flow

Selemat siang everybody, saya tingal di penestanan, ubud! Me no communicado/live americana

This will officially be my first blog post in my lifetime and probably my final one as well so I will try to predict my present and future perspective accurately (no offense to you people or this online space ~ it just isn’t quite my style/ although I am excited to listen to your stories and also be able to share a little bit of my experience these days). What a great idea! Can all of you post your email sometime soon?

As you all probably remember I left school and went backpacking in Europe for the summer with my brother. We went on too many boats in Stockholm, ate too many weinerschitzels in berlin, spent too many hours in the Budapest baths, got too much sun in Dubrovnik and cinque terre, and exercised my legs too much in the obernese highlands (gimmelwald for all you hiking junkies out there…phenomenal!) I overdosed on techno and have since been listening to very mellow melodies. 

From there I picked up my precious life-bag of gear and flew to bali. I had a two month internship with Reef Artisan Collaborative of Indonesia (www.raciproject.org check us out!) which was very interesting. The mission of the NGO based out of DC is to develop sustainable livelihoods for local Indonesian communities in marine protected areas – in the hopes that these other economic opportunities diversifies income – leads to less coral bombing and overfishing – and therefore preserves present and future coral reef environments. Some of the small business opportunities include local artist studio space for the creation and selling of their crafts, hydroponic loan/share programs as well as a local/international school education program with dormitory to teach about sustainability and coral reef environments.

Since my internship I have been promoted to the internship coordinator and RACI has expanded its focus. We are now setting up a volunteer network for environmental organizations around Indonesia – so I will be acting as a funnel moving volunteers from around the world to 8 of our selected partners doing reef restoration, sustainable livelihood development projects like I had talked about previously, as well as some environmental education – mostly in bali and north/south Sulawesi. Here is a pic of my office:

Since I now have a larger job with lots of uncharted steps to take, I have moved to bali until at least may 2011. I live in a nice wooden house owned by ebu putu, a nice grandmother figure which looks after me in this foreign place – but not to worry, the Balinese are a special people, happy and satisfied with everything they do. Who knows, I might take up the three common past times; kite flying, stoop sitting, and rooster comparison. Here is the view from my house..

If any of you are in a transition period of your life or are simply traveling through se asia, please get in touch with me at jakobschenker@gmail.com and I would love to put you up. Rent is also very affordable and big meals are only $1,  so maybe a long term stay could be for you. This is a good place for thinking, expanding/exploring your interests, spirituality and of course letting yourself flow.

cheers,

jakob

Wow: We Are Amazing People and I Love This Blog

Hey all!


I am so excited that i cant organize my thoughts! 
First: This is a totally cool Poem video that really makes you think about speaking. Also, it is so cool! Check it out               http://vimeo.com/3829682


Second: Thank you Dawn for that awesome recipe. Vince and I made this amazing Famers Market, Cheese optional lasagna that was to die for. I have to draft a more formal recipe for you all soon.


Third: I am definitely going to the Rally in DC this coming Saturday (October 30th) but the friday before Vince and I and some of my new AmeriCorps buddies are going Halloween Contra Dancing in Glen Echo Maryland at the Spanish Ballroom (Spanish Ballroom Events). I heard from Vince that a few people would be in DC for the rally and Glen Echo is only 20 minutes from there so please join us if your up to it!


fourth: I am loving and somewhat reserved about my new job. I am working in Maryland at Community Mediation Maryland (CMM) in Bel Air, MD. I Started October 1st and have been doing training mostly since then. I have to say that mediation is exceptional. Most importantly to me, it is empowering. The point of mediation is to provide the space for people to come together about their conflicts. We do not provide therapy (though it can have similar effects) and we do not pass judgement so that it truly is people solving their own issues. Also, we are all about community and making sure that we not only assist everyone in the community, but our staff reflects the community. By empowering people to solve their own problems and not involving "authorities," we strengthen community bonds and allow for all kinds of growth.
On the other hand, it seems that not for profit organizations have their own issues, particularly when it comes to organization. CMM has largely been established since the 90s so we are in some ways removed from full on chaos, but in other ways, like the details and expectations of my job, not so much.
Still, the community has been do outstanding in helping me move into the position and the state. My boss is amazing and motherly, if a little scatter brained, I am living with a CMM volunteer in exchange for babysitting her two adorable and well behaved kids, and everyone has been so sympathetic to my situation since I am the only AmeriCorps member who has come from outside MD (crazy?). But, ultimately, I love it…OH! and I have a great  network of farmers markets all over the place (though I miss Saratoga's).


and fifth: I just wanted to say again how much I love this Blogg. Also, should anyone be in the area, passing through, or in a state near by, please let me know and come visit!


