Periscope: See The World Through Your Phone

Today I've had the pleasure of walking along the streets in Paris, watching an Italian chef prepare pizzas in Milan, and listen to live music in Austin, Texas. I got to join a guy and his friend walking their dogs around DC and listen to Brad Paisley's bandmates rehearse music. All without leaving my home.

I can't believe it took me a few months to learn about Periscope, a live video app owned by Twitter. Periscope, a new app on the scene since March 2015, wanted to build the "closest thing to teleportation."

This app is seriously so cool.

What makes this more of a conversational app is the ability to comment. Viewers can type in questions or comments and they pop up on the bottom of the screen. When I was watching a video in France, I wrote, "Hello from Phoenix!" And the broadcaster responded, "Hello, Phoenix!" So fun.

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When I first heard about this app, I thought it sounded similar to Snapchat. (I love the different cities featured on Snapchat Live! Who's with me on that?!) The difference with Periscope is the live aspect - the ability to show what you're currently doing/recording at that very moment and to interact with viewers.

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This afternoon, I tried it out for myself on my lunch break. I walked around campus and answered questions from the people commenting. It was so cool to see people from around the world watching and joining in on the conversation.

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Safety: There is an option to turn the location of your video on, which I find really cool! One of the first updates with the app was to change the location from the exact point to a larger geographical area - so no need to worry about viewers finding your home address. I also haven't seen any "inappropriate" broadcasts, but there is a way to report it and block users if that were to happen.

Updates: I also learned of a new update as of today, which allows people to sign up for an account using their phone number instead of with Twitter. If you don't have a Twitter and don't want to get one, now you don't have to in order to use Periscope.

What do you think about this app? Comment with your username below (mine is @allyarcher, same as my Twitter) and I'll follow you!

Screenshots are from my experience using the Periscope app; all imagery credit goes to Periscope.

11 Books For Travelers

Whether you're on the road or dreaming of your next trip, a good read is sure to entertain your travel enthusiasm. From fiction to guides, here are 11 books any traveler may enjoy.

1. Beautiful Ruins | Jess Walter

This is one of my all-time favorite books. Beautiful Ruins travels through time and location between 1950s Italy and present-day Hollywood. This story unexpectedly brings together a group very different people in Cinque Terre, Rome, and Los Angeles, plus a few other places I won't mention so as not to spoil the story. I highly recommend this book, especially if you've been to Italy - or dream of stepping foot among the coastal towns of Vernazza and Monterosso.

2. In A Sunburned Country | Bill Bryson

Bryson's commentary on travels to Australia is both hilarious and informative, leaving you with insider knowledge beyond the average guidebook while at the same time making you laugh out loud. My wanderlust for Australia has grown immensely since reading this book.

3. The Alchemist | Paulo Cohelo

I don't care if it's cliche to have The Alchemist on such a list, because this list would not be complete without it. I've read it four times and every time it refreshes life inspiration as well as provides guidance if I'm ever feeling uncertain. If there's any book you should read next, it's this one.

4. Places To Go, People To See | Kate Spade

I got two copies of this book for Christmas last year, and it wasn't even on my list! My family just knows me a little too well: Kate Spade + travel + cool photos from around the world + neon colors. Yup. It's a great coffee table book and provides endless inspiration.

5. The Happiness of Pursuit | Chris Guillebeau

There's an inspiration theme with this list, but that's what travel is all about. This book, written by Chris Guillebeau (who has traveled to every country in the world), is a collection of fascinating case studies of people following their "quests." Guillebeau inserts short travel stories from his own "quest" of visiting every country in the world throughout the book.

6. Lonely Planet's Guide To Travel Photography | Lonely Planet

This is a practical book for both beginner photographers and those looking to learn new skills in terms of travel photography.

7. Crazy Rich Asians | Kevin Kwan

Not my favorite book, though there was a lot of insight into Singapore and Southeast Asian culture that I found very fascinating! There are a variety of settings in Crazy Rich Asians, including Singapore, New York, Indonesia, and Paris.

