If you are headed abroad next semester or for a short J-term, chances are pretty good you already started mentally prepping for a bit of culture shock. Especially if you have never left the American bubble before. The food, the languages, the metric system; all the changes can be overwhelming.

      But don't be so worried, a lot of countries have adopted certain aspects of American culture and nowhere else are the Stars & Stripes more prevalent than the music industry.So even though you won't be sitting stateside, it only takes a flip of the radio to get right back in the thick of things.

INDIA

After Obama captured the nomination, Americans everywhere were given insight into how in tuned the rest of the world is with what we do here on our home turf. Music is no exception. Not only do popular American artists make it big over seas, but American culture is very prevalent in foreign music. Such could not be seen better than in this Bollywood clip by one of India's big stars, Shahrukh Khan. There are more Stars & Stripes than a 4th of July Parade and absolute hilarity at 2:36.

OTHER COUNTRIES: ISRAEL, GERMANY, VIETNAM

For most college students, spring break is equivalent to Christmas and the 4^th of July combined. It’s a refreshing getaway filled with fun in the sun, barely remembered wild nights that end with everyone howling as the sun rises, lusty hookups with people that you are guaranteed to never see again (unless the happen to go to your school) and everything in between.

We all know that times are tough and the economy is hanging above the abyss by a rusty and frayed wire, so chances are you aren’t trying to break the bank with expensive air fare in your quest for drunken sexy time hilarity.  If you are worried that all you can afford is a case of Miller Lite, a high-powered sunlamp mounted in your living room and a Jimmy Buffet CD, don’t worry, because we have an alternative. 

Here is the 411 on several affordable spring break options. You want rowdy, here you go.

Daytona Beach, FL

Driving From:

Miami (FL)- 4.5 Hours

Chicago- 18 Hours

Austin (TX)- 17 Hours

New York- 16 Hours

Hotels:

Palm Plaza

Boardwalk Inn

Aqua Terrace

Bars:

Oyster Pub

Froggy’s Saloon

Tailgator’s Sportsbar and Grill

Boot Hill Saloon

It’s not Cancun, but then again, it isn’t Ohio either. Set on the eastern coast of Florida, Daytona Beach is the penny-wise getaway you have been dreaming of.  With miles of beaches dotted with affordable giant resort hotels, and hours away from huge southern state schools, this place will be a hotbed of sexy gals strutting about in thongs and other similar visual delights.

An added bonus is that you can drive your car right onto the beach.  That’s pretty cool if you ask me.  Mix that with the ten tattoo parlors and dozens of bars within spitting distance of the beach, and you have one hell of a time.  And if you like NASCAR, is there any other place to go?  

  *Other Locations:  Panama City Beach,  South Padre Island, Ensenada, MX, Puerto Penasco, MX, and Savannah. 

Summer has long been heralded as a time for college students to make moves: whether it be diving into the job force with an internship or figuring out just how many beers the human body can handle in one afternoon, it is a time to discover the world beyond the campus confines. And nothing says new experiences quite like a European backpacking excursion. But with so much to see and so little money to make it work, it's hard to know what is worth your Euro and what isn't? We here at Boosh Magazine gauge traveling right up there with a cool brew and an awesome song as some of our favorite things, so we scoured Western Europe and came up with some affordable experiences that shouldn't be missed.


THE UNITED KINGDOM
(England, Scotland, Ireland)

While Ireland and Britain are in no way one in the same, if you're going to hit up one of these countries you might as well knock off all three. So slip on a football jersey, search out your ancestors, and get ready to meet an entire nation that can drink you under the table.

LONDON, ENGLAND
A lot of people travel to London, but only do the typical shit: visit the Tower, shop Piccadilly Circus, or ride on a double-decker bus. While that stuff is neat, none of the tourist staples can really convey the true awesomeness of the original bastion of imperialism. Make sure not to leave town without doing these:

Visit the Tate Modern Museum
Located on the Thames River, the Tate Modern is by far the craziest museum in Europe. We wouldn’t tell you to go to a museum if it wasn’t mind blowing and no words can really describe the art in this place other than "insane". For those seeking a whole additional level to the art, puffing an alley J will breathe new life into it.

Go to a Football Match
Even if you don’t like soccer, you can’t help but enjoy an English Premier League (EPL) football match. From the world class athletics to the completely insane fans fueled by rivalry and beer, it is one of the craziest sporting events you'll ever experience. Because the EPL is one of the best soccer leagues in the world, tickets are hard to come by. Lucky for you, there are four other teams in London to check out: Fulham, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal. And because we want to see you come back in one piece, just a word to the wise: keep your mouth shut about rooting for the away team.

Bust out Cockney Whenever Possible

Cockney is a sing–song method of speech used by some British, often considered lower class. But funnier than shit to use. Takes practice to get it right, and most abbreviate it further using only the first part of the rhyme to discuss what they're doing. Examples:

Dog and Bone - Telephone
"Half a quid to use the dog?"

Boat Race – Face
"With a boat like that, he'll snog a biffer for sure."

Apples and Pears – Staircase
"The loo is up the apples on the left."

There is a reason it is called “BACK”-packing and at the end of the day when you finally throw your pack down all you want is a rubdown and a hot tub.  Imagine your three week backpacking trip through the Mediterranean countries you have planned for this summer; 21 consecutive days of hauling your shit around, living the 20-30 year old dream vacation of a vacation with no real plans.  Now, think of what kind of shape you are in…

Posture is key to avoid the harsh loads you will be hauling around Europe.  The muscles you are going to want to spend the most time improving are your posture muscles; which include all the back muscles and your core (the stomach, low back, and gluteus muscles).  An easy way to help improve your posture everyday is standing up straight and do not let yourself hunch over while sitting.  Remember your pack is on your back the stronger your back is the easier it will be to carry your load and not experience as much muscle fatigue. To help strengthen up your back and your core, I suggest trying out the following exercises: 

One Leg Bench Squat 

Targets: Quads, Hamstrings, and core
Starting Position: One leg up on a bench, making sure when you squat your front knee does not go over your toes
Action:  Hips go back, bend the knee and squat down as if you were sitting back onto a chair, stand back up and repeat
Start 12-15 reps each leg without any weight; 1-3 sets
For a challenge hold on to dumbbells or a bar resting on the back of the shoulders and perform exercise.