Why everyone should go to a Rodeo, at least once in their life...

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

“It’s boots and chaps, cowboy hats, spurs and latigo, ropes and the reins & the joy and the pain; They call the thing Rodeo.” -Anonymous

Being in Texas is surreal. Everything about Texas screams beauty; everything is green and big and it kinda feels like home. There is a rich, cultural history and it is also the place that stole my heart! We had the opportunity and privilege to experience Rodeo at Tejas Rodeo on the 4th of July celebrations.

My family and I at Tejas Rodeo

Here’s why Rodeos are awesome:

1. There is eye candy for everyone: Women: The cowboys who are riding the bulls/horses are gorgeous! They are strong, handsome and they are entertaining to watch… doesn’t it sound amazing?

Men: The women watching the rodeos are gorgeous, as well. Dresses/ skirts, boots and cowboy hats, need I say more? I think not.

2. It is great fun for everyone to watch! It is entertaining to watch the barrel jumping, the horse riding, the bull catching and the bull-riding. Children can participate in the ‘Mutton Bustin’ where they try to catch sheep or the calves. The women can enjoy the eye candy around them, as well as in the arena and the men can enjoy the view around them and all the action in the arena! Score, right?

3. There is a dance and live music afterwards! Hello, is this not a bargain and a score? You can dance the night away with your friends/family, plus you can dance with the cowboy/cowgirl, that you have been eyeing the whole night. The live music is also great; country singers, line dancing… Need I say more?

4. It is affordable: It is hours of entertainment and great fun for the whole family. It is worth every single penny.

5. The beer is cold: It is summer and EXTREMELY hot at the rodeos in summertime, but there is a cure! BEER!!!!! So drink up and enjoy!

My sister enjoying the action in the arena

RODEO IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!

If all this is not motivation enough, just go anyway! Put it in your Bucket List! Just try it! If you don’t enjoy it, then I will apologize and send a chocolate, but I doubt that I will ever have to do that! There is entertainment for everyone and it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Love,

From the girl buying a mechanical bull to practice her bull-riding…

Texas, the Lone Star State that stole my heart.

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I haven't blogged in a while, because I had exams in June and then went on an amazing holiday to San Antonio, Texas.
After the holiday our plane landed, I have hit the ground running when university started two weeks ago. So it has been hectic! But this post is not about how hectic it is going, but rather how amazing my holiday was...

IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT I BLOG ABOUT TEXAS!!!!

My uncle has been living in San Antonio, Texas, for the past few years. My grandparents and aunt already went to visit him, ranting on about the beautiful country, so finally our turn came to visit him. We swapped  our very cold winter here in South-Africa for a very hot summer there! So here is my general feeling about San Antonio and Texas:

• Texas is green: Coming home felt like leaving Avatar to come back to Earth. We left the green, beautiful, warm and green country to come back to a very dull and cold South-Africa. While flying over Texas, we just saw green green trees and land and then a few hours later, we flew over South-Africa, the brown, dull country of ours. 

The Valero Trailhead- the green is everywhere and majestically beautiful!

• Everything is big; the food, cars (trucks), the drinks, the roads (which is mostly highways), did I mention the food?

My dad next to a truck- it is BIG!!!

The highway interchanges goes 4-5 levels up! Holy crap that is high and MASSIVE!!!

• Everything works; Postal services, packages arrive a day after it has been ordered, without getting stolen! People want to work there, they don't have the attitude of that they HAVE to work, they WANT to!
• Their beer is AMAZING! 

CHEERS!!!

• They have Rodeos!!!!! You know like the sexy cowboys and bull-riding... Like where do I sign-up for a sexy cowboy husband??? 

Looking all cowgirl-ish

• It is safe! We did not have to check over our shoulders or be afraid. Even the dodge areas of San Antonio didn't scare us. There is not crime like we know it in South-Africa. We felt safe and relaxed. Postal services can drop packages in front of your door, without it getting stolen. 
• We were in the company of two gorgeous dogs: Mila and Percy!

