What To Do During An Earthquake

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What To Do During An Earthquake

The major earthquake that happened in Italy last week should be a reminder to all of us that mother nature needs to stretch every now and then as well. For us, we were especially shaken up because two close family members were vacationing near the affected area in Italy when the earthquake happened. 

Focussed on an unplugged vacation, they felt the earth shake around 3:30 in the morning, but didn't understand the shear magnitude of damage and severity until late the following afternoon. They got up at the normal time and went out on an excursion in the ocean. Meanwhile, our family was trying to reach them all day. Not until they got back to their hotel and saw all fo the missed calls did they realize that something wasn't right. A couple quick texts and a Virtual Halo Check In put everyone stateside back at ease.

When you're traveling in an area that has a natural disaster, think about those close to you - chances are they're more worried than you are; make sure to give them peace of mind by knowing you're fine.

If you find yourself in an earthquake, follow the steps below - they could save your life (reprinted from the Earthquake Country Alliance). In most situations, following these precautions will greatly reduce potential for injury.

  1. Drop - onto your hands and knees (before the earthquake knocks you down). This position protects you from falling, but still allows you to move to safety.
  2. Cover - your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, only then should you get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
  3. HOLD ON - to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

The area near the exterior walls of a building is the most dangerous place to be. Windows, facades and architectural details are often the first parts of the building to collapse. To stay away from this danger zone, stay inside if you are inside and outside if you are outside. 

Indoors: Drop, Cover, and Hold On Drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it firmly. Be prepared to move with it until the shaking stops. If you are not near a desk or table, drop to the floor against the interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Avoid exterior walls, windows, hanging objects, mirrors, tall furniture, large appliances, and kitchen cabinets with heavy objects or glass. Do not go outside! 

In bed: If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow. You are less likely to be injured staying where you are. Broken glass on the floor has caused injury to those who have rolled to the floor or tried to get to doorways. 

In a high-rise: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Avoid windows and other hazards. Do not use elevators. Do not be surprised if sprinkler systems or fire alarms activate. 

Outdoors: Move to a clear area if you can safely do so; avoid power lines, trees, signs, buildings, vehicles, and other hazards. 

Driving: Pull over to the side of the road, stop, and set the parking brake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over. If a power line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire. 

In a stadium or theater: Stay at your seat and protect your head and neck with your arms. Don't try to leave until the shaking is over. Then walk out slowly watching for anything that could fall in the aftershocks. 

Near the shore: Drop, Cover, and Hold On until the shaking stops. Estimate how long the shaking lasts. If severe shaking lasts 20 seconds or more, immediately evacuate to high ground as a tsunami might have been generated by the earthquake. Move inland 3 kilometers (2 miles) or to land that is at least 30 meters (100 feet) above sea level immediately. Don't wait for officials to issue a warning. Walk quickly, rather than drive, to avoid traffic, debris and other hazards. 

Below a dam: Dams can fail during a major earthquake. Catastrophic failure is unlikely, but if you live downstream from a dam, you should know flood-zone information and have prepared an evacuation plan. 

Additionally, we recommend that you and your entire family have Virtual Halo installed and active on your cell phone. By sending a Check In, you're able to let your family know where you are in case you get separated, and they'll know you're ok.

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College Freshman "Must Have" Guide on Safety

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College Freshman "Must Have" Guide on Safety

As you excitedly pack up your worldly possessions and get ready for college life, there is one extremely important thing to remember: YOU are responsible for your own actions - your Mom and Dad won't be there to protect you any more. The choices and behaviors are your own. All the safety measures and stats in the world won’t help you if you’re not making smart personal safety choices. Here are some basic, fundamental tips and ideas to follow. Once you have completed these assignments, you can enjoy your new found freedom and personal safety on campus as you go through your daily, crazy, life.

Essential Gameplan Tips for the New College Student:

1.) Be Camera Shy: It is suggested that freshmen should “respectfully decline” to have a photo and personal information published for distribution to the campus community. Fraternities and upperclassmen have abused this type of publication to “target” naive freshmen.

2.) Get Oriented: Participate in all the orientations the school has to offer. It’s a great way to learn the ins and outs of the campus, quickest routes to class, how the systems work and meet a ton of new friends in the process!

3.) Do A Drive By: Study the campus and neighborhood with respect to routes between your residence and class/activities schedule. Make a mental note of where ‘blue light ‘or emergency phones are located.

