Rating My Travels on a Scale 1-10 (Part 2)
This week, we'll be continuing my travel ratings on a scale of 1-10. If you haven't read part 1, click here. And as a reminder, a lower rating does not mean I think negatively of the country itself. I'm more so judging my overall experience and maybe how quickly I'm wanting to go back to the destination.
Indonesia
Bali quickly moved up my bucket list in 2019 after seeing so many beautiful pictures online. We finally made plans to go for Thanksgiving 2019 and I loved it! I really like more nature scenic vacations because I live in the city so the rice terraces, waterfalls, etc. were beautiful to me. The U.S. dollar also stretches far in Bali so I loved feeling like a rich person for a while. The villas are super inexpensive and gorgeous! We paid $10 for a 1-hour massage. And we were able to order room service for our meals without being concerned about price. I even considered moving there temporarily but I'm too family-oriented. Only thing I would change is staying in Ubud, Canggu, or Seminyak instead of Lovina which was unnecessarily far from the airport.
Final Rating: 10 out of 10
South Korea
We had a long layover in South Korea so I only got to experience it for a few hours. While I enjoyed my time there, we didn't do or see anything that was overly enticing for me. I'd definitely be open to going back if someone else asked me to because I want to spend more time there. But I'm not rushing back right now.
Final Rating: 5 out of 10
Mexico
Mexico had to redeem itself for me after my first trip. If you read this blog post, you know my first trip to Cancun did not go well so I was kind of avoiding Mexico. But towards the end of 2020, the pandemic had taken a hard hit on my travel bug so I was itching to go. And if your IG feed was anything like mine, you know Tulum was the place to be. So we followed the crowd. I really enjoyed this trip and it was especially good to get out after months of living in a pandemic. But I honestly didn't feel the hype of the area matched our experience. But then again, it also seems to be great for those looking to drink/party/socialize in a way that I don't so it may not be the city for me. It was nice and relaxing though. If I go back to Mexico, I'd probably plan for Mexico City or somewhere else that feels more cultural-based rather than a beach town.
Final Rating: 6 out of 10
St. Lucia
I honestly feel like traveling with my family was what made this trip great! My mom, two aunts, and I visited for my aunt's birthday and it was a great mix of adventure and relaxation. We stayed at a really nice resort and got to relax in the hammock by our private pool with a beautiful view. We also did activities such as ziplining, snorkeling, and ATVs throughout the trip. Everybody we encountered was also so friendly! I really enjoyed this trip but St. Lucia feels kinda like a one-and-done. I feel like I experienced everything I desired. And I'm really not running back to those mosquitos, I'm traumatized!
Final Rating: 7 out of 10
Colombia
I got to visit Colombia with Luxe Tribes (previously Chidi Ashley Travels) and it was a great introduction to group trips. Being able to meet a bunch of new people while exploring a new country was amazing. My favorite activities were the Palenque tour and the cooking class which showed me a glimpse of Colombian culture. I would 100% go on another group trip with Luxe Tribes but the only turn-off in Cartagena for me was literally everybody trying to sell us something. Colombian people seemed to be all about the hustle whether you liked it or not. Everyone tried to sell us basically the same 6 things and would not take no for an answer. They would follow us down the street, stare into our cars, and even row up to us on our boat. It was very frustrating.
Final Rating: 5 out of 10
Puerto Rico
I have mixed feelings about Puerto Rico. I really liked San Juan, especially Old San Juan, and would recommend it to anybody looking to travel nearby. But we stayed in the Santurce area and I think that really tainted my experience. We saw a beautiful Airbnb in "the art district" of San Juan and booked it thinking all is well. But it ended up being an area that was pretty dirty (trash everywhere and some sewage smells as you walked along the sidewalk) with homeless people and some people who seemed to potentially be on drugs. As young women, we did not really feel comfortable or safe in the area by ourselves so we didn't spend much time there. I think if we had stayed in Old San Juan instead, I would've loved it.
Final Rating: ? out of 10
Panama
We took a quick trip to Panama City for my birthday this year and it was great! It was my first successful budget trip so that gave it an automatic boost in ranking. Not only is the country fairly affordable to fly to on its own (I booked using airline points), the country itself is really affordable. My favorite part was 15-20 minute Uber rides were like $5 (except to and from the airport) whereas here in the U.S, those rides would be $20+. We didn't do many excursions but I had a really great time simply exploring. In fact, if I didn't have immediate responsibilities back home, I would have extended my time there.
Final Rating: 10 out of 10
So that's it for now! No destination was a full-on disappointment which is why my lowest rating was a 5/10. But I definitely had some favorites LOL.
The topic of making space for questions in the classroom gives me a few things to think about, especially when the discussion moves beyond general advice. A thoughtful pause can give quieter students time to develop an answer. It also gives the phrase student classroom participation a clearer meaning than a label on its own. I would be interested in a simple example, because it is often the ordinary details that make an idea memorable. What helps a classroom welcome questions that do not have an immediate solution?
Considering rebuilding confidence after a learning setback, I keep coming back to the difference between knowing about an idea and putting it into practice. A disappointing result does not have to define the next attempt. I would use that point as a starting question when considering learning confidence recovery. I can imagine different answers depending on the situation, so I would want to understand the context before drawing conclusions. What helps a learner recognise progress after an earlier difficulty?
The subject of developing skills through focused workshops feels more interesting when there is room for a reader to stop and ask their own questions. A short workshop can be useful when it gives participants time to try one specific technique. I would keep that thought nearby when looking for ideas about focused skills workshops. A short discussion of an everyday example would make this easier for me to connect with, especially as someone still learning about the subject. What should a learner be able to do differently after a focused session?
When it comes to connecting school learning with Wasilkow, I would rather understand one useful detail properly than rush through a long list of ideas. A project about nearby places can give students a shared starting point for research. This is why I would approach Wasilkow school community with a specific question rather than a fixed expectation. The part I would like to explore further is what happens when the idea meets a real situation with its own limitations. Which community questions could students investigate through interviews or observation?
Thinking about making collaborative classroom projects work, I find the smaller practical questions more interesting than a quick conclusion. A group task becomes easier to follow when everyone understands their own contribution. It makes me curious about the practical side of classroom project teamwork. The part I would like to explore further is what happens when the idea meets a real situation with its own limitations. How should students share responsibilities without leaving one person to do everything?