Here are some tips and tricks that I learned along the way:

1.    Talk to Locals (Use the internet as a reference only)
Who cares where you’re from or what you don’t know− talk to local people, they know best. I talked to strangers on the streets, clerks at convenient stores, homeless people, drunk people at bars, and figured out what’s real and what’s a tourist trap. Use the internet as a reference only!
We also figured out that since Austin is a BBQ city and famous for their meat, the air tends to smell like meat as well.  We quickly assumed from the restaurants we ate at and the research we did, that Texas is not a vegan/healthy food kind of city. However, after talking to locals, we were quite surprised to hear that Austin is one of the most health conscious and vegan friendly cities in Texas. Case-in-point, you’re first assumptions are not always right.

2.    Be Adventurous, Try New Places
If you have the opportunity to either go to a local coffee bar or a Starbucks type chain, go local− chances are the Starbucks will be exactly the same in any and every city. You could learn a lot about the culture and the people in a city by visiting places that are quaint, or a ‘hole in the wall’ type place. If you think you see an interesting or unique place, peak your head in; there is nothing to be shy or nervous about. Plus, you’ll be leaving in a few days anyway; you don’t want to have any regrets.

3.    Blend In, Stand Out
When you are in a new city, go with the flow, do what people do, eat what people eat, and wear what people wear. However, be yourself and don’t be afraid to let people know that you are not from the city. Ask questions, remember details, and listen− people love talking about themselves and love telling their stories.

4.    Walk Everywhere
Walking is a key tool in helping you familiarize yourself with the size, scale, people, and environment of a new city. We even walked along highways because that was a big part of Austin. They didn’t have a subway system or anything. Everyone drove cars, especially trucks and not many people live downtown except for the high-end rich people.

5.    Be Interested, Stay Interesting
It is essential to always stay “alert” and be interested in what people are saying and it is also important to sometimes just listen. You need to know the art of carrying a conversation, infuse your two cents when necessary, but sometimes you have got to just listen, and listen, and listen. However, if the conversation is going in an unusual or unrelated direction, it is key to know how and when to direct the conversation to get the information you want and need.

6.    It’s Nice to be a Girl
I know this is something that we obviously don’t have control over, but if you are a girl, chances are people will be friendlier to you, nicer to you, less threatened by you, and most importantly, people will be more open and willing to tell you the things you want to know.

Lessons Learned- I have a lot more to learn but overall this was a fantastic experience.  The only question I have left is, when is my next business trip?

After getting multiple complains from many people and becoming hesitant when sending out any sort of text, I was finally fed up enough to go to the phone company and ask them what the problem was.

The local phone company kiosk I visited told me to directly call the phone company on my cell phone and that they would re-set my phone system. As far as I can remember, the number to call from your cell phone to reach the service provider has always been *611. It may have been the sales associate handwriting, or perhaps I was crossed-eyed for a split second, but the sheet of paper with the “*611” on it clearly read “*Cell” to me. I started to think, was it coincidence or were these three seemingly random numbers strategically chosen to subliminally remind us what the numbers mean?

I started to think that all of the numbers were strategically chosen to carry some form meaning or association. Another example I thought of was “411” the telephone directory. Did you know that “411” can also be read as “ALL”? I have done some light research, but I haven’t found any hard evidence that suggests this was deliberate. I however, would love to talk to the person who picked the numbers to see if it was a coincidence or not.

- Jess

Through a series of explorations around collapsibility, rough sketches were produced. These rough sketches were prototyped through a series of half scale models built out of foam core and tape, enabling me to rapidly and cost effectively verify the stability and collapsibility of the concept.

Building on a theme of portable luxury, warm dark wood was combined with cool metal to create an aesthetic rarely found at your average park or bus stop, catching the eye of your newest BFF.

100 Wishes prompts a terminal patient to choose 100 wishes that he or she did not have a chance to fulfill themselves while they were healthy in life. Family members and friends will be given the opportunity to take one of the 100 wishes as his or her own, not only as a way of honouring the departed, but also as a way for the participants to share a final tangible experience with their loved one.

The memoriam is a large unit comprised of many small containers that resemble dandelion seeds, each holding equal portions of ashes of the deceased. Within each seed container there is a note with the description of the person’s incomplete dying wish. Once the wish is completed, the note is replaced with a photo capturing the moment of achievement of the special wish. The seed container is then once again placed back into the large unit.

When the wishes have all been satisfied, the soul of the departed can finally be at rest, knowing that through their loved ones they have completed , being able to rest knowing that they have been honoured by those that truly love and care for them. The wishes serve to bring the friends and family closer to the departed through the exploration of their deepest wishes and aspirations. In addition to providing comfort to the terminally ill and providing a proactive form of remembrance for their loved ones, it serves to remind everyone involved that one never knows what lies ahead, and we must live as though each day was our last.