Wow  I am exhausted . . .I just flew 18 hours to Istanbul, Turkey from Austin, TX!!  It’s one of the longest flights I’ve ever been on when flying overseas to date.  But let me just say I am glad to have my feet firmly planted on Turkish soil!

For those of you who don’t know, I work at Alliance Abroad Group in addition to being a gluten-free consultant and social media/public relations & marketing consultant.  I tell myself every day I am a very lucky gal to have landed a job that allows me to travel internationally, tasting my way through various cultures and helping students to write their own stories.  It’s a dream job in so many ways.

So I am ready to kick my feet up and get settled into my hotel.  Lucky for me I was lodging at the Hilton Istanbul, located atop a hill in the Taksim neighborhood of Istanbul.  My driver gave me a little history lesson on the way to the hotel, sharing that Istanbul is the City of Seven Hills and that Istanbul sits both in Europe and Asia.

A 10-minute walk from downtown, the Hilton Hotel has an amazing view overlooking the Bosphorus and Blue Mosque, two of the most amazing features of the city, as well as the Grand Bazaar and other attractions the old city has to offer.  Clearly the view at night from my balcony is enough to make you want to come back to Istanbul time and time again.  Standing there taking in the depth of the history of this country, to understand that Constantine traversed these lands, such beauty to behold as the gentle breeze caressed my face, I knew it would be a good trip and that I needed to put food in my belly and get a good nights rest!

Dinner was at Leb-i derya (They are part of the Slow Food movement in Turkey which is displayed on their menu).  We were treated to a traditional appetizer and cheese plates, all gluten-free, which included:

• Walnut eggplant mousse-roasted bell pepper cream
• Fava bean puree-citrus onion chutney
• Goat cheese brûlée
• Dardanelles tomato confit with rosemary reduction
• Tulum cheese-crystallized pumpkin
• Aged kassari-green olive tapenade
• Smoked circassian-walnut pesto
• Goat cheese grilled pear

So how lucky was I to be invited to Toulouse by Lucas and John after our epic weekend in Barcelona! Natty spontaneously came as well and that was so perfect because it wouldn’t feel right going on an adventure without her. The theme of this trip was less sightseeing because it was so cold…it was more about relaxing, eating, drinking, and enjoying! The south of France  was a trip I will never forget as I fell in love with the country just as much as I have with Spain and Portugal. What a beautiful place!

We were greeted at the airport by the boys and went to see their apartments and hung out for a bit. We almost missed lunch because all the restaurants close from 2-6 but were lucky to find a delicious Italian place where I ate the yummiest pizza of my life. We stayed Thursday through Sunday. I have to say the weather in Toulouse was not the greatest, we left Barcelona at 15 degrees and were hit with 5 degrees in France, quite a shock to the system. I hate being cold but thank goodness for my Zara jacket!

The highlight of the trip was the Brunch we ate on Saturday. The restaurant was the smallest most adorable place called La Petit Magre, with a chandelier and baby blue and gold embellished plates, cutlery, and wallpaper…we ate squash soup, delicious salmon and salads…and for dessert…Nat and I stood in front of the window for at least 20 minutes trying to decide on which chocolate dessert we were going to share…after the boys were  getting irritated it was taking so long we looked at each other and got both haha, a chocolate mousse ball and a raspberry brownie YUM!

The best part about Toulouse for me, besides being taken care of and toured around the city by Lucas and John were the smells from the cheese, chocolate, and bakery stores. OMG they were unbelievable…I would leave a store and my hair would smell like brie, croissants, and chocolate as I walked the streets. Let´s just say the following week going back to our  tuna, salad, toast and melon  was not fun after eating in Toulouse!

Au Revoir!

Yo tengo una semana mas en Barcelona. Que triste pero escribiré pronto!  Xo

Besos

1. Airline Apps – An absolute must if you are a traveler – almost every major airline has an App with various capabilities. Delta sent me updates on the go and even notified me if my gate changed. No need to look at the monitors in the airport (although it’s always good to double check). I even used it to change my seat while sitting at the airport gate (bonus!).

2. FourSquare – The geo-location App is great for airports because not only do you get to see who else is there (my travel companion saw that one of her friends from when she studied abroad in college was also at the airport) but it also tells you tips and what is located nearby (Chili’s ToGo anyone?). Great for a long 6 hour layover in Detroit.

3.Travel Map Apps – depending on where you are going, you can find an App for the city that is viewable offline, so you don’t have to have WiFi or cell phone service to see where you going. Although a little slow, it’s pretty reliable and beats carrying around a big map that screams “Tourist!”

