eyes, she saw a nun staring at her. She said it felt like the nun was trying to tell her, through her stare,

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Following this invitation and his inclination to find out more about the LDS culture, Laurent traveled from Saskatchewan to Rexburg three months ago, intending to further educate himself during the pilgrimage. Unlike the many students who attend the local university, BYU-Idaho, for vocational purposes, Laurent said he came to seek a different kind of learning, with a search of the spirit and the question, Should I be baptized? Planning to stay in Rexburg for the remainder of the holiday season, Laurent said his short time in Idaho has brought him a network of friends and unique, small town experiences. With the local universitys many opportunities for public involvement, Laurent said he loves the rich theatre and musical heritage at BYUIdaho, which is hosted mostly in the Eliza R.Snow Center for the Performing Arts on campus. I practically live in the Snow building, Laurent said. But for Laurent, he said the cultural events have done more than just entertain; the cultural offerings have touched and blessed his life. I wept during one performance titled Mass for the Last Days, composed by Michael Merrill, Laurent said. I loved witnessing the blend in cultural beliefs. In an effort to see more of this peace among different beliefs, Laurent said he hopes the future holds closer friendships for those of the Mormon and Catholic faiths.

While Laurent his love for Rexburg and its people continues to grow, there is one phrase that he wishes everyone on campus would quit asking him: Can I get you in touch with the missionaries? Laurent said that although he understands the loving expression, he worries how, at times, it might serve as a crutch for members of the LDS church. However, Laurent said he acknowledged and viewed all interpersonal interactions as opportunities to learn and to teach. He said he has found the invitation telling of a persons commitment to anothers spiritual growth, especially for someone like himself who, with further investigation, would clearly be categorized as an LDS discussions graduate. Laurent said that overall, he is grateful for the concern and understands the desire for his baptism. Within his short time spent in Rexburg, Laurent said his cultural holiday has been filled with the edifying opportunities and diverse learning experiences he journeyed here for, including a January baptism into the LDS church, for which he said he extends an open invitation to the public. Concerning being one of his guests, Laurent said he doesnt mind if you would like to be one and has formally petitioned to be baptized in the BYU-Idaho Hart pool, a request which is still pending.

Travel T industry forecast 2013

By Ryan Joyner

ravel has become more accessible in the last decade than ever before, with growth in the travel industry due to utilization of the power of search engines attracting their product in a captivating online environment. A 2008 study by global digital marketing agency iCrossing showed that travel would double by 2010, but, according to global business intelligence leader IBISWorld, the market concluded only a two percent increase in the travel companies spending to do so. This research suggests a successful innovation in the rise of the travel industry because of critical adoption of a technological tools BYU-Idaho alumnus and Ancestry.com website employee Garrett Johnson said that people continually search for tools online that make searching not only entertaining, but also easy. Johnson said that while we can always use more effective ways to find what we need or want most its generally the tools that do this best that rise to the top. Just ask Google.

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Possible reasoning for the markets situation includes the fact that 84 percent of travel companies are considered small businesses, according to the U.S. Travel Answer Sheet website. This coincides with the argument that websites like Travelocity are largely based on paid searches, and they lack elements that regard more of the organic-based searching that most browsers are looking for. Many travel sites garner more boutique travel destinations desired by the public. BYU-Idaho student Jake Firl recently finished making plans for a trip to Cancun and is preparing to study abroad in Europe next fall. It has this feeling like you found it on your own when you were just browsing through a blog and not jumping to a monster site to find everything you need, Firl said. Steep competition is a given, in many cases, including in cases with people who get great click-through rates on their websites. According to IBISWorld, the domestic tourism industry operates in an increasingly competitive market. In the globalized 21st Century, the average American has a far greater number of choices of where to go and how much to spend on his or her vacation. IBISWorld further stated that domestic vacations are easily substituted with international travel, and there is now stiff competition coming from a growing number of countries for a share of total global international travel. Countries in Central and South America where economic conditions have improved significantly in the past decade are now cleverly marketing themselves as convenient and safe travel locations for North Americans. This competition has negatively impacted the domestic tourism industry and led to slower longterm growth. With the travel sector becoming an extremely competitive market, the prospective traveler may need to go looking for theblue ocean on a more distant horizon. (Brazil and China), as well as developed economies that escaped relatively unscathed (Australia, South Korea, Canada), according to IBISWorld. As these countries continue to experience growth that outpaces the US economy, their strengthening currencies and consumer incomes will allow for more expansion in travel numbers. So, for a CIT major or the travel-obsessed student, the travel industry might be that blue ocean, providing exotic kickbacks in the travel agency workforce.

DOMESTIC FORECAST
2007 889,320 Million Spent
Forecasters predict the market doubling.

The recession reduces travel spending by 13. 2 % and slows market growth.

2013 910,116 Million Spent

The market has only experienced a 2% percent change, over the last ve years. Largely because of the recession in 2009.

Potential Markets
Countries like China and Brazil provide promising travel markets because of their steady economic conditions

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2007 754,455 Recession

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