By: Allura Summers July 3, 2020

Where it Began

I lived in Panama City for 15 years, it was the one place where I felt truly at home. It was the place where I learned how to fish, hunt, play, drive, and love everyone. The lessons I learned while living here were life changing to me.

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I lived in a one-story house with my mom, younger brother, grandparents, my two aunts and my five uncles. We learned how to fight, learn, forgive, and love one another while all trying to navigate through life. My dad and his parents lived only a block away, that is how close all of us where.

Life Here

Growing up, other than the beaches I think the historical parts of Panama City are my favorites, going into the historic St. Andrews makes me feel at home immediately. this little town has so much character and you can tell it has been through a lot, not to even mention the category five hurricane that hit the town directly October of 2018. My small town was almost unrecognizable, but like always the community came together and became one and is now growing bigger and stronger everyday. I grew up walking up and down the streets of St. Andrews, everyone knew my family and we knew everyone, it was like we had our own little world there. Everyone helps one another and I think that is the best part about being here, no matter what the situation is you can always count on someone there to help you just like after the hurricane. still to this day we have a lot of clean up work to do but no one minds it because it only makes the community better.

https://www.pcbeach.org/downtown-historic-st-andrews/

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The beaches are the most breathtaking thing there is, everything about being in Panama City has such a specific feeling to it. Being here makes you want to let go of all your problems in the world and just enjoy life out on the beautiful ocean.

A lot of Panama City, especially the beach is known for partying and tourism, over 17 million people come and visit annually. We have had so many famous people come through and pay this small town a visit. I think my favorite person to come through was Luke Bryan. He shot a music video here and showed some of my favorite places to visit here, especially Thomas Drive.

https://youtu.be/AxVKTwAkv1k

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The Experiences

Since I lived in Panama for so long, I experienced a lot of things. My grandpa left the family, I lost one of my closest friends in a car accident, I overcame a lot of things, we moved around a lot, my mom got married, she had my two younger brothers here, and I made some of the closest friends I will ever have in my life. I will never be able to forget the beauty of my wonderful home town, from the sunrises to the sunsets this little town never fails to amaze me.

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The Move

After 15 years of living in Panama City, we finally made the decision to move. After my mom got married life moved rather quickly. It seemed like overnight I was saying goodbye to my friends and family and saying hello to a new, unknown life I was not sure if I wanted just yet. We moved from Panama City to gulf breeze, everything here was slower and more different than what I could have ever imagined. But this small town grew on me and now I have lived here for 4 years and I continue to make memories every day.

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Visits from one Home to the Other

We always visit our home, every few weeks we will make a point to travel back to Panama City just to see friends and family and of course catch up on the beautiful beaches and life around there. Panama City will always be my home and my happy place. For me, time just seems to stop there. It is the one place I could not imagine going without.

By: Savannah Anaston

Cruises are vacations of relaxation and parties, and I’ve had my fair share of that over the course of my life. Although all cruise ships are not the same, they all share the same common features, no matter the cruise line. Don’t get me wrong, they do vary between the details, but many of the activities are similar. I have been on all of the main cruise lines, such as: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and Disney (only once, though, since it’s extremely expensive). More recently, it has been Carnival and Royal Caribbean, so I’ll be talking and sharing my experiences about those certain cruise lines the most.

Clubs

Commonly found in many cruise ships, there are clubs catering to different age groups. Since many activities on the ships are more for 18-21+, they have made accommodations for the younger groups aboard. One example is the “O₂” club found on all of Carnival ships, for ages 15-17-year olds.

Of course, there are clubs for other various age groups as well, but I mostly have all my fresh memories from the teen clubs that were 13 and up, on various ships and cruise lines. These clubs would host games that would involve the entire ship, such as scavenger race games and man vs man team games. They would also hold “Battle of the Sexes” games, karaoke, Just Dance^TM, and parties until the early hours of the morning. I have made many friends in the short time spent there, a couple of which I’m still in contact with today.

