As you look into the small, dark eyes of a short, brown-haired, five-inch, two-week-old puppy, it’s hard not to think, “I want one of those.”

I know, because I’ve recently thought that.

A close friend of mine had similar thoughts, too. In fact, it was a visit to see her new puppy that had me contemplating the idea the other day.

My friend is a fellow recent-grad, so she’s making a little bit of cash and she has more time to take care of a pet. But I know that many students think about getting a pet while at school, too.

In this post, I’m by no means am I saying it’s impossible to own a pet and be a student, I’m merely saying that the decision should not be a light one.

The True Cost of Owning a Pet

It’s difficult to determine how much money your pet is going to cost you over its lifetime. Really, many characteristics are genetic, so it’s luck of the draw for you. Exercise, food, and healthcare are all up to you—and in those categories, often the best quality will have you reaching deeper into your pockets.

At petwellbeingblog.com, the author says that her sister’s dog costs at least 10% - 15% per paycheque. The blog also gives an estimate for the cost of cats and dogs over their lifetime:

Cats generally live longer than dogs, therefore, although it is cheaper to feed a cat than a dog, in the long term you're looking at a $2,000 difference between raising a cat and a dog. The average cost of raising a dog, based on the average income of both Canadians and Americans is $8,000 over the dog's lifetime and $10,000 for a cat's.

On canadianliving.com, they estimate that a medium-sized dog will put you out about $1,071 per year.

I know that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is, well, American, but they have a great tool that compares various types and sizes of animals—not just dogs. With the American and Canadian dollar being relatively similar in value, this interactive comparison chart may be very useful.

Money Well Spent?

At dailybrilliance.com, it’s suggested that you look at what you could have safely invested your money in—instead of a pet—over a 14 year term. While some of the numbers suggested are questionable, I think it’s an interesting idea. If your dog lives to be 14 years old and you’re spending the average $1,071 as suggested by Canadian Living, you’re looking at a potential lost investment of $14, 994 that could have grown in something like an RRSP. Of course, a dog is much more than just an “investment”—it can be a lifetime companion—I’m just reinforcing the idea that owning an animal is a big decision.

My friend has decided to get the dog… and she couldn’t be more excited. And I’m happy for her. I think she’ll make a great dog owner—she’s already bought lots of items for what will no doubt be one of the luckiest dogs around. It’s important to remember, though, that any animal needs a lot of attention and, while it may be a good choice for one person, it’s definitely not the right choice for everyone.

Now… what category do I fall under?

Currently in Vancouver, BC fashion week is happening and everyone seems to be talking about it. Luckily I have a friend who runs a modeling agency called MUUM productions who cast me in one of the shows. So, last night was my first fashion show in quite a while and I thought it might be of interest to share what the whole experience entailed.

The show that I was going to be involved in was an exposition of two designers who use Italian materials for their clothes and it was to be presented to the Italian chamber of commerce gala dinner. I arrived at two as told and spent about an hour waiting for all the models to get signed in and organized. Once almost everyone had arrived it was time to start the fittings. We proceeded into the dressing rooms where male and female models were dressing and undressing on command with a “hurry up!” here and there.

What basically happens at the fitting is that the clothes which the designer has made are given to specific models to wear and those will be their outfits for the show. The problem is of course that the designer is couture and so its not like there is a jacket in every size or pants in every size. In the end what happens is whatever fits, each model gets and hopefully it matches well together. At one point I was given a horrible boring black jacket for one of my final pieces and I tried to express that I thought something else might be more exciting for the finale. The reply to my simple request was “You have no opinion. You are a walking coat hanger!”. That is when I decided just to sit down and look pretty (luckily later the designer changed my outfit).

After all of that it was on to hair and makeup. The make up part went fine and since men don’t need a lot for shows it was fast. The only awkward part was when the makeup artist asked me “so, do they usually do your ears for shows? Because, I don’t do ears”. Once my makeup was done I headed down to KABOOM! hair salon to have my hair done for the show. What they were doing for most of the men was a slicked back look because we were wearing mainly Italian leather for the show. In short, I was not happy with the fact that they slicked my hair back and forward and made me look like an english school boy. I tried to remind myself that I have no opinion.

Once all of that was done things started to get really crazy as we had a dress rehearsal where our walks were severely critiqued and our facial expressions too. Luckily, I avoided much criticism which was encouraging. I was however told to look less “angry”. It was a lot of fun practicing and watching the others “work it” on the catwalk. I wouldn't say that its difficult but it is certainly harder then it looks. Then came the actual show and nerves were high all around. We got into our first outfits, had hair stylists, makeup artists and fashion designers hovering around us and maintaining us right up until we went on stage. The show did have some “complicated” choreography in which two other guys and me go up on stage then I, who was in the middle, strut down to the end, pose, and then as I return the two of them strut to the end passing me. Thankfully we nailed it and as I was walking down the runway with flashes in my face and amazing music blasting I suddenly realized how much fun I was having.

After the show, which went without any major issues, the models, designers and assistants went to an after party and danced the night away, while networking of course. Fashion truly is an industry and I think that is probably the biggest thing I learned this week. All the glamour and ease that the fashion industry often exudes is actually about hard work and money. The hardest part of the whole industry is that you are working and waiting for hours and you make friends with other models, designers and assistants because they are amazing people and then you go to parties and meet more but in the end it is all still work and those who succeed in the industry are absolutely clear about that. With BC fashion week ending tomorrow I will be anxiously looking forward to Vancouver fashion week in November where I plan to once again walk and have no opinion.

An article I read this week, has me once again questioning the value-add worth of social networking site Facebook, in society.

Now, Facebook has been discussed previously on this blog. This certainly isn’t the first time that I’ve suspected Facebook to have been given more than due credit for its social networking capabilities, but this article shows just how far-reaching Facebook really is.

Facebook-stalking or ‘creeping’ is nothing new to the avid user. By now, I’m sure you’ve successfully stalked a ton of people on Facebook: people you go to school with, old friends you’ve lost touch with, people you work with, that cute guy from class… of course you have. And while, in any other context this level of stalking would be deserving of a restraining order, granting semi-strangers access to personal information seems to be half of Facebook’s purpose. You’ve probably also heard that many employers have been using Facebook as an alternative way of screening you, too.

I don’t really have too much of a problem with potential employers jumping on Facebook to conduct social background checks. There are privacy settings that can be adjusted to filter the information readily available to unknown facebook-ers. And really, it’s a risk-taker who readily posts pictures or videos of themselves that could jeopardize a job prospect. People have even lost their jobs over Facebook!

My suggestion: during job hunting (at least), take down or un-tag any incriminating pictures and tighten-up your privacy settings so as not to expose any information you wouldn’t readily reveal during an interview. You can be sure that potential employers will make good use of this social profiling tool to determine whether or not you are the type of person they’d want working for them. Be sure that, if you’re in the job market, your Facebook profile reflects the professional ‘brand’ you’re going for.

This might be old news to you. What I really wanted to get at in this entry is the ease in which total strangers can pull up an overwhelming amount of personal information about you on the web. The author of the article mentioned above boasts being able to construct an extensive biography of a 17-year-old girl he has never met. Address, cell phone number, map to her work, even information about her boyfriend and pictures of her and her friends in a hot tub came up in his search in which he used nothing more than public sites such as Facebook, Google Maps and Canada411.com. Effectively illustrating the fine art of the ‘creep’, the author cautions online social networkers to the amount of information that is readily available for any stranger’s perusal.

