If someone would have told me that I was going to be an exchange student at the beginning of my junior year of high school, I would have not believed them. I did not actually choose to be an exchange student until I went to an informational meeting given by Rotary International about their Youth Exchange program. Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) is a highly respected exchange program for high school students. It has given about 8,000 students from 80 different countries the chance of a lifetime.  After that meeting I was set on being an exchange student. I have always wanted to travel and this was my chance to go somewhere for a year. I love new cultures and languages so this program was perfect for me.

The Rotary asks the exchange student to pick and prioritize the five countries they most want.  My choices were: Norway, Russia, Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic. When I made my choices, I researched the countries and I made lists about what I liked about each destination. Unfortunately, I did not think about climate when I was making my choices.

The February before I was to start my exchange, I was told I was going to Finland. I realized all I knew about Finland was where it was on the map and that it has the best education system in the world. I didn’t know much else. So I started researching Finnish culture.  It was not easy to find books on Finnish culture, but my Dad did find one called Culture Shock. I also bought a few books on how to learn the language. I soon learned all about the Finns and what I thought would be their culture, and I also started learning their difficult language. Finnish is not Latin based, and is like no other language, so even if I thought I had it perfect before I left, I was wrong.

My first week in Finland was a bit of a culture shock. Everything I had read was someone else’s interpretation of the culture. Some of it helped, but not a lot. The language was and still is overwhelming. I now know enough Finnish that I understand people and I can answer them in short sentences. Most of the time people speak English, which can be frustrating for me trying to learn. However, when I do try to speak in Finnish my friends help me as much as possible.

High school here is very different than high school in the United States. For one, it is called Lukio. Lukio starts at age 16 and is voluntary.  Going to Lukio is different for me. It is hard to put the exchange students in classes because the language is so hard to learn. Even now it is hard for us to go into a course taught entirely in Finnish. As a result, we are scheduled into English courses, courses taught in English, and the first year courses, many of which I have already taken. Therefore, most of my friends are younger than me. Some other differences: if you have a class in the beginning the day and the end of the day, you can leave and go home in between. We also have a warm, healthy, free lunch every day.  Additionally, education is free, even at the university level.

I never imagined that being an exchange student would change me so much. I also cannot imagine what life will be like when I return. I feel at times like I am Finnish. I have started acting like them and have assimilated to their culture. But, I will have to go home soon. I know there is such a thing as reverse culture shock and I know I will go through it. I wish that I could be an exchange student the rest of my life. I guess I will be. Being an exchange student is a lifestyle and it is hard to get rid of that lifestyle.  Now when I look back, I have to think why I ever didn’t want to be an exchange student. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about cultures and to learn about yourself.

Our inaugural post will highlight where to travel in September and we couldn’t think of anywhere better than Munich, Germany to celebrate Oktoberfest!

What is it all about? The first Oktoberfest was held in October 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. Princess Therese is the namesake for the location of Oktoberfest today, the Theresienwiese (Wiese means meadow). Locals also refer to Oktoberfest as die Wiesn.

When is it this year? This year’s event runs September 18-October 3, 2010. And it will be Oktoberfest’s 200^th Anniversary. As if you needed another reason to celebrate.

Getting there: If you are coming by plane, catch a flight into Munich’s Franz Josef Strauss International Airport (Airport code is MUC). If you opt to come in by train, Munich’s main station is München Hauptbahnhof.

Where to stay: Munich gets busy during this season so you’ll want to book your accommodations early. Some recommendations:

• Euro Youth Hostel Munich
• Wombat Hostel Munich
• Creatif Elephant Hotel
• Motel One Munich

Logistics: Oktoberfest is held in Theresienwiese. You can get there by subway every 10 minutes until 2am on weekends and 1am on weekdays during Oktoberfest. The subway stop is Theresienwiese (lines U4 and U5).

Beer tent opening/closing hours are weekdays 10am-10:30pm and weekends 9am-10:30 pm. Tents close at 11:30pm with the exception of the “Käfer Wiesn-Schänke” and the “Wine Tent” which are open until 1am.