On Royal Caribbean cruise lines, their older teen club is called “Fuel Teen Center“. Different activities are split up between ages 12-14 and 15-17. However, at the end of the night and into early morning hours, it was blended through a party. We did scavenger hunts, team competition games, and had a huge party every night- especially since a quinceanera was being held, with five-hundred girls attending on one of the cruises I had been on.

Other clubs catered to people of 18 and up include bars, spas, and clubs. One of a couple that I have been in (snuck in by my cousins during a family reunion) was the Piano Bar, a bar that would have a single host sing and play piano. Said host would also interact with the crowd as well with jokes.

It was one of my favorite places to be at night, requesting songs and just having a good laugh with the hostess. My cousins would often join me, staying for a couple hours at a time.

The Theater

The Carnival ship “Valor” has a theater called the “Ivanhoe Theater”, and does various shows, such as the “Playlist Productions”, which are musicals done by entertainment staff with different styles. I have seen the “America Rocks” show, which is a myriad of rock songs from over the decades performed with dances. Also, I participated in a Harry Potter themed trivia game, alongside two friends I had made on said Carnival ship. Also, on another Carnival ship, “Vista”, my parents and I attended the “Clue” themed show, which had performers dressed as the characters from the murder mystery game. It was an interactive show, having the audience figure out who the murder was through clues hidden throughout the week.

The Lido Deck

On every cruise ship, there is what is known as the “Lido Deck”. It is usually on the upper floors of the ships, having the pools, slides, and various places to eat. This is usually where I spent most of my time, besides the clubs for my age group. The most recent cruise I had for my family’s reunion, Carnival Vista, had a Guy Fieri Burger Joint, a Mexican food bar named the BlueIguana Cantina, and the Lido Marketplace, which is a buffet, and had shows and competitions held by some of the main staff. My cousins forced me to go on a ropes course (which was awful, by the way), and the Skyride. At night, movies would be played on the big screen TV, but I never found myself watching them.

One of my most memorable nights on the Lido Deck, though, was the New Year’s Party this past January. My family had a huge family reunion on a cruise for the first time, as stated above, taking place during New Year’s. It was a huge party with loud music, and all my cousins and I danced for a long time before they snuck me into the 18+ afterparty in one of the club rooms. My cousins could probably tell you that the drinks were pretty good, too, if you were wondering.

Excursions

Other than the activities on deck, cruises are also very well known for their excursions. On all of the ones that I have been on, we usually visit the Bahamas and Cozumel, but this last time we visited Jamaica and Yucatán as well.

Most memorable was Jamaica, and while we were there, we visited Stingray City, a patch of shallow water where many stingrays inhabit. My parents and I took a boat there, driven by a guide, and took turns being able to hold and feed the stingrays. We were told to be cautious, though, as they still had their stingers, and had to wait for a guide to catch one before we were allowed to approach it.

Overall, cruises are a good time for relaxation, and the entertainers sure come to impress. The excursions to different islands and countries are also a very fun experience, and I always look forward to them. I am lucky to have gotten to become so familiar with cruises, as they’re always a good time, and a good escape.

When you think of the beach, what do you see? Do you see clear blue waters or the white sands? Do you the see the always hungry seagulls who also wants a hotdog? The beach has the best scenery in my eyes, the best water and warm white sand. I also believe that Miami Beach is king. It might not be the most gorgeous, but there is a lot to do there. Miami Beach is of course located in Miami, Florida. 

Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It was incorporated on March 26, 1915.^[7] The municipality is located on natural and man-made barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter of which separates the Beach from the mainland city of Miami. The neighborhood of South Beach, comprising the southernmost 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of Miami Beach, along with downtown Miami and the Port of Miami, collectively form the commercial center of South Florida.^[8] Miami Beach’s estimated population is 88,885 according to the most recent United States census estimates. Miami Beach is the 26th largest city in Florida based on official 2019 estimates from the US Census Bureau.^[9] It has been one of America’s pre-eminent beach resorts since the early 20th century.