4. Language Apps – since I don’t speak a lick of Russian, Ukrainian or Moldovan I downloaded some free apps that have basic phrases that even give you the pronunciation and speak them for you (in case you are still having trouble). The free versions usually have just enough to get by, but if you will be in a foreign country for an extended period of time, I recommend upgrading to the pro version which has 1,000′s of words/phrases.

5. Weather Apps- Another travel must is having a weather app to check the latest radar, forecast and weather alerts. iPhones have weather Apps built in but another free App worth downloading is the Weather Channel. We had a snow storm headed over Detroit during our layover, but luckily we were able to get out in time, just had a little bit of turbulence as a result! DING, seat belts please!

6. Clock Apps- iPhone has a great world clock built in which comes in handy with time zone changes. I also use it to keep track of what time it is where family members live. It’s always 5 o’clock somewhere!

7. Tripit – I recently became an avid user and big fan of this travel tool. It keeps an itinerary of all your flight details, hotel confirmation #s and activities all in one place – it’s free to set up and once you create an account Tripit automatically scans your emails for travel plans. When new flights or hotels get booked, it pulls them into your Tripit Trip so you can access all the info in one place. No more digging through your email to find the hotel phone # or flight number.

The iPad App has an additional feature which maps your location and gives you directions between the airport and hotel. I highly recommend this site/App for anyone who travels frequently. And you can add your frequent flyer numbers and sync with airlines to keep all your miles in one spot!

8. Skype- The hands down best way to keep in touch on the go. Buy a credit in advance and use it while connected the free Wifi at hotels or restaurants to make calls. $5 has lasted me over a year of calls!  I used Skype on my laptop, iPad and iPhone the entire trip and could video conference too!

9. Delta -Shout out to Delta‘s App again. Our bags didn’t make it back to Austin (not Delta’s fault, we took an earlier flight) but I was able to use the App to track down where my suitcase was using the bag tag #….

…and, upon returning home, I also come to find out they have a parking reminder feature – take a photo of your car and geo-tag your location when you park so you don’t forget! I didn’t park at the airport for this trip but next time I am definitely using this – even if I don’t fly Delta!

10. Evernote – Keep travel docs and website bookmarks all in once place with this file sharing App – it syncs your files via “Notebooks” between your devices. I use it to store my Frequent Flyer numbers and keep a scanned copy of my passport, just in case!

Hopefully these are useful in your future travels. Have a favorite travel App? Let us know by commenting on our Facebook page!

Last month I got to add a new stamp to my passport (actually had to get a new passport as mine had expired) when I traveled to Istanbul, Turkey.  When I got the news from my boss at Alliance Abroad Group I would be heading to Istanbul for a week, just a few days shy of the holidays, I couldn’t contain my excitement.

I had traveled to Istanbul previously, but it has been 10 to 12+ years since I’d been there, so it really for me was like going there for the first time.  Plus, I had since been diagnosed with Celiac’s Disease and I was looking forward to my gluten-free travels – full well knowing it would be relatively easy to eat gluten-free in Turkey.

Reservations made (with gluten-free meals requested) and my bags packaged, I was off on my journey departing Austin via British Airways with a connection in  London, and then onto to Istanbul.  I always love stopping over in London, as it’s one of my favorite cities, however, it wasn’t much of a layover as I didn’t get to leave the airport – I would have loved to retrace Anthony Bourdain’s route on The Layover! What was shocking to me however was the lack of Christmas decorations.  Alone stood one singular Christmas Tree just outside Harrods (I am a huge fan of their food hall  in their flagship store in Knightsbridge). With London being steeped in such history & celebration of the holiday’s typically, I was truly disappointed.

The other thing that was a bit frustrating was that I didn’t find a lot of options in pre-package gluten-free foods that I could just grab-and-go from one of the many food kiosks, as I didn’t have time for an actual sit down meal between my connecting flights.  Thank goodness just shortly after boarding I was served my dinner on British Airways which was chicken breast with vegetables (sorry I forgot to take a picture) which would hold me over for the remainder of my 18 hour flight.

Want to go to Turkey for yourself and experience the cuisine just like Rachelle? Check out our Teach Turkey program!

A new year and we at AIDE Abroad are always looking for excuses to travel and ways to improve ourselves. But a new year is a the perfect time make a list of things to scratch off your bucket list. And, at the same time, travel is the best way to make some positive improvements in your life. Here are 10 reasons why you should resolve to travel more in 2012.

1. Give Back to the Community - Travel is good for you but it can also benefit others as well. When you volunteer or work abroad you have the opportunity to impact the lives of others while feeling good in the process.

2. Learn a New Language – Even in countries where English is the primary or native language you will learn to pick up new words, phrases and idioms. “G’Day Mate” and “Buenos Noches ” might become part of your vernacular upon returning home to the states.

