(below is an excerpt. For the full post go to

http://proletariatsdaughter.blogspot.com/

My Christmas in Buenos Aires

The recent holiday weekend in Buenos Aires was full of life and good cheer. It began with Christmas eve dinner and wine with friends. Ah… but first…let’s not forget the fireworks. Imagine 4th of July… but right in the streets and for hours straight! It sounded like war, minus the death of course.  Just before midnight two of my friends and I went to the balcony to engage in the traditional Christmas champagne toast and to admire the barrage. What a spectacle! I’ve never seen/heard/experienced anything like it. It’s one of those things that a written description wouldn’t do justice. (I wish I had pictures/video to share… I really tried, but it was just too difficult to catch on camera.)

View of Buenos Aires

More friends joined us at the house after dinner and we left the house at about 2am or so, in search for a place we could grab some social time and more vino. (2am is a perfectly normal hour to go out in Buenos Aires, btw). To our dismay, most places were closed because of the holiday. We walked by a cozy looking establishment that was obviously closed, but had people inside. Courageous with wine, we craned our necks and waved at the people inside. A man came to the door… “We are looking for a place to be merry.” The man opened the gate and let us in. We cheered and entered. The place was warm with music and people and lights and wood. We had been graciously invited into a private event. The man asked us: “How many are you?” We told him: “Six.” He pulled out six wine glasses and poured us all a glass and then gave us the bottle. No money was asked for. We proceeded to chat and meet new people and drink another bottle of (free) wine. We stayed until sunup (another perfectly normal thing to do in Buenos Aires). Generosity, spontaneity, warmth, fun, and genuineness all come to mind when I think back on the night.

I spent most of Christmas day in bed. But not to worry! It doesn’t get dark until about 830pm this time of year, so I didn’t feel at as though I had wasted my day. A girlfriend of mine came over to my place in the evening and after a couple hours of deep conversation about our travels, our lives, our weaknesses and strengths, we decided to head out for a beer. We walked a few blocks to a spot called Plaza Dorrego (I mentioned this place in an earlier blog). There was a percussion group in the streets (as there is most of the time in the plaza) and TONS of people hanging out, drinking liters of beer, and dancing. The mood was high energy, light hearted, and fun. We walked a bit farther down the street and grabbed our own liter of Isenbeck (another popular beer in BA) and headed back to the plaza to join in on the festivities. We had a great time hanging out, dancing and people watching. We decided since it was Christmas, that we would treat ourselves to an over-priced dinner at one of the many restaurants in the plaza. The plaza is highly trafficked by tourists and the prices reflect that. The food was mediocre, but the bottle of wine we ordered was quite impressive. In any case… it was really the ambiance of the plaza that we were after. We sat and had more deep conversation and more great people watching. After dinner we headed over to the cozy pub that I had been to the night before (called Gibralter, btw), had a couple more pints and a brownie with ice cream. Yummm! This was my first taste of ice cream in BA, which is known for its ice cream. I can see why! We then parted ways and I went home to tuck myself in after a very warm, very different, and very fun holiday weekend.
I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves last weekend. Besos!!-tpd
December 29 2011

Need your bicycle fixed? Every weekend Bikes del Pueblo is teaching and fixing bikes at the City Heights Farmers market on a donation basis. http://ow.ly/6UERp

Check out this interesting history about HI San Diego’s role in promoting cycling rides and clubs.

http://ow.ly/6UEG7

http://ow.ly/i/j0JO

Friends Found in French

There are few times in this line of work that make all the difference in a good day, and an extraordinary day.  The memories we make as employees of a hostel are sometimes fleeting at best, as the most we can hope for from our ‘single serving friends’ that we make are simply that; we have our time together and then part company as acquaintances of travel on the road of life.

Such was the case, so I thought, when I met Marie-Josée and Yannick from Quebec.  They were a couple, in their mid 20’s, traveling together and are just about the funniest people I have had the pleasure of meeting since I started working here at the hostel.  It has be noted, that Marie’s English is about as good as my French, which is to say we both know about 10-15 phrases in each other’s language so as long as we both….spoke…..very…..slowly…..we could pretty much get the jist of what the other was saying.  Thank goodness we had Yannick.  He was fluent in both English and French so anything that did not translate word for word, he could explain with relative ease.  Every now and then we could see him get frustrated with Marie as she would ask what was said and he’d sternly reply “NOTHING! HE HAS NOT EVEN STARTED THE STORY YET!  Shush!”  Then the moment came, from time to time, where Yannick would not be around and Marie and I would have to figure out some kind of language, Frenglish if you will, that would allow us to communicate.  Picture the two of us, both highly energetic and extroverted individuals, doing everything from hand gestures to sign language to Pictionary and pantomime to get the point across.  Mind you this was not rocket science we were trying to convey, this was things like answering “Where are the spoons?” and “How much detergent goes in the washing machine?”  Which is a FAR different answer than “What can I eat this with?” and “How much money does it take to operate a car wash?”  So, imagine our laughter at each other when I’d tell her she can ride the bus to the beach and she’d say ‘How do I dry off with a bus!?!?’  Anyway, this kind of exchange went on for five days so it got to be whenever we would see each other we’d would starting mistranslating things on purpose.  “Did you sleep well last night?” and she would answer, “Oh, I go to skip rope and run outside.”  OK!  Awesome!  And then exchange a laugh and a thumbs-up.  Well, we became fast friends and I decided that these are people I would want to keep in touch with long after they left San Diego.  So I invited them over for dinner one night, had a great evening of conversation, swapped stories and tales of traveling, and then exchanged all the pertinent details to keep in touch.