Beer starts serving at 12pm each day. Carnival and rides operate 10am until 11:30pm.

Cost: Admittance to the fest is free (you just walk right in) and so is being in a beer tent. Reserving a table may cost depending on the reservation. The beer price for 2009 ranged between 7.70 and 8 Euros per liter. Water and Soda prices are between 4 and 6 Euros. Bring enough cash with you as most tents and vendors will not accept credit cards.

Want to leave the details to someone else? Contiki Holidays offers a 5 and 7 day itinerary that incorporates the festivities.

• The 7-day Oktoberfest Munich departs September 16, 2010 from London. Transportation into Munich is included in the overall trip cost ($535 per person). On this trip, you will be camping in the Contiki Tent Village and will be provided with a hot breakfast daily and access to regularly scheduled shuttles to take you back and forth.
• Want something a little shorter? Contiki also offers a 5-day version that will give you three days to spend at Oktoberfest. The trip mirrors the details above but has a smaller price tag ($419 per person) and two scheduled departures on September 23^rd and 28^th.

Attire: Dirndl (women) and Lederhosen (men) are the traditional costumes of Bavaria and Austria. The lederhosen have always been made of leather but the dirndl originated in simple colors and fabrics as clothing for country folk. Later they became popular as costumes for special events and fests. They now come in all colors and fabrics and can range from 70 euro to 300+ euro in price. A very important factor for women is how to wear the pinafore that signals the marital status. A bow tied on the right side means the woman is engaged or married; on the left side she is available; and tied in the back she is a widow. The best shoes to wear with dirndl are black ballet flats or low heel Mary Jane shoes. Boots are also acceptable. Don’t want to wear a dress? Women can wear lederhosen too!

If you don’t get to get a costume, that’s ok too! Just wear comfortable clothing and shoes and bring a jacket as the mornings and nights are chilly this time of year.

Interested in buying a dirndl in Munich? Check out Wiesn Tracht und Mehr, Kleidermarkt, or Angermaier.

Day Trip Ideas: If you need a break from the action, why not consider exploring the attractions in and close to Munich. To see the sights within the city limits, check out Mike’s Bike Tours. With both half and full day tours, you will get the opportunity to see sights like Marienplatz, The English Garden, and Hofbräuhaus!

Take a 2 hour car ride and head down to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It is located at the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, which overlooks four countries. This town gives you a nice flavor of Bavaria with the picturesque mountains. Great place for outdoorsy types as there are lots of activities here for summer and winter.

Also, close to Garmisch, is the Neuschwanstein Castle. Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle was modeled by this fairytale castle. The castle was created by Bavarian King Ludwig II, also known as, “Mad King Ludwig”.

Written by Kristina Wegscheider, DIWYY co-founder, and Christine Radvanyi, DIWYY Advisor.

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 4, 2010: Do It While You’re Young (www.diwyy.com), a website for young women interested in travel, has unveiled enhancements including a new search feature and social networking tools in addition to the featured twice-weekly blog posts, a Q&A column, an online store and a forum. DIWYY’s mission is to inspire young women to travel, study, work, or volunteer abroad and to instill the notion of a lifetime of travel, versus it being a one-time occurrence.

In coordination with the website launch, Contiki Holidays (www.contiki.com) and Do It While You’re Young will be running a contest from March 15 to May 15, 2010 with a grand prize of a $500 (USD) voucher good for travel on a Contiki Holidays tour. Readers 18 to 35, who are residents of the United States, are eligible to enter. Contest information will be available on the DIWYY website.

About Do It While You’re Young:
DIWYY is the brainchild of Jerri Stephenson and Kristina Wegscheider who met during a study-abroad trip to Australia in 2002. The pair shares a love of travel and has collectively ventured to all seven continents and over sixty countries in the last decade while traveling, studying, and working abroad.

About Contiki
Contiki boasts over 45 years of expertly designed vacation experiences for students and young professionals aged 18-35. Choose from over 190 itineraries throughout Europe, Russia , Egypt , Southeast Asia , Australia , New Zealand , Mexico , Canada & the USA . Trip like we do. Go Contiki.