Mila and my sister

Percy getting some loving from my uncle

The locals are so friendly! The locals always greet you and they always ask where you are from. They made me feel welcome and at home. My 'thank-you' was always met with a reply of 'you're welcome'! They have manners like you cannot believe...

San Antonio has stolen my heart! I still want to travel the world and see all there is to see, but I think that San Antonio will be my home one day. It is the type of place where I can live out my days with my family and be extremely happy.

So, how can I get my green card?

I will be writing of my trip in more detail on my other blog: In Travel Of Adventures.
Check it out and follow my journey...

When dreams have to be put on hold

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

When you know you have given your all, there is nothing more you can do.

I have failed my accounting exam. I have failed. I cannot write the rewrite, because we will be in San Antonio Texas! In your final year, you sometimes get a second rewrite, but you have to write the first rewrite and fail to get the opportunity to the second rewrite.

Unfortunately, I cannot write the first rewrite, which means I have to do it again next year. I was planning to Au pair in the Netherlands next year and travel the world a bit. But that dream has to be put on hold.

Everything happens for a reason. Therefore, I will make the best of this major  minor set back. I will get a job close to the university or maybe at the university if I am lucky. I will complete accounting and maybe do a creative course or two in Communication related things. But while I'm working, I will try to save loads of money to travel the world in 2017.

I will make the best of this set back, like I said, everything happens for a reason. Maybe I will save enough money to have a royal time overseas. Haha wishful thinking! The Rand is so weak against the Dollar, Pound and Euro that our money means almost nothing! But every bit helps!

I shall make the best of 2016! Nothing will get me down! Challenge accepted!

Travelling between places

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

In a few days my family and I will be jetting off to San Antonio, Texas. I can almost not contain my excitement!! Already planning my outfits and itinerary, whilst trying to study for exams...

I have a wanderlust in me, that is just killing me. Every day, I want to explore and have the urge to see and experience things!!!! San Antonio will be the first of many!

A sketch of Brian Patten by an anonymous artist

Anyway, I found a poem about a traveller in The Poet's Sphere:

Travelling between places

Leaving nothing and nothing ahead;
when you stop for the evening
the sky will be in ruins,

when you hear late birds
with tired throats singing
think how good it is that they,

knowing you were coming,
stayed up late to greet you
who travels between places

when the late afternoon
drifts into the woods,
when nothing matters specially.

-Brian Patten

My curiosity to see the world, will one day be satisfied. But for now, I can dream and plan until then!

Love,
The Wanderluster

Where has the semester gone???

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

"Life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer it gets to the end the faster it goes." Anonymous.
Mr. Anonymous, never have you been more right than with this quote!

Oh man, just the other day I started with my post-graduate diploma in management, just figuring out how to wrap this arty, communication brain around business subjects and all things management. Changing my way of thinking. Making new friends and trying to keep up with the old.

And in a wink of an eye: here I am, beginning to stress for exam preparations!!! Like HELLO! Where has the semester gone? How has 6 months gone by so fast? Have I been sleeping for half of the time?

Exams are starting in a week. Scary!

Like I have mentioned in previous blog posts, I am struggling with Accounting. Never in my life have I worked so hard to master a subject and then failing miserably in it. Usually hard work pays off. We wrote our last test on Thursday. The test of Thursday will determine whether or not I have enough marks to write the Accounting exam. If I didn't pass the test, then I will not be getting my diploma at the end of the year, because I will still have to complete Accounting. So, I am holding thumbs, toes and hair that I have passed the test! I want this year to be my final year, please!

In my other subjects I am doing so good! Getting distinctions all the way. My other subjects are Economics, General Management, Information management systems and Strategic management. Never in my degree of Communications have I gotten distinctions for my subjects, so it feels really good that hard work is being reflected... (except for Accounting, of course!).

