No way of transportation?  No flight booked?  No taxi cabs available?  No funds to travel?  Stress no more!  Let the members of Global Connect cure your holiday blues.  We will show you that little ole Kingsville and Corpus Christi, Texas will give you the warmth and comfort of home.  Grab your coat, tighten your shoes clear your lungs and be prepared for the hay ride of your life. 

The members of Global Connect have prepared a hay ride for people of all
ages who wish to go site seeing all the Christmas lights around the Kingsville and Corpus Christi, Texas area.  Those who participate in the hay ride have the option of singing Christmas carols, handing out refreshments, giving out candy bags, baked good or just enjoy the hay ride its self.  The hay ride will begin in downtown Kingsville, Texas, traveling through the neighborhoods and then travel to Corpus Christi, Texas, and travel the neighborhoods there as well.   The hay ride will travel back to Kingsville for those who are in need of transportation back.  There will be plenty of songs, refreshments, candy, etc., to be put into use so the more who participate in the hay ride the better.  

We encourage anyone and everyone to join us for this Christmas hay ride.  No one should be left alone or feel alone during the holidays.  Remember it is about great and happy times and the season of giving.  Therefore let the members of Global Connect help cure your holiday blues.  May everyone have a blessed
and HAPPY THANKSGIVING and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

"Black Friday" shopping, not enough food, is the house clean?  Many stress factors that many families go through during the holiday's.  I remember when i was in middle school, my mom made my family and I participate in "Black Friday" shopping.  This one year we waited outside of Sears in the blistering cold at about four o'clock in the morning. We were about the fourth or fifth person in line so I guess waiting that early in the cold was worth it to my mom.  That was not even the beginning though.  When the doors opened for business everyone ran in rushing to what items they desired.  The bumping and shoving hurt but my mom, dad, brother, sister and I each grabbed what item we desired, which totally made the trip, waiting and bruises worth it.

My mom and I had been discussing about participating in "Black Friday" shopping again this year.  But, I am more than sure that my family and I will more than likely not be participating in "Black Friday" shopping this year due to the fatal ATV accident of my 15 year old sister and the recent death of my maternal grandmother. A death in the family is never something easy. But a death in the family close to the holidays is even worse. It will be the first Thanksgiving and Christmas spent without the two and I know it is going to be very hard on my mom and dad especially.  Although the pain will always be there, there are a couple of activities I believe will help ease my family’s pain. 

We had already planned a mini road trip to somewhere up north in Texas, either raod trippinng to San Antonio, Austin, or the College Station area to just get away from home and enjoy somewhere new.  Visit monuments, try new activites, try a new restuarant or visit colleges for my little brother.  We have agreed that a much needed spa time is a must for my mother and I and visiting sports stores is a must for my little brother and dad.  With this having been said, I believe my own organization, “Travel and Photography” organization, would help cure my family and I holiday blues. 

As for my first blog essay of the semester, I chose to write about the National Geographic Society.  The National Geographic Society has many branches and different organizations, which include the National Geographic Channel, the National Geographic Magazine and their entertaining website as well.  Available on the website are numerous pictures, blogs, stories of traveling, photography, animals, etc.  Also available on the website are abundant ways to help teachers, such as those who teach students starting as young as in elementary school to those teachers who teach at the high school level.  The website provides the teachers with ways to help them better their teaching skills with different activities.  Although there are many options for teachers, students, travelers, photographers, etc., on the National Geographic website, their main purpose and focus is trying to help others understand and get involved in helping save the planet; they have been on this mission for as long as 124 years.  “The National Geographic Society has been inspiring people to care about the planet since 1888.  It is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, and the promotion of environmental and historical conservation.” (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/about/)

As previously mentioned,  the National Geographic website has a link for those who love to travel or for those who are interested in taking up traveling.(http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/?source=NavTravHome). The travel link provides numerous pictures of different parks, countries, cities, people, food and much more.  The travel link also includes blogs written and posted by people who have traveled to different countries and wish to share with others on the website. 

One blog that caught my attention was a blog written by, “Guest Blogger”, and it was named “How to Make Friends And Not Alienate People…in China.”  (How to Make Friends and Not Alienate People…in China)  The author discusses eight different ways on how NOT to offend a native Chinese person in China.  Tip number one gives advice on how to not place your chopsticks when eating a meal.  Tip number two explains that using a “soft” handshake rather than a firm handshake is preferred when meeting someone new.  Tip number three discusses that when receiving a gift, book, cup of tea, etc., to always accept it with two hands…NEVER one.  Tip number four explains that when you do receive a gift from someone never open the gift in front of the person that gave it.  Always wait until they are gone to open the wrapped gift.  Tip number five explains that Chinese people take numbers very seriously.  Always invite a guest to breakfast at eight o’clock in the morning or dinner at 8 o’clock at night.  Tip number six suggests that when dining out with friends always keep your friends' glasses full with whatever beverage they are drinking but never fill your own glass. Tip number seven explains to always leave food on your plate.  Do not feel obligated to eat everything someone serves you because if your plate is empty they will re-serve you.  Tip number eight explains that talking about your family is the best ice breaker possible, but suggests never asking about how many children someone has.

The National Geographic Society as a whole is very much educational.  Although their mission is to get the society involved in help save the planet, I learned an extraordinary amount about a different country and their beliefs. The blog that was previously discussed help me recognize that a lot of beliefs and practices that are practiced in the Chinese culture are not praciticed in the United States.  Instead, we open gifts in front of the person that has given the gift.  I was always taught to greet someone with a firm handshake and leaving no food on your plate does not necessarily mean you want another serving.  Without this blog being provided to the public, and myself, I would have never been aware of the differences between the Chinese culture and the United States culture.