Author: nxw77

Once I stepped into the Democracy Works Podcast website, one podcast caught my eye almost immediately. Titled, “Will COVID-19 Create A One-Issue Campaign”, I had to listen. I feel this is the begging question in society. It’s almost as if the world has entirely stopped, and all we know is the coronavirus. The podcast starts out discussing how COVID-19 has affected all forms of the political campaign and politics in general. 

 

The commentators all start by discussing how one run’s a campaign during an epidemic, which is seemingly a great question. It’s crazy because we live a society that lives off social media and the internet. However, still to this day, campaigning is very much face to face with meet and greets and rallies. It’s inspiring how candidates are changing their campaigns and attempting to connect with voters. However, as mentioned, the options to do so are limited. I know personally, my mother is pissed when Trump’s campaign team calls our house phone during dinner time. Luckily, the presidential candidates have more funding and can advocate through other platforms.

 

However, for local candidates, getting the attention and reaching voters has become even more challenging compared to the presidential candidates in terms of funding and means to reach out to the public. Part of this struggle comes from the fact that many local media stations are also suffering and are typically only covering news around the pandemic (for this is what many “want” to hear about and thus brings in the views). While listening, I’m afraid of what the future holds after the pandemic has passed in terms of where our government will stand. In terms of local government, do people even know who they are voting for? Do they know what candidates stand for? In terms of the presidential race, as mentioned, Trump is still able to “connect” each day with the people and squeeze in his campaign. Where Biden is sadly at an unfair advantage for his rallies and other campaign tactics, have been cut off. Thus, he is naturally having a harder time being able to connect with the people. I fear that at this next election, many will not vote, especially if voting is completed through the mail. 

 

It’s refreshing to hear that local government officials aren’t sticking with there party because they are supposed to are rather doing what they feel is right, even if it means breaking away from the president. Such as Republican Mike Hogan, who has spoken against the president and hasn’t been afraid to ask for more resources and not necessarily follow the “stereotypical party” response. He took a progressive step away from the controlling hand of the president. I believe this is how our government should work. Republican or Democrat, officeholders, should not be afraid to speak up to the government and express what they feel is best for their state. Since this podcast was crafted before April began, some events have taken place that I further reflected on while listening.

During Deliberation Nation, I attended a third deliberation called “Truth or D.A.R.E. Analyzing government intervention of America’s drug epidemic.” I began to type this reflection over spring break, but lost track of it during that time of uncertainty and change and recalled the post after Dr. O’Hara’s gracious email on extra credit.

This deliberation, similar to my group’s deliberation and the second deliberation I attended, was heavily attended by students in CAS 138T and lacked people from the general public. I was interested in this deliberation because I very clearly remember the D.A.R.E. program in my elementary school and learning about drugs and alcohol in 5th grade.

This group held their deliberation in a very similar format to my groups with three clear and relevant approaches. This set up was helpful with the flow and separating the three methods clearly from one another. The first approach was for government-sponsored drug education programs. The second approach discussed criminal penalties and legalization, begging the question of what the legal system will make society the safest and just. The third and final approach discussed government-sponsored rehabilitation and shifting the light to favoring rehabilitation over punishment.

Something I found extraordinarily comical and helpful was the one moderator brought in the D.A.R.E. bear, Daryl, and told us a story about how he one the bear after winning an essay contest on peer pressure. After this, students opened up and discussed if governments should intervene with drug education programs in public schools, I voiced my opinion on how if tactics changed and this program was given possibly in 7th or 8th grade the program would make more sense. Most 5th graders are still relatively naive and innocent to the actual and harmful effects of drugs and alcohol.

In the second approach, the moderator asked us if we were in favor of legalization, illegalization, injection sites, or decriminalization. Hoping to be a medical professional someday and keeping an open mind, I chimed in to the conversation and talked about the injection sites as a safer means of drug use. I also mentioned how drugs in the government world are often seen as black or white policy, and rarely is anything in the grey when finding a solution. Something that wasn’t mentioned and possibly thought about was if any students had drug problems at home. Unlike our deliberation, we were not asked about why we attended.

