Basically, my hobbies consist of doing anything that sounds like fun. However, I've picked out a few that deserve honorable mention. Also, I have so many favorites within each area that I have only selected a few to list in no particular order.
Traveling has to be one of my all-time favorite things to do. Whether the destination be a location that requires a 10 minute drive or a 10 hour flight, I am always up for the opportunity to visit a new place. Although I've done my fair share of traveling within the United States, I particularly enjoy visiting other countries. I take pleasure in learning about other cultures and languages and exploring the various sites each country has to offer. I have been fortunate enough to be able to visit such various places, and plan to continue doing so whenever the opportunity presents itself. I have accumulated a great colletion of photos taken during my trips, which is another favorite hobby of mine. The lists below include, but are not limited to, some sites I have visited and still plan to visit in the future.
Some places I have been...
And some places I still hope to go...
When I'm not on the road (or doing anything school or work related for that matter), I enjoy watching movies with friends. There's nothing like watching a movie to distract you from everyday life and enjoy the company of those around you. My taste in movies ranges from comedies to adventure to sci-fi films. I even like watching the occasional classic black and white flick. Some of my favorite actors include Johnny Depp, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Adam Sandler, Al Pacino, Chris Tucker, and Drew Barrymore, just to name a few. As far as movies go, I love all Adam Sandler movies. I recently got hooked on the Lord of the Rings movies too, and enjoy any film that falls in that same genre. A couple of great movies that are constant favorites are Top Gun and Dances with Wolves. The lists here could be endless.
As far as TV goes, I admit I'm addicted to the one soap opera, General Hospital. Other great shows on my list include Friends, The Simpsons, and, thanks to the pressure my roommate Annie exerts on me, The West Wing.
Music is a part of daily life for me. When I am home, it is constantly playing in the background. I can't drive in my car without the radio on, and when I am around campus, I always have some type of portable music player within my reach. As you can probably guess, I like music from around the world. Polish, Latin, Arabic, and Greek are some of my favorites. I also like alternative rock, hip-hop, new age, techno, reggae, pop, instrumental, and I can't forget about the old school 80s music. Usually I listen to a combination that fits whatever mood I'm in. But something I am always in the mood to listen to is my all-time favorite band, Stone Temple Pilots. Currently on my playlist I have artists such as Kevin Little, Seal, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and music from Cirque du Soleil.
Recently I have made the time to include reading books as one of my hobbies. Before beginning my busy life as a college student, this was something I used to do quite often. From an age before I could read, it started as flipping through the pages of picture books only. Then, of course, I started checking out books from the library at random. I picked whatever looked interesting. The last book I read, which I highly recommend to anyone interested in suspense, is The Da Vinci Code. I could not put this book down. I am currently in the middle of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth book in a series of many.
Art has always been something I've appreciated. Drawing, especially, is something I've always enjoyed. It's a great medium for expressiveness and creativity. I used to want to be a Disney animator when I was little, but I never fully pursued that direction. I have many years of doodles and sketches of random things I've done. One of my favorite drawings currently hangs on my bedroom door. Once I finish school and don't have to worry about academics, I'd like to take some art classes that include drawing, painting, and appreciation of great works of art.
Last but not least, I classify H2O as one of my hobbies, meaning I enjoy water activites such as swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing by the ocean. The beach is the perfect place to go when you need to de-stress and put things into perspective. I can remember enjoying being in the water almost before I could even walk. According to my parents, I taught myself how to swim, and more than half my time in the pool was spent underwater. Right before I entered high school I considered joining the swim team. Then I found out that they have practice at 6am. I still would love to learn how to surf, but my lack of resources and fear of sharks has held me back for a while.