It seems that my life has changed drastically over the past month: from the ashram life-style to town- life.
I am also realizing now what the true challenges were at the ashram. One of the challenges at the ashram had a lot to do with dealing with boredom. Also, dealing wiht my own thoughts. Often I found when the mind is left to its own devices it creates "stories" either fantasies or dramas. Neither of which are very helpful/beneficial in the end. Of course there was always the lack of organization of the place and never knowing whether I was "helping" or just "costing" them money by being there. What a horrible feeling in the end. However, I've made my peace with ashram yoga and I still visit them.
As I sit here, reflecting, I am grateful for the time to write. I am also pondering the evolution of the self.
This journey of self-discovery
I am on a journey, as are you all. However, I continually return to spirituality/and yoga for guidance.
I am not my "true" self. I am on the path of self-realization. Meditation is suppposed to bring me closer to my true self. I desire to meditate more.... Now, I've learned that 'asanas'or postures help prepare you to meditate. Once you've completed a series of postures (btwn 15-2hrs) than you are ready to sit and start 'pranayam' breathing exercises. I still haven't figured out a length of time necessary to lead me into pranayam and meditation. * Nevertheless, after pranayama it is said that you are now prepared for meditation. I need about 2 1/2 hours for this whole process. Usually by the end of pranayam I am ready to do something else with my day. Like eat my bowl of porridge or bkfast of some sort.
If you do your 'asanas' properly it is "movement mediation." I aim for this everytime I practice 'asanas' and go through my suryayanamskara "sun salutations." I do not always arrive at the state of meditation while moving through these postures, but I attempt to connect deeply within myself by using the breathe and moving slowly with the breath. It is a powerful practice. It can be a practice you devote to a god or goddess, a family member or friend, or teachers that have come before us and passed on their knowledge. I am intrigued by the process of self-exploration through the practice of yoga. I believe a lot of us are not "truly" ourselves until we connect with ourselves in that deep dark infinite space. I love going to that space time and time again ..... I keep wondering is that where I will find my "true" self?
* I am quite an active person. I enjoy doing the series of postures because of the heat/ the purification process that can take place after /during the practice. But also, I think because I am strengthening and moving my body in a balanced effort to remove any blockages of energy and get the energy to flow again after an 8 hr sleep. It is soooo good. It is not just a physical feeling but a mental and emotional benefit.
Getting to the mat/ the yoga center/ and sitting with yourself is the most difficult part of practicing. But after reading what I've just written, I wonder why is it so difficult if it is oh soooo good!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Up-date from a Surfer girl? in a surf town with no Waves!
Wow, I just realized its been about a month since the last time I wrote. With news from my brother in Tenessee and two letters from my grandparents, and a few e-mails from friends in the NW, I decided it was time to write. My wicked cool roommate, Gavin, has let me into the office at the RSA (Retired Services ...) to use the internet! Which is sweet because it would normally cost an arm and a leg to use the internet for as long as I am.
So... what to say? when there is sooo much to say/share. and tell.... I am tired so this is going to be a bit scattered. I am caught in amazement by the beauty of life today, the uknown, and the possibility of allowing your dreams to unfold. I have met up with a fellow Lute (PLU - college) buddy named James Kozak. He is inspiring me to explore more and push myself further. I am eager to have more conversations and visit some places in the area.
I am working only at the cafe now. The gourmet burger joint laid me off due to lack of business. No business, no work. It's basic economics I suppose, but now I have to rely on the cafe to get me through to end of March... It will be fine I told myself...
and it all is.
Work at the cafe will pick up by Jan. 1st and I will be working 40 plus hours until the end of February.
Paying rent this month is pretty much covered as well. Here's the low-down... Two Argentine women who I apparently met at the packhouse when I was packaging kiwi fruit last May came to town. Ran into me at the cafe and said "Hey! I know you!" We got talking and they needed a room to rent so they are going to rent mine for the month so I can take off and explore a bit of NZ.
Transportation: I was lent a subaru sports car and only have to pay for the registration and warranty (140 NZ) and I get it for the rest of the year if I like... For now it will be a good car to tour the Coromandel ( we hope) and it can even fit a 9' surfboard in it. Sleeps one person (which is great b/c I don't have a tent) and it is comfortable to drive.
Yoga: will be studying and preparing my class. Come summer time I will be teaching 1 day a week. Gettin nervous thinking about it already. I've envisioned teaching yoga and conceived a few ways in which I could make that happen. But I never thought it would happen right here right now...so I got to go for it!
Send me good vibes as I prepare myself to teach and guide people in their yoga practice!! Miss you all sooo much....
Hannah Jeana Brandta
So... what to say? when there is sooo much to say/share. and tell.... I am tired so this is going to be a bit scattered. I am caught in amazement by the beauty of life today, the uknown, and the possibility of allowing your dreams to unfold. I have met up with a fellow Lute (PLU - college) buddy named James Kozak. He is inspiring me to explore more and push myself further. I am eager to have more conversations and visit some places in the area.
I am working only at the cafe now. The gourmet burger joint laid me off due to lack of business. No business, no work. It's basic economics I suppose, but now I have to rely on the cafe to get me through to end of March... It will be fine I told myself...
and it all is.
Work at the cafe will pick up by Jan. 1st and I will be working 40 plus hours until the end of February.
Paying rent this month is pretty much covered as well. Here's the low-down... Two Argentine women who I apparently met at the packhouse when I was packaging kiwi fruit last May came to town. Ran into me at the cafe and said "Hey! I know you!" We got talking and they needed a room to rent so they are going to rent mine for the month so I can take off and explore a bit of NZ.
Transportation: I was lent a subaru sports car and only have to pay for the registration and warranty (140 NZ) and I get it for the rest of the year if I like... For now it will be a good car to tour the Coromandel ( we hope) and it can even fit a 9' surfboard in it. Sleeps one person (which is great b/c I don't have a tent) and it is comfortable to drive.
Yoga: will be studying and preparing my class. Come summer time I will be teaching 1 day a week. Gettin nervous thinking about it already. I've envisioned teaching yoga and conceived a few ways in which I could make that happen. But I never thought it would happen right here right now...so I got to go for it!
Send me good vibes as I prepare myself to teach and guide people in their yoga practice!! Miss you all sooo much....
Hannah Jeana Brandta
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Whangamata- Town life
I am living in Whangamata, a small tourist town on the beach in the Coromandel Peninsula, just 30 mins. from the Ashram yoga center. I am working to save some money to head to the S. Island and/or explore more of the N. Island via a bus/van I hope to buy by the end of the summer! Working two jobs: Whanga cafe as a barista/working the til and Soul Burger( a gourmet burger joint ) building burgers making enough to eat, sleep, and practice yoga (on occassion). My new schtick is practicing Ashtanga yoga and teaching a class once a week, starting next month! I guess I have a few things to work on custumer service, balancing coffee mugs and saucers, and balancing poses for yoga class. I am hoping/praying to the goddess of the ocean for some swell, but until then I will be working hard, trying to live a simple life, save $, practice, and make rituals to nature.
Ok, so if you've never been to New Zealand than you've probably never seen a boat being pulled by a tractor and a guy driving the tractor in "red gum" boots (rubber boots) and short shorts! I love it. There are some hard-core people here.
My friend, Nicki, who monitors the Dotterel birds on the beach, wears shorts end of the winter-beg. spring when she hikes in the bush (the forest) because she reckons than she doesn't have to bother with her pants getting wet. IF you have shorts than your pants never get wet walking around the bush. You never have to worry about dry clothes. The rain isn't much of an issue here, because if it rains than you just don't go out. Flash floods and getting caught in the mud is a bit of an issue. The extreme nature in New Zealand is nothing short of amazing.
Ok, so if you've never been to New Zealand than you've probably never seen a boat being pulled by a tractor and a guy driving the tractor in "red gum" boots (rubber boots) and short shorts! I love it. There are some hard-core people here.
My friend, Nicki, who monitors the Dotterel birds on the beach, wears shorts end of the winter-beg. spring when she hikes in the bush (the forest) because she reckons than she doesn't have to bother with her pants getting wet. IF you have shorts than your pants never get wet walking around the bush. You never have to worry about dry clothes. The rain isn't much of an issue here, because if it rains than you just don't go out. Flash floods and getting caught in the mud is a bit of an issue. The extreme nature in New Zealand is nothing short of amazing.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Yogic Lifestyle
What is the life like at an ashram? & How is it different from my "normal" life?
