A Whole New Jason

Jason Derulo's new album gives us everything.

The day is almost here and students are teeming with excitement.

It’s what they have all been waiting for, singing to, and bobbin’ their heads to for the past month and a half: one more month until Jason Derulo releases his hit album to the public.

It is as if Derulo came out of nowhere. Sure, we had heard his songs on the radio, (after all he has achieved Top 5 singles multiple times.) But his new song, “Talk Dirty to Me,” has sparked the attention of teens and young adults across the nation.

Jason Derulo's "Talk Dirty" album cover

Photo Credit: contactmusic.com

In 2012, after releasing his first album, Derulo suffered a near death experience which lead to the cancelling of a tour, which hindered the general public from really getting to know the singer.

Fully healed, he’s now announced the release of his new album which shares the name of its biggest hit, “Talk Dirty.” But the most important thing about the “New Derulo” is his seize-the-day outlook on life as a result of his experiences that are more than apparent in his tracks. 

“That one experience helped me to grow up in a second, I was on autopilot,” Derulo said in an interview with MTV last month.” I was just literally going through the motions.When that kind of thing is taken away from you, you realize how much you appreciate what you love doing and who you love."

                                                 

According to Derulo “Talk Dirty” represents a bridge between his past and his future, and giving the world a true taste of his personality, which excites fans even more.

This album is said to encompass both ends of the Derulo spectrum. With the first single already released, “Marry Me” taps into the emotional and sophisticated side of his personality, revealing a whole new side.

"A lot of the album is fun, a lot of it is upbeat, feel-good music, but there is an emotional portion to the album too; it morphs in a lot of different ways," he explained in an interview with People earlier this week.

If that isn’t enough news for you, this should be: Derulo’s next stop is High Point University. If students weren’t excited for his new album, then they are ecstatic that in two short weeks, they will have a VIP concert experience of a lifetime.

“When I found out that the spring concert this year was Jason Derulo, I screamed in my roommates face,” said Shiloh Barry, a freshman at HPU. “I am going to do everything that I can do to personally meet him.”

Barry represents just one of the many enthusiastic students, and with only ten days remaining until the concert, they can hardly sit still.

To visit the Official Jason Derulo Website click here.

New Beginnings

Hannah Garcia enjoying a peaceful afternoon in the mountains.

By: Hannah Garcia

Standing at the top of Volcano Arenal was something Hannah Garcia imagined herself doing only in her wildest dreams.

Garcia’s dreams became a reality when her parents surprised her with a trip to Costa Rica last summer when they spent two weeks exploring the jungles, living with the locals, and creating lifetime memories.

“Traveling outside of the United States was something I had dreamt about since a young age but never thought would happen before college,” Hannah Garcia said. “The things that I experienced down in Costa Rica make my everyday life seem ordinary and boring now.”

Horseback riding, waterfall rappelling, zip lining through the jungle- Garcia is by no means afraid to do the daring. The question remains: what’s next in her wild world of travelling adventures?

“Upon arriving home from Costa Rica, I immediately felt the need for travel,” Garcia explained. “ I want to go back, to go more places, and to see even more.”

Her passion for travelling didn’t just start now. Since she was a baby, Garcia was on the move. Travelling from state to state with her parents, her childhood held no dull moment.

“We wanted to give our family the opportunity to travel on a regular basis,” Paige Garcia said in a phone interview last Thursday. “My husband and I have always felt that moving and being nomadic travellers has given our children the opportunity to become well rounded individuals, and has exposed them to many unique experiences in life.”

In 2003, Garcia moved for the first time. Only eight at the time, moving from Colorado to Wyoming was the last thing that she wanted to do. What she thought would be a nightmare turned into an experience where she learned more about herself than she had ever known before.

“Moving for the first time was the hardest thing I have ever done. Nobody likes being the new kid,” Garcia noted. “I wanted to shrink away from the rest of the world. I never knew that moving would change my life in such a dramatic way and only increase my passion to travel.”

Although the move was difficult, nobody could foresee the change of events that would occur in the coming. In 2007, Garcia moved again to Minnesota. Eighth grade stuck up girls, bullies, and new faces; this was something that Garcia never wanted to endure again, but was forced to.

“I thought moving was rough the first time, but when it came to moving to Minnesota, things really started to fall apart,” said Garcia. “Being as difficult as it was however, moving was becoming less of a chore and more of a hobby.”

