Ben W

Joined March 2017

278 stories

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Ben helps students from around the world to improve their English language skills. Ben enjoys traveling around the world, developing his writing abilities, and reading good books.

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Bahia Solano & Nuqui
If you’re visiting Colombia and you are really looking for an off-the-beaten track experience that most tourists who visit the country don’t get to experience, then you may want to consider visiting Bahia Solano and Nuqui.
By Ben W9 years ago in Wander
Cuisine Spotlight: Bandeja Paisa
For my first post in the new "Cuisine Spotlight" series, I will be focusing on my favorite dish here in Colombia, which is known as the "Bandeja Paisa." Flavorful, unique, and made up of different food groups, "Bandeja Paisa" is a conglomeration of the best of Colombian cuisine, specifically of the Antioquia region. You can tell by its name that this popular food dish has its origins with the Paisas, who are the inhabitants of Department of Antioquia. If you translated "Bandeja Paisa" from Spanish to English, it would roughly mean "Paisa Platter."
By Ben W9 years ago in Feast
Reverse Culture Shock In The USA
After being away from the United States, my home country, on and off for the past two years or so, I have dealt with the effects of ‘reverse culture shock’ when I return home. There are many long-term travelers out there who come back to their home culture experience after an extended time overseas. This is because there is a natural recovery and adjustment process but it takes time to get back into the swing of things.
By Ben W9 years ago in Wander
Choosing the Right Travel Backpack for You. Top Story - June 2017.
You have the money, you have the time, and you have some destinations in mind: you’re ready to live the nomadic lifestyle for a while and travel the world. This may be your dream life but the question is: are you prepared to make the jump? And, do you have everything you need to make the journey? Having the right backpack with you could make the difference between having the time of your life or booking an early flight home.
By Ben W9 years ago in Wander
For the Love of the Game
One of the best things about living in a foreign country is exploring and becoming immersed in the local sports scene. When you’re living outside the U.S., a different kind of football takes precedence over all of the sports combined. Football, in most countries, is the national sport and one in which kids from an early age learn to play and master over the years. Whether it's a city street, a dirt field, or turf glass, football is an adaptable sport to any kind of climate which is why it's such a famed world sport.
By Ben W9 years ago in Wander
The City of Eternal Spring
Medellin, a bustling metropolis of over three million people, has a popular and well-known nickname, “The City of Eternal Spring.” I can say for certain that this particular nickname is well warranted and appropriate given the moderate temperatures and humidity that make up the day and night here. Among the cities and towns I’ve visited in Colombia thus far, Medellin is special in that its’ climate is hospitable and agreeable.
By Ben W9 years ago in Wander
A Weekend in Santa Marta
Santa Marta is an undiscovered gem of a city located on the northeastern tip of Atlantic coast of Colombia. I say that it’s an ‘undiscovered gem’ because it usually flies under the radar when compared to its coastal counterparts of Cartagena and Barranquilla. Still though, for Colombians and foreigners alike on vacation, Santa Marta has a lot to offer its visitors. I was drawn to Santa Marta a couple of months ago when I visited its neighboring town of Minca, which is also quite beautiful and full of lush scenery up in the mountains. Unfortunately, I did not get to spend much time in Santa Marta so I decided that during my 2nd time living in Colombia, I could not pass up the chance to visit this city if I had the chance.
By Ben W9 years ago in Wander
‘The Shawshank Redemption’ – Film Review and Analysis
Few other modern films capture the power of the human spirit more than The Shawshank Redemption. Directed by Frank Darabont, released originally in 1994, and starring Morgan Freeman as Ellis ‘Boyd’ Redding, Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne; this film was not originally successful in movie theaters when it was released to the general public.
By Ben W9 years ago in Geeks
Moments of Quiet Reflection
In a world full of noise and frenzy, it’s to one’s advantage to have some quiet moments of reflection every now and then. It doesn’t have to be every day but five to ten minutes for a couple of times per week can really make a difference in helping you do some self-reflection. Activities like yoga, meditation, or just doing deep breathing exercises will allow your mind to quiet itself and reflect on nothing at all or to concentrate on a specific thought. Hearing your own voice and thoughts in your mind is not easy to do but it helps put your past, present, and future into a clearer perspective. It’s a real and underrated pleasure in letting your thoughts run away to new places and to still control where they go.
By Ben W9 years ago in Longevity
Fear of the Unknown
Why do people sometimes have a fear of the unknown? As human beings, we each have our own unique doubts, fears, and phobias that develop as we deal with the world and its’ challenges. Whether they are fears related to heights, spiders, snakes, or even speaking in front of a large audience, it’s part of what makes us human to have fears. Facing and confronting your fears is not an easy struggle and it takes courage, compassion, and emotional maturity to get past your phobias. One of the most common fears that most of us have from time to time is ‘Fear of the Unknown.’
By Ben W9 years ago in Longevity
The Rolling Stones: A Retrospective
For more than 50 years, The Rolling Stones have been the mainstays and stewards of the Rock n’ Roll universe. Founded in 1962, this English band transformed the music world, sold hundreds of millions copies of their albums, and have sold out countless arenas, stadiums, and concert halls. The original grouping of Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitar), Brian Jones (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano) together help lead the emergence of Rock n’ Roll as the pre-eminent form of Western music during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Legendary and famous albums such as Let It Bleed (1969), Sticky Fingers (1971), and Exile on Main Street (1972) helped cement their legacy as ranking among the greatest live acts in Rock n’ Roll history.
By Ben W9 years ago in Beat
‘Lost In Translation’ – Film Review and Analysis
One of the great films of the 2000’s, Lost In Translation is a film that is often underrated but which deserves a lot of praise and acclamation. Directed and produced by Sofia Coppola, daughter of the highly acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola, Lost In Translation is the story of two Americans of different ages who are visiting Japan for different reasons but who are struggling with similar existential crises.
By Ben W9 years ago in Geeks

Ben W

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Stories .css-1svwz57-Text{display:inline-block;color:var(--text-default-mute);}(278)

Filter by community

Bahia Solano & Nuqui

Cuisine Spotlight: Bandeja Paisa

Reverse Culture Shock In The USA

Choosing the Right Travel Backpack for You. Top Story - June 2017.

For the Love of the Game

The City of Eternal Spring

A Weekend in Santa Marta

‘The Shawshank Redemption’ – Film Review and Analysis

Moments of Quiet Reflection

Fear of the Unknown

The Rolling Stones: A Retrospective

‘Lost In Translation’ – Film Review and Analysis

Stories (278)