The Students' Lifestyle

When I was a little girl, I remember very specifically asking my mother why we lived in the United States. My parents had friends who lived overseas. These people enchanted me with gifts from afar and stories of things I couldn't imagine existed. But, I guess I didn't know much existed outside of my home city. I was obsessed with the prospect of adventures abroad. I would make elaborate plans for my future and all of the places I would travel, always receiving an endearing eyeroll and words of encouragement from my parents. Travel became a goal of mine. And I knew that if I was going to do it, it would have to be on my own. So, when I was 17, I found a way.

When I was 17, I made the declaration to my parents that the following summer, I would be going abroad. They sighed in a sort of "yeah, right" way, but told me that if I could find a way to do it, I should. And so, as a motivated person does, I did. I found a volunteer group that would take me to Hong Kong. At age 18, I went half way across the world with a group of strangers, and I fell in love.

My goal then shifted from simply travel to living abroad. I wanted to make a life for myself in a place I didn't belong. Walking the streets of Hong Kong, feeling completely engulfed in a new culture was a sensation I was willing to chase as far as it would take me. I ventured on to college and began life studying International Politics. I made mental lists of all the places I wanted to live. My goals became greater and more solidified, and my lust for adventure only grew.

Of course, I studied abroad. In my opinion, every person should. Due to various circumstances, I was led to Ulsan University's Ulsan International Program. In the summer of 2014, when I  got on that plane to South Korea, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I didn't know anything about Korean culture or language. I hadn't heard of the city of Ulsan. But more than anything, I completely underestimated how that experience would change my life. 

I can confidently say that the time I spent in the Ulsan International Program is one of the best times of my life. I spent the summer traveling around Korea with a group of equally as curious people, having adventures so crazy and experiences so growing that my life was deeply impacted. 

That's the thing about travel, though. It can be expensive or scary or overwhelming. But the reward that comes from that risk is greater than anything a person can buy. Those memories and the impact made in your life, and the impact that you can make in the lives of others, is something that can never be taken away from you.

Dancing on the street with a random Chinese lady in Kowloon. Busking in a park in Macau on a Sunday morning. Staying out all night in Itaewon. I often think of the millions of memories I've made on the adventures I've had and my heart feels incredibly full. 

I am now 22, and my dream has come true. I am an English teacher in Ulsan, South Korea. The process to get here wasn't easy, but it was absolutely worth it. Everyday is an adventure for me. Even if all I do is go to work, go to the grocery store, and go home in a day, I have still had an amazing and growing cultural experience. It's not perfect. Being away from home is hard. But just as they did when I was a young girl, my family is supportive of my goals and proud that I have already achieved so much.

I often walk around my neighborhood, and bask is amazement at where I am. The risks have been immense, but the reward has been greater. Because the thing I am given everyday is something I will treasure the rest of my life. The adventure that I am on is great, and I cannot wait to see where it takes me next. 

Be Well Rested

I know some of you are already going to be tired from Thanksgiving parades and even early Thanksgiving lunch since you'll be missing out on dinner, but be sure you're well rested to start the day. Nothing is going to stop this day from being a never ending slaughter of deal seeking customers and you'll want to have enough energy to put up with it all.

Tara Simone 

There have been a lot of changes in my life in the past year and I'm honestly thankful for all of them. But these are the ones I'm most thankful for. 

New Kid on the Block

My little man has been my a source of pride, joy, and frustration in the past year. I knew I wanted to be a mom, but I never knew it would be this soon. 

Going Back to Cali

 I was almost two years old when my mom packed up everything and moved to San Bernardino, Ca. Now almost 20 years later I'm back in Cali with my own family. I'm happy to be here and am curious to see what opportunities will come my way.

New sites

I have my own website now! I'll be blogging about my mommy adventures, needy obsessions, and just anything else I want at The Borderline Blerd.

Our followers
Were so happy that you guys have stuck with us for so long and we're planning to make this blog better for you all. We would not be here if it were not for you.

