Traveling Made Easy
Here’s the dream scenario: you decided to study abroad either for the summer, semester or year and you enjoyed yourself in the process.
At first, you were nervous because it was your first time away from family, friends, etc. for an extended period of time.
But during the duration of being overseas, you have adopted to a different way of live, made new friends, developed new skills and most of all, became more mature and after returning from the trip, you want to go back.
However, you face a dilemma on whether to live overseas after you graduate or go for the full time job that will give you the financial security that you have dreamed off since entering college.
You ask yourself, “is it possible to do both at the same time?”
Adam Costa and Darcie Connell believe that you can do just that.
The husband and wife duo have been traveling the world since 2009 and in the process have founded “trekity.com,” a company that provides travel destinations based on what you want and “travel blogger academy,” an online academy that teaches you how to build a successful travel blog and make a living in order to fund your travels.
They have written a book entitled, “Business In A Back Pack: How To Build and Run a Profitable Business While You Travel The World,” which shares their adventures and marketing strategies.
We recently caught up with Adam via email to find out their background, how both companies began and get their advice for those who want to travel the world and make a living at the same time.
To find out more about trekity and the travel blogger academy, visit at: www.trekity.com and www.travelbloggeracademy.com.
Vallano Media: Could you tell me of your background?
Adam Costa: My wife, Darcie and I both have marketing backgrounds. I worked as a copywriter (plus a small stint as a Market Analyst for Google) before we hit the road. We’re currently on a 14 month trip from Central America all the way down to Tierra del Fuego, the southern tip of South America.
V.M. : Were both you and your wife avid travelers?
A.C. : Yes! We’re both travel junkies, and have both spent over 2.5 years abroad in dozens of countries. Travel gets in your blood; after awhile you can’t help but wanna go somewhere new.
V.M. : How did you came up with the idea of “travelbloggeracademy” and trekity.com?
A.C. : Trekity was developed because we felt most travel sites aren’t organized in a logical way. We wanted people to say “I want to go somewhere in North America in June that is great for outdoor activities” and find exactly what they were looking for. And since we’ve both got marketing backgrounds, we created Travel Blogger Academy as a place to talk about the business and marketing side of travel blogging.
V.M. : When did the companies began?
A.C. : The company began over cocktails in Austin, Texas in 2011. We hammered out the details and development and officially launched May 1st – so while both sites have lots of content, they’re still very new.
V.M. : How do you fund your travels?
A.C. : Lots of ways. We make money from other websites we’ve built over the years, plus contract work (copywriting mostly) and consultations.
V.M. : How many places have you been to and for how long?
A.C. : Between the two of us we’ve been to 40+ countries and most of the states (I’m still dying to check out Maine, though). We’ve spent over two and a half years abroad, staying in most countries for 2-3 months at a time.
V. M. : For someone who dreams of traveling the world and making a living from it, what is your advice to them?
A.C. : You’ve got two options: either do something travel related (which won’t pay as well) that you love or just work a traditional job. It pays better and gives you more free time to do other things. Of course, if you love the work, it makes it all worthwhile.
Bearkats’ Run Come To An End
by Cheval John
Houston, Texas- After defeating No.1 Rice Owls by the score of 4-1, the SHSU Bearkat baseball team’s goal was to win two from the Arkansas Razorbacks in order to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals that will begin this weekend.
But the challenge was too much as the Razorbacks defeated the Bearkats by the score of 5-1 to win the Houston Regional and advanced to the Super Regionals.
They came out of the gate in the first inning and scored two quick runs that gave them a 2-0 lead.
The runs came on a Bearkat throwing error that allowed Dominic Ficociello to score from third and an infield RBI single by Bo Bingham.
They increased the lead by the score of 3-0 on a RBI double by Joe Sorrano.
They added two more runs in the top of the fourth and sixth inning, respectively to extend their lead to 5-0 and put the game out of reach for the Bearkats.
The Bearkats finished their season under first-year head coach David Pierce with a 40-22 record, a regular-season Southland Conference title, their first since 1989 and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, their seventh in the twenty-six year history at the NCAA Division I level.
