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The Next Four Years of Your Life! (or five... or six)

It’s that time of year again, when extra-long twin bed sheets and egg crates are flying off the shelves at Target.  Apple and Dell has probably seen an increase in revenue over the past couple of weeks.  Eighteen-year-olds are saying goodbye to old friends and a life they once knew.

If you haven’t guessed it by now, we are entering those months when students are making that transition from high school to being college students.

I remember when it was my turn to go forth into the land of adulthood.  I was dropped off at Calhoun Hall at the University of Cincinnati.  I had my clothes, bedding, toiletries, and boom box (yes, this was pre-iPod).  I didn’t have my own computer so I had to find a computer lab to email my girlfriend-now-wife.  The campus seemed as big as its own small country.

But what I was equipped with was the knowledge that the best years of my life were here, and that what I did and how I did it would dictate the rest of my life.  That, along with the motivating pressure of being a first generation college student, is what propelled me for the next five years.

But for those of you who are entering college, it is your turn to find your motivation and seize vast opportunities that college offers you.  Even if you are not fortunate enough to attend the University of Cincinnati (smile) you have such an incredible journey to look forward to.  And no matter what your school is, your major, what fraternity or sorority you may join… here are a few things that I think may help  you achieve success in college: 

Prepare your toolkit – you are in for some long days ahead of you, where it will seem as if there are 30 hours in a day and it STILL won’t be enough.  Some items that you can keep on your person or in your dorm room/apartment that will make your life easier are: a good umbrella, a planner, hand sanitizer, a combination lock, a lanyard for your keys, and a reliable alarm clock.

Get involved – depending on the size of your institution, there will most likely be a student group that is devoted to your personal interest; and if such a group does not exist, just start one!  Developing leadership, networking, and social skills is what will set you apart from your competition.  My recommendation is to join each of three different types of groups: social/spirit, cultural, and political/service.  And remember not to be a passive member – really get involved, because the experienced gained is invaluable.

Study abroad – with today’s economy being global, it is important to have some experiential learning in another country.  Not only do you have the opportunity to gain course credit but you can travel to countries where the language, customs and culture is completely different than yours.  A friend of mine from college studied a full year in Japan.  Upon applying for jobs, the interviewer wanted to hear more about his international experience than anything else.  An added perk – most of the time you can use your financial aid to pay for the trip!

Develop school spirit – one easy way to make your college experience dull is to be apathetic.  Showing pride in your school will not only make your time there more enjoyable, but it will also form an emotional connection with you, current students and alumni who share the same passion for your college.  This is one of the most important reasons you should choose very carefully your college – because you are going to be spending way too much time and money not to be proud of it.

Make safety a priority – too often are college students making risky decisions when it comes to their personal safety.  For example, you can imagine how dangerous it would be to walk down a dark street on campus by yourself at 3 a.m.  Additionally, it is not the brightest idea the leave your textbooks and iPod in the front seat of your car, only to be broken into.  Making smart choices doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun.

Sit in the front of the class – some of you will have classes that have 50 people in it.  Some of you might have 500 people in it.  Regardless of the size, it is important that you are proactive with your learning, and one way is to sit in the front of the class.  By doing so, you will always be able to clearly hear the professor.  Additionally, you will find yourself directly in professor’s eyesight, and that shows then your initiative to learn (this could go a long way if you ever need help before or after class).

3-to-1 Rule – this was introduced to me during my freshman year at an orientation to help students prepare of the rigors of college study.  What it means is that for every credit hour of class you have, you should be spending at least three times that number in studying outside of the class room.  So if you are taking 15 credit hours per week, you need to study 45 hours per week.  That is a total of 60 hours a week devoted to your studies.  You may ask, “will I have time for anything else?!”  The answer is, and will always be “Yes!”  If you take a full week of 168 hours (7 days x 24 hours), you’ll be left with 108 hours after studying.  Providing you get 8 hours of sleep per night (56 hours), you will still have 52 hours remaining per week, or almost 7.5 hours per day.  That leaves plenty of time for working, extracurricular and personal time.