I am happy to say we are still in touch to this day and have exchanged e-mails, text messages, letters and post cards since they left San Diego.  I feel as if I have a new sister and brother-in-law back in Quebec!  It is guests like these that make the difficult days of problem solving and monotony seem like nothing at all.  It is guests like these that make the hostelling experience more than just an overnight stay away from your home.  I truly treasure my new Canadian friends…even if I can’t parlez vous the language.

–James J.

Front Desk Supervisor – HI Point Loma

Original Post by Sarah Gilbert

In speaking about using hostels while traveling with her children, Sarah writes: An unusual place to recommend for family travel? Probably, but there are several characteristics that make hostelers kindred spirits to budget-conscious families who are looking for a great travel experience that doesn’t involve crippling credit card debt.

So what’s so good about hostels, you ask?

Sarah breaks it down:

1. Hostels are frugal

2. Hostels are social

3. Hostels have what you need

4. Hostels are leisurely

5. Hostels love a good view (or a hip neighborhood)

To read Sarah’s entire post go here: http://tinyurl.com/3tt3qhm

In preparation for the busy summer travel season, TSA would like to share some helpfultravel tips with you to help make your passage through the San Diego International, Carlsbad, and Imperial Valley Airports a pleasant experience:

3-1-1 is the name for TSA’s liquid policy. Each passenger is permitted to take one clear quart-sized sealable bag and fill it with as many liquids in 3.4 oz or less sized containers that will fit, while still being able to seal the bag. Make sure you take the bag out of your carry-on prior to sending it through the X-ray or the TSA officers will have to search your bag.  Stick deodorant is not limited to 3.4 oz or less, but gel or spray deodorant is. Powder makeup is permitted. Common size facial cosmetic and medicinal products in a tube, for example mascara, lip gloss, and lip balm are not required to be placed in the 1 qt. bag.

If you have liquids, aerosols, or gels that are used for medical or infant/toddler purposes, they do not need to adhere to the 3-1-1 policies and do not have to be placed in a bag. You may be asked to go through a TSA Family Lane so the screening process can be expedited. The liquids, gels and aerosols will need to be removed from your bags and declared to a TSA officer.

If you’re checking a bag, make it easy on yourself and just put your liquids in your checked luggage (never put medications in your checked baggage). That way, you don’t have to worry about 3-1-1.

Every security checkpoint will have at least one (1) Family Lane which is designed to allow families to take their time and ask questions without feeling rushed by the experienced frequent flyers who can move through a security checkpoint rapidly.  Also, as stated earlier, anybody carrying exemptible liquids, aerosols and gels in excess of 3.4 oz may be directed to a Family Lane.

Food items that are in the form of a liquid or gel are generally not permitted however, items such as baked goods and sandwiches are permitted.

To maximize efficiency at the checkpoint, avoid wearing clothing with metal and stow all items such as cell phones, watches, jewelry, etc. in your carry-on luggage.  This will expedite your screening and will ensure you don’t forget to collect these items.

Electronics the size of a standard laptop or larger, such as game consoles and full-size DVD players, and video cameras that use video cassettes must be removed from their carrying cases and submitted separately for X-ray screening.  Smaller electronics such as e-readers, Netbooks and iPads typically do not need to be removed from carry-on baggage for screening.

As you approach a TSA security checkpoint, you will see an officer checking IDs and boarding passes. Please have your identification and boarding pass out and ready to present to the officer. If your ID is in a plastic sheath or other type of holder, it will need to be removed so the officers can properly inspect your IDs. By having your ID and boarding pass out and ready, you will help move the line along faster.

If you have lost or forgotten your ID, you will still be permitted to fly as long as you can verify you are who you say you are by answering a few questions. It will take some extra time, so please make sure you get to the airport earlier than you normally would.

San Diego International Airport has Advanced Imaging Technology (Body Scanner).  Please ensure you remove everything from your pockets whether it’s metal or paper to prevent you from having to undergo additional screening.

You may notice your screening experience at one airport doesn’t match the experience of another airport. Some of it is intentional. While it can be a little confusing for the passengers, it also makes things unpredictable for those who might wish to do harm.