Meg!


-The enemy of great is good

Me, a Westchester mom.

This is amazing. I am living at my parents' home in Chappaqua, NY, which while considered the exurbs is soo suburban is jumbles my mind most days.  I am working two volunteer internships in New York City right now, which is the last place I thought I'd end up, but I am really enjoying the work.

One is for an organization called CHALK, Choosing Healthy and Active Lifestyles for Kids.  It's a partnership between Columbia University Medical Center and NY-Presbyterian Hospital and their focus is to reduce childhood obesity in the Latino population of Northern Manhattan.  So, I stand at Farmer's Markets and teach kids and parents about eating healthy snacks and free yoga and dancXercise programs in their area.  The work feels mundane on a daily basis, but I truly believe in the cause which keeps me hopeful.

The second voluntinternship as I like to refer to them, is as a research assistant to a shrink at NYU's Center for Brain Health studying the relationship between sleep and Alzheimer's.  While I thought research was the last thing I wanted to do, this project is rejuvenating my view to the medical world.  I get to do little bits of all parts of the project, which keeps me constantly thinking and reassessing the possibility of a job in health care. Also, all of the doctors I work with are international and about 30 so to hear their experiences is truly invaluable and fascinating.

Other than these non-moneymaking jobs, I got a new puppy from the pound, she is 5 months old and named Annie. She's half yellow lab, half deer? and absolutely awesome.  We take small hikes daily and think about what's next.

As for what's next, it'll be something because right now "the social network" (not the movie) is m.i.a. and I sure have missed this space for exploration and all of you.If you find yourself in Northern Westchester or NYC. let me know.

Cheers,
Hayley

Ever tried making butternut squash chocolate chip cookes? They're delicious. This doesn't relate to my post but I didn't have any better ideas as to what to title it.

Wow. Here I am. Talking with all of you. I sat down at this computer intending to write about two sentences, as it's late and I'm tired and I don't have things sorted through in my head as to what I want to say. But having things completely sorted through in my head probably won't happen for quite awhile (let's hope never, I think), so this is what I've got. A combination of a visit to Skidmore to see my sister today (she's a freshman there now) and a surprisingly inspirational short article I just read about the history of the anti-globalization movement made me feel a) a surge of nostalgia for not exactly Skidmore even, but for what went on there for me, i.e., life-changing, and b) re-invigorated to do something about all the things I feel need to have things done about them in the world. And to feel that I want to be doing that now, not just 5 or so years hence, and not just indirectly through my job (which is great and I'm thankful for and I can tell you more about later) but directly, through something that I create, such that it's something I really believe in. So anyway I was intending to write about two sentences. And then I starting reading all of your posts. And then I kept reading them. It makes me feel - assured - I think is the right word, that you have all been leading such good lives in the interim since we last met. And that we're all making our way. And finding our way. As are many of you, I've been starting to do a lot of figuring, figuring out what I want to do, and can do, to make change in the world. I haven't come up with an answer yet. More later. You make me happy. I love you all.

Dawn

How do?