4.) Sharing Is Good: Make sure to share a copy of your class/activities schedule with your parents and a network of close friends, effectively creating a type of “buddy” system. Create a network phone list to share with your parents, advisors and close friends. Utilize the Virtual Halo app and suggest that your new "buddy system" do as well so everyone in your group actively watches out for each other.

5.) Program New Digits: Get the number of your local campus and city police departments and program their numbers in your cell phone (dialing 911 in your time of need can first go to a regional monitoring station then to your local police) every second counts when you are in danger.

6.) Run With A Pack: Always travel in groups. Use a shuttle service, taxi or Uber after dark. Never walk alone at night. Avoid “shortcuts” no matter how tired you are after a long day of studying.

7.) Be Your Own P.I.: Survey the campus, academic buildings, residence halls, and other facilities while classes are in session and after dark to see that buildings, walkways, quad-rangles, and parking lots are secured, lit and patrolled. Check to make sure emergency phones, escorts, and shuttle services actually are available, working and adequate.

8.) Cruise The Streets: To gauge the social scene, drive down fraternity row on weekend nights and stroll though the student hangouts (with your pack). Are people behaving responsibly, or does the situation seem reckless and potentially dangerous? Remember, alcohol and /or drug abuse is involved in about ninety percent of campus crime. Carefully evaluate off-campus student apartment complexes and fraternity houses if you plan to live off-campus.

9.) Eastside Walk It Out, Westside Walk It Out: No matter where you are on or off Campus you must always be aware of your surroundings. The more you are familiar with the area the less you become a target for criminals. Remember: Criminals look for the easiest target-that is generally someone who preoccupied, unsure and generally unaware of who or what is around them. Always walk with confidence and know where you are going, be sure to have that Safety Chick Swagger.

10.) Heads UP: Keep your mobile phone in your pocket so you can stay alert! With your head down, you become an easier target to criminals. Walking with purpose and determination are your friends.

New Kids On The Block: Remember if you are in a new town, it is filled with strangers. Be aware when you and your new ‘roomie’ go to Wal-Mart or Target for your matching bedding and stuff, be aware of the strangers around you. Criminals in college towns look for the “newbie’s” to victimize. Be sure no one is following you back to your dorm or apartment. If you feel that someone is following you, make a turn on the next street then another turn (essentially making a circle back to the street you were on). If the car or person is still following you, drive to the nearest police station or well-lit gas station and go inside for help - or dial 911 and stay moving on a well-lit highly trafficked street until help arrives, while also sending an SOS from Virtual Halo if you're in a stationary location and can't move.

Share this info with as many students as possible! Have fun and always remember to make SMART personal safety choices!

Reprinted in part from SafetyChick.com

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Adventure of the Week #2 - Indiana Amish Country

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Adventure of the Week #2 - Indiana Amish Country

Each Friday, we're featuring a journey, an adventure, a unique event somewhere around the world. It could be in your back yard, or it could require four flights, a tuk tuk ride and you helping crew a junk across one of the vast stretches of water that cover our planet. We travel - a lot! It's in our blood, it's who we are. All Adventures that we write about we've done - unless you've got one that's so awesome, and then we need to share it. Got an adventure that competes? Email us your experience and who knows, it might be featured!


Sometimes we need a getaway that's a little closer to home, but we're looking for something with a bit of history and something we haven't experienced before. Unless you're from a few small farming communities that are scattered throughout the United States, there's a good chance that you haven't experienced the Amish culture. Nestled amongst the corn and bean fields of North-central Indiana is a Nappanee, population just shy of 6,700 people that live a much simpler life.

Throughout the region, it's not uncommon for the farm you pass while driving on one of the many county roads within the region to be owned, operated and lived in by an Amish family. The Amish are a group of traditionalist German Christian church fellowships with Swiss Anabaptist origins. They don't drive cars, have electricity in their homes or on their properties and embrace a more traditional pace of life. In fact, Nappanee's motto is "Embrace the Pace" which captures what life in this rural enclave is all about.

A standout within this community is the renown Amish Acres Historical Resort - the only Amish farm that's listed on the Register of Historic Places. We recommend a couple days in Nappanee, exploring all that the community and Amish Acres has to offer. Starting with a humble beginning in 1968, Amish Acres has become a living time capsule, providing an escape from always-on connectivity and acts as a reminder to what built this country. Richard Pletcher, CEO of Amish Acres wrote a wonderful historic account of what it took to establish and build out his fathers dream - read it here.

