Submerged in Serenity by Claire Schmidt

As the boat rocks back and forth, I can hear the water droplets lapping at the edge of the dock. I am lulled by the steady rhythm of the rippling waves and the warm, gentle breeze. Across the horizon, the sun creeps up slyly from behind the clouds. Its rays cause the water to glisten and gleam. The water is iridescent and smooth like glass. I reach out to touch the surface. Just as my fingers reach the taut layer of moisture, the tips break through causing an undulating effect. In the distance, houses line the coast. Grandiose architectural masterpieces and cozy wooden cabins sit on display for all to see, so utterly different yet connected by the large body of water they encase. The water is majestic in its vastness, a deep calming blue that seems to go on for miles. Its extent is unfathomable.

Winnepesaukee by Claire Schmidt

It is a perfect morning as I sit on the dock with my feet dangling over the edge. The water bites at my toes, sending a slight chill up through my body. While the world is still asleep, I alone can enjoy this moment of peaceful bliss. It is a simple ecstasy, a natural elation. There is no better time than these to empty one’s mind of past worries. I can just breathe in the lake’s soothing qualities. The air tastes better here at Lake Winnipesaukee.
Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire is a magnificent place to be. Its name, which means “Smile of the Great Spirit,” truly embodies the nature of this spectacular site. Every summer, I look forward to the one week when my family rents a house and a boat along the lake. We take the boat out on the water when the sun first peaks its head above the skyline and the air is still calm. With a full tank of gas, we can go anywhere and do anything. My dad steers as I put on my water skis and hold tightly to the rope. Once I am up on the water, I cruise in and out of the wake with silent determination. The lake makes me feel as if I am fearless. I laugh when I hit an unexpected jolt that sends me tumbling face first into the mirrored surface of the lake. The water is cool and refreshing. When I get tired, I climb into the boat to rest my sore limbs. The sun dries my skin one droplet at a time. There truly is nothing better than gliding around the coast with the wind blowing my hair. At lunchtime, we dock the boat and grab a bite to eat: fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, sandwiches, and chips. There is good company and better conversation. Then, as we ride home, we can enjoy the natural landscape that truly embodies New England’s charm. There is no place more awe-inspiring in its innate beauty than Lake Winnipesaukee.

Dallas Dining Does Best – Rebecca Simon

John’s Café

I expected John’s Café, the recently reopened lower Greenville diner, to be another greasy-spoon joint. However, when I entered, slid into a booth with a map of Greece (in Greek) on the wall beside it and dictated my order to an old Greek guy, I quickly realized it wasn’t.

John’s Café first opened in 1972, but was forced to close in 2005. Back by popular demand, John Spyropoulos moved his restaurant just a few blocks away from the original.
The atmosphere is casual and packed with neighborhood regulars. As customers place orders at the counter, they get a clear view of the industrial kitchen behind.

John chats as he takes orders.  He knows many patrons by name, and is not hesitant to talk when business is slow—which is rare. One friendly customer even came to my table, coffee pot in hand, and offered me a refill.

The cooks are efficient. Though the seating area was nearly full, my food arrived in less than ten minutes. Served on simple, stoneware plates that remind me of lunches at grandmas, the food is good. For breakfast, French toast ($3.85) is a great option. Two pleasantly warm pieces, of just the right fluffy texture, dusted with powdered sugar and a hint of cinnamon.
The pancakes ($3.85) are just that, pancakes. John’s does it simple. There are no options for chocolaty-chip-strawberry pancakes with whipped cream and powdered sugar doused with maple syrup. You get your pancake and a slab of butter on the side.

John’s Café is a steal. The Blue Plate Special comes with two eggs, hash browns (which are not greasy at all), toast or biscuits, and a choice of bacon, sausage or ham for $4.65.
Breakfast is served all day, but prices go up after 11 a.m. Popular lunch options include cheeseburgers ($3.95) and club sandwiches ($6.20). Lunch specials change daily.

John’s Cafe
1733 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
214-874-0800
www.johns-cafe.com
Price Range: $$

Greenz

Forget grocery store salad bars and other health food chains because Greenz is here, and it’s a hit!

Greenz is a quick (but not in a fast-food kind of way) salad place in the Preston Forest shopping center. A friendly cashier, clad in a lime green polo shirt greets you. “Welcome to Greenz,” he says and recommends dishes upon request. The menu offers all kinds of salads in addition to soups and wraps, making the choice difficult.

The décor is simple with bright green walls and purple accents throughout the restaurant. There is plenty of seating, but the tables are not all squished together. The eating area is almost too clean, but perhaps that is a good thing because Greenz is popular among families with young children.

My apple and walnut salad arrived with only a moderate wait time, though any impatience was soon forgotten. Thinly sliced red and green apples topped this mountain of mixed greens.

