My Fall 2008 Work

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Check out my video on how to get started with international travel.



After a recent trip to Detroit for the PRSSA National Conference I created a podcast about the keynote speaker, Craig Newmarks, address. Listen here or download.



I also created a newsletter about the trip.



My friend Marissa and I and I created a Web site for a salad bar restaurant we made up.

My first project for MCom 63 was an image editing project I completed in Photoshop. I wanted to be a pirate!

My blog experience

Hi there. As the semester is wrapping up I have begun to reflect on my experiences. I realize that I have not posted as much as I should have. In hindsight I believe that is based on the topic of my blog. I chose a topic that I was very interested in but not actually personally knowledgeable or a personal resource of information about. I think I would have been better off writing about something I personally know more about. By doing that I would have been able to post more easily and generate content. I plan to start a new blog with a new topic theme that I am more personally experienced with. Sorry for the lack of engagement. Please don't take it as a reason not to go on an international trip - that should always be something you strive for!

Unexpected results

Recently I went on a trip to Detroit, Michigan for the Public Relations Student Society of America National Conference. While the main purpose of my trip was to learn more about the field of public relations and network with peers and professionals from across the United States it is a given that some time on these trips will be spent for personal leisure.

When I first found out that the National Conference was being held in Detroit I was kind of bummed. The city does not have the best reputation - as many of my family, friends and coworkers reminded me. So as I prepared I kept in mind that the trip was for education and that was what I should focus on but I left an open mind about the city itself.

I was pleasantly surprised! Detroit, which is just across the Detroit River from Canada, actually has a lot of great buildings and fun sites. Our conference was held in the Renaissance Center in downtown Detorit where the General Motors global headquarters is housed. The special building stands tall over the city and is easily the most visible in the skyline along the river. One evening we had a awards cemermony and social at the Detroit Institute of Arts, which was really great. And everytime I moved around the city by foot, bus or rail I found something new I liked.

The point is, when looking at destinations don't always take others opinions on as your own. It is important to travel and make your own judgements. Go to a city with an open mind and positive attidude, explore and find the gems. You may just be pleasantly surprised.

Think about the money... there

I'm sure I don't have to tell you to think about money when you are considering planning a big trip. Cost is usually the first thing people think about when they want to plan a trip or do any other activity.

What you might not consider is the exchange rate and how much your money will be worth in another country. Before deciding where you want to go you should look at a currency converter and find out how much money you will have to work with in your destination place. I think it is pretty well known thank Europe is very expensive for Americans right now, but maybe you don't know that costs of daily living for Australia are much more managable. Check out the conversion for Latin American and Asian countries they may be more suitable for your budget.

Another thing you might want to try and research is how much common items will cost in your destination place. When I first arrived in Australia I was surprised how much common items there cost, especially food and electronics. I've heard similar experiences from friends who have traveled to Europe. They were surprised how much they had to pay for food when they ate out as well as cost for clothes, toiletries and electronics. Once you've chosen your destination and booked your ticket you should come up with a strategy about how you will spend your money while you are traveling.

I hope these tidbits help you start thinking realistically about your next big trip!

My Responsibilities as a Blogger

Writing this blog is a great opportunity for me to learn about new media and how to communicate with specific groups using new forms of communication. I understand that with this opportunity comes responsibility. These are some of my responsibilities while maintaining this blog:

• Deliver new and insightful content and/or thoughts that my audience probably would not have seen or considered if I had not posted about it
• Cite sources with accuracy and give credit where credit is deserved
• Write with the audience in mind

I look forward to learning and writing over the next couple of months!