Fresh Organic Jessness

1,000 Words

2010-10-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

So, I got into the habit of binding books again! So much FUN! There is nothing better than to take nothing and create a brand new book! What have I done with these books I've created? Check it out! Art Journals are awesome! Not only do you get to express yourself through words, pictures and Art really jazz it up! Follow me on this journey and start your own! Art Journal Entry #1 A Random Memory of Someone You Love Photo Collage and Chalk Painting How to do a Chalk Painting:

Lesson: Chalk Paintings

Big Goal: Students will learn about the use of resists.

Specific Outcomes:

Students will learn about color value.
Students will about history of resist art work

Procedure:

1. Have students sketch out some ideas they would like for a painting on scrap paper.

2. After they have a pretty good sketch of their painting, give them a piece of light colored construction paper and a piece of chalk.

3. Have them draw their picture on the construction paper with the chalk. Make sure to press pretty hard on the chalk so you get a nice, solid line.

4. After they have chalked their drawing out. Show them how to paint within the chalk lines. We do not want paint on the chalk. The chalk is what will create the resist. Show them how to use white and black to create different values in their painting to make their project more dynamic.

5. Once they are done with chalking and painting and their paint is dry, make some Black Tempera water. Add a bit of paint and a little, tiny bit of water. Mix it up and then paint on top of the project. Tell them how the acrylic paint resist the black tempera water. The chalk soaks up the black tempera water to give an awesome effect.

6. Let project sit with black water paint on it for at least 3-5 minutes.

7. Once this has happen, gently rinse the black paint off of the painting.

8. Let sit until dry. Take home.

Materials:

Construction Paper
Chalk
Acrylic Paint
Paint Brushes
Water bowls
Sponge
Palettes
Black Tempera Paint

Soon

2010-10-26T13:43:00.000-07:00

Coming to you soon, a new blog, full of fun Art projects and creative ideas! Yay! I'm excited!

Peru.

2010-01-14T09:54:00.000-08:00

Constipation. Diahrea. Altitude Sickness. Long, twisy bus rides. Beauty always has a price. Since the moment I left the Lima suburbs and headed into the mountains I paid the price. But alas, it was worth it.

Villages. Bare feet. Dirty faces. Inca Ruins. Inca Masters. Macchu Picchu. Other Travelers. Tamales. The biggest ears of corn I´ve ever seen, (even coming from an Iowa girl!) The most amazing man in my life. These were some of the rewards.

Peru is a country that has surprised me in so many ways. It´s landscape is so diverse. Crowded Lima, beaches, deserts, hot, sunny Arequipa, damp, chili Cusco. Gigantic mountains. Beautiful Jungles. Warm, friendly people. It only took 7 months in America to make me feel sanitary and safe, that hot water exists all the time, everyone has enough to eat, electricity is something everyone has, clean restaurants are a must, sewage is properly disposed of, of course! I forgot that these are not basic needs, but luxuiouries. Amazing how quickly we forget.

The Andes mountains are huge! We climbed 14,000 feet and weren´t even close to the summitt. Summited a 12,000 feet mountain and there we were looking down at Macchu Picchu. The Incas are truly an amazing race of people that have existed on this earth. I cannot even begin to fathom how they constructed the most awe inspiring structures.

One day, we set out to hire a donkey to carry our things up to a high mountain village. 4 hours before this, I was running back and forth from the bed to bathroom with a terrible case of diahreha from a mysterious piece of meat I had tried. As the taxi cab dropped us off in the middle of the Sacred Valley, all we could find was to rent a 40 year old man to carry our stuff to the top. Lucky for him, we were headed to the village where his wife lives so it was an added bonus for him to carry our stuff, but still, he hiked up 30 KGS on his back and walked faster than Juan or I did , up the mountain. It was magnificent as we reach the village. Stunning mountains, rocks as big as buildings, women, dressed in traditional clothing with sticks in their hands beating the earth to sow their crops. We camped that night at the church, the most exquisite building in the village, as I woke up at 4 AM with the worst altitude sickness of my life. I didn´t think I was ever going to make it off the mountain. But several concotions of pills that I had taken made me pass out and by morning we had a whole crew of visitors curiously waiting outside of our tent.

These children were beautiful. Modest and humble. Dirt covered their faces and clothes. I was freezing in all of my fancy clothing plus hiking boots and there is a 3 year old little boy, standing in the wet grass, no shoes, a little skirt on, a warm shirt and hat with his sisters hand in his. The weather hardly affects these children. It doesn´t really matter what they wear, because what they have on is all they have. If it rains, if it snows, if it´s hot, they are dressed the same. We made breakfast. Everyone was a part of it. With our bag of oats and raisins we were able to feed ourselves, Daniel, our amazing porter, and 7 kids. As Juan blessed the food he said something very important: Please bless this food and make sure that these mouths never have to feel hunger. Make us appreciate the food we redily have and that these children may have the same.

We entered the home of Daniel. A thatched roof, made of stone and mud. No electricity. A clay stove. As we enter gramma and baby sit on the dirt floor preparing the food as the guinea pigs run around the house. They all live together. Even though, the guinea pigs will sooner or later become dinner. Maylin, Dainel´s daughter, is 9 years old. She is dressed in traditional gear and floats like a butterfly along the mountain trails. She is beautiful. She knows nothing of the luxuries we have in the States. She is simply happy eating her brother´s left ove chicken bone.

As we begin our descent back to the United States I am humbled once again. I am lucky in so many ways. The first thing I said to Juan was the only necessity I really need is a hot shower. Well, I was right on that one, but my eyes have been open to what truly is a basic need. Thanks Peru! I´ll think of you everytime I turn that hot water knob.

A New Day

2009-11-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

Wow! I've been to some pretty amazing places in my life these past two years...but none of these places can top what I experienced today!

At around nine o'clock on this beautiful, sunny, crisp November morning, I packed up my Honda full of art supplies and headed off to Sunset Park Place Retirement Community. It was our first session of our Creative Aging Program that we are starting at the Dubuque Art Center.

As I entered the activity room at 5 minutes to ten, I already had 8 students patiently waiting. They were all very curious about what was going to take place. As I began to unpack and open my supplies, I had one very bright and cheery lady helping me out any way should could, loving the feeling of being useful.

In the next ten minutes people of all abilities started to trickle in. Soon, I had 20 bright eyes staring at me ready to see what we were going to create. I gave a quick demo of drawing materials and some basic watercolor techniques and let them quickly get to work. It was amazing to see their apprehension as the new materials laid by their fingertips. With a little encouragement though, the magic began.

Eyes lit up, grins appeared across faces, old skills came back to life, stories and memories flooded the air! Art awakened their senses that had seemed to be closed for much too long.

Near the end of class, one little old lady walked in and had a seat. I gave her some watercolors and she asked me "What should I do with this?" I said "Let's just have some fun and see what we can do." Then her story began.

"My name is Margaret she said. I'm 94 years old. I can remember one March day at school when I was 13 years old. On this particular day at school we went for a walk. Our teacher wanted us to draw a picture of what March looked like to us. So, I began to draw a clothesline with the clothes blowing in the wind. I was very proud of my picture. And then all of a sudden, the teacher picked up my artwork and held it up to the class. I was feeling very excited, thinking she liked mine best. Then, all of a sudden, she said to the entire class, "This is the worst picture I have ever seen." I felt terrible and since that day I never did another picture."

