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Trauma Resources

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With recent violent events, it can impact people in different ways. If you know someone experiencing trauma, try your best to support them and let them know about their available resources. If you or a friend is in need, remember that you can always reach out to or depend on these things:

  • Close family members and friends
  • Professionals – local clinics, hotline, therapist, etc.
  • Online support communities
  • Click here for facts/info about trauma in the state of Minnesota
  • For local helplines in Minnesota click here!

“Anyone can help someone who struggles with trauma—whether they work in the medical or mental health community, or are just a caring individual.

The National Council for Behavioral Health would like to share a few resources about trauma:

  • INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Signs A Person May Be Experiencing Trauma
  • INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Tips to Help Someone Experiencing Trauma
  • TIP SHEET: Trauma in the LGBTQ Community: What Practitioners Should Know in the Wake of the Orlando Shootings.
  • FACT SHEET: LGBTQ Mental Health: How the Orlando Shootings Can Broadly Impact This Community.” – Rightful owner

 

National Park and Recreation Month!

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“National Park and Recreation Month is a time to promote the benefits of healthy, vibrant communities.” – http://www.nrpa.org/

National Park & Recreation Month encourages people to go outdoors, connect with local parks/reservations/recreations, and enjoy their time outside. It promotes people to reconnect with nature and to become more aware and supportive of our environment. “Today, the average American spends 93% of their life indoors – 87% in buildings and 6% in vehicles” (NRPA). Fun fact: Americans have celebrated National Park and Recreation Month during July since 1985 (NRPA).

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Here are some ways in which you can participant in this month’s event:

  • Go outside to your local parks!
  • Visit/volunteer a reservation site!
  • Go walking/biking at your local trails!
  • Share the message on your social media and with people around you!
  • Remember to ask other people to join you outdoors!

Are Instant Noodles Bad For Your Health?

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“According to the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA), 52 countries consumed 97.7 billion servings last year alone. Among its highest consumers are China and Hong Kong, which together consumed 40.43 billion servings, followed by Indonesia, with 13.20 billion servings consumed. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. is not too far behind with 4 billion instant noodles consumed in 2015.” – http://nextshark.com/

So what are instant noodles? They are noodles that have been deep fried and packaged along with other seasoning packets. With just boiling water, you make a quick meal. It’s delicious of course and very cheap.

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www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/

Instant noodles have the reputation of being convenient, affordable, delicious, and unhealthy. Although it is loved by people throughout the world, it can be bad for your health if consume daily. Here are some reasons why:

  • The amount of sodium in a instant noodle pack is a lot more than what you should consume in a meal. Ingesting too much salt can lead one to experience dehydration, damaging the kidneys, and other parts of your body.
  • Instant noodles does not offer nutritional value to your body. Most of it is carbs, sodium, and saturated fat.

Like any other junk and fast food, you should consume instant noodles in moderation. You can always add more water to the broth and other veggies to make it a more balance meal. But don’t try to replace your diet with instant noodles and remember to cook your own meals as much as possible.

This Month in Japan | July

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“Fumizuki, a traditional name for July, refers to “book/origin month. The true meaning of the kanji is difficult to decipher. One theory is that fumizuki is a shortened form of hofumizuki, referring to a time when rice becomes ready for harvest. Another possible explanation is that the name is short forfumihirakizuki, meaning to hope for an improvement in one’s calligraphy skills.

July 7 is Tanabata or the Star Festival, that celebrates the meeting of the deities named Orihime and Hikoboshi. The third Monday of the month is Marine Day, commemorating the return of Emperor Meiji to Yokohama port from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.” – Rightful owner

In July, parts of Japan is experiencing the rainy season while other areas will have very hot and sunny weather. Places in higher elevation like Hokkaido will probably have better weather conditions. There are plenty of things to do and lots of festivals to attend throughout Japan. If you are visiting Japan during this month, prepare an umbrella, sunglasses, and light clothing. Here are some things that are happening in July in Japan:

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Geishas during the Gion Matsuri Festival.

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  • Summer in Japan means that there will be tons of festivals being hosted through out the entire month and country.
    • Gion Matsuri is a festival celebration that occurs in Kyoto for the entire month of July! Hosted in Kyoto, this festivals displays 10 to 20 amazing decorative floats. People come to enjoy the sights and foods, but also to buy good luck charms to ward off evil. For more in depth info on the event, location, time, and its history, click here!
      • Tenjin Festival is big festival held in Osaka that showcases fireworks, parades, geishas, river boats, and so much more. It attracts people from all over Japan to attend this event for For more in depth info on the event, location, time, and its history, click here!
    • For a calendar overview of all the official events happening in Japan during July, click here!
  • Beach season is on full fledge and it’s time to enjoy the coastal regions of Japan. There are a lot of beaches to go to depending on where you want to visit. It is probably best to avoid the most popular beach destinations so you wouldn’t have to compete with so many people on the same beach.
  • For other events/festivals occurring in July, click here!