To-Do List - Reading These Books:

8. Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide | Peter Allison

This book was a Goodreads recommendation in a travel list! It's a collection of supposedly outrageously funny essays from African safaris - from a Botswana safari guide, no less.

9. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance | Robert M. Pirsig

Like The Alchemist, this is another "travel book list cliche" for a reason. With numerous recommendations from friends and bloggers I'll have to read this book someday.

10. Secret Europe: 50 Truly Unforgettable Places For Your Next Trip | Lonely Planet

I've explored a decent amount of Europe (though there's so much I haven't seen!) and I'd love to learn more from this guide about the sides of Europe you don't easily come across.

11. Eat, Pray, Love | Elizabeth Gilbert

I paged through the first fifty pages or so of Eat, Pray, Love my sophomore year of college and couldn't get past the sad beginning. However, after hearing how good it is - and how good the movie is - one day I'll need to see it to the end. Especially now that I've been to Italy, I know I'll enjoy reading more about the Italian portion of the book!

Attending North America's Biggest Pool Party

When I got the opportunity to attend Wet Electric on Saturday for free (a friend won free tickets and gave me one) I was beyond excited to go to what's known as "North America's Biggest Pool Party." The event was held at Big Surf Waterpark in Tempe, AZ on April 25-26, 2015.

Saturday at Wet Electric

We got there around 1 pm. The event ran from 11 am to 9 pm and had an assortment of DJs playing at the wave pool all day, and around 7 pm the headliner Tiësto came on stage. The floating stage was at the far end of the wave pool.

First we stored our stuff in a locker ($10/day) before exploring the event space at the park. We saw there was also a headphone disco ("silent disco") where you could trade your ID temporarily for a set of headphones. We returned to try that out a little later but didn't stay very long.

Food & Drinks

There was a makeshift "bar" set up near the wave pool where you could buy an assortment of drinks, including: $10 mixed drinks, $12 vodka + Monster, $8 Jell-o shots (which came in a plastic syringe - like a "shot"), and some canned beers. There was a decent assortment of drinks/alcohol to choose from, but it wasn't a "full bar" considering it was a makeshift table set up area.

After a few hours of listening to the DJs in the wave pool, we made our way to a food stand and shared a $9 plate of chicken strips and fries. The chicken wasn't very good, but that is to be expected from a water park. No outside food or drinks were allowed into the park (understandable) so we knew there was going to be limited healthy/quality food and it would be inevitable to eat it since we were there for so long.

Tiësto at Wet Electric

Tiësto came on at the end of the night and his set was my favorite from the day. The wave pool was filled with the crowd and every time the beat dropped everyone would start splashing. We were drenched! It's safe to say that you shouldn't worry about doing your hair (or curling it beforehand like I did - ha!). This was definitely a different experience than when I saw Calvin Harris and Alesso at Super Fan Fest earlier this year.

Overall

Looking back on the day, the event was underwhelming and I think I had built it up in my head to be more fun than it actually was. We were waiting to experience the Saturday event to decide if we wanted to purchase tickets for Sunday because we wanted to see Dillon Francis and the other DJs, but decided it was not worth it, despite having a decent ticket price compared to some other concerts.

It would have been worth it to maybe just have come an hour or so before Tiësto - not because the other DJs weren't good, but because the event seemed to drag on.

Also, the bathrooms increasingly became dirtier as the night went on, which is to be expected (and has nothing to do with the event company since it's the location), but I'd rather not experience using those restrooms again. However, I will say that they were well-stocked and never ran out of toilet paper, soap, or paper towels.

Lastly, since it was at a water park there weren't chairs/lounge chairs like you'd have at a typical hotel pool/beach club. There were cabanas you could purchase beforehand as an optional upgrade, however, they didn't seem worth the price and looked kind of cheap. The picnic tables we sat at to eat our food were dirty with trash from the people at the event.

I had expected the event to be more in the likes of a Las Vegas-style beach club, but it was not the case in my opinion.