For some, starting over is the last thing that they want, but for Garcia, it brings new adventures and opens up a world of possibilities.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, Wanderlust is a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world. If there is one thing that Garcia lusts, it is to travel.

“I have grown to love the word wanderlust, “ Garcia adds “I believe  that that word describes me perfectly. I have a passion, an ache, and a need to travel.”

Since her trip to Costa Rica, Garcia has started her own blog, "The Quest for Serendipity- Happy findings in life’s simplest forms," based on the adventures of others. 

In addition to the blog, Garcia applied for a semester abroad in Spain where she will explore her passion more in depth.

“I figure that there is no better time to travel than right now,” Garcia adds. “I am young and free and I want the rest of the world to know my passion for this earth and all that it has to offer.”

A "New" Girl

Zooey Deschanel

She has been the talk around town for quite some time now. Critics, teenagers, and young adults can't seem to stop spreading the word when it comes to the witty and charming actress Zooey Deschanel. I know this because I am one of them. If there is one person in this lifetime who I aspire to be, Zooey would be the one. Making her debut in New Girl, she has quickly risen to the surface of this high paced multi-media world. However, I have been a fan long before her appearance in New Girl. From the start, Zooey caught my eye. I closely resembled her to Audrey Hepburn, the world's most sophisticated and classy woman to ever grace the earth with her presence. Zooey possesses similar characteristics, which must be why I admire her so much. Not only is she a fantastic actress, but her musical talents, dancing, and passion for writing create one of the most well rounded iconic female individuals this generation has seen.

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. This is where my obsession began. I am a fan of adventures, so seeing Zooey travel throughout multiple galaxies and to the ends of the earth to find out the true meaning of life was nothing short of amazing. This is where my love for travel and Zooey Deschanel mix. She constantly encourages me to keep an open mind in a world full of endless possibilities, and to never devote time to just one thing when we can all live this life to the fullest. Cheers to you Zooey.

I'm a very positive person. I get excited easily, and I like to jump around.
-Zooey Deschanel

Treasure Trove: Beginning with the Professionals

I have learned that traveling is all about your experience. The sights, smells, and adventures that you embark on begin simply with yourself. In a sea of passionate nomadic travelers, there are what I call a "treasure trove" of certain individuals who have become my greatest mentors. Capturing the in and outs of their adventures, one can only strive to embrace the same lust these individuals have when it comes to starting the great journey.

PINCH: This world. That pinch of inspiration.

There are few blogs that continually meet my expectations on a regular basis, and PINCH is one of them. Not only is the website easy to navigate, catching to the readers eye, and full of quirky information, but it also supplies the reader with everything you need to know about...well...everything. Beginning with the arts, design, food, culture, and even style, PINCH gives the reader an honest and exciting glance at the many hidden gems this world has to offer. Written by a wide variety of other passionate writers who desire to share their love for the earth with people like us, PINCH begins to feel like home.

Audience: For individuals who like to explore the connection between travel and peoples' passions and lifestyle choices. 

Link: PINCH

SPOTTED BY LOCALS: Experience cities like a local.

If there is one thing that I trust, it is the credibility of those who have lived in a certain area for long periods of time. The fact that Spotted by Locals provides their readers with trustworthy and down to earth information leaves me wanting to visit these hotspots more than ever. The site amplifies the idea that you don't need to "travel" because every single day is a new experience and journey in its own way. Not only that, but this site provides you with a complete database of travel news, food discussions, and cultural interactions for the travel lover.

Audience: For the travel lover. Complete with a series of blogs, city guides, and up-to-date insider tips by city loving locals.

Link: http://www.spottedbylocals.com/

The Culture-ist

The culture-ist provides its readers with great tips on how to travel. Going on a journey is one thing, but if you are not appropriately equipped with the knowledge on how to be a wanderlusting traveler, then you might as well be not be traveling at all. The Culture-ist gives you the opportunity to read others inspiring stories and practice them in your own life. It is for those who love the world and seek to make it a better place. 

Audience: for people who passionately care about the greater world around them.

Link: The Culture-ist 

Design Tripper

Design Tripper is one of my personal favorites. Maybe it is because the blogger takes a photo journalistic approach to his work, or even the fact that design tripper is so down to earth it leaves you feeling like you have discovered some of the worlds' most intimate locations all through a computer screen. This site is for the follower; the one who loves to dream and discover places from the own comfort of their home. It explores the intersection of travel and design and how the earth unites the two in a truly beautiful way.

Audience:  For dreamers and hopeless travel romantics. 

Link: Design Tripper