Shannah

This year has been amazing for me. My emotions have been up and down throughout this year, but everything turned out good. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm going to be alright *Kendrick Lamar  voice*. Here are a few things I'm thankful for this year.

My health

Sometimes, I forget how wonderful it is to be healthy. I'm glad that I'm in the physical shape to accomplish all that I want. I'm also thankful for my family's health as well. I want my family to see me succeed.

Family

I'm happy to have both my parents in my life. I love spending time with them. I know I shouldn't say this, but they really are my best friends. I don't have many friends, but I'm thankful to have a good relationship with them.

Having a house, car, etc.

I know it's a no no to put material things down, but  I have to be thankful for it,because many people don't have a home or car. So, I'm thankful that I have a roof over my head, food to eat, a car to drive me to all the places I want to go. 

Lastly, I'm thankful for all the No's

This past year was tough for me because I've focus a lot on all the things I didn't have, but I'm learning to be thankful for all the No's I've receive. This time next year, I hope I can take rejection a whole lot better. 

(*originally published November 2014, this post has been updated with more tips and sass) 

While everyone is preparing for Black Friday sales and stuffing themselves with turkey, retail workers everywhere have to rip themselves  from family and friends and work behind the register today. Sadly, this year I am going to be one of them. Again. Of course not working on Thanksgiving or Black Friday isn't always bad, but there are a few things shoppers can do to make these next few days a little better. 

Most of us were required to take up a second language to complete our degree. It may not have been your favorite class to attend, but what you learned there is worth way more than just a degree requirement. Knowing a second language not only looks good on a resume, but can open the door to new experiences and opportunities that you'd never have without it. So instead of letting that new language go to waste, follow our tips to keep it in use. Besides, why would you waste all that time and money to just throw it away?

screen cap of Duolingo

Language Apps

Becoming a pro at your new tongue could all lie within the palm of your hand. There are amazing apps out there that help you learn and use a language you picked up. Apps like Duolingo and Babble  are great ways to start learning a new language. Just go to the app store, download them, and use the apps to brush up.

Immersion Programs

Being in an immersion program kind of forces you to throw away your fears and use your new language. There are many different ways you can go through an immersion experience such as going through immersion camp or enrolling in a program at a university. This may be the most "extreme" way to learn a language, but you'll definitely come out with more confidence and skills in the end.

Start Saving NOW

This is a no brainer for anyone working up towards a big financial goal. Make sure you set aside a percentage of your paycheck or any other money you receive towards saving for your trip. This money will build over time and can put a dent into expenses. If you currently don't have a paying job, this is the perfect time to look for one.

Look for Scholarships

There are national and international organizations are dedicated to help young travel enthusiasts explore the world. Some of these are specific to certain schools or towards certain countries/regions, but finding one that works for you could mean some extra money towards your trip. Also, check with your university to see if there are any scholarships available to students studying abroad. I applied to a study abroad scholarship  at my university and earned $500 towards my trip.

I honestly can't believe I'm in my senior year! Time has gone by so quickly I can hardly believe it's almost over. With the end so near, my thoughts have been on how I've spent my time in college and things I wish I had done.

Working too much

I had to work to keep up with expenses, but I didn't have to work as hard as I did. At one point I was juggling two jobs, a full class load, clubs, and blogging at the same time.I always put my work first, and would never have the guts to reserve days for personal time. This caused a little bit of strife in my LDR because I never took off time to see my boyfriend. Last minute getaways with friends were unheard of (I actually passed up a chance to see Katy Perry for free because of work). I now take time for me and freely ask for a few days off, but I still can't get those days back. 

Missguided by oneblogger featuring a peplum dress

One of the biggest responsibilities you have in college is being able to manage your expenses. This is when your credit starts and everyone wants a piece of your wallet. There will be a lot of temptation while in college, but here are the three biggest things you'll have watch out for while in college.