6 Simple Ways To Ease Into Solo Travel

I never really thought about the concept of solo travel until I was in Italy for my job after college and my roommate brought it up. She said during our Christmas break she wanted to do some solo traveling. She wanted to see the castles in Romania. The thought of traveling solo seemed so foreign to me, considering for our job we took groups of students around Europe, and prior to that when I studied abroad, we were always traveling in groups.

However, the more I traveled, the more I read travel blogs. I was engrossed in stories of times spent abroad and kept seeing the term "solo travel" pop up. My curiosity about traveling solo began to grow and I started looking into it. After all, while I'd love to travel with my friends, it gets to a point where it becomes too difficult to coordinate schedules, budgets, and expectations.

Are you thinking about solo travel? If it excites you in just the slightest, then you should try it.

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You can start easy. Start by going to a new city where you don't know anyone for a day. Have a plan with a bunch of things to do (or even no plan at all - whatever you prefer).

I'd didn't realize it at the time, but when I moved to DC for a summer job I took the first step. While I was going to meet and spend most of time with my co-workers, I didn't know anyone doing the program. I had never been to DC. I didn't know anyone at all. Taking a leap of faith to do something I've always wanted to do led to an unforgettable summer with new friendships, a rewarding job, and a city that holds a dear spot in my heart.

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When I moved to Italy shortly after my summer in DC, I was the first one of our staff to arrive. Like DC, I hadn't met anyone I was working with in Italy either. I was by myself for a few days before everyone else started trickling in. Between the jet lag I was out and about, re-exploring the streets of the city I had studied abroad in two years prior. It was yet another incredible experience and something I'll remember forever.

6 ways to ease into solo travel:

• Move somewhere completely new for a job - this helps you get used to taking risks by traveling somewhere foreign to you where you don't know anyone (living with your co-workers makes the transition smoother)

• Sign up for a tour by yourself with a tour company - you'll meet others in the group and travel together

• Volunteer abroad with a group or organization

• Teach English abroad through a TEFL/TESOL/ESL company that has an orientation for other teachers in the same city you're moving to

• Go somewhere solo and meet up with friends of friends

• Do couchsurfing or air bnb to meet and stay with locals

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Solo travel doesn't have to be lonely. In fact, some people tend to favor it versus going with people they already know. I've only had a full long weekend of full "solo travel" in Paris, but taking "risks" by moving to DC or to Italy by myself previously helped ease that fear. Also, Paris is a very touristy city so I knew I'd meet plenty of others traveling too (and I did!). While I haven't done a huge solo trip for a long period of time, the thought of going somewhere alone doesn't intimidate me like it used to.

I encourage you to consider traveling solo. It can be an amazing, eye-opening experience and is something I think everyone should try at least once in their lives, even if only for a few days. Getting out of your comfort zone allows you to grow, and solo travel - or easing into it like one of the ways above - will certainly do that.

When Nothing Goes Right, Go Left (And Never Settle)

When I decided I didn't want to get a full-time, permanent job right after college, I was going against the grain. Did I have a fear of commitment? Yes. I thought I knew what I wanted up until middle of my senior year, when I realized that this would be the perfect time to travel and explore other options.

A year of experiences is not a year lost

By working as a group leader for high school conferences, I realized I enjoyed working with students. And when I was living in Italy, I was also working and traveling with study abroad students. While I wanted to work in those jobs for the duties the jobs had themselves (and, of course, travel and live in new cities), it made me realize I wanted to incorporate education into my future career.

Traveling and working those jobs didn't make me "behind" my peers in my job search. It can be difficult to not compare yourself to others, but everyone is on a different journey. What might be right for them isn't necessarily what's right for you.

10 Reasons Why You Should Travel After College

While I was a little unsure of what I wanted, I knew what I didn't want - to work in a permanent job right after college. I wanted to travel. During the past year or so, I realized that (besides travel, of course) the education aspect was important to me. I wasn't "wasting" a year by doing the things I did, rather, those experiences led me to the job I have today.

But getting a full-time, permanent job in higher education can be difficult, especially for someone who doesn't have a master's degree and/or many years of experience (aka me).

Do not settle.

If you think it's not right for you, listen to your gut instincts.