Hey you guys!
     This is great. This whole blog. I love it. I have been meaning to write something here. It is really interesting to see what you are all doing. I'm a bit dismayed at the idea that we all don't live in the same place anymore...and I don't know what to do about it...
     I am in Laurel, NY right now. Lucy and I are living with her parents for a couple months to save up some money after this bike trip. It's actually nice and full of homemade cheese and sourdough bread, and mushrooms and so many things I love, so I'm getting over this whole "living with parents" thing. Anyway, we are leaving our options open for future life-styes and times.
    The bike trip was great. We blogged it here. It was actually everything. All the time. Only everything and nothing else because it was all that was. I think one of the most memorable moments was when I pulled up next to Lucy and she looks at me like she's just had an epiphany and says, "We really have no business here...where are we?". And so, that was much of the trip. Just wondering where on this great Earth we were and how we'd ever gotten there. I'm still struggling to figure it out.
     You know that vagina monologue where she keeps repeating "he made me shave my vagina!"? I kinda feel that way about having made a resume. But I did and I sent it off to different places and shaved for my interviews. This is a scary place. Post-college.
   But most important right now is that I've started some research and proactivity on the changes I want to make in the world. After not being able to find my desired job category on the Career Services website, I realized I should probably write myself a job description and then figure out how to survive at it.
   Also, I know this space for exploration just recently morphed onto the internet, but I'm playing with the idea of coordinating an annual 2-4 week Intensive Exploration ThinkTank in some cabin or house somewhere where we could really get into our ideas and solidify some of our plans as to how to create positively. Essentially, I miss you all deeply and have a storm in my head.

So, I think that's enough for now.

I wish you all the best!

Nate

looking for a good time?

 

Rally to Restore Sanity

welcoming the unexpected in india

hello all -

first wanted to say that the reading's been great so far. it's so cool to see that everyone is having such a different experience post-college, and that everyone is really finding something (even if it's more questions) in this journey.

i am currently writing from Delhi, India - where I will be for only a few more short days. I came to India with a fellowship I recieved from an international development organization based in the US. They support all local, grassroots NGOs working in developing countries and often send volunteers to these organizations - to learn about local development issues, from a local perspective.

So, in late August, after a brief summer flirtation with Saratoga restaurant life followed by an epic cross country trip to LA (where my family moved, just 10 days before I left for India) .. I landed in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. There, I attended a month long training and orientation with 10 other recent college grads who are also placed in different organizations all around India.

(river near where I stayed...it was beautiful, though somewhat brown)

(rural area, crazy landscape with black rocks)

I felt extremely lucky to be placed in a rural area, where all kinds of new and beautiful plants flourished just outside my window and all around me.

(visit to a village, all the children with their teacher who showed me around)

The landscape was unlike any I'd ever seen, and the community was warm and welcoming - though no one spoke English. Just as I was getting into things there, I had to leave as some problems were caused by some of the NGO staff.

I've come to Delhi now to figure things out but will likely be heading up toward a city called Bhuj, located in the sand deserts of India. There, I will work to organize and train various women's groups, helping them to take control over local issues.

It's been a long and interesting adjustment and I've had to really change the expectations I had of this entire upcoming ten months. Many things will be different now that I am in another part of India, one that is hot (115 degrees in the summer months) and dry - more like a small city than a rural area. And trying to create a life (getting an apartment here, learning to cook, getting into a schedule of working life) in a totally foreign country sometimes feels like a daunting task  - but an exciting one at that!

A few things I have learned for sure
 - the village life is beautiful: so harmonious and peaceful, despite the lack of resource, there is a contentedness that is entirely fulfilling.
- we have a long time to explore, just because we are not able to have one kind of experience right now - it doesnt mean we can't have it later.
- communication doesn't have to happen through language
- writing and yoga are important daily practices to kee

So, I have a lot more things to share, but if you're into it - you can also read my blog - katielivesindia.blogspot.com ! (sorry for the self promotion)

otherwise, if anyone is interesting in exploring my area of India, (beautiful crafts, desert climate, recently rebuilding sustainable structures after an earthquake in 2001) you have a free place to stay and I will most certainly cook you all the indian recipies I am adding to my repetoire. (currently...rice)

hope everyone is well ! looking forward to reading more posts!

Katie

briefs

hello hello,

there are many things to share and for now, these are merely briefs...

1st) please listen to this new venture between mavis staples (legendary soul/gospel/funk singer) and jeff tweedy (talented indie folker). c'est incroyable.