In the third approach, the moderators did a great job of clearly discussing the pros and cons. However, in this approach, I think the cons outweigh the pros. Since this approach was very much government-sponsored and government “deciding,” I found it would be challenging to have such an enormous shift in the government’s attitude towards drug use and abuse. However, one of the benefits mentioned that I found strong was how, under government supervision, users could help give away dealers. Though, I still believe this relationship between drug users and government is unrealistic.

Overall, I think this deliberation did a great job coming up with solutions for this topic and had a wide range of ideas. Some of their approaches, such as approach two, were solutions I had never put much thought into. My perspective for sure changed for the better following this deliberation.

This being the last passion blog post of this semester, but indeed all of the freshman year (very sad), I cannot help but wonder what these last few weeks of the semester will be like (virtually) and what feelings they may bring. Just like on my travels, as the previous days of adventure approach, I’m often out of sorts about having to leave, but also happy to return to my home sweet home. Since we are all from different places and to my knowledge nobody else in our little blog family group is from Pittsburgh, I’d like to tell you about my home. Both Sewickley (where I live specifically) and greater Pittsburgh. 

As I often do, here are some fun facts about Pittsburgh for each of you. 

Carly – In terms of soccer, Pittsburgh has its professional team known as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, and they play at Highmark Stadium. Now, this stadium is wimpy like the ones you have seen, but from the stands, you can see the entirety of the Pittsburgh skyline, which is pretty cool. 

Emma – In terms of music, we are famously known for being the hometown of Mac Miller. (And of course Wiz Kalifa and his song Black and Yellow.) 

Syndey – In 1985, Walt Disney brought his Sky Bus idea, located in Tomorrow Land, to the Allegheny County Fair (Pittsburgh is located in Allegheny County). 

Melisa – In your blogs, you often always mention the exotic food of wondrous places. Well, when in Pittsburgh, you must try a Primani Brother’s sandwich, Pamela’s pancakes, and of course, pierogies. 

Kirk – Pittsburgh is filled with history. Pittsburgh has played an important part in the early French and Indian War, to the Revolutionary War, to the infamous Whiskey Rebellion and the American Civil War with its secretive Underground Railroad stops.

Outside of Pittsburgh in the town of Sewickley is where I live. Sewickley was founded in 1838, and often, many ask about the name of this small, rustic town. Well, Sewickley is thought by some to be a Native American word meaning “sweet water.” Back during the industrial revolution, the city itself had terrible pollution. Many of the steel magnets, including the Watson’s, Carnegie’s, Mellons, and Scaife’s, had weekend and summer homes in Sewickley. 

Sewickley is filled with small business from a bookstore to a clay cafe, a yarn shop, multiple bakeries, too many coffee shops, and lots of and lots of shopping. If you have ever been to Salud in State College(a smoothie and juice place), the original shop is located in Sewickley. There are also many restaurants. However, my favorite is the Slippery Mermaid, an exotic sushi restaurant. 

Within but a little outside of Beaver Street (the main street), there are many different people parks and dog parks. One of my favorites is the Fern Hollow Nature Center, a beautiful place surrounded by a magnificent meadow. One of my favorite things to do in the spring and summer is to go to Fern Hollow at dusk and watch the Sewickley sunsets. There is so much more to say about my little home. I hope you are all doing well at home. Remember the good things and try not to dwell on the bad. 

This past weekend my family and I watched a movie on Netflix titled The King. Shakespeare composed this historical drama about Henry V (played by the love of my life Timothée Chalamet). In this movie, there were many castles, and my mother mentioned the time we stayed in a castle.

This post will be a little different, for this castle had so much history and other spooky things going on that I’d love to share. I will talk about Wales as well but also dive into Ruthin Castle. 

Wales is a part of the United Kingdom and snuggly hugging England. The people there (especially deepening on where you are located) speak English, and some speak Welsh. The capital city is Cardiff, and the country is famous for its mountains, sheep, lamb, cheese, and castles. It’s beautiful, green, and lush (it also rains A LOT). 

Well touring through the United Kingdom, we first flew into London-Heathrow and made our way through England, then Scotland, and final Wales. While in Wales, we visited the town Llangollen, one of the country’s most picturesque villages. After spending the day in the town, we made the trip our to where we would be staying, Ruthin Castle. 