The apples absorbed some of the champagne vinaigrette, which gave an interesting tang to these fresh, juicy slices. Chopped walnuts were sprinkled around the edge of the salad and when covered in the dressing, tasted wonderful.

Though my salad cost nearly nine dollars, it was filling and in itself was an entire meal. Other popular dishes include The Mediterranean ($8.25) and Grilled Chicken Riviera ($9.25).

Greenz
2808 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
214-691-7770
www.greenzsalads.com
Price Range: $$

Havasu Falls-Derrick See

The Grand Canyon is one of the most magnificent places in the world. Visited by thousands of toursits every year, it is one of those locations you have to see in your lifetime. In the summer of 2009, I rented a car in Seattle and drove down the West Coast on my first road trip. Naturally, one of my stops was the Grand Canyon. However, instead of visiting the South Rim like most people do, I headed to the Havasupai Tribe.

Havasu Falls - Derrick See

Havasupai is home to one of the most photographed waterfalls in the United States, Havasu Falls. Yet, since the tribe limits the number of people that can enter each day, it is not very well-known. In addition, the ten-mile hike down the canyon is a strenuous one. Reaching the village is a challenge that deters most people. The starting point is a parking lot approximately 150 miles away from the nearest town. Gearing up at 5:00 a.m. to avoid the morning heat, I started down the canyon.

The trail is not for the faint-hearted. The road is covered with rocks and gravel. The route is unclear, and the only indication of a path is the large amounts of horse droppings littered along the way. Ten miles probably does not sound so bad at first, but if you take into consideration the heavy backpacking supplies normally carried, it is actually quite terrible. In spite of my great discomfort, people’s encouraging words such as, “You are almost there! It is totally worth it!” helped me to persevere to the end.

“It better be!” was my reply every time.

After four hours of hiking, I heard the sound of raging waters. Finally! I increased my pace and before I knew it, I was standing in front of the waterfall.  It was the most amazing sight I had ever seen. But what is this remarkable waterfall doing in the middle of the hot and dry desert canyon?

Surrounded by the red canyon walls, Havasu Fall is an oasis that is too beautiful not to be a mirage. The water is clear blue, sparkling in the sun light. I wasted no time taking my sweat-drenched shirt off and diving into the cool, refreshing water. The feeling was incredible, probably because I had just hiked ten grueling miles to get there.

It was then that I saw a guy climb up the cliff behind the waterfall and leap into the falls. Intrigued, I immediately swam over to do the same thing. Filled with fear, anxiety and adrenaline, I took a leap of faith and found myself pushed underwater by the immense power of the waterfall. With all my strength I swam out of the current, and as I emerged from the water, I felt like a new man.
Havasu Falls looks amazing in the photos, but in all honesty, you have to see it for yourself to understand its full beauty. I remember thinking on the way to the falls, “This is a once in a lifetime thing. I will never put myself through such torture to see this again.” But, later as I sat by the rapids, soaking in the waterfall’s true splendor, I set the date for my return.

I will be back. Definitely.

Foreigner’s Guide to Hawaiian Pidgin – Kaimana Larson

A view of the ocean from a Hawaii Highway

The English language is open to interpretation. Whether a man is looking for the loo or the john, you know to direct him to a restroom. And if a large, muscular fellow tells you to put up your dukes, you know you are in for a beating and should probably run in the opposite direction. But what if that same muscular fellow asks, “Eh, like beef?”  What would you say? If you were hungry or were planning on having a barbecue later that day, you might say, “Beef? Why, yes please!” And then to your horror, he would punch you in the face over and over again.

If only you had known that to some English-speaking people, “like beef” is equivalent to “I am ready to punch your face in.” Perhaps you could have avoided this terrible situation, if only you had read this article earlier.

Some English languages have been altered so much that they no longer can be called English. In Hawaii, this new language is simply called pidgin. Upon your initial arrival to Hawaii, pidgin can be offsetting though still navigable. It is not a completely foreign language, more like an incredibly thick accent. Many visitors often find it frustrating, that despite their struggles to comprehend the local speech, the locals in turncan understand their speech perfectly.

I have two pieces of advice. Firstly, do not be intimidated by pidgin. Sooner or later you will easily understand it. And now heed my second, more important, piece of advice. Once you do get to the point of understanding it, do not make the mistake of thinking you can speak it as well. Locals secretly ridicule a person who adopts pidgin behind his back. It is like being an American in Australia for a few months and then suddenly speaking in a thick Australian accent; no one will take you seriously. So when you are vacationing in Hawaii and someone tells you, “Eh, you stay one blala,” do not reply with, “Eh braddah no act, you stay one blala too!”

