I have begun the last leg of my journey; part of me refuses to accept this fact and the other part desperately looks forward to the familiarity of Dulles airport. Quite a bit has happened since my last entry, and, as I reread past entries, I recognize how poorly this blog has translated my journey, even misrepresenting it with half-arsed entries written with semi-enthusiasm. I suppose my personal journal has been a much better record of what's actually hapened, as the straight forward details of where I've been and when seem secondary to the emotions I've felt, the lessons I've learned, and even the most minute encounters I've had. Oh well; if anything, at least this blog served as assurance that, no, dad, I haven't died yet. However, if people are truly interested in learning about what I've really gotten out of this trip, I would love to sit down and have a discussion with them in person as soon as I get back. I really can't think of the words to sincerely convey how tranforming this trip has been on my own self esteem, sense of self worth, outlook, priorities, level of self love, global perspective, etc. at this point, and especially not through the internet. That being said, I'll get on with the updates:
After the womyn's gathering, which itself was a catalyst for a total process of re-evaluation of the way I live my life and the relationships I foster, I travelled with my friend Stephie, who I met at Wilderland, and spent time with a healer named Angela. We met Angela at Blooming Sisters (the gathering), and decided to WWOOF part time with her. I didn't learn much in the vein of organic farming, per se, but absorbed so much information in regards to herbalism and aromatheraphy. [See, this is where my trip gets complicated. Upon leaving the classrooms of HB, I established that I'd be learning about permaculture. Sure, I did some of that, but the palate of experiences was far more diverse than that. Holistic, you could say. When I return, I don't exactly want to showcase the knowledge I've gained regarding permaculture... because, although important, it's not the meat of the matter. I've learned about everything from permaculture to herbalism, from nutrition to spirituality, from womyn's history to self empowerment. I can't reduce that, I can't censor parts in favor of what I think my teachers will find most appealling, most grade-able, most academically kosher... Bah!] Well anyway, so I worked in Angela's herb garden, and learned about tinctures, poultices, decoctions, teas, which herbs help the digestion and which ease the symptoms of menopause. It was absolutely phenomenal, and I'm looking forward to starting my own mini-herb garden.
After a week at Angela's, I made my way to Happy Acre's, a property owned by a couple with two kids, in order to WWOOF. Grant, a drum maker and wood/stone carver, has owned the property for over 20's years, and met Clair when she came to WWOOF for him. Clair is 30 years old, and with Grant two decades her senior, it was an excellent lesson on the boundlessness of love. Clair is an artist, primarily a painter, but also does work with people with disabilities. Many would dismiss their lifestyle and house hippy/crunchy granola/'out there', but I found it to be a fantastic, nurturing place of love and creativity. Honestly, if every family had the capacity to bring up their children in an atmosphere as loving, rooted, caring, and accepting as their family is, then the world would be a perfect place. Every member of the family, including the 7 year old, has dreadlocks, and it essentially looks like a rainbow exploded in their living room. They let the kids paint on the walls whenever they want, and the kids get the opportunity to change their name if they see fit. Clair and Grant strongly believe in the celebration of the seasons and are very much into the concept of goddess worship. As such, I learned a lot about the history of women through different cultures, and essentially, through the development of civilization. It was really beautiful and empowering, but still down to earth and reasonable. I really connected with Clair, and we spent a few nights talking about our backgrounds, our families, how society has impacted our sexuality, etc. etc. etc. until around 1 in the morning. What a powerful experience. One night, as I got ready for bed and curled into my sleeping bag, I found that, for the first time in my life, I felt that I really accepted and loved my body.
I left a couple days ago, and now I'm on my way to Wellington. I gotta jet, but hopefully I'll be able to make one more entry before my journey ends.
Much love,
mk
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Womyn's Gathering and What now?
I just left the Tui community after 5 intense days of a womyn's gathering. I'm postponing discussing that experience as it is one that deserves far more than 7 minutes on a hostel computer that lags every time I type a sentence. Think: emotionally potent, deeply moving, terrifyingly grounding.
Right now I'm somewhat at a standstill in terms of where I'm headed next. I might be meeting up with my friend Charlie soon, and travel with him. Currently I'm travelling with Stephie, a girl I met at Wilderland and who came to the womyn's gathering.
I'm looking forward to the next four weeks and I know that they'll zoom by. I have a feeling that I'll be returning back to Wilderland in a bit, as it's such an incredible place to absorb knowledge and enjoy my surroundings. Who knows!
