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…

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?

Let the adventures begin: My final year as student!

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

My fourth and final year has started! This is the year of adventures, hard work and good times. This year I have a big, single room, which means music all day long and being only considerate to myself!

2015 will also consist of great friends and food, in no particular order! They will be part of the adventure of 2015! 

On the RAG farm, soaking wet with great friends!

The food of 2015!

I also have a bucket list to complete this year that will be part of the adventure. Check it out here.

This will be my year! Let the games begin and may the odds be ever in my favor. How will 2015 be for you??

My bucket list for 2015

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

2015 is going to be my year. It will be the best year I have ever had. How do I know this? Because I am going to make it the best year EVER!

I have compiled my bucket list, late last year, so if it looks familiar: it is! I have completed some of the things on the list already, but most of them will be happening this year.

• I want to 'Sokkie' in Impala (It is a dance form, which I want to do in Impala [a bar/pub/dance place])
• I want to attend a class, that I am not registered for.
• I want to hide in the library so that I can spend the night there with friends and watch movies.
• I want to pull an all-nighter with my amazing friends or someone special or both.
• I want to go to the roof garden in F1.
• I want to go to the 'Purple' garden, which is on one of the roofs on campus. I always see it when we drive over the bridge.
• I want to go to Potch Liggies, but with someone special or great friends (view where you see the city lights)
• I want to go on many adventures with my friends.

Went to a theme park with friends, just before exams

• Dress silly and go and eat in the Draak (Our campus restaurant/bar)

Dressed up like a cow girl and went to the Draak, before our Halloween Party

• I want to go and eat at all the dining halls.
• I want to see what is behind the random doors on campus.
• I want to work harder on my blog and gain more followers. I will also want to find out what my readers are most interested in and will read more.
• I am going to San Antonio with my parents and sister.
• I want to go and watch a rugby game with my dad.
• I want to go to a spa therapy with my mom
• I want to dress up silly with my baby sister and go out to a mall or something.

This year, I will say 'YES' to adventures and opportunities, because it is my last year of university. My motto will be Carpe Diem. It is going to be a great year. I will post each and every thing, which I have completed on my bucket list of 2015.

My big bucket list of what I want to do and achieve before I die can be seen here. What is your bucket list for 2015?

Communication degree: COMPLETED!

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

On Thursday I wrote my last test for my communication degree, I wanted to scream with joy after the test, but I had to be considerate of the other people who were still writing. But on the inside I was screaming of joy!

I MADE IT THIS FAR!!!!!

Blood, sweat and tears were all part of my degree. So were all-nighters, calls to mom crying my eyes out, running like an Olympic champion to give projects in on time. and also going to write an exam for the second time, because I failed the first exam.

Yes, it wasn't always easy, but there were more good times than bad. I made amazing friends, who will be my bridesmaids. I have fallen in love and also fallen out of love. I have learned to replace my "what if's" with "Oh well's". I realized that it is fine to not know what the future holds and to simply tackle each day as it comes. I discovered myself.

My amazing group of friends

We had a lot of group projects this year and in previous years, we had people in our group who did nothing and we were stuck with all the work. This year we had the perfect group and they became my best friends (See photo above). We worked very hard, but also played hard. Without that combination I would've drowned.

Unfortunately, some of my friends are not going to study further and my last goodbye's have been said. But most of my friends will be staying on and doing their Honours or a diploma of some kind.
I will also be making new friends next year when I am doing my post-graduate diploma in management.

I look forward to the adventures and the unknown awaiting me next year. I am also gonna complete my bucket list for university. This song is my motto for next year:

But that is next year! Now, I am going to enjoy my 2 months vacation and spend some time with my amazing family and friends from home.

My bucket list for university

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I am final year Communication student at my university and it got me thinking that I have not done everything that I wanted to do here. I still have a year left at my university because I'm going to do a post-graduate course in management, which means I have a year left to complete my bucket list.

My bucket list will only make sense to me and the people studying at this university with me, but I will still share it, because sharing is caring....