If you’re at all concerned about how much of your personal life is out there on the web, do what you can to control how much of your personal life appears on social networking sites and blogs. Take a look at your privacy settings, take down some of those pictures from last weekend’s kegger, re-think that embarrassing blog entry about your latest romance and clean up your online image! Then again, if you’re looking to improve your e-stalking capabilities, check out Stalkerati and Internet Address Book. Sites like these are a creeper’s best friend!

Happy surfing!

At the rate that camera technology is changing, it makes little sense for someone on a student budget to go out and buy a camera when one with better resolution, lens quality and more convenient footage acquisition is almost always lurking six months around the corner. The large video camera manufacturers are almost constantly engaged in a game of one-upmanship to provide better cameras and better price points for a range of amateur and pro-level users alike. There are a variety of pros and cons on whether you should buy or rent a camera, but it all boils down to your individual needs.

WHY BUY?

Knowledge is Power

Owning your own camera allows you to have it with you at all times, which allows you to learn the ins and outs of the camera and its features. When you’re renting, the clock (and the meter) are running, which makes most people rely on the camera’s default settings. Having the time to customize your own settings can allow you to create unique looks that could help your picture stand out.

Time is of The Essence

If you’re doing work for other people, having your own camera can allow you to function as your own business, which is good if someone who is hiring you on short notice. It’s a nuisance when you have to call rental houses to see if their equipment is available and often clients that are bogged down by their own time constraints don’t want to wait around while you figure out where you are going to get your camera from.

Mo’ Money

Renting out your camera or yourself as a freelancer is a good way to pay off money spent on buying the camera. While you can also negotiate a price for your services that will cover your rental cost and ensure that you make some money for yourself, be realistic. Clients are also privy to how much a camera will cost to rent and they might rent it themselves and find their own cameraman to do the work for free. It’s good to be reasonable, especially if you’re just starting out. Sometimes the experience and the chance to show your stuff can lead to more (paid) work down the road.

Write it Off!

Cameras can be declared as an expense if you are a registered business. I’m not sure if the same applies to rentals (if anyone knows this, please let me know!) If you’re leasing the equipment, those payments can also be claimed as business expenses.

WHY RENT?

Times WILL get Tough

The nature of freelance work and personal projects can mean lots of down time. A friend of mine who makes corporate videos has been out of work for stretches as long as four months! Also, finding or writing a story and developing it can take some serious time and usually the poor camera is just sitting there waiting to be used. Renting on a per-project basis is often a good idea especially if you don’t have some sort of plan or reserve of cash to cover your bills when times get tough and the projects are trickling in.

Cameras don’t suffer Broken Hearts

Renting is like being single. You can walk in to a rental store and not feel committed to any one particular camera. In fact, many rental houses will let you sit in with a camera, provided that it is not rented out, so that you can play around with it and get to know it while asking the all-important questions of the professional staff that are at hand. Oh, and luckily cameras don’t suffer from broken hearts.

The Right Tool for the Right Job

Different projects often require different tools. Cameras are no exception. Some of them have exceptional low-light performance, while others may be better at capturing slow-motion. Video is also rife with a myriad of video codecs, so it pays to do your research to see if the codec that your camera shoots in won’t choke your video editing program’s CPU.

YouTube It!

There are a load of tutorials and footage tests posted on YouTube as well. All you have to do is type in the name of the camera and you’re sure to find shots using the camera you’re curious about in a variety of shooting conditions.

At this point, it makes more sense for me to rent than buy, but I’m also a bit impatient. I like just grabbing the camera and going out and shooting whatever suddenly occurs to me. Also, rental houses usually ask for pretty substantial security deposits if you’re renting their equipment, which can often be a third of the cost of the camera itself!

Most student credit cards don’t have the monstrous limits to support the deposit required of certain high-end cameras, which limits them from accessing the good stuff. Thankfully, most rental houses offer student discounts, which help ease the pain. As a solution, you can get a parent to us their card for the security deposit and usually the rental house will allow you the student rate. I’ve done this on many occasions, which has allowed me to make some good quality stuff. Now if only I could get MY limit down…

The other day in class we were discussing the trend towards social enterprise (i.e. business doing 'good') and the notion that business, big and small, are recognizing the role they play in changing the world (or call it what you will)

I'm not here to comment on the merits, motives and outcomes of socially driven business (I could go on forever - and perhaps I will later) but my professor made an interesting comment that I couldn't help but notice.

"You guys are going to be the ones that make the difference, not me"

I didn't make a big deal of it, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how loaded a comment like that is.

While I concur that perhaps we do have the power (and it is up to us to make the difference) I sometimes question if that's the general sentiment of many business leaders today. Is it hopeless up there; easy to pass off to us?

Then I got to thinking, "what does making a difference" really entail? I see lots of companies trying to make a difference (say, by lowering emissions and donating funds to different causes - all of which are absolutely noble) but I wonder if there isn't more that needs to be considered. Are business leaders still moving in the "wrong" direction, only at a slower pace? Does there need to be a fundamental shift in the way that we (the ones to make the difference) perceive and act within the context of business?

A good friend of mine (and an esteemed economist, might I add!) said, "Nathan, don't be too optimistic. Be opportunistic, and go where needs exist"

There's a big conversation going on about the role of entrepreneurs in the social movement; a shift from the mutual exclusivity of for-profit and not-for profit. I do think our generation is capable of bringing about change, but it's difficult if you're in a workplace that isn't your own. In that sense it's partially contingent on today's business leader's willingness to foster a culture where change can take place.

Then again, you can just start up your own business and foster your own culture of change.

Performers do it for the love of their art

What’s busking, you ask? Well, it’s not being royalty of public transpoetation (as yours truly, riding and writing). Busking, as defined by dictionary.com, means to “entertain by dancing, singing, or reciting on the street or in a public place”. Attending the Halifax International Busker Festival (takes place annually in August, but is in danger of not happening next year ) you’ll also see fire-eaters, trampoliners, breakdancers and a host of other crowd pleasing talents. In Halifax (and probably many of your own cities) there are buskers throughout the city during much of the year, and the one thing they have in common is they love what they do.

Once a year they gather here from all over the world to showcase their unique abilities. What makes their love of performing most evident is the fact that the festival does not pay them to perform. They get paid by the generous donations of the audiences, as is typical with street performers. So it a viable way to live? Is there enough money in busking to live comfortably? After having watched several acts throughout the 10-day festival I can safely say that many of them make more than enough money to pay their expenses and have some money left over. 3 shows daily x hundreds of spectators x a couple of dollars each, on average = pretty good money. The more members of an act, the trickier it becomes, however.

Due to time limitations, unpredictable weather and also a little procrastination on my part, the video blog that I had planned to do has fallen by the wayside. I approached several buskers to see about an interview, and received some lukewarm responses. In fairness they are quite busy, and they seemed to be a little skeptical of my credentials and intentions. Regardless of that fact, I’d like to highlight a few of the acts that I found especially entertaining, motivational and downright exciting.

ILL-Abilities Crew

As one of the most recognizable members of the crew, Luca “Lazy Legz” Patuelli, brings an amazing energy to the show. You may have seen him and his other crew Illmatic Styles on America’s Got Talent (he was born in Canada, though), and I was lucky enough to see them during the festival as well. The members of ILL Abilities are shining examples of what a person can do if they refuse to believe that they are disabled. It has to be seen to be fully appreciated, so please search for clips of these guys.