Please visit the TSA website for additional information:  www.tsa.gov.

20 of the 130 King Chavez High School students pose with art teacher Kappi Wright in front of their work-in-progress

Imagine going to “a local school with a global vision the empowers youth with education and love.”  Throw in a global organization based in San Diego with a mission “to promote Global Peace and Harmony through Mural Art.”  Add that with HI’s mission “to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling,” and you have a dynamic growing community partnership with endless possibilities.  All of these forces came together at the unveiling of the HI-USA San Diego’s Community Walls Art Opening with the King Chavez High School on June 13^th at the Downtown Hostel showcasing a 12 x 5 foot mural painted by the students for the Art Miles Mural Project.

This collaboration with King Chavez High School, Hostelling International USA San Diego, and the Art Miles Mural Project involved four class sessions facilitated by Hostelling International-San Diego Program staff and two months of painting by the students under the guidance of the KCHS Visual Arts teacher.  First, students learned a foundational understanding of culture, diversity, and the difference between a generalization and stereotype.  Then, students worked to define what community meant to them and brainstormed in groups to identify unique aspects of their own community.  On the third day, students turned the unique aspects of their own community into sketches and completed an interview with a respected elder in their community to learn even more about their neighborhood.  After that, students created another more focused sketch as if they were a tour guide giving an “Insider Tour” and had to showcase one or two specific areas of their community.   By using the sketches and drawings from the first four facilitated sessions, students began planning and executing what you can have the chance to see at the Downtown hostel through the middle of July.

Executive Director Sue Schaffner and Programs and Volunteer Coordinator Matt Carney enjoying their time at the Community Wall’s Art Opening.

The program did not only promote inter-cultural exchange and education, but also gave students a sense of pride in their heritage and their community.  During a session of the program, we asked the students to share what community they lived in.  Going around the class room students almost whispered as they shared their community as if they were ashamed or embarrassed of where they came from.  By the time the mural was up in the hostel students were quick to point out their contribution, and were happy to highlight what they thought was the most important part of their community.  Life for some of these students is not easy; some encounter gangs and violence as a part of their everyday.  The Community Walls experience gave the students at King Chavez HS the chance to see their neighborhood for the good and the bad and they were happy to be given a voice to share their own perspective of their community.

HI Program and Volunteer Coordinator Matt Carney helps students at the Braille Institute with the intricate task of cutting potatoes and onions for the Greek Moussaka

Hostelling International USA, San Diego Council offers much more than budget accommodations for independent travelers.  Our mission “to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling,” rang especially true when delivering the Cultural Kitchen program to youth with visual disabilities at the Braille Institute in La Jolla.

Cultural Kitchen teaches youth about culture in a fun and interactive way with four facilitated sessions.  First, students learn about their own culture, the importance of diversity, and about the difference between generalizations and stereotypes.  Then, they are asked to choose a country they would like to learn more about and collectively research the cultural norms of that country.  The final stage solidifies what is learned when students create a meal from their country of choice.

The Cultural Kitchen program inspires youth to learn about themselves and other cultures.  The students at the Braille Institute took to the program quickly by sharing their perspective of culture through senses many of us overlook.   For example, oftentimes HI-San Diego teaches about culture by comparing what is seen on the outside with the underlying factors that may affect someone’s appearance.   It was inspiring to speak with youth who did not have the prejudice of sight; their ‘disability’ enabled them to be even more open-minded and creative when learning about and cooking for their country of choice: Greece.

The meal of Greek salad, moussaka, and honey cake was delicious and went over well with all of the volunteers, teachers, and parents who came to enjoy the event.   Many students were excited about travel and hoping to go to Greece someday. They presented a mock trivia game show that showcased their new knowledge of the many facets of Greek culture.  Special thanks to the Braille Institute for their interest in educating youth of all backgrounds about culture.    If you are interested in the Cultural Kitchen program for your group, please contact Program and Volunteer Coordinator Matt Carney at mcarney@sandiegohostels.org for more details.

By Jeremy Branham

Travel Blogger:  http://www.budgettraveladventures.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExaminerBudgetTravel

Twitter: @budgettravelsac

“In the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death, the world has changed.  Many celebrate and rejoice the death of Al Qaeda’s leader while others mourn and remember the pain of 9/11.  This event has been a rallying cry around the world and regardless of how people feel, the world as we know it has changed.

Many people look at this from an economic, emotional, psychological, and military perspective.  For travelers, the world looks different today – much as it did on September 11.  As the world landscape in which we travel has been been changed, Osama bin Laden’s death has led me to ponder this question – how can we really impact the world?

