What’s the difference between Pad Thai in the US and Pad Thai in Thailand? Well, a lot actually. Dishes not only provide nourishment when you’re traveling, but when prepared in their native countries, they help to define a place and their people. The following dishes are influenced by a country’s culture, people, politics, geography and climate.

What foods should you try in your travels? See below a list of seven foods you should eat if you are ever in these countries.

India

Masala Dosa

This is a crispy crepe filled with spicy potatoes and traditionally dipped in a variety of sauces from chutney to tomato and lentil sauces. Though it can be found all over India, it’s a traditional South Indian dish and is a common breakfast food.

Spain

Paella

This is recognized as the national dish of Spain, with its roots in Valencia and comes in a variety of preparations. There are three types of paella, Valencian, Seafood and Mixed. Seafood paella is a rice and seafood based dish containing a variety of seafood from cuttlefish to mussels.

Canada

Poutine

At its core, it’s a dish of French fries (also a beloved American dish), covered in brown gravy and cheese curds. It’s a fast food you can find in diners, pubs and elsewhere. It’s also rumored to be a hangover cure. (Try to avoid the hangover in the first place!)

USA – Texas (“It’s a Whole Other Country”)

Texas BBQ

Each cook has his or her special recipe, but nothing hits the spot better than smoked brisket, sausage, ribs and sides like fried okra. There’s plenty of debate about whose BBQ is best – Texas Monthly even has an annual issue devoted to BBQ and lists the best in the state. You might be in line for hours at some of these joints, but it’s worth the wait.

Japan

Ankimo

A food that is on the verge of extinction because of overfishing, this dish is Monkfish liver with grated Daikon radish. It’s prized among fans of sushi and is considered a delicacy in Japan.

Vietnam

Pho

Americans may be familiar with this dish (or its Americanized version), a staple in Vietnamese cooking. It consists of broth, rice noodles, spices and meat. It’s a popular food in Vietnam. In the south, they eat it for breakfast, while in the north they eat it any time of day. It was made popular in the rest of the world by refugees from the Vietnam War.

Britain & Ireland

Shepherd’s Pie

Also called Cottage Pie, it’s a simple dish found served in most pubs. Shepherd’s Pie is simply minced meat topped with mashed potatoes. There are many variations that can be made with any meat, but the staple is generally mashed potato. You can also find St. Stephen’s Day Pie made with turkey and ham or Cumberland Pie made with breadcrumbs on top.

Wherever you travel, seek out local cuisine. It’s the best way to get your taste buds in touch with the land you’re exploring.

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Contributed by William Pate

 

Study Abroad. A two word phrase that inspires a range of reactions ranging from “wanderlust” to “immense fear”. The chance to study in a foreign country for a summer or a semester is a unique, and often life changing, opportunity that allows you to get a taste of a new culture while still having the safety net that being a student affords you. Because everyone’s experience studying abroad is unique and different, it’s hard to honestly give you a general portrayal of what you are going to experience. However, below are some common trends of what you may encounter on your semester abroad and different reactions to each.

You get out of your experience what you put in.

Just because you are in Spain for 4 months, don’t assume that you will automatically become fluent in Spanish. If your goal when you go abroad is to develop language fluency, then spend your time talking with locals and paying attention in class. Likewise if you want to see what it is like to work abroad, go on a program that requires an internship or seek out one yourself.

You will experience culture shock; that’s ok.

At one point or another, you will have your moment where everything about your new country is awful and all you want to do is go home, eat American food, and have your “real” friends and family surround you. Learning to adapt to new situations is a lifelong skill that goes into overdrive when you are alone abroad. Know that you have people back home proud of you for going on the adventure and that they are just a phone, email, Facebook, or Skype away from being able to say hi.

You will never take the little things for granted.

Trust us, when you’re lost in the middle of town and don’t know how to get home or get sick and need to communicate with a doctor who speaks broken English, when you are abroad—especially in countries where English is not a first language—every task requires three times as much brain power to get something half as good as you would back home. Even if you are lucky enough to study in a country where everyone speaks English, be prepared for the blank stares on people’s faces when you ask them where to find peanut butter.

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Contributed by Matt Zonis

Currently, there are 58 National Parks in the U.S. From national monuments and historical sites to places of conservation, there’s no shortage of National Parks. But how can you pick the best one to visit? Here are six suggestions:

Haleakalā National Park

A special place in Hawaii, this park explores the history of Hawaiian culture. The landscape is uniquely Hawaiian, with sub-tropical rainforests and volcanic terrain, which makes hiking here an unforgettable experience. Haleakalā National Park is also home to a variety of endangered species which exist nowhere else.