Spring Action

Some of you may recognize Sean McManus – the creator of this act – as a World Championship competitor. These performers fuse raw acrobatic and trampoline skills with both physical and verbal comedy. It’s an exciting and hugely entertaining show that appeals to all ages. Far from the typical street show (hauling a large trampoline around Halifax’s waterfront), it’s amazing to see athletes who have won medals (Eastern Canadian Quadruple and Triple Medalists, to be precise) in their sport showcasing their gifts for the public.

Rafael Sebastian

You’ve heard of David Blaine. You’ve heard of Criss Angel. Have you heard of Rafael Sebastian? If you haven’t, he should be a familiar name because his show is wildly popular at the festival. He blends genuine humour, illusions and daring tricks very effectively. I would dare say that street magic/illusions is the thing we’ve become most critical of as audiences. We’ve seen such over-the-top stuff in the past, and much of it involves camera trickery and angles. On the street, surrounded by a crowd, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a way to fool people if your tricks aren’t airtight.

While I didn’t manage to get interviews with the performers, I did get to enjoy their performances. Just remember the next time you see a busker that maybe that could be you, and you might very well make an excellent living at it. Think about it: a 10-day festival with approximately 3 shows a day. 30 shows x $300 (40-45 minute show, and a good act can easily make this amount) = $9000. Even after airfare, accomodations and food, you’ve managed to make a lot of money in 10 days. And you get to see the world while entertaining and amazing crowds of people. Maybe that singer on the corner with the guitar has the right idea.

And so should everyone else

This year, I was able to watch some of my friends—and my friend’s siblings—head off to university for the very first time.

When I was making the leap, I had heard tales of laptop and stereo theft. To prepare I, naturally, didn’t bring my stereo and, instead I bought a PC (Now that I am a laptop owner, I realize what kind of a mistake I just may have made).

Perhaps I should have, instead, thought about whether I had adequate insurance to cover my belongings in that dorm room of mine.

On Mom and Dad’s Plan

I have since learned that, while I wasn’t too concerned, my parents had thought things over. They had checked with their insurance company and discovered that my property was protected even though I wasn’t at home.

From what I’ve been able to research, most insurance companies have a similar policy: insurance companies cover students’ property while they’re away from home. “Over-age student dependents” are students that are over 21 years old but less than 25 years old (26 in Quebec). They, too, are usually covered—but it’s important to check with your provider.

This policy works for both university residences and rental apartments.

On Your Own

If you don’t fall under your parent or guardian’s insurance policy, it’s still a good idea to have insurance.

If you’re lucky enough to be living in your own home, you should have home insurance.

But if you’re a renter, you can get content insurance to cover the items you have in your apartment. According to RBC’s website, no one is responsible for your items except you:

Your landlord's insurance will not cover your personal belongings. Your jewellery, artwork, furniture, entertainment equipment and other valuable belongings will not be protected.

Content insurance is relatively cheap and it covers almost all of your belongings. Like all insurance, your rate depends on what you have that needs to be covered. By visiting RBC website, you can get a quote without even having to visit a branch.

Of course, if you’re like me, you don’t have to worry about insurance right now because you’re back at home. In which case, thank your parents and buy up as much stuff as possible—why not, right? It’s protected.

Recently I picked up a second job at Zara so I could earn some extra cash and also just because I think its really fun working in retail. When I say that to my friends and even some of my colleagues they think I’m crazy and can’t understand why I find retail “fun”. Retail work has had a bad name and image for some time so in order to explain my love of retail I decide to write my top seven reasons why I love retail.

7. The discounts.

For some, this may be the number one reason for them but because I am oh so passionate about working in retail I didn't want to put it up too high but at the same time I cant deny that a certain percent off isn't appealing.

6. The friends.

I swear that I have met both the craziest and the most fun people while working in retail. With the right group of people in the right store a shift can feel like a party instead of work. You end up chatting, dancing to the music and fooling around while cleaning the store and helping customers.

5. No stress.

Currently at the store I work at that new song “no stress” is on the store CD and so whenever it’s on it reminds me of how totally not stressful my job is. Basically what I do all day is answer questions for people, get them stuff and organize clothes.

4. The style.

I don’t care what store you work at but at every store there are both extremely ugly and extremely stylish clothes. When you spend as much time in a store as you do when you work in one you get a lot of time to see all the styles first hand, up close and personal and even see people wearing them. This makes shopping and dressing stylishly that much easier because you have had hours upon hours of research and prep time.

3. The experience.

Once you have worked in retail and know how to do it and survive it you know that if you had to you could always go back to it and every time you do it gets easier and easier and you end up moving up in the company and learning a lot more then you thought you would from a simple retail job. I like the fact that although retail isn't overly stressful it can be very rewarding if you put your energy into it and learn from it.

2. The stories.

Seriously crazy stuff happens in retail. Some of the weirdest times are when people try and steal from the store and are really bad at it. One story that the people at Club Monaco make fun of me for is the time I got food poisoning and didn't make it back to the washroom in time and so I threw up on some stock in the back room. I think that because of the public nature of retail and the fact that you are often in a mall or commercial area of some sort means that you get a mix of people in the store that makes for an exciting time.

1. The skills.

Some people might laugh at this one but by working in retail I have learned how to fold, clean and take care of my clothes the best I can. Now my room and my closet are way cleaner then ever before because I value the things more then I did before. Also by helping with the set up of retail stores and merchandising I learned how to organize things so that they are efficient but also aesthetically pleasing.

So although I know it’s corny how I am praising retail I really do believe it. Obviously there are just as many retail nightmare stories as good stories but like anything it up to you what you get out of it. So now that you've gotten used to your school schedule consider taking a part time job at a clothing store. Make sure you do your research though and make sure that you take a job that you like the clothes, people and the environment or else you won’t survive long.

If all goes as planned, I’m going to be graduating in April. I haven’t even begun my last year at school and I’m already a little nervous about job applications. It dawned on me earlier this summer, that this ‘summer’ was indeed my last. Not my last season, but my last ‘summer’. Next year, there will be no summer internship, no summer vacation, no summer break. Next year, school’s out… for life! Or at least until I’m ready for my master’s.

Maybe I’m jumping the gun a little on this one, but I’ve already been thinking/planning/stressing out over my next career move. I’m going to have to start applying in January! I’ve already been looking into a couple different positions at different companies, but the truth is that there are so many opportunities out there! All kinds of different positions and different training programs, there are a ton of opportunities for recent grads! There are SO many options in fact, that sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin applying.

If you didn’t already know, I’m into finance. Although I’m not in a business program at school, business and finance has just become a passion of mine over the last couple years, strange for an International Development student huh? Anyway, now that my time as a student is soon to run out, I’ve been looking into entry-level positions at various financial institutions to find one that is the perfect fit for me.

Hoping that my intern summers have equipped me with the knowledge to know a good gig from a dead-end, I’ve been sifting through job requisitions trying to find one that really strikes a cord.
It really isn’t as easy as it sounds though. Even finding a job description that resonates can be difficult. All the requisitions have vague descriptions like: “The ideal candidate has a positive attitude and a general interest in finance.” Well no duh. Basically, I think what a lot of requisitions are trying to get across is “Your resume should be decent, but we’ll decide if we really like you when we meet you.”

