{"id":2207,"date":"2024-03-25T08:46:42","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T12:46:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/?p=2207"},"modified":"2024-03-25T12:01:24","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T16:01:24","slug":"whispers-of-the-wild-americas-national-parks-charlie-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/2024\/03\/25\/whispers-of-the-wild-americas-national-parks-charlie-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Whispers of the Wild: America&#8217;s National Parks &#8211; Charlie 26&#8242;"},"content":{"rendered":"<script>fsg_json['fsg_post_2207'] = [\n{id: 2208, image: 'https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG471.jpg', extlink: '', thumb: 'https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG471-290x290.jpg', permalink: '<div class=\"galleria-layeritem\"><a title=\"Permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/2024\/03\/25\/whispers-of-the-wild-americas-national-parks-charlie-26\/#2208\"><div class=\"galleria-link-bookmark\"><\/div><\/a><\/div>', layer: '<div class=\"galleria-infolayer\"><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\" style=\"padding-right: 20px;\"><h1>WechatIMG471<\/h1><\/div><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\"><a title=\"Permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/2024\/03\/25\/whispers-of-the-wild-americas-national-parks-charlie-26\/#2208\"><div class=\"galleria-link-bookmark\"><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\" style=\"padding-right: 20px;\"><\/div>'},\n{id: 2210, image: 'https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG472-1.jpg', extlink: '', thumb: 'https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG472-1-290x290.jpg', permalink: '<div class=\"galleria-layeritem\"><a title=\"Permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/2024\/03\/25\/whispers-of-the-wild-americas-national-parks-charlie-26\/#2210\"><div class=\"galleria-link-bookmark\"><\/div><\/a><\/div>', layer: '<div class=\"galleria-infolayer\"><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\" style=\"padding-right: 20px;\"><h1>WechatIMG472-1<\/h1><\/div><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\"><a title=\"Permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/2024\/03\/25\/whispers-of-the-wild-americas-national-parks-charlie-26\/#2210\"><div class=\"galleria-link-bookmark\"><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\" style=\"padding-right: 20px;\"><\/div>'},\n{id: 2211, image: 'https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG473.jpg', extlink: '', thumb: 'https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG473-290x290.jpg', permalink: '<div class=\"galleria-layeritem\"><a title=\"Permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/2024\/03\/25\/whispers-of-the-wild-americas-national-parks-charlie-26\/#2211\"><div class=\"galleria-link-bookmark\"><\/div><\/a><\/div>', layer: '<div class=\"galleria-infolayer\"><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\" style=\"padding-right: 20px;\"><h1>WechatIMG473<\/h1><\/div><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\"><a title=\"Permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/2024\/03\/25\/whispers-of-the-wild-americas-national-parks-charlie-26\/#2211\"><div class=\"galleria-link-bookmark\"><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\" style=\"padding-right: 20px;\"><\/div>'},\n{id: 2212, image: 'https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG474.jpg', extlink: '', thumb: 'https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG474-290x290.jpg', permalink: '<div class=\"galleria-layeritem\"><a title=\"Permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/2024\/03\/25\/whispers-of-the-wild-americas-national-parks-charlie-26\/#2212\"><div class=\"galleria-link-bookmark\"><\/div><\/a><\/div>', layer: '<div class=\"galleria-infolayer\"><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\" style=\"padding-right: 20px;\"><h1>WechatIMG474<\/h1><\/div><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\"><a title=\"Permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/2024\/03\/25\/whispers-of-the-wild-americas-national-parks-charlie-26\/#2212\"><div class=\"galleria-link-bookmark\"><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"galleria-layeritem\" style=\"padding-right: 20px;\"><\/div>'}\n];<\/script>\n\n<p>Hey there! Let me take you on a trip to some of my favorite spots on the planet \u2013 the U.S. national parks. These aren&#8217;t just patches of land; they&#8217;re epic studios where nature paints its masterpieces. I&#8217;m talking about the kind of places where you can actually hear the earth breathe \u2013 from the explosive geysers of Yellowstone to the fierce alligators over the Everglades. This blog is my personal scrapbook, a collection of moments and memories from Yellowstone, Shenandoah, and the Everglades. Join me as we wander through these wonders and discover why these spots are more than just vacation destinations; they&#8217;re a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Yellowstone: Where the Ground Sings and the Sky Paints<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yellowstone, ever heard of it? Imagine a place so wild that the ground bubbles, and the sky turns all shades of fire come sunset. It&#8217;s America&#8217;s own backyard wonderland, complete with geysers shooting up in a surprise hello and animals that roam as if they own the place. I once stood by the Grand Prismatic Spring, and let me tell you, it&#8217;s like staring into a giant, steaming rainbow \u2013 unreal! And the animals, bisons, rabbits, dears, even bears, they just stroll by, living reminders that this land is theirs too. Yellowstone isn&#8217;t just a park; it&#8217;s one of my best memories of trips, shocking me with its beauty for my first national park visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a data-postid=\"fsg_post_2207\" data-imgid=\"2208\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG471.