Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- Cirque du Soleil, an icon in the entertainment industry, and Grupo Vidanta, expert developer of world-class resorts, have announced plans to build the first amusement park of its kind in Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit. The project, which is still in the planning stages, may include both an aquatic park and a nature park where they will present open-air shows seating anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 spectators. Each presentation will be animated by Cirque du Soleil artists and follow a common story line.

“Grupo Vidanta is offering us an incredible open forum where we can engage our creativity,” said Guy Laliberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil. “We both seek perfection—they are passionate and are concerned about the environment around them. We have challenged ourselves to create something completely different from what is already out there,” he added.

The development of this project in Nuevo Vallarta points to the redefinition of the concept of the amusement park, much like Cirque du Soleil’s JOYÀ project in the Riviera Maya, is redefining the concept of “dinner and a show.” The menu to be enjoyed before the show will be a unique and completely custom project, meaning the experience will surely offer an exquisite symbiosis between the ambiance and the show itself. There is no doubt this will be a can’t-miss event. Completion date for the park is projected to be in 2018, giving visitors one more reason to visit our beautiful destination.

It’s interesting to point out that Cirque du Soleil is already present in the Riviera Nayarit in El Circo de los Niños (The Children’s Circus), an ensemble established in 2011 in San Francisco, the Riviera Nayarit’s Culture Capital (also known as San Pancho), by Gilles Ste-Croix—one of the founders of the Cirque du Soleil. The objective of this non-profit group is to encourage the community children to delve into the arts, sports and their own creativity and inspire them to visualize new opportunities in their lives, to develop their personalities, enhance their motor skills and raise their self-esteem as they enjoy the satisfaction of using their acquired skills.

This season they are presenting a show titled DAR A LUZ (GIVING BIRTH), open to the public from March 19-21.

Sources:
Grupo Vidanta www.grupovidanta.com
Cirque du Soleil www.cirquedusoleil.com
Circo de los Niños: http://circodelosninosdesanpancho.mx/es

Puerto Vallarta, Jal. - Public Health National Institute (INSP) investigators used advance technology to modified genes by infusing scorpion’s venom molecules into the Aedes Aegypti and Anopheles Albimanus mosquito’s eggs; in order to learn more about the characteristics of Dengue and Malaria vectors, and thus contribute to its eradication.

Ailments Transmitted by Vectors represent a big problem to public health. Malaria and Dengue are among the worst in Mexico and Latin America, explained researcher Humberto Lanz Mendoza.

The Information Agency, Conacyt, in a press release, informed that both, Dengue and Malaria, are transmitted by mosquitos’ bites: the Aedes aegypti causes Dengue and Anopheles Albimanus Malaria.

To eradicate this type of mosquitoes, a group of researchers from the National Institute of Public Health, residing in Cuernavaca, Morelos, developed a kind of genetically modified mosquito, resistant to the virus that causes these diseases and that could be used in combination with other control strategies in Mexico.

Lanz Mendoza indicated that they selected a toxic molecular that does not allow either the Dengue virus or the Malaria parasite to develop in the mosquitoes.

The selected Molecules were the scorpina –the venom from the scorpion- and serpina. The genes of these molecules were microinjected in the mosquitos’ egg by Oxitec Company. After that, they were put in a secure place at the National Institute of Public Health, where they will remain until reaching adult age.

The modified mosquitoes presented a fluorescent gene, which allow to be differentiated from others.

[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Sayulita’s narrow cobblestone streets and funky, laid-back vibe remind some of San Francisco.

Puerto Vallarta, Jal.—It was the surfer dude, not the surf, which drew Marilee Woolace from Oregon to this surfing paradise four years ago. Unfortunately, though, the romance fizzled. The dude caught a wave and left town.
But Woolace, a former designer for a multinational athletic gear company, hung in. Using her business savvy, she set up one of the funkiest shops this beachside town has to offer: a high-end surfboard boutique called Quiverito, featuring almost two dozen local and vintage boards for sale or rent, some worth $4,000. No wipe out for her.

“He got the surf,” she says triumphantly, “but I’ve got the boards.”