Many people look to politics and government to bring peace.  Is this really the answer?  I don’t think it is nor will it ever be.  In light of these historical events, here is a look at how travel can change the world.”

http://www.budgettraveladventures.com/blog/how-travel-can-change-the-world/

By Janet D.~ Hostelling International Volunteer, Mother, and Blogger  http://retroadvice.wordpress.com/

When spending 50 days within the confines of a mildly claustrophobic Mini Cooper or a less-than-spacious hostel or hotel room with a mood-swinging pre-teen, it is imperative to strive for maximum levels of peace and happiness. I had, in fact, been warned by said pre-teen…”Mom, PLEASE no boring educational stuff.” I get it. Any valuable information wouldn’t make it past the attitudinal brick wall, so it wasn’t even worth attempting. So I focused solely on FUN when it came time to deciding on our leisure activities…with a bit of weirdness thrown in for kicks.

With 23 cities on our itinerary, less than two months before departure, and a desire to have a life in said two months, I limited my information sources to five…

1. TripAdvisor – Jam packed with ratings and reviews by a wide variety of traveling types from around the world, this site has turned me on to some popular attractions. You’re not going to find the “weird” here, but you will find out what not (or what) to miss.
   • Type in the name of your destination in the Search box in the upper left corner, click on the Things to Do link on the left menu, and start making your way down the list.
2. Yelp – Yelpers are downright hip, so I come here for opinions that are more in line with my own eclectic desires. Whereas Tripadvisor users probably missed the blind tuba player on the corner of 25th and Broadway, Yelpers have erected him a virtual shrine. In short, if you’re looking for “local flavor”, this is where you come (there’s even a search engine for it!).
   • When conducting a general search for things to do in a specific city, I leave the Search For box (on the upper left) blank and type in the city and state names in the Near box (on the upper right). When you choose Show Filters, the first button I click on (for obvious reasons) is Highest Rated. I have a love/hate relationship with filters…yes, they narrow down the list gifting you your life, but use too many filters and you’re more likely to miss something deliciously off-beat. That Local Flavor filter is the one I use most often…I can’t bear to miss any shrine-deserving tuba players.
3. Groupon – Who can resist a deal??? Available for most major cities, this is my juicy little secret…sign up a few months before a trip and get serious discounts on a variety of restaurants, tours, and other activities delivered straight to your Inbox!
4. Roadside America – The foremost resource of “weird”, Roadside America is the place to find delectable oddities. How else would I know where to find Stiffy Green, the Cemetery Ghost Dog??? Or, Johnny Appleseed’s grave? Our trip just wouldn’t be complete without some quirkiness…
5. Ask the LOCALS…never pass up an opportunity to talk to the helpful hotel or hostel front desk clerk, sociable servers in restaurants, friendly store clerks, etc. They are the experts!

By David Proulx ~ Assistant General Manager, Hostelling International San Diego, Downtown

Question:  Why should I stay at a hostel instead of a cheap hotel/motel?

Answer:

Hostelling International hostels are a great alternative to the rather mundane experience of staying in a hotel or motel.  Most hostels have supreme locations, wonderful facilities, low rates, awesome amenities, and a great staff.  So what sets them apart from a hotel or motel?  Well, it is the atmosphere, and everything starts with common areas.  Kitchens, game rooms, patios, fire pits, courtyards, mini libraries, all allowing for social interactions between guest and staff create a fun and enjoyable time amongst friends.  Compare this to the institutional feel of a hotel or motel that may or may not have a lowly pool or perhaps a waiting room like lounge.

But you are saying, “I don’t want social interaction, I think I’ll stick with a hotel.” Well, you can get the same amount of privacy at a hostel. Most hostels now-a-days offer private rooms with private or shared bathrooms just like any hotel. On top of this, the service at a hostel just can’t be beat. All of the staff will be extremely well versed in local culture, dining, and entertainment, and they will not simply try to up-sell you on the attractions and dining based upon who is giving them kickbacks. No, you will get a personalized experience that any staff member would do themselves, if they weren’t at work .  It is my firm belief as a hospitality manager that guests don’t want the cold corporate cookie cutter style of customer service. This is a place that you will basically be living in on your vacation, business trip, etc. You should be given the human touch, and not be treated as a number or overnight revenue. This is truly what the hostel stay experience offers: the ability to travel to foreign places, yet still feel at home and part of a community while doing so.

On top of all of these wonderful reasons to choose a fun and vibrant hostel stay over a dreary layover in a boring hotel or motel, is the fact that staying in a Hostelling International hostel is supporting a local non-profit organization that provides workshops and programing to the young to support them in becoming enlightened world citizens.  Through events like our Peace Conference, Cultural Kitchen Dinners, and Midnight Madness Fun Bicycle Ride we raise awareness throughout the local community and reach out to young people who will in turn affect change in their lifetime wherever their travels may take them.

So there you have it.  Location, customer service, exciting activities and amenities, all at budget hotel/motel prices, and with some philanthropy to boot.   Join the hostelling family today, and I bet you’ll forget all about those cheap hotels and motels. Cheers.