When Welfare Doesn't Fare Well

For those who follow my blog entries religiously (first, thank you!), this will be a change of pace of what I usually talk about.  Today, I am going to have to get a little political.  

In case you haven’t heard anything about it in the news in the past week, the Governor from Florida Rick Scott signed into legislation that recipients of welfare dollars will be subject to drug screens in order to receive their state support.  

According to CNN, the measure – which took effect on July 1 - the Florida Department of Children and Family Services will be required to conduct the drug tests on adults applying to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The aid recipients would be responsible for the cost of the screening, which they would recoup in their assistance if they qualify.  Those who fail the required drug testing may designate another individual to receive the benefits on behalf of their children, and do not receive a refund for the test.

As a working American and contributor to the tax system, I understand peoples’ sentiments on going to work everyday and paying taxes, only for state governments to give the money to individuals who abuse drugs.  I am not too proud to admit that I have people in my own family who receive government benefits who are chemically dependent.  

However, I feel that this is another example of how those in power manifest their disdain for poor people.  To be honest, the simple fact of passing such a measure only perpetuates the idea that those who receive TANF, SSI, or any other government assistance are using the money for alternative means, such as drugs and alcohol.

I have personally seen so many holes in this new law in Florida that only create bigger problems for the state, and ultimately the end user.  To name a few:

• When someone fails a drug test, the benefits can be given to another to receive on behalf of the children.  I know I cannot be the only one thinking, “so what if the next person is a drug user?!”  I can see how this can become such a slippery slope in order to get these benefits to persons who need it the most – the children.
• The user will pay for the screening, and if they pass they will be refunded.  Call my crazy, but the reason people receive government assistance is because they do not have enough money for their living expenses.  If that is the case, is it not far fetched to think that some may not have enough money to actually pay for the screening?  As a Facebook friend of mine put it, its like “telling someone that we will give you food stamps after you buy your food first”.
• For a country that  is now trying to explore every avenue to cut spending, this very well might be the complete antithesis of that ideology!  If someone passes the test, they will be given the money back by the State of Florida.  Where is that additional money coming from?  Tax payers.  If someone fails, the funds go to someone else to give care for the children.  So, if my math is correct – if a person passes the test, expenses go up.  If a person fails the test, expenses stay the same.  So the benefit of this measure is…?

Another friend of mine continued to make excellent points about the overall effect of such a law can have on our economic and political landscape.   Receiving welfare is a benefit that these people did not seemingly “earn”, other than just being poor.  But just about every other American receives all of those same benefits as well, right?  If you are poor, your child can receive federal and state grants and subsidized loans to attend college.  If you have children, you can write off a portion of your child care expenses.  If you own a home, you can write off a portion of the interest that you pay on your mortgage.  If you are married, you receive a certain tax benefit.  Pretty much every working American receive at least $300 in stimulus money that President George W. Bush passed in 2008.

You can argue if you’d like, but these are essentially the exact same as receiving TANF.  Should we start drug screening college students?  How about married couples?  Parents?  Homeowners?  Regardless of who you are reading this post, I am pretty sure you fall into at least one of these categories.

It is my impression that this seems to be another form of oppression against those who are no power, no significant voice.  I can only think back on my mother who raised five children on her own, who needed state assistance to feed my brothers and sisters and I.  I can only think about the indignity of having to pee in a cup regularly so that some bureaucrat who maneuvers their way to thousands of dollars in tax loopholes can sleep better at night, knowing that she is not using their tax money to support a drug habit.

If we all take a second to truly examine this measure, I think we all will be able to see just how this can have a negative residual effect on all of us.  And it is important that we all take action on this, because tomorrow it could be you forced to pee in a cup!

Pomp and Extreme Circumstance...

This is the most exciting time of the year for my alma mater, the University of Cincinnati.  No, it’s not the football bowl season.  And it is not March Madness.