No.3 Bearkats Advances To Championship Round Of Houston Regional
by Cheval John
Houston, Texas- No.3 Sam Houston State Bearkat baseball team eliminated the No.1 Rice Owls by the score of 4-1 to advance to the championship round of the NCAA Baseball Championship Houston Regional.
It was the biggest win of the year for first-year head coach David Pierce, who spent 9 years as an assistant to Rice head coach Wayne Graham, out coached his teacher and have taken the Bearkat baseball program to another level.
The Owls, who was favored to win the regional and make a run at the College World Series, scored a total of five runs in three games.
They could not overcome a strong pitching performance by starting pitcher Michael Oros and key defensive plays by the Bearkats.
They were looking to pounce on the Bearkats in the top of the first inning when Christian Stringer walked and J.T. Chargois reached on a error by third baseman Kevin Miller.
With two outs, Michael Fuda issued a walk to load the bases.
But Oros got Michael Ratterree to fly out to center fielder Colt Atwood to end the threat.
The Bearkats capitalized and scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning that made it 1-0.
Corey Toups started the inning with a single and stole second base to put himself in scoring position.
He advanced to third on a ground out to first base by Atwood and scored the first run on an error by second baseman Stringer that allowed Luke Plucheck to reach first.
Plucheck was credited with the RBI.
The Bearkats increased their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a RBI single by Atwood.
The Owls made things interesting in the top of the fifth inning as they cut the lead to 2-1.
With two runners on, Jeremy Rathjen hit a drive to left field that went off the glove of Plucheck at the wall.
Stringer scored easily from second base, but Chargois was thrown out at home as he tried to score the tying run.
They tried again in the top of the seventh inning when Stringer hit a one out single up the middle.
He advanced to second on a error by O’Hearn that allowed Chargois to reach first on a fielder’s choice.
Oros settled down and got the final out to end the Owl threat.
They had something going in the top of the eighth inning when Ratterree led off with a single to left field.
The Bearkats got two quick outs as Hale thrown out Ratterree and struck out Lewis.
Geoff Perrott followed with a two out double to keep the Owls rally alive.
But, Oros got Shane Hoelscher to fly out to Atwood and snuffed out the rally.
That turned out to be important as Anthony Azar’s two out, two-run single gave the Bearkats a 4-1 and put the game out of reach for the Owls.
Oros pitched eight strong innings and got the win. He struck out five batters and gave up a run.
Michael Burchett got his 10th save of the season.
The Bearkats (40-21), who earned an at-large bid in the tournament, will face the Arkansas Razorbacks in the championship round tonight at 6 p.m.
If they beat Arkansas, then they will play again tomorrow at 6 p.m., but if Arkansas wins, then they will move on to the NCAA Super Regional.

Take The Money And Run
by Cheval John
Normally, I am for coaches who stay with one team for an extended period of time in order for players to be successful on the field.
Today, you see coaches leaving a highly successful team for their “dream job”.
In soccer, that is no different as coaches changes teams every year because they either did not reach the expectations of the owners, fans, etc. or they wanted to coach at a well known club, like Real Madrid.
In the case of Roberto DiMatteo, interim head coach of Chelsea, there is every reason why he should get the job.
For starters, after being named interim of the club, he led the team from the brink of elimination against Napoli in the last of 16 in the UEFA Champions League Tournament to winning the tournament final in dramatic fashion against Bayern Munich in Munich, Germany.
With that said, I am going to say something that will be a shock to many.
Di Matteo should leave the club as soon as possible and try to get a job somewhere else.
The reason is because Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich.
Though the club has taken off to new heights since he became club owner in 2003 by winning three English Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the UEFA Champions League Title.
On the flip side, he has fired six head coaches in the last nine years during that stretch including Andres Villas-Boas.
The latter happen during the 2011-12 season that opened the door for Di Matteo to replace him and lead the team to one of the biggest turnarounds in sports history.
The question looms around if he will be named head coach on a permanent basis.
If Abramovich offers the position, Di Matteo should turn it down because if he doesn’t build upon the success from this past season, there is no doubt that Abramovich will sack him when things are not going well for the club.
So to Di Matteo, take the money and run.
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