I miss my friends and family quite a bit, but I'm not ready to come back to the reality of high school and college decisions... I also wish I had more change so I could write a longer entry.
Until later,
mk
Right now I'm somewhat at a standstill in terms of where I'm headed next. I might be meeting up with my friend Charlie soon, and travel with him. Currently I'm travelling with Stephie, a girl I met at Wilderland and who came to the womyn's gathering.
I'm looking forward to the next four weeks and I know that they'll zoom by. I have a feeling that I'll be returning back to Wilderland in a bit, as it's such an incredible place to absorb knowledge and enjoy my surroundings. Who knows!
I miss my friends and family quite a bit, but I'm not ready to come back to the reality of high school and college decisions... I also wish I had more change so I could write a longer entry.
Until later,
mk
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Trading onion bulbs for lightbulbs is a poor deal.
Another rushed entry, as to be expected:
I'm currently mid-transit from Wilderland to the Tui Community for the womyn's gathering, and I've come to a couple conclusions:
1) My life does not seem any easier, happier, or enriched with the luxury of electricity
2) I don't like vacations, or the idea of being a tourist. I already knew this, really, but it's being hammered into my head even further. I could chalk this up to some altruistic reason, but ultimately I think it's just because I get bored. I'd much rather be working 6 hours a day doing something productive and enlightening (farming) than watch geysers for 20 bucks a gush. I guess this also has something to do with the fact that the tourism industry-- i.e. eco-tourism-- is largely constructed around the marvels of nature, when I find nothing tremendously marvellous about them. Yes, mountains, geysers, volcanoes all exist, and yes, they are beautiful and important things. However, it seems eerie to be squeezing them for all their worth, judging and measuring them by monetary gain. Really, the only marvellous thing is their absence. The same thing that keeps them a 'spectacle' is the same thing that destroys them-- and that's consumerism, the commercialization of our natural habitats. Enough of this tangent, running out of time.
3) I'M IN TOTAL CITY-SHOCK. As of right now, all I can do is shut myself in my hostel room and read until my corneas have refused reflect any more light.
There's much more to be said, but I don't have time to say it. Roughly: circus freaks, gypsy punk DJ's, magicians, professional chefs, friendliness of strangers, 100% acceptance rate to college, and scholarships to 3/4ths of them.
I love and miss everyone, and I can't wait to turn these vacant lots into stonefruit oases.
MK
I'm currently mid-transit from Wilderland to the Tui Community for the womyn's gathering, and I've come to a couple conclusions:
1) My life does not seem any easier, happier, or enriched with the luxury of electricity
2) I don't like vacations, or the idea of being a tourist. I already knew this, really, but it's being hammered into my head even further. I could chalk this up to some altruistic reason, but ultimately I think it's just because I get bored. I'd much rather be working 6 hours a day doing something productive and enlightening (farming) than watch geysers for 20 bucks a gush. I guess this also has something to do with the fact that the tourism industry-- i.e. eco-tourism-- is largely constructed around the marvels of nature, when I find nothing tremendously marvellous about them. Yes, mountains, geysers, volcanoes all exist, and yes, they are beautiful and important things. However, it seems eerie to be squeezing them for all their worth, judging and measuring them by monetary gain. Really, the only marvellous thing is their absence. The same thing that keeps them a 'spectacle' is the same thing that destroys them-- and that's consumerism, the commercialization of our natural habitats. Enough of this tangent, running out of time.
3) I'M IN TOTAL CITY-SHOCK. As of right now, all I can do is shut myself in my hostel room and read until my corneas have refused reflect any more light.
There's much more to be said, but I don't have time to say it. Roughly: circus freaks, gypsy punk DJ's, magicians, professional chefs, friendliness of strangers, 100% acceptance rate to college, and scholarships to 3/4ths of them.
I love and miss everyone, and I can't wait to turn these vacant lots into stonefruit oases.