I did interviews for jobs and felt bad because I realized I wouldn't want to work there even if I did get the offer. Sometimes it went both ways and I would get the rejection email (or no email at all). Sometimes it would be something I really wanted...and I wouldn't get it. But I kept going, because I was determined to get a job in higher education.

When I received an offer for something I wasn't entirely on board with, I would politely decline. I didn't want to be spending 40+ hours a week doing something not fulfilling when I knew there were opportunities out there that would be fulfilling.

When nothing goes right, go left

Maybe that one "dream" opportunity didn't work out, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other opportunities that are just as great.

I didn't get a social media job for a company in the town I went to school in after graduation. If I had gotten it, I probably would've taken it. But that means I never would've been able to work at leadership conferences or lived in Italy last year - experiences that made me realize that (at least for now) I want to work in education.

When I returned from Italy I didn't get a job that I really wanted. I interviewed with them two separate times and went through five rounds of interviews each time. However, if I had gotten that job, I wouldn't have started working at a restaurant in the meantime (where I met awesome people and learned some new skills) or have gotten my current job working at a university now (which I really enjoy).

When other people drag you down, don't give up

After my job hunt got a little lengthy, I started to get stir crazy. Trust me, last year was a roller coaster of emotions and filled with questioning everything. I knew the type of job I wanted and I was ready to just get it.

This is where the pressure from other people came in. They would say, "You're not supposed to like your job. You need to keep your head down, get a few years of experience under your belt, and maybe then you can actually do what you love. No one loves their first few jobs right out of college." I had multiple people tell me this.

And I need to say: THEY ARE WRONG. Do not settle for a life that's less capable than the one you want to live. Other people are going to be in your ear giving you crap "advice" telling you to take a job you hate just for money - while they sit at their desks miserable with their own jobs.

I don't know about you, but if I'm going to be working 40+ hours a week and sitting in rush hour traffic twice a day, I sure as hell need to enjoy what I'm doing.

Life is meant to be lived. We only get one life and there's no sense in delaying gratification for the hope that someday, fifty years from now, we might get to enjoy it. Enjoy it now. Don't give up. And don't settle.

The 11 Most Common Excuses for Not Traveling Abroad (and why they're weak)

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It's easy to dismiss an awesome idea by coming up with excuses. By "awesome idea" I mean traveling the world. Want to travel but you don't think it's possible? Think again. Here are 11 excuses I've heard time and time again - and why they're weak. Don't let travel intimidate you - take action and just go. If you want to do it, just do it.

The 11 Most Common Excuses for Not Traveling Abroad (and why they're weak)

1. "It's not safe"

Why this argument is weak: I felt safer in Paris at night as a female all by myself than I did out with a group friends at night in my US college town. The saying goes that you're more likely to be safe abroad than you are in your hometown. There are exceptions, of course. Just do your research beforehand, keep your wits about you, and be aware of any scams to look out for. Consider if it's smart or stupid to be out by yourself at night. And try not to get drunk or intoxicated to avoid getting lost or taken advantage of. These are all precautions you'd normally take if you were at home, though.

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2. "What if something goes wrong?"

Why this argument is weak: Things could go wrong whether you're home or abroad. Be prepared before you go.

"Most things I worry about never happen anyway." - Tom Petty

3. "I don't have anyone to go with"

Why this argument is weak: Why would you not go somewhere just because it doesn't work out to go with your friends? What if it's your only chance to go? You wouldn't want to miss out on the opportunity to go somewhere just because you don't have anyone to go with. You'll regret it if you don't go. Especially as you and your friends have increased responsibilities, it's difficult to make the timing align perfectly to travel together.

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See the screenshot above - I have a Facebook group with my best friends from college. No one's able to go to New York with me for Memorial Weekend, despite the tempting low ticket price. I'm not letting that hold me back. I booked the flights anyway. NYC, here I come!

Solo travel seems intimidating at first, but trust me when I say that it's not as scary (or as lonely) as you'd think!

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4. "I don't speak the language"

Why this argument is weak: If you're an English speaker, you will be able to get around just fine in most major cities. English is more often than not a second language and you will be surprised how many people in the world are fluent - or can at least make small talk - in English (plus many other languages!).