Woolace’s story, romance aside, is not unlike those of other sun-worshippers who discovered Sayulita’s simpler, casual way of life while on vacation, and came back later to stay and open souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants, jewelry outlets, clothing boutiques and craft stores.
Some arrive, and stay, seeking nirvana. They say Sayulita’s narrow cobblestone streets, which slope towards the ocean in some places, remind them of San Francisco. Further, it has some of the city’s 1960s Haight-Ashbury free-love vibe, with backpackers, hippies, Rastafarians and counterculture evident everywhere. It’s as cool and unpretentious here as it gets.

Take Woolace, for example. Her open-air storefront is as much a social touchstone as a business. Locals drop in for a hug, while members of the town’s seemingly infinite stray dog pack wanders in to sleep at her feet, which are seldom in shoes.

During my visit, I saw shopkeepers — many of whom, such as Woolace, have only handshake agreements with their landlords — dump washwater onto the street, and let gravity do the rest. Golf carts driven by tourists crawl through streets with no signal lights, shared with motorbikes, taxis, surf buggies, stripped down Hummers and boxy delivery trucks. People park where they want, as close to the beach as they can. But they give pedestrians the right of way, even those (like me) who wander into traffic while gaping at the colourful surroundings.

“You can rest, shop, party, work, engage or disengage,” says Woolace. “Sayulita has a little bit of everything, for everyone. It’s just a nice place to land.”
In fact, Sayulita is so laid back that even the weather is mellow. The Riviera Nayarit area, of which Sayulita is part, was spared from the hurricanes that made a mess of other popular destinations on the Pacific coast side of the country, such as Los Cabos and Acapulco. Many travellers who wanted a Mexico experience pursued other choices, such as Sayulita. Here, besides the beach and the surf, they get a taste of Bohemia.

And armchair Bohemians who want to only drop in for a morning or afternoon have many options. One is the dazzling Iberostar Playa Mita resort, a 452-room luxury property just 20 minutes outside of Sayulita. It’s what the company calls a premium gold destination, a four-star facility that is its top of the line for families (a higher level is offered for adults only).

There’s lots for everyone of all ages to do. Playa Mita offers 45 different activities, including golf, water polo, yoga and archery. During my three days there, I saw few kids, likely because a Mexican food processing company had bought more than 300 rooms for a company meeting. But children’s facilities and activities abound, including an elaborate pirate-themed water area and a Disneyesque stage show at 8 p.m. every night, in the resort’s 550-seat theatre. Kids have lots of play room on the secluded beach, too, and along with adults, enjoy body surfing on the waves.

I was most impressed with the resort’s food choices. For an all-inclusive, it’s a cut above, with four classy a la carte restaurants. My favourite was the lively Japanese restaurant (where they call sea bass sushi “sea wolf”) and its entertaining teppanyaki chefs, who did a jaw-dropping job with iron-grilled octopus. Running a close second was the white-glove treatment offered up in the fine-dining Pacific Express restaurant, well-appointed in white linen and scarlet and gold fixtures. Train-like window treatments that make it look like a dining car from the Orient Express. The smoked salmon appetizer is a must.

Elsewhere at the resort, once the Mexican food-processing crew checked out, the property was peaceful and pleasant. After an inspired but humid morning and afternoon at Sayulita, I was happy to spend some leisurely time basking in the resort’s spacious infinity pool overlooking the ocean. And I wasn’t alone. “I came here to just relax for the week,” said a visitor from St. Catharines. “I don’t want to go anywhere, see nearby towns, take tours, none of that.

“This is a perfect place to do nothing.”

Owen Roberts was a guest of Iberostar Playa Mita. Follow him on twitter @theurbancowboy or on Instagram at urbancowboyglobal

Just the Facts

Playa Mita is easy to access, about an hour from Puerto Vallarta, which itself is an easy-to-reach destination from Canada and the U.S. Much debate surrounds whether Mexico is safe, but Sayulita and the Riviera Nayarit seem breezy and unthreatening, worlds away from the troubled and sometimes lawless northern part of the country. “Word is getting out that around here, Mexico isn’t as scary as they say it is,” says surfboard-shop owner Woolace.