I will be making this exams successful, so I can fully enjoy my holiday in San Antonio, Texas with my family and my uncle, who we will be visiting!

Please hold thumbs that I get those grades for Accounting, it will give me the fighting chance to conquer my exams!!! It will also give me reason to celebrate in San Antonio!

I hope you all have great and successful exams and that the holidays will be as glorious as mine will be!

San Antonio, Texas = 2 Months!

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

You know that insane headache you get. The headache that drives you mad and almost makes you want to scream. What's its name again?
Visa! Yes, Visa.

We had to go and apply for our visas today. Oh man, the preparation, filling out the DS-160 and getting all the papers in order for our visa application was definitely a huge headache. Where are those painkillers? The stress had us in tight knots. After all our preparation they didn't even take our papers, only asked a few questions! Our Visas got approved!

But even the stress could not dampen our excitement: in less than two months, me and my family will be travelling to San Antonio, Texas. We are going to stay at my uncle's house.

I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!

It will be the middle of winter here in South Africa, so we will be skipping winter for two weeks and going to high summer. Yippeee!!! We will be basking in the sun, while the people at home freeze! We will be wearing summer dresses, okay you get the point! I'll stop rubbing it in your face!

The wanderluster will be going on an adventure! Adventure is my word for 2015 and that is what I'll be doing. I will also be celebrating my 22nd birthday in the country of Cowboys with the best family! Oh, this is going to be good!

What places are recommended whilst visiting San Antonio?

Living vs. Rat Race

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

“Life had become some kind of profound competition, where my emotional loss was substituted by my professional success. I became a part of what they call the rat race.”
― Saurbh Katyal, Seduced by Murder

From the day I was born, life has been a rat race. People going to work, trying to make money, rushing home in traffic, feeding the kids and getting them into bed. Only to fall asleep yourself.
Day spent.

After studying, you get a job. You get the man. You get the house. You get the children. And this is it. I know I have reached the time when I should send out CV's and decide where I want to work. The type of work that won't feel like work. I should aim to be successful. Maybe, I'll meet the man, while being successful in my work. Then comes the baby and the golden carriage. Constantly chasing success. Will it even make you happy?

Hell's Bells!

I want to shout at the rat race to slow down! Smell the roses around you. Live. See. Touch. Experience. Travel.

There is nothing wrong with being in the rat race and having a family and kids. BUT IT'S NOT ME. IT IS NOT ME. For now....

I want to go to places, which I have read about in books. I want to touch the Tower of Piza. I want to swim in Jacob's Well. I want to ride a bicycle in Netherlands and go places on my bicycle.
I want to do and see things, which not many people do after getting a job, the man and kids. I want to travel in Europe. I want to eat things, I have never eaten before. Walk where I've never walked before. Learn about different cultures. I want to travel. Maybe, once I have done that, I will be ready for the rat race. MAYBE.

I'll never be the common rat racer. I will always have feet itching to go places and see things. Is there a job where I can do that? Please make suggestions, if you know about something like that.

But for now, I'll be completing my studies and in the meantime, I'll be contemplating about what my next move is gonna be. The rat race has to wait for a while.

Love
The Wanderluster

Quitting the studies to travel.

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I have big news! I have decided to discontinue my studies, to go and travel the world!

I have been struggling too much with Accounting and all those other boring subjects, while I tried to silence my Communication brain. It has been really hard. While I was struggling with this diploma, the wanderlust in me has taken over and it has been nagging at me for the last few months. I have been planning 2016 for a while, I was planning to Au-pair in the Netherlands, so that I can tour Europe in my spare time, but then life decided that it has to be NOW! I have to travel ASAP!

I have been contacted by a travel agency on Facebook, who wants to me to blog for them overseas. I will be blogging on their site, but I have free reign on my blog about what I blog about my travels. Guess my blog will be transformed into a travel blog!