Download Press Release in PDF format

Girlfriend Getaways: Do you love Sex and the City or Gossip Girl? Head to New York City to see the locations of your favorite shows.

On Location Tours offers guided tours of the locations made famous by both TV and movies. Love SATC? Check out the daily 3.5 hour tour that hits all the hot spots from Midtown to the Meatpacking District. Excited for the movie premiere? Why not take advantage of the SATC2 movie package? On May 28, 2010, you will be treated to a tour, dinner, movie admission, and entrance to a nightclub after the screening. Package is only $179 and tickets can be purchased here.

Is Gossip Girl more your style? On Location Tours also offers a half day tour that peruses all the hot spots on the Upper East Side.

Sci-Fi: For the geek chic girl or to appease your male travel partners, why not venture to the filming locations of Stars Wars or Lord of the Rings?

Many scenes in Star Wars were filmed in the southern part of Tunisia, a small country in North Africa. If the epicenter of your trip is visiting filming location, check out this resourceful website with information on planning your adventure. Prefer to see more of the country with a bit of Star Wars here and there? Visit Peregrine Adventures’ website and review the itinerary for their Highlights of Tunisia trip. If you opt to venture solo, be sure to add a stay at the Sidi Driss Hotel in Matmata to your itinerary (while the hotel doesn’t have an official website, you can book through most hotel booking sites). It is very simple in terms of accommodations but you can pretend to be Luke Skywalker for the night.

If you prefer  to venture to Middle Earth, get on the next plane to New Zealand to begin your journey. Southern Lakes Sightseeing offers an array of experiences and adventures that any Lord of the Rings fan would appreciate. And while you explore the beautiful South Island of New Zealand, don’t forget to enjoy all the other spectacular things you can do in Queenstown like jet-boating, bungee jumping, and skydiving. After all, it is a city that loves adrenaline! Need some more tips to start your planning? Read DIWYY guest writer Kylie’s post on the location.

Island Fever: Want a location that will suit everyone’s interest? Visit the Hawaiian destination where Lost and many other famous movies like Jurassic Park were filmed. The sunny island of Oahu will be a great place for you to see where the scenes of Lost have been filmed while also enjoying the many other cultural and adventure options the island has to offer. KOS Tours, Inc. offers tours ranging in length from 2-8 hours covering the many filming locations on the island.

Written by DIWYY co-founder, Kristina Wegscheider. Email her at kristina@diwyy.com.

Written by Kristina Wegscheider, DIWYY co-founder and a NAUI-certified scuba diver, who has logged dives in California, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Belize, Chile, Tanzania, and Australia.

Imagine being able to descend into the ocean to experience a completely different world. Schools of fish, colorful coral reefs, and other marine life surround you. By getting scuba certified, you can add the adventure of diving into your already amazing vacation plans.

Getting started: Before you can scuba dive, you will need to get certified. There are two worldwide organizations: NAUI and PADI. No matter where you get certified – through a school, through a private divemaster, or at a resort – you will want to make sure their program is accredited by one of these two organizations. Even if you’re land-locked, you may be surprised to find out that you can get certified in your own hometown! To begin your search, inquire at the following places:

-Local community colleges, universities, and community centers which often offer dive training in their on-site swimming pools

-Local dive shops often have their own classes or can refer you to a certified divemaster. In this case, I would recommend conducting a search through the PADI and NAUI websites.

-Resorts often offer their own diving schools and divemasters so you can actually get certified on vacation! You can find a list of accredited dive resorts on the PADI and NAUI websites. Even if you are not staying at the property, you can often arrange to get your certification done at the host resort.

-PADI now offers an eLearning option for the classroom portion of the training but you will need to find a dive center for the other half of your training.

Obtaining your certification: Depending on where you get certified, your dive equipment may be included in the overall price or you may be required to rent it on your own.  If you plan on diving frequently, you may want to consider investing in your own equipment.

Your classes will begin with classroom training and will be followed by practicing basic skills like descending, ascending, and hand signals in a controlled environment like a swimming pool. After, you will do a series of dives with a divemaster who will test your skills in the ocean or a lake. After you have passed the written and physical tests, you are officially scuba certified!