A couple weeks ago, I met with a new mentor in the financial industry who told me that, how far you get in this industry, has a lot to do with what you’re like to work with. It’s too early for me to tell, but I think she was right. Some positions in the financial industry have a lot of required accreditations, CSC, CPH, MBA, CFA, CA, CFP, but once you get those under your belt, a lot of your successes will have to do with your attitude and if you’re pleasant to work with.

Maybe that’s what those vague job requisitions are talking about…

Either way, you can probably look forward to a couple more blog entries from me about job hunting and life after university, because that’s what’s on my mind this month! (Isn’t blogging the best thing ever?) Feel free to leave a comment about any thoughts or concerns you might have about life after graduation and job hunting!

I've been thinking a lot about how a new school year is good for a fresh start lately. I was out biking recently and made a video about it.

Here it is:

I could write many lines of text lauding how beautiful and wonderful my trip to Europe was, but why not create a Top Ten list instead? In no particular order, here are 10 of the top things about my Contiki tour.

ONE. All of my amazing tourmates - Seriously, the tour was made much better by all the crazy and awesome characters we had. I think the quality of the experience depends pretty heavily on the friends we made.

TWO. Munich...all of it - I didn't know what to expect of this place but man did it blow me away. Bike tour in the rain, crazy beer hall experience with litre-sized beers and then a club that actually let us in (without paying cover) the way we were dressed. Blam!

THREE. The little moments - The inside jokes and the nonsense are what it’s all about. I'm sure everyone's got these personal times that just made the whole thing much more enjoyable.

FOUR.. McLovin – I had a guy on my tour that very much resembled McLovin from Superbad. I didn’t see it until it was pointed out on Day 2, I believe. Felt like I was in some mixture of Eurotrip and McLovin Goes To Europe.

FIVE.. Having a day song – Every day on the bus started with the same song. Looking back I'm glad we had that, which has very much come to represent the tour and the experience. It helps that I like Sweetness by Jimmy Eat World.

SIX.. The absolute debauchery - Man, I didn't even get the craziest of the bunch but I sure did let loose. Oh to have been on this tour when I was younger...haha.

SEVEN.. Dave (tour manager) and Paul (driver) - I have nothing to compare them to, but I'm sure there are much worse people in this world that could have ended up as our guides during this trek. They treated ME well, so they're on my list. Dave has a wealth of knowledge and Paul put in some hardcore driving hours and still remained patient.

EIGHT.. Seeing so many sights - I saw so many things along this trip that it's hard to even keep track. In 10 days I saw things that could have been fake, as far as I knew. So that's pretty awesome.

NINE.. Paris - The 2 days on tour were pretty nice, since I had been looking forward to Paris (despite not having much of a voice). But as some of you may know I spent 3 days after the tour, courtesy of a certain someone, and THOSE were absolutely magical for me.

TEN.. She - last but not least comes the one thing that completely took me by surprise about this trip. If not for her, I would have certainly left the tour with a different impression, and not experienced Paris the way I would have wanted to. She gave me the time of my life, that will not be forgotten.

The first week back at school is a budget nightmare. There seems to be so much stress and rush that everyones budget seems to slip a little. I know that for me in the past two weeks of catching up with old friends, eating out because I’m on the go and getting everything I need for my house and school has put me way over my monthly budget. That's okay though, because September is not an easy month for university students. If you and I however don’t get our budgets back on track we are gonna find our selves in a deficit and our families will be getting the lamest Christmas presents this year.

So, I decided to look online at some of the webs top budgeting sites for students in order to see what I could learn from them so that I could present them to you on rbcp2p.com, which is of course the best student finance site ever! Anyway, this is what I found:

The first site that I found interesting was the Visa USA student budgeting site . This site, like most of the sites mentions the importance of setting financial goals. I totally agree that you need to make a financial goal for the amount of money you are looking to save every month otherwise its unlikely you will save any.

Even more important than making the goal is having the desire to achieve it. You need to ask yourself “why do I want to save this money for later?” “What benefit will saving 20% of my money for the future instead of spending it on fun now give me?”. Once you have asked yourself these questions hopefully you will find your own motivation to make and keep financial goals. Since Visa is a credit card company however, they are experts with issues related to debt. The coolest thing that is really simple to understand that Visa has on their site is called the 20/10 rule. Here it is in their own words:

Follow the 20/10 rule to keep tabs on your debt. Never borrow more than twenty percent of your annual net income (after taxes). For example, if your annual net income is $6,000, your maximum safe debt load is $1,200. Also, your monthly debt payments should never be more than ten percent of your monthly net income. So if your net income is $500 a month, your monthly loan and bill payments shouldn’t be more than $50.

Is that not the easiest rule to understand ever? I think that they did a great job in making it clear for students and they also have a sweet budget worksheet to calculate your costs, savings and debts easily.

The next site that caught my eye was the SFU (my rival school but I will give credit where it is deserved) student creating a budget site. It focuses on setting goals too but offers university specific tips for saving money which I found useful. Here were some of my favorites:

“It's always better to overestimate your costs rather than underestimate them. You never know when prices for necessities will increase or when unexpected costs may arise.” -This is pretty much the story of my budgeting life!

“Grocery shop with a list and stick with it so you don't buy expensive impulse items that may throw off your budget. Whenever possible try to buy in bulk. Remember it's usually cheaper in the long run if you buy more in the short term.” - I don’t have a car so buying bulk is really hard sometimes but ever since I bought two of those big IKEA bags I have been able to buy big and save big and hopefully get big.

“Join a club! There are a wide range of clubs covering a variety of interests ranging from movies to sports to writing poetry. Clubs are usually a fairly inexpensive way for you to find things to do when you're not studying and a great way to make new friends.” -This is SO true! I joined a club and have found it to be so satisfying because its fun but productive and keeps me busy and when I’m busy I spend less money.

“Lastly, don't play around when it comes to your studies. Pass your course the first time around. Repeating a course is not only an academic burden, but a financial one. Remember how much your class costs per unit?” -Now I feel really bad about not studying harder in Econ, thanks SFU.

So there you go. Even more budgeting tips to help you and me get back on track. Don’t forget to check out the ones we already have on rbcp2p.com, just check out the money link on the side bar. Yeah that one right there. Click.

Okay, this is what’s on my mind this week. After being dealt the syllabus for my first couple classes, I’ve realized that already, among a ton of incredibly long readings, seminars and lectures, I’m going to be asked to perform a most dreaded task: Group work. And not just group projects, but group presentations and group essays, too!

Group work might just be the thing I hate the most about university school work. I’ve always been a team player, but when it comes to university work, there is nothing worse than a 6-member group assignment on which 40% of your mark is dependent.

It’s been my experience that most of the time, university generally encourages an individualistic approach to academics. University tends to be ultra-competitive by reinforcing the importance of individual performance and damning most kinds of collaborative work under the title of ‘academic fraud’ or ‘plagiarism’. This is something I understand. However, what I’ve found is that professors then justify assigning group work by suggesting that it mirrors the nature of real-life work.

Sort of a double-edged sword, no? Remember that Ryerson student that was being charged for sharing academic info on Facebook? Whatever happened to him anyway?