The trip was beautiful; the long roads lined with ancient stone walls were once used to separate land between rival families. Due to the English Empire ruling, there are thousands of castles scattered around Wales to prevent the uprising of the Welsh people. One of these castles, the Ruthin Castle in North East Wales, was built in the late 13th century, and in the 1600s, the castle was under siege for 11 weeks before they surrendered.

In 1923 the castle was renovated to become the first private hospital and specialized in internal infections. In the 1950s, this hospital became a hotel, and we were going to stay the night. To this day, it still stands as a hotel and spa. When approaching the castle, you will first notice the castle’s arches and the resident peacocks. Yes, the bird. Once entering this beautiful castle, you feel as if you have been teleported back into time. 

Now, you see, there is a little secret about Ruthin Castle. It is said to be haunted by one of the late owner’s wives, Lady Grey. The story goes the late owner was having an affair with a peasant girl. Once discovering this, Lady Grey killed her husband’s mistress (with an ax) and was subsequently tried of murder and sentenced to death. Since that day, she is said to haunt the castle wandering through the banquet hall and castle battlements. The castle is also known to be home to the spirits of many soldiers. Where these parts of the castle are prone to mysterious noises, footsteps, and inexplicable changes in temperature, this castle has even appeared on Most Haunted. I’m terrified of ghosts. 

Overall, I loved walking around the ruins of what used to be the walls and hidden passages of the castle. If you have the chance to stay at a castle, take it, make sure to check up on any available history to make the trip a little more spooky.

My high school at home is currently on spring break. Thus, during this past week, I’ve been reflecting on breaks from the past. However, one has been stuck on my mind. Sophomore year of high school, I was to take the trip of a lifetime, a trip with my Spanish class. My Spanish teacher, Senor Haboush, has taken 20+ trips with his classes over the years, and this was going to be the final trip. We were headed to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. We checked our bags, got through security, and were supposed to have an hour and a half wait, but instead, we waited seven hours until our flight finally canceled. You probably don’t recall this, but that day in Atlanta, the weather was horrific, and over 1,000 flights were canceled. Due to our large group, it was merely impossible for all of us to make it, and tragically the trip was canceled. 

Luckily, my family was heading down to Mexico, and going in my place was one of my brother’s best friends, Travis. Since they hadn’t left yet, with some cussing and threats, my mother was able to secure me a flight to Puerto Vallarta. We stayed at the Villa Del Palmar Vallarta, an all-inclusive resort on the water. We spent most of the time at the resort relaxing, which is uncommon for my family, but was much needed this spring break.

The beach was beautiful and filled with vendors trying to sell anyone and everyone jewelry, arts, and marijuana (I’m not kidding). The food at the resort was phenomenal, and each night they had an exceptional performance and a themed dinner. My family’s favorite night was the traditional Mexican cuisine, partially due to the dancing contest they held that night. Travis was selected to go up on stage and compete against other men (twice his age). The winner was rewarded with a bottle of tequilla…lone and behold Travis won.   

There are many things to do outside of the resorts in Puerto Vallarta. One thing you must do is take a stroll down in the old town. Here there will be hundreds of gift shops, artists on the street, music, and much more. Stop in Tierra Huichol! This shop is famous for its beaded art and paintings. Another great place to stop for similar art and souvenirs is Peyote People. 

In terms of activities, go sailing! You can pay a small price to have someone take you sailing on a catamaran. My parents used to sail competitively back in the day, so we just rented the boat, and my dad maned it. This was spectacular! The water is warm, and the breeze is phenomenal. With that, I must recommend a snorkeling trip. But be careful! There are jellyfish, and I was stung by one (not fun). 

We also took a day-long Tequilla and town tour, which is a great way to learn about the history and see historical sites. In terms of the Tequilla, yeah, that part was more fun for my parents. 

