With the kickoff of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg today, I wanted to feature this guest article about international sports events, World Championships and Olympic Games—all great sporting events worth seeing live as you travel the world, which offer the opportunity to connect with new friends internationally and at home.

My definitive guide to traveling to Thailand, after living in Bangkok for 1.5 years. Airfare, visas, hostels, guesthouses, Thai language, banking, vaccinations, and everything else in between!

For a majority of people born in the West, into a middle-class family, with decent education, it has never been easier to grab the reins and create the life you want. But unfortunately, the reality is that a large population of disadvantaged refugees and victims of other socio-economic circumstances are not so fortunate. Read my friend Ryan’s account of life as a refugee.