This weekend is the Commencement exercises for the Class of 2011.

For me, already being a loyal and dedicated Bearcat, it is an extra special weekend because my sister will have, conferred upon her, a degree in Criminal Justice and will be continuing her education, pursuing a Masters in Community Planning.

After the speeches are made, and “Pomp and Circumstance” is played, and the thousands of pictures taken – recent graduates will have to face an uncertain reality as they enter this volatile workforce.  The unfortunate truth is that many graduates will be spending their free time tearing through newspaper Want Ads and career search engines while continuing to work their part-time jobs from college.  All the while, those refund checks they were so dependent on to pay their rent, car insurance, etc. are not longer available.

And it gets worse.

Those student loan lenders will start sending those letters, a friendly reminder that they are tens of thousands of dollars in debt.  I mean, they are more than happy to work with the grads to put their loans into forbearance but the interest is still accruing, ultimately increasing the principle amount of your loans. 

To be quite honest, there is not really good advice anyone can give you other than to stay optimistic, work hard and keep looking for opportunities.  That’s about it.  But here are a few ideas that may help you get back until you land that first job.  An important disclaimer: these ideas may not make your life very comfortable or glamorous, but it is designed to keep you from starving and living on the street.

Move back in with the ‘rents.
When looking back when I graduated, I definitely would not have moved back home to live with my mom if I had the choice.  Lets be honest here – there is no way after living the life of an independent college student I would have enjoyed a semblance of the lifestyle I had as an undergrad.  But I know that living under my mother’s roof I would benefit from almost hotel-style amenities.  I know that I would have the comfort of having a fridge with food in it, a place to wash clothes that do not require quarters, food cooked that I am pretty used to, and maybe the old bedroom I slept in for a number of years.  Keep in mind that the speed of life will probably slow down considerably, but the quality of life may be drastically improved.

Turn your hobby into a hustle.
Everyone is good at something.  Generally.  And if you are good at good at this “something” you typically enjoy doing it.  Since the pace of your life will be different than that of a college student, consider turning your hobby to an income generating project.  Do you like making costume jewelry?  Consider making a few bucks selling to family and friends.  Like baking cookies?  I promise there is always a market for baked goods, even if your only client is me!   It does not matter if your hobby is working on cars because everyone needs an oil change now and then (and most people would be willing to pay you instead of paying someone at a 10-minute oil change shop).  Bottom line – identify a hobby that suits you interests and discover a new way to make a few extra bucks.  And if you are living at home, the ‘rents may be willing to work for you pro bono.

Work those connections.
An important part of being a productive working professional is building a network of people with whom you can use as resources.  Professional development experts always talk about the importance of networking, but they often do not mention that college students are not totally equipped with the toolkit to build their networks while in school.  The main reason is because most full time students are in classrooms during the day, and studying and working in the evenings.  This typically allows for very little room to branch out to people who are heavily engaged in the workforce.  However, make sure that you connect with your favorite professors to ask about connections they have.  Utilize the services offered by alumni association, as many now have job posting sites just for alumni.  If you are in a fraternal organization, do not neglect to follow up with alumni brothers and sisters.  Talk to your parents, because I am sure they have met a few people after being in the workforce for a number of years.

Start branding your image now.
The good folks at Sprite definitely got it right… image is everything.  Unfortunately when people think image they think of the perception of celebrities and public figures.  The honest-to-goodness truth is that everyone has an image, and it is your responsibility to facilitate what that image is.  This includes your style of dress,  your work ethic, your congeniality, and even your online presence in social media (it is NOT A MYTH – potential employers do check Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to see who you really are!).  Please keep in mind the best part of branding your image is that you ultimately choose what your image is.  Simply be the person you say you are and you will be fine.

I will repeat that…  Please keep in mind the best part of branding your image is that you ultimately choose what your image is.  Simply be the person you say you are and you will be fine.