 

 

In all of this chaos and social distancing, I often find myself wondering to faraway places. (Often, these places too are facing COVID-19 head-on.) Over spring break, my family and I were in Orlando and spent a magical day at Disney. Twice we rode, “It’s a Small World.” Many times throughout my life, I have had that exact thought; however, I have never believed it to be so real until now. When we came to Switzerland, I couldn’t help but think of my time there with my family and how I wanted to go back. Currently, despite the outbreak, flights to Switzerland are still relatively expensive. 

Switzerland is home to swiss chocolate (lol Swiss Miss), Lake Geneva, the Matterhorn, pocket knives, the Swiss Alps, skiing, hiking, cheese fondue, Rolex watches, and much more. The country has four official languages (German, French, Romansh, and Italian), and the capital city is Bern. When my family and I traveled to Switzerland, we had the opportunity to stay in Zermatt, the town at the base of the Matterhorn, Lucerne, and visit Lake Geneva for the day. While in Montreux, visiting Lake Geneva, we took a castle tour of Chateau De Chillon. This crystal blue lake is breathtaking. If you are a Queen lover, there is a statue of Freddie Mercury, for he loved this part of Switzerland and often said, “If you want peace of soul, come to Montreux.”The band’s song, the lake’s beauty, inspired a Winter’s Tale.  

On to Zermatt, possibly one of my favorite towns in all of Europe. To get to Zermatt, we had to take a train ride aboard the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn from Tasch to the pedestrian village of Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The actual roads to Zermatt are closed to public traffic, and the town itself is car-free. While in Zermatt, we stayed in the Ambassador Hotel, a hotel that gives you a warm swiss vibe. You must walk around this beautiful town and through the Hinterdorf, a warren of narrow lanes, weathered old wooden chalets, barns, stables, and storehouses. These buildings date back from between the 16th and 18th centuries and allow you to see history right in front of your eyes. While back in the main strip of town, there is plenty of shopping for chocolate, swiss army knives, and Rolex watches. If you have the time, take a gondola/cable car to the base of the mountain and visit the Matterhorn Museum.  

Finally, we made our way to Lucerne by traveling through the scenic Grimsel Pass (Hello, carsick Nina!). Lucerne is famous for its medieval architecture and centries old wooden pedestrian bridge. This bridge, known as Chapel Bridge, is the oldest covered wooden bridge in all of Europe (dating back to the 14th century) and is a must-see. After taking a stroll through Old Town down the cobbled streets and through the tall painted houses. To end your day just right, stop in a restaurant for some classic and delicious swiss cheese (and chocolate) fondue.

When I was young, my parents stressed the importance of seeing this world’s natural wonders. More specifically, nature’s wonders throughout the United States. To be more straight forward, I’m referring to the National Parks.

This past summer, my family’s german exchange student, Christopher, and his girlfriend, Caroline, came to visit us, and we took them on a classic road trip through four states and seven National Parks. The journey began in Denver, Colorado, the mile-high city. From here, we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park (However, we ended up going up a day later due to the inclement snower weather in the middle of June).

 

From Rocky Mountain National Park, we drove through Wyoming. A beautiful yet extremely flat state. Like possibly the flattest state, even flatter than Ohio. However, Wyoming is beautiful and vast. Here, we stopped in Thermopolis for a driving break and visited a Hot Springs Park. Here, we soaked in warm natural hot springs that are known to have many health benefits. Warning: the hot springs smelled like rotten eggs at first, but you quickly get over this once you feel the warmth. After relaxing, we hopped back in the car and continued our drive to Cody, Wyoming. Cody is close to one of the main entrances to Yellowstone National Park. While in Cody, you must visit Proud Cut Saloon. This saloon will quite literally take you back into the wild west.

Then on to beautiful, wild, and incredible Yellowstone! Old Faithful is a MUST, along with the Grand Prismatic Springs, and of course, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. When taking a break from hiking, you must try huckleberry ice cream. So yummy! In Yellowstone, you will see so much wildlife. Especially bison…big bison, medium bison, baby bison, all BISON. And if you are feeling extra bison-y, you can grab a bison burger pretty much anywhere and everywhere.