Internet connectivity here can be spotty. Some blame it on clouds, others on humidity. Iberostar offers Internet quality rankings for each of the Playa Mita’s 452 guest rooms, based on connectivity at four points in every room. Ask for one with at least two good-to-excellent ratings, if connectivity is important to you. And ask for an oceanfront junior suite; if you have to work, at least you should have a great view.

Sayulita hosts the second annual Festival Sayulita Jan. 14-18, 2015, featuring what it calls the biggest surf competition ever in Latin America, festivalsayulita.com/ It also features film, music and culinary events. Sayulita is known as a surf village, but now it’s making its name in the stand-paddling circuit.

Venture into nearby Punta de Mita and try the fresh caught barbecued red snapper at Mariscos Tinos, a friendly and spacious open-air, beachfront restaurant where your next cold Pacifico Pilsner is placed before you before you’re finished the first. You can watch the chef prepare fresh fish in the open kitchen. Avoid the tables closest to the beach; souvenir hawkers won’t give you peace, even during your meal.

Adventure Brands offers entertaining half-day guided excursions to the uninhabited Marietas Islands, about an hour away by catamaran. These islands, given high profile by Jacques Cousteau because they are home to rare species such as the blue-footed booby bird, are protected by the Mexican government. Snorkelling in the clear, warm water around them is a treat. Take Gravol in advance; the sea rolls, even on a calm day.

Preparations for Spring Break have begun in Puerto Vallarta. Located on Mexico’s west coast, it offers an assortment of beaches, with various options for fun, relaxation and recreation. Surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountains, Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s most popular destinations because of its outstanding infrastructure and genuine Mexican atmosphere.

US & World News Report, as well as About.com’s Gay Travel site have listed Puerto Vallarta as a top contender for spring break destinations in the world. Travel season in Puerto Vallarta starts on March 1st and it is estimated that nearly 8,000 students will visit this Mexican paradise in 2015.

With parts of Mexico in turmoil, you’ll not have to worry about danger in Puerto Vallarta; it is currently listed as one of Mexico’s safest destinations and has no travel alerts from the US or Canada. This sentiment is shared by many former travelers to this exotic location and Puerto Vallarta has received various consumer-awards to include “Most Romantic Mexican Destination”, “Favorite Mexican Beach” from the readers of About.com and also voted as Mexico’s second best destination in 2014, by Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice.

Air access to Puerto Vallarta handled by Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, which handles over 1 million people yearly. There are over 22,000 hotel rooms to choose from in Puerto Vallarta, with over half of these anemities rated as 4-star-plus. There are also an array of gay-friendly resorts and properties available as an option.

Wondering what to do with your Puerto Vallarta vacation? Fear not, there are plenty of outdoor activities to attend to while you are there; watersports such as snorkeling, diving, swimming with dolphins, and water skiing are available, and land activities such as horseback riding, island hopping, Los Arcos National Marine Park, site seeing, and canopy tours of the lush Sierra Madre Mountains are available.

For the Spring Breakers looking for the nightlife in this Mexican utopia, you can enjoy night clubs and dancing at Puerto Vallarta’s various late-night venues, each offering their own unique music, drinks and décor. Along this three-block stretch lies sports bars, live music, and gay-friendly dance clubs. The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18, and most bars serve alcohol until 2am while the dance clubs will usually stay open till 4am.

For more information on this exotic destination, please go to www.visitpuertovallarta.com or www.cantovallarta.com

• Riviera Nayarit CVB’s Annual Visitor Research Report indicates that in 2014, these regions led the market for visitors. Guadalajara, Los Angeles and Vancouver were the cities that last year sent the most visitors to Mexico’s Pacific Treasure.

The 2014 Annual Visitor Research Report published by Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau posted the results places that sent the most visitors to the destination; from Mexico, Jalisco; from United States, California and from Canada, British Columbia held the top spots on the list for North America.

In a logical trend, the cities of origin on the list belong to the top states: Guadalajara, Los Angeles and Vancouver topped the list for visitors to the coasts of Nayarit.

Jalisco occupies first place in Mexico with 34.5%, followed by Guanajuato with 15.1% and Mexico City with 9.3%. The segments by municipality follow the former trend, with Guadalajara positioned at the top with 25.8%, followed by León at 10.3% and Mexico City with 9% of the share.