Now while also being steeped in culture, musical artists from Miami are unstoppable. The music of Miami is a diverse and important field in the world of music. The Greater Miami area has long been a hub for diverse musical genres. For example, South Florida has been a hub for Southern Rap. Miami, in particular, is a “hub” for Latin Music in the United States.^[1] Miami bass (also known as booty music), a prominent hip-hop genre in the late 1980s and early 1990s, got its start in Miami; Luther “Luke Skyywalker” Campbell and his 2 Live Crew were among the more prominent Miami Bass acts, largely because of an obscenity scandal fomented by Broward County, Florida Sheriff Nick Navarro.^[2] Moreover, although not a South Florida native, Jimmy Buffett rose to prominence after moving to Key West, Florida and has long been associated with the “South Florida lifestyle”. Other notable South Florida-based musical performers include Gloria Estefan, Marilyn Manson (Started in Fort Lauderdale, Florida), Mental Crutch, Vanilla Ice, DJ Laz, and Pitbull.

Miami is also like a mini melting pot. Many people of different cultures come to Miami, which makes it a very diverse place. The city proper is home to less than one-thirteenth of the population of South Florida. Miami is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States. The Miami metropolitan area, however, which includes Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, had a combined population of more than 5.5 million people, ranked seventh largest in the United States,^[53] and is the largest metropolitan area in the southeastern United States. As of 2008, the United Nations estimates that the Miami Urban Agglomeration is the 44th-largest in the world.^[54]Map of racial/ethnic distribution in Miami, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people: Non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, Black, AsianIn 1960, Hispanics made up about 5% of the population of Miami-Dade County. Between 1960 and 2000, 90% of the population growth in the county was made up of Hispanics, raising the Hispanic portion of the population to more than 57% by 2000.^[55]In 1970, the Census Bureau reported Miami’s population as 45.3% Hispanic, 32.9% non-Hispanic White, and 22.7% Black.^[56] Miami’s explosive population growth has been driven by internal migration from other parts of the country, primarily up until the 1980s, as well as by immigration, primarily from the 1960s to the 1990s. Today, immigration to Miami has continued and Miami’s growth today is attributed greatly to its fast urbanization and high-rise construction, which has increased its inner city neighborhood population densities, such as in Downtown, Brickell, and Edgewater, where one area in Downtown alone saw a 2,069% increase in population in the 2010 Census. Miami is regarded as more of a multicultural mosaic, than it is a melting pot, with residents still maintaining much of, or some of their cultural traits. The overall culture of Miami is heavily influenced by its large population of Hispanics from the Caribbean and South America and black people mainly from the Caribbean islands. ^[57]

As the sun sets and rise the lights are still shining,

The city lights are so ever shiny lighting the way into the streets,

As the streets pave the way to the adventurous things you can taste and do,

You could never run or of things to do,

Miami is the best place to be ,

Because Miami is King.

By Shea Robards

Word count: 750

A vast open space, barely touched by man, yet disrupted even so. Dam’s on opposite ends slowing the natural flow down in the ravine. 

Tress, great and small, as far as the eye can see. The ledge looms as I approach. So far down I stare, thinking, such a hight could kill thousands.

My father calls me back from death’s edge. Though, I know that he only cares for my well being, I long to keep looking down. I wonder, what would I find down below?

Would the coyotes view me as a threat? As a treat?

Would I be able to survive the days trek? Or would I only be able to survive the hour?

All these thoughts, in the microsecond it takes for me to see across the great expanse before me.

~~~

Climbing back up to high ground, I ask if we could go down again together someday? My father glances back at me. “Maybe when you’re older.” He says this with a small gleam in his eye. 

He continues on, but I stand still. Looking back again at the great expanse. 

When I’m older.

That will be the day.

~~~~~

“That will be the day!” I yell as my sister tries to beat me to the house. Her, thinking she could win. Me, knowing I would instead.

“How are you so fast?” She questions as I sit down on the grass, backpack at my side.

“Because I know how to keep pace, unlike you!” I reply along with a shove to her shoulder.

Lying down, I look up to the sky. Remembering the day in the great expanses presence. The cloudless blue openness reminds me of the ravine, the trees, the slow water dripping its way through the gorge. 