Beyond the difficulties that usually arise when different personalities have to mesh together for a good grade, there are also schedule conflicts, dominance or slacker issues, and general feelings of awkwardness when you’re thrust into a group of unknown people and immediately have to depend on them knowing full well that there is a possibility that one or many members could:

1. Become “ill” and not be able to fulfill their portion of the work
2. Drop the class halfway through the semester without telling you, leaving you with extra work to hand-in around exam time
3. Refuse to co-operate (those oppositional types who get a kick out of constantly playing ‘Devil’s advocate’)
4. Be a work hog (the team members who insist on doing all the work their own way)
5. Be a deadbeat group member

I just don’t think that university academics is the place to force group interactions. For the most part, group projects are wildly inconvenient, time-consuming and frustrating! Many times, I’ve felt like I’ve done more than my share of work, or worse, felt that I could receive a better grade if I could only go it alone.

I understand the value of learning to work in groups, with people you might not usually work with, but sometimes I can’t help but think that group work is assigned to lighten the prof’s load, and not entirely for the sake of a real-life experience.

That’s my bit…

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As My Most Anticipated Destination, Paris Does Not Disappoint.

Coming into Paris, I was still feeling the effects of The Contiki Cough. It was actually getting worse. The one place I had REALLY been looking forward to, and it would have to be experienced while sick. Not only was I sick, but I had next to no voice. I was approaching the one country in which I could speak the language, but I could hardly speak! Still, I refused to let this ruin my enjoyment. Upon arriving in Paris, we had a few hours before dinner would be served so The Object of My Affection (upgraded from Attention) and I set out to see Paris instead of waiting around. There was a bus (the bus we had been riding for SO many hours) tour of the city that night but my companion was familiar with the city so we skipped that and explored.

I was immediately impressed with the city. I thoroughly loved hearing French being spoken around me. It was nice to finally understand the locals. We saw the Arc de Triomphe and The Eiffel Tower that night – both awesome sights. Later, we met up with some other tourmates and walked an incredibly long distance (seeing much of Paris in the process) to end up at a place called The Canadian Bar. It was nice to have a little bit of home, but by this point I had NO voice. My partner in crime, refusing to let me be miserable, was patient enough to read what I typed out on her Blackberry. Challenging situations require creative solutions, and now she has a permanent record of my end of the conversation.

Having slept in the next morning, the day had a bit of a late start. I did venture out but along this exploration I discovered that one of my contact lenses had a huge tear in it. Frustrated I threw it on the ground and proceeded to walk around with one eye, and not much of a voice. I still refused to let these things get me down. I was in PARIS! Even a challenging time in Paris was excellent, so if you’re able to experience it without these little annoyances you’re in for an amazing visit. This was the last night of the tour and a lot of my tourmates were checking out cabaret shows, but I had opted out of this one. It’s the only optional excursion I chose not to do. It’s a good thing, too, because something presented itself that required having some extra cash – an impromptu extension to my Paris experience!

The final night of the tour, T.O.o.M.A asked me to stay in Paris with her, as she had already planned to stay for 3 more days. After some deliberation I decided that it was an opportunity I could not pass up. Thus began my magical relationship with Paris. It was during these days that I got to feel what Paris is all about. We did things according to our own schedule and I absolutely had the time of my life! Paris is a city that is better enjoyed when slowed down, as compared to the go-go-go of the tour. As of the first 2 days, I would have left having enjoyed Paris but the extra 3 days solidified my love affair with The City of Lights. There is such an air of romance and relaxation that it’s difficult to not become consumed by it all. Overall, Paris was definitely the highlight of the tour for me, and I would highly recommend seeing this beautiful city.

I’m used to hitting the books and heading to class when this time of year roles around. Or rather, I’m used to telling myself that I’m going to hit the books and head to class around this time of year. Today, I find myself wondering what’s next.

In the years leading up to my final year at university, I was always interested in how upcoming grads were feeling. Now, as a recent grad myself, I can tell you that your last year feels just like the rest.

The autumn afterwards—well, that’s a different story.

I have been fortunate to be employed right out of university. I’ve been able to pay off almost a third of my student loan and had the opportunity to visit Canada’s west coast for the very first time.

Thinking back to last year at this time, besides keeping up with school, I was worried about my finances for the rest of the year. With thoughts of school gone by, I still worry about finances. It used to be thoughts of textbooks, assignments and what might come of dinner. Now it’s loan payments and preparing for any opportunities that may one day come knocking on my door.

I recently visited with my newlywed cousin. A few years prior to her wedding, she and her now-husband visited a financial planner. They were able to map out the steps to affording their wedding, a new home and the years ahead. It’s made me think that it may be beneficial to visit a financial planner now that I’m finished one of the biggest steps of my life.

According to RBC’s financial planning focused website, financial planning is “ongoing process that takes into account the ‘whole you’”. They can help you minimize tax payments, increase savings and improve cash flow, among other things.

For those who may find themselves well passed the days of school and in an uncertain financial position, a financial planner may be your answer. While I was in B.C., I visited with my brother who has been in the working world for over ten years now. Like many at his age, he hasn’t been the best at keeping on top of his finances. During my visit, though, I learned that he had visited with a financial planner to help him map out his financial future. Not only was it great to hear he had taken these steps, but it was also kind of inspiring. It seems like a financial planner could be for anyone.

In the coming weeks, I plan on visiting with a financial planner. I’m not entirely sure what to expect and I hope that I learn a couple of things. I’m going to find out what options I have and what common pieces of advice new—and not so new—grads find most useful.

This is the summer I told myself. This is the summer that I will finally have a “healthy” tan because I will be working in Spain for two months and wont feel rushed to get the perfect colour. Feeling rushed is almost always the number one cause for sun burns in my vacation life. I expected that since that concern was not going to bug me this summer that I would take things slow and obtain the coveted long lasting natural bronze skin look for the fall.

When I first got to Spain I took it really easy. I was working quite a bit and so when I was on the beach it was usually only for two or three hours and never during the “danger times” of the day (apx 12-3). I would always wear 40 SPF on my face and my body and had faith that I would develop a slow, natural tan. This I did and everything was going great, I fit in at the beaches and was complemented by my Spanish colleagues that were proud that I was no longer a pasty white east European. All of this made me feel like summer had really begun and that I was now enjoying the greatest tan of my life.

All of that changed my last week in Spain. I got sick my last week and so my beach time was minimized to zero hours and as I rested at home I literally felt myself getting whiter and fading back into the average. This is of course the ridiculous paranoia that I was trying to avoid in the first place. All this meaningless fear pushed me to the edge and so for the sake of enjoying the last two days of Spain and summer I crammed in two full 8 hour beach tanning days with tanning oil as my only protection everywhere, including my face.

My body didn't get burned at all because I was already so dark but my face had been protected all summer by 50+ high quality lotion and the August mid day sun scorched it to hell. I realized my mistake and tried to treat my face after the suffering it had been through but it was already too late. A bacterial disease called Impetigo had infected the lesions that the sun had left behind and soon this highly contagious infection covered much of my face and my neck. What followed was two weeks of creams and antibiotics, no shaving, no kissing and even worse regret for being such an idiot.

Why is he telling me this you may ask. The reason I am telling this story is because of my experience I need to make it clear to everyone that sun tanning is a bad idea no matter what. Now that I have done more research and had this experience it has woken me up to how wrong it is that I thought it was so attractive and coveted dark skin so much. I am now trying to change my priorities and others as well because when it comes down to it, sun tanning is a horrible investment.