After this story, I was shocked! I couldn't believe her teacher had said that, and yet again I could. So many times in Art, we judge our work and feel shame for not being "good" at it. Yet, the beauty of Art is that it is neither right or wrong, it's about how our eyes see this world.

So, as I begin to set up my new office space here at the Dubuque Art Center, I feel excited and lucky to be able to create an environment that is safe for the creative process to be explored. After 81 years today, Margaret finally had the opportunity and the courage to take the risk and paint. I will now proudly hang up my first painting at my new desk. Do you know what it is? It's a beautiful clothesline with clothes blowing in the wind!

Culture Shock!

2009-06-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

Alirghty...it might sounds a little bizarre that after being gone for two years, I wasn't expecting to be culture shocked. I thought Israel would give me some padding for normalness, but DAMN! It didn't!

I wasn't in Dubuque for more than two hours and as we entered the pizza joint and I saw the 3 trashiest girls smoking cigs on the corner, I went inside and put my head down on the table. Whoa! What am I doing here, I thought to myself. I was ready to leave right then and there.

But...after being back for 6 days now and as I entered Iowa City last night, a huge breeze of relaxation took over my body for the first time in 2.5 years. Wow! Seeing College Green park made my heart finally feel rested after my travels around the world. Something about this town makes me feel at HOME. Maybe it's the people who go outside to enjoy the park, the people walking home from class and work, the people riding their bikes everywhere to save money on gas. It could be the hip retro fashion that everyone is wearing these days, as well as, the hip retro bikes they are driving around, also...there are people on scooters here! Though they are not wearing helmets which I think is insane. Is there not a law here for scooters and helmets? I can't believe that! I feel like there is a Jess style person on every corner here!

But! I know that as each day comes and goes, new ideas, people and places pop into my head. At first it seemed like an arduous path before me, but now, as I begin my way on creating a new life, things are looking brighter. I am up for anything that comes my way and look forward to continuing to network with anyone I meet. I am also going to continue enjoying the yummy food I have missed for OH SO LONG! heheheh....

Back Home

2009-06-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

I think John Denver sums it up best in his song, Back Home Again, when he says, "Hey it's good to be back home again, it's feels like a long lost friend."

I woke up this morning at 5 a.m. Walked down the same creaky stairs as I did in High School, went straight to the kitchen to make some coffee, looked at the coffee maker and thought to myself, "How in the hell do I make this thing work!?" That's when I realized, I've been gone a real long time.

I feel overwhelmed. I don't know which way to turn, where to go, what to do. I'm shocked. I didn't think I would be, but I am. I feel scared.

At 8 a.m. I decided that since I don't know what to do, that I would take my car out on a drive. As I opened the car door, sunk down into the seat, my past life smacked me in the face. I looked over at my CD case, flipped thru the pages and looked at the music I used to listen to. Some I didn't recognize anymore. Then I look up and hanging from my ceiling was the beautiful sight of the turkey feather my brother Dan gave me, with a piece of Blackfeet Sage tied to it. Wow! I thought to myself...Now that is Jess! Those first moments in my car, just sitting there looking, I felt like I was tying all of my learnings and growings into one "Jessness". I realized I've been many places and met many people and now I have finally completed the wholeness of who I am.

As I stuck the key into the ignition, my feet had no problem remembering the clutch and the gas pedal. My hands knew exactly what gears to move to as I began my morning drive. I headed straight for Highway 52. I can remember laying in my bed at Christmas time in Taiwan just feeling like I would give anything to drive that road. So, this moring that's exactly where I headed.

Iowa has never looked so beautiful before. There is green everywhere. Land for miles and miles with nothing on it! It looks so expansive to me! It is incredilbly beautiful! The farm houses, barns and silos ease my overwhelming feelings. I feel the curves of the roads like I had been there yesterday. I go past familiar places, signs, bars, country stores and nothing has changed, it's incredible! Nothing has really changed. I drive out to where my ancestors are from and think of my grandparents and miss them deeply, I drive past my best friend from HS's house and tears fill my eyes, I drive old roads to see new bridges have replaced the old rusty ones. Beauty is everywhere.

As I look around the city though, that's when the fear sets in. I don't even want to go into it. I am afraid. I want to keep myself sheltered right now. To fill my soul only with familiarities and not think about the future at the moment, the future is so unknown right now and so many decsions to make, I am glad I have the time to sort it all out.

The most amazing thing to me though, is that everything looks so clean. Dad says, they cleaned the entire city just for me. Ha ha! Just makes me realize what filth I've been living in. Also, as we drive down the city streets and I look at all the houses and stores and realize Sacred Heart Church never looked so enourmous to me before, but something seems missing, like there should be more trees or something and then....I just realize...it's becuase I can see the sky. I'm not used to seeing the sky anymore.

Now it's time to start my day...where to begin, I'm not quite sure, I guess I should take a look at my finances, that might help a little. And I think I will just take it easy...I look forward to seeing you all in due time....just gotta shake this shocking feeling first. Love you.

Israel

2009-05-25T23:04:00.000-07:00

Wow! Sorry, I've been terrible this trip at keeping my blog up to date! So, I have now been in Israel for over a week. During this time, we've been able to see a lot of this small, but versatile country.

We've been up North to the Golan Heights, past the Sea of Galilee, where we went water hiking. Which was super beautiful and it happened to be on the hottest day of the year. Water hiking, for those of you who don't know, cause I didn't, is when you go hiking in a river. So for a long, long time, we went hiking thru a tunnel of greeness, with spotted pink flowers hanging over our heads. It was a great way to spend a hot day and even better when we got to the end, we were able to hitch a ride back to the car with some other people and have coffee and cookies at the end. While being up North, we were right on the Syrian border. That night we camped at a beautiful, old Syrian military pool, where natural water just filled it up and ran in and out of it. It was so nice! I also got to brushen up my camp fire making skills. Also on the way home from the North, we stopped at a little town that is super religious called Safad, where lots of artists are, little children running around with long sideburns and old men in tall black hats. The archeitecture here is wonderful and I have lots of great shots of doorways and lamposts and the buildings are these beautiful golds and blues.

A couple days later, we headed to Jerusalem. Here we went to an all night concert. Some very popular Israeli artists and Macey Gray. Well, I enjoyed the first two bands and by the time Macey came on I was a bit too tired and the beer had really kicked in, so I wasn't too much fun at that point, but after some sushi, I was ready to go. By 4:30 AM though, Noam and I were both so happy to find Amit and stay with him and his freinds! Yay! No sleeping in the car! The next day, we woke up at about two and headed to do the typical sight seeing. It happened to be Jersaleum day, so there was lots of action on the streets. We went to the Wailing Wall, which was super interesting. To me, it was amazing to see how devoted people are. The praying and devotion these people were showing was something far beyond my eyes have ever seen. The energy in that place is like a magnet, it just sucks you in and is super powerful.