That will be the day.

The words echo like a cave’s walls. Over and over until all that’s left is the faint sounds of the dripping water off the stalactites onto my face, down my chin, then back to the earth.

~~~~~

The pouring rain reminds me of the day in the redwood forest. The tallest trees seem to touch the sky. The feeling of insignificance spreads throughout my chest as I realize how little I am in this great big world. 

Looking up, I glimpse the sky at the tip of the trees. 

The bright blue blinds my dark brown eyes. 

And as I glance back down, I feel the first drop of the storm hit my back. 

Standing, frozen in place, I spread my arms and welcome the cool feeling of nature’s purest treasure. 

I’m drenched in seconds. 

Long strands of my hair hang in my face as I watch the water run down to its ends, onto my arms, down my legs, to my socks. 

Seeping into my shoes. 

The squish sound that appears after, brings a smile to my face. A memory long forgotten, resurfaces as I step further into the rain. The weightless feeling of being in the presence of nature brings peace to my burdened shoulders.

Gazing upward again, I see the sky. 

Dark and gloomy.

Unlike what it once was only moments ago. 

The trees sway as the wind rocks them back and forth.

But still, they stand tall. 

Tall and vast. 

Just like the ravine. 

Just like the cloudless sky back home.

The connection is waning as the rain slows. 

The connection to the trees, to the rain, to the ravine.

To all the life that surrounds me. 

The memory.

Boom!

The thunder.

As loud as a bass.

Boom! Boom!

It makes my heart race.

Boom!

Like a dream no one can stop, it grows.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Forever the sound will ring.

Forever.

The sound will ring.

Laughing. I look back again at the sky. The blue peeks through the gray.

“One day I will climb these trees. One day I will reach the vast sky.” I say aloud as I realize what the vastness finally means. The opportunity it represents.

~~

I spot an owl then. On the lowest branch, of the tallest tree. 

It stares at me like I’m the first being it has ever seen. As if it were the first time it opened its eyes. 

“One day, I will see what you see. One day I will look down and gaze at a being for what will feel like the first time.” Facing back up at the sky, I feel a surge of energy, and the feeling of openness captures me once again.

“That will be the day.”

The Start

I was born in Andalusia Alabama and I lived there until I was in second grade, when my family moved into my late great grandmother’s house. The house was located in a very small town named Honoraville. To give you a proper example of the size, the only businesses in Honoraville are The Quick-Stop gas station, a post office, and a volunteer fire department. The rest of the town is corn fields, pastures, farms, and country neighbors.

The Life

Our home in Honoraville was put up on 2 acres of property: it had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a huge backyard which we used to raise our animals. We had 30+ chickens, 8+ rabbits, 4 cats, 3 dogs, 2 miniature potbelly pigs, 2 ducks, 1 goose, 1 pheasant, and 1 pygmy goat. We did not raise to kill, they were all pets, and the most we did was eat fresh laid eggs. A short distance down the road was our family-owned private pond. We would go camping and fishing there a lot. Our next door neighbor was a relative, as were the other 8 residents living on my street. This was the type of town where you don’t feel the need to lock your doors, everyone is civil and down to earth. Good ole country folk call this place home.

The Town Over

Small town Honoraville lies on the outskirts of a bigger but still small town, called Greenville. Greenville is where we would go to buy groceries, get fast food, and it is where I went to school. The drive from my house to school was a regular 20 minutes. Greenville is just as quaint as Honoraville but it has several more people, and several more establishments. My two cousins live in Greenville next to my grandparents. My brother and my nephews live there as well. It is safe to say the heart of my family beats in Southern Alabama.

The Move

We stayed in our home in Honoraville/Greenville until I finished middle school. The high school in Greenville has a bad rep, and family tensions were getting high, so we packed up and came to Florida. The move was the best thing that could have happened to us. Since we left, I attended an A+ high school, problems with family have smoothed over, and my mom and I are more happy than ever.

The Longing