Questions, comments, concerns?  Email me:  AGM.MET@sandiegohostels.org

Every year, young adults gather for “Peace-ing Communities Together,” the Hostelling International San Diego Peace Building Conference. The event brings together a diverse community of young adults who share a passion for creating positive change. Through interactive conversations and workshops, participants discover their personal strengths, develop leadership skills, inspire others, and create an action plan for the future.

We use cutting-edge leadership and facilitation techniques to engage and focus the participants with integrative tools for deep listening and quiet reflection. If you are ready to embrace your leadership and become a committed, active citizen, do not miss out on this amazing opportunity.

When: April 16, 2011 9:30a-4:30p

Where: The San Diego Foundation

How much: Only $5 (pre-registration) $10 day before and day of conference

2011 Conference Preview

• Inner-Peace
  • Inner Peace as a Totality: Embodying Peace Within
• Creative Arts
  • Art Miles mural project
  • Performance by the Monarch School Steel Drum Band
  • Spoken word performance
• Respect & Compassion
  • Learn what it takes to be an effective and culturally sensitive communicator
• Action
  • Becoming a Social Change Agent while using your creative process

Register Now! http://www.peacebuildingsandiego.org/

By HI-San Diego Executive Sue Schaffner

The other night I spent a few hours talking with someone from another country, another culture.  We spoke about everything from soccer to Socrates.  While I had known him casually for a while, this was the first time we spent in real conversation. And I was surprised.  My understanding of him, based on what I thought was the norm for his culture was WRONG.

On reflection of the evening, I realized that it was a page out of a hostel playbook. I took the time to understand someone.  The power of hostelling is more than making travel affordable to see the sights of the world, or to encourage guests to experience new cuisine, new music or a new bar. It is spending quality time with people from around the world and getting to know each other, to break down the barriers of intercultural MIS-understandings.

We are taught that a person’s culture, their customs, beliefs and attitudes are the product of where they come from – some countries’ citizens feel uncomfortable with eye contact, other countries lean towards more hands on communication, while another country’s folk balk at the “time is money” concept.  Most of us accept and expect these cultural customs when we meet someone from a different part of the world.  Yet not everyone holds true to their country’s cultural “norm”, and while it is very important to understand general cultural differences, labeling people by their country’s norms can waste valuable time getting to really know a person.

We also know that a culture can stem from more than where you are from. Nowadays we assign cultural labels based on a person’s political, economic or religious point of view.  A few weeks ago, I spent a lovely afternoon talking to the Assistant Manager of HI-Phoenix.  She told us of the variety of visitors to one of the few desert hostels and the surprises she finds when she gets to know the guests.  She related an example.

In February, the Tea Party staged a convention in Phoenix.  Several conventioneers chose to stay at the Phoenix hostel.  (What?, you might ask – those right-winged tea-partiers staying with those granola crunching liberals?) During their stay, they participated in the hostel dinners and barbecues.

Upon leaving, the Tea Party convention goers mentioned that the hostel was the HIGHLIGHT of their stay!  The hostel staff and Tea Party guests let go of each perceived customs, beliefs and attitudes and had the opportunity for understanding.  The Conventioneers had a great time, and the hostel staff was reminded that hostellers come from many diverse cultures.

Isn’t that what hostelling is all about?  So let’s acknowledge that we are all different, then, toss those labels out the window and start talking!

HI-San Diego Council’s thoughts are with the people of Japan and our hostelling brethren during this terrible tragedy. Click here to learn more about Hostelling International in Japan.

Original post by Todd on his blog Todd’s Wanderings

This post is dedicated to helping the survivors of the Friday 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan by channeling international donations to local efforts.

The earthquake and tsunami have caused extensive and severe damage in Northeastern Japan, over 9,500 people have been confirmed dead and another 16,000 are missing, and millions more affected by lack of electricity, water and transportation.

The images of the destruction and suffering have shocked the world. However, with the World Bank reporting over 300 billion USD in damages and families torn apart there is a need for everyone to help both financially and emotionally.

A few weeks ago I posted about my Experience During the Japan Earthquake and made a plea to my readers to spread the word about helping Japan recover. My wife is from Tokyo and we are both professional aid and recovery workers with the United Nations. We have seen the recovery phase of the 2004 Tsunami up close and we know there is a tremendous need to not only raise donations but to make sure those funds are used responsibly and are in the hands of organizations with not only technical expertise but also local knowledge.

How You Can Help

A lot of people around the world want to help and have been donating to various international organizations (mainly the American Red Cross). I think this is great and with the money being transferred to the Japanese Red Cross this money will be used well. However, we also believe there is a need to donate funds directly to local Japanese organizations and NGOs that don’t have access to this type of fund raising. There are also many scams out there trying to benefit from this horrible disaster. We know that language barriers and lack of knowledge can also prevent people from donating to the right place. As such we have put together a list of Japanese Organizations that we know, trust and recommend to channel your donations to.

If you are unable to donate we ask that you Share this Page with your friends, family and coworkers through e-mail, facebook, twitter or any other outlet you can think of. The more people who see this page the greater the donations will be.