Concerning the grammatical structure behind pidgin, all I can tell you is that less is more. Past tense in pidgin is only present tense with the word “went” placed in front of the verb that you wish to make past. For example, if your mother asked why you didn’t buy the groceries yesterday, you would answer, “I drove to the store, but you didn’t tell me that it is closed on Mondays.” A pidgin equivalence would perhaps be, “I went drive to the store, but you never went tell me that it is closed on Mondays.”

In pidgin all forms of the present tense “to be” is replaced with the word “stay”. Continuing with the example above, the reply to your mother would now be, “I went drive to the store, but you never went tell me that it stay closed on Mondays.” Finesse the sentence by making all th- words into d- words and all -er words into -ah words: “I went drive to da store, but you nevah went tell me dat it stay closed on Mondays.”

Congratulations, you have just successfully translated a typical English sentence into an acceptable pidgin reply!

The Hawaiian Pidgin Dictionary with English Translations

broke da mouth: very delicious
“My ma went make me one Loco Moco (traditional local favorite consisting of white rice topped with a beef patty, gravy, and a fried egg) and it went broke da mouth!”
English translation: “My mother cooked me breakfast and it was so delicious!”

da kine: used when the speaker cannot think of a certain word; used as any part of speech
“Ho, ‘membah when we went da kine at da kine’s place; it was so da kine, yeah?
English translation: “Hey, remember when we went to that thing at what’s-his-name’s place; that was so you know, yeah?”

lolo: stupid, slow
“Eh lolo, you went leave da keys in da truck an’ da door stay locked!”
English translation: “Hello Einstein, you locked the keys in the car!”

bumbai: otherwise; or else
“You bettah take off your slippahs ‘fore you come inside da house bumbai you make da carpet dirty!”
English translation: “Please remove your shoes before you enter the house or else the carpet will be filthy!”

tita: a girl that is very tough and masculine (male version: moke)
“You bettah watch out Joonyah, dat girl stay one tita.”
English translation: “Listen sonny, don’t make that girl angry because she will definitely beat you up.”

Pretty as a Peach – Natalie O’Moore

Savannah, Georgia. Heard of it? Read about it? Been there? If not, go.

Savannah is one of those places that really leaves its mark. It retains a charming “Old South” essence with Spanish moss hanging about every house, stone squares that pave every street, and white porches that make you want to sit down and drink a glass of ice-cold lemonade.

Here’s what I remember from my trip: It is springtime, and I have just arrived in Savannah for Passover with my family. My cousins live right outside of the city. To get to their house we have to cross a bridge and trek through many marshes. From a distance it is possible to see blooming spring flowers and green reeds submersed in water. We pass the sign for Moon River. This place is best known for the famous song that it has inspired. Songwriter Johnny Mercer based this song off of his hometown.

As I stare out my car window, I feel a sense of nostalgia. I imagine the South as described in Gone With the Wind and yearn to be here at that moment in time. To me the south is a place of immense past, and that intrigues me. I find myself wanting to know more about this magnificent city.

So, the next day, my Aunt and Uncle take my sister, my mother and me on a tour of Savannah so that we can develop a real sense of how things used to be. The city is drenched in fascinating history, from Oglethorpe to Forrest Gump. We stop for lunch at a local café. I originally want to try Southern style cooking, but when I see a barbeque tofu wrap on the menu I can not resist ordering it. It tastes even more delicious than I expect, surpassing all my wildest imaginations.

Later that day, I wander around the city with my sister. I stroll down the new part of Savannah where many designer stores are located, but after a while I become bored with the pricey ensembles. I know that there must be somewhere less expensive, but where?

As I walk along the side streets, my eyes take in the multitude of colorful buildings. Then, suddenly I spot an oddly misplaced vintage store. The storeowner is kind and gracious. I find a bag for just four dollars—it is the same one I now use everyday on the streets of New York. In a conversation, the owner reveals that the shop will soon be closing. She then offers me as many pieces of free jewelry as I can carry. Thanks to her, I am now the proud owner of my favorite silver ring. It never leaves my finger.

All around Savannah we find smiling, welcoming people, the kind of people I always dreamed of encountering down south. They are standing all around me, behind counters, strolling down the street, sitting on porches and giving tours. All are proud to show off their beautiful city.

It has been a long time since my journey to Savannah, Georgia. As life in New York begins again, I temporarily forget about the Georgian city. However, I am soon reminded when I read through John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The book extracts the very soul of Savannah, Georgia. There is something to be said for a novel that, while a murder mystery, makes the reader want to grab their car keys and drive straight to the city for vacation.

Savannah is one of those places where time seems to have simply stopped. There is a strong feeling of what used to be, a simpler, happier era that will never fail to capture the heart of everyone that visits.