I never seem to stumble across the right times and places to write thoughtful emails anymore, so I am now resorting to a brief summary of my travels. I hope this will fill some of the void that I have left you all with.
After picking and packing kiwifruits for a month to earn some money, my travels led me to the Taranaki Environment Center. I hoped to learn about building self sufficient technologies, such as recycling wastewater and simple food processing. But when I arrived, I found my direction completely changed.
July 3 Lifting my head, Mt. Taranaki towered before me. I continued along through town. Even when I could not see the grand volcano, it engulfed me with its majestic presence. Mt. Taranaki: Ruler of the North Island's western cape. The surrounding region is Taranaki, and the people here live by this mountain. This is their mountain. They are governed by this mountain, and come together by this mountain. This: is what I have come to know as community.
My time in Taranaki was about community—people setting aside differences to build relationships. Relationships between people, food, and nature. Sharing resources, skills, and knowledge to help each other. Organizing community initiatives: youth conservation groups, carpooling networks, seed saving networks, abuse helplines, growing community gardens and orchards. Ever since then, I have been on a mission: a mission to discover how ordinary people (including convicts, handicapped, teenagers) can come together to live self-sufficiently. This mission led me to Waiheke Island, a Transition Town (www.transitiontowns.org). Here, even the old granny who didn't think could do anything about the future, seems to be involved in becoming more self-sufficient. My discoveries? Well, we might just have to have a cup of coffee when I get home in December.
After a week on Waiheke Island, I bade my farewells to New Zealand, and went off to the Land of Oz (Aus). Aussie Aussie Aussie! Hoy Hoy Hoy! This is the infamous chant that brings together every Australian. I stayed three days in Sydney to visit my wonderful friend Susannah (How I met Susannah…that'll be another cup of coffee). Then to Cairns I flew, spotting the mesmerizing wonder of the Great Barrier Reef from above. There, I went Wwoofing on a cattle farm for two weeks.
Indeed, talking to cattle for a whole day proved to be a new challenge. But besides extended conversations with cattle, I was captivated by the spiritual manner in which my host worked. Whether we were in the forest, vegetable garden, or the paddock, there was a deep, thoughtful air of respect and finesse in everything he handled and did. The deep breath of air, the rush of smells, and the floating wind elucidated: The World is not Hard Science. It is also governed by a spiritual essence. Otherwise, how do you explain: Why do people sing? And meditate?
My travels next led me to Yarabah, an Aboriginal community where I stayed for a week (Sorry, details next time). Since then I have made my merry way to the Red Center of Australia, Alice Springs.
So that's two months in a nutshell.
Until next time from the Outback.
Truly, Sincerely, now Down Under
1 comment:
i miss you too! can't wait to have you back in the states!
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