If you are blogger, or have your own website. Please see the Blog4Japan page to learn how you can utilize this appeal on your own site and help us reach even more people.

Japanese Organizations We Trust

Please consider donating to one or more of these organizations. All are local Japanese organizations and we have found the English Pages for you. Even a small amount like $10 is useful, but we hope you donate more!

Peace Winds Japan is one of the largest Japanese organizations providing humanitarian relief such as food, clothing, fuel and medical supplies to the affected areas. You can Donate Here.

JEN is a well known NGO dedicated to restoring a self-supporting livelihood both economically and mentally to those who have been stricken with hardship due to conflicts and disasters. They are currently supporting emergency relief items such as food, woman’s hygienic items, clothes and other essentials to the survivors of the Japan Tsunami. You can Donate Here.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is donating food and essential items to the survivors of the tsunami. They also keep a well maintained English blog of their activities in Japan for the tsunami which you can Follow Here. You can Donate Here.

The Japan Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning is taking donations for their response to the tsunami that will focus on the reproductive health needs of women and mothers in affected areas. You can Donate Here.

The Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA Japan) team is delivering essential medical services through mobile clinics and delivering relief goods to the nursing homes and schools (evacuation shelters) in Aoba and Miyagino Wards. You can Donate Here.

OXFAM Japan is working with two partners in Japan on providing support to those on the margins of society who might otherwise have difficulty accessing emergency relief. One group is assisting mothers and babies and the other is providing information to non-Japanese speakers living in Japan. You can Donate Here.

Habitat For Humanity Japan is still assessing the situation but will be involved in the reconstruction of housing once the emergency period ends. This is one of the most vital aspects of recovery and the homeless will need a lot of help to put their lives back together. You can Donate Here.

The Institute for Cultural Affairs Japan (ICA) is still assessing the situation but is accepting donations. You can Donate Here.

All of these are worthy organizations to support and  you can match your own personal interests to the organization that you think will work the best on what you want to support. Even if you are unable to donate please pass this on through social media, word of mouth or even in print. I have waived all rights to this post so please feel free to copy and reproduce any part of it for the good of the Japanese people.

If you do want to reproduce this please see the Blog4Japan page where you can find out more details.

Thank you from my family and friends who have been affected by this terrible disaster.

Balboa Park, San Diego. Museum of Man bell tower.

I stumbled upon this wonderful San Diego City Guide in a blog called Design*Sponge. The author of the post is Julia Wheeler… you can check out her blog here.

The guide is a wonderful handbook to eating, seeing and shopping in each unique neighborhood in San Diego.  I encourage you to check out Design*Sponges full list of city guides as well… their list is extensive!  Thank you Design*Sponge and thank you Julia!

Enjoy!

Janet volunteers for HI-San Diego as a tour leader. You can follow her Retro Advice blog here and fan her on FaceBook here.

I have a little problem with perception. Okay, I cannot sugar coat it…it’s bad. I’m often mocked in my own kitchen when my attempts at transferring too much leftovers into too small containers usually result in tiny catastrophes. I now know that this personal flaw also impacts my travel planning.

My initial plan for the Retro Advice trip was to circumnavigate the U.S. and traipse across half of Europe…in search of women willing to offer advice to their teenage selves…in just 53 days. Thankfully, I have people in my life who know how to stop me from overflowing…said people tactfully suggested I contain my trip to the continental U.S. Thank goodness I listened…because accomplishing this in just 53 days was a challenge in itself (I do believe my girl would have jumped “ship” had my original plan come to fruition)!

I came up with the perfect compromise. Hostels! At home every week, I meet travelers from faraway places when I lead a walking tour of downtown San Diego for Hostelling International-San Diego. I realized that here was a source of international women on U.S. soil! I couldn’t wait to tell Sophie. I don’t know what I was thinking…I forgot that being the mom of a pre-teen means I don’t know a darn thing. 

“Mom…NO WAY!!! Are you crazy??? I don’t want to stay in hostels! They’re yucky!!!”

She’s never stayed at a hostel. She’s never even visited a hostel. The source of her adamant opinion is a mystery. This was the ideal topic for her first Retro Advice writing “assignment”! I asked her if she would write down her description of a hostel…

“What do I think a hostel is? When I think of a hostel, I imagine a big room with about 10 teenagers crammed inside…all fighting for a bed. After the day’s adventure, they come home to dirty, grimy bunk-beds where many other people have slept. People who stay in these hostels are thirsty for the full travel experience. The cost may be low, but would you like to stay the night with eight other people that you don’t even know? Some people may want to be well rested for their next day of travel, while others may get back to the room between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. And where are you supposed to get your food? You end up spending the money you save on the price of the room on breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Most hotels give you a complimentary breakfast, so I might as well just stay in a SANITIZED hotel room with people I know.” ~Sophie D., 12 years old

I’ll admit that this may be the case with some hostels…I’ve heard a few crazy stories about non-HI hostels. However, I have firsthand knowledge of HI-San Diego’s high standards…and, I see them consistently enforced. Their success is evidenced by the sizable span in the ages of my tour participants…from young ‘uns in their early 20′s to well-seasoned travelers in their 70′s…and, the consistent flow of compliments I hear each week.