The amazing deal includes that they will pay for my flight, my accommodation and meals, wherever they send me, as long as I blog for them, rating the place's stay. And I still earn a salary per month! My first stop will be Ireland, since I don't need a Visa to enter the country, thereafter we will arrange Visa's as we go.

My parents are not really happy about this decision. They feel it is a bit rash and I should think it through. My mom feels that I should first finish my studies, before doing this. But an opportunity like this only comes around once in a lifetime, whereas studies can always be completed later on. After all, traveling has been my dream for many years! I will join my parents in San Antonio in June, which I'm also looking forward to!

My flight takes off on the 11th of April. I am going to live the dream. I cannot wait for this amazing adventure to start! It will be so much fun!

Marinda the French cuisine connoisseur

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

My best and life long friend, Marinda, is living the dream. She has the privilege to work and live in France in Savigny-sur-Orge for 8 months. She is working there as an English assistant at a school. I am very jealous about the fact that I am not there with her. We went to France together in 2011 and I am burning with every part of me to go back! I am in love with France!

Anyway, I asked her to write a blog post for me about her experiences of the food there. Marinda the food connoisseur.
Here is her post:

"I have been living and working in France for the last two months, and during my time here I have come to realise how important food is to any culture in the world. I absolutely adore food, and if you ask my friends, they will be able to tell you that I am always hungry! So, when I came to France I was obviously excited about strolling through Paris and getting to know the people and the culture, but most importantly, the food!


Keep in mind that when you explore the world on a budget, it is not always possible to visit the five-star restaurants and cafes. However, I have discovered one of the French people’s most beloved places to get food… a boulangerie (or bakery). They are everywhere!
On my first day in France, before I had even had the chance to unpack my bags, one of my colleagues directed me to the best boulangerie in town. It is now my favourite boulangerie in the whole of the Paris region!


When you walk into the tiny shop you are met with the sight and smell of traditional French breads, pastries, tarts and cakes. I have made the decision to try something new every time that I go to the boulangerie. I must admit that when you order something without being completely sure of what it is, you set yourself up for a shock every now and then. For example, I ordered a quiche which I thought contained vegetables. To my surprise it was filled with a very strong cheese (which I later found out was goat’s milk cheese). I generally like cheese, but that was too strong and too much for me to handle!

Here are some of the tasty treats that I have tried so far:

Religieuse

 Religieuse - not to be confused with an éclair! (Although the only difference between the two that I know of, is the shape.)

Tarte au ananas – pineapple tart

Tarte au citron – it’s like lemon meringue without the meringue

Mille-feuille – like a custard slice, just better

A delicious chicken sandwich and a chauson au pomme – a pastry filled with apple puree

Something very chocolaty and yummy!

So, in my opinion, if you want to add that something special to your travel experience, try some of the local and traditional food. Don’t be afraid to try something new or strange, because you might get a very pleasant surprise… or a good story to tell!"


Marinda also created her own blog about her travels in France, as well as other countries in Europe.
Check it out here.

Flight Center: The growth of Social Media

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Today, we had a visit from Flight Centre's social media manager, Mercia Lampen, who came to our Communication class to talk to us about the importance of social media and digital marketing.

Mercia Lampen gave the presentation about the importance of social media. She is the Social Media Manager of Flight Centre. What makes her even greater is that she was also a Communication student here at the North-West University of Potchefstroom. Her journey in social media simply began when she started helping family and co-workers to become involved on Facebook and other platforms. She then later started helping more and more people and now she is teaching big companies like MTN, how to manage their social media profiles.

The rate at which social media is growing, is fascinating! They have shared the following two videos on YouTube and afterward put it on other social media platforms, without even paying for marketing. They relied on word-of-mouth or should I rather say world-of-mouth. Give them a look!

These ads make me want to travel, while I'm still young. But that is besides the point. I am fascinated by Flight Centre's social media presence! They are everywhere on every possible platform you can think of.
They are also very  good with their Social Media Marketing-

"The process of gaining traffic,attention and interaction with customers through social media" (Part of the presentation that Mercia gave).

