Articles written by Kallie Szczepanski

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About me - Kallie Szczepanski

I am an avid explorer, and have visited more than 20 countries. I also lived in Asia for 5 years - one year in Turkmenistan, Central Asia and four years in South Korea.

Teaching, writing, and editing are my passions: I've taught English as a Foreign Language

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Travel > Travel Planning & Advice Which is harder: Getting ready for a vacation or returning home afterwards?: 1 of 38

Dig the backpack out of the closet, dump out the detritus from the last trip, throw in some comfortable clothes and a Lonely Planet guide, print your boarding pass, and grab your passport. There! You're ready to go on vacation. Easy, hm? Oh, wait, don't forget to water the houseplants on your way out the door. Returning home...
Travel > Travel Diaries & Adventures (Other) Travel experiences: Adventures into the unknown: 2 of 41

Before the train had even come to a stop at the station, the conductor wrenched open the door and gave Zack a shove. Then it was my turn. I toppled forward, overbalanced by my heavy backpack, and my knees hit the platform. It was midnight, and we'd just been thrown off the train in Lucknow, India. Two days earlier, in Katman...
Politics, News & Issues > Conservation The effects of deforestation: 1 of 19

Walk through the jagged stumps and stubble of a forest clear-cut, and you probably won't see any small animals, or hear birds singing. Where once the rich, loamy smell of forest soil perfumed the air, you'll smell only acrid smoke from the slash-pile. Whether you are hiking deforested areas in the temperate forests of Britis...
Politics, News & Issues > Hunger, Disease & Poverty Causes of poverty in Africa: 1 of 18

Today, 300 million African people live on less than $1 US per day. The incidence of extreme poverty never seems to go down, despite decades of work by African governments and NGOs, outside NGOs, and foreign government aid programs. What causes this entrenched poverty, on a continent rich with natural resources? Unfortunately...
Pets & Animals > Reptiles & Amphibians The difference between amphibians and reptiles: 2 of 16

It has been about 315 million years since the first known reptile, Hylonomus, split off from its amphibian relatives. Nevertheless, after all these years, we humans are often confused about the distinction between the two taxonomic classes. Here are a couple of ways to differentiate between the two. We will start at the begi...
Sciences > Astronomy Tips for choosing a telescope for a beginning astronomer: 1 of 8

Do you know someone who would like to take up astronomy? Why not get them a telescope this Christmas? Before you whip out the credit card, though, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the various types and sizes of telescopes used for different kinds of viewing. The key statistic about any telescope is its aperture: this...
Entertainment > Music Education Opera: Understanding the story behind the music: 1 of 8

Opera has the unfortunate reputation of being a boring, high-brow form of entertainment, completely inaccessible to ordinary humans. In part, at least in the English-speaking world, that's because most great operatic masterpieces are in a foreign language. Short of becoming fluent in Italian, French, Russian and German, what...
Entertainment > Music Genres, Trends & Scenes Where to get great CDs for music lovers of all ages: 1 of 7

Are you planning to buy CDs for friends and family this Christmas? Music is a sure-fire pleaser for gift recipients of all ages. There are a number of places you can shop to find the widest selection of music and the lowest prices, including independent retailers, so-called "big-box" stores, and internet sites. LOCAL INDEPEN...
Sports & Recreation > Biking Bicycling gear reviews: Ibex Beezer jersey: 1 of 7

Are you looking for a rugged, mountain biking-worthy jersey that won't snag if you hit a tree branch, or cling to your body like Borat's bathing suit? The Ibex Beezer Jersey could be just the top you're searching for. Since 1997, Woodstock, Vermont-based Ibex has been creating classic high-performance wool sportswear for all...
Computers & Technology > Camcorders & Digital Video Recorders Best digital cameras for kids: 2 of 13

Kids love to take pictures, but many parents are leery of letting young children use the family's expensive camera equipment. To safely encourage your child's exploration of photography, why not buy them a camera of their own? Here are some good, relatively low-cost options. CAMERAS JUST FOR KIDS A number of toy companies ha...