The yogic lifestyle a different than what I am used to (as I am sure you can imagine).
I normally get up and cook my own breakfast, clean up, listen to music, exercise (before if I have time) and then rush out of the door grabbing my keys, trying not to forget my cellphone, and whatever else I might need for the day. I usually go in/out of the house at least twice before I can actually be on my way. Here, it is a bit...different.
I wake up early (most days), rising with the sunlight or the sound of someone making a fire in the Sadhana (yoga ) room. I have also woken up to chanting in the morning or the sound of birds. Sounds idealic right? Well, when it is 4 a.m. it is not such a romantic idea of waking up... and I am bit grouchy. Lately, I have been getting up and walking down the path to the beach where I will do my yoga practice for about a half hour. However, the weather has turned cold again and I have had to continue practicing (in whatever form) inside. Often I will light a candle for myself or make a cup of tea. This is how I take care of myself/ treat" myself for waking up early to practice. I also might add that my new "coffee" is doing a nasal cleanse called "jal neti" which I've found is the perfect way to awaken the mind and body in the morning! I will continue this practice after I leave here - as it is a simple, effective way for me to begin my day. It's hardly as expensive as brewing a good cup of coffee- it is simply a warm glass of water and sea salt washed through your nasal passages. Plus, it makes me feel as if I have just returned from swimming in the ocean!
So... onto the next part of the day. Breakfast- the most important part of the day my mother always said. Breakfast consists of yogurt (when available), fruit, porridge (always avaible), and tea. I try to do my Sadhana -daily practice before breakfast but sometimes it cuts into breakfast time and I end up scarfing my food quickly before our morning meeting. If I take too much time- or I arrive late- I get the evil eye from Atma or Clara. and then bad vibes the rest of the morning- which can be quite intense. So I just try to make it on time. I generally stress about this and when I am most stressed about showing up late to bkfast or a meeting, they are usually behind schedule.... Oh the ups & downs- the "waves" of how this place functions, rolls... It is a systematic chaos.
Work, Lunch, Work, and then play.
Work consists of many different tasks. It has varied from collecting pine cones in the forest to collecting seaweed on the beach for the "Big garden project" (which are still w/o plants) to painting a caravan purple! Of course, than there are the regular everyday duties of cleaning the bathrooms, the kitchen, washing dishes, and making beds (if people are coming for retreat). I have also prepared meals and learned a bit about Vegetarian cuisine. I have ground fresh spices ( coriander, cumin, mustard seeds) and used curry powder and tumeric for Indian subjee or a vegetable dahl. Cooking can be a bit stressful because you have to know how to prepare for the right number of people as well as finish the cooking at a certain time. I also did not know that "cooking" responsibility includes "Cleaning up" the kitchen after you've prepared the meal. I found out by Shanti yelling "Cooking is an art! You've left the worse mess I've ever seen in a kitchen. I don't even have a place to set my plate!" I shrugged and pulled my neck into my shirt like a turtle so you could only see my eyes. Oops. Well, I guess that's why they call it work- It's not about having fun or enjoying it....
Play time: If you can come up with something fun to do around here, you are doing well! Often it is simply a walk down the road, or a bike ride (if it is warm enough), or meander down to the beach. After 2-3 months here, I have become quite bored, a bit lonely, but sometimes I think there is no other place I'd rather be. Ohui- is a bucolic place with beach front properties (batchesr/cabins or caravans really) and a house/retreat ctr up on the hill. Occassionally the ocean will have a big swell come through and there will be decent surf, so I will grab the board under the porch and go for a surf. Last week I was able to go out 3x, thanks to loving ocean goddess. The swell direction has changed to Northeasterly, instead of the consistent Southwesterly swells which we've had for the past 2 months. This means the sandbars have shifted and are set-up for forming beatifully shaped waves which roll in left and right along the entire beach! A surfer's haven.....
That's all come to an end, however, the ocean goddess has changed her mind. The ocean is calm one day and than tumultmous the next day, but there have been no beatifully shaped waves, lots of big mushy, choppy and occassionally ferocious, tumbling waves .... I guess that's just the way life goes, constantly changing like the tides, and the rise and fall of the waves.
Night time : Is dinner time and reading time. If you are not too cold to read in your room that is. It was a long, cold harsh winter here. Not much to do in the evening but try to keep warm.
Bed time is early. I go to bed- often hearing the sound of the waves crashing... I will miss this. & sometimes I go to bed with the rain pouding against the tin roof or Clara and Shanti talking. Last week it was mosquitos buzzing in my ears, so I had to use my ear plugs- oh well. It's all part of the rustic lifestyle here at Ohui.
Om love to you all from the Ohui Ashram!
Hannah
I'm getting ready to leave here this week...So I am reminiscing on the times...Next I'll tell you about the naked permaculture specialist who volunteered for a week! & Before I go...we had a Tsunami warning today but no tsunami came thankfully. The only things I saw in the ocean were 3 beautiful dolphins swimming away.... under a rainbow. A blessing for the next part of my journey....
The yogic lifestyle a different than what I am used to (as I am sure you can imagine).
I normally get up and cook my own breakfast, clean up, listen to music, exercise (before if I have time) and then rush out of the door grabbing my keys, trying not to forget my cellphone, and whatever else I might need for the day. I usually go in/out of the house at least twice before I can actually be on my way. Here, it is a bit...different.
I wake up early (most days), rising with the sunlight or the sound of someone making a fire in the Sadhana (yoga ) room. I have also woken up to chanting in the morning or the sound of birds. Sounds idealic right? Well, when it is 4 a.m. it is not such a romantic idea of waking up... and I am bit grouchy. Lately, I have been getting up and walking down the path to the beach where I will do my yoga practice for about a half hour. However, the weather has turned cold again and I have had to continue practicing (in whatever form) inside. Often I will light a candle for myself or make a cup of tea. This is how I take care of myself/ treat" myself for waking up early to practice. I also might add that my new "coffee" is doing a nasal cleanse called "jal neti" which I've found is the perfect way to awaken the mind and body in the morning! I will continue this practice after I leave here - as it is a simple, effective way for me to begin my day. It's hardly as expensive as brewing a good cup of coffee- it is simply a warm glass of water and sea salt washed through your nasal passages. Plus, it makes me feel as if I have just returned from swimming in the ocean!
So... onto the next part of the day. Breakfast- the most important part of the day my mother always said. Breakfast consists of yogurt (when available), fruit, porridge (always avaible), and tea. I try to do my Sadhana -daily practice before breakfast but sometimes it cuts into breakfast time and I end up scarfing my food quickly before our morning meeting. If I take too much time- or I arrive late- I get the evil eye from Atma or Clara. and then bad vibes the rest of the morning- which can be quite intense. So I just try to make it on time. I generally stress about this and when I am most stressed about showing up late to bkfast or a meeting, they are usually behind schedule.... Oh the ups & downs- the "waves" of how this place functions, rolls... It is a systematic chaos.
Work, Lunch, Work, and then play.
Work consists of many different tasks. It has varied from collecting pine cones in the forest to collecting seaweed on the beach for the "Big garden project" (which are still w/o plants) to painting a caravan purple! Of course, than there are the regular everyday duties of cleaning the bathrooms, the kitchen, washing dishes, and making beds (if people are coming for retreat). I have also prepared meals and learned a bit about Vegetarian cuisine. I have ground fresh spices ( coriander, cumin, mustard seeds) and used curry powder and tumeric for Indian subjee or a vegetable dahl. Cooking can be a bit stressful because you have to know how to prepare for the right number of people as well as finish the cooking at a certain time. I also did not know that "cooking" responsibility includes "Cleaning up" the kitchen after you've prepared the meal. I found out by Shanti yelling "Cooking is an art! You've left the worse mess I've ever seen in a kitchen. I don't even have a place to set my plate!" I shrugged and pulled my neck into my shirt like a turtle so you could only see my eyes. Oops. Well, I guess that's why they call it work- It's not about having fun or enjoying it....