From there we decided to go and try and find the Church of the Holy Sepuclur, which is where it is said that Jesus's cross was put into the ground and where they whipped him and gave him his crown of thorns. But before we found it, an old Arabic religious man started randomly talking to me in the little bit of English he knew. He kept inviting me in for coffee and his house telling me "It's free, it's free!" So, knowing that I love these types of random meetings we took him up on his offer. He was a very passionate man who use to run a tea/gambling house, which is what we were sitting in, though, you would never know it from the dust that caked the walls, chairs and kitchen. David was his name and he was a very passionate old man. Noam had to try real hard to decipher is Arabic/Hebrew mix of language being spoken. I just sat there, drank some yummy tea and took it all in. Jerusaleum, to me is a beautiful city. Once again the architecture is amazing and I love all the old stones and shades of blue everywhere! When we finally eneded up finding the church of Jesus, it was quite a sight. I would say it's the most beautiful church I've ever been in, even compared to the ones in Europe and Prauge. It was immense! The cielings were as if they could touch the sky. The gold and lights that decorated the place was beautiful! Once again, the people who entered the place were just full of devotion. Such a strange sight to me....I had no idea people still really care about religion this much, especially the Christian aspect.

Some of the things I love best about Israel so far are 1. the bread! It is so delicious to eat tasty gourmet bread. 2. the Olives! So many yummy, salty olives to eat 3. the people, everyday I am shocked by how friendly everyone is! It is so nice!

Well, I am off to the museum right now, so I will update you on the Dead Sea next. Ahhh! Heavenly! Miss ya!

Last days in Kashmir, On my way to Israel

2009-05-16T23:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I will post some photos soon, still just need to figure out how to do it on other people's computers. So, I have finally reached my second destination, Israel. I am happy to say goodbye to India. Kashmir was fantastic, but I am sooo tired of Indian men!

My last days in Kashmir were spent hanging out in their beautiful gardens and on the second to last day, I went to Sonmarg, Kashmir. It was amazing! We walked for a short 4 km on a nice little trail and all of a sudden we were surrounded 360 degrees of the Himalayas. It's amazing how no effot was required to get to a place so incredibly beautiful! I was in heaven! The photos are great too!

Then, as I said goodbye to Kashmir, I went to their aiport to head towards Delhi! Wow! Before we even enetered the airport we had to go thru two security checks, which meant getting out of the cab and dropping my bags in an x-ray machine, then getting patted down. After doing that, then I could go inside the gates to the airport. Once in side, I went thru at least 8 more security checks, no lie! Many, many pat downs and intensive searches thru my bags. I had to take everything out of my carry on and they inspected everything, they were a bit perplexed about my traveling chopsticks and they just couldn't understand what they were for. I said "for eating, ya know." No, they didn't know. So the chopsticks, batteries, MP3 player and camera did not pass. From there I had to go visit another man, who then inspected these things. He said "What is this?" I said "It's an MP3 player." He said "Let me listen." So, I got out my headphones and he began to listen to my music, just to make sure it was what I said it was. So strange! From there, he took my batteries and chopsticks, put them in a sealed envelope and said I could pick them up once I got to Delhi. After this, then I wanted to go sit at my gate. Yeah right...not quite possible yet. Some security man kept pointing at me to go over there and I am just like GOD! are you seriuos? Yes, he was. So, I turn the corner and then I have to identify my bag before they will load it. Then, finally I was able to get into the Gate area. As, we began to board our plane, there was still one more security check we had to go through out on the runway...American have no idea how bad airports could be!

A quick airplane ride later I am in Delhi and I will stay there for the next 12 hours as I wait to catch my plane to Israel. At 2 AM, I decide that I will begin to check in. Thank god I love to do these things early, because for no apparant reason at all, only simply becuase he could, the Royal Joradanian airline man gave me the hardest time! I was on the verge of tears and nervousenss that he would not let me on the plane. Becuase I didn't print out my return ticket back to the States, he was thinking I was not planning on leaving Israel. He interrogated me about why I was going there, when I would leave, how much money I have etc? He then began to interrogate me about my visa for Israel, I kept saying , I don't need one, I can land on my passport. He refused to believe this until I told him for like the 10th time and then I got nervous, maybe I read it wrong, but I knew I hadn't. So, Finally after passing my passport around to about 10 different, useless men, and having me run around the Delhi airport looking for email to pring out my ticket to the States, they finally let me board! Ugh....it was a terrible time!

Now....after being in the Himalayas for 6 days, 40 minutes after landing in Israel I was sitting on a wonderful beach in Tel Aviv! Crazy how life can be so drastically exciting! I've only been here for less than 24 hours, but it is SOOOO nice to be in a country with some western flare! Yesterday, we went to this great little cafe, nice atmosphere, salads, cheese, no sweet bread, espresso, olives, beautiful people with acutal curves to their bodies! I was in heaven! It made me realize how living life in Taiwan, I lived without so many everyday things that people in western cultures get! I was culture shocked just to normal things I used to do everyday back in the States. So, I think being in Israel will be a good way to transition back into the States, I get a good taste of regular life again. They have beautiful big roads, nice traffic, people acutally follow rules when they drive, clean air...ahhh! What more can one ask for !? :)

This blog is getting long, so I will try to end it now. Noam has been the most amazing host ! He has made me feel right at home! Tonight we are heading to his home town of Tiberias and we will travel the North area for the next couple of days. Then head South to Jerusaleum. I will keep you all posted and hope life is going well! Miss ya! But I don't miss India! hehehe....

Strike day, Every day

2009-05-11T22:07:00.000-07:00

Alright...it's Luke's last day and I am sad, yet happy to see him go. He is ready to go for sure! He has a hard time with the hasseling of people trying to sell us things all the time. Since traveling through Vietnam and Cambodia I am totally use to this. India's hasseling is NOTHING compared to that of either of those countries. So no bothers for me. He is definitly stressing about his Art project, so he is ready to go.
Let's see, I missed out on one complete day because I was SOOOO SICK! The most SICK! Ugh....I laid in bed for 24 hours and did not eat a thing! But our houseboat people were so nice to me, bring me Kashmiri tea to help my stomach, hot water bottles and blankets. It was nice to have someone take care of me for a change when I am sick....I still haven't eaten much of anything in the last 40 hours, but I feel much better.
Yesterday, we went to Phalgram, Kashmir. A beautiful little mountain town up in the middle of nowhere, where all the shepard people live. We started on a little trek up to some nature preserve, where the mountains were just amazing. It was very emotional experience for me, since it has been two years since I have returned to the mountains. My mind was flooded with lots of memories, most of them that I don't want to remember at this place and time. But, it was still a sight for my eyes to see and they were glued to all the peaks! Luke was a tropper as we made our way through the slippery mud and he carried our chips and water and sugary apple juice. For not being a mountain person, he didn't complain one bit! I love him for that! Well, with 4 KM left to go and still more beauty to see , of course, I started to get sick again! Ugh...so I had to turn back, I just couldn't handle feeling sick anymore. So, even though our trek was short, it was still beautiful. ON our way back, we walked down with a bunch of school boys coming back from a school field strip in the mountains, all of them carry packs with lots of gear on their backs. I asked one of them what they had been doing and he said "Ya know, hiking, rappaling, ice climbing, making camp, normal stuff." I was like, Yeah, normal stuff for you! hehehe.! Just amazing what other children learn what is normal, because we all know that is not normal state side.
When we finally got back down, Wassim, my awesome Indian friend who we met on the bus and who has been a great companion, took us to this little animal zoo. Now I hate zoos, but since we are here, I said "YES" just like Sally tells me to do, so we went to see! I was actually enjoyed it. We say a real leopard! Even though it was in a cage, it was still an amazing site to see! Then we just headed back into town and started our ride back home.
Now today, is Luke's last day, and of course, there just happens to be a strike for the next two days, which means everything has been closed down. I guess this is what happens when you live in a politcally unsound place. Nothing in town will be open. So...Luke is more than happy to leave and he is sunbathing in the garden behind our boat right now. I will spend the next 3 days, just relaxing in the gardens, drawing, writing, reading and chilling on the lake. I am happy for this. We've just been going and going. So, that is our update. Now on to Israel, I am super excited to get there! Hope everyone is good! I am thinking of you!