What exactly is a hostel? The concept was born in 1909, in the mind of Richard Schirrmann, a German schoolteacher. He was passionate about the positive impact of travel on young minds and was determined to create a network of budget accommodations where students could stay throughout the world. Today’s hostels serve all ages and typically have multiple dormitory-style rooms and shared bathrooms. Most have the option of paying more for a private room and bathroom. There is usually a communal kitchen where hostelers can store and cook their food and eat with fellow travelers. (At HI-San Diego’s Gaslamp hostel, Sophie would be eating complimentary pancakes…as well as her words…for breakfast each morning.  ) And, there’s often a central TV room where you can meet people from all over the world and swap travel stories and tips. Hostelling International is one of the most – if not the most – reputable hostel organizations in the world with 4,000 hostels worldwide. There are also private hostels owned by people who are so passionate about travel that they make personal sacrifices in order to offer affordable accommodations to travelers on a budge (check out www.backpackers-united.eu for a network of independent hostels).

When last year’s Christmas stress faded to a pleasant memory, I was ready to get to work on my 2011 projects. After cementing the Retro Advice concept in my mind, I contacted Sue Schaffner, Executive Director of HI-San Diego. Over lunch I shared my vision of the mission and my hopes of taking advantage of the many benefits offered by hostels. Her eyes lit up…and, she has been bending over backward to help ever since.

The responses from the HI hostels Sue has contacted have been heart-warming. Hostelling International is definitely a community. I only wish there were HI hostels at every stop on our trip, but the network has wide gaps through middle America. To see the hostels we have booked to date, check out the Retro Advice Road Trip Itinerary.

I was there the last time Egypt changed its head of state.

As I read about the recent revolutionary events in Egypt and in other parts of the world, I am reminded about the time I visited Egypt.

30 years ago, I did a gap-year adventure, living on a kibbutz in Israel, traveling through Europe.  During my gap-year, I went backpacking through Egypt with some friends I met on the kibbutz.

We spent a full day traveling on a bus from Tel Aviv, through the Sinai Desert, over the Suez Canal and into Cairo.  On day two in Cairo, as we were shopping in the souk, we saw the planes fly overhead as part of a parade. We were told it was a parade to honor President Anwar Sadat.  We thought about going, as it was a few miles away, but did not.  Only later did we find out what happened at the parade, when little kids in the street were shouting “Sadat is dead.”

As we were coming from Israel, we were concerned.  The Egypt-Israeli Peace Treaty was less than three years old. That night however, we met some Sudanese students at our hostel who told us not to worry, as it was a fellow Egyptian not an Israeli who assassinated Anwar Sadat.

The next morning, we were heading to Luxor.  As we boarded the train, we saw fellow passengers scooping up as many newspapers as possible. It reminded me how my fellow Americans reacted after President Ronald Reagan was shot earlier that year – gathering as much information as possible.  We did not see panic in the streets nor any indication of a massive change in government as we traveled south.  Rather, we spent our time enjoying the warm hospitality and reveling in the amazing antiquities that makes Egypt so popular with tourists.   The only time we became aware of the assassination was when we attempted to cross the Aswan Dam and were stopped by the guards.  Rather than leave, they invited us to their office were we sat with them watching the State Funeral.

The assassination of President Sadat led to the rise to power of President Mubarak.  It is unclear how the Egyptians would have reacted if they knew what the next three decades would be like for them.  It is amazing to see this transformation of power happen today, through the will of many, not the gun of a few.

As I watch these events unfold in Egypt, I wonder what would happen if I was traveling there today.  Would I boldly (blindly) continue my travels throughout a country in turmoil, or would I turn back and go someplace safer?  What would you do?

BTW – it is a good idea to call home if you suspect you might be in a revolution – I did not do so until I went back to Israel.  Needless to say, Mom was somewhat worried.

-Sue Schaffner

Executive Director, HI-San Diego Hostels

Sue circa 1981 during her gap year adventure

Sue circa 2009 hiking Mt. Blanc

Hostelling International San Diego is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.

To reach our mission, we provide Youth Education and Outreach Programs in addition to the traditional hostel experience.

Below are our programs that are geared toward young adults. These programs are offered to middle school students, high school students, college students, and the Girl Scouts.

Local students paint for peace.

Community Walls

The Community Walls service project teaches youth (ages 11-17)  to gain cultural understanding, define their community, build pride in their culture, and express what it is like to live in their neighborhood through the creation of an original painting.

Cooking is cultural!