Play time: If you can come up with something fun to do around here, you are doing well! Often it is simply a walk down the road, or a bike ride (if it is warm enough), or meander down to the beach. After 2-3 months here, I have become quite bored, a bit lonely, but sometimes I think there is no other place I'd rather be. Ohui- is a bucolic place with beach front properties (batchesr/cabins or caravans really) and a house/retreat ctr up on the hill. Occassionally the ocean will have a big swell come through and there will be decent surf, so I will grab the board under the porch and go for a surf. Last week I was able to go out 3x, thanks to loving ocean goddess. The swell direction has changed to Northeasterly, instead of the consistent Southwesterly swells which we've had for the past 2 months. This means the sandbars have shifted and are set-up for forming beatifully shaped waves which roll in left and right along the entire beach! A surfer's haven.....
That's all come to an end, however, the ocean goddess has changed her mind. The ocean is calm one day and than tumultmous the next day, but there have been no beatifully shaped waves, lots of big mushy, choppy and occassionally ferocious, tumbling waves .... I guess that's just the way life goes, constantly changing like the tides, and the rise and fall of the waves.
Night time : Is dinner time and reading time. If you are not too cold to read in your room that is. It was a long, cold harsh winter here. Not much to do in the evening but try to keep warm.
Bed time is early. I go to bed- often hearing the sound of the waves crashing... I will miss this. & sometimes I go to bed with the rain pouding against the tin roof or Clara and Shanti talking. Last week it was mosquitos buzzing in my ears, so I had to use my ear plugs- oh well. It's all part of the rustic lifestyle here at Ohui.
Om love to you all from the Ohui Ashram!
Hannah
I'm getting ready to leave here this week...So I am reminiscing on the times...Next I'll tell you about the naked permaculture specialist who volunteered for a week! & Before I go...we had a Tsunami warning today but no tsunami came thankfully. The only things I saw in the ocean were 3 beautiful dolphins swimming away.... under a rainbow. A blessing for the next part of my journey....
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Wharanaki Forest
Moonlit walk. Walking in the Wharanaki forest at night, the moon guided us. The silvery light seeped between the great big ferns and through the tops of the giant Tua trees. Moonlight bliss! We heard opossums scramble and saw glow worms peering from rocky crevasses of the forest.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Returning to the Ashram
I am looking out of the window with a glimpse of the ocean and the sound of waves crashing on the beach while I type.
I finished my first day back at the ashram today: which consisted of deep cleaning the bathroom (the rat poop was horrendous!) and the living room in the main house, as well as the kitchen. I will be helping prepare for a retreat this weekend, which is a unique program for the ashram. The retreat this weekend is more about cooking vegetarian- wholesome food than yoga. I will be happy to see a few familiar faces again. One gal (Veronica) is from Germany, and I've had the pleasure of getting to know her through the yoga center in Auckland. While I was in Auckland last- Veronica, Luciana (a Brazilian + yoga teacher), & I spent part of the morning at a French market after taking Luciana's yoga class. The coffee and fresh French pastries were yum! Now, back to ashram business... another fellow, a guy named Josh, will be coming to the cooking retreat as well. I've gotten to know him through various events and I've enjoyed many of our conversations as well as his Indian sitar-like musical instrument. I hope he brings it because it makes the most amazing sound! We will be busy the next few days, so I better go out and enjoy some
time on the beach (although it's overcast today).
Tatta! & more later on my time at my friend Vic's in Ngarimu Bay...
Hannah
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tales of the City & Bethels Beach
.... After the catering event at Ashram Yoga Ctr in Auckland (City's nickname is the "Big Smoke"), I treated myself to the movies: District 9 was the featured film. It was about alien refugees who'd established a community in S. Africa. Interesting social dilema to say the least! I indulged by bringing some desert left-over from the catering event, popcorn, n coffee w/whipping cream....yum.
The trip to Auckland turned out to be a good trip. In between work, I was able to explore the city a bit: hung out on K-road, checked out a few of the shops, found a funky coffee shop with good music. I also went on a few walks to the Rose Gardens (although the roses were not in bloom), the Domain (next to the Museum), and out along the waterfront (which was short/and not that interesting). But nonetheless it was good to get out and be in the open air.
After the weekend ended, I decided that I was not quite ready to return to my rustic lifestyle in Ohui, so I called a friend who then invited me out to her place in Bethels Beach. After another night at the yoga center, I packed my bags and headed to Bethels (which is a 45min.-1hr drive from the city). The drive reminded me of the Tacoma- Squim route on the Olympic Peninsula because of a similar crossing/ bridge and the water the road followed. The waterway/ estuary was inhabited by mangroves and tall pampas weed, however the shape of the coast reminded of the Puget Sound.
Once we arrived to Bethels, we went for a long hike up a narrow, muddy path in the mtns. We crossed a small, cool stream at dusk and proceeded up the path that twisted along a steep hillside. We walked barefoot and Ali confidently trodded along, loosing me a couple times...but like a good friend, she'd stop and check to make sure I was still following her. I stubbed my toe pretty good and decided to take it a bit slower than she, but I thouroughly enjoyed the adventure through the Manuka shrubs and Koa Koa trees! We made it to a vista point after about a half hr, which overlooked Bethels and Owens Beach. The moonlight helped guide us down the rest of the spiraling pathway to the soft sand of the local beach. We explored a few caves, which were open because the tide was low-tide. Holding on to Ali's hand and feeling my way along the cold, dark tunnel of the cave, I came to realize the sense of safety and security I felt from being in the presence of someone who knows the area. I relaxed and let my imagination take me to the story of Gollum & Bilbo Baggins-from the book the Hobbit. As we crept along, I whispered "precious, my precious...!" :) Ali was entertained. After seeing the light and the opening of the other side of the tunnel, I felt a bit disappointed thinking that our walk was coming to an end. However, Ali led me next to a cave full of giant glow-worms which resembled stars in the midnight sky. After exploring the glow worm cave, we walked out on to the beach and returned home, walking under the night sky with crescent moon, and white, beaming stars. It was one of the sweetest adventures in NZ yet!
The next day we grabbed a plastic sack to go hunt for muscles. We went way out to the rocky point at the end of Bethels Beach, where we gathered plenty of muscles for our evening feast. Even though Ali fell in the water, she walked back bare-foot, soaked, but with a huge grin. Our feast consisted of cocunut milk, rice, mushroom, onions, taro root, the muscles (of course!), topped off with a bar of NZ 's finest dark chocolate!
Ali is a friend I met through Rose who works for Ashram Yoga in Auckland. She is studying to become a Biodiversity Mgr at the Unitech. Ali is a creative, soul-ful woman who loves to hit up second hand shops (called "Op shops" here Op = Opportunity), make art, talk about environmental issues and spirituality, cook and play music. I hope to get to spend a lot more time with her. When I left she gifted me the next 2 books of the Lord of the Rings, and a stack of books about Maori culture and spirituality from the library. Ali is a wonderful friend and brought me to realized how lucky I am to be here!
The trip to Auckland turned out to be a good trip. In between work, I was able to explore the city a bit: hung out on K-road, checked out a few of the shops, found a funky coffee shop with good music. I also went on a few walks to the Rose Gardens (although the roses were not in bloom), the Domain (next to the Museum), and out along the waterfront (which was short/and not that interesting). But nonetheless it was good to get out and be in the open air.
After the weekend ended, I decided that I was not quite ready to return to my rustic lifestyle in Ohui, so I called a friend who then invited me out to her place in Bethels Beach. After another night at the yoga center, I packed my bags and headed to Bethels (which is a 45min.-1hr drive from the city). The drive reminded me of the Tacoma- Squim route on the Olympic Peninsula because of a similar crossing/ bridge and the water the road followed. The waterway/ estuary was inhabited by mangroves and tall pampas weed, however the shape of the coast reminded of the Puget Sound.
Once we arrived to Bethels, we went for a long hike up a narrow, muddy path in the mtns. We crossed a small, cool stream at dusk and proceeded up the path that twisted along a steep hillside. We walked barefoot and Ali confidently trodded along, loosing me a couple times...but like a good friend, she'd stop and check to make sure I was still following her. I stubbed my toe pretty good and decided to take it a bit slower than she, but I thouroughly enjoyed the adventure through the Manuka shrubs and Koa Koa trees! We made it to a vista point after about a half hr, which overlooked Bethels and Owens Beach. The moonlight helped guide us down the rest of the spiraling pathway to the soft sand of the local beach. We explored a few caves, which were open because the tide was low-tide. Holding on to Ali's hand and feeling my way along the cold, dark tunnel of the cave, I came to realize the sense of safety and security I felt from being in the presence of someone who knows the area. I relaxed and let my imagination take me to the story of Gollum & Bilbo Baggins-from the book the Hobbit. As we crept along, I whispered "precious, my precious...!" :) Ali was entertained. After seeing the light and the opening of the other side of the tunnel, I felt a bit disappointed thinking that our walk was coming to an end. However, Ali led me next to a cave full of giant glow-worms which resembled stars in the midnight sky. After exploring the glow worm cave, we walked out on to the beach and returned home, walking under the night sky with crescent moon, and white, beaming stars. It was one of the sweetest adventures in NZ yet!