• I want to 'Sokkie' in Impala (It is a dance form, which I want to do in Impala [a bar/pub/dance place])
• I want to get a tattoo.
• I want to attend a class, that I am not registered for.
• I want to hide in the library so that I can spend the night there with friends and watch movies.
• I want to pull an all-nighter with my amazing friends or someone special or both.
• I want to go to the roof garden in F1.
• I want to go to the 'Purple' garden, which is on one of the roofs on campus. I always see it when we drive over the bridge.
• I want to go to Potch Liggies, but with someone special or great friends (view where you see the city lights)
• I want to go on an adventure with my friends.
• Dress silly and go and eat in the Draak (Our campus restaurant/bar)
• I want to go and eat at all the dining halls.
• I want to see what is behind the random doors on campus
• I want to go and watch a rugby game with my dad.
• I want to go to a spa therapy with my mom
• I want to dress up silly with my baby sister and go out to a mall or something.

If I think of anything else, I will gladly share them afterwards... What is on your bucket list?

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.

Extremely blessed

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

This weekend, I celebrated my 21st birthday. My friends and family made it extremely special. I have tears in my eyes of thankfulness to each and everyone.

At my 1920's Gatsby 21st

First of all, I would like to thank my parents and especially my mom. They did so much effort with my party and with my birthday. The tables looked beautiful, the food was amazing and I even had a birthday cake! I think this was my first legit birthday cake! It was amazing! Thank you Mom and Dad, you are everything that children wish for. You spoiled me rotten. I really love you.

My aunt Debbie, my grandmother and grandfather for the wonderful and big presents. You really spoiled me in ways, I cannot ever say thank you enough!

The cake!

I would also like to thank my friends for enjoying my party with me and all the wonderful gifts I received. Without my friends I would be hollow. we had the best night and danced our feet off doing the Charleston on the dance floor!

My friends dressed beautifully!

My gorgeous sister and her outfit

My 21st was everything I hoped for and I couldn't ask for more because it was THE BEST!  Thanx to everyone that made it so wonderful and great!

Love for animals?

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

When I compiled my bucket list, I also tried to think about things that would fulfill my life, materialistic things don't make you happy, it's the memories and experiences that make you smile and truly happy. therefore I decided that I want to volunteer at Rehab center for animals that got hurt and nurse them back to health. It is number 9 on my bucket list.

This semester, we had to do a project in one of our Communication subjects. The project was that we had to design a communication plan for an NGO (Non Govermental Organisation). So, I thought about my bucket list and how can enrich my life at the same time, therefore I chose to do it about the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

The communication plan involves that we had to go and visit the NGO and find out what their needs are and how their communication (social-, mass- media, etc) are with stakeholders. We then had to design a plan to tel them exactly what needs to be change and what form of marketing they should use to help them reach their goal. We also had to tell them exactly what message they must send to each stakeholder group.

The SPCA has a lot of needs especially because it is winter here in South-Africa. They have a shortage of blankets, warm water bottles, and they always have a need for food for cats and dogs. They also have a need for a nice website, where they can regularly post about happenings and animals needing loving homes, where they will not be abused or neglected.

I have a very soft spot for animals and it makes me so sad to walk past cats and dogs, where they shy away because they are scared. Their owners had hurt them, how removed from your conscience must you be to hurt an animal who always is happy to see you. My dogs are always making weird sounds and jumping up and down to see me. They are ALWAYS happy to see me! How can you hurt an animal that has always loved you?

I want to show them that I am not like their owners, but that takes time. Therefore, I aim to spend more time at the SPCA, next semester, helping these animals and showing them that they can trust people again. I want to nurse them back to health.

This communication plan made me realize that I, a normal student, can make a difference in the lives of animals. I hope they use my communication plan, because it will help them to connect better with their stakeholders and also help them to fulfill their needs for the cold winter.

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 :)

'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 :)

One thing crossed off my bucket list

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I have a bucket list and today I did/found number 19. I found the best squidheads (so far) at Mike's Kitchen Parktown. It was in an amazing sauce and it was not overly cooked that it turned into rubber. It was perfect in every single way.

The masterpiece

It may not look like much, but believe me, this was unbelievable!