India and The Taj

2009-05-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

Well...what is it about life's path that when we reach these ultimate destinations, like the Taj Mahal, and you see it for all of the wonder and beauty everyone raves about...and one just looks at it and thinks, "Oh. There it is." Why is it that the best part of the beauty of that day was not the Taj, but was just sitting in the park playing badminton with Indian children?! Shocking to me, but then again not really. I think life is truly all about the simple pleasures.

India is an interesting place, I can't quite find the words to describe it yet. My eyes are just amazed once again by how people live in such places, full of poverty, garbage and filth. Why is it that India is full of so many men? Everywhere! The only thing that lights up our eyes are the Indian women, in their beautiful colored clothing and jewlery. Their colors bring beauty to this place.

And the Food! Of course is Amazing! Yummy in my tummy all the time! It's a short blog today, we are just trying to get out of Delhi and Luke wants to check out the monkey temple before we begin our new day's adventure! Just wanted to share with you some thoughts...Stay tuned.

Taiwan Synopsis

2009-05-01T01:46:00.000-07:00

Taiwan Synopsis

I can't think of a more difficult thing to do than to write up a synopsis of my one year and 8 months I have spent in Taiwan. Taiwan is a place that is bursting at the seams! it's full of people, color, scooters, flowers, greeness, noise, temples. It's on the brink of changes as the old generation fades away and the new generation tries to blend the two together.

I had the preconceived idea that most foreigners do when they arrive to exoitc Taiwan. Tropical island, great beaches, lots of fun in the sun and that pineapples grown on trees. For as long as I live I will never forget how those thoughts were gone in a blink of an eye. I was standing on Jhongshan Loo in the middle of chaos and it took all the courage I had to hold back the tears for America. I had remind myself that I came here to challenge myself and grow into a more worldly person. So I picked up my bags and knew I could handle anything that came my way. And... I would be able to do this because of the most amazing gift Taiwan has given me and that is the people that have come into my life.

When deciding to leave Iowa all I could fantasize about was all the amazing things I would be able to see and do. I never! Not once! thought I would meet some of my most treasured friends. Canadians, Brits, Japanese, Vietnamemese, Israli, South African, Kiwis, Taiwanese and fellow Americans. They have brought millions of smiles across my face, lots of adventures and plenty of shoulders to cry on. It's been the first time since I was 12 years old that I have had connections like this , so natural. As English teachers, we have 3 things in common. 1. is that we can actually understand each other 2. we all have adventurous spirits and 3. for one reason or another we all choose to come to Taiwan. Being surrounded by people with the same innate spirit of discovery is truly a profound experience. We all have the energy, initiative and easy going attitude to hop onto scooters to chase waterfalls, climb about in gorges, eat crazy food, camp and just experience and see what there is to see in a foreign land.

Though I am ready to leave Taiwan, there are many things I will miss. I will miss riding my bike among the rice paddies and up the mountains. I will miss the old pineapple farmers walking along the highway after a long day in the field. I will miss the beauty of Nantou County, Gao Shan Cha, maugie, the woman who hems my pants, the ability to buy fresh fruits and veggies for a week for less than $15 USD, pineapple season, mango season (the list could go on and on with Taiwan snacks!). I will miss my scooter and the freedom it has given me in this life. I will miss the glow of red lanterns, the rainbow Tao temples, and the time I have had to discover myself through hours of painting and listening to music.

I will definiltiy miss the sharing of cultures through class discussions with my students. Through them, I've able to receive the true Taiwan spirit. They've showed me what lies beneath the frustrating traffic, polluted air and the bin laden stains that cover the ground. They've showed me passion towards family, diligence in studies, how to treat a guest like a king, willingness and excitement to learn a second language. They've also taught me how to work hard, how to make a dollar holler and the best way to relax after a long stressful week, by heading to the spa and getting a real long massage!

Taiwan has changed my life forever. I have learned many lessons in my life that I won't discover until years down the road. It's made my life richer, my eyes and mind more open and it has taught me to love in ways I thought were not possible. It is truly "La Isla de Formosa" and Taiwan has truly touched my heart.

The Shift

2008-12-26T01:34:00.000-08:00

Life is the moment in time where our one action, no matter how small or innocent, makes the difference.

With the wave of my hand, I was able to open up a smile into this world today. To lighten up the tensions on our faces and to create a small conversation between two cultures, where the only reason we are staring at each other is because we are curious. Curious to look, to see, to try and understand one another.

It's an amazing event when two eyes meet. The look, the quick examination of each other, how much we read in those brief seconds, how much we judge in a short period. Most people shrug these intimate little moments off, but I think these are the moments of most importance. It's where we really get to interact with human nature. To see it, for all that it is, isn't and wants to be.

It's where the change occurs. It's the moment between the inhale and the exhale of our breath. That's where and when life happens. In the least unexpected moments. When you meet someone on a train, connect over an innocent touch and let all precedence go.

Life happens when we listen to our heart, truly. When we act on life and not just wait. When we have the energy and courage to let go of our fears and insecurities and invite everything in.

Experiences are created when we are willing to take the risk, put our criticisms aside and do what we feel. When we connect our souls with our brains.

The paradigm of people's life in the 21st century is beginning to shift. It just might start with the fall of the most powerful country in the world.....but I think this needs to happen in order for awareness to be fully realized, in order for us to really understand the fragility of life.

The next step of Jessness

2008-09-28T22:25:00.000-07:00

I Will Not Die an Unlived Life.

I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance;
to live so that which came to me as seed goes to the next blossom
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.

--Dawna Markova

Cambodia

2008-09-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

Oh! Cambodia went to fast. We got greedy and sped through it and now I wish I was in quite ole' Siem Reap instead of dirty Bangkok. But that's what one gets when rushing into things. Anyways...Cambodia!

What a beautiful country. I miss it already. Beautiful caring people, beautiful landscapes , quite, peaceful, relaxed. It was fabulous. Angkor Wat...magnificent! The entire complex is so amazing. I loved just walking around in the forests surrounded by peacefulness and old temple ruins. One of my favorite parts was just driving around in the tuk tuk. It was so nice, country road drives that took me back to Iowa memories. It also reminded me a lot of the Philippines. Very simple lifestyles, they mostly ride bicycles. The power doesn't always work and cows everywhere. For such a beautiful country, the people have suffered greatly and still do due to the 3-5 million landmines that exist there still!

Tonight, Derrick and I are on Kosan Road in Bangkok wishing we weren't here. Ugh...dirty, nasty, noisy city...We are leaving to go to the North tomorrow though, so only a few hours left here. Today, I feel that I am ready to head back to Taiwan, but we still have 16 more days. We will see how I feel in 2 more days, hopefully things will get better once out of Bangkok! Take Care!

The Uncle Ho Trail

2008-09-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

It is raining this lazy Sunday morning as we prepare to say goodbye to such a beautiful country. From the early age of 16, when I was introduced to my second family in life, the Tran's at Asian Gourmet, I've always wonder what Vietnam was like. Lien always said she would take me there, but I couldn't wait any longer.