The next day we grabbed a plastic sack to go hunt for muscles. We went way out to the rocky point at the end of Bethels Beach, where we gathered plenty of muscles for our evening feast. Even though Ali fell in the water, she walked back bare-foot, soaked, but with a huge grin. Our feast consisted of cocunut milk, rice, mushroom, onions, taro root, the muscles (of course!), topped off with a bar of NZ 's finest dark chocolate!
Ali is a friend I met through Rose who works for Ashram Yoga in Auckland. She is studying to become a Biodiversity Mgr at the Unitech. Ali is a creative, soul-ful woman who loves to hit up second hand shops (called "Op shops" here Op = Opportunity), make art, talk about environmental issues and spirituality, cook and play music. I hope to get to spend a lot more time with her. When I left she gifted me the next 2 books of the Lord of the Rings, and a stack of books about Maori culture and spirituality from the library. Ali is a wonderful friend and brought me to realized how lucky I am to be here!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Out of the "sticks" and into the Big City
I am in the city! I woke up to car noises instead of a birds and Clara making a fire. What a change in pace! Taking a trip to the big city of Auckland required nothing of me but jumpin in the Saab and agreeing to help cook for 60 people Friday & Saturday night. I will be on the look-out for something fun n exciting to do Friday morning and Sunday afternoon! Perhaps a run to the waterfront and then off to a coffee shop? More later...
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Creative living
Since the last posting, I have gone on several amazing beach walks/hikes.
I've chanted and performed a full-moon ritual. Seen 4 dolphin swim 50 m off of the beach (which is a rare sight). Fished off the rocky point of Opoture Beach. Ate "Pipis" muscles and "Tua tuas" clams. Attending a Native American sweatlodge on a parcel of land that extends into the estuary where the Katakati river flows. I've worked with the local milk-delivery man traveling 180km to deliver milk at 4 a.m.
As for the normal every day : I wake-up exercise, practice a bit of yoga, cook breakfast for the community/clean-up, start work (which varies from painting caravans to cleaning toilets or scrubbing the floors of the outside shower). Work goes from 10-4:30 p.m. Today I did yoga and then ran the chainsaw for 2.5 hrs. I continue to live at the ashram, "riding the waves" so-to-speak of the challenges of living in this community: incl. living with an alocholic who keeps to himself, a new baby, a wise woman, a young Irish yogini, a Muslim Malaysian, and a Swami who comes and goes.
I've chanted and performed a full-moon ritual. Seen 4 dolphin swim 50 m off of the beach (which is a rare sight). Fished off the rocky point of Opoture Beach. Ate "Pipis" muscles and "Tua tuas" clams. Attending a Native American sweatlodge on a parcel of land that extends into the estuary where the Katakati river flows. I've worked with the local milk-delivery man traveling 180km to deliver milk at 4 a.m.
As for the normal every day : I wake-up exercise, practice a bit of yoga, cook breakfast for the community/clean-up, start work (which varies from painting caravans to cleaning toilets or scrubbing the floors of the outside shower). Work goes from 10-4:30 p.m. Today I did yoga and then ran the chainsaw for 2.5 hrs. I continue to live at the ashram, "riding the waves" so-to-speak of the challenges of living in this community: incl. living with an alocholic who keeps to himself, a new baby, a wise woman, a young Irish yogini, a Muslim Malaysian, and a Swami who comes and goes.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
I have moments of great clarity and a deep sense of joy. There are moments where I have thought to myself that I've never been so happy. There are lines/creases from your smile that have never appeared before. While I've experienced this level of joy/peace, I've also had times of confusion, challenge, anxiety, and loneliness. Even though I am traveling, life is still very much the same.
A brief note on life here: I have been learning about meditation and yoga. It is a process that requires a lot of time and practice. We get up early (usually). Light a fire and wrap ourselves up in blankets, make a hot tea, and wait for the 'Sadhana' room to heat up. We (Clara- the Irish girl & myself) will begin our daily practice with a warm-up, then get into our own semi-structered sequence of 'asanas' or postures. We'll finish with breathing exercises 'pranayama' and then meditate for remainder of the time. I am still learning...
I am planning on staying here at the ashram until I am solid with plans to go volunteer/WWOOF at another place. I am contemplating going to Raglan, which is a West coast surf-destination, with a great small town atmosphere. I have been invited to come to Solscape (which you can check out on-line) to stay/ volunteer with. They are basically a community of people supporting an environmentally-sound campground / cabin place. I also may stay in the Coromandel and go to another community that is called the Karuna Falls Coop. but I do not know that much about them. It is interesting that New Zealand has quite a few intentional living communities, many of which focus on permaculture, bee-keeping, and other sorts of projects. I will try to learn as much as possible from these communities.
More to come....
A brief note on life here: I have been learning about meditation and yoga. It is a process that requires a lot of time and practice. We get up early (usually). Light a fire and wrap ourselves up in blankets, make a hot tea, and wait for the 'Sadhana' room to heat up. We (Clara- the Irish girl & myself) will begin our daily practice with a warm-up, then get into our own semi-structered sequence of 'asanas' or postures. We'll finish with breathing exercises 'pranayama' and then meditate for remainder of the time. I am still learning...
I am planning on staying here at the ashram until I am solid with plans to go volunteer/WWOOF at another place. I am contemplating going to Raglan, which is a West coast surf-destination, with a great small town atmosphere. I have been invited to come to Solscape (which you can check out on-line) to stay/ volunteer with. They are basically a community of people supporting an environmentally-sound campground / cabin place. I also may stay in the Coromandel and go to another community that is called the Karuna Falls Coop. but I do not know that much about them. It is interesting that New Zealand has quite a few intentional living communities, many of which focus on permaculture, bee-keeping, and other sorts of projects. I will try to learn as much as possible from these communities.
More to come....
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Storytelling
Painting a picture of the places, people, and experiences I've had thus far has not been as easy of a process as I thought. However, I am encouraged to become a storyteller and thus I must begin typing/ writing/ hashing- out of few of these stories that have been boilin away....
As I sit and type this it is dusk at the ashram: the stars, and planets are shining brightly in the early morning sky. I am sitting here with a cup of green tea, and staring into my past experiences from the last couple of weeks...
Winter Soltice:
We held a fire celebration for the Winter Soltice at the ashram.
Shanti- the main guru at the ashram- led the ceremony. It was held just beyond the porch, next to a paddock (marsh) around a small fire circle. Atma, Sara, Bhakti, Shanti, and I- all five of us, sat cross-legged in a circle. One person sat at each cardinal direction (N,S, E,W) to represent each of the elements of nature (Air, Fire, Earth, & Water). Offerings were fed into the fire: at the North, Shanti sat with a bowl of Ghee which he carefully spooned into the fire; to the South, I sat with a bowl of herbs (euculaptys leaves and other herbs); to the East sat Bhakti with a bowl of rice; and to the West was Sara who gave peices of incense.
Part of the ceremony was chanting in Sanskrit with mala beads. As the fire swirled, and the chanting began, I watched the eyes of those of us gathered there.
When it was time to give our offering...I nervously reached for my bowl of herbs trying hard not to mess up the ritual. There was a time during the chant when the offerings were given, and I was taught a special way to hold the offering and release it into the flame. As the chanting continued I was able to move into the rythym of the chant and release my offering with my hand position "mudra" placed at my heart and mind totally centered on the flame. It was a beautiful ritual to practice.
A Mokupu owl, Izzy -the neighbor's dog, joined us for the end of the celebration. After the last of the 108 chants finished, we all sat around chatted and laughed. It was a beautiful way to honor the wisdom and balance nature offers and begin the "New Year" together.
Lakota Indian Sweatlodge (the next story to come...