MK
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
HEY! Alright, I don't have much time since I'm in an internet cafe and the clock is ticking, so I'll make it brief:
I landed in Auckland and de-jet lagged for about 3 days, and left for Waiheke Island, which is a half-hour ferry ride from there. Nothing good to say about Auckland-- commmercial districts, smog, unfriendly people. I stayed on Waiheke for a week which an older couple and did work in their massive, beautiful garden. They were certainly the odd ones... aged hippies into ayurveda, crystals, tinctures, and star signs. That being said, they were incredibly nice and friendly and imparted tons of information relating to medicinal herbs and gardening techniques. I also learned a bit about bee-keeping (certainly not vegan, but very interesting). It was a good place to stay for a first WWOOFing experience, as it was laid back, beautiful, and not overwhelming. After that, I took a ferry from Waiheke to the Coromandel Peninsula and ended up at the Wilderland Trust, a FANTASTIC intentional living community tucked into the NZ bush. It's 150 acres of blooming fruit trees, bed after bed of veggies, an estuary full of mangrove trees, wild blackberry bushes gone mad, wonderful, loving people, and tons of knowledge. [There's no electricity of heated water... it rules!] I'm staying here for two weeks and wish I could stay longer-- it's exactly what I'm looking for. I feel comfortable and looked after, and actually part of something larger than just me. I'm learning by doing as every day I"m assigned a new task... I have: sowed dozens of different types of seeds, built around 7 beds for root veggies (think massive... root veggies grow completely underground, of course, and so the beds have to be BIG...), made natural balms/ointments, harvested tomatoes/beans/avocadoes/mandarins, learned how to make soil healthier, learned what wild plants are edible, learned how to make pita over a bonfire, learned how to make ketchup without electricity, met tons of awesome, strong, empowered, inspiring women, learned how to make herbal teas, learned how to make olive oil, learned which plants I can brush my teeth with, learned how to make an outhouse, stayed a night in a cave, kayaked through mangrove trees, learned how to transplant seedlings, learned how to make the soil healthier for no-dig farming, learned how to measure the nutrient density in food, learned how to make candles, AND MUCH MORE. Every day I learn something new and meet another fantastic person. The commune is full of productive hippies, realistic punks, groovy straight-laced normies, 10 year olds who act like they're 40 and 40 year olds who act like they're 10. I've met a couple who do sideshows and busking for a living, (I'm learning some magic tricks!), someone who does freakshow performaces and suspensions, a Maori chieftan, an Israeli couple who do pro-Palestinean activism, ahhh so many more.
Books I've read so far: Dune, Rabbit Run, Portrait of the Artist, Foundation, Da Vinci Code (I know...), Freedom Next Time, I Will Fear No Evil... I know I've read more...
Honestly, I'm completely overwhelmed and delighted by what I've gotten myself into. It's lovely and beautiful, and so much better than I could ever expect second semester of senior year to be. I'm tremendously lucky. Not only do I feel enriched with knowledge, but I also feel happy. Content. Rested. Optimistic. Hopeful.
I gotta run, but I miss DC, my friends, and my family very much (even though I'm having such a great time!) In a week or so I'll be going to a women's gathering on the South Island, which will be awesome.
I'll post more soon! I don't have frequent computer access, but I'll try my best.
MK!!
I landed in Auckland and de-jet lagged for about 3 days, and left for Waiheke Island, which is a half-hour ferry ride from there. Nothing good to say about Auckland-- commmercial districts, smog, unfriendly people. I stayed on Waiheke for a week which an older couple and did work in their massive, beautiful garden. They were certainly the odd ones... aged hippies into ayurveda, crystals, tinctures, and star signs. That being said, they were incredibly nice and friendly and imparted tons of information relating to medicinal herbs and gardening techniques. I also learned a bit about bee-keeping (certainly not vegan, but very interesting). It was a good place to stay for a first WWOOFing experience, as it was laid back, beautiful, and not overwhelming. After that, I took a ferry from Waiheke to the Coromandel Peninsula and ended up at the Wilderland Trust, a FANTASTIC intentional living community tucked into the NZ bush. It's 150 acres of blooming fruit trees, bed after bed of veggies, an estuary full of mangrove trees, wild blackberry bushes gone mad, wonderful, loving people, and tons of knowledge. [There's no electricity of heated water... it rules!] I'm staying here for two weeks and wish I could stay longer-- it's exactly what I'm looking for. I feel comfortable and looked after, and actually part of something larger than just me. I'm learning by doing as every day I"m assigned a new task... I have: sowed dozens of different types of seeds, built around 7 beds for root veggies (think massive... root veggies grow completely underground, of course, and so the beds have to be BIG...), made natural balms/ointments, harvested tomatoes/beans/avocadoes/mandarins, learned how to make soil healthier, learned what wild plants are edible, learned how to make pita over a bonfire, learned how to make ketchup without electricity, met tons of awesome, strong, empowered, inspiring women, learned how to make herbal teas, learned how to make olive oil, learned which plants I can brush my teeth with, learned how to make an outhouse, stayed a night in a cave, kayaked through mangrove trees, learned how to transplant seedlings, learned how to make the soil healthier for no-dig farming, learned how to measure the nutrient density in food, learned how to make candles, AND MUCH MORE. Every day I learn something new and meet another fantastic person. The commune is full of productive hippies, realistic punks, groovy straight-laced normies, 10 year olds who act like they're 40 and 40 year olds who act like they're 10. I've met a couple who do sideshows and busking for a living, (I'm learning some magic tricks!), someone who does freakshow performaces and suspensions, a Maori chieftan, an Israeli couple who do pro-Palestinean activism, ahhh so many more.