According to CNN.com, the term “sun tanning” actually refers to an effect that happens in your skin that your skin darkens to protect itself from further damage. So, someone with a “great tan” is actually someone with moderate sun damage. A sun burn is when the UV rays have done so much damage so rapidly that the skin cant protect itself fast enough. In both of these stages the potential for “hidden” skin damage is a high possibility including liver spots, wrinkles and changes to moles. The worse part of all of this is that sun tanning can cause damage to your actually skins DNA and change it which may result in skin cancer. There is a plethora of information online on the issue and I found this CNN article particularly helpful.

One of my resolutions for this year is to change my attitude towards the tan. I will make efforts to no longer say things like “wow she has a great tan” or “I wish I was that tan right now” because they further the problem. Just like smoking, our attitudes towards the hotness of the tan need to change because stuff that can kill you just shouldn't be cool. From now on the tan will be ugly and stupid in my book.

I’m sure you can very well imagine that gathering 51 travelers, ranging in age from 18 to early 30’s, and exposing them to the enchantment of Europe can easily lead to some romantic engagements (to avoid using slang). I don’t think I have to spell it out for you, but in case you don’t know what I’m talking about I mean singles coming together and becoming duos. Some may take a tour such as this one with the explicit plan of hooking up, while others refuse to go that route. Others, still, will take things as they come and decide which route to pursue. I could tell you stories (oh so many stories), but out of respect for those involved I’ll avoid doing that. I can, however, speak in general and from my own personal experience. Oh boy, here we go.

Europe has been romanticized to such a great extent in films, music, books and on television that it’s almost impossible to think of Europe without feeling a tinge of romantic yearning. On my tour there were about 6 couples (in the beginning) but many one’s became two’s along the way. As humans it’s second nature to want to find companionship, love, romance and intimacy. As (on average) 20-somethings it can sometimes be about just the physical connection, and on the tour there have been examples of all, I would say. The majority of my tourmates are traveling alone and a good portion of them are unattached (as the traffic light game proved early on), so it’s natural to want to form friendships (and more). There will always be those who want to have a good time at all costs - including neglecting others’ feelings - but I can honestly say that I have seen some legitimate connections.

I can say from personal experience that it’s possible to meet someone with whom you connect on a real level, and not just a Contiki level. Or, at least that’s how it feels. When the tour is over and we return to our own lives it remains to be seen how we’ll look back on it, but for right now it’s real and I’m enjoying it. Each person’s experience will vary drastically from the next, and whether or not they experienced a little romance (assuming they wanted to) can mean the difference between a mediocre experience and a wonderful one. This is not to say that it’s the only measure of happiness and satisfaction, but it’s ONE way to enhance a trip. As tricky as dating (if you can call it that on a tour) is, it can become very challenging on a tour when you consider that there are 10 days of close-knitted bus traveling. To quote the tour’s driver: “better an awkward morning than a boring night”. You may disagree, but many of my bus companions seem to live by this statement.

As the tour winds down, it becomes ever trickier to consider how things will be when we all return to our respective homes. The length of the tour (or even part of it) can definitely be long enough to develop a close relationship with someone. Hell, I’m downright going to miss a bunch of people from this tour, including the Object of My Attention (I’d use affection but it seems a little too strong, considering the circumstances). In no way am I saying that the tour is ABOUT this, but just like The Contiki Cough it’s just an undeniable part of the whole thing and I’m grateful that I got to experience it along my journey. It may seem silly, but despite the shortness of the whole thing I will not soon forget the woman I kissed at the top of the world.

Nick is currently adventuring in Europe. One of RBC's partners, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, has recently launched a travel site featuring exclusive travel deals. Deals are exclusive to students who have RBC No Limit Banking for Students™ and Nick is currently experiencing one of their travel deals. Over the next 2 weeks, Nick will be writing about his experience as he tours Europe on a Contiki tour.

I woke up in a prison today, with an achy body. The cell was hot and the bed was pretty small.

Ok, to be fair it WAS a prison and is now a hotel. Lucerne, Switzerland is the last stop before the final city of the tour – Paris. It has been a long trip thus far. SO much has happened that it’s difficult to keep track of it all. To be completely honest I felt terrible yesterday in Switzerland. There is a phenomenon on tour called The Contiki Cough, which is exactly what the name implies. It is not specific to Contiki tours, of course, but it just so happens that the fast pace combined with the large number of travelers (on a bus much of the time) makes it very easy to get sick.

I have fallen victim to TCC, and currently lack a voice for the most part. I have tried to make the best of it, but I’m disappointed that I forgot my cough medicine and didn’t bring more throat lozenges. Please do yourself a favour and bring these items if you plan on doing any traveling for a trip such as this one. Also, do everything in your power to keep healthy, so you can avoid this altogether.

Upon first entering Switzerland I was completely blown away by the beauty of the Swiss Alps. I’m from Cape Breton, so I know mountains. Or, rather, I THOUGHT I knew mountains. The first optional excursion was a ride to the top of Mt. Stanserhorn via a funicular train and aerial cable car. At an outrageous height of 6300 feet, I felt like I was on top of the world – both literally and figuratively. I could not have been more content, to be honest. With my head in the clouds, I also got to kiss someone at the top of the world. Life was beautiful, indeed.

Currently about 425km from Paris, I’m heading to the place where I absolutely wanted to kiss someone – in front of the Eiffel Tower. It looks like my wish has come true ahead of schedule. I can’t speak for all my tourmates, but the idea of a Euromance crossed my mind prior to getting here. But I suppose that’s a different blog entry altogether.

Back to the mountain. Having already been a little sick upon climbing the 6300ft, it appeared that one of my ears got plugged and would not unplug itself. My friend suspects that it was due to my congestion preventing the pressure from escaping. Whatever it was, it began as an annoyance and turned into legitimate pain. Even later last night it was still plugged and I felt a lot of pressure behind my face.

As of right now, I’m not even sure if it has unplugged itself, because my body has adapted to it. The pain and stuffiness made it difficult to appreciate the second optional excursion on the Lake Lucerne cruise. Had I written about it at the time, I would have had a negative attitude, but thanks to catching up on sleep in the bus and the special lady who has garnered my interest, I am now able to cheer up and see the positive. Switzerland is breathtaking and a nice stop on the way to my most anticipated destination!

Sleeping in a hotel that was once a women’s prison was quite an experience, I have to say. The accommodations thus far have varied from city to city, with a range of simple and functional to luxurious. The prison hotel is not really meant to be the most comfortable experience, so much as a wholly new one. Had I not been so miserable due to my sickness, I’m sure I could have better appreciated it. Looking back, however, I can say I slept in a prison cell without having gone TO prison. Sleeping on the 3rd floor (no elevator) and carrying my suitcase up so many flights of stairs while feeling as I did was not so pleasant. They gave us the option of packing an overnight bag, but I prefer to have access to all my things at all times because you just never know. Again, this had more to do with being ill and less to do with it being THAT bad.

One last tip I will pass on that relates to my Switzerland stay is to pack earplugs. These come in handy in several situations, like when your room is right above the hotel bar and the patrons party until about 5am, disturbing your off-an-on sick sleep throughout. Or when you need to catch up on your sleep while traveling on the bus. Prior to writing this entry, I slept for almost 3 hours on the bus with earplugs in, and it helped tremendously. Paris, here I come!

Nick is currently adventuring in Europe. One of RBC's partners, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, has recently launched a travel site featuring exclusive travel deals. Deals are exclusive to students who have RBC No Limit Banking for Students™ and Nick is currently experiencing one of their travel deals. Over the next 2 weeks, Nick will be writing about his experience as he tours Europe on a Contiki tour.