For example: If you're in Google and you start to search for flights, their name pops up first because they pay a lot of money, but even without paying for ads, their website is listed first. It takes approximately 6 months for a website to be on top of the list. But you have to list the right keywords and keep your content up to date, for your website to stay on top of the list.

The social media marketing platforms which they use are:

• Social network
• Blogs 
• Micro-blogs 
• Customer rating sites
• Online video websites
• Digital photo websites

They have to pay to use these social media marketing platforms, but it pays off because they have almost 100 00 likes on Facebook and 4 100 followers on Twitter. There is benefits by using Facebook:

• Discoverable: When people search for you on Facebook, they’ll be able to find you.

• Connected: Have one-on-one conversations with your customers, who can like your Page, read your posts and share them with friends, and check in when they visit.

• Timely: Your Page can help you reach large groups of people frequently, with messages tailored to their needs and interests.

• Insightful: Analytics on your Page will give you a deeper understanding of your customers and your marketing activities

There are many ways to use social media marketing for the benefit of the company, but the best and most reliable source for millennials, like me, is word-of-mouth! We would rather believe our friends than an ad telling us how great they are, but to create word-of-mouth one first has to do some advertising to get the people talking.

Today's presentation has taught me that you can succeed anywhere with your passion. Mercia has a passion for social media and that, has and is, making her successful in her job. What an inspiration!

Thank you, Mercia, for the great presentation, for your time and inspiring us to get more involved in social media, because it truly is the future of any and all companies. I have learned so much, for example, that you can create your own job description in a company if you are passionate about it.

Today's presentation has stirred-up the wanderlust in me again! I want to travel each and every corner of the earth three times, then I'll be content and then I can kick the bucket. Flight Centre, I'll be one of your VIP's because I'll be travelling so much with your help!

*This is not a paid for advertisement.

My updated bucket list

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Me and my life long friend in London

At the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Every person should have a bucket list of things they want to do, before they kick the bucket (die).

Two of my big dreams and on my bucket list have been completed. France and the UK. It was a huge privilege that I was able to go and not many people get to do it.

Here is the rest of my bucket list: (Warning! May contain content of extreme awesomeness!)

1. Backpack through the WHOLE Europe.
2. Go to Texas to visit my uncle (Happening in 2015)
3. Learn more about other religions and cultures
4. Take up my French and Dutch again (or it will get lost)
5. Visit Machu Picchu
6. Learn an African language like Zulu
7. Go to class in my pajamas
8. I want to experience a white Christmas or even just see snow
9. I want to volunteer at Rehab center for animals that got hurt and nurse them back to health. (Happening in 2014)
10. I want to name a star after myself.
11. For a birthday I want to have a dress-up party, where we dress in awesome clothes like the 1920's (Happening this year, 2014, on my 21st)
12. I would love to go to Egypt and see the Pyramides.
13. Do a boat cruise.
14. I want to do a diving course and do deep sea diving. Experience the wonders of the ocean.
15. Learn to meditate.
16. Visit catacombs in all the countries that has them. I was already in Paris' catacombs. 
17. Experience the mysteries of the world. (Bermuda Triangle, lost treasures, etc...)
18. Find the best squidheads to eat in the world. The best so far was at Primi Piatti. (I have found the best at Mike's Kitchen in Parktown)
19. Read all the books I possibly can. I LOVE READING!!!!!
20. Meet James Patterson, I am his biggest fan! He is an author, in case you're wondering.
21. Find a book I have been looking for- Children of the dust. But can't find it anywhere.

Here are 5 things I added to my list:

• Do a course on Uncollege.org, It teaches you all the skills you need to know for the job you really want to have.
• Blog more and become my own blog personality
• While travelling, I also want to visit all the architectural historic sites of Europe.
• I also want to backpack through El Camino the Santiago- The way of St James.
• Raise money for a cause I feel strongly about.