Keep an open mind.
So other people’s views, cultures, religions and ideas – yes, keep an open mind.  But what I am referring to is keeping an open mind in regards to your career.  I cannot tell you how many Political Science majors I know who are in banking and sales, or how many engineers are in law school.  For past generations, a career path was pretty linear in the fact that you got your degree in a certain field and you would do just that.  For 30-plus years.  With the new generations of Millennials, it is not uncommon to try different things until you are able to find a niche or mix that fits your skill set and personality.  My career took me from the corporate arena in management to higher education where I am now.  And to be honest, I am still not sure what I want to be when I grow up!  But do not be afraid to take advantage of an opportunity just because it is not what you are accustomed to.

Continue your education.
If you are still trying to land that first job, do not rule out going back to school.  Many students pursuing their Masters degrees have enrolled because they are waiting for a job prospect.  And I’m not even talking advanced degrees.  I cannot count on one hand how many people I have spoken to who are in business or education, and are coming back to get their Associate and Bachelors degrees in fields like Nursing and some social sciences.  If you are not in the career of your dreams, going back to school may be an option that could open many doors for you.

It's Time for the Justin Credible Awards!

I cannot put into enough words just how much of a movie person I am.  Even while being in school and working full-time, I squeeze in time to watch at least three movies a week.  And I am very excited about this summer's movie lineup.  You have to be excited about these flicks, such as great continuations such Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, Kung Fu Panda 2 and The Hangover Part II; or new sure-to-be Blockbusters like X-Men: The First Class, Bad Teacher and The Rise of the Planet of the Apes.


In the spirit of good movies and actors, I've put together a list of my favorites films and players.  Please keep in mind that these are my personal favorites, and winning or being nominated for an Oscar is not a prerequisite for winning a Justy (short for the Justin Credible Award of course).

BEST LEADING ACTOR - Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (groundbreaking, very versatile); other notables are Russell Crowe for Gladiator, Denzel Washington in X, and Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman, Jack Nicholson for One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest, Ben Kingsley in Ghandi, Jamie Foxx in Ray, Edward Norton in American History X, Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade

BEST LEADING ACTRESS - Kathy Bates in Delores Claiborn; other natoables include Angela Bassett for What's Love Got to do With It?, Kathy Bates in Misery, Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple, Linda Blair in The Exorcist

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Denzel Washington in Glory; notables include Ben Kingsley in Schindler's List, Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed, Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight and Kevin Bacon for Murder in the First, Daniel Day-Lew in Gangs of New York, Javier Barden in No Country for Old Men, Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls, Ian McKellen in The Lord of the Rings, Jaquin Phoenix in Gladiator

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Angelina Jolie for Girl, Interrupted; notables are Whoopi Goldberg for Ghost, Jurnee Smollett for Eve's Bayou, Charlize Theron for The Devil's Advocate, Hailee Steinfield in True Grit, Mo'Nique in Precious, Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls, Margaret Avery in The Color Purple, Oprah Winfrey in The Color Purple

BEST SCORE/SOUNDTRACK - Waiting to Exhale (each song was tailor-made for each scene - incredible album); notables include Titanic and The Bodyguard, Dreamgirls

BEST ANIMATED - Shrek (by far); notables include Toy Story and Finding Nemo

BEST DIRECTOR - Martin Scorsese for Gangs of New York; notables include Martin Scorsese for The Godfather, Ridley Scott for Gladiator, Steven Spielberg for Jurasic Park& Saving Private Ryan, Spike Lee for Malcolm X & Do the Right Thing, James Cameron for Avatar, Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - Forrest Gump; notables include The Namesake, The Usual Suspects, The House of Sand and Fog, Crash

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY- Malcolm X by Spike Lee; notables include Schindler's List

CINEMETOGRAPHY - (tie) Dances With Wolves and all of the Lord of the Rings movies; notables include Legends of the Fall, Troy, Brokeback Mountain

MAKEUP- Lord of the Rings movies; notables include Monster, Ray, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Avatar, Monster