This Month in Japan | June

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June is the start of the rainy season for most parts of Japan. The summer weather is often divided between the rainy season following by the high levels of humidity. Despite the weather conditions, people can still enjoy their time in Japan. It is a good month for travelers to visit Japan because travel prices and the amount of tourists are low. Of course, be prepared for the rainy and humid weather; bring an umbrella and maybe some rain boots.

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Looking for activities to do during the month of June? Here are some events that are occurring in June around Japan!

  1. Sanno Festival is held in central Tokyo from June 7, 2017 to June 17, 2016. Located in Chiyoda-ku and hosted by Hie Jinja, it includes parades, people in dressed in traditional clothes, festival foods, and more! It one of the three major festivals along with Kanda Matsuri and Fukagawa Matsuri. “The Sanno Matsuri is famous as a festival permitted by the Shogun to enter the grounds of Edo Castle during the Edo Period (1603-1867), along with the Kanda Matsuri.” – http://www.jnto.go.jp/
  2. Hokkaido Shrine Festival is located at Maruyama Park in Hokkaido, Japan. It occurs from June 14 to June 16 and about 1 million people attend the summer festival each year. A highlight would be people wearing the summer kimono, yukata, and the endless amount of festival foods.
  3. Other tips for travelers in Japan during June are:
    1. If you want to visit beaches, resorts, or/and amusements, book your tickets and go before July when school children are done with school!
    2. Make sure to check out tours that can give you special deals! Here is a quick link!
    3. For any hot countries: Bring clothes that you could layer with! Also, having a good pair of shoes to walk in all day would help you best when discovering Japan on foot.

Study Abroad Opportunities! | For High School & College

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Study abroad is a great opportunity for students to learn while living in a different society and experiencing a whole new culture. It allows students to gain important knowledge and become more confident through the struggles of adjusting to a different environment and lifestyle. Of course it is expensive and requires you to work harder, but in the end it will be worth it! It is not impossible to study abroad if you know how to use your resources and is able to utilize your skills! Here are some tips on how to afford study abroad:

  1. Choose where you want to study abroad! (The earlier you can decide, the better!) You can study abroad almost anywhere in the world with different programs. It is usually divided into academic and employment programs. As a high school student, your options are more limited but remember to research about your options. As a college student, you will have lots of option to where you can study abroad.
    • Note that some locations are more expensive than others.
  2. It’s important to plan early! You want to measure out the length of your program and the time before you are going there. It will give you a timeline of how much you can save up for your total trip and how much you pay spend over there. So get ready to work & save like a pro!
    • Always transfer the amount you need to save when you are paid!
    • Exclude miscellaneous spending if possible; like on small things such as buying a cup of coffee, limiting the amount of money you spend when you go out, etc.
  3. Work on your essay writing skills! If you want scholarships, most of them will require you to write some sort of essay whether it is a personal, academic, or question essay. The point is to answer the prompt while letting them know you more personally and your goals for study abroad. Never forget to check the basics:
    • Is there a word count limit or required minimum of words?
    • Have you check your grammar?
    • Do you understand the words you are using? It’s better to use words that you know than to use big words that you don’t understand.
    • Did you answer the question(s)?
    • Ask someone else to proofread your essay if you are unsure
  4. Does it require references/recommendation letters? You may need references or recommend letters from teachers/co-workers depending on the type of program/scholarship you are applying for. So make sure you double check the deadline and try to obtain them ahead of time.
  5. Research for local & national scholarships! There are tons of scholarships available out there, but they won’t come to you unless you find them and apply for it! Some will require more or less work depending on the amount of aid it offers. Expect that there will be competition for scholarships since you are not the only student who wants to study abroad. Try to apply to as many scholarships that you qualify for. Overall, it is better to apply than not apply at all!
    • Check scholarships that are offered through your school, state, and within the U.S.
    • Use online scholarship database to  help you find scholarships!
  6. Look out for your deadlines! This applies to your scholarships and program dates. It is important to turn in things on time, especially if you want to secure your place! If you are unable to meet deadlines, than you would lessen your chance of obtaining a place in a study abroad program or possibly getting a scholarship.
  7. Here are some linked web & resources you can use:
    • The two most well known study abroad company are, CIEE & IES; they offer a variety of study abroad programs for high school and college students. It is not limited to these two as there are other options as well and it depends on what you are looking for (internship, volunteer, & employment). Others include AIFS, CEA, & more!
    • Go to “goabroad” to search their database on study abroad for high school & college!
    • You can always try to find reviews on the program that you’re interested in to help determine which program may work with you.