Moving was the best thing we did, but it hasn’t stopped us from being homesick. My mom and I often find ourselves reminiscing about home. We talk about our animals, our pond, the huge pecan trees in our yard, the magnolia tree I would always climb. I notice a twinkle in my mother’s eye when she starts talking about visiting her grandparents there when she was a child. Neither of us want to live there, but we both want to go home.

A Poem

Every summer since the move, I go home to stay a week at my grandmas so I can see family and friends. I wrote this, the summer between my freshman and sophomore year

I packed a bag for my grandmas,

I was homesick again.

I stayed only a week,

But I didn’t want it to end.

All the boys drive a truck,

Impressing girls, getting stuck.

And when we went out fishing-

I felt at home again.

Although I might live, by the oceanside,

I will come home, just give it time.

By Desirae Parodi

October 15, 2019

In December of 2011, my family and I had visited my birthplace of the quiet hamlet in Bamberg, Gemany. Bamberg is a notably leisured town that constitutes for its cherished architectures, beautiful scenery, and important historical landmarks. The fascinating attractions as well as the modernized transport systems and sufficient economics, makes Bamberg a first-rate tourist spot.

German Architects

The quaint town of Bamberg offers numerous attraction spots and relaxation settings that every makes tourists vacation worthwhile. Many famous builings such as the Bamberg Catherdral & Diocesan Museum, the Alte Hofhalting Court, and the Altenberg Castle lie within Bamberg, Germany.

German Foods and Drinks

Germany has a distinct culinary history acknowledged for it roots and geography. Throughout centuries, the food has since changed as a national cuisine and not every city, town, or region share the same specialty or preference flavor. Bamberg has shown that their plates have better variety and portions that are promised to satisfy every visitor.

Music and Events

The earliest lieder, date from the 12th to the 13th centuries and included mostly of classical and loves songs, but since generations have passed, residents have given praises and enjoyment to genres that lists rock, pop music, and “oldies”. The most famous music tradition is the annual “Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park” that takes place every June and holds over 150,000 people.

I lived with my aunt in Texas for 6 months back in 2010 and ever since I’ve considered Texas to be my home. There is definitely more to do, a lot of city life. I have always had a special connection with Texas for a still unknown reason. The weather is nice there especially during winter. also, I enjoy going back to Dallas at least twice a year to visit my Aunt and friends.

Things to do:

• big bend National park
• San Antonio River walk
• The Alamo
• Guadulupe Mountains national park
• Padre Island
• Space center Houston
• BEP’s public Tour and visiting center (you get to watch how money is made and printed)

This is the prettiest elephant I have ever seen at any zoo. I can not remember her name but she was born in Africa and brought to the Forth Worth zoo which is extremely sad.

Fun Facts:

• Texas has never been a lawful state.
• Texas has never been apart of the union
• Texas is the 11th largest economy in the world.
• More than 500 fortune companies have there home base here.
• Over 90% of the land is privately owned.
• Texas has the longest border with a foreign country in the U.S., 1,241 miles.
• Has more counties than any other state (254.)

https://www.50states.com/facts/texas.htm

The island of noble bull fights, colorful coral reefs, disciplined karate masters, happy festivals, and much more. The relatively small island of Okinawa, Japan is a place for adventure, relaxation, and indulgence. 

If you speak to someone that has visited Okinawa, often the first thing they mention is the polite Okinawan people. Okinawans are graciously taught to be mindful of others. In other words, before they do something they consider how it would affect the people around them. This creates an environment in which citizens all feel like neighbors.

This tropical island is one that contains many possible adventures. Okinawa holds ancient castles such as Shuri Castle and World War 2 battle grounds like Hacksaw Ridge. Aside from historical monuments, Okinawa also is a place for sightseeing. It is a place where rocks meet ocean. This type of geography creates endless hidden, secret caves ready to be discovered and explored.

Relaxation and Okinawa are almost interchangeable words in Japan. My parents especially took advantage of Okinawa’s scenery. Every summer day, at 7pm, chairs were laid out and wine was poured for the ever-changing beautiful sun to set over the East China Sea. Sitting for hours on end witnessing colors that can not possibly be re-created by man. 