As I sit and type this it is dusk at the ashram: the stars, and planets are shining brightly in the early morning sky. I am sitting here with a cup of green tea, and staring into my past experiences from the last couple of weeks...
Winter Soltice:
We held a fire celebration for the Winter Soltice at the ashram.
Shanti- the main guru at the ashram- led the ceremony. It was held just beyond the porch, next to a paddock (marsh) around a small fire circle. Atma, Sara, Bhakti, Shanti, and I- all five of us, sat cross-legged in a circle. One person sat at each cardinal direction (N,S, E,W) to represent each of the elements of nature (Air, Fire, Earth, & Water). Offerings were fed into the fire: at the North, Shanti sat with a bowl of Ghee which he carefully spooned into the fire; to the South, I sat with a bowl of herbs (euculaptys leaves and other herbs); to the East sat Bhakti with a bowl of rice; and to the West was Sara who gave peices of incense.
Part of the ceremony was chanting in Sanskrit with mala beads. As the fire swirled, and the chanting began, I watched the eyes of those of us gathered there.
When it was time to give our offering...I nervously reached for my bowl of herbs trying hard not to mess up the ritual. There was a time during the chant when the offerings were given, and I was taught a special way to hold the offering and release it into the flame. As the chanting continued I was able to move into the rythym of the chant and release my offering with my hand position "mudra" placed at my heart and mind totally centered on the flame. It was a beautiful ritual to practice.
A Mokupu owl, Izzy -the neighbor's dog, joined us for the end of the celebration. After the last of the 108 chants finished, we all sat around chatted and laughed. It was a beautiful way to honor the wisdom and balance nature offers and begin the "New Year" together.
Lakota Indian Sweatlodge (the next story to come...
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Life here can be a challenge. Challenge encourages growth.
I am still trying to figure out how to live in NZ for the year without many possessions and a low income. I am learning to trust my inner being- my instinct...my soul...my higher mind. This time and space has been good for self-reflection, and exploration. I am learning and developing more self-awareness by being in a new environment.
When I am truly alone- is when my true self is revealed.
I am still trying to figure out how to live in NZ for the year without many possessions and a low income. I am learning to trust my inner being- my instinct...my soul...my higher mind. This time and space has been good for self-reflection, and exploration. I am learning and developing more self-awareness by being in a new environment.
When I am truly alone- is when my true self is revealed.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The Ashram at Ohui
I am living and working at a new place. It is an ashram in Ohui (1.5 hrs North of Te Puke) The ashram (which is not a classical ashram) is part of the WWOOF New Zealand organization. I joined the WWOOFing organization shortly after coming to New Zealand. It basically means that I can do a work-exchange for room and board. Since I've been welcomed at I've been able to practice yoga and meditation. There is some garden space,, and they've allowed me to experiment with planting, transplanting, and harvesting what's available. The ocean is just beyond the house- which means I've not only been practicing yoga, but surfing as well.
Since my arrival, I have become more in-tuned with the people that make up the community at the ashram as well as the land. I have come to know two Irish girls (Clara "Yogashakti" & Sara), an Ausie- Fijian (Atma), a Tazmanian (Persad), an Australian (Shanti) and a Malaysian (Ed). There are actually only 3 people (Atma, Persad, and Shanti-the founder) who live at the ashram all-year round. And the rest of the group are either WOOFers like myself, or residents.
More about the residents:
Atma is a Fijian- white woman in her late 30's and is a yoga instructor. She is expecting her first child in a couple of weeks and will give birth (w/assistance of a mid-wife) in the main living room of the ashram. She is quite lovely and we've shared some good chats, yoga sessions, and a walk on the beach. Persad, her partner is a Tazmanian guy who is in to heavy-metal music, playing drums, cooking, sawing down trees, and doing the maintenance on the property. Shanti, the founder and also the father of Persad, has lived and worked on an ashram based on the teachings of an Indian Guru- can't remember the name off-hand, for the past 20 + years. He is the one who manages the ashram. Atma co-manages, but is now going to go on maternity leave.Clara (temp. resident) is an Irish woman in her 20's who is a reflexoligist and yoga instructor. She lives here temporarily, but is gone at the moment on a short trip up the Coromandel Peninsula with her friend who is visiting from Ireland.
More about the property and the land: The ashram is more like a rustic, 100-year old house, which overlooks the ocean. The house, I've been told, was once occupied by a 'bunch of crazy hippies' and was in need of a lot of repairs when the new leasers arrived. There are some pine trees growing along with pampas weed which partially block the view. However, we are able to see a good portion of the ocean and a small island that sits alone. There are also Putakawas which look similar to a Banyon tree, but get little red flowers during the Christmas season. The ocean is an azure-blue.
Today we did some gardening and some chain-saw work in the forest- cutting up more wood for the ashram. It was great to do yoga and then run a chain saw: good yin-yang combination of acitivity- ha! The winter season is here and the weather has been turning cold. We will get 20 mins of sun and then a huge down-pour which can last all day. If we are lucky, the rain will last only an hour or less, and we can get some work done outside or go to the beach. However, you always have to be prepared because it usually only stops for a brief moment before it starts to rain again.
Yesterday, I headed to the beach. I found an old surfboard underneath the house made in Maui and bought and brought to the island by Persad's father, Shanti. I guess Shanti was a bit of a surfer himself back in the day, although I haven't got to speak to him much about this part of his past. I was offered to borrow the board- took it under my arm and ran to the beach! The waves weren't that great right out in front of the house, but further down the beach there were waves peeling left and right. I will go check-out the other spot when I feel more in-shape and ready for it. I've decided it's best to study the wave and the currents before going for a surf in the rougher water (surfing alone on an unkonwn beach can be pretty dangerous). Although there have been other surfers out in the water, I was alone the first day I went out. There is also another woman who comes up to visit that may join me. I guess she knows the ocean around this beach well. I have just less than a week left here- so I imagine I will get another surf in and have time to scope out the wave. The board was a beauty so all-things-said-and-done, I had a great time out in the ocean!
Now, I am off to mix spices for the curry dinner and help make some chapati with Atma!
Sending my greetings & love across the ocean....
Since my arrival, I have become more in-tuned with the people that make up the community at the ashram as well as the land. I have come to know two Irish girls (Clara "Yogashakti" & Sara), an Ausie- Fijian (Atma), a Tazmanian (Persad), an Australian (Shanti) and a Malaysian (Ed). There are actually only 3 people (Atma, Persad, and Shanti-the founder) who live at the ashram all-year round. And the rest of the group are either WOOFers like myself, or residents.
More about the residents:
Atma is a Fijian- white woman in her late 30's and is a yoga instructor. She is expecting her first child in a couple of weeks and will give birth (w/assistance of a mid-wife) in the main living room of the ashram. She is quite lovely and we've shared some good chats, yoga sessions, and a walk on the beach. Persad, her partner is a Tazmanian guy who is in to heavy-metal music, playing drums, cooking, sawing down trees, and doing the maintenance on the property. Shanti, the founder and also the father of Persad, has lived and worked on an ashram based on the teachings of an Indian Guru- can't remember the name off-hand, for the past 20 + years. He is the one who manages the ashram. Atma co-manages, but is now going to go on maternity leave.Clara (temp. resident) is an Irish woman in her 20's who is a reflexoligist and yoga instructor. She lives here temporarily, but is gone at the moment on a short trip up the Coromandel Peninsula with her friend who is visiting from Ireland.
More about the property and the land: The ashram is more like a rustic, 100-year old house, which overlooks the ocean. The house, I've been told, was once occupied by a 'bunch of crazy hippies' and was in need of a lot of repairs when the new leasers arrived. There are some pine trees growing along with pampas weed which partially block the view. However, we are able to see a good portion of the ocean and a small island that sits alone. There are also Putakawas which look similar to a Banyon tree, but get little red flowers during the Christmas season. The ocean is an azure-blue.
Today we did some gardening and some chain-saw work in the forest- cutting up more wood for the ashram. It was great to do yoga and then run a chain saw: good yin-yang combination of acitivity- ha! The winter season is here and the weather has been turning cold. We will get 20 mins of sun and then a huge down-pour which can last all day. If we are lucky, the rain will last only an hour or less, and we can get some work done outside or go to the beach. However, you always have to be prepared because it usually only stops for a brief moment before it starts to rain again.