Books I've read so far: Dune, Rabbit Run, Portrait of the Artist, Foundation, Da Vinci Code (I know...), Freedom Next Time, I Will Fear No Evil... I know I've read more...
Honestly, I'm completely overwhelmed and delighted by what I've gotten myself into. It's lovely and beautiful, and so much better than I could ever expect second semester of senior year to be. I'm tremendously lucky. Not only do I feel enriched with knowledge, but I also feel happy. Content. Rested. Optimistic. Hopeful.
I gotta run, but I miss DC, my friends, and my family very much (even though I'm having such a great time!) In a week or so I'll be going to a women's gathering on the South Island, which will be awesome.
I'll post more soon! I don't have frequent computer access, but I'll try my best.
MK!!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
48 hours and counting
"The adventurer gives in to tides of chaos, trusts the world to support her-- and in doing so turns her back on the fear and obedience she has been taught. She rejects the indoctrination of impossibility. My adventure is a struggle for freedom"
-Hib and Kika, Off the Map
So. I'm leaving in two days. I recognize both the imminence and the gravity of the situation, but panic, stress, and fear haven't set in yet (and perhaps they won't?) I think I'm comfortably secure enough in my skills of self-preservation to recognize that the next two months will be a piece of cake, albeit with the help of the pervasive eco-tourism industry that NZ plays host to. They're used to travelers and I'll be inundated by resources. The only resource that I won't have access to, and one that has been my primary safety net over the past four years, will be the radical community. From my exterior, probably flawed, observations it seems that New Zealand lacks one and ultimately has little need for one, anyway, as their politics are peculiarly neutral. While traveling in practically any other part of the 'free world' I would have access to a network of anarchists and punks that would be able to lend a hand, or squats for last minute housing. Perhaps it's not that NZ lacks this facet, but it will be extraordinarily harder to find than in, say, Barcelona. This deprivation of my comfort zone is probably a good thing-- I am being forced to see the world through a different lens than usual.
I've finished packing, only to find that my possessions for the next 2.5 months are extraordinarily light. It's pretty cathartic to reassess which objects act as luxuries and which I consider necessities. This process was shocking even for me, who consumes far less that the average American does.
Chaos of packing:
I'm leaving at 6PM on the 28th, but thanks to severe time differences and an unfortunately long layover in LA, I won't be landing in Auckland until the morning of the 30th. I'm losing a day!
-Hib and Kika, Off the Map
So. I'm leaving in two days. I recognize both the imminence and the gravity of the situation, but panic, stress, and fear haven't set in yet (and perhaps they won't?) I think I'm comfortably secure enough in my skills of self-preservation to recognize that the next two months will be a piece of cake, albeit with the help of the pervasive eco-tourism industry that NZ plays host to. They're used to travelers and I'll be inundated by resources. The only resource that I won't have access to, and one that has been my primary safety net over the past four years, will be the radical community. From my exterior, probably flawed, observations it seems that New Zealand lacks one and ultimately has little need for one, anyway, as their politics are peculiarly neutral. While traveling in practically any other part of the 'free world' I would have access to a network of anarchists and punks that would be able to lend a hand, or squats for last minute housing. Perhaps it's not that NZ lacks this facet, but it will be extraordinarily harder to find than in, say, Barcelona. This deprivation of my comfort zone is probably a good thing-- I am being forced to see the world through a different lens than usual.
I've finished packing, only to find that my possessions for the next 2.5 months are extraordinarily light. It's pretty cathartic to reassess which objects act as luxuries and which I consider necessities. This process was shocking even for me, who consumes far less that the average American does.
Chaos of packing:
I'm leaving at 6PM on the 28th, but thanks to severe time differences and an unfortunately long layover in LA, I won't be landing in Auckland until the morning of the 30th. I'm losing a day!
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