From the minute I entered Saigon I was happy. Ecstatic more like it! Clean air, western style, everything that Taiwan isn't. The people are amazing! Friendly, quite, resiliant, hardworking, and passionate for their country. They don't take less than they deserve and seem to strive each day to make life better for themselves and thier families. They don't give up. Evident by the masterminds of the Cu Chi Tunnels.

The highlights of my trip have been Dalat and Sapa. I had no idea what amazing mountains were in this country. I took in every negative ion the greenery produced and repaired my mind and body. Nature...I've missed it so much. Crusining on scooters in Dalat, sucking in the awesome big, blue skies, the fabulous cummulus clouds and the fresh wind whipping thru my hair. Getting sick on buses because my eyes couldn't get enough of the amazing amount of elevation that we would gain and lose was worth it all. Trekking for 3 days in the rice terraces of Northern Vietnam, opening my eyes to the way people live just to have survive each day, while the stock market crashes in America and everyone thinks the world is going to end. What little they realize....

To the craziness of Hanoi, boy! I am glad to leave it, to the serenity of Halong Bay. To all the awesome people I have met in this countr! I am usually jaded to the tourist track, but it's been great to be able to keep relationships going throughout our trip.

Vietnam has opened my eyes. Opened my eyes to all the places in the world I have not been yet or even thought of, to changing my attitude and lifestyle. To helping me realize what Taiwan is to me, what it was and how it will be. It's been a good mind expansion, to say the least.

Now we are off to Cambodia...I have no idea what to expect, which is good, for I am trying to live my life with little expectations. Just trying to life life for each moment that it hands me. So, stay tuned to the adventures of Team D.J. as we roll into Camobdia to discover whatever it has to give.

American Woman!

2008-09-18T02:40:00.000-07:00

Wow! Another day in Paradise. Can life really be this good? I guess it can, because I am living the best life right now. Today, as I swam in a beautiful bay in the middle of Asia, rode my bike through remote villages, I realized how awesome it is to be Jess.

I've worked so hard, taken so many risks and struggled a lot this year, but I realize more and more everyday how worth it, it has been. My friend Donna once said to me, "I choose to be happy." That simple statement has influenced me for the last year. It was the initiator into my life in Asia. And, it is a priority in my life. I choose to live a happy life and that meant leaving Brian, leaving a huge part of my life behind and it has been worth all of it!

Today, I realized that American women are highly regarded around the world. I am so lucky to be an American woman! We are so lucky to be able to have the rights we do, be self-confident, independent and opportunities galore. Others are not so lucky...we are lucky to be raised in a culture where we are equal. No silly standards to live up to.

Well, it's time to close this blog and I hope you all are well. I will write more soon and miss you all!

Sapa, Vietnam- 3 days in Paradise

2008-09-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

We just spent the last 3 days in Sapa. We took an overnight train and a one hour car ride to this great little mountain town, it was worth every bump and motion sickness pills to get there!

From Sapa, we booked 2 nights to sleep in minority villages. We got to stay with the local people in their homes. It was quite an experience. The first day we hiked 12 KM. Through gorgeous rice terraces, mountains and the freshest air I have had in a long time! The local Black Muong tribe followed us the whole way. All the women follow the tourists each day, being very nice to us, making us beautiful flower wreaths for our hair, little animals crafted from rice stalks and bouquets carefully crafted into heart shapes for us. They carry handbags, bracelets, blankets in woven baskets on their backs hoping that us, rich white people, will buy their goods. Each day, the walk the mountains in hopes of making such little money on their intricate embroidery. There embordiery is so detailed, beautiful, it blows Gramma Sahm's away! So, you know me, I definitly purchased my fair share!

We had this fantastic tour guide named Zung. He really made our trip the best! Super enthusiastic and always making sure we were happy! We went swimming in beautiful waterfalls, crystal clear waters and beautiful mountains! It was very interesting to go from village to village. It was obvious which villages had more money than others and how important it is for the local people to have the toursit industry come to them. They are so very poor, indoor plumbing is definitly a luxury item, only for the richest people in the village. And those people are the ones who host the tourists in their homes! Amazing how everything in our lives is just an "extra" compared to these people. It's a good eye opener for Derrick, I believe.

We hiked a total of 28 KM in three days! I loved getting out and being in nature and it feels so good to exercise. Along the way, I met a very nice Vietnamese man named Kien. He was very passionate about learning English, so I spent many hours helping him with pronunciation, phonics, etc. He was also very good looking :) But, what I loved about Kien is that he opened up my eyes to how important learning English is for them. It is a survival tool they need in order to make money. He opened my eyes to how much I have learned how to be an English teacher and how I am looking forward to doing this more, just in a different environment. I have many tools to give and want to give them to the people who need them most. So now, I am on a journey to figure out how to do this. I guess Sister Mary Lee is calling my name again!

I miss you all and hope you are well. Looking forward to returning to the States in June!

When Broken Glass Floats

2008-09-06T02:24:00.000-07:00

As I chatted with a very close person to me today, I realized where his pain comes from. He swells with pain that comes from the absence of love in his life. The absence of a certain love. A Mother's Love.

I believe that there is nothing else of more power than the feelings that eminate from a mother to her child. A Mother's Love fills us, the children, with energy, confidence, HOPE. A feeling that we can achieve all of our greatest dreams. Mother's are the backbone of the world. Without them we are non-existant.

A Mother's Love is of the purest form, like mountain water that first sees the sunlight, like a new flowering bud during the first weeks of spring. Mother's Love is powerful, it can make us and break us. When we cannot feel our Mother's Love we are on a constant journey to reach it again.

Sally Sells Seashells

2008-09-02T03:47:00.000-07:00

I need someone to pinch me, I must be dreaming. But...I know I am not. As I plop my somewhat overweight body (for Jess that is) onto my beach chair, I am in paradise. I've worked so hard to do this and I am finally reaping the fruits of my labor.

I woke up at 6 AM, ran out my door and headed for a morning walk on the beach. How awesome it is to walk outside on Tuesday morning and have the East China Sea as my backyard. At 8 AM we met our Welsh and New Zealand friends for kayaking. It was fantastic! The water here is so blue and the lush, green mountains shoot right out of it. We kayaked to a small rocky beach where I now have a new collection of the most enormous seashells. I can now officially be Sally who sells seashells at the Seashore!

As I sit on the beach and look out at the cerulean blue waters I wonder to myself, why am I here? I think of Facebook. Each time I log onto Facebook, I see my classmates from HS, living in Dubuque, raising a family and doing the same same. I feel so young at 27, but I am living such a rich lifestyle. Why do I choose this and others don't? Why do they choose to settle down? There is so much to see and experience in this expansive world, I can't understand, but I want to. Let me know your thoughts on this...I keep thinking of it and want to hear others perspectives and ideas. Why do we choose the paths we do? Hmmm....

Well, tomorrow I am off to snorkel, while the others go scuba diving. We are not even half way up the Vietnam coast yet. At least 6 weeks more, so stay tuned if you choose to hear about my travels....keep me posted on your thoughts and ideas of this blog....it keeps me thinking, growing and trying to understand all people's roles in this life. Peace until then.....

