As a cure to the holiday blues that many students face from staying behind, Travel4U organization has come up with an event called Winter Scavengers. The event will take place on December 17 at 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Groups participating in the event will be asked to meet at College Hall to begin their journey. Each group will be getting a list of places that Deidra and I found in the Kingsville and Corpus area. The finish point will be at the U.S.S Lexington located in Corpus, which also give many of the participants a choice of staying in the area if they please. To win in this scavenger hunt is simple the group who visited the most places with a picture of proof is the winner. First, second and third place will all be entered in a raffle to win from the top prizes that include iTunes gift cards, alarm clocks, and USB’s while all other participants receive maps. Publicity for the event has been showcased with flyers, which were created by Tori have been placed all around campus and town.

Also mini flyers that were created by Adrianna have been passed out to the public. In return for hosting this event we hope that students will be able to enjoy themselves as well as getting familiar with their surroundings so that they will not feel so hopeless during the holidays. The blueprints for our event can be seen our Prezi Presentation.

When the holidays roll around we all get excited to finally be able to go home and spend some quality time with our loved one, however this may not be the case for most. Many college students do not get this luxury due to the financial expense it takes to travel the great distance back home. This occurs to most of the international and out of state students like my roommate and her boyfriend who are from Southern Mexico. They end up having to stay in Kingsville, which can be considered a ghost town during the vacation period. To ease this burden they can partake in a scavenger hunt the Travel4U organization is in the process of creating. The scavenger hunt would consist of keys locations that the participants must visit and be required to take a picture of them at the location for proof.  All participants would then be required to return to the starting point after the time limit set expires. The winner would then be determined by whoever visited the most locations, with second and third place following. However, there would be no losers in this activity; all participants who did not make the cut would get a small prize. This activity would allow them to experience not only their college town but the surrounding cities and all the fun they have to offer. Also being able to interact with other students who are dealing with the same situation can also have its benefits leading to newly formed friendships.  

        Christmas has always been a time of happiness and cheerful moods. Everyone is spreading the warmth and the feelings of joy can definitely be felt around the world. Houses are glowing and families are warm by the fire place, while stores are all playing cheerful Christmas tunes. The bad times, for once, are set aside and families get to come together to celebrate. For some, this time is cherished and plenty of memories are made, but for others, things just continue along, and actually this time of year can be exhausting and stressful. This feeling is known as the “Holiday Blues”.
     
          Personally, I love Christmas, and the time I get to spend with my family and friends. I love that we all come together and get to feast as a family. Little moments like these I enjoy, and Christmas is one holiday that gets to bring us all together with a cheerful mood. I wish everyone felt as I did about this time of year, but sadly, I do know a couple who happens to have feelings that are a little bit opposite of mine.
     
      I have known this couple on a personal level for about three years now. They recently married this past November, and had a beautiful baby girl. I met Andrew in middle school, and we have been best friends ever since. Audrey and I met in high school, and as we got closer, she and Andrew did as well. They both hit it off, like we did, and have been together ever since. To this day, they have been married a year, and they have shared with me their feelings of the “Holiday Blues.”
       
    “I really want to try to get my whole family something and of course my little Ava also.” I have heard this so many times from Audrey. She is the type of person to try and do things for people, knowing that shy might not have the means. She gets down in the dumps because she is not able to provide a Christmas gift for her family that she feels they deserve.  When it comes to money, they are both not high enough on the financial ladder to be able to buy everyone nice gifts. I always say that the little things are what counts, and the thought as well. Andrew on the other hand, is a whole different story. 