Denali National Park

Six million acres make up Alaska’s Denali National Park. Taiga forests blend into the alpine tundra and snowcapped mountains as you travel higher in elevation. This park is also home to North America’s tallest peak, Mt. McKinley, at 20,320-feet. If you’re ready to climb one of the seven summits, this is a good place to start.

Biscayne National Park

Located just outside of Miami, Florida, this park holds 10,000 years of human history. From shipwrecks to pineapple farmers, you’ll have the chance to learn about it all. Additionally, Biscayne National Park protects the sensitive coral reefs in the area. You can explore the park by boat or canoe, or choose to snorkel through the aquamarine waters.

Zion National Park

From sandstone cliffs to slot canyons, Zion National Park is one of the Southwest’s gems. One of the most popular hikes in the park is The Narrows. This hike takes you through the Virgin River along the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. The Subway, another popular hike, requires bouldering, rappelling and wading through waters. If you’ve got a sense of adventure, go for it!

Yellowstone National Park & Grand Teton National Park

These parks are so close together, you can’t visit just one. Yellowstone was the first National Park, established 1872. Today, the 3,500-square-mile, which spreads from Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, is visited by more than three million people each year. The volcanic hotspot is home to more than 100 animal species, canyons, alpine forests, rivers, hot springs and geysers.

Less than 100 miles away, is Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. The Tetons are some of the most magnificent mountains found in the United States. Both of these parks are beautiful and easily explorable, making these two National Parks must-sees for teens with wanderlust.

For more on National Parks, visit FindYourPark.com.

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Contributed by Lauren Topor

Preparing for your graduation day is always an exciting time. As you order your cap and  own and choose a memorable quote to be published beside your yearbook picture, you may also find yourself wondering what life will be like after high school.

Perhaps you’ve already picked out a few colleges that you’d like to attend. You may even have a pretty good idea about what you want to study. However, if you’re feeling exhausted from pulling all-nighters just to study for an exam or complete the last batch of your homework assignments, you may want to consider taking a gap year before diving into college coursework.

What is a gap year?

When you choose to take a gap year, you’re essentially giving yourself a year or semester off before entering into college. You can use this time to earn extra cash for tuition payments, participate in study abroad programs or internships, and even volunteer for a cause you feel passionate about. Aside from helping you feel more prepared for college, a gap year is also useful for gaining valuable life skills and experiences.

Many high school and college students take a shorter gap year alternative during the summer – think of it as a gap summer – that tends to save them money and also avoid the classroom time lost when taking a full gap year.

How can I benefit from taking a gap year?

If you’re feeling burned out from coursework and want to break free from the classroom for a while, then a gap year could be just what you need. In addition to refreshing your mind, a gap year can help you determine what direction you want to take in life. As you explore different opportunities and expose yourself to the outside world, you’ll learn more about yourself and discover what field sparks your interest for future studies.

How can I make the most of my gap year?

There are many different ways to use your gap year wisely. If you’re a giving person that loves to help others in need, you can serve as an active volunteer in your community. Another great way to spend this time off would be to apply for an internship in a field of your choice. You’ll get to experience what it feels like to be in the working world firsthand, and you’ll gain valuable skills that can be applied in your daily life.

Finally, if you’re more of an adventurous type, you may want to try learning a new language through a study-abroad program.

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Contributed by Nedda Grady

There you are: Sitting on the beach in a beautiful seaside town when suddenly the weather turns for the worse and your sunny vacation has turned into seemingly endless days of wet, gray slosh. Vacation ruined, right? Wrong. A kink in your plans can turn a vacation into an exploration. (Trust me, I’ve been in Cancun during the rainy season.)

Remember that little café you saw just off the beach? Try ducking in there for an espresso or to experience other local fare. Do some people-watching. Find out where to grab an umbrella and get back out on the town.

How about visiting the local museum? Almost every town has a museum of some sort – even if it only tells the history of the town. What better way to really get to know the place you’re visiting?

Or, better yet, talk to the locals. What do they do when it rains? Where do they like to hang out? What are their recommendations? The people who live in your vacation spot know the off-the-beaten path places most visitors miss – and where daily life happens. A little stumbling around and chatting can make you new friends and put you in places the vast majority of vacationers miss out on because they’ve only taken the opportunity to swim, surf and sun themselves (not that there’s anything wrong with that either!).

Instead of ruining your vacation, a little (or a lot of) rain could be just the thing to make your trip memorable – by getting you off the beach and into the cafes, museums and other interesting places that make up the real fabric of your vacation spot. Rain gives you the perfect excuse to turn your vacation into an exploration. Grab the opportunity by the horns.

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Contributed by William Pate