While visiting Yellowstone, we stayed in West Yellowstone, Montana. Located right outside of the park, there is a bear sanctuary where you grab a look of some cute grisly and black bears up close and personal. From here, we then traveled back into Wyoming and visited the Grand Tetons National Park. The Grand Tetons are a sight to see. If possible, hike the trail around the beautiful Jenny Lake. Right above Grand Tetons National Park in Jackson Hole. We sadly did not get to spend much time here, but on past trips, Jackson itself is filled many different activities, such as visiting the town square.

After driving through the Grand Tetons, we made our way into Utah, specifically Park City, Utah. Not only is there a lot of hiking, but there is also Utah Olympic Park you can visit. Main Street Park City is cute beyond words, and lots of things are within walking distance. At the Olympic Park in the Summer, you can visit the Olympic museum and even watch future Olympians train and compete. I’ll stop here for now, but we are only about halfway through this trip.

Italy is the home of pizza, pasta, fashion, and all things limoncello. Italy is filled with some of the most fascinating and historical places on this earth. Visiting Italy is rarely a one-time thing. Instead, it usually takes multiple trips to capture even part of the country. On my most recent voyage to Italy, my parents decided to visit possibly one of the most visited places in Italy, Venice. Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is a place entirely out of this world. The floating city itself has received the coined names of the “City of Water,” the “City of Bridges,” and the “City of Mask”…all things that make Venice Venice. This city comprised of 100 small islands has no roads, and the main form of transportation is via the canals with boats or gondolas. There is a multitude of things to do and explore in this Renaissance and Gothic place.

First things first, depending on where you enter the city, you may or may not get dropped off in front of the most famous sight, St. Mark’s Basilica, located in the famous Piazza San Marco Square. St. Mark’s Basilica opened in 1094 and is well known for its Italo-Byzantine architecture, attracting over 25 million tourists each year.

It is the home to some of the world’s most angelic mosaics crafted over eight centuries ago and made of gold. If you want to take a look or tour inside the church, you will need to make sure to have your shoulders covered and bring a pair of pants to cover your legs. In case you forget your pants, scarfs are sold outside the church to make a long skirt. Also located within the Piazza San Marco Square is the Doge’s Palace. If you decided to visit the Palace, I highly recommend taking a tour! This Palace is dreamy, and the best part is you get to stand in the infamous Bridge of Sighs while hundreds of tourists look up at you (lol).

Don’t get me wrong, the sight-seeing is breathtaking, but the food, the food is mouthwatering even thinking about it. If you are looking for traditional, wood-fired Italian pizza, you’ll only be able to find it at two restaurants in Venice. Venice isn’t allowed to have wood fires. However, there is an exception for two restaurants, one being the Rossopomodoro Venezia. Not only do they have great pizza and pasta, but excellent gnocchi, fish, and more (including wine and sangria).

If you are shopping for souvenirs, you should know that Venice is famous for glass blowing art. Hundreds of little shops sell anything and everything made of glass. On top of that, Italy as a whole is renowned for its leather and leather goods. In all different textures and colors, find the purse, belt, wallet, or coin purse of your liking.

There is so much more to do and experience, but if you can, you must ride in a gondola. Yes, you will feel like so much like a tourist, but this is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Oddly due to lack of snow, I seemingly want it to snow here. And when I think of snow, perfect powdery snow, my mind travels to South Lake Tahoe. In my mind, Tahoe gives me a similar warm feeling of home. Growing up, my family’s spring break trips were often to Tahoe for some quality skiing and west-coast sunshine. Now when I was younger, sometimes I hated this because come spring break I just wanted to travel somewhere warm like all of my other friends, but every year my mother explained how she liked the cold. Looking back, I’m so thankful for her to choose Tahoe. 

Lake Tahoe as a whole is straddled between California and Nevada and is the largest freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada. Tahoe 71 miles long is famous for its “beaches” and ski resorts that surround it. To get to Tahoe, my family often flies into San Fransico to spend a day in the city before making the three and a half-hour drive to Tahoe. Some quick must-dos in San Fran is walking on the Golden Gate Bridge, dine at the Cliff House restaurant for a breathtaking view of the ocean, visit the original Ghirardelli Square, and if time allows you MUST boat to Alcatraz. Once the day is done, grab an In-N-Out burger and head to Tahoe. 

