Book Reflection: The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

One of my latest reads is The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. The book is one "outrageous" volume consisting of five novels from the classic science fiction series, first published in 1979. Throughout the series, we follow the protagonist, Arthur Dent, and his crew as they travel across space and time to save the Earth and avoid various pitfalls along their journey. The book is a thrilling and humorous read that kept me engaged through its 815 pages. In these novels, Adams presents a dynamic conception of the universe that challenges our tiny human understanding of space. From a restaurant at the end of the universe (the title of the second novel) to alien species that construct planets, readers are encouraged to imagine what an intergalactic society would be like. The brief and nonlinear chapters make it easy to stay engaged, as you have no idea what lies ahead. Throughout each novel, Adams offers social commentary on topics such as politics, astrology, and corporate culture. Arthur Dent's partner in crime, Ford Prefect, works as a field researcher for the company that publishes the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a travel guide that provides reviews on almost any planet in the universe. Readers can imagine what it would be like to travel across the galaxy as if they were going backpacking across Europe. According to the book's foreword, Adams came up with the idea for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy while lying in a field looking up at the sky while hitchhiking in Europe. In this imagining of the universe, spaceships are described like automobiles, and robots have personalities that resemble a moody teenager. As a reader, I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if space travel were advanced enough for humans to travel across the galaxy like Arthur Dent. Perhaps one day it will be. When we consider the enormity of our seemingly infinite universe, Earth seems like a mere speck on a painted canvas. In The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Earth is considered insignificant enough to be demolished for a galactic freeway. Whether or not that ends up happening is something I won't spoil for you here. I personally haven't read much science fiction and am also no expert in astronomy, so it was enlightening to think about space travel in this way. The characters in the book also have complex personalities and backstories that make you attach to their progression through the five novels. I encourage you to pick up The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy if you're looking for a mind-bending page turner that will have you imagining what lies out there among the stars. 

Four Days in Denver

For Thanksgiving, I took a trip to Denver, Colorado with my brother and cousin. We spent four days exploring the city and taking in the sights. Our main reason for traveling was to see the last home game for the University of Colorado Buffaloes. The trip included some stunning views, great food, and thrilling surprises. In this blog, I will provide a glimpse into our journey to the Mile High City.

Arrival

We arrived at Denver International Airport on Thanksgiving Day. The airport is the largest in North America and ranked one of the busiest airports in the world. Despite its enormity, we had a fairly simple time maneuvering to our Uber pickup spot. The ride to our Airbnb was about 25 minutes and allowed us to get a first taste of the breathtaking landscape. The area recently experienced snow and the Rocky Mountains stood tall in the distance. We stayed in the Highland neighborhood at the Sonder at Skyline. The neighborhood was very walkable with plenty of shops and restaurants. Furthermore, it was within walking distance of Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos.

Arriving on the Thanksgiving holiday, there was not much open. Fortunately, we brought some food my mom graciously prepared before we left. We did have a chance to explore the neighborhood and walk toward the South Platte River, which offered a nice view of the Denver skyline. After a long day of traveling, we rested in anticipation of game day at the University of Colorado Boulder. 

A shot from our scenic ride to Boulder

Game Day in Boulder 

The Colorado Buffaloes took on the Oklahoma State Cowboys for their last game of the regular season. It was an early kickoff at 10am on Friday. We had an early start and took a 30-minute ride to Folsom Field in Boulder, which offered some more enjoyable mountain views. We arrived at the campus early, so we took the time to briefly explore the city of Boulder. We got some breakfast and made our way back to the stadium in time to see warmups and the senior day festivities. Folsom Field is unlike any other sports venue I have seen. The stadium sits on a hill and offers a scenic view of the Flatirons and foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was a brisk morning, and snow decorated the stands throughout the sections of the stadium. You could feel the energy of the game building before the first kickoff. We were able to witness Ralphie the Buffalo, the team's mascot, run around the field to introduce the home team. It was exciting to experience the atmosphere of one of college football's top-ranked programs. The Buffaloes showed out for their last home game winning 52-0 with exceptional performances from quarterback, Shadeur Sanders, and Heisman winner, Travis Hunter. I would definitely recommend checking out a game at Folsom Field. Be sure to come prepared if you attend later in the season. The stadium offers a lot of amenities, including Balch Fieldhouse, which provides a warm refuge during halftime with a variety of concessions. 

Our view of the CU game

A rooftop view of Boulder

After the game, we did some more exploring in Boulder. We walked toward Pearl Street Mall, a four-block pedestrian mall bustling with shops and restaurants. We stumbled across Avanti Food and Beverage, a modern food court, with an awesome rooftop terrace. After taking in the views, we bid farewell to Boulder. On our way back to Denver, we made a pit stop in Broomfield to try Outlaw Wings. The restaurant boasts an extensive menu of wing flavors including Blueberry, which was a first for me. We also tried the Buffalo and as North Carolinians, we had to try the Carolina BBQ. The wings were top-notch and for dessert, we tried the fried Oreos. After the grub, we headed back to Denver exhausted but satisfied after a day filled with food and football. 