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 2014)
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. For a birthday I want to have a dress-up party, where we dress in awesome clothes like the        1920's
12. For a day I would like to dress-up like a guy and act like one. (I don't know why)
13. I would love to go to Egypt and see the Pyramides.
14 Do a boat cruise.
15. I want to do a diving course and do deep sea diving. Experience the wonders of the ocean.
16. Learn to meditate.
17. Visit catacombs in all the countries that has them. I was already in Paris' catacombs.
18. Experience the mysteries of the world. (Bermuda Triangle, lost treasures, etc...)
19. Find the best squidheads to eat in the world. The best so far was at Primi Piatti.
20. Read all the books I possibly can. I LOVE READING!!!!!
21. Meet James Patterson, I am his biggest fan! He is an author, in case you're wondering.
22. Find a book I have been looking for- Children of the dust. But can't find it anywhere.

I will not be able to complete all of these things on my bucket list, but at least I can try :).
What is on your bucket list for 2014?

Vacation at Mabula

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

A giraffe

We were out of touch this week, because we were in paradise, also known as Mabula Game Lodge in Limpopo.
I am crazy about this place, because there is no city lights and noise of the city. All you could hear is the sounds of birds, bugs and animals.
There was no reception for cellphones, which was quite nice.

On a guided walk, 20m away from Rhino

I, especially love the game drives, which they offer. You get to see 4 of the Big 5. The leopards almost never show their faces, so to see them is a special treat.
We also got to do a guided walk with a game ranger. He is very intelligent and showed us many amazing things. We also got the chance to walk with Rhinos, we were able to get within 20 meters of them. It is such a same that they are going extinct, but hopefully they can be preserved and that even our grandchildren will be able to see them.

There was a great kiddies program on for kids, which my sister enjoyed a lot.

A crocodile demonstration for kids

We love going to Mabula, I don't know how many times I have been there, but each time I enjoyed it immensely. I hope we will be going there soon.

Grandma and me on a game drive in the rain

Please feel free to leave a comment :)

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 :)

The things that university guides will never teach you

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I am a third and final year Communication student and in my 3 years at university, I have learned some things. There is no guide on what to expect when going to university, you sometimes have to learn by falling face first in the ground and then learn how to stand on your own two feet again.

I asked some friends and family to contribute with the things that they have learned at university, as well. Here is the list:

1. Nobody cares about the marks you got in high school, you are at university which means you are clever. (Jana) 
2. You learn that school was fun and games (Ruan)
3. Hard work really pays off (Ruan)
4. You learn to social (Ronel)
5. You also meet your best friends and who the people are that is always there for you (Ronel & Ruan)
6. You realize what subjects you really love, but still have to have the bad ones with it. (Karen)
7. Nobody cares, but if you find someone that does care: HOLD ON! (Ena)
8. It's the experiences that teaches you something at the end of the day (Mart-Mari)
9. There is no degree like a spine. Just keep on going and finish! (Ronel)
10. You'll learn dressing up is cool.(See photos above)
11. It is every man for themselves. No one will buy you free drinks, unfortunately.
12. Having a bucket list is necessary!
13. Know the titles of your lecturers, for example Dr. Blah Blah. They believe that their titles has contributed to society and they are utterly important. 
14. Alcohol is a solution. Scientifically speaking.
15. Fitting in is so 'high school' ago.
16. Yeah, it sucks doing the laundry, the dishes, making your own food and cleaning the house. Your parents are actually cool.
17. Alcohol resolves everything, except your problems. 
18. Time is precious and you should use it wisely.
19. Falling in love is not easy. But it's even harder to fall on the pavement.
20. You'll learn to eat 2 minute noodles in a thousand ways. 
21. You measure the cost of everything, by the amount of drinks you could have bought. 
22. 50% is the new 80%. Plot twist: You're not as smart as you thought.
23. Procrastination teaches you that you can do amazing things within a few hours. 
24. Cheating in tests and projects is not so cool or smart, it just shows that you're an idiot and will earn you no respect from your 'friends'.
25. Wearing pajamas is totally acceptable clothes to wear on campus, except if you have a onesie; wear that instead.
26. First years are recognizable by the fact that they try to look good at 8 in the mornings. You give up after a year.
27. Do stupid things! You won't get the chance again, because responsibility starts after university.
28. You are only young once. Carpe Diem. YOLO! Enjoy university life and stop worrying!

These are the things that my family, friends and I have learned in our university journeys. If you have learned some other things; please share them!

This is the official 101 guide to university!