And, finally, my favorite part of Okinawa: the food. Okinawa is home to world class seafood, steak, and “Obaachan” restaurants. I’m going to skip right over the fresh, inexpensive sushi, as well as the best-in-the-world steak because what needs to be given the most attention is “Obaachan” restaurants. Obaa means grandmother and adding chan at the end of it is a sign of respect. These grandmother restaurants will bring you to tears of delight. Okinawa’s signature dish, and my favorite food is Okinawa soba. Imagine pork so tender and sweet you can’t take a bite without moaning. And noodles so soft, yet firm and warm dripping with authentic beef broth and topped with eggs and green onions. You are served a massive bowl of these noodles and you stretch your stomach to finish it all. This is a feeling of complete satisfaction, never felt before.

https://www.pbs.org/video/family-ingredients-okinawa-soki-soba-preview/

By Ana Gonzalez Arbelaez

• 

Colombia is located in the North of South America, it is composed of thirty-two departments, Bogota being the main capital.

Spanish is the most popular language spoken in Colombia, and is spoken by more than 99.2% of Colombians.  You will also find different accents in different regions of the country.

Soccer is the most famous sport in Colombia

Best food

It is possible to know a wide variety of typical foods in Colombia such as: bandeja paisa, Churrasco, sancocho, among others. these dishes vary depending on the region of the country.

Music

#Colombia one of the best places to visit.

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There are many places to visit in Colombia, such as Cartagena, one of the most visited cities in Colombia for the “Cartagena de Indias wall”, a wall that was built during times of war in search of independence. This wall protects and surrounds a part of the city that is very old and has many historical value.

Another tourist place is the coffee axis, here you can see the great green mountains, you can also visit the old farms that have been preserved for years. in this place you can also see the tallest palm trees in the world.

“Eje cafetero”

San Andrés is one of the most beautiful beaches in Colombia. San Andres is a small island, but it has white sand and perfect climate.

National Flower are he orchids.

Colombia is the second country considered the most bio diverse in the world with a large,  About 10% of the species of the earth live in Colombia .

A beautiful country full of life, it is worth visiting to know its culture, and biodiversity. It is one of the most visited countries in South America. Therefore it is a good idea to book your trip now if you plan to travel

Bimini, Bahamas is located on the westernmost point of the triangle about 50 mi off the coast of Florida from Miami.

From the pearl white beaches and somewhat run down streets of Alice town, to the luxurious and breathtaking views of the Hilton Resort World on the opposing side of the island Bimini has it all. Bimini is a very small island located 50 miles off the coast of Miami, Most of its tourism comes from Fishermen who would like to reap the gatorade blue waters which are teaming with fish. The occasional Adventurer or regular vacationer will also pass through whether it be by driving the 50 miles from Miami to Bimini by boat or flying by plane. I recommend the boat option.

Parts of the island might seem little run down from the outside, and they kind of are; however it is not like other slummish areas around the world. There is a sense of security, kindness, and teamwork everywhere you go on the island. It also gives you a sense of stepping back in time as soon as your feet hit the wooden planks of the Bimini Big Game Club.

Once on the island there are many things to do such as eating at one of the many delicious local restaurants where many of them are serving fresh conch, or snorkeling off one of the beaches and finding the road to Atlantis, or even gambling at the Hilton casino the possibilities are endless. However the real fun begins as soon as you get off the island and onto a boat which you can rent almost anywhere on the island if you flew. Off the island you can go island hopping and see all of the hundreds of islands in the Bahamas, spear fishing, rock jumping, and wreck exploring. My favorite thing to do while off the island is togo to the supona and spearfish and explore.

The SS Supona is an old alcohol running ship that during the prohibition which was bought by a business man in Miami to be turned into a floating nightclub, however on its way to Miami it was caught in a storm and ran aground.

Bimini has alot to offer and it sone of my favorite places on the planet from the people to the scenery there is nothing that can beat it and it gives some the coolest stores ever.