Time to dive: Now that you have your certification, you can present your card at any dive shop to be able to dive on one of their boats. If you are traveling solo, you will be paired up with another diver as your buddy or with the divemaster.  Be sure to also bring your logbook with you to show record of your previous dives.

Helpful tips:

-Do you wear glasses or contact lenses? You can get a customized mask made with your prescription! You can do a web search under “Prescription Dive Mask”. We found a site with reasonable prices called Seavenger.com.

-Diving is an amazing experience and you will be eager to capture memories of your dives. Consider investing in a waterproof camera or purchase a plastic case designed to cover your regular digital camera. The disposable cameras will also work but you will need to adhere to the depth limitations and ensure you have enough natural lighting.

-There are recommendations for how soon after scuba diving you can fly in an airplane. While the amount of hours is dependent on how many dives you did, how long you were diving, and how deep you went, 24 hours is usually my practice. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) has further information here.

Have more questions? Post them here on in the DIWYY forums in our ‘Scuba Diving‘ category.

The end of week two is about when people thought I’d come home… But I’m still here. This “adventure” is more like a test. One of self-denial and value assessment. And I’m failing. (Ay Dios Mio!) I’m failing bad. Well. Maybe a D-. But certainly not a score worthy of refrigerator real-estate.

First off, I packed poooorly. I didn’t have much to work with considering 98% of my closet is comprised of 4-inch heels and microscopic dresses. I brought the only 3 pairs of flat shoes I own- 2 pairs of sandals and running shoes. My little gold Steven Maddens fell victim to the cobblestone within a week. Thank God the strap snapped within a safe distance to my house. Not sure I could have appreciated the comedy that would have ensued as I tripped my way over filthy (and no doubt germ-ridden) streets- desperately trying to avoid little pools of questionable liquid. And let’s be honest. ANY pool of street liquid is questionable.  I brought one the pair of jeans I own that are short enough to wear with flats,  a pair of shorts that I’m sure will NOT be worn, a couple rescued-from-the-Goodwill-bag tank tops, a maxi dress or 2, yoga clothes, a wind breaker… Uhh. Not much else. But Antigua is a city where people wear normal clothes! Either hippie-with-dreads-SUPER-second-hand clothes, or normal, what-we-wear-at-home clothes… SO. I pretty much feel underdressed or over showered, but certainly never pretty. Or cute. OR well accessorized. The best I can do is a spritz of my now rationed perfume, a swipe of my vanishing-by-the-day Nars blush and a quick once-over with the little hair straightener I picked up at Wal-Mart. (I know, pathetic.) I’m learning how much value I derive from what people think of me bases on what I look like… wondering how I feel about that.

Other daily adventures…

The shower. First. You HAVE to remember not to let the water trickle into your mouth. I spent the first few days practically holding my breath in fear of ingestion… I mean. It was like doing cardio. I’d come out of the shower winded because I took so few breaths. Redic. I’ve now reached a more normal level of caution. Also. These “suicide showers”, as they’re known, are heated by an electric coil thing… the higher you turn on the water pressure, the faster the water runs through it, and the colder the water gets. For optimal heat you have to shower under a glorified dribble. And. IMPORTANT. You CANNOT touch the showerhead while it’s on. You WILL get shocked. Not bad enough to kill you… I’m living proof of that.  But it’s quite uncomfortable and scary as hell.

The volcanoes. I stare at 3 of them everyday. There are signs and flyers for tours and hikes all over the place. It seemed like the right thing to do. So. I climbed one. An active one. It’s called Pacaya. Aaaand it was terrifying. I mean yes, sure, it’s awesome that I climbed an active volcano. But only because I survived. Had I not, Channel 7’s commercial teaser would have read something like:

“An American girl died this afternoon after being caught in a lava flow on the active volcano she was hiking… We’ll have the exclusive story, including interviews with family and friends who say, ‘She’s not a hiker, we have no idea why she thought she should climb an active volcano.’ More at 11.”