Buffalo and Blueberry Wings

Red Rocks and Brunch with a Hoops Legend

On Saturday morning, we made our way to downtown for brunch. The restaurant we planned to check out had a long wait time, so we went to a nearby spot called The Delectable Egg. The food was delicious. I tried their Rooster's Suprise, with bacon, eggs, and a short stack of pancakes. While eating, we noticed NBA superstar, Russell Westbrook, enter the restaurant to place an order. My brother, cousin, and I are huge basketball fans, so it was surreal to see the future Hall of Famer currently playing for the Denver Nuggets. My cousin went up to him and asked if we could grab pictures. He was gracious and even offered my cousin who plays college basketball some advice. It was a good reminder that unexpected detours can lead to extraordinary destinations. 

My brother and cousin with NBA legend, Russell Westbrook

After brunch, we visited Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, about ten miles outside Denver. The name, which speaks for itself, aptly describes the open-air venue surrounded by natural sandstone formations. The stage has been graced by music royalty like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Wonder. Even without its historical presence, the venue evokes a certain level of awe from its appearance alone. Quite a few people were out exploring the park and its trails, which had some spectacular views. We hiked around the venue and descended the steps toward the stage. I looked out at the view from the stage and tried to imagine what it would be like to be a performer. As a huge fan of music, I will definitely have to check out a show at Red Rocks one day to see the venue at its liveliest. 

A view of the Red Rocks stage

Adventures Downtown

With it being our last full day in Denver, we wanted to head back downtown to see more of the city. We stopped by the Denver Central Market, a food hall, in the River North Arts District (RiNo). We decided to try Vero Italian, which had some delicious brick-oven pizza. For dessert, I had some ice cream from High Point Creamery (I couldn't proceed without shouting out my hometown High Point, NC! Although it has nothing to do with the creamery lol). After eating, we walked around and looked at some of the many murals in RiNo. They definitely added a unique character to that section of the city. 

One of my favorite murals in RiNo

After walking some more, we noticed the Colorado State Capitol in the distance. The historic building faces the similarly regal Denver City Hall. While walking toward it, we noticed a large crowd of people walking to a park across the street. It looked like they were walking to some sort of festival. It turned out to be the Denver Christkindlmarket, an annual German-style holiday market. We perused the many stands in the market, while also admiring the stunning sunset over the capitol building. I tried the Glühwein, a traditional hot wine drink. It was tasty and definitely appreciated on a cold day. 

Awesome sunset over the Colorado State Capitol

Glühwein in the festive mug

A Delightful Farewell

Our flight was scheduled to leave late Sunday, so we decided to explore more of the city with our remaining hours. We made our way to Lower Downtown (LoDo) to check out some more sights, including Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. We were able to peer inside the gates for a look at the ballpark. We also checked out Ball Arena, home of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.  Next, we ventured to the Cherry Creek neighborhood, which is located toward the center of the city. We had a chance to briefly stroll through Cherry Creek Shopping Center. The mall seemed very upscale and had many of the well-known luxury stores. We capped off our time with a meal at North Italia, an Italian restaurant in Cherry Creek, which has other locations nationally. I tried the house special, Bolognese, which was delicious. After our time in Cherry Creek, it was time to grab our luggage and head to the airport after a jam-packed memorable four days in Denver! I'm definitely looking forward to returning to Denver one day soon. If you have any recommendations in Denver or other parts of Colorado, feel free to let me know. Thanks for reading! 

"I love Denver" sign from the holiday festival

 

 

Reflecting on My Trip to Kenya!

During the month of May, I was privileged to participate in the Community-Based Global Learning program in Kenya through my university. I, along with fellow students and staff, traveled to the East African country for an exciting two weeks of experiential education and cultural immersion. The trip was facilitated by EDU Africa, an organization that provides "transformative learning journeys" in various countries throughout the continent. Our journey provided an array of opportunities for learning, as the EDU Africa team had numerous experiences in store for us. We engaged in activities that allowed us to build meaningful relationships and engage with the people and places that we visited. I wish that I could bottle up my experience and sell it to you, but for now we'll have to settle with this blog post. In the following paragraphs, I'll provide you with some of the highlights from this amazing trip.