Yesterday, I headed to the beach. I found an old surfboard underneath the house made in Maui and bought and brought to the island by Persad's father, Shanti. I guess Shanti was a bit of a surfer himself back in the day, although I haven't got to speak to him much about this part of his past. I was offered to borrow the board- took it under my arm and ran to the beach! The waves weren't that great right out in front of the house, but further down the beach there were waves peeling left and right. I will go check-out the other spot when I feel more in-shape and ready for it. I've decided it's best to study the wave and the currents before going for a surf in the rougher water (surfing alone on an unkonwn beach can be pretty dangerous). Although there have been other surfers out in the water, I was alone the first day I went out. There is also another woman who comes up to visit that may join me. I guess she knows the ocean around this beach well. I have just less than a week left here- so I imagine I will get another surf in and have time to scope out the wave. The board was a beauty so all-things-said-and-done, I had a great time out in the ocean!
Now, I am off to mix spices for the curry dinner and help make some chapati with Atma!
Sending my greetings & love across the ocean....
Publish Post
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Why I am in New Zealand...
My decision to come to New Zealand was based on the current economic situation in the U.S. and my desire to work/ live in another country. I attempted to find work in the U.S. as well as Mexico and Spain. While in Mexico, I thought I might as well look for a job since I was enjoying being there. However, I would have been working in the tourism industry in a developed beach town, made for people's weekend-get-aways from the city of Guadelajara. The cost of living was high in comparison and there were no tent sites (which was the life-style I chose in B.C. on Salt Spring Island as well as on the ranch "Rancho Tiba" in Zipolite, Oxaca, Southern Mexico). While there was no assurance that there was work as I would have been working illegally, I decided to think more about it. I continued to be patient and wait on another job, which was located in Zipolite, where I began my 8- month Mexico trip. I had applied for a an ESL teaching position at a local university called "Universidad del Mar" after being encouraged by a friend of mine, who headed the ESL department. However, I was not offered the job as an ESL instructor at the Universidad del Mar in Oaxaca in February. Nor was I was not offered a job with Outward Bound in the U.S.- which was a major disappointment. I worked hard on the Outward bound application and had met the team at Mazama, had a good personal reference from a friend who had been working for O.B. for the past 3 years, but just didn't get hired. Nevertheless, it was not the end of the world.... My search continued....as I traveled through Atlanta to visit my cousin and his family and then on to Prague, Cezch Republic to visit my mother... and eventually, through talking with my mom's partner I found I had work on a farm in New Zealand. I had just enough cash left in my savings to get myself there- and Europe was out of the question in terms of employment and visas being too lengthy of a process and difficult - so, I decided to just go for it! & Here I am.....
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Woke up this morning....
.... to the sound of rain. My morning walk was to the house is along a road that overlooks a small valley. It was raining hard- so I had my "red gum boots" and my gortex ski jacket on. The
"red gum boots" are typical to New Zealand and the farming community- as I put them on my feet and sloshed through some mud down the path from the "Woolshed" down to the house I felt excited to be here.
What a change from the last week! Work at the packhouse is finished. No more conveyer belts pumping out kiwis by the 100's. No more bosses yelling at you to check your kiwis more carefully- because they just found 10 bad kiwis in YOUR box. No more wearing hear nets and aprons while inspecting each kiwi in order to detect whether it was an "Ugly kiwi" or a "Beautiful kiwi." "Ugly kiwis" are placed in that category because they were either effected by hail damage, black sut mold, or if they have a slight hump on the top making their appearance more of an apple-shape. You also have to look at whether they are too flat to be considered for the "higher" grade/quality. If they are you send them down the next conveyer belt to be re-packaged as a lower quality. There's a real science to all this kiwi business! But it was very hard to take seriously as you can imagine.
Much of this excitement has to do with the end of the warehouse job and my weekend trip. I celebrated finishing the packhouse (kiwi warehouse) job by going to the Wharanaki forest with a friend I met at the packhouse. He spent 4.5 months doing research in the Wharanaki (80 km outside of Rotorua) last year. Felix is his name. He comes from Bremen, Germany, and loves birds, insects, and walking very slowly in the forest. I learned to slow my pace down and observe more as we took walks in the forest. I found it difficult at first, but as the forests are totally different than those found at home, I quickly realized the value in walking slowly. The Wharanaki forest is sub-tropical and five types of trees (only native to New Zealand) are all found in this forest: the Miro, the Rimu, the Kaikatea, the Totara, and the Toatoa. I learned to identify each of them- thanks Felix! I was able to also identify a couple of birds some more exotic than others: the pigeon (ha!), the northwestern robin, the tui, the kaka, and the fantail. In terms of animals, I am aware that there are pigs, stouts (marmot- like animal considered to be a pest), deer, and opposums. All of these animals were introduced to New Zealand so they are considered to be pests- especially the stouts and opposums who have helped aid in the extinction of several of New Zealand's birds species (which were unique to N.Z.). I believe that some of these birds are pre-historic and never developed the use of their wings (i.e. the Koa ) and were unable to defend themselves against their "imported" predators.
Anyway... I am off to go back to attempt to organize myself for a trip to a yoga ashram. I have about a week or two between jobs, depending on whether they decide to start me early or later. They want to start the inexperienced pruners after June 15th. But I've also heard that may not be true and that I will start on June 15thwith the rest of the crew. Nothing is ever certain here- and hard to find out exact information. So I just learn to go with the flow and try not to get frustrated while trying to maintain some kind of balance here. I will be pruning the kiwi vine- and I guess the work is not easy, so I am taking some time for myself before I begin. Plus, I am not good at waiting around for people to decide when they want me to start or not- the discussion has been on going for the past couple of weeks. I decided to take my future in my own hands and leave for a week, hope they figure it out, and then come back when the work is available.
The yoga ashram is a work-exchange option for people like me who need a place to stay in between things. I will report on this next experience upon my return....
"red gum boots" are typical to New Zealand and the farming community- as I put them on my feet and sloshed through some mud down the path from the "Woolshed" down to the house I felt excited to be here.
What a change from the last week! Work at the packhouse is finished. No more conveyer belts pumping out kiwis by the 100's. No more bosses yelling at you to check your kiwis more carefully- because they just found 10 bad kiwis in YOUR box. No more wearing hear nets and aprons while inspecting each kiwi in order to detect whether it was an "Ugly kiwi" or a "Beautiful kiwi." "Ugly kiwis" are placed in that category because they were either effected by hail damage, black sut mold, or if they have a slight hump on the top making their appearance more of an apple-shape. You also have to look at whether they are too flat to be considered for the "higher" grade/quality. If they are you send them down the next conveyer belt to be re-packaged as a lower quality. There's a real science to all this kiwi business! But it was very hard to take seriously as you can imagine.
Much of this excitement has to do with the end of the warehouse job and my weekend trip. I celebrated finishing the packhouse (kiwi warehouse) job by going to the Wharanaki forest with a friend I met at the packhouse. He spent 4.5 months doing research in the Wharanaki (80 km outside of Rotorua) last year. Felix is his name. He comes from Bremen, Germany, and loves birds, insects, and walking very slowly in the forest. I learned to slow my pace down and observe more as we took walks in the forest. I found it difficult at first, but as the forests are totally different than those found at home, I quickly realized the value in walking slowly. The Wharanaki forest is sub-tropical and five types of trees (only native to New Zealand) are all found in this forest: the Miro, the Rimu, the Kaikatea, the Totara, and the Toatoa. I learned to identify each of them- thanks Felix! I was able to also identify a couple of birds some more exotic than others: the pigeon (ha!), the northwestern robin, the tui, the kaka, and the fantail. In terms of animals, I am aware that there are pigs, stouts (marmot- like animal considered to be a pest), deer, and opposums. All of these animals were introduced to New Zealand so they are considered to be pests- especially the stouts and opposums who have helped aid in the extinction of several of New Zealand's birds species (which were unique to N.Z.). I believe that some of these birds are pre-historic and never developed the use of their wings (i.e. the Koa ) and were unable to defend themselves against their "imported" predators.
Anyway... I am off to go back to attempt to organize myself for a trip to a yoga ashram. I have about a week or two between jobs, depending on whether they decide to start me early or later. They want to start the inexperienced pruners after June 15th. But I've also heard that may not be true and that I will start on June 15thwith the rest of the crew. Nothing is ever certain here- and hard to find out exact information. So I just learn to go with the flow and try not to get frustrated while trying to maintain some kind of balance here. I will be pruning the kiwi vine- and I guess the work is not easy, so I am taking some time for myself before I begin. Plus, I am not good at waiting around for people to decide when they want me to start or not- the discussion has been on going for the past couple of weeks. I decided to take my future in my own hands and leave for a week, hope they figure it out, and then come back when the work is available.
