Author Archives: Jeremy
Cape Verde: Africa’s Little Galapagos!
A small, volcanic spattering of lush islands located off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde enjoys a warm, dry climate, little rainfall and over the past few years, has sharpened its focus on tourism. Cape Verde is actually very easily accessible via plane, so if you’re studying abroad in Europe, it makes a great long weekend trip or spring break destination!
Cape Verde holidays are most famed for the natural beauty of the land and seascapes, and for the cultural legacy of morna, a haunting creole genre of music made famous by singer Cesária Évora. Discovered and settled by the Portuguese in the 15th century, and gaining independence only in 1975, the country now has a population of over half a million, and welcomes around the same number of visitors to its shores each year.
A mixed melting pot of influences will always produce a colorful culinary destination, and Cape Verde is no exception. Its abundance of delicious dishes uses freshly caught seafood including lobster, tuna and squid, while cachupa is the national dish, assembled from rice, meats and beans, and enjoyed in times of celebration. Grogue is the main alcoholic beverage. This heady brew gets its name from the rum concoction enjoyed by pirates used to keep scurvy at bay, and is distilled from sugar cane.
Nature lovers will adore getting up close with the Loggerhead sea turtles. Preservation efforts are being made on the island of Santa Maria, and visitors can visit a turtle hatchery between June and December. It’s even possible in summer months to head out on a guided walk to the beach where the turtles lay their eggs, and to adopt a baby turtle so the good work can continue long after you’ve set off on your journey home.
You can also learn a new skill on Santa Maria, an island famed for its perfect conditions for kite surfing. The English-speaking instructors give one-to-one tuition, and it’s possible to be picked up from your hotel to learn what could swiftly become an obsession. If you prefer your expeditions from the comfort of a boat, it’s also possible to zip out over the waves around the island of Sal, to spot flying fish, dolphins and whales.
Whether you’re hoping for an active adventure, to learn about animal conservation and sealife, or to enjoy some grogue while tapping toes to the thrum of some traditional folk music, Cape Verde enjoys a unique global position, culture and atmosphere that are well worth further exploration.
Microsoft Office 365 is a Student’s Best Friend!
Brought to you by Microsoft Office
Whether you’re preparing for college this upcoming fall or you’re a current student, Office 365 makes for a great partner to help you study smarter, stay organized and to manage your social life conveniently and efficiently. Microsoft Office gives you the ability to access all of your info whenever and wherever – you’ll always be set up for success.
You can find out more about Office 365, including how eligible students can qualify for special pricing through Microsoft Office 365 University by clicking here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-office-365-university-FX102918415.aspx.
The Most Beautiful College Campuses in the US
While most of us try to evaluate schools on honorable criteria such as the quality of its academics, student to teacher ratio, the efficacy of student services and so on, let’s face it: we are inherently emotional creatures, and as such, we are ably seduced by beauty. In this light, the look and feel of a college campus, from the architecture of its buildings, to the natural setting that surrounds it all indelibly colors our perception of a school.
Most of us would love to spend our college years in a place that feels like being on the set of the Dead Poets Society or Good Will Hunting, rather than be trapped in an institution so ugly the pigeons won’t even crap on it. As such, even if you are strictly making your decision based on pure logic, it’s still fun to look at pretty pictures of schools that represent the collegiate ideal (… and there’s nothing saying you can’t visit them on a road trip with your buddies)!
With that sorted, here are five schools that have been the apples of our eye for some time here at College Blender…
5) Wake Forest University
Filled with structures constructed in the Georgian style, this private college in North Carolina blossoms with cherry, apple and dogwood blossoms in the spring, burns with bright orange, yellow and red colors in the fall … with the occasional sprinkling of toilet paper strands when one of their athletic teams wins a major championship. This school also ranks favorably in teaching surveys on an annual basis, making this southern college a solid choice all round.
4) United States Military Academy At West Point
Think that joining the army means you’ll be spending all your time in uninspiring barracks? If your training has you bound for West Point, you will be in for huge surprise. Situated in the picturesque Hudson River Valley in New York State, this imposing collection of neo-gothic buildings will imbue you with a sense of power and strength as you work your way through the intensive academic programs that are offered here.
3) University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sandwiched between two deep blue lakes in the Wisconsin capital of Madison, there is ample room for inspiration and recreation on the campus of U of W – Madison. As if this wasn’t enough, the buildings on campus exude a traditional feel, and student life on campus has long been regarded as some of the liveliest in the nation, as the University of Wisconsin – Madison has consistently ranked near the top of party school rankings by publications such as Playboy magazine.
2) Pepperdine University
In some respects, the west coast often has it so good that it simply isn’t fair. The physical surrounds of Pepperdine University is a perfect illustration of this, as its campus in Malibu has an unbeatable view of the Pacific Ocean, with the steep foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains acting as the backdrop behind it.
This institution has buildings that take inspiration from Mediterranean and modernist schools of architecture, and palm trees and other subtropical shrubbery is found in abundance here. One caveat: this private school has a Christian bent in its underlying philosophy, so the scenery might not be enough of a draw if you have views that collide with those held by the administrators.
1) Elon University
When it comes to channeling the collegiate experience via the exterior and interior design, the creators and builders of Elon University have accomplished this masterfully over the years, as they have crafted a school that has ranked at or near the top of beauty rankings for decades. Much of the flora on campus is actively managed as part of the academic curricula of its horticultural faculties, aiding its placement at the top of our list as well!
Have any other contenders for the most beautiful college campuses in the US? Share them below in the comments!
5 Fun Drinking Games Anyone Can Learn!
Disclaimer: College Blender.com does not promote or endorse underage or binge drinking. All of these games are intended for those of legal drinking age and to be done in moderation.