Moments after a guide’s SHOES MELTED to the rocks, and she ripped the gooey rubber and remaining sock portion of her Nike’s from the scalding stones, I started shaking my head and repeating (like a crazy person): “Muy peligroso! Muy, MUY peligroso!” To summit, we crossed a freaking babbling brook of lava. LA-VA. Like, Hot Lava Monster, lava. At one point I looked down through a crack in the rock on which I was standing and could clearly see a neon streak of skin-vaporizing molten. 6 inches under me. I was literally standing half-a-foot above an underground lava aquifer. And let me also tell you- There’s not like, a trail to the peak of this active volcano. Which, by the way, we reached at sunset. (Read: Hiked back down in the dark.) It’s just a super giant pile of ankle slicing, newly formed, black volcanic shards over which we stumbled- in small single-file groups, with gaps in-between each group, because the rock isn’t SOLID ENOUGH to support the weight of too many people. WHAT?!!!

Whatever. I did survive. And I suppose I’m happy I can say that I’ve climbed an active volcano. But I’m certainly not going back for more.  (I’d post a picture of me on the volcano but fear, lack of make-up, and a hideous running hat prevented any evidence gathering.)

I also paid about $20(US) for a coffee plantation tour. Overrated. I learned a bit, but nothing I couldn’t read online. I hear the Macadamia Nut farm is much more cool- it’s next on my little hit list.  PS- Guatemala exports 85% of their best coffee to… guess who? (Hint: Think Seattle and green straws)

The biggest adventure of all is just learning to acclimate to this new life, the pace (everyone is late for everything, all the time), the culture of a town with clashing cultures and little accountability, and a lifestyle that is so totally different from what I know….

My feet have been filthy since day one and I’ve given up on the idea of anything different. It’s like camping. You just surrender to the dirt. I’ve met some incredible people here, but I miss my friends and the intimacy that comes from being comfortable with people you love. I can feel myself settling in- just a tiny bit.  I’m getting lost less and adjusting to regular “life-in-Antigua”. Little things are hard… like if I want black beans for dinner, I needed to start soaking them yesterday. I’m starting to feel sick but it’s not as simple as calling my doctor to make an appointment. And I HAVE TO LEARN TO REMEMBER not to drop the toilet paper in the bowl… don’t get me started.

However, at this point, I can confidently hit the local open-air market a few times a week and negotiate for non-gringa prices on staples like aguacates, tomates, y lechuga. Also. I’ve discovered a little restaurant that sells the most amazing chocolate truffles with chunks of fresh ginger and a dusting of cinnamon. They’re bite-sized, super gooey and vegan. Hello amazing-ness. (I’m also pretty sure they’ve got some crack inside, because since finding these stupid things I’ve been compelled to walk 6 blocks out of my way to consume about 3 of them a week. Officially. Addicted.)

In Antigua we walk everywhere. (Which justifies the truffle consumption.) But to get out of town, the cheapest mode of transportation is on a Chicken bus. It literally took me to the end of the 2^nd week to figure out that “Chicken busses” were the black-exhaust producing, old-fashioned school busses that fly around town like the bus driver from The Simpsons is behind the wheel. I kept looking for like, a flat bed truck transporting stacks of caged chickens from town to town. I figured you thumbed one down and climbed on board. Not so much. …I’ve yet to ride on one of these Chicken busses. And probably won’t. I’m absolutely positive they are more peligroso than lava, and for a few bucks more I can take a shuttle anywhere.  It’s one adventure I think I’ll skip.

I’m not dreaming in Spanish yet, but I’m starting to think in Quetzales instead of Dollars. (Except when justifying truffle expenditure. I THEN convert to Dollars, shrug my shoulder, and hand over the cash.) I even picked up a job bar tending. No. I don’t have any experience.

I’m lonelier than I’d like to be and much more incomodo…  But still. I’m pressing on.

We’ll be following Robyn’s journey with regular posts of her trial and tribulations in Antigua, Guatemala. You can also follow her blog.

Written by DIWYY guest writer, Katie, who studied abroad with Semester at Sea.

What circumnavigates the globe at 20 mph, makes 10 different stops in 10 different cultures and is amidst a countless number of languages in a matter of 91 days? The answer: Semester at Sea.