Of course it's always important to learn at least a few phrases before you go and to ask people if they speak English before assuming they would. The more rural an area is, the less likely you'll come across those who speak English. But if this is a main concern of yours you should be fine so long as you stick to cities or touristy areas.

5. "It's too expensive"

Why this argument is weak: most people who say this are those that hear the word "travel" and automatically connect it to a five star resort vacation, sitting on an excluded beach, and sipping pina coladas. There's nothing wrong with that type of trip, but with limitless ways to travel you can bet anyone with that mindset hasn't done any research on the topic.

If money is tight, then do what's right for you financially and save up for travel at a later date. You don't have to leave next month; sometimes having a goal (for example: 1 year from now, or when you finish grad school) makes it seem less intimidating.

Also read: How To Save Money For Travel and Ways To Save Money While You Travel

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6. "I'm going to stick out like an 'Ugly American'"

Why this argument is weak: You won't if you do a little bit of research on the cultural customs beforehand, be respectful, and embrace the fact that some cultures are different. As an American who have met other Americans abroad, not everyone fits into the "ugly American" stereotype. You'll still be seen as an American, but you should erase the "ugly" (being ignorant/rude) part of the stereotype. The more you travel the more you understand that not everyone hates Americans...

7. "I don't have time"

Why this argument is weak: If you prioritize travel, you'll find time. It doesn't have to be your number one priority, but it could take precedent over staying home for a long weekend versus going somewhere. If you really want to travel you will find a way to do it.

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8. "I have too much stuff to bring"

Why this argument is weak: Exhibit A: my mom who brings two checked bags for a 5 day trip to Arizona. If you want to bring a bunch of stuff, then by all means do. Though you may be surprised by how little you need and how much room you can save with packing hacks.

9. "It's too complicated"

Why this argument is weak: Use the many resources available to help you get started. You could plan it on your own with the help from blogs and travel websites (Google anything you have questions about), by asking friends for advice, or by reading guidebooks.

To make it much easier you could book your trip with an agent or join a tour group. This takes all the planning out of it so you can relax and enjoy your trip. There are a number of tour companies for people aged around 18-30: Contiki, EF College Break, and G Adventures to name a few. You can sign up solo or with friends!

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10. "I'm too young/too old to travel"

Why this argument is weak: You're never too young or too old to see the world. Traveling when you're younger allows you advantages like being more physically fit with less potential for injuries, able to stay up later and bounce back from jet lag or drinking, and (potentially) less responsibilities like not having to worry about children.

However, you shouldn't let age deter you. I've seen older people out traveling having a great time just like anyone else. Maybe you want to wait until you've settled down, have some money saved up, or are retired. Just don't wait too long to the point of regret. My motto? Don't postpone happiness! If you want to go now, go.

11. "I don't want to leave the comfort of my own country"

Why this argument is weak: Everybody likes being comfortable. But seeing the Eiffel Tower in person for the first time is 10000x better than seeing the fake one on the Las Vegas strip. Living life means taking risks, and taking risks outside your comfort zone allow you to grow. Is your dream destination worth the hype? If you never go, you'll never know.

10 Things Travel Taught Me

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It can be difficult to sum up how travel changes you or what you learn from travel.

I feel like a lot of the time this happens when people asked how your trip abroad was. When I got back from my study abroad program a few years ago, all I could really say was, "It was amazing," because it was amazing. It's difficult to describe it in more detail to someone who doesn't share that common ground.

But as the years have gone on and I've been able to travel a little more, I've been able to reflect on what I've learned so far.

1. People are very similar

Humans have the same basic needs: to be fed, to have shelter, to be loved. We want to surround ourselves with positive people, friends, and family. We want to better the lives of others. We want to learn and to grow.

People are very similar, even if their ways of eating, living, or loving are vastly different than your own. They don't do things in a "weird" way, they just do things differently. And that is okay.