While drinking alcohol isn’t a prerequisite to having a good time in college, let’s be realistic: a comfortable majority of students enjoy a beer…or many on a semi-regular basis. It’s not hard to see why: freshmen are celebrating their liberation from their parents, sophomores and juniors are stress-balling about making the excellent grades they need to graduate with honors, while seniors are freaking the hell out about their pending release into the Real World … and the start of those dreaded student loan payments.
But let’s forget about all that tonight, as we are all collectively in the present moment … why not be one big happy drunk family together? As fun as normal socializing is while consuming your favorite alcoholic beverage, sometimes a little stirring of the pot is necessary to elevate a party from awesome to epic.
This is where drinking games come in, as it adds equal parts of social interaction, shared laughs, and most importantly, wanton consumption of alcohol! So get started on that hefty pre-game meal to soak up the punishment that your liver is about to take, because after playing one or more of the games below, your head will be feeling the effects the next morning if you don’t prepare properly (drink water regularly through the evening as well, and have fun!)
1) Flipcup
Beer pong is so ten years ago. The plastic drinking glass game that is sweeping the nation these days is the intense, fast-paced game of Flipcup. The object of this contest is simply this: you take two teams, and line them up down a table (3 per side minimum).
Filling the cups halfway (all the way if you’re truly ambitious) with beer, the first grouping of drinking combatants chugs their beer, placing the cup upside down on the edge of the table when finished. The player then has to flip the cup so that it lands on its proper bottom without falling over. When this task is successfully completed, the next person down the line can drink. First side to complete these tasks successfully to the end wins!
2) Card games
There are many card games that can be made into drinking games, or were invented with drinking in mind. Asshole is a prominent one, where the deuce is the trump card, with values descending A,K, Q through to the worst cards, 4 and 3. The first player can lead with any card (the worst one(s) they have is the smart play), and the next player has to get rid of the same card or better.
Combos add more excitement to the game, where a player getting rid of three 5’s for example would compel the next to play a three card combo or higher, lest they have to pass on their turn. The president is the one who finishes first, vice president is 2nd, and the last two players are saddled with the titles vice asshole and asshole, compelling them to drink half and chug their beer respectively.
3) Drinking games based on movies or TV shows
These types of games proliferate widely throughout the internet, with combos of drinks and chugging being assigned for the cliché actions and sayings that actors/actresses in common movies and TV shows perform on a regular basis. An example out of the infinite number that exist: In one particular Walking Dead drinking game, one of the cues to drink includes when Rick tries to restore hope to the group (all the time without success, it seems!), and chugging happens whenever somebody gets killed by a zombie (even if they are a redshirt).
4) Quarters
This game seems simple enough at the start, but the sorry state of most people’s coordination skills (made worse by all the drinks you’ll consume by losing to someone more experienced than you) and understanding of physics make this a challenging but fun contest.
In order to play, start with a glass in the middle of the table. You then take a quarter and attempt to bounce it off the table and into said glass. A successful shot means you get to pick who takes a drink. The shooter keeps taking shots at the glass until they miss, whereupon the quarter goes to the next player. If you wish to try again after your first attempt, some versions allow you to declare “chance”. Hitting this shot allows you to keep going as per usual, but missing results in a penalty of at least two drinks.
5) Century Club (attempt with beer ONLY)
Also known as Power Hour in a toned down version of this game, players attempting to join the Century Club bring a shotglass and at least eight beers with them to the event. A song list with splits that occur once every two minutes needs to be prepared beforehand, as when the song switches, a drink of beer from their filled up shotglass must be taken. A fun thing to do during this 3+ hour boozefest is to pass around a pen and a large notepad/scribbler, noting the thoughts of participants as they descend the downward spiral into excessive drunkeness!
What other fun drinking games do you know? Share them in the comments below!
Top Things To Know About Visiting Buenos Aires!
The top things to know about visiting Buenos Aires can help you ease into Argentina’s famous capital, if you’re planning on studying abroad or visiting here. Take note that some of these pieces of information might not all be positive, but that’s life and it’s better to know of nuisances now than deal with them later. But don’t worry, not all of them are bad news!
Here are some of the top things to know about visiting Buenos Aires:
Carry spare change with you. And by spare change, we mean coins, especially if you plan on frequently traveling via public transit. In Buenos Aires, there seems to be a shortage in coins, so you’ll have a hard time getting you change back if you decide to pay with bills. Recently the city has begun implementing a rechargeable card system to mitigate the shortage of coins, but still hoard your change any chance you get!
Watch your step. Even sidewalks in Buenos Aires would be like walking on a mine field, as you need to watch out for dog poop and cracked tile sidewalks. So always be careful when you’re walking along the sidewalks of Buenos Aires.
Be careful. Big cities like Buenos Aires are a haven for crooks and robbers. So take necessary precautions when walking around Buenos Aires. When someone is calling for your attention, ignore them, walk on and go to a less deserted place. Chances are, they’ll leave you alone. This is the case with any major city like New York, Paris, London, Barcelona, etc.
Best steaks in the world. One of the top things to know about visiting Buenos Aires is that they have some of the best steaks in the world! From the well-seasoned bife de lomo, to the chorizo, their steaks are a must try when you’re in the city. And you won’t have to worry about the price. You can sample these savory steaks for less than US$10. A bottle of amazing wine will only run you a couple bucks as well. The drinking age is only 18 a well!
Christmas and New Years aren’t the best times to go to Buenos Aires. During the holidays, expect to see a ghost town rather than a bustling Argentinian city when visiting Buenos Aires during Christmas or New Year. You’d be disappointed to find even Mccdonald’s closed during this time of the year.