J’ai rrécemment écrit un blog au sujet de la mode sur les Vespas, et depuis ce temps, je rêve d’avoir et de me promener sur un scooter. Par contre, mon rêve d’avoir un scooter ne s’est pas encore réalisé, mais cette liste servirait de les dix choses plus importantes à faire sur ma Vespa.

10. Faire une excursion spontanée.Celle-ci fut une de mes choses favorites à faire lorsque j’avais une auto, et c’est certainement une de mes choses favorites à faire à pied. C’est une de mes grandes joies d’être capable de me réveiller, et d’aller à quelque part ou je ne suis jamais allé. Ma Vespa serait parfaite pour ce type d’aventure!
9. Faire une parade de mode avec mes vêtements Vespa. Les scooters sont plus lents et très unique, alors ce que tu porte est bien plus important qu’en auto… J’aimerais bien démontrer mes nouveaux vêtements sur ma Vespa.
8. Pousser ma Vespa à sa limite. Lorsque j’obtiens une nouvelle voiture, j’adore embarquer sur l’autobahn et aller aussi vite qu’elle me permet. Je pense que ca serait formidable si je pourrais faire ça sur ma moto, même si le moteur faisait une crise cardiaque pendant que les ferraris, les porsches, et même les toyotas me dépassaient.
7. Poser pour des photos sur ma moto. Chaque fois que je loue une auto, j’insiste prendre des photos. Ma moto ferait l’accessoire parfait!
6. Devenir un fanatique des Vespas. Si tu as quelque-chose de nouveau et trippant comme un iPhone, ou une Vespa, la seule chose a faire c’est de s’immerger dans sa culture et en parler a tout tes ami(e)s!
5. Nommer ma Vespa. Je ne sais pas ce que serait le nom de ma Vespa, mais ca serait certainement un nom de femme, et quelque chose de mignon, comme Edmonde ou Françoise. Parler a ma Vespa serait sans doute requis aussi!
4. Voir combien d’amis peuvent embarquer à la fois. Une fois, j’ai placé 7 de mes amis et moi-même dans l’audi TT à ma mère. Combien d’amis pourrait embarquer sur ma Vespa!?
3. Stationner. Trouver du stationnement à Vancouver, c’est impossible. Ca m’apporterait tellement de joie de pouvoir stationner devant quelques SUVs cherchant une place, et, de façon dramatique, débarquer de ma Vespa et faire mon chemin.
2. Commencer une nouvelle série à la télé appelée “Pimp my Vespa”. Sur la télé allemande, il a une série appelée “Pimp my Bicycle” au lieu de “Pimp my Ride”. Je pense que je devrait être le premier invite à faire part sur “Pimp my Vespa” aux antennes de Musique Plus.
1. Faire à croire que je suis Européen.C’est quelque chose que je fais souvent sur les avions, mais je pense que ca serait encore mieux sur ma Vespa. J’essaies souvent de convaincre les gens que je suis Européen sans rien dire. Une Vespa aiderait sûrement ma cause.

Cette liste était très aléatoire, mais croyez mois, lorsque vous avez le syndrome de la Vespa, vous ne pouvez que vous permettre de rêver comment sera votre vie lorsque vous-y prenez la roue.

I recently finished work editing for an independent filmmaker who had shot on high definition because she felt that having a film shot on a high quality format would improve her chances of the film being taken seriously when she decided to shop it around to potential buyers on the festival circuit. This is almost exclusively the route taken by many independent filmmakers who know that it is all fine and dandy to be able to accomplish the feat of even making a film in the first place, but getting that film seen is an entirely different beast altogether.

Getting a film seen can mean many things, especially nowadays with the Internet having become a forum in its own right for filmmakers to get their work out there. Festivals have been around longer and obviously with that comes a certain level of prestige that attracts and receives the support of many industry people that any filmmaker would give an appendage to be in the same screening room with, breathing the same air.

It got me thinking; mainly because I’ve been working on a project of my own that I’ve been writing and trying to get shot in the fall to take advantage of some really atmospheric fall scenes and the beautiful ambiance that overcast late season light provides, but also I’m feeling the pressure because a few significant deadlines are approaching. I’ll want to do a good job on the film and not rush it just to make some deadline, but I have to say that I have known some who don’t take the time to do a good job and you can imagine the result because of that.

This applies to just about anything in life. Like it or not, deadlines are a part of life, but you have to believe that if people are going to see what you’ve done then the time you spend on it inevitably affects the result. There have been cases, myself being one of them, where being under the gun actually motivates you to think creatively and more productively because you are aware of the limit you have in front of you. There are other cases too where you (super important) prioritize working on something consistently and over time you see it grow and mature into an idea that you could never have conceived in a more compressed time space. I’m sure theories abound on this subject on time in relation to result and I’d love to hear your own ideas, but I have to say I’m leaning more and more towards allowing myself to enter into something like a ‘relaxed discipline’ where I’ll treat my project in this way:

• I’ll have a notebook handy. When an idea comes, no matter where I am, I can jot it down. These notes come in handy later. Trust me.
• I’ll return to the idea mentally, every so often through the day or the week. It turns into a sort of mental exercise and thinking about it turns into a habit. I become aware of the idea in some of the most interesting places and situations, which can yield some unexpected associations, which I might even incorporate into the idea, taking it to different places.
• Avoiding intense thinking sessions that have large gaps of days or even weeks is useful, because a long period of time of being away from an idea is like stuffing yourself with food after going without for a long time. The effect is the same; it’s too overwhelming and you might miss out on those intricate details that make an idea fuller and more robust. Little mental warm-ups keep the brain limber and flexible enough to spring easily into action. (Insert exercise analogy here).

Last but not least, if all else fails and I’m getting nowhere, I’ll just scrap the idea all together. Remember that notebook I mentioned? This is where you can go back to those random notes and maybe find some interesting nugget that will start the brainstorming process all over again and create a thread that you can take up and follow outside that crazy maze of ideas. Everyone is different and that is what I’m after, what’s your ‘method’ if there is one or does there need to be one?

Due to a lack of Internet access and time, I’m writing about the three cities I visited in Italy AFTER the fact. To be honest, I’m actually glad to be doing it this way since I am now able to compare each to the others. Before I get into describing each city, I’m going to address Italy in general. Knowing a little bit of Spanish and being quite fluent in French helped tremendously in understanding signs and communicating.

Italy is unique in that they do a few things completely differently than the other countries I’ve visited. There really isn’t such a thing as getting tap water in restaurants; instead it’s large bottles of water that cost between €2 and €3. The meals that we paid for as optional excursions included 3 or 4 courses, but when it came to paying for my own I tended to get pizza (a whole thin crust pizza, as opposed to a slice) for as low as €6, to save money.

Lots of toilets don’t actually have toilet seats, and require crouching over it. To buy food in snack places you pay for the food first and bring a receipt to the person who serves you the food. These may seem like small things, but these and other little things all add up to make Italy the first country where I felt I had to adapt. Then again, we were there for 4 days so I suppose the extended stay could be part of it. Now, on to each city in the order I visited them.

Venice

Venice was the most tourist-y place we’ve visited so far, but that’s part of what makes the city so great. There are so amazing shops to see that a person could easily spend an entire day wandering through the crooked streets and still miss some. I bought a pair of sunglasses for €10 but my friend actually bought a designer pair, which appear to be worth the money.