Prior to our arrival, each member of our group was given service-learning placements with one of three local organizations in the town of Limuru. These incredible organizations were Limuru Children's Centre, Limuru Cheshire Home, and Plants for Life. I volunteered with Plants for Life, which works in reforestation and environmental conservation at the campus of Brackenhurst, an international conference and learning center. It was a pleasure to connect with such passionate individuals, who were able to teach me a lot about the local ecosystem and the amazing power of plants that have aided mankind for centuries. The area we worked in had tremendous biodiversity, with both indigenous and exotic species of plants. We assisted in gratifying and fulfilling work, such as the collection and planting of seeds, landscaping, and helping children at a nearby school create a butterfly garden. We also participated in a tree planting venture of over 500 trees in the Kereita forest, which provides a water catchment area to help the local community attain water. It felt special to know that the work I was engaging in would yield results long after I had left.

When we weren't at our service-learning sites, we were engaging in activities that taught us about the rich culture and history of the area we were visiting. One such experience was listening to speakers from the Lari Memorial Peace Museum. They spoke to us about the Mau Mau Uprising, which helped bring about Kenya’s independence from Britain in the mid-20^th century. Two of the speakers were involved in the conflict and were members of the opposing sides, one having been a Mau Mau Freedom Fighter and the other a British loyalist. They talked about the destruction that the war had caused and how it divided the people. Further, they discussed their efforts to bring peace and unity once the country gained its independence. In order to unite, they had to see the humanity in people that they had previously saw as enemies. It was important for them to honestly deal with the past and to start working together for a brighter future. Since, the Lari Memorial Peace Museum has sought to preserve this history and to keep future generations from repeating past mistakes. I found the account of peacemaking to be inspiring, and one that should be shared around the globe. Hearing such a powerful lesson made this one of the most impactful experiences from the trip.

During the trip, it was great to spend time in the town of Limuru and being able to gain a sense of what everyday life is like in the community. Through some of our activities, we had opportunities to interact with members of the community and learn more about Kenyan culture. We participated in a market challenge, where we divided into teams to see who could bargain for the best quality produce. We had a cooking lesson with host families, who showed us how to prepare proper Kenyan cuisine. We toured a local tea farm, where we learned about the history and production of Kenya’s largest export. We dined at The Lake House Tigoni, a beautiful estate that provided magnificent views of the area. The most special activity we engaged in was putting on a sports day for children at Limuru Children’s Centre. We organized stations of soccer, dance, coloring, and jewelry making for the children to participate in. It felt great to spend time with them for an afternoon of fun and laughter. Through time spent in the community, we were able to learn a lot and create some of our best memories.

Halfway through the trip, we departed Limuru and headed westward to the Maasai Mara. It was a long and beautiful journey that allowed us to see the countryside, including a view of the Great Rift Valley. In the Maasai Mara, we were spending a weekend on safari and learning about the Maasai tribe. We stayed at the Naboisho Camp in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, where we were provided a luxurious experience throughout our stay. We were led by Maasai guides, who possessed a wealth of knowledge about the land and the animals that inhabited it. I was amazed by the vast open landscape, which provided a great view of the sky and hills in the distance. While on game drives, we were fortunate to see a variety of animals and learn about their lifestyles and behavior. It was surreal, being so close to lions, giraffes, wildebeest, hippos, and many other species. One of my favorite moments was seeing a hungry lioness hunting for her cubs. We didn’t see her succeed, but it reminded me of the strength that mothers of all species exhibit to care for their young. At times on the drives, we would step off to eat and admire the view. On our first night, we found a clear area and viewed the Moon, which looked brighter than I had ever seen it before. The safari was a thrilling experience and a wonderful opportunity to see nature in its purest form. Also, while in the Mara, we were fortunate to be received at a Maasai village. While there, we spent time in homes and learned about Maasai culture. The people there were very welcoming and taught us a lot about their way of life. On our last day in the Mara, we visited the Maa Trust. The Maa Trust is an organization that engages in projects to conserve the environment and assist families in the community. We met women producing Maa beadwork, which has helped provide an impactful source of income for women in the area. It was special to see how they were creating a better future for themselves by incorporating traditional elements from their culture. Our weekend in the Mara had a lot to offer and was definitely a highlight of the trip. It was a dream worthy excursion, that our group would talk about frequently for the rest of our time in Kenya.

On our last day in Kenya, we were reminded to recognize our trip as a real experience. It seemed incredible that we were able to build relationships, create memories, and learn so much in the short time that we were there. During our final group reflection session, we shared our biggest takeaways from the trip. The lesson I shared was about the power of cross-cultural communication. Through interacting with the people there, I was able to experience the impact of trading perspectives with someone that comes from a different part of the globe. When respectful and honest, these conversations can make everyone involved a more enlightened individual. I enjoyed my time in Kenya, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the Community Based Global Learning program. This trip provided me with unique experiences and helped me further my education as a global citizen.