The Mekong Delta

2008-08-29T03:39:00.000-07:00

Wow! What an amazing lifestyle! One river completely shapes the way these people live! The Mekong is a beautiful area, full of traditional Vietnamese people.

We did the tour thing, which just about drove me crazy, but that is kinda how traveling in Vietnam is. But we met interesting people, so that was a benefit. Last night was the best for me. After a long day with the tourist crowd, there were 7 of us who decided to stay at a homestay place. Well, we trampled into a rickety old boat in complete darkness last night and our boat driver took us for a beautiful, awe inspring boat ride down the Mekong. It was fabulous! I haven't seen so many stars in such a long, long time! Beautiful stars, thousands! It was so peaceful and calm. I loved looking into the people's dailyness of life. We were able to peak into the private lives of these people by looking in their windows and doors of the little river shacks they live in. I am just amazed every country I go to, how simple people still live these days. Life doesn't have to be complicated, we make it that way.

The Mekong is their survival. They brush their teeth in it, do their laundry in the dirt brown water, the use it as drinking water, everything! We went to a floating market where everyone just goes grocery shopping from boat to boat. We also took the "classic ride" down the Mekong. The picturesque ride of an old person rowing you down in a traditional boat in an canal of trees and nothing else could be seen. I was loving it. And just like that it was over. As they dropped us off at our bigger boat, the beautiful, "tradional" scene was then over, as the old people whipped on the motors of their boats and took off to do the same tourist trap ride! Ha Ha! I could do nothing more than just laugh at this scene!

Next we are headed off to DaLat, Vietnam. I don't know what we will find, but hopefully some scooters to rent and some peace and quite. Hope you all are well, take care and I miss you!

The Agent "Mr. Orange"

2008-08-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I am in Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam right now. I've been here for three days and I feel a little crazy. Crazy because I don't think life is all too strange here. I am used to it now from living in Taiwan. I actually feel like Saigon is much better because they have lots of trees and fresh air compared to Taiwan!

The last couple days have been all about the Vietnam War. I learned all about Ho Chi Minh, who is the man who wanted Communism here. We went to the War Museum! Wow! It's amazing that this war still affects these people today! The pictures of what the American bombs did to these people were horrifying. Children born in 1991 still come out all deformed because their parents were exposed to Agent Organge. Napalm victims in many places! What damage a war can cause. It just makes me think of what we are doing in the Middle East! The last effects war has on a place are inmeasurable...

We also went to the Cu Chi Tunnels today. This is where the Viet Khong, (the Vietnamese Communist Soldiers) build hundreds of Kilometers of underground tunnels to kill the American soldiers. It's amazing. We went into the tunnels that they have made bigger for the Western tourists to go in and I was still crawling on my hands and knees to get in it! I highly reccommend reading about the Cu Chi Guerilla fighters. They are the ones who made America loose the war! So, Vietnam is a Communist country today because of these people. Truly amazing! Oh Yeah! And I got to fire an AK47 automatic rifle. Now that baby had a kick!

Tomorrow we are spending two days on the Mekong Delta. We will spend the night with a host family, do boat rides, floating markets and the like. I don't feel shocked at all here. Just like normal life for me. Very similar to Taiwan in many ways. Thoughthe Vietnamese are exceptionally friendly and very beautiful!

I will post photos as soon as I can! Hope you all are well!

It's time....

2008-08-14T16:27:00.001-07:00

It's time for me to hit the road again. I am off to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia for the next 2 months! I am excited and hope everything goes well! Stay tuned for more insights.....

Asian Affair

2008-05-27T17:58:00.000-07:00

Asian nights

by Daniel Reid

I love the glow of Asian nights,
Streets ablaze in neon lights;
The heat and noise of throbbing crowds,
The swirling sea of gaudy sights.

I love the smell of Asian nights,
Kitchen smoke and pungent spice;
The mingled must of sweet and sour,
The heady scent of sweat and flowers.

I love the sound of Asian nights,
Temple bells and cocktail ice;
Shouting touts and chanting monks,
The siren song of tender vice.

I often dream of Asian nights,
With all her charms and soft delights;
If I could have one wish today,
I’d be in Asia’s arms tonight.

What do I love about Asia? Why do I have this strange connection with it? Ever since I met my first Asian man, his name was Kay, when i was 8 years old, at Joyce Connor's house, I've been enthralled with this culture. As I sit out in front of Bert's Music Cafe I ponder the Asian world.

Do I love Asia for it's rickety, exhausted scooters flying by? No, I don't think so. Is it the many colors and designs of face masks and moto helmets? Maybe. How about all the random noises of garbage trucks, Wa Guay Men at 7 AM and dogs barking outside of my window? No, definitely not. And it is certainly not the 90 degree humid weather at 8 AM!

It might possibly be all of this randomness mixed together with beautiful rice paddies, international friends, TAO temples, freedom, lack of enforced laws, intricate characters printed on everything. It also just might be my students and their passion of learning English and discovering culture, the tropical flowers and lush mountains. The conglomeration of all this randomness and the hoards of people packed in like sardines might be another reason why I love Asia. Whatever it is, I feel strong about it.

Something has been telling me ever since I got there that this is where I belong at the moment. That's why I made the decision to not go back to the States, why I took a trip to the Philippines and why I continue to make a way of life here.

I've also come to learn that I can always rely and know that change will always occur. I will keep my heart and my mind. But now, I need to go to work.

2008-05-08T02:04:00.000-07:00

Photo: Daraga, Philippines

I have always viewed my life like a journey up a mountain. Today, I rode my bicycle up Bai Guo Shan, shan means mountain in Chinese. It was a very difficult and tiring ride. As I was slowly rode up this challenging shan, I had a lot of realizations.

I realized that when I ride my bicycle up a mountain, it is a very slow process. I have to work very hard, the sweat rolls off my body, even my arms! We cannot go up mountains very quickly. Even if we are very strong, climbing up a mountain is still in the slow category. No matter how hard we try, the mountains makes us aware of each pedal stroke, each step along it's path. We cannot rush.

So as this idea was brought to my attention, I realized that we cannot rush this journey. If we rush, we will burn out and not make it to the top. We need to take it easy, climb the mountain at a steady pace and enjoy the scenery as we go by. Bonnie said "Climbing a mountain is not an easy thing." I don't know why I ever thought it was!

As we continue the mountain of life, we need to be aware that it's not always going to be easy. Parts will be difficult. At times the mountain will flatten out a bit and give us a break. But remember, that the switchbacks will come and keep us always reaching for the top, forks in the path will arise and we will have to make a choice.

The future will always be unforeseen, this is why we must focus on what we have, TODAY.

What I've been waiting for!

2008-04-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

I have this amazing friend! She is the most beautiful person! Her eyes are like blossoming flowers, full of energy and a love for life. She is a strong and courageous woman, never afraid to speak her mind. She is the person I have been looking for, for a long time in my life. I feel so fortunate to have been able to meet her and share life with her. She brings a spark to my mind, body and soul. After spending time with her, my world feels completely positive! No man could ever make me feel the way she does.

I am so happy for the both of us. We are passionate dreamers and creators. We live each day to bring our dreams into reality. We are not afraid to be the women we were born to be! Laura Michelle Andrew paints my world in Technicolor! I thank the universe for bringing us together!

Saving Face

2008-04-20T16:05:00.000-07:00

What are we saving ourselves for? The time is NOW. If we have a desire to do something we need to let ourselves do it.