The yoga ashram is a work-exchange option for people like me who need a place to stay in between things. I will report on this next experience upon my return....
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Clearer skies in New Zealand.
I am pushing myself harder than I imagined! Working internationally. I am just beginning this new part of my life. Wondering... a few things about work. Again- the last job I had was as a bilingual social worker for the Spanish-speaking immigrant population in Tacoma, WA. Since going to Canada and volunteering at a yoga center- where I worked in the garden and maintaining the grounds- I've developed a different work ethic. Which I am not so sure fits into the same work ethic as is expected of me at the warehouse, where I am currently working. * More about this new "work ethic" later...
The schedule at the packhouse during the day is 7:30 a.m. start, no pee/poop breaks until your manager agrees to let you go, 10:30 tea break, 1/2 lunch, 3:00 tea break, and 5:00 p.m. end of shift and night shift begins. But as Grandma says, "if nature calls....well. you gotta go!" It's been hard letting someone else dictate when you can release your bowel movements. Working "on the line" next to a conveyer belt of endless kiwis....is why I am not allowed to leave and take care of buiseness. I began there after 2 weeks of picking kiwi fruit because I needed to keep working in order to finance the next part of my journey. I am basically working in a warehouse 8 hours a day 6 days a week, and I will be resigning soon.
While there is quite an international community represented at the packhouse- warehouse, there is still a stream of discontent. It's been a long kiwi season and people are tired of the work- especially the extra work that the kiwis that have been damaged by hail have created.... Needless to say, the tea breaks do not help the over-all feelin and attitude that work sucks and the question "when is it time to go home?" begins at about 8:00 a.m. Hmmmm.... the conclusion I've come to are that no body wants to be there, not even if you are being paid a bit above minumum wage to carefully package kiwi fruit and are given free tea (2x ) a day- sometimes even muffins!
I got home today after a 40 min. bike (I commute to/from work every day on a busy road so it's not that pleasureable of a ride). And the moon was bright and the sky was clear. I stood on the porch looked up at the moon and realized to let the small insignificances of life.
New Zealandars have a strange way of communicating. They like to talk simply for the sake of conversation. You don't have to say much really... So there has been a lot of small talk, and "2o" questions-type conversations. I don't feel I've made any real connections, but... we shall see. I did go on an adventure with a few ladies from Te Puke and Papamoa who enjoy mtn. bike riding at night! We rode with our headlamps through a redwood forest where opposums scamper up the trees and dart through the monkey ferns. Louise, who's in her late 40's despisizes them and quite freaked out. Luckily we only heard the opposums once- no sighting yet!
The moon is still shining brightly.
The schedule at the packhouse during the day is 7:30 a.m. start, no pee/poop breaks until your manager agrees to let you go, 10:30 tea break, 1/2 lunch, 3:00 tea break, and 5:00 p.m. end of shift and night shift begins. But as Grandma says, "if nature calls....well. you gotta go!" It's been hard letting someone else dictate when you can release your bowel movements. Working "on the line" next to a conveyer belt of endless kiwis....is why I am not allowed to leave and take care of buiseness. I began there after 2 weeks of picking kiwi fruit because I needed to keep working in order to finance the next part of my journey. I am basically working in a warehouse 8 hours a day 6 days a week, and I will be resigning soon.
While there is quite an international community represented at the packhouse- warehouse, there is still a stream of discontent. It's been a long kiwi season and people are tired of the work- especially the extra work that the kiwis that have been damaged by hail have created.... Needless to say, the tea breaks do not help the over-all feelin and attitude that work sucks and the question "when is it time to go home?" begins at about 8:00 a.m. Hmmmm.... the conclusion I've come to are that no body wants to be there, not even if you are being paid a bit above minumum wage to carefully package kiwi fruit and are given free tea (2x ) a day- sometimes even muffins!
I got home today after a 40 min. bike (I commute to/from work every day on a busy road so it's not that pleasureable of a ride). And the moon was bright and the sky was clear. I stood on the porch looked up at the moon and realized to let the small insignificances of life.
New Zealandars have a strange way of communicating. They like to talk simply for the sake of conversation. You don't have to say much really... So there has been a lot of small talk, and "2o" questions-type conversations. I don't feel I've made any real connections, but... we shall see. I did go on an adventure with a few ladies from Te Puke and Papamoa who enjoy mtn. bike riding at night! We rode with our headlamps through a redwood forest where opposums scamper up the trees and dart through the monkey ferns. Louise, who's in her late 40's despisizes them and quite freaked out. Luckily we only heard the opposums once- no sighting yet!
The moon is still shining brightly.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Dear family and friends:
I received my visa in the mail last night. I have a visa for a year! I now have my passport returned to me and I feel much more at ease. It has been nearly a two-week process.
Thank you for listening and supporting me on this next adventure. i hope to give more honest and true depictions of what it is really like here: the times here have been both good and bad. Certainly can't expect everything will go smoothly. It is hard discerning the reasons behind the ups and downs. And I try not to analyze too much because it doesn't seem to get me anywhere. I have not been writing much because honestly I have not had much time to write (something I am trying to change because I feel less alone when I have my pen and paper) I am learning. I think this is is positive. I am learning to truly just go with the flow. However, it is good to have a friend or family member just to listen sometimes. I feel I spend so much time in my own head, listening to my own thoughts- some of which are helpful and some not so helpful. I am begining to think that many of our thoughts are not actually true- they are just the beginning of stories. We see the world as we are. Reality is what we experience. Telling these stories are important so I will try to do just that. I want to do each character justice, so getting to know the characters in my life in New Zealand is important first. This is totally new for me- living and trying to work in New Zealand. My mom's partner is my roommate- who would have thought that would've happened?!
i am again typing when it is the end of my day. so i will resign until tomorrow....
a few words before i go. peter has been so hospitable to me, but there is something that is awkward about the situation. i am sure the awkwardness will never completely disappear because he is after all "trying to date" my mom (that is peter's quote). it certainly has been interesting... i will share more after I understand him better. You certainly get to honestly know a person simply by the way they live, and do things around their home. Oh how I love to observe. this has been a great skill I've strengthened while on my travels.
And as for work i haven't talked much about the characters at work. or how it is to adjust to the work schedule: getting up in the morning and not knowing whether i have the day off or whether i will work again that day. yikes, a bit stressful. it is the end of the season and that's just the way it is. although, it has been an odd season because of the big hail storm *(i will go into detail later on this). for me, the work experience has been mainly good- because if i work i have something productive to do for 6-8 hrs and that means i have an income. if i don't work- that's also good but it has been hard to find the motivation to go with the flow (I just try to be grateful for the work and life). It's hard to prepare myself for the day when i don't know what to expect: if it's going to be a day off or not. i have relied on pete for these communications, but now i am able to communicate more with the contractor which is a positive change. i will have to say it is a good lesson of really practicing "living in the moment" and truly "going with the flow."
I am learning. I get to observe myself in difficult situations and see myself as I am. I watch my thoughts, I observe my physical body and where I tense up and when I feel tense . I can tell when the mood changes, and observe how if i am able to control or not control the emotions that rise with the occasion. I observe what i do with the emotions- do i store them in certain places of my body. Often this is the case. I would say 99.9% of my emotions are stored in my body unless I take time to meditate on my breathe or do some form of flow yoga or exercise.
Wow, once I start writing I realize how much I miss it.
I hope you all are still with me...and I haven't lost any of you. I am new to the blog world and I bit hesitant to write. My family tells me my writing style is similar to "stream of consciousness" which made James Joyce an infamous writer - I am not so sure it will do the same for me- but here it goes!
Thanks for reading.
Love & Peace,
Hannah
I received my visa in the mail last night. I have a visa for a year! I now have my passport returned to me and I feel much more at ease. It has been nearly a two-week process.