More things will be added to this list, but for now it is all I can think of...

My favorite photo in London, UK.

Please feel free to leave a comment :)

The scary future of 2015

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Hi, my name is Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen and I have no idea what I'm going to do next year and I am scared.

My third and final year has crept up to me like a mouse. How did this go so fast? I can still remember my first day in Grade 1 and here I am: A university student and a final year at that!

I have always had these big dreams about what I wanted to become. First it was a book editor, editing books and reading them all day. Sounds like a jolly good dream. Then, I wanted to become a diplomat for South-Africa in France, that dream was when I was enchanted with France. I also took French at school, but when I went to France, I realized that I love my country. 

My dream was then to become a journalist, but that dream faded very quickly, when I started studying Communication and realized all the possibilities, which I can do with Communication.

My problem is that the possibilities are too vast! I don't know what I want to do! Next year included. The question is do I want to do my honors in Communication, then the question is in which Communication? Do I even want to my honors? Would I rather do the Business School course, which is also a year? What do I want to do?

I DON'T KNOW!

The only thing I know for certain is that I want to travel the world. But when I mean travel, I mean SEE EVERYTHING, EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING. My plan thus far is to start working on a tourist ship, where I can make money. Enough money for the travels for at least one or two countries. In those countries I'll do petty jobs, where I'll save up for the next country. 

My plan is also to travel for at least 2-3 years... 

This is the only thing, which I'm certain about my future. I WILL TRAVEL! But for now, I'm having sleepless nights about the year 2015 and everything that it holds! 

Am I naive about this travelling thing? Should I relax about my future or start making plans?

'Yes' to opportunities

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

The year 2014, will be the year that I say 'Hell, YES'!! to any and all opportunities.

Tomorrow, I am going back to university to do my third year. I will also be catching my degree at the end of this year. I am very excited to see all my friends again and to catch up with all their holiday stories.

The only regret I have, is not saying yes to enough opportunities or taking more chances at things.Many times I said no for a evening out or doing something else and afterwards I hear how fun it actually was. Well, this year I want to tell everyone how it was.

If you've seen the movie 'Yes man' then you will know what my plan is. I am going on adventures and I am going to enjoy it a lot! And I also want to complete more things on my bucket list (check it out).

Watch this space in 2014, because you will read all about my adventures this year :)

My bucket list for life

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Me and my life long friend in London

At the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Every person should have a bucket list of things they want to do, before they kick the bucket (die).

Two of my big dreams and on my bucket list have been completed. France and the UK. It was a huge privilege that I was able to go and not many people get to do it.

Here is the rest of my bucket list: (Warning! May contain content of extreme awesomeness!)

1. Backpack through the WHOLE Europe.
2. Go to San Antonio to visit my uncle (Happening in 2015)
3. Learn more about other religions and cultures
4. Take up my French and Dutch again (or it will get lost)
5. Visit Machu Picchu
6. Learn an African language like Zulu
7. Go to class in my pajamas
8. I want to experience a white Christmas or even just see snow
9. I want to volunteer at Rehab center for animals that got hurt and nurse them back to health.
10. I want to name a star after myself.
11. I would love to go to Egypt and see the Pyramides.
12. Do a boat cruise.
13. I want to do a diving course and do deep sea diving. Experience the wonders of the ocean.
14. Learn to meditate.
15. Visit catacombs in all the countries that has them. I was already in Paris' catacombs. 
16. Experience the mysteries of the world. (Bermuda Triangle, lost treasures, etc...)
17. Read all the books I possibly can. I LOVE READING!!!!!
18. Meet James Patterson, I am his biggest fan! He is an author, in case you're wondering.
19. Find a book I have been looking for- Children of the dust. But can't find it anywhere.

More things will be added to this list, but for now it is all I can think of...

My favorite photo in London, UK.

Please feel free to leave a comment :)