We need to stop saying "We will do it next time." There may be no "next time." We only have "this time." This moment.

Gather your friends, family and enemies...unite, embrace, educate, communicate, defeat ignorance.

Let's learn from each other, put our egos aside. I've had to try and do this a lot recently and wow! It can be very difficult to put our egos aside, bite our tounges and just listen with open ears, open heart and an open mind. Something good for us all to practice....

Old Man

2008-03-25T05:34:00.000-07:00

Old Man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you were......

What I have come to realize is that we all are more alike than we are different. Bonnie would always ask, "If we are mostly made of water, are we mostly the same? Something to think about."

Well, Bonnie, I've been thinking about this idea. We are mostly the same. The differences that lie between us are simple. Languages, houses, modes of transportation, religions, etc. But at the core of it all, we are the same. We all breathe, think, eat, learn, grow, laugh, cry, communicate. But most of all, we love. We all care about someone or something. We all strive to be happy. We all have a family.

As I sat in a traditional house in Taiwan one rainy night, I realized how similar we are. I was nervous to enter the house. Not knowing any of the language, feeling a bit insecure. But as I sat there in the living room with the family I watched what was going on. What was going on, was the same exact thing going on with any family. People watching T.V., parents and grandparents teaching the children how to talk, play and learn. Aunts and uncles sitting around chatting with each other, relaxing on a Sunday night. I thought to myself, this is exactly what my family is doing right now. Why do we tend to think that people from other countries, backgrounds and origins are so different? I guess another misconception floating around the world.

I try to imagine what it might be like if we all embraced each other with open arms, open minds and open hearts....what would the world look like? How would we feel? What would we hear? My senses are starting to tingle with an electric hope!

Switch it On!

2008-02-24T18:48:00.000-08:00

Aliright.....it's time for Chinese again! I am back HOME to Taiwan. Crazy, to call Taiwan my home, but I do feel this way now...well for the time being.

As I drove the bus home from Taipei last night, I took it in through a whole different lense. What I used to think was ugly, dirty, polluted and full of too many people, now seems clean, and not so many people! Amazing how visiting a different country can compeletly change one's persepctive.

Our brain's are amazing machines inside of our bodies. They produce so many thoughts, ideas, actions and perform so many functions. Culture shock is a good trick for it to learn how to deal with. When I first got to the Philippines I had a bit of culture shock, English signs, English being spoken, being able to speak to people. I didn't know quite how to handle it. Now, it's just the opposite again. I am back in my silent world. Back to getting my pointer finger out when I want something to eat or drink. My mouth now has to learn to be shut again. But hopefully not for too long, in 3 months my Chinese should be much better.

I have two weeks left of my vacation that I am going to dedicate to getting my life off on the right foot here. Finding a place to live, getting that set up, relaxing, exploring Taiwan and making some art. I hope this finds you all in peace and thanks for following my travels. May there be many more to come for all of us and let's work together, focus our energies and keep the positive vibes flowing.

Peace and Love!
Jess

Mountain Mama

2008-02-21T17:18:00.000-08:00

Well...Beach life....hmmm....

It's not the life for me. I'm currently in Borocay, Philippines. My first experience at the true, picture perfect beach atmosphere, white beaches, teal blue water, fruity drinks, etc.

It's been nice to experience this, but it also lets me know that I prefer the mountains. I find nothing more relaxing than just walking and walking for hours thru trees, where peace and quite are easy to feel. I love the sound of the ocean waves, but I've come to truly hate sand! Sand in my hair, stuck on my arms, legs, sand in my shoes, in my camera, ugh..... I love the way the trees protect me from the sun too!

I am still really enjoying my trip and I am learning lots about myself and about the Philippines. Though, I've decided to head back to Taiwan early. I'm tired of being in a country full of dishonest people. Everywhere I go people seem to be trying to rip me off or just get the most money out of me as possible. It gets real old, so do the shitty conditions of places to stay, food to eat, water, etc.

Living and traveling abroad and working on the Indian Reservations has made me realize how lucky Americans are and they don't know it! (once again!) I miss being able to turn on my faucet in the house and just drink the damn water out of it! I miss being able to turn the shower on and have nice warm water come out of it. People in American don't realize this, but most countries don't have these water luxuiries. Americans need to wake up and say "thank you" to the fact that water is easy for them to have, use and get.

Really...when I travel I've learned that I prefer to travel with someone. It's so much more fun to have someone to share my experience with and a shoulder to lean on. I needed to travel alone to do this for myself, to tell my kids one day that I was able to step out of my comfort box, take a risk and do something on my own, to hopefully inspire them to do it was well. But, Backpacking is a tiring affair. By the time I leave I will have traveled for about 20 days. That is enough for me. Also, if I was a male I would feel completely different. I do not feel safe traveling alone in the Philippines. I don't like the looks I get from the Pilipino men....it is scary....

Another realization is that I truly am a "homebody". My heart has spelled out for me what is important to me, one is travel, but most importantly it is being in a place where it feels like "home" where I can relax, be around good people and just take my time. What is amazing is that I feel like Yuanlin gives me this. I look forward to going back to Taiwan where I have a family of great friends waiting for me and plenty adventure around every weekend!

It's been good to step out of the Taiwan forest and be able to see all the trees in my life. I've accomplished everything I've wanted to get out of this experience and I feel successful. Stay tuned for more insights.....this trip will bring many more to my mind......

Plastic bags

2008-02-14T23:35:00.001-08:00

May today there be peace within. May you trust the spirit that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of hope. May you use those figts that you have recieved and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of the spirit. Let its presence settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and everyone of us.

This prayer was sent to me by my 6th grade teacher recently. It is the only thing keeping my soul afloat as I just spent a saddening day in Manila.

Manila is a place of extreme poverty. It is also the consumer mecca of the world. It has the Mall of Asia, as well as at least 6 other malls, tons of street markets and mass confusion everywhere. From living in Taiwan to now traveling in the Philippines, I know where all this "stuff" comes from in the world.

How is it that these malls and markets are full of people buying all kinds of "stuff", but if you look on the streets there are children sleeping on cardboard boxes, slums full of families just trying to make it thru the day, pollution fills the air, it makes me sick to breathe.

Today, I was in the middle of some crazy market and I was watching at least 10 children on a Friday afternoon, when they should be in school, selling plastic bags on the streets. Yep! Plastic bags, the kind you get at every Wal-Mart store in America! 10 pesos per bag they sell. They are filthy dirty, no shoes, ragged clothes. Why is this happening?

My heart is sickened...saddened. I realize today how in-tune I am with my surroundings. My soul feels all the vibrations in the air. I realized today that my mission in life is to try and help create equality for all children. I am not sure how I am going to do this, but I had a good education today and my eyes are now open.

Though, I officially hate Manila now, I am glad that I spent the day here to realize why I am here on this earth.

On to Borocay, to read, relax, meditate and bring clairity into my life.

I ask you all one thing....Please, when you go to the store to buy groceries, clothing, or whatever it is you want to buy, bring your own bag. Buy eliminating even one bag, we are helping the children of the world. Thanks!

Donsol, Philippines

2008-02-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

I just had an amazing time in Donsol, Philippines. It's one out of two places in the world where you get to swim with the whale sharks. Google them! They are absolutley huge!