Thank you for listening and supporting me on this next adventure. i hope to give more honest and true depictions of what it is really like here: the times here have been both good and bad. Certainly can't expect everything will go smoothly. It is hard discerning the reasons behind the ups and downs. And I try not to analyze too much because it doesn't seem to get me anywhere. I have not been writing much because honestly I have not had much time to write (something I am trying to change because I feel less alone when I have my pen and paper) I am learning. I think this is is positive. I am learning to truly just go with the flow. However, it is good to have a friend or family member just to listen sometimes. I feel I spend so much time in my own head, listening to my own thoughts- some of which are helpful and some not so helpful. I am begining to think that many of our thoughts are not actually true- they are just the beginning of stories. We see the world as we are. Reality is what we experience. Telling these stories are important so I will try to do just that. I want to do each character justice, so getting to know the characters in my life in New Zealand is important first. This is totally new for me- living and trying to work in New Zealand. My mom's partner is my roommate- who would have thought that would've happened?!
i am again typing when it is the end of my day. so i will resign until tomorrow....
a few words before i go. peter has been so hospitable to me, but there is something that is awkward about the situation. i am sure the awkwardness will never completely disappear because he is after all "trying to date" my mom (that is peter's quote). it certainly has been interesting... i will share more after I understand him better. You certainly get to honestly know a person simply by the way they live, and do things around their home. Oh how I love to observe. this has been a great skill I've strengthened while on my travels.
And as for work i haven't talked much about the characters at work. or how it is to adjust to the work schedule: getting up in the morning and not knowing whether i have the day off or whether i will work again that day. yikes, a bit stressful. it is the end of the season and that's just the way it is. although, it has been an odd season because of the big hail storm *(i will go into detail later on this). for me, the work experience has been mainly good- because if i work i have something productive to do for 6-8 hrs and that means i have an income. if i don't work- that's also good but it has been hard to find the motivation to go with the flow (I just try to be grateful for the work and life). It's hard to prepare myself for the day when i don't know what to expect: if it's going to be a day off or not. i have relied on pete for these communications, but now i am able to communicate more with the contractor which is a positive change. i will have to say it is a good lesson of really practicing "living in the moment" and truly "going with the flow."
I am learning. I get to observe myself in difficult situations and see myself as I am. I watch my thoughts, I observe my physical body and where I tense up and when I feel tense . I can tell when the mood changes, and observe how if i am able to control or not control the emotions that rise with the occasion. I observe what i do with the emotions- do i store them in certain places of my body. Often this is the case. I would say 99.9% of my emotions are stored in my body unless I take time to meditate on my breathe or do some form of flow yoga or exercise.
Wow, once I start writing I realize how much I miss it.
I hope you all are still with me...and I haven't lost any of you. I am new to the blog world and I bit hesitant to write. My family tells me my writing style is similar to "stream of consciousness" which made James Joyce an infamous writer - I am not so sure it will do the same for me- but here it goes!
Thanks for reading.
Love & Peace,
Hannah
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Kiwis & New Zealand
I am in the land of Kiwis. I have begun picking kiwis, eating kiwis (which are high in fiber & recommended to "clean-out" your system), purchasing in "kiwis" , and talking to Kiwis. This is most definitely an accurate description of life here on the North Island of New Zealand. I live in a house on a kiwi farm and run by them in the morning and on my bike in the afternoon. I know this up-date is quite short, but the picking has worn me out for the day and I have not much to say. I just wanted to send a quick "hello" and...
Tell you I am alive and well. Oh... also wanted to share what have I learned so far about the season and the kiwi fruit. I have learned that weather dictates our work schedule. If the air is humid and there is an inversion than there is no work. An inversion is basically hot air trapped by a cold layer in other words .. we're to wait until it lifts and the fruit is able to dry before we begin to pick. The fruit needs sunshine and/or wind after a nice rainshower, of which there have been many. As well as a once-every-50-year hail storm, damaging 85 % of some farmer's crop. I have this photo documented and I will learn as I pick...I'm sure..
I have also been to the packhouse where the kiwis are sent after being picked.
Oh, also grandpa wanted to know if the kiwis are green when we pick them. He is correct. The kiwis stay firm when on the vine. After being picked their skin is less taught (spell) becuase there is less pressure without the connection between the fruit and the stem on the tree. Kiwis grown on a vine-like bush, not a tree or little vine, there are perhaps 100-200 bushes in a section of an orchard. We are picking about 100 bins per section. We get paid by the bin, so this has been an interesting twist when considering one's purpose and work ethic. Our goal is usually 200 bins / day for a crew of about 20 people. We are an international group representing Argentina, Germany, Australia, Thailand, England, USA (me), and France.
Hope you are all doing well at home. I am tired and must apologize if this email has been difficult to read. I have been itchin' to get some news to you all! I would love to get some news from you as well and I will be writing to you al again soon.
Love and peace.....from the island of New Zealand,
Hannah
However mean your life is, meet it and live it, do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not as bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life as poor as it is. H.D. Thoreau
Tell you I am alive and well. Oh... also wanted to share what have I learned so far about the season and the kiwi fruit. I have learned that weather dictates our work schedule. If the air is humid and there is an inversion than there is no work. An inversion is basically hot air trapped by a cold layer in other words .. we're to wait until it lifts and the fruit is able to dry before we begin to pick. The fruit needs sunshine and/or wind after a nice rainshower, of which there have been many. As well as a once-every-50-year hail storm, damaging 85 % of some farmer's crop. I have this photo documented and I will learn as I pick...I'm sure..
I have also been to the packhouse where the kiwis are sent after being picked.
Oh, also grandpa wanted to know if the kiwis are green when we pick them. He is correct. The kiwis stay firm when on the vine. After being picked their skin is less taught (spell) becuase there is less pressure without the connection between the fruit and the stem on the tree. Kiwis grown on a vine-like bush, not a tree or little vine, there are perhaps 100-200 bushes in a section of an orchard. We are picking about 100 bins per section. We get paid by the bin, so this has been an interesting twist when considering one's purpose and work ethic. Our goal is usually 200 bins / day for a crew of about 20 people. We are an international group representing Argentina, Germany, Australia, Thailand, England, USA (me), and France.
Hope you are all doing well at home. I am tired and must apologize if this email has been difficult to read. I have been itchin' to get some news to you all! I would love to get some news from you as well and I will be writing to you al again soon.
Love and peace.....from the island of New Zealand,
Hannah
However mean your life is, meet it and live it, do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not as bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life as poor as it is. H.D. Thoreau
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Free Spirits
I am convinced that "I" am a free spirit. I have traveled to 6 different countries this year on 3 different continents. I continue my journey in New Zealand. My passport and my backpack are my home. I look at the stars and the moon for guidance. I feel my feet connected to the Earth for grounding. I sense the expansive Universe, in which we coexist, and Life takes on a new meaning. I hear the sounds of nature around me, and I ponder the concept of "interconnectedness." I taste the salty air of the ocean and touch my cold hand to my rosy cheeks, warm and glowing from the activity. I know that there is much more to Life than I will ever be able to conceive....
My spirit is free. I think about what makes people come alive. And the process of discernment in regards to figuring out which form of work and which lifestyle empowers me to be whom I am and to be truly free. I am slowly figuring out what type of work and lifestyle is for me.... and how to not allow them to "tame" my free spirit but let it totally go wild (with respect to the laws of nature :).
I am writing this late at night still jet-lagged from traveling across the international dateline, so I hope all those who've read the blog can understand the essence of the message. I will work on getting over this jet-lag and write more later. For now, the stars South of the Equator is throwing me off my gravitational balance.
***Why has it taken me so long to publish this post? I wonder if I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by the diverse audience to which I am writing. I will no longer hold back by being concerned with grammar and/or poorly developed paragraphs. In the end this is also for myself to remember my own journey exactly as it unfolds...
My spirit is free. I think about what makes people come alive. And the process of discernment in regards to figuring out which form of work and which lifestyle empowers me to be whom I am and to be truly free. I am slowly figuring out what type of work and lifestyle is for me.... and how to not allow them to "tame" my free spirit but let it totally go wild (with respect to the laws of nature :).
I am writing this late at night still jet-lagged from traveling across the international dateline, so I hope all those who've read the blog can understand the essence of the message. I will work on getting over this jet-lag and write more later. For now, the stars South of the Equator is throwing me off my gravitational balance.
***Why has it taken me so long to publish this post? I wonder if I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by the diverse audience to which I am writing. I will no longer hold back by being concerned with grammar and/or poorly developed paragraphs. In the end this is also for myself to remember my own journey exactly as it unfolds...
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