BEST FOREIGN FILM - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; notables include The Motorcycle Diary

BEST SONG - Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On" (as much ad I hate to admit it!), notables are The Bodyguard's "And I Will Always Love You", The Lion King's "Circle of Life" and Hustle & Flow's "Its Hard Out Here for a Pimp"

BEST PICTURE - Forrest Gump; notables include Dances With Wolves, Gladiator, Slumdog Millionaire, Saving Private Ryan, Avatar, The Lord of the Rings, Malcolm X, The Departed, Jurassic Park, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Usual Suspects, L.A. Confidential, Glory, Do the Right Thing, Crash, American History X, The Godfather

What is your opinion?

Is It Okay to Be a Sore Loser? Maybe It Is...

I am an ultra-competitive person.  My wife knows that.  My siblings know that.  Even my boss knows that.


I am "that guy" who turns a game of Uno into a figurative crime scene because it is just not in my nature to lose.  I cannot tell you how many tee ball and midget football games I have stormed away from because my team did not end up in the win column.  Not finishing first in those timed math tables that you were given in first grade was the worst - I'd be furious if I didn't come in first place.  On those days, even at such an early age, my mom would get so upset at me because I was being a bad example to the other children about behaving badly in defeat.  Her sentiments would always be, "son, don't be a sore loser."


But lets be honest... is there any other way to lose but sorely?!  Its especially worse if you know that you had just a little more in the gas tank to give for the effort.


Yes, my highly-developed competitive edge has gotten me into trouble.  I've been labeled by some as a hothead (which I am definitely not), and I have been too competitive at times when I should not be at all.  But I know that being competitive has helped me succeed in the areas that I have because of my refusal to be second place.  And now that I am exactly 350 days from 30 years old (but who is counting?), I realize that my only competition in life is myself, and that is who I should hold the measuring stick up to.


Let me explain...


Have you ever heard of or seen a parent telling their children, "You can be anything you want to be!"  Sure you have - your parent(s) probably told that to you.  But I must say that this ideology is flawed at best.  To be honest, I cannot be everything I want to be.  I believe that each person is given gifts to help that be good at something but it may not be what we want.  I would love to play in the National Football League... but I know that that being only 5'10" and xxx lbs (yes, those "xxx"s are there on purpose!) I couldn't.  But there are people who are born with talents to allow them to be great football players, pianists, singers, writers, etc.  I think it is obvious what LeBron James was born to do, William Shakespeare, or Albert Einstein.


You might be thinking, "man, this guy is a real Debbie Downer, but hear me out.  It is perfectly fine to have heroes such as the people listed above, but the only person you have to compete against is your best self.  One part of competition that I always felt was rewarding was knowing that if I was prepared and gave it everything I had there was no reason to hang my head.  There were times in which I lost a wrestling match because someone was better than me.  After leaving the mat, I was somewhat disappointed (and usually in pain); but if I knew that I had given my all in practice and fought my hardest during the mat, I was a winner in my book.


So how do you compete with youself?  Here are some things to keep in mind...

• Be the person you say you are.  If you say that you are the top salesperson, act like it.  Do you say you are the hardest worker on the team?  Then prove it.
• Set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound.
• Seek feedback from people you trust.  Someone else's opinion on who you are and what they think you can do can help build the foundation for setting your SMART goals.
• Work at it constantly.  Do not try to take a day off from competing with yourself.  Utilize your time and resources wisely.
• Honestly evaluate yourself.  If you're not cutting the mustard, you may want to re-examine your priorities.
• Make sure you do not have any regrets.  There nothing worse than living in the past, knowing that you could have done better on that test, or committed yourself to that job more, or treated someone better than what you did.

Spend some time thinking about how you can compete with your best self.  I think you will find that if you use your absolute best as the measuring stick, you will see just how far you can raise the bar for yourself.  And as long as you are performing at your very best, success will follow you and you will be surprise just how much you accomplished.

