Being the giant lazy sloth that I am, I just stopped. Well, that’s a lie, I attempted, poorly, to take an independent class through Athabasca University, but that was a complete wash and a waste of money. Now, I have decided to finally get back on tackling #6 on my life list to become fluent in French. I have been fairly dedicated so far, listening to podcasts everyday, reviewing old French textbooks, listening to French news stories to get an ear for the spoken rhythm of the language. I’m hopeful. I also will be enrolling in J’explore a French learning program offered at various locations across Canada, care of the Canadian government. The program is 5 weeks long and I hope to be able to do it in either Montreal or New Brunswick. The goal is conversational French fluency, but of course they have varying levels of classes. My personal goal is to not end up in the beginner’s class!

So far, my absolute favourite tool has been Coffee Break French, produced by the Radio Lingua Network. Radio Lingua has several different French podcasts, including One Minute French and the video-based Walk, Talk and Learn French, but so far, Mark and Anna at Coffee Break French have been the absolute best at helping me get a new lease on the French language. I highly recommend you check them out if you are also trying to learn or relearn Francais, either at their website or on Itunes!

Comfortable flying tips
via Venere
Comfortable flying tips for those making the long haul to another continent.

Plane Answers
via Gadling
A pilot answers questions sent in by readers. Always informative and entertaining.

Common questions about flying
via Gadling
Separate from the previous link, just an entry with some questions I think we’ve all asked ourselves.

How To Tell Your Family You’re Leaving
via Travelers Notebook
Great piece on breaking it to your family you plan on doing the extended travel thing. I’ll never need it because my family wishes I’d leave the country for a long term stint.

10 Things to do in Amsterdam
via Matador Trips
There’s more to do in Amsterdam than get high and act like a bad tourist?

Reykavik City Guide
via Katie Hammel
All I want to do is go to Iceland!

The JET Programme
via Matador
Immediately after reading this article I messaged my boyfriend Adam and said “you can find work in Japan with your job skills, right?” This excited me. A year of living in Japan AND a job after I graduate in December? Yes please! Check for official info here


How to Make Travel Look Good on a Resume
via Traveler’s Notebook
Great suggestions for making all of your time spent wandering around work for you in your job search


Save the Economy
This entire site makes me pee myself laughing, and I figure since it has to do with this “tanking” economy of ours it is relevant to my sad state of joblessness. Installing toilets in all the rooms of my house? Yes!


Earn Money on the Road
via Brave New Traveler
This isn’t particularly relevant to my current state of financial affairs, but it could come in handy to other people! I’d rather be broke and living with my parents than broke on the road.


Save Money, Travel Later
via Vagabonish
A great and simple piece about four ways you can easily save money now so you can travel later.

What The Hell in Dubai
via TutzTutz

A long time ago I had “Party Like a Rockstar in Dubai” on my list. I removed it after reading about a string of arrests made to innocent people for having legal prescription drugs on their person or having stepped on a microscopic piece of marijuana. Articles like this make me want to go to Dubai though because it is literally insane. It’s like if Las Vegas took crack, has a baby with Monaco, and that baby had a baby with Thailand. Or something. It’s insanity.

Best Nude Beaches
via Matador Trips
This one might not be on my list, but it caught my eye and was certainly a fascinating read. I suppose a nude beach might help with # 71 Go skinny dipping. Or maybe just something to consider as a new addition altogether.

Best Coffee Shops in Amsterdam
via Matador Nights
One of the first things I added to my list was to smoke pot in Amsterdam. It’s sort of a when in Rome type deal I suppose. This is a nice compiled list of the best places to go to partake whilst in the Netherlands.
Applies to
#72 Smoke pot in Amsterdam

My Life to do List
I’m not going to lie, I took a few items off of this excellent list. I’m not above borrowing great ideas, but I have to give credit where credit is due. Make sure to check out his blog, he seems to have a never ending array of things to do.

Intrepid Lifestyle
New site recently launched, but tons of great articles for the serious traveler. Really practical and well laid out.

image via Dilidou

Heights are not my thing. Thus, Pulpit Rock in Norway scares the crap out of me. Just watching those people sit leisurely on the edge makes me sink to the carpet covered floors of my room in my “safety crouch” (reserved for swinging bridges, gondola lifts, driving on the sides of mountains, the fake Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas, and pictures of Pulpit Rock). You can definitely file a visit to Preikestolen as it as known in its Native language under Thanks But No Thanks