Within the US, the state of California held first place with 27.5%, followed by Illinois with 11.5% and Texas with 8.6%. By cities it breaks out with Los Angeles in first place at 11.5%, San Francisco with 10.7% and Chicago with 10.5%.

In Canada, the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta topped the list with 26.3% and 24.4%, respectively, followed by Quebec with 18.1% and Ontario with 14.5%. By city, Vancouver occupied first place with 21%, Montreal followed with 16.3%, Toronto with 13%, Edmonton with 12% and Calgary with 11%.

The Annual Visitor Research Report is put together by the Research and Development Office of the Riviera Nayarit CVB, and it is used by the different departments of this office to determine their strategies.

Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- In a ceremony that took place at Hotel Villa del Palmar, Playa Holi received its certification from the Mexican Institute of Standardization and Certification (IMNC).

Among the personalities present at the event we can mention: Juan Jose Navarro Amaral, Director of Environment and Ecology; Francisco Altamirano, General Director of Ecology and Regional Planner; Captain Agustin Munoz and Luis Eduardo Alarcon Nunez, from the department of Tourist Certification; Luis Amador Rodriguez, Hotel Holiday Inn General Manager; Alejandro Torres, Hotels and Motels Association Manager and Ramon Guerrero Martinez, Puerto Vallarta Municipal President.

During the ceremony Puerto Vallarta was mentioned as the municipality with the greatest number of certified beaches at national level. Navarro Amaral gave a very nice speech at this significant event.

“I would like to thank all those who, in a direct or indirect way, have contributed to this achievement. This has been an incredible team in which society and government, in a well organized manner, have worked together to reach this goal”, said Navarro Amaral.

Guerrero Martinez also said a few words before proceeding to raise the flag which officially positions Playa Holi as a certified Beach.

“It might seem easy to get a beach certified; but it does entail a lot of efforts, hard work and commitment. Now, with this certification, besides becoming a good example nationwide, we have acquired a commitment to continue working hard to reach other objectives; that’s why now we are looking at another beach. We hope that in about two more weeks Mismaloya beach will also get certified”, expressed Guerrero Martinez.

[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Puerto Vallarta, Jal. — Mexican authorities said Tuesday they staged 153 raids over the last year on a train known as "La Bestia" that rolled toward the U.S. border crowded with hundreds of Central American migrants.

Following a big surge in child migrants reaching the U.S. border last year, Mexico's government cracked down on routes commonly used by migrants to travel from Guatemala to the U.S. border.

The head of the National Immigration Institute, Ardelio Vargas, said the 153 train raids were part of 758 immigration inspections over the last year.

Raids were also carried out on bars, restaurants and hotels were migrants were either held or forced to work, and immigration agents also targeted buses, trucks and other means of smuggling migrants.

Authorities began setting up highway checkpoints and raiding trains in mid-2014 to discourage clandestine migration from Central American countries like Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

But it was the train — a decrepit freight line where boxcar roofs were once completely covered with migrants — that drew Mexico's greatest attention. While some suspected the first raids on the train in August were merely for show, Vargas said Mexico intends to keep migrants off the boxcars.

"The consequences of a railroad accident with 700 or 1,200 migrants on board would have been very regrettable," Vargas said. "We can't be so irresponsible as to allow migrants to continue risking their lives on a freight line that has all the deficiencies it has."

There are some indications that migrants may have switched to taking buses, a somewhat more expensive route through Mexico.

On Tuesday, the institute reported that 101 Central Americans were caught aboard two buses in the north-central state of Zacatecas.

Vargas also said Mexican immigration agents assisted 23,078 child migrants of various nationalities between January 2014 and February 2015. It was not clear how many of those minors were repatriated to their home countries.

Vargas said 37 percent of the minors — or about 8,540 — were unaccompanied.

This statement was confirmed by the 8% increase in revenue for the destination, the 17% increase in the arrival of tourists to the region via air and the 4.4% growth in hotel occupation in the Riviera Nayarit; the efforts of the Riviera Nayarit CVB’s departments were fruitful in 2014.