"You Are Not Alone" by Mavis Staples 

item 2) if you are able to/are interested jon stewart is holding his rally in dc on october 30th, called the rally to restore sanity. rallies are sometimes fun to feel that kind of group exhilaration and teems of excitement, and i believe jon stewart is a smart fellow.  kate and i will be there.

numero tres) the leaves are showing color and the squirrels are gathering their stocks.  i hope all of you are flexing your own color and harvesting those necessities for the impending dormancy.  

you are not alone,
i'm with you,
eli.

Almost Heaven

For the next 11 months, I will get the chance to hike, monitor, maintain and GPS trails, put on environmental education programs for tourists and families, create maps and interpretive signs, and even fight forest fires - all in the incredible setting of Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia.

 Somehow, I ended up with this amazing job volunteering for the Forest Service through AmeriCorps. I applied for the position through the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, a West Virginia-based organization dedicated to retaining local culture through conservation, historic preservation and heritage development. When I applied, I was interested only in the conservation aspects. But now that I’m part of the organization I get to learn about and become exposed to these other interesting initiatives. I really appreciate how AFHA combines these seemingly separate goals into a unified force.

 

After a week of general orientation in the big city of Elkins (population: 7,000), I came down to the lovely little town of Marlinton (population: 1,000), the place I now call home. Here, I work out of the Marlinton District Ranger Station. There are two of us AmeriCorps volunteers here in Marlinton, and two an hour away in Richwood, who we will be working with pretty often.

My focus within the Forest Service is on recreation. This fall, I will get outside as much as possible to do trail work and take needed GPS points. In the winter, I will be stuck in the office most of the time doing map work – let’s hope for a short winter! In the spring I will get back on the trail, posting up any signs I worked on over the snow season. In summer, the tourists return and I will get to work on education programs. As part of training for that, I will be camping and taking a Leave No Trace course this week.

 

But I have wonderful flexibility as an AmeriCorps member, and will get to taste as much of the Forest Service as possible. I’ve already helped with a Chestnut GPS project and will get to work on stream monitoring, salamander surveys, and other scientific studies. All told, so far a great introduction into work after college. It’s a shame so many of us recent graduates are unemployed or living with our parents – or both. If anyone wants to come and see this beautiful and rugged country, you are more than welcome to come and drop on by.

-Vince

The Suburbs

So thrilled I was invited to this! And to hear people are as confused and uncomfortable in this transition as I am.
I had kind of a life changing summer. Kate and Lisa had inspired me (unbeknownst to them) to explore the world of organic farming through wwoof. This group knows, farming/growing is really something about which I (and everyone) should be somewhat knowledgeable, these days, so I went to Canada.

this was was our front yard at the first farm in PEI. a farm of 20 goats, and a soap shop. No garden, just goats. The family was miserable and conservative and only ate frozen generic brand food, neglected their kids and pets and treated us like 'the help'. but it was beautiful. we rode our bikes to the beach every day, and hung out with awesome goats. 

Then we drove to the southeast coast of PEI and stayed with a woman who had a small house in the middle of the woods (which meant a horrifying population of mosquitoes and black flies) and an acre-large garden. She was kind of crazy though, very particular about EVERYTHING including the way we cleaned, washed dishes, and weeded. But we ate really good, healthy food, mostly grown on her property. 

The last farm was in Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island. If anyone is thinking about wwoofing in Cape Breton, you must stay with the Oland family. They live on a stunning piece of land with a big garden and a barn full of animals. They have three intelligent and entertaining kids, all under age 12, and they're the most generous, down to earth people I've ever met. It gave me a true perspective on my own family and the different ways families (can) live and function. 

view from our bedroom window in Cape Breton

I travelled with my friend Casey from high school. we shared a pull out couch for three weeks.

chickenz

seasoned farmers

So that adventure ended pretty abruptly and I began looking for work in Boston. My original plan was to get a job in Boston, move into Boston, be a moderately happy yuppie and then go back to get my M.F.A. Plans have changed as I realized I didn't know what the fuck I wanted to do. Now I'm living at home, working at an amazingly delicious bakery, beginning yoga teacher training in November, and applying to get an MAT/AE in Art Education for next fall. Yay! In the meantime, I have been lamenting the death of my collegesociallife and listening to Arcade Fire's The Suburbs over and over again. 

-Hope