Credit cards

You probably started getting these as soon as you turned 18, but these little plastic cards can cause you to end up in big debt. If you know you're not ready for a card just yet but still get pesky offers in the mail, contact the credit card company and ask them they remove you from their list. If you do have a credit card, the easiest thing to remember is to never go over your limit. You know what you can realistically pay for a month and you should keep that number in mind before you swipe your card. Also, be sure to make your payments on time and never go over your spending limit.

Loans

This is the most evil and most unavoidable one of them all. Most college students today can't attend college without getting a loan, and will have a wall of debt waiting for them when they graduate. Only take out what you need to pay for school, and be sure to keep up with your interest rates and who your lender is. If you ha e a federal loan, remember you can signify how much of your loan you need want to take put if what you have been awarded exceeds cost.

Not Saving

One problem with money is not saving it,which can be hard for those of us with more month at the end of our money. Making small changes now with little income will help you along the way in the long run. For Instance, cutting out a weekly habit like going to the club or buying a drink for lunch could save you a few dollars a week you can put towards saving.  Setting up an automatic monthly transfer from your checking account to your savings account will also help you save overtime. Other options are to bring back the piggy bank from childhood and dump your spare change in everyday. My husband did this and ended up saving a few hundred dollars this way.  Savings are great to have,because they'll  always be there for a rainy day or when your car breaks down. It will also help you reach some goals like traveling for a vacation, or building up to a deposit on a new home or car.

These money traps can sometimes be easy to fall into,but can be easily avoided with the proper precautions. What other money downfalls have you been faced with in college? 

Shannah and I have been raving about Swagbucks since we both joined last year, and now we're giving you another reason to join- shopping! School is about to start again and we know you're looking to refresh your desk and closet.  Since you're going to be shopping anyway, why not earn points while doing it?

If the tuition for college isn't killing you, then the cost of textbooks surely will. With some books  running up to $600 and no guarantee you'll use it much in class, it's a good idea to find cheaper ways to buy your book. Here are a few resources you can use to get your books for free or cheap. 

Don't Buy it

It's not uncommon to hear students say that they didn't even need to buy the textbook to pass the class. Usually in lecture classes, you can skip the cost of the textbook and rely on the notes given by the professor. Always ask your professor or former students how much of the class relies on the text, and you'll be able to see if you need to head to the bookstore or not. Checking out reviews on rating websites helps a lot as well.

 Tara Simone

Okay, so I've made some huge leaps in the past year. I got married in October, had a baby in May, and moved to California in July. Add that in with continuing my last (God,I hope) year in college, things have been kinda hectic. I haven't blogged about it because I've been super busy trying to get my new life together and anytime I started an update in draft, I could never finish it. There are a lot of things I'm still trying to work out, but I'll keep you all updated on the progress.  Anyway, I'm back on the wagon now and won't keep you so in the dark. So with that said, we apologize for our absence and hope you keep reading! 

I actually wanted to post about this earlier this week, but got swamped with responsibility, but it's all good. I just wanted to share with you all a little movement that's going on today that you may have noticed already on social media. Today is Black Out Day and I'm happy to be participating! Since there is a lot of misunderstanding about what is and isn't black out day, let me clarify a few facts before anyone gets confused.

Who started the Black Out ?

Black out day was started by tumblr user expect-the-greatest as a means to support diversity in the black community. He asked if we could make a day celebrating black people and black tumblr agreed. So in turn, #blackout was created, tumbled across the net, and is happening right now. Many people are turning it and saying that this is to show the media the wide diversity in our community, and I honestly feel the media will take notice.

Why is this important?

Again, it was created to celebrate the beauty of ordinary black people all around the world. We all know the celebrities that get the most shine like Beyoncé and Rihanna, but this is for the average person to see more people like them across their screen and celebrate our beauty.

One of the best things about the new year for most of us would have to be tax season. While you're anxiously waiting for those W2s to land in the mailbox, you should always start planning on smart ways to use your tax money. Here area few ideas that will put your money to good use. 

Save it

Not all of your money has to go into the bank, but setting aside money for a rainy day is a great idea. LearnVest.com suggests putting up to 20% of your income towards your savings. This savings could be towards a new car, home, or even the start of an emergency fund.