The Best Places of the World: My Favorites, My Not-So-Favorites, and Where I Want to Go

So today I had the pleasure of canceling the summer excursion to Jamaica for Jami and I.  Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to do it – we didn’t want to spend that kind of money with the little one set to arrive in October.  Instead, we are taking a pre-family vacation to Virginia Beach to visit my brother and his family.  Hopefully the rest of my siblings will be able to come so we can all enjoy the sunshine, Busch Gardens and fellowship together.

I think I’ve been pretty fortunate to visit some really cool places in my life.  Despite growing up a poor kid I’ve been on my fair share of planes to different parts of the country and world, and all of such experiences have helped me broaden my horizons.

Therefore, in the spirit of summer vacation planning, here are my favorite – and not so favorite – places that I’ve been, along with a few that are on my wishlist before I die.

My Favorite Places

Rome, Italy – this was easily my #1 draft pick.  I am, without a doubt, a history nerd.  If you were to see my DVR’d programs, which range from “The Truth About Christianity” to “The Attack on Pearl Harbor”, you would probably think I never got out of the house!  But it is my love of history that really makes Rome very special to me.  It was incredibly awe-inspiring to walk into structures that were built 2,000 years ago such as the Flavium Amphitheatre (also known as the Colisseum) and the Pantheon.  Or to see the frescoes and priceless artifacts in the Vatican Museum (see the Sistine Chapel).  Or to stand in St. Peter’s Basilica.  Or to experience the most beautiful fountains ever created, such as the Fontana Di Trevi or Bernini’s Four Rivers in Piazza Navona.

But what makes Rome so awesome is not just about its history, though.  As you’re walking down cobblestone streets, you can go to the historic Spanish Steps shopping district to buy from the most expensive brands in the world.  Next, you can stop at a local shop and get authentic gelato, and can choose from about 40 different flavors.  Or you can go to a wine bar and mingle with the locals, getting tips on where you can find the best local flavor. 

Trust me… if you can handle the eight-hour flight from JFK and the time difference, make Rome your next trip.  You won’t regret it.

New York, NY – Some people call it “The Big Apple”, but I think it should be called “The Capital of the World”.  Lets be honest – if anyone in the entire world considers themselves to be serious travelers, then NYC has to be somewhere on their list of must-see destinations.  What are you looking for – art, culture and music?  That’s easy, just go to the Theatre District (Broadway) or The Met.  Shopping?  Ha – you’ve got Soho or Fifth Avenue.  Sports?  That’s easy – Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden.  History? Ground Zero, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Apollo Theater easily make the cut. 

No to mention the other unique opportunities you have just for being on the island.  You could run into just about any celebrity or be an extra in a film.  You’ll have visit Wall Street and take a picture with the bull.  And you can’t neglect take in some NY-style pizza, Gray’s Papaya or eat from a street vendor.  I hope I’ve made a pretty good case as to why NYC is one of my favorite places.

 

Denver, CO – Stop the presses… Denver?  Yes, Denver.  My last choice was a tough one and beat our cities such as New Orleans, Atlanta and Dallas.  Having only spent a short amount of time in the Mile High City, I found it to be a place that has an extreme amount of potential.  It boasts many high profile Fortune 500 companies and satellites, a team in every major sport, and thriving suburban neighborhoods surrounding downtown.  Not to mention you are on the foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains that never fail to give a spectacular view in the warmer months.  Just down the roads you have great towns such as Boulder (and a great college town, if I may add – home to the Colorado Buffalos) and Colorado Springs.

There are three other aspects of Denver that I find very appealing.  First, it is smack-dab in the middle of the country – you are only a two-hour flight from LA, and a three-hour flight on the East Coast.  Secondly, contrary to popular belief, Denver gets approximately 300 days of sun.  And finally, there are endless opportunities to get out of the house and enjoy nature, whether it is driving up the Rockies, hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing… I think you get the picture!