 

The drive to South Lake Tahoe is one of the most scenics yet car-sickening drives that I love dearly. But once you are there, you know you’re there. Being a ski town, there a bunch of places to stay in California, on/near the California Nevada border, and a few more in Nevada. We often stay at the Marriott’s Timber Lodge, for there is a gondola that takes you right to Heavenly Ski Resort. 

Let’s talk about skiing. In the area nearby, there is prime skiing at Heavenly, Kirkwood, Squaw Valley, and more. From all ski resorts, while you shred down the slopes, you overlook the beautiful, bright blue lake, the magnificent pine trees that surround it, and the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. Squaw Valley, in my mind, is a must; part of the reason is that it was the home of the 1960 winter Olympics. While taking a break from the slopes, you can cruise through the history in Olympic Museum. 

Not only is there skiing, but there are also fantastic hiking and must-see sights. This includes Tahoe’s Emerald Bay, which you can take a 2 hour Cruise along on the M.S. Dixie II. You can also walk around the lake along the “sandy beaches”. Take the Bayview Trailhead for a view like this:  

And if you are into gambling, you’re in luck! Every time we visit Tahoe, my family takes the drive across the border to Nevada to eat at the Timber’s Restaurant, located in the Lakeside Inn and Casino. The food is relatively good, but we go more for the experience of rustic, tradition, and historical feel of Tahoe. 

If you ever get the chance to visit South Lake Tahoe, GO! 

 

Throughout this dreary week, my mind has recently been traveling to the glorious spring break. Four weeks out, all I can think about is my last spring break to Kauai. Kauai is one of the eight Hawaiian islands and is named for its beauty as “The Garden Isle.” I have been fortunate to visit five of the eight Hawaiian islands, but my family’s favorite without question is Kauai. From all the lush green to the breathtaking Na Pali Coast, the famous Hawaiian Mai Tai and surplus amounts of sun and fresh sushi…what’s there not to love! 

Given that Kauai runs on Hawaii Standard Time, quite literally “Hawaiian time,” the entirety of the state is either 5 or 6 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. (Hawaii doesn’t have Daylight Savings). When you first land in Kauai, you’ll be flying into the island’s main airport, Lihue Aiport, possibly the most beautiful, laid back airport I have ever flown into. From the minute you step off the plane, you can smell the ocean air, smell the makhana flowers, feel the warm, vibrant sun, and hear traditional calming Hawaiian music. 

When in Kauai (any island really), you MUST go to the Smith Family Garden Luau. Hands down the best Luau on the island. Here you will have a traditional Hawaiian imu feast, be served endless Mai Tai’s, and experience an elaborate show telling the story of the Pacific islands through hula and music. 

If you enjoy the outdoors, your next stop should be to Waimea Canyon. Waimea canyon is 3,000 feet deep, 10 miles long, and overlooks part of the magnificent Na Pali Coast. You can hike along the canyon ridge free of snakes, but not free of the sun. SUNSCREEN and water are musts. Before you can hike, you have to drive up to the canyon through windy unmarked roads. But along the way, little vendors are selling traditional Hawaiian snacks and goodies. Try the malasadas, which little deep-fried donut-like pastries often filled with cream. And if you are truly daring, take a bite into a spam musubi. 

Following the adventurous trend, something my family partook in and that we all loved was an ATV Tour through Princeville Ranch that included zip-lining and waterfalls. But the ATVing was, without a doubt, the best part. Below is a picture after my brother drove through an unexpected mud puddle. 

And lastly, for the coffee lovers, Kauai is home to Kauai Coffee. The warm Pacific sun, rich volcanic earth, abundant mountain rain, and the cool trade winds of Kaui create the ideal conditions for growing coffee. Outstanding coffee, rich in flavor, Kauai Coffee Company is the largest coffee grower in the U.S. They have flavors ranging from chocolate macadamia nut to coconut caramel crunch. You can visit the estate and try as much as the coffee as you would like. 

There is so much more to Kauai that I’d love to share: shaved ice, the beaches, surfing, the waterfalls, snorkel spots, helicopter tours, and much much more. But for now, good friend, Aloha (which means both hello and goodbye).