This Month in Japan | May

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With the arrival of May, it signals the mass amount of holidays celebrated during this time. People can find that Japan is the most busiest time as everyone is trying to get to their destination and are going away for vacation. At the same time, it can be quite quiet in big cities like Tokyo as most people are not working and visiting other cities or relatives who lives further away. Here is what you need to know for the month of May in Japan:

  • “Japan Golden Week is a collection of four national holidays that take place within a week including Showa Day celebrating Emperor Showa’s birthday; Constitution Day; Greenery Day, a national holiday dedicated to nature; and finally, Children’s Day with families praying for the health and success of their sons.” – http://www.onthegotours.com/
    • Golden Week is in between April 29 to May 5. Make sure if you are planning to a trip to Japan during this time be aware that tourist spots, famous attractions, and traffic will be quite busy. During this time period is when many Japanese people take vacations and have time off work.
    • Children’s Day is on May 5th and it celebrates the happiness, health, and personalities of children! A distinctive feature of this holiday in Japan are the carp-like kites which are used as decorations.
  • The weather in May is probably one of the best time for people to enjoy nature and visit sites. It’s a period of when it is not too hot and before the arrival of the rainy season, so people are more likely to be outside from April to June.
  • For more info & events of Japan in May, click here!

Planning on a trip? | Health Awareness Regarding Your Travel Destination

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Are you planning to go on a trip soon? It’s always good to keep in mind of where are you going and the current situation of the location. So make sure to do your research of what you may need to bring along with in terms of medicines, clothes, electronics, and possibly even getting vaccinated before flying to another country. Listed down below are some places that you may need time to prepare for if you plan on visiting there:

MERS

  • MERS stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and is a viral respiratory illness. Cases of MERS has been reported in the Middle East and spread to, but decreased in South Korea. Click here for more in depth info.

Polio

  • There has been an increased in reported cases of polio among in Guinea, Madagascar, and Nigeria. It is highly recommended that travelers get the polio vaccine before entering the country and for people to get vaccinated again if already done so in the past. Be aware that polio can be spread through contaminated water and direct contact with an infected person.
  • Reported cases of polio has also came from Ukraine (Europe).

Zika Virus

  • The local transmission of the Zika virus has been reported in various parts of the world, Cape Verde (Africa), Laos, Burma (Myanmar), American Samoa, Bolivia, Cuba, and other countries in Central America, South America, Caribbean, and Pacific islands. Make sure to do your research!
  • “Travelers can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites. Women who are pregnant(in any trimester) should not travel to areas with Zika. Men who have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission who have a pregnant partner should abstain from sexual activity or consistently and correctly use condoms during sex for the duration of the pregnancy. Women and their partners who are thinking about pregnancy after possible exposure to Zika should talk with their doctor or healthcare provider.” – “Global Travel Pinet“
  • Be aware and protect yourself for those who plan on attending:
    • the 2016 Summer Olympics scheduled to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to August 21, 2016
    • the Paralympic Games that is scheduled for September 7 to September 18, 2016

Being Active & Involved in April

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Do you have any ideas on what you want to do in the month of April? If you don’t know and is interested, look down below of the suggestions. You possibly find something that you would enjoy.

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  • Take a hike! Now that it’s April and we are heading to a warmer season, it’s time to go outside and enjoy the warmer season. Want some tips on how to enhance your hike:
    • Plan out your trip! It’s a good to get an idea and to research about the area you’re interested in hiking in. In this way, you know if it’s good for someone like you or a friend/partner if they are a beginner, experienced, or expert at hiking!
    • Wear the right gear! That also means make sure to check your local forecast. The right pair of hiking shoes will help support your feet and clothing will protect you from potential danger.
    • Bring extra food & water! Chances are you may get hungry so pack nutritional meals/snacks and water along. Make sure to always stay hydrated!
    • Bring a map/GPS/compass! It’s probably a good idea to know where you are heading and on how you can hike back to where you’d started.
    • Recommended local hiking trails: Theodore Wirth Regional Park, Minnehaha Regional Park, Fort Snelling State Park, Hyland Lake Park Reserve, and more!

National Nutrition Month & Food Trends!

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Wondering what to eat next? Or maybe you want to try out the current food trends? This year has kicked off with food trends that demanded healthier food options and about eating local. You’ll never know what the area around you has to offer so take a look! Listed down below are some tips for you to try out!

  • Eating local has always been a thing, but it’s even bigger in the recent years! It means that you go out there and explore the food scene in your local areas. You may find restaurants that serve dishes that you had not tried before. Minnesota has some of the best areas for foodies to eat such as on Nicollet street, Downtown Minneapolis, central St. Paul, and more. A wide variety of foods await from Vietnamese cuisine to well-known steakhouses to authentic Mexican food.
  • Going green is healthier! The emphasize on healthy food is tremendous this year with a focus on vegetable juicing, detoxing with fruit infused water, eating grass fed animal products, and such! Organic and eating more greens is something that you should try to do more often!
  • Reduction in processed and unhealthy food! People everywhere are trying to eat healthier and it is clear of what foods people are avoiding. Foods that are high in salt, saturated fat, and sugar are some major “NO” you should try to avoid. Foods like chips, pop, fast foods, and such. Of course, it is okay to indulge once in a while.
  • Bring on the vegetable side dishes! Vegetables are eaten more often when served as side dishes and not as a dish itself. It will encourage you and possible any kids around you to eat it! Serve side dishes of vegetables stir fried or mix with other veggies as a light salad.
  • March is also known as National Nutrition Month! It serves to promote healthy living through making better food choices. Become part of group and spread the message of positivity of healthy eating. Check out this link on you can get involved!