The Amish Acres resort consists of two hotels, a historic round barn theater (phenomenal!), an 80 acre working farm, buggy rides, grist mill, soda fountain, meat and cheese shop, numerous shops, the historic restaurant barn featuring their award winning Threshers Dinner, and numerous activities that happen throughout the year. We highly recommend attending the annual Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival that takes place the first Thursday - Sunday of each August. This year's is taking place August 4-7.

The annual Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival features over 300 artisans from over 30 states showing their crafts and fine art. Food tents and barns circle the pond providing an array of festival foods from pulled pork sandwiches (right off the pig that was roasted on a spit) to funnel cakes, sassafras iced tea, home made ice cream and lemonade shakes-ups to the exotic flavors of the Orient.

Continuous entertainment is taking place throughout the day with something happening all the time on one of the four stages. We highly recommend that you stay hydrated! The humidity in northern Indiana in early August is usually fierce and people sweat more than they realize. 

Our recommendation is to go on Thursday and stay until Sunday. Stay at the Inn at Amish Acres (if you can get in), otherwise stay at the Nappanee Inn - both are great and very convenient to Amish Acres and the town of Nappanee. Enjoy the festival, take drives throughout the countryside and visit the Coppes Commons on US 6 in the heart of Nappanee. Grab some ice cream from Rocket Science inside of Coppes (Amish women work there and they make ice cream with nitrogen while you wait!), explore the town square and say hi to the ladies inside of Newcomer Jewelry - a wonderful local jeweler. If the farmers market is going while you're in town, stop by - it's located near Nappanee's traditional railroad depot just south of US 6 on SR 19. Walk through the town's library, just north of US 6 on SR 19. Remodeled by the co-founder of Amish Acres, Richard Pletcher, the new library surrounds the original town library in an architectural way that shows the people of Nappanee care about history, while practically planning for the future. 

Got comments of a trip you've taken to Nappanee or Amish Acres? Leave them below - we'd love to hear from you!

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Preparing For College Checklist

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Preparing For College Checklist

Congratulations, you’re officially a college freshman! This is both an exciting and daunting transition for most students. Help take some of the edge off and start your first year with confidence by doing these 7 things before college starts:

Schedule your campus tour. You can show up and walk around on your own, but scheduling a tour gives will give you more insight into the different areas of campus and what you can expect on your first day. Avoid not knowing how to get to your dorms or your first class and make sure this “to-do” is a priority. While you’re exploring campus, make sure you note where the emergency points and security office are.

Improve your reading skills. Consistent reading not only increases your speed, it helps you process what you’re reading faster. If your freshman English professor hasn’t already assigned summer reading, get your hands on the syllabus or recommended reading list and see how many books you can knock out before the first day of college.

Start networking early. If you haven’t already, consider joining LinkedIn. It’s never too early to start building connections and working your way up to that awesome internship or part-time job. Connect with classmates, friends, and even your professors.

Download time-management and study apps. Make managing college life easy with a little help from your smartphone. From note-taking and citation assistance to time-monitoring and collaborative learning apps, there are a plethora of options available that can make your first year at college a breeze. See a recommended list here and here.

Put together a budget. It’s easy to get carried away with money in college, especially with food, shopping, and weekend trips with friends. Start putting together a budget by analyzing how much money you will need each month for food, gas (if you will have a car on campus), clothes, etc. As much as possible try to stick to this budget – it will help with your financial and prioritization skills down the road.

Prepare for life in a new city. Personal security is important. Stay alert, build a "buddy network" of roomates and new friends where you watch out for one another. Download and use the Virtual Halo app amongst your friends, it will help you check in with each other when you're supposed to, or send out an SOS if you get into an emergency and your buddy's will know where you're at.

Get to know your professors. Show initiative and willingness to participate by developing a relationship with your professor before school starts. As the year goes on, they might also be willing to act as your mentor and guide you through challenging coursework and college life. Remember to be respectful and sincere when contacting them.

Participate in orientation activities. Orientation is a crucial time to start making friends, researching clubs and organizations, and getting to know your campus environment. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to ask questions and get involved.

Reprinted from EnvisionExperience.org

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Adventure of the Week - # 1 - Bali

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Adventure of the Week - # 1 - Bali

Each week, we're featuring a journey, an adventure, a unique event somewhere around the world. It could be in your back yard, or it could require four flights, a tuk tuk ride and you helping crew a junk across one of the vast stretches of water that cover our planet. We travel - a lot! It's in our blood, it's who we are. All Adventures that we write about we've done - unless you've got one that's so awesome, we need to share it. Got an adventure that competes? Email us your experience and who knows, it might be featured!