Each semester, the MV Explorer embarks on another journey on the high seas as a ship full of 700 bright eyed students and faculty set out to explore new horizons. Hong Kong, India, Brazil and South Africa are among a few of the stops that my ship sailed to. I was immersed in unusual languages, foods, cultures, sights, smells and time zones for an unforgettable 13 weeks of my life. I learned a wealth of knowledge including learning how to play the “African drums” aboard the ship while the ocean water sprayed our classroom windows. I also learned what it was like to greet new friends with “Ni hao” in China and “Namaste” in India and mastered the art of going to the bathroom in a “squatty potty”. I discovered the value of adapting and inheriting cultures other than my own, and the importance of respecting each human being on this planet as a fellow pilgrim on the journey, seeing how very similar we all are, below our many outward differences. I know I will be forever changed by the people I crossed paths with, the many ports that I sailed to and the teachers aboard the MV Explorer. If you are up for a wild, nonstop, and life changing study abroad experience, I highly recommend checking out Semester at Sea.

Interested in going? Check out Semester at Sea’s Prospective Student page which has information about upcoming trips, how to apply, costs/financial aid, and what types of classes you can take.

Are you a SAS alum? We’d love to hear your story too! Email kristina@diwyy.com.

The Do It While You’re Young brand evolved after Jerri and Kristina had several meet-ups throughout the United States. During conversations with other people, the topic of travel would come up often and stories from Jerri and Kristina’s adventures would cause the reaction of “I wish I would have done it when I was your age.” And from there, Jerri and Kristina were unofficially tasked with spreading the travel bug to young women everywhere. The concept of having a book was born years ago when Kristina visited Jerri in Miami, Florida. Instead of enjoying the vibrant culture and beautiful beaches, the girls opted to take up residence at the South Beach Starbuck’s for the weekend to get their ideas onto paper.

10-15 Hours per week

This savvy internship opportunity is designed for the Public Relations, Communications, Social Media, English or Journalism student or graduate.

Other requirements:
25+ hours a week, through the end of the summer.
Houston or San Jose area preferred but not required.
Must own a laptop
PR experience with media outreach a must
Understanding of and passion for Social Media
Entrepreneurial drive
Self-starter
Please include lists of all the social media sites you use

Begins Summer 2010

The Do It While You’re Young brand evolved after Jerri and Kristina had several meet-ups throughout the United States. During conversations with other people, the topic of travel would come up often and stories from Jerri and Kristina’s adventures would cause the reaction of “I wish I would have done it when I was your age.” And from there, Jerri and Kristina were unofficially tasked with spreading the travel bug to young women everywhere. The concept of having a book was born years ago when Kristina visited Jerri in Miami, Florida. Instead of enjoying the vibrant culture and beautiful beaches, the girls opted to take up residence at the South Beach Starbuck’s for the weekend to get their ideas onto paper.

Name: Kristina Wegscheider

Role: Co-founder/Editor/Writer

Hometown: San Jose, CA

U.S. States Visited: 24

Countries Visited: 45

Continent Count: 7

Education: Bachelor’s in Mass Communication from U.C. Berkeley; currently pursuing Master’s in Human Resources from Chapman University

Travel Specialties: Balancing a full-time job with a full travel schedule, Studying abroad, Frequent flyer miles

When she is not traveling, she is: running, biking, watching movies, dining with friends and writing about travel.

Contact: kristina@diwyy.com

Name: Jerri Stephenson

Role: Co-founder/Social Media Guru

Hometown: Houston, TX

U.S. States Visited: 34

Countries Visited: 28

Continent Count: 6

Education: Bachelor’s in Management and Marketing from Abilene Christian University; completing pre-reqs to apply to medical school

Travel Specialties: Working abroad, studying abroad, backpacking

When she is not traveling, she is: running, going to the beach, Twittering, doing yoga, and thinking about the next trip.

Contact: jerri@diwyy.com

DIWYY has an amazing group of talented contributors and advisors that help keep us running. Check out these awesome women that we couldn’t do without!