Cultural Kitchen

The Cultural Kitchen program, an educational youth outreach program, provides young people with the opportunity to experience the world outside of their neighborhoods. Participants, between the ages of 8 and 18, learn about a culture that is new to them, which includes making an authentic meal of the chosen culture. While at the hostels, the students interact with international travelers, giving them another opportunity to experience world cultures.

Sign-up for April's Peace Conference.

Peace Building Conference

Every year, young leaders, ages 18-35, gather for “Peace-ing Communities Together,” the Hostelling International Peace Building Conference in San Diego. The event brings together a diverse community who share a passion for creating positive change.

Furthermore, we want locals and guests to travel smart that is why we offer various travel workshops.   Our Travel Series Workshops (World Travel 101 and Women Traveling Solo) is for both the young and young-at-heart.

For more information about our programs or to volunteer with Hostelling International San Diego, contact our Program and Volunteer Coordinator:  Matt Carney at 619-338-9981 ext. 13 or mcarney@sandiegohostels.org.

To donate proceeds to these programs visit our donation website at http://sandiegohostels.org/about/aboutus_donate.html.

[all photo credits - Hostelling International San Diego]

Hostelling International San Diego is embracing the new year.  For the start of 2011, we asked guests at our hostels, “How do you celebrate new years at home and how are you celebrating in San Diego?”  Aside from the typical, get drunk till the ball drops…there was one guest who had a completely unique cultural story to tell.

photo credit - Daniel Viera Rivas

Daniel Viera from Spain:
There is a big clock in the city of Madrid.  At the strike of midnight, the clock will ring 12 times.  For each ring, each person will eat one grape.  The grape symbolizes good luck for each month of the year.  I plan on meeting my San Diego friends at the beach, relaxing with beers, and having grapes at 3 pm. 3pm is when it would be midnight in Spain.
Daniel’s travel blog features amazing portaits.

photo credit - Sam Godar

Sam Godar, part of our Downtown staff, had this to say about new years eve in San Diego:
It wasn’t as crazy as I thought it would be…but I did see a lot of limos.

Sam is right, the Downtown scene in San Diego is posh and there are plenty of clubs and places for nightlife.  Every weekend is a party, which is why locals might find big weekend crowds normal.  To avoid the crowds, locals head to beach communities like the one near our Point Loma Hostel.

Hostelling International San Diego has made new changes and is collaborating with a local artist/webdesigner, Racquel S., to bring you a new blog design for our 2011 relaunch!  Till then, check out our facebook, twitter, and website!

Our Downtown hostel has been working hard to help make parking a little easier. We are proud to announce that we are now offering parking passes for those who are staying with us. Simply ask to reserve one of our parking passes and you will have a spot just four blocks away from the hostel. At $15 a day, that’s a tough deal to beat for 24 hour come and go access in Downtown San Diego. We’ve picked a lot that’s well lit and nearby so you can enjoy a safe walk back to our hostel without any worry. To reserve your parking pass, give us a call at 619-525-1531 or email us at downtown@sandiegohostels.org.

We also offer a parking handout . Not only does it mark the parking garages and lots but it also has basic parking information to help you avoid getting a ticket. Download the Parking Handout or find it on our website at http://www.sandiegohostels.org/downtown/downtown_around_sandiego.html.

Included below is a picture of the parking map that is included with the handout. Enjoy!

Where to Park in Downtown San Diego

Like this map? We’d like to thank our friends over at the Centre City Development Corporation (www.ccdc.com) for putting these resources together for the residents and visitors of San Diego.

Question or comments? We’d love to hear them, so please feel free to contact us at any time.

Our Downtown hostel has been working hard to help make parking a little easier. We are proud to announce that we are now offering parking passes for those who are staying with us. Simply ask to reserve one of our parking passes and you will have a spot just four blocks away from the hostel. At $15 a day, that’s a tough deal to beat for 24 hour come and go access in Downtown San Diego. We’ve picked a lot that’s well lit and nearby so you can enjoy a safe walk back to our hostel without any worry. To reserve your parking pass, give us a call at 619-525-1531 or email us at downtown@sandiegohostels.org.

We also offer a parking handout . Not only does it mark the parking garages and lots but it also has basic parking information to help you avoid getting a ticket. Download the Parking Handout or find it on our website at http://www.sandiegohostels.org/downtown/downtown_around_sandiego.html.

Included below is a picture of the parking map that is included with the handout. Enjoy!

Like this map? We’d like to thank our friends over at the Centre City Development Corporation (www.ccdc.com) for putting these resources together for the residents and visitors of San Diego.

Question or comments? We’d love to hear them, so please feel free to contact us at any time.

Hello World!

HI – San Diego launches it’s new blog today. We’ve revamped our website and are now ready to deliver news and updates to you via this blog. You’ll also be sure to find great information on our hostels and how to see San Diego from an insiders point of view. So stay tuned and look out for our next posting…

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