Traveling Tips from a Traveling Pikachu

All sorts of holidays are coming up soon, and with this wonderful season comes a whole lot of traveling. So, whether you're going to a foreign country or just down the road to Grandma's house, I wanted to give you some tips on how to get the most out of your travels.

1. Pack lightly
You heard me. Only pack what you need. Do you really need your entire hair care kit? Probably not. I would suggest bringing a brush, a container of scrunchies and bobby pins, and maybe your flat/curling iron.

2. Show your interest in others' culture/history
For international travelers, this would mean trying to speak the native language and asking about what people in that country do. I have found that people are much more open to conversation if you aren't just trying to force English on them or comparing your culture to theirs. Buy a book on basic conversational language. Ask them about the significance of their monuments.

For people just going to see family, this means showing interest in your family's history. What did Grandma do as a child? What was Christmas like for her? You can learn a lot if you chat with your elders instead of just watching TV all day.

3. Put the electronic devices away
How are you supposed to learn about someone else's culture or spend time with family if you're just staring at a screen all day? There is more to life than Candy Crush.

4. Be optimistic
You're not going to be happy with your vacation if you're just looking at the negative aspects. What I like doing is finding at least one good thing about your day. That way, instead of thinking about all the bad things that happened that day, you can say, "Well, if nothing else, I enjoyed this."

That should be about it for now. Maybe I'll put together some more traveling tips soon, if you guys would like me to. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! Remember to have fun!

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

Psalm 119:105

~Rivendell

Anger Issues

I have learned over the past few weeks that I tend to explode when I get too angry. You see, I tend to hold all my anger in for a long time, even with little things, and when something really bad happens, BAM! All my anger is let out. It has only happened three times before, and it is only yelling at the moment, but I fear it could get worse.

I am trying to learn to give it all to God: all the little things that make me angry, and all the fears that my anger issues will get worse. I recommend this to you, too. It may not be anger; perhaps it's a fear that you know is irrational but is still there, or maybe a tendency to swear before you know what you're saying, or maybe something else. God can help you control your seemingly out-of-control problems, if you only ask.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

~Rivendell

Long time no see!

I haven't posted in a while! And since then, my world has gotten so much more exciting. First of all, I finally passed my driving test and I now have my driver's license. Second, I had so many amazing adventures this summer. This was my first time traveling alone, and I feel pretty accomplished now! Now I'm back in school and working my tail off already!

But my work has taught me something: don't worry. I am what you would call a worrier. No matter what the situation, I always find some way of worrying so much that it makes my stomach hurt. And it really isn't worth it, because worrying only makes you freak out and then you can't focus at what you're doing. My best advice is, take a deep breath and tell yourself that God is with you, and that there is a reason he put you in this situation. After all, he wouldn't give you more than you can handle, although sometimes it may seem like it is more than you can handle.

Hopefully I can continue with my advice-giving, though I will only be posting when I have advice now. So please keep your eyes peeled for another post soon!

~Rivendell 

Failure

Yesterday was a pretty bad day for me. After working so hard and practicing my driving for so long, I failed my test by two points. I was a wreck.

You see, I am a straight-A student. In school, if I get so much as a B on my report card, I will bawl. Of course, I fail tests sometimes (I'm also pretty forgetful), but I always work really hard to keep my grades at A's. So you can see my problem.

Well, a pint of chocolate ice cream and a Pokémon movie later, I was feeling a little better. And I was thinking, "Hang on a sec. Failing something just means you don't know everything well enough yet, right?" And if that's true, then that means that failure is a part of life. You can't be expected to know everything all the time, right? So, relax a little if you just failed that test or messed up on something that everyone else seems to know. You just haven't learned it well enough yet! I would suggest asking somene about it, and if it was a test in school that you failed, ask for a retake. Even if they say no, the teacher will appreciate your eagerness (perhaps if they say no, ask about extra credit opportunities, or do your best to study the material and nullify that bad grade with a bunch of good grades).

~Rivendell

Jesus, Take the Wheel

My youth group put on a pretty cool skit this year. It starts with a boy and Jesus getting ready to drive down the road of life. However, the problem is that the boy doesn't want Jesus' help, and tells Jesus to get in the back seat. As the road gets increasingly unfamiliar, Jesus continues to tell the boy that He knows exactly where they are, but the boy dismisses Him and continues to drive until he spots a terrifying road sign that reads, "5 miles to Hell." At this point, Jesus asserts that the reason they were there was because the boy chose to drive. The boy shouts, "Jesus, take the wheel!" The skit ends with Jesus driving and the boy in the back seat.

When we want to control our own lives, it's like telling Jesus to get in the back seat. If we do this, then we risk getting lost. But if we trust Jesus to "drive," then He will take us down the right path.

I am taking my driving test, and I feel pretty nervous. But I know that if I trust God to keep me safe, I will be okay. I hope all of you are able to do the same. Faith is a very hard thing to find, but it is worth it in the end to have it.

~Rivendell

Welcome!

Hello there, and welcome to my blog!

My name is not actually Rivendell Lothlorien, but I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan, and I also do not want to give my true identity out online. Please feel free to call me Rivendell or Pikachu (I am, after all, a Traveling Pikachu), though!

I am a Girl Scout Senior. So, this blog is part of a project as one of the badges I am earning! I am hoping to give advice to girls based on my findings in the world, and I am also hoping to tell you all about my adventures! I have the fortune of being able to travel the world, and I enjoy doing so. I might even teach you all about customs outside of the United States!

I am also a Christian. So, when I talk about God or Christianity in this blog, please do not complain. If you don't want me to talk about my religion, then go find another blog to follow. After all, I'm probably not the only one who wants to write an advice blog for girls.

Well, enough of my rambling. I have some advice to give.

Life will hit you full force sometimes. You will work your tail off, and sometimes, not get any credit for it. But remember to work hard, because it pays off; it may not pay off right away, but it does someday. It might just be that feeling of accomplishment in your chest, but that's okay, because it is one of the best feelings ever.

This works in reverse. Do not procrastinate. It is not worth it. All of that time spent playing games can be done after the work is done, and you will get that amazing feeling I mentioned previously AND not have to worry about the work. Instead, you can play until the end of the day and you won't have that feeling of "I have to get this done" the entire time. I must admit that I need to work on diligence as well.

I hope to give more advice over the next few years. If you stay tuned for more, I promise you will not regret it.

~Rivendell