Traveler Profile: hluram

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Screen name:

hluram

Age:

Gender:

Female

If you must know:

I'm single

Travel status:

Traveling soon

Hometown:

SW Suburb of Chicago.

Currently in:

Bloomington-Normal, IL

Traveling Next:

Up to Chicago for a Cubs game!

Favorite places I've been:

Chile, Italy, Spain, France, England, Ireland, The Netherlands, Jamaica, Canada, Mexico, The Cayman Islands, Maui, Alaska, Minnesota, Florida, California, Washington, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Illinois.

Places I want to go to:

If there's one thing I learned from living abroad, it's that there is still so much of my own country that I've yet to see! But really I'm up for going anywhere! Patagonia, China, Australia, New Zealand, The Philippines, backpacking South America, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Madagascar, India, Egypt, Greece, Antarctica, Africa, the moon!

About me:

I am a senior at Illinois State University and just recently returned from a life changing experience living and studying abroad in Florence, Italy. I have an unreal passion for traveling and for discovering other cultures. I'm a wandering anthropologist, I'd like to think. I love going to a new place and blending in, soaking up the differences between the world the people of that place live in and the one in which I grew up. I love adventure... and stargazing.

Profile URL:

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/hluram

Read more about hluram

I'm fired up on:

Hiking, fishing... being outside in any venture, really. I also love trying new things... and new foods! If Andrew Zimmern or Anthony Bourdain ever needed a travel buddy I wouldn't have even a moment's hesitation.

Tunes I rock out to:

First ten (of 31) songs on my Travel playlist:
1) Cruisin' - Gwyneth Paltrow
2) Coffee and Cigarettes - Augustana
3) 3x5 - John Mayer
4) Leaving on a Jet Plane - Chantal Kreviazuk
5) It's a Beautiful Morning - Young Rascals
6) 500 Miles - The Proclaimers
7) Gone Going - Black Eyed Peas ft. Jack Johnson
8) Underneath - Alanis Morisette
9) Black Roses Red - Alana Grace
10) I Take My Chances - Mary Chapin Carpenter
I have to say that my iPod is a right eclectic mess!

Travel style:

I'm not big on shopping or typical tourist traveling. I like feeling small in this world; being awed by the things that I encounter.I like to travel with people but find it works best if we are the same types of travelers. I don't mind traveling alone, but as a woman it can be risky.

Quote:

"Life's too short to be a creature of habit." - Yours truly

Sports I do:

Frisbee, Soccer, Swimming

Favorite books:

Fiction, Fantasy, Jane Austen, Dickens, Travel

Who I'd like to meet on my travels:

I think Anthony Bourdain would be a hilarious travel encounter.

I want to make a difference by:

Enlightening people to what they're missing when they're sitting home watching TV instead of getting out there and LIVING! The human race needs to find a new appreciation for the world that they live in and on... and the fellow creatures that they share it with.

Languages spoken, other than English:

Some Spanish and Italian.

I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when:

I spent New Year's Eve in Antofogasta, Chile, with the family of my mother's foreign exchange sisters. I was included in the family's traditions and really felt at home. During the day the men assembled a giant scarecrow and dressed it in an old article of clothing from each of the family members - even some of the neighbors on the street contributed. As the sun set people started arriving for the party, some dressed for travel and hauling suitcases hoping to travel in the new year!
When everyone had arrived (or maybe when the men had had enough of waiting) the scarecrow was lit up... and by 'up' I mean 'on fire'. The idea is that by burning their pieces of old clothing at the commencement of the New Year, all of the bad luck from the previous year would blow away with the ashes. Not knowing if that rule only applied to Chileans, I contributed just in case.
The midnight hour having come around, we all toasted and ate spoonfuls of lentils for good luck in money in the coming year - myself taking two spoonfuls just for good measure. Then we danced and enjoyed each other's rather inebriated company until just before dawn.

Why I travel:

Because I love seeing new things and meeting new people, writing about it, catching precious moments in pictures, and then hearing how much my family enjoys seeing those pictures and reading about my experiences. When there is so much to do and see in this broad world of ours, how could I not?

Ideal place to watch the sunrise:

In the mountains, after an early early morning jog... watching and listening to the world come to life.

Ideal place to watch the sunset:

While relaxing on the beach, after touring the island all day, local frozen drink in hand.

Before I die I'd like to:

Find the perfect travel companion.

Let's collaborate:

I'm a soon-to-be graduate with a B.A. in Mass Communication: Interactive Media.I'm an avid travel writer and amateur photographer looking to collaborate with travel publications or to work as an intern.

My links:

www.thehgreatlwideusomewhere.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/hluram

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by stadiumstatus | 2009/07/04

That sounds fun. Are you excited about graduating!?

And it seems like you have a pretty sweet deal worked out with your mom.

I've actually been to Las Vegas six times, but haven't been able to gamble and do all the other fun stuff all those times, so this trip should be better.

Glad you're a Cubs fan, and I hope you don't get too much crap for wearing your jersey to the game.

Hope you had a safe holiday weekend!

by bearshapedsp... | 2009/06/28

Hey Hannah,

Oh yes, Patagonia. Incredible stuff, from Ushuaia all the way up, so yeah, I've been. I still want to go to a couple of spots on the carretera austral (like Caleta tortel), but I'd happily spend a whole 'nother summer there. I've been to Iquique and Arica in the north, but skipped Antofogasta.

let me know if you want any tips/suggestions on the area. I'm looking forward to seeing where the world takes you, too!

And welcome to Matador, of course!

by stadiumstatus | 2009/06/27

Hey Hannah,

I enjoyed looking through your pictures. Looks like you've been to some great places.

I'll be going to Washington, D.C. and Vegas later this summer. Unfortunately, no where outside the states.

Are you traveling anywhere anytime soon, besides Chicago? I'm from Houston, so I'm still a little bitter towards the White Sox. Hopefully they'll lose when you see them.. just kidding. Hope all is well!

Best,

Justin

by halamen | 2009/06/27

Hi Hannah,

I spent 3 months volunteering with Sustainable Bolivia in Cochabamba, and I'm about to start another stint (probably shorter), with Patagonia Volunteer in Argentina. Both orgs are Matador members.

Looking forward to hearing what you find in NZ. Best of luck!

- Hal

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by halamen | 2009/06/27

So cool that you found an authentic experience in Antofagasta, a city most travelers (including myself) breeze right through.

by novoarte | 2009/06/26

Welcome to Matador- love the enthusiasm and energy of your profile!

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