3. Make New Friends – Travel is a great way to meet new people. From your new co-workers to your home stay family, you’ll not only make life long memories, you’ll have a built in network of international friends!

4. Eat Healthy & Cook More – International food is out of this world! Replace fast food with tapas and PB&J with empanadas – you’ll come back to your kitchen full of recipe ideas and a whole new cuisine to add to your repertoire.

5. Be Smart with Money – Why not get paid to travel? Either by working in the Australia Outback overseas or by participating in a home stay in Turkey you not only get to go to a new country, you can pay your way and/or support yourself while you’re there! O

6. Be On Time – Being in a different hemisphere, crossing over time zones and in many cases using the military system to tell time, you’ll learn quickly to adjust your watch and your body clock so you don’t miss your flights! After living abroad in Spain nearly 7 years ago, I still eat using “Spanish time” and enjoy to eat a late lunch and super! If only we could close our office to take a siesta!

7. Exercise – Most people don’t realize it but you burn a lot of calories while traveling. Between carrying your bags between terminals and walking out and about sightseeing, you are staying active on the go and getting a good work out in while seeing the world. Costa Rica or Argentina beats the gym any day of the week!

8. Stop Procrastinating  – This year, stop saying and start doing! Don’t let another year go by with “Oh I should have done that” or “man, I wish I would have done this” – now is the time to go live about all the places you’ve only read about and dream about.

9. Read More – Airports and Trains are great places to read that pile of books you’ve been neglecting and catch up on all those magazines on your Kindle.

10. Get More Rest – With all the traveling you will be so exhausted and jet lagged you will have no trouble resting your feet at night and getting a good night’s sleep at the end of the day and after you get back home.

Why not spend 2012 doing something you’ve always wanted to do while gaining a new perspective on the world?

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE INTERNSHIP (BRUSSELS, Belgium)

Looking for an opportunity to work with a reputable academic and travel organization overseas and build your international business resume? Work with a company that helps foster the relationships between the United States of America, Belgium and Luxembourg. Located in the Royal Library Albert I in Brussels, you’ll work in an industry that specializes in administering several Scholarship Programs for citizens of Belgium and Luxembourg. Special programs for language teaching assistants (Dutch, French and German) and secondary school teachers of English also exist.

Responsibilities:
- Operating the U.S. embassy’s Educational Advising Center
- Work in close cooperation with the Educational Adviser-Program Officer
- Social media resources (Facebook, website, YouTube)
- Assisting with the scholarship competitions
- Research projects on different fields of study

Requirements:

- Experience with applying to U.S. institutions at the undergraduate or graduate level
- Willingness to help Belgian students understand the U.S. education system
- Be interested in running a small business, working for an NGO and international diplomacy
- It would be helpful to have: basic knowledge in excel, familiarity with social media platforms, basic knowledge of one of the official languages in Belgium
- Current student enrolled at U.S. University

How to Apply

Think you have what it takes? If you are interested, please apply using our online application and we will process applications and screen candidates (based on qualifications) in the order they are received. How to Apply?

1. Fill out an application form
2. Provide references
3. Submit both forms via e-mail application@aideabroad.org or by mail (1221 S. Mopac Expressway, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78746)
4. Our staff will be in touch to schedule interview and phone pre-screenings
5. If qualified and accepted into the program, we will work with you to arrange payment, transportation, and fill out additional paper work

Good luck!

But as much as I’ve dipped my toes into it, nothing compares to the real deal. It melts in your mouth, literally! By the end of the trip, my family joked that we had eaten our weight in cheese by the time we left. I’m a vegetarian so it’s very vegetarian friendly too, but not so much for you Vegans, sorry!

In writing this blog post I did a little more research into where Fondue originated and how it became so popular. This Swiss tradition was promoted as a Swiss national dish by the Swiss Cheese Union (Schweizerische Käseunion) in the 1930s as a way of increasing cheese consumption and the word comes from the French verb fondre (‘to melt’).

I became so in love with fondue I got my own little miniature kit – on sale no less! (At time of publish: you can get one too from Crate & Barrel for only $9.95 – in store only). My friend and I took a less traditional approach and made these yummy chocolate dipped pretzel sticks that I found the recipe for on the bag! 3 ingredients and less than $20 for a night of fun with a girlfriend or loved one over the holidays!

All you need is:

• Fondue Set
• Bag of Pretzel Sticks (even come in Gluten Free)
• Bag of white chocolate chips
• Holiday Sprinkles (I got mine for a buck in the dollar section of Target)

Dip the sticks in the melted chocolate chips (use a small spoon to help coat them) then sprinkle and let dry standing up in a small cup. (Be careful though they tend to get top heavy and fall over).

And voila, you have a tasty treat to give as gifts (or its okay if you don’t want to share with others).

No matter how you fon-do it, have fun with this social snack -great for the holidays!

1. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom:

Want to enhance the photos from your trip? This software is an intuitive digital darkroom and efficient assistant designed for serious amateur and professional photographers. Easily manage, edit, and showcase all your images.

AIDE Abroad readers: Save 10% on select Adobe products with offer code BRIGHT10. Hurry! Ends December 21st.

(BONUS: Fame and give your photos as gifts, make a calendar of your travels or print them on a mug, canvas or more! We recommend Snapfish.com)

2. Designer Duct Tape:

Smart travelers know that a roll of a duct tape is worth its weight in gold, capable of fixing and personalizing luggage, repairing books and hemlines on the go! Plus this Duck Tape comes in colorful colors and patterns so you can repair with style! We’ve got to say we’re a sucker for the collegiate tapes too – show off your school pride!

(Price: $8-15 Find at a hardware store or drug store near you!)

3. A Sturdy Backpack:

Every long term traveler needs a backpack. Volunteers who are Travelers require a good backpack for their journey to the country and to the project location.  A backpack should be comfy, stylish enough, and very sturdy.

AIDE Abroad Readers: Check out Pacsun for a selection of JanSport backpacks – 30% off today only!

4. Crumbled Maps:

Crumpled maps can be folded or simply stuffed into a pocket, backpack or carryon without damage. Guaranteed wrinkle resistant and waterproof, the crumpled map is the perfect companion who still prefers a real map to an App.

(10% on everything from Dec. 5th to Dec. 24th. & 30% on Collection Boxes. Note:  These come from Italy so you’ll buy in Euros and be sure to buy early and factor in extra time for shipping!)

5. Luggage Tags:

Add a little humor to luggage with a whimsical luggage tag that may entertains the luggage handler and fellow travelers.  Designer Pamela Barsky has great tags on her site.

($9.99 for set of 6)

6. Lux Travel Guides:

Small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, but big enough to contain hundreds of hand-selected entries of the very best each city has to offer, LUXE City Guides are distilled from the recommendations of people who actually live in the city itself, and collated by a resident editor. Want to know more about how we do what we do, and just how unique LUXE City Guides really are?

(Free shipping on everything and anything! Yes, we said FREE!)

7. Tripit Pro Account:

Increase the joy and give travelers on your list a helping hand with TripIt Pro. With all the benefits of TripIt – which easily organizes your trips in one place on your smartphone – TripIt Pro acts like a personal travel assistant, sending you status alerts and alternate flight options, storing frequent traveler points, and helping you save money on flights.

(One year: $49 – or you can always opt for the free version too!)

8. Smash Book Travel Journal:

How cool are these guys for smashing all your thoughts, ideas, ticket stubs, etc when you’re on the go! Watch the video, words can not explain how cool we thing this is!

($14.29 per book: Free shipping on orders over $60)

9. Fresh Produce Delivered to your Door:

Community Supported Agriculture (or commonly called a CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

(Find a local CSA in your area. Here in our hometown of Austin, we found Johnson’s Backyard Garden which sells gift memberships and farmers market bucks! How cool is that?)

10. Gift of Giving: 

Last but not least, we couldn’t resist a little shameless self promotion! Give an AIDE Abroad experience as a gift to your loved ones that have dreamed of volunteering or teaching Abroad. Live with a family in Brazil while exploring and learning about different cultures.  Or embark on the adventure with a home-stay in Turkey. Either way, tutor 15 hours a week and receive room and board in exchange! Weekends and the rest of the time are free to sight-see and learn about the local cultures.

(Bonus: Complete the Turkey program and get a $500 flight reimbursement for your trip!)

What are your favorite holiday gift ideas this year? Leave a reply below…

They even have Bagels in Spain!

$100 Off Now Through March 20, 2012

Embark on the adventure of your life and teach English in Turkey.  Dip your toes in the warm waters off the Mediterranean coast, explore the outdoors, or head to Istanbul, one of the most stylish and atmospheric cities in the world. Experience for yourself the place where East and West come together while living with a Turkish family and teach English in exchange for room and board. In return you will spend 10 hours a week, Monday through Friday, teaching English to the members of the host family. You will have weekends and the rest of the time free to sightsee, learn about Turkish culture and make new friends!

Most participants will be placed in residential areas in Istanbul. Please be prepared to take public transportation into the city if you are placed in the suburbs.

Participants may travel independently, or with family. Most of the Turkish families also have summer houses in the Aegean and Mediterranean coast of Turkey and the family may ask the participant to join them on summer holiday there.

ADDITIONAL INCLUSIONS

Teach Turkey includes the following services in additional to our teach services:

• Monthly pocket money of $300 earned during program
• Flight reimbursement of $500 upon completion of the program

More info and Pricing.