The annual campaign starts up again on March 4th with the aim of promoting the Rivieria Nayarit destination’s tourism and environmental principles and values. The campaign seeks to strengthen the residents sense of identity to the Riviera Nayarit, resulting in the improvement of the tourism offerings and hence their quality of life.

Mi Riviera Nayarit, Mi Destino is a campaign created by the Marketing Department of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in 2014 in order to improve the complete destination in a holistic manner. It will now resume again on March 4, 2015.

The core ideas are: To reinforce the identity of the residents by increasing their knowledge of the tourism offerings in order to have knowledgeable ambassadors; To perfect our service with its accustomed warmth and quality; and to direct efforts towards creating a greater culture of environmental awareness; the latter with a particular emphasis on the unique identity of each area destination.

“More than a simple advertising campaign, we envision this campaign as a proposal for a cultural change that permeates all possible sectors. We understand that Tourism is a source of development for the region and therefore we must improve it. The people need to know their brand"The Riviera Nayarit" as much as possible. They need to strengthen the identity that is unique to this varied destination—this lies in the identity and differentiation of each area destination, while not losing sight of the fact that each of us has a direct impact on the tourism offerings,” said Liliana Lara, Marketing Manager for the Riviera Nayarit CVB.

It will be transmitted via a wide variety of methods both digital and print, audio, and all the tools offered by newer and more conventional technologies. The content will include hard data and testimonials as it seeks to generate positive changes in the community.

The project also includes improvement projects, as is the case with the Beach Cleanup Network, which was created with the support of civil associations, educational institutions and other groups interested in this activity.

Seminars and training workshops for the hotel sector will be held, all revolving around the core values of this project, along with other collateral's that will contribute to the strengthening of our values.

Visit the Riviera Nayarit’s social platforms and official sites for more details and to become a part of Mi Riviera Nayarit, Mi Destino.

Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- More than one million pesos (US $69,000) were invested in the donation of 370 hearing aids to people with audible deficiency around the state.

Ana Lilia Lopez de Sandoval, representing DIF Nayarit, and Alma Veronica Cruz Frias, Deputy Director of Special Programs and Public Charity Social Coordinator, delivered 370 hearing aids valued at 1 million pesos (US$69,000) to more than 200 persons in the name of the Programs “Para Oirte Mejor” (To Hear You Better).

In the presence of Senator Margarita Flores, the Director of Social Programs of Nayarit, reaffirmed the State’s commitment to the disabled citizens. During her speech, Senator Margarita Flores stated that working together makes it possible to obtain benefits for people in need. Thanks to this donation, the elderly people and children, receiving these hearing aids will have a better quality of life.

During her speech, Cruz Frias explained that helping and including disabled citizens is part of the five central points of the Federal Government. She also stated that the influential participation of Governor Roberto Sandoval Castaneda, and the commitment of President Enrique Pena Nieto, was fundamental to the delivery of this valuable donation.

[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

We Mexican are characterizes as people who love to make friends. The sense of friendship if valuable to us; since childhood our parents teach us to be friendly. There is always a smile on our face and sparkles on our words, which made everyone feel at ease and confident at parties; for example we talk, play and tell jokes, we do poems and we sing; these are important elements to have fun and enjoy life. Communication is a fundamental element for the precise moment when we need an advice, or when we simply want to talk, need someone to listen, or would like to express an opinion.

As parents, one of our duties is to teach and help our children how to communicate properly, so as to be able to identify and express their emotions and learn how to solve their problems in an effective and conciliatory manner. Having this basic knowledge, help us to communicate better with others, and to fulfill our goals. In this so convulsive world, it is important to set our goal and objectives in a cordial and friendly environment.

So, remember that having a positive attitude, enhances our spirit and makes us capable of transmitting joy and happiness to families and friends. Keeping our homes in order and tidy gives us peace of mind. Our home is a sacred place where love and peace should always reign.

It is in the family environment that we learn to love and to be respectful of others. Always remember that a good son/daughter will always be a good citizen, will always love his/her family and his/her country above everything. Love and tolerance are always good weapons to educate our children; but also identifying themselves with their parents, and their daily learning, will allow them to hold on to the wealth of experiences collected day by day throughout their time together.