    “Audrey, we don’t have enough money for that, we need to pay our bills!” Every time I am around them, Audrey seems to feel the need to want to buy something, and Andrew always needs to inform her that they cannot buy whatever she sees and thinks is cute. He is the one to get a little more frustrated and stressed instead of depressed. Andrew is more in charge of handling the money and bills than worrying about what gifts to get. He believes in the simple things and not splurging too much when they can’t. Both of them together do not make a “cheerful” holiday combination. One is wanting while the other is disapproving. Throughout all of this, the only “joyful” and happy feelings they get are from their 7 month old, Ava. She really shows them the true meaning of bliss. Although, they both struggle through this time of year, they are learning new ways to overcome these new emotions.
       
    With help from family and friends, they are looking into new ways to enjoy the holiday season. They have both decided to set goals, and budgets. If their budget cannot handle gifts, they will save and have to cut back on certain leisure activities that they would do. They have decided to enjoy local festivities that happen in their community that are free of charge. A lot of events go on in our home town that does not require money. They have both decided to spend more family time together, and also with each other only. Date nights and family nights are on their agenda for this season. They want to cherish each other a lot more and enjoy each others company during the beautiful weather and season. It will take some time to get use to, especially for Audrey, but this Holiday season will hopefully only consists of the colors red, white, and green.

    Growing up my family would always love taking road trips, especially to Mexico since most of our relatives live there. Being the youngest, my memories of these trips are just bits and pieces that are influenced by the stories I was told.Visiting Fort Worth and actually being able to make my own memories and experiences about the trip is why it is at the top of my list. When you hear about the Fort Worth area, many would believe that it doesn’t have much to offer. I as many shared this belief, but was proven wrong when I went for a visit to see my older sister Miriam. Going up there to see her graduate, I didn’t expect to experience the weekend I did.  The place that captivated me the most would be, The Water Gardens in the downtown area. It was beyond what I had ever seen.
   
    The Water Gardens was designed in 1974 by architects Phillips Johnson from New York.  It contains four main attractions. The Active Pool, which is a labyrinth in the shape of a down-spiral.  It has stepping stones which lead to a small pool. It is said to be about four stories with water rushing down from all over the walls. Leading to a very calming waterfall noise that lets off a cool mist.

Next is the Aerating Pool.  It features a display of sprinklers which creates a beautiful rainbow filled sight.  If the lighting is right, you will be in for a treat from this sprinkler show.  The sprinklers let off an illusion that you would be able to walk right on the water. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to go through the sprinklers, which is a test of self-control on those hot summer days. 

Now we have the Quiet pool.  It is a quiet and serene place.  The reasoning behind the word of “quiet” is because it is a place of pure simplicity.  Just being there would automatically make you want to whisper.  It is simply a beautiful, romantic place to take your significant other on a date.  It is also ideal for just admiring the beauty of what Nature is.  The pool is in the shape of a large rectangle and rimmed by cypress trees.  The trees make a shadow on the water which looks spectacular. 
    Finally, we have The Mountains. The only attraction at The Water Gardens that does not contain any water.  However, the lack of water does not take away from its simple beauty.  You can climb the narrow ledges and the beautiful terrain of the mountain.  It is ideal to try a climb on a cold day, which, unfortunately, is rare in Fort Worth.
    The Water Gardens have also been home to some scenes in films.  It appears in the 1975 science fiction film “Logan’s Run” in the chase scene.  In the 1979 TV version of another science fiction movie, “The Lathe of Heaven” it is the setting of the ending scene.  The beauty of the Water Gardens has shown to be up to par in order to be shown in film.

    The Water Gardens in Fort Worth are sight to see.  From all of the aquatic scenery to even the unique mountain attraction, it is a place for the family to enjoy.  I won’t ever forget the images of beauty I took form the Water Gardens and everyone should have the joy of seeing what my eyes saw.  In Texas, where the heat is always the norm, there is no better place to be at then the joy of the water.  The Water Gardens give you that joy, along with simply stunning sights.  Whether it be just some time alone, with a date or with a family, the Water Gardens in Fort Worth are simply a must go. It is located at 1502 Commerce St, Fort Worth, TX 76102 and if you do not want to feed the meter parking is free after six p.m.