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2. The world isn't as scary as you think

It's important to keep your wits about you while you travel (just as you would in any city) and to research the cities you're visiting beforehand to be aware of tourist scams. However, most people are nice people, and the world isn't as scary as you think.

In Paris, I encountered girls asking me if I spoke English, thrusting their "petitions" (scams) into my face, but I simply ignored them. However, there were quite a few people I encountered as a solo female traveler that weekend showed nothing but kindness.

Also read: Solo Travel Stories That Confirmed My Faith In Humanity

3. Your appearance doesn't define you

When you travel, you can wear what you want, put on makeup if you want, or do your hair if you want. You'll never see these people again, so what does it matter if you decide to not make your hair perfect or wear the same thing two days in a row?

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4. ...But it is still smart to respect customs, especially in terms of dress

When you travel you're likely to come across religious locations. In Italy, you're required to cover your shoulders, knees, and toes in churches. In Turkey, females must wear a headscarf in mosques.

In general, knowing the cultural clothing customs will not only help you blend in, but show the locals you care enough about their culture while you're spending time in their country.

5. You can communicate with body language just as much with words

It's best to know at least a few phrases in the foreign language before you go and to attempt to use them. However, unless you're fluent, there will be parts of your conversation with others that sound entirely like gibberish. I've had a number of conversations where body language and/or the usage of hand signals were the majority of the conversation.

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6. I'm better at directions than I thought (and other soft skills)

Navigation was never my strong suit. When I got my driver's license at age 16 I was constantly getting lost...in the city I grew up in. Traveling forced me to be aware of where I was going and to be able to find my way around. Slowly but surely, I became more confident with directions to the point where I was leading tours for my job in Europe to cities I hadn't been to before.

When you travel you learn so much that is applicable to everyday life. Independence, communication, and cultural understanding are a few soft skills one tends to pick up abroad.

7. You can learn more from the world than you can from a textbook

Going off of the above point - travel makes you wiser beyond your years. Going to school isn't something to be taken lightly, and even if you build off your education, there is so much to learn when you travel. You get life experience that you could never get by reading a book or watching a movie.

8. Material things aren't important

The more I travel, the more I realize I don't need a ton of material things. When you're traveling with just a small suitcase of possessions, it becomes clearer that you truly don't need a ton of stuff. Growing up on vacations I used to love to take home souvenirs. Now I'd rather spend it on experiences versus tacky trinkets.

I'll cherish the memories of the times I spent on a boat cruising through the Mediterranean or clinking beer steins with Germans at Oktoberfest more than snow globes that say "Cannes, France" or "Munich, Germany."

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9. Give it a second chance

It's important to give things another shot, because not everything is perfect. I fell ill with a terrible stomach ache a couple days before my weekend in Switzerland - a country I was extremely excited to visit as it held a high spot on my bucket list. I also lost my debit card in Turkey the weekend prior and had to borrow cash from friends throughout the weekend. And to top it off, it was really foggy, so even if I had had money to go skydiving, the weather conditions weren't safe.

Needless to say, the weekend in Switzerland was my least favorite trip in Europe.

But it wasn't Switzerland's fault. There were just a number of factors and unfavorable coincidences that all happened at the same time. I'll be sure to give Switzerland another chance if the opportunity arises. You can't totally judge something entirely based on one experience.

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10. Getting out of your comfort zone allows you to grow

One of my college professors once said something along the lines of, "When you look back at a past relationship, you have three periods: the comfort of being in the relationship, the break-up and grieving portion - which is undoubtedly the toughest part - and the part where you move on from it. Which part did you learn the most? After the breakup, when everything seems unfamiliar and tough and scary. You're out of your comfort zone. But after you've gone through it, you'll look back and realize that the point when you were out of your comfort zone was when you learned the most."

Moving to DC (a city I'd never been to) the summer after college for a job was out of my comfort zone. Moving to Italy at the end of that summer to work in Europe was even more out of my comfort zone. Leading a group of students by myself from the thermal baths through the Hungarian metro was, you guessed it, out of my comfort zone. But I did it. I pushed past the fear and got through it, and learned so much from doing so.

After all, facing your fears is the only way to get over them.