Time after time we insist that to be successful in our loving Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, is necessary to build our identity, which is what helps us to make sense of life, it is what captivates us, it is what motivates us to work and to love what we do. It is what defines us as persons because we have a conscious and a memory, without these elements it would be impossible to recognize ourselves. We know that all human been are individuals and different, but those differences should not divide us; on the contrary, it should enriched us.

Vallarta citizen know that there is something that distinguishes us from others, and it is precisely the way we greet people and our smiley face. A lot of people have immigrated to our city, they bring different traditions, and this might spoil our identity. Our identity has to do with what we are; our roots, our convictions, with everything we value, with the sense of belonging to a specific group, etc. That is why, dear friends, we should follow three steps: get to know our individuality, we should accept it and we should act accordingly. We should balance the beauty of our city with our joy of living.

Social changes In Mexico, Jalisco y Puerto Vallarta Jalisco, are authentic and lasting only if they are created in a whole hearted personal conduct. Those that are honor to be invested with political, legal or professional responsibilities to society, have the obligation to be vigilant of society and loyal witnesses of a civil conscience worthy of the human been.

Let’s always have a smile on our face, let that be our identity; let our identity reflect Puerto Vallarta happiness. Let’s maintain our good humor and generosity; let’s wake up every day with good feelings, and let that be our inspiration to do good deeds.

I invite those that can, to take advantage of the opportunity to stroll downtown, around Plaza de Armas at noon, stop and say hello to your friends. There you will find Puerto Vallarta citizens 50 or 90 years old who keep in their minds the real history of the city. Once in a while we will see young people talking to them and asking them questions which they are more than happy to answer.

Let us always smile to those that are sad or are shy; to friends, children, youngsters, elderly, and relatives and to all those asking for help.

[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

McBride during her externship in Bucerias, Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- When Rachel McBride transferred to NIU as an underclassman in 2011 to study nutrition, she unwittingly opened the door to a world of new and unexpected learning opportunities.

As an undergraduate in the College of Health and Human Sciences, she studied abroad in Tanzania where she assessed student nutrition needs.

This past December, as a graduate student, she served an externship in Bucerias, Mexico, where she conducted nutrition needs assessments that laid the foundation for nutrition classes and community gardens to be implemented in the near future.

Now, thanks in part to a $10,000 Clarence and June Pearson Worldview Internship Award from CHHS, the 24-year-old from Decatur, Ill., will share her knowledge and passion for healthy eating during a six-month internship at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Roma, Italy beginning April 7.

“I would have never guessed things like this would have happened for me at NIU,” McBride said. “I’ve had some amazing opportunities that I know I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”

While in Italy, she will assist in exploring ways to improve dietary standards for school meals, as well as work with Improved Complementary Feeding Project (IMCF) to help prepare documents, newsletters and project management activities from Malawi and Cambodia.

“I feel that my personal values align really well with this organization,” McBride said. “I am excited to learn how a large international organization works and to see how like-minded people work toward the eradication of hunger.”

She first discovered her passion for helping less developed nations after attending a micro finance lecture given by NIU College of Business instructor and active social entrepreneur Dennis Barsema. McBride said Barsema inspired her to make a difference globally, not just locally.

“He told us that the only difference between us and the world’s extreme poor is latitude and longitude,” McBride said. “He said that we need to use the skills we were blessed with here to help those who are less fortunate elsewhere. It really stuck with me.”

She was an undergrad at the time, exploring her major with aspirations of a career in sports nutrition as an Olympic dietitian. But after Barsema’s talk, the seeds of social entrepreneurship had been planted. McBride now plans to pursue a career that will help her feed those who are less fortunate.

She’s hopeful that the internship will allow her to better understand what type of organization she would like to work for after she graduates. If she can’t find the right fit, she said she will start her own organization.

“Really, it comes down to feeding hungry people, whether that be in another country or here in America,” she said.

McBride said she is excited to experience the culture and food of Italy, but she’s also looking forward to continuing to build her professional network on an international level.

“This is a great learning experience for me,” she said. “I’m truly blessed that these things keep happening for me. I just hope this helps expand my network and helps me build a future in this field. I’m excited for the adventure ahead.”