*only one knock on Denver – the lack of racial and cultural diversity, but numbers are trending to get better in the next decade.

Honorable Mentions: Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA; Dallas, TX, San Jose, Costa Rica

My Not-So-Favorite Places

Orlando, FL – Can’t believe I have a warm-weather city on this list?  Well, that’s because I have never had a good weather experience in Orlando.  Don’t get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed my stay in the “happiest place on earth”, but I can’t seem to figure the weather out.  I’ve been to Orlando three times in my life, and I can tell you that one of two things will happen – it will either rain, or I will get sunburned… and I didn’t previously know that black people can get sunburned!  Top that off with the incredible number of families with small children everywhere, Orlando wouldn’t be a place where I could call home.

 

Charlotte, NC – Black people may find this to be a strange pick, considering Charlotte has been a mainstay on Ebony and Jet magazine’s lists of best places for black people to live.  And it could be simply because I don’t know enough about Charlotte.  But during my stay there, I wasn’t impressed with what the city had to offer.  I know it is the home of some prosperous companies – many of them banks – and I know the city has a thriving nightlife.  It just didn’t seem as if there is enough to attract me (young professional, married with soon-to-be children) to visit there any time soon.

Detroit, MI – my friends who are from “The D” wouldn’t appreciate me putting their hometown on my list.  And if I would ask them why do they think I put it on the list of places I don’t want to go, they would probably mention the perceived crime and the unemployment rate.  Although both of those are important, the real reason I don’t want to visit is the weather.  Mind you that I’m from the Cleveland area, but the coldest I’ve ever been in my life was when I was in Detroit!  And if that was any indication of what it could be like for four months out of the year, I will have to pass on Motown.

*Disclaimer – Detroit will be back as one of the pivotal cities in this country.  Once they work out their local political system and get jobs back, its image may change drastically.

Places I Really Want To Go

Washington, DC – I want to visit D.C. for the same reason I fell in love with Rome – history.  The list of things to see and do is almost limitless.  The White House.  The Capitol Building.  The Smithsonian Museums.  The Washington Monument.  The Lincoln Memorial.  Arlington National Cemetery.  Walk through the Georgetown neighborhood.  Visit Howard University.  Explore Mount Vernon.

In the interest of time, I’ll stop there.  Oh, and isn’t D.C. also called Chocolate City?  I wonder why…

London, England – jumping back on a plane over the Atlantic for this one.  Great Britain was considered the world’s superpower nation for hundreds of years.  Its influence on the world, and on the United States, can be measured in so many different ways.  Like anyone else who aspires to visit the Big Island, I want to visit the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben.  I want to see the changing of the guards and visit the Westminster Abbey (yes, that’s where William and Kate were recently wed).  And if you are up to getting mobile, you can visit cities such as Oxford, Canterbury, Glastonbury and Stonehenge on a day trip.  If you’re visiting London, make sure you know in advance how the English traditionally drink their tea; if you don’t, you may be in for a surprise!

Cairo, Egypt – This western Africa city is original home to mathematics, architecture, philosophy, modern medicine and surgery, and banking.  Situated along the Nile River, Cairo gives visitors a very unique look into life from thousands of years ago.  Just outside the city sits one of the eight wonders of the natural world in the Great Pyramid of Giza.  And since you’d be close, you might as well check out the Sphinx, too.  Make sure you take some time to tour the local markets where you can buy anything from fine fabrics to exotic spices (but beware – some of the locals have made a good living pick-pocketing tourists in this area!).  Then make your way to the Egyptian Museum to see King Tut himself, along with some of his artifacts.  If you’re with your significant other, take a twilight cruise on the Nile River.  Whatever you decide to do, make sure you spend a significant amount of time there, because I only listed a few things to see and do while you are there.

Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia, PA; Pearl Harbor, HI; Accra, Ghana; Beijing, China; Hong Kong, Japan; Athens, Greece; Istanbul, Turkey; Johannesburg, South Africa; Sydney, Australia