Our Founder, Josh at the Besakih Temple on Bali

Our Founder, Josh at the Besakih Temple on Bali

Adventure # 1 - Bali

Bali is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, but getting there isn't one of the easiest, although it's worth the journey. From the US, you typically need to traverse to Australia and then take a 3-hour flight from Melbourne to Denpasar, Indonesia, which is on the island of Bali. The US State Department has listed Indonesia in its list of "Worldwide Caution." They've also assessed the Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation as not being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Indonesian air carrier operations. While their advice is extremely valuable and should be headed, we believe that life is about the journey. Weigh the risks and choose for yourself as long as you're not breaking the law.

Once you've made it to Bali, the main tourist spot is Kuta Beach. It's beautiful, but can be crowded. You'll find yourself one of the only American's to be found, but in a sea of German, British and Australian tourists. English isn't a problem - everyone speaks it that we encountered. While there are a ton of cheap motels around Kuta, you need to think about what you're looking for. Are you going to go out to the bars and clubs each night? Just lounge on the beach? Or do you want a more secluded stay? Bali has it, but if you want quiet, Kuta is not for you.

Unfortunately, the backdrop of Kuta has been slightly diminished by the site of Western chains such as McDonalds. This is unfortunate. Do yourself a favor and bypass the urge for a Big Mac. Sure, there's a novelty to say you've eaten a Big Mac in each country, but is that really something to be proud of? We think not.

Instead, explore the city on foot. You can go inland 3-5 blocks and that's all you need to get out of the tourist centric areas. You'll smell the sweet scent of incense burning and see the offerings laid at the foot of shop doors, placed on car dashboards and on the desks of hotels everywhere. Bali is unique in a way that it has a split religious population; about 50% of the people are Hindu and the remaining 50% are Muslim.

While on Bali, make sure you get a Thai massage. Everything on Bali is less expensive than the United States (except entrance to the Hard Rock Hotel pool complex - which is amazing!), so give it a try. Our experience was that everything can be negotiated. During our time on Bali, we never spent more than $5.00 for an hour-long massage. For the modest-minded people, be warned - they have you strip naked in front of them and lay down; apparently, they have no modesty.

Another great thing to do is to rent a cab driver and his car for the day. When we did this, it cost about $30, and we drove into the city, visited traditional art houses, ventured around 3-story tall ancient statues in the middle of roundabouts. We went further into the island to see the volcano crater lake, rice plantations and visited several ancient temples including the Pura Besakih temple complex (pictured above), which were beyond compare.

As a guy wearing shorts, I had to purchase a sarong to cover my legs and then was on my way up the hill to the high temple with a guide ($2). He taught me how to pray the traditional prayers and explained the significance of the structures and houses within the temple complex, the offerings that people left each day and what their God expected of them. Oddly enough, on my way back down, we came upon an honest to God cockfight. That was a first. The locals were nervous with a 6'4", 270# white American stood over them watching their chickens fight, but I didn't mean any harm and they finally figured that out (my guide had a little to do with smoothing things over).

Without a doubt, you'll be surprised at the smog, the motorcycles that know no lane and the tangle of overhead electrical lines. The chaos of Bali is in stark contrast to its tranquility, beauty and calm. You can be yourself, explore nature, work with the islanders to learn their forms of art, or relax on the beach. We've assembled a top 5 list of things to do in Bali while you're there. You won't be disappointed.

Our Top 5 List of Things To Do in Bali:

5.) Dine at a live volcano - The Madu Sari Mountain Restaurant
4.) pend time at a few unknown beaches - we like Nyang Nyang Beach for its towering green cliff and pristine sands
3.) Experience a day as a Balinese Rice Farmer - in Tabanan
2.) Visit an abandoned place - the abandoned plane parked between a few houses in Kuta, the defunct amusement park Taman Festival, or the uncompleted hotel Taman Rekreasi Bedugul for an adventure you won't forget. Click here for more info.
1.) Visit a hidden underwater temple - The Pemuteran temple was deliberately constructed underwater for divers and snorkelers and is very impressive. It's on Bali's "quiet" side of the island.

One thing to keep in mind while in Bali or anywhere else - stay alert. Everyone wants your money, whether through goods and services, or by pickpocketing. It's ok to say no if you don't want a massage, or their car service or to buy their trinkets. Keep moving - like Dory, if you just keep moving, it's hard for them to corner you into a compromising situation. When traveling internationally, we also recommend registering with the US State Department Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Now, get out there and have an adventure! Enjoy Bali!

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