After we had walked around for about 3 hours we made our way to the gondola (you know, those long skinny boats with a man standing at the back with a long stick) ride, where 6 of us shared one. We had a couple of bottles of wine for the 35-minute journey through the canals of Venice, and just as I started to photograph the sights both my camera batteries died. It hasn’t been easy keeping them charged. I guess my memory will have to suffice for that part of my trip.

Following the gondola ride, we made our way to a nearby Italian restaurant for a very traditional Italian meal. Both of these were optional excursions, which some people chose not to attend. The great thing is you can do your own thing if you’ve got different ways to spend your time. So far I’ve done all of them, and the meal did not disappoint. There were about 5 courses (maybe more), a bottle of wine to split between 2 people, and a man playing the accordion and serenading us. He was so incredibly happy doing his job that it brought a huge smile to my face. Ok, so maybe part of the smile was wine-induced, but the whole dinner experience was a great way to get a feel for Italy.

Venice as a whole, though, felt a little overrated as far as what I expected. I think it’s marketed very well and beautifully portrayed in films, but the reality was that it paled in comparison to some of the other cities, even within Italy.

Rome

Although I would say that Rome was a better experience than Venice (mostly due to the sheer magnitude of its history) it was the city in which I was most ripped off. To avoid focusing on the negative I’ll first say that the buildings and ruins in Rome were an absolutely awesome sight. Rome is such an old city and was once the centre of the Earth, essentially. That part is amazing, but Rome also has its share of swindlers, scam artists and those ready to take advantage of foreigners. It’s something to beware and if not for having been warned I could have fared worse.

Both cab drivers I had charged us too much and tried to take advantage of us, and a restaurant charged us more than the actual cost of the meal. We hadn’t paid enough attention but realized afterwards. We had an extra day in Rome so we got wise to the attempts to milk us of extra money. I guess any country can have dishonest people, but to experience them at just about every turn was frustrating. I’d recommend seeing the city for its undoubtedly breathtaking architecture and history, but be aware that it’s a busy city that sees many tourists and therefore many locals out to make a buck. And yet, some of the street vendors that approach you actually have good deals. For example, 15 roses for €5, as offered to me by a man (who also sold megaphones) outside a bar we were attending.

After my previous experiences, I assume there was a catch of some sort. Oh Rome, why did you have to make me so suspicious of you?

Florence

Prior to leaving for this trip I had a friend tell me Florence was more beautiful and a better overall experience than Rome. I have to agree, and would say that it by far surpassed the other Italian cities. Venice was a cool city to see and Rome was brilliant in its historical significance, but Florence is a city that I could see myself re-visiting in the future. In the afternoon a few us walked around the city and just relaxed after the two days of hectic Rome.

Florence is a cleaner and friendlier city than Rome, in my opinion. It also has some gorgeous buildings and more than enough places to find Italian souvenirs and goods. The evening brought a couple f optional excursions my way, with a Tuscan dinner followed by some karaoke and dancing at a discotheque. It was a great evening of food, drinks and pleasant company. This was one of the first chances we had to visit a club as a group, with the majority of my tourmates opting to attend.

Overall

In a sense, every city I saw in Italy outdid the previous. Despite the struggles and frustrations of some, I’d recommend all three cities as they each bring their own special quality to the Italian experience. Onward to Switzerland, where I hear the water may be free again.

Nick is currently adventuring in Europe. One of RBC's partners, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, has recently launched a travel site featuring exclusive travel deals. Deals are exclusive to students who have RBC No Limit Banking for Students™ and Nick is currently experiencing one of their travel deals. Over the next 2 weeks, Nick will be writing about his experience as he tours Europe on a Contiki tour.

Alone, With Friend or On a Tour

Prior to this Contiki tour, I had never really been anywhere. I have friends who have traveled the world and seen some amazing things. I’ve wanted to travel, but the opportunity never really arose, until now. This entry is mostly for those among you who haven’t yet spread your wings, and are wondering how you should go about doing so. Essentially, I’ll look at three of the ways that most people tend to do it:

Traveling Alone

The clear advantage of this method is that you are your own boss and call the shots. If nobody else is with you, then you see the things you want, according to your own schedule. Some people will much prefer to be independent and not rely on someone else. Also, having a friend will decrease the likelihood of branching out as much, since there is an element of comfort at your side at all times. The flipside is that you are, of course, alone. Certain cities can be more dangerous when traveling alone, and it’s always nice to have the added security of a close friend or partner. So while traveling alone may seem like the option you want, it’s wise to consider all the potential pros and cons.

With Friend (Partner, Family Member)

For someone who has never traveled before, the whole experience can be quite daunting. Not everyone is capable of embarking on this journey by themselves, without someone to help them along. This is where a friend, partner or family member can come in handy. Whether they are also first-time travelers or experienced, the fact remains that sometimes we simply need someone by our side to make us feel more comfortable in challenging situations. And again, it’s much more secure having someone along for the ride rather than being alone in foreign locations. There are countless amazing places on earth and sometimes you want to share it with someone.

On a Tour
Seeing as how this is the way I ventured across Europe, I can definitely say that it was a great introduction to traveling. There is an element of structured activities mixed with the freedom to do your own thing. There are many people around if you wish to share experiences with someone, with the added bonus that you can always find someone who wants to do what you do. This may not be the case with a friend, leading to your missing some desired sights. Essentially, going on a tour (such as Contiki) allows you to explore by yourself or to enjoy the sights and scenes with good company.

When choosing a tour there is always the option to book it with a friend or to do it solo. Just like traveling without a tour, much of the same applies, but the big thing I have noticed is that many of those who came with a companion tend to stick with those people. Not always, of course, but much of the time the friends (partners) do the same activities and spend more time with each other. I can honestly say that one of the biggest attractions of my tour has been the awesome people I have met. Had I traveled with a friend, I may never have gotten to know these great people. These are just some of the things to consider when deciding to travel for the first time (or even the first time to a specific place). The ultimate goal is to maximize your enjoyment, and only YOU will truly know what that entails.

Nick is currently adventuring in Europe. One of RBC's partners, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, has recently launched a travel site featuring exclusive travel deals. Deals are exclusive to students who have RBC No Limit Banking for Students™ and Nick is currently experiencing one of their travel deals. Over the next 2 weeks, Nick will be writing about his experience as he tours Europe on a Contiki tour.

There I was, rushing from terminal three of Pearson international to terminal two in order to catch my flight back home to Vancouver when something caught my eye. On the escalator arm the advertisement words “earn money while others sleep” were rolling on next to me. The words fascinated me and I soon began to find out that they represented a company called GuestInvest and were part of a new trend of real estate investment in hotel rooms.

The concept behind GuestInvest is that instead of spending masses of money on an investment property, you spend less on a hotel room and reap faster returns and pay less taxes. GuestInvest is based in London where the real estate market has become astronomical. The hotel investment concept however only really works in popular tourist locations in order for your investment to bring some peace of mind. This of course means that you must be willing to pay the price for a small condo when your only buying a room.

One of the benefits of hotel room real estate is that because you don’t live in the property for much of the year you receive tax breaks on many of the expensive taxes that come with buying a home. Also since the hotel room is “yours” your able to stay in in for up to 52 nights a year (UK) or two weeks (US, Canada) without loosing the tax benefits. Hotels will charge you part of your income from the rental of the room for maintenance and marketing the room (50% UK) but besides that you will reap the profits of anyon