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG471-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG471-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG471-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG471-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG471-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG471.jpg 1706w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The smoggy Great Prismatic Spring we pictured<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shenandoah: A Stroll Through Nature\u2019s Symphony<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ever just want to walk among the treetops, with nothing but the sound of your footsteps and the distant serenade of a woodland choir? That\u2019s Shenandoah for you. It\u2019s less like visiting a park and more like stepping into a peaceful dream. Picture driving along Skyline Drive, with every turn offering a new, breathtaking view \u2013 it&#8217;s like the mountains are showing off just for you. I once caught the sunset from one of those overlooks, and let me tell you, it was like the whole sky was performing a slow, fiery dance just for me. Shenandoah isn\u2019t just a place; it\u2019s a gentle whisper in the hustle of life, reminding us to pause, breathe, and take in the view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a data-postid=\"fsg_post_2207\" data-imgid=\"2210\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG472-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG472-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2210\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG472-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG472-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG472-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG472-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG472-1.jpg 1706w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The colorful trees besides Skyline Drive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Everglades: A Symphony of Water and Wilderness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine gliding over water, surrounded by a landscape so alive, every moment feels like a new discovery. That\u2019s the Everglades for you \u2013 not just a park, but a sprawling, vibrant habitat. I took an airboat tour, and let me tell you, it&#8217;s like racing into the heart of the wilderness. We encountered crocodiles, their eyes peeking above the water, guardians of the hidden depths. The life here isn&#8217;t just living; it&#8217;s thriving in every droplet and under every leaf. The Everglades showed me the beauty of the wild, untamed yet profoundly connected, a world brimming with secrets just beneath the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a data-postid=\"fsg_post_2207\" data-imgid=\"2211\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG473.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"571\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG473-1024x571.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG473-1024x571.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG473-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG473-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG473.jpg 1179w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alligator preying in the water<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why These Wild Spaces Capture My Heart<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s something about the national parks that just gets under your skin, in a good way. It&#8217;s not just about the grandeur or the quiet\u2014it&#8217;s about connection. In places like Yellowstone, Shenandoah, and the Everglades, you find a piece of yourself that\u2019s been waiting, untouched, in the silence and majesty of nature. It&#8217;s where the pulse of the earth beats in rhythm with your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These parks are a reminder of what we&#8217;re a part of \u2013 the vast, intricate web of life. They teach us respect, not just for the land but for the generations to come. They\u2019re a call to preserve, to protect, and to pass on. They show us the beauty of the wild, and through it, the beauty within ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this fast-paced, digital world, national parks are our touchstone to the real, the tangible, and the eternal. They are not just places to visit, but places to cherish, embodying the raw, unfiltered essence of our world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a data-postid=\"fsg_post_2207\" data-imgid=\"2212\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG474.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG474-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG474-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG474-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG474-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG474-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/files\/2024\/03\/WechatIMG474.jpg 1706w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sunset by the Big Salt Lake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hey there! Let me take you on a trip to some of my favorite spots on the planet \u2013 the U.S. national parks. These aren&#8217;t just patches of land; they&#8217;re&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11166,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25924],"tags":[25919,53927],"class_list":["post-2207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international-students-2","tag-international-students","tag-ois"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11166"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2207"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2207\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2213,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2207\/revisions\/2213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/international-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}