When we would jump into the ocean we would be right on top of the whale. so close I could reach out and touch it. Huge mouths, with little fish hanging out of them. My anxiety was high becuase I get a bit scared in the water especially when we are looking for huge whales! When we would see them, i just stopped in total awe and amazement! Everyone else kept swimming after them ,but i was so ful of awe that I would forget to keep swimming. It was a once in a lifetime experience and now I have a bad sunburn! Yikes! I am so tan though, it 's awesome!

Now I will be spending the next two days in Manila, going shopping for clothes and waiting to head to Borocay.

The most beautiful thing about this country so far is the children. Everywehre we go they say "hello" and they want thier pictures taken. I will have lots of beautiful photos of children! Well, I have to go....I 'll write more soon!

Banaue to Bontoc

2008-02-08T22:18:00.000-08:00

Wow! I've already been to many places. It's amazing...but what is most amazing is that I believe someone was looking our for me while I was here. I think my Gramma Sahm sent me a guardian angel.

In the Manila bus station I met my traveling partner. He is a nice German guy named Kai. We have been headed in the same direction most of the time and we are good at traveling together. He is always getting the best prices and teaching me the ways to travel. It is very, very awesome! The Germans, they know where it is at!

So, the first place we headed was Banaue, home to the famous rice terraces, the 8th wonder of the world. The guide book said that the rice terraces in Batad were better, so we hiked up a mountain for 2 hours and then walked into town. Batad has barely any electricty, no hot water and the only way in is to walk. It was so awesome! We traversed through the rice terraces all day, saw a big waterfall and enjoyed talking with the local people. We stayed at Rita's. Rita is a very old, Ifuago Native of Batad. I had a beautiful evening with her. She told me all about her life and she taught me how to prepare the rice for the grinding. So we talked about life and shredded a bundle of rice together. I loved looking at her old hands, rugged feet, her smile with no front teeth and imagining what a hard life she has had. It has been the best part of my travles so far.

Then we woke up early the next morning and headed to Banaue. We walked out of Batad at 6 AM, up the beautiful mountain. THere is nothing better than waking up in the morning and the first thing you get to do is hike in the mountains! After walking almost two hours out, we hopped on top of a jeepeny and made our way back to Banaue. Then we hopped a bus to Bontoc on our way to Sagada.

Transportation is absolutely crazy here. The main mode is jeepeny. Google Image a jeepney, there is no way to describe them!

So, we took a beautiful bus ride through the mountains, with rice terraces everywhere. It reminded me a bit of Colorado! On the crowded bus we met up with 3 Spanish girls and we had a good talk with them. They were also headed to Sagada. So all 5 of us headed to Sagada on top of the Jeepney. I felt so free and full of life!

Sagad was a nice little mountain tomb, where we went hiking to see 500 year old coffins. It was pretty interesting...the landscape is the most amazing.

Now Kai and I are headed back to Manila. Manila is kinda of the hub. We half to go there to get other places. So we are waiting in Bontoc for a 12 hour bus ride to Manila. We just had a wonderful lunch of bread and a can of sardines next to the dirtiest river ever! But, there were beautiful kids swimming butt naked in the river with the cattle and they happily posed for camera shots. Then some more kids came by us, they are so interested in us and we did a huge photo shoot with them! They are so wonderful. This has been the second highlight of my trip, it makes me realize that I truly love kids!

So, onward ho to Manila. We may either go to a volcanoe tomorrow or just head down to the beach to swim with whale sharks. I will let you know how it all goes. Miss you all!

Manilahh!

2008-02-06T02:55:00.001-08:00

Wow! I'm here! I'm not quite sure what to think. I'm just trying to take it easy and once again, adjust to culture shock.

Manila is reminding me of what I picture a "spanish harlem" to look like. Colorful, lots of people, cars, jeepneys, dirtyness all mixed in together with KFC's, McDonald's and of course 7-11's.

Being here makes me once again feel like a wealthy westerner. I've been the only non-fillipino person at the bus station all day.

The people are absolutely beautiful! Beautiful skin, hair, smiles. . .hard working people.

It's 90 degrees here today and I am loving the heat and sunshine. Taiwan has been cold, damp and gray....only a couple more hours and I will be headed to my first destination, Banaue.

Stay tuned....

2008-01-14T09:06:00.000-08:00

Life keeps on going. No matter what we try to do, we cannot control the perpetual flow of time. All we can do is to make sure that ourselves are awake at the steering wheel of our life.

Life has been a blur for me these past six months. I really have had no control over what is coming in and going out in my life. I am living in oblivion. Which tends to be real nice for a while. But as I was laying in bed tonight finsihing a movie, I had a huge awakening. Where have I been? What have I been doing? My life has been going so fast I can't see it!

I'm idling, but I'm not. Taiwan is confusing me. I am not sure what to think at the moment. The craziness of life here cannot be explained, only experienced, thru a hands on approach. The hum of the scooters, the grey of the pollution, the way the Tao rainbow dragon lights up the eyes. The Asian mist has a way of encompassing a soul and holding onto it with a tight grip. It begins to squeeze the life out of it and then reprieves us with it's beauty.

Asia is a strong woman, with a big heart. She tries to impress our souls with all of her mysterious allures of temples, buddahs, mountains and freedom. It's not hard to get sucked into her world.

I've been so caught up in it and feel that I am ready to leave. But her hold is so mighty, that if I leave, I will be scared. No one will understand me. No one will understand what I have been through. I may be more alone than if I choose to stay.

Somehow I've changed. Taiwan has brought me into a new circle of life that I have yet to understand. I am looking, searching and trying to see, but the haze is blinding my vision. Hopefully tomorrow, Asia will be generous and bring a breeze to clear my mind.

Election Weekend

2008-01-11T03:30:00.000-08:00

Wow! Elections in Taiwan! What an experience! Tomorrow the Taiwanese
will vote for their next president. It is very different than how things are done
in the states.

All day, supporters have been driving around in trucks and cars with loud
horns on them. Projecting from these automobiles is obnoxious Chinese
voices telling us all who to vote for. It is noise pollution to the 100th degree!
Then in the middle of big interesections they stop traffic to light off firecrackers
by the brick full, bottle rockets, big fireworks, like we would see on the fouth of
July and parades of lights and flags of all the candidates! It is total craziness!

The Taiwanese would have it no other way! Why is this the craziest place I have even been? Why do they not understand what noise violations are? Why do the work and work and work, get taken advantage of by their employers and put up with this? I cannot understand it! All I can say is that it is "fong quang" which in Chinese means "Crazy!"

I have been living here for 6 months now. This picture I took last Sunday. It was the first time I ever saw this many mountains outside of my town. I never knew they existed. They are always covered by pollution. It is the Taiwan beauty hidden behind a culture that is struggling to emerge into the 21st century.

Craziness!

My brother

2008-01-09T06:32:00.001-08:00

My Brother Luke is a crazy guy
He does not sit around and let life pass him by

He is witty and charming, a smile from ear to ear
When he is with me I have no fear

Childhood companion, mentor to me
Everything I am not, but enjoy it vicariously

Since he came to Taiwan, he lit up my heart
Now I wish we would never part

But onward Ho! We all must go
We are living our lives with an artistic flow

I am off to travel and explore what's here
Inspired by my brother, his spirit is near

Law of Attraction

2008-01-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

A year in one's life can be many things,
Slow motion, fast forward, the telephone rings

Who or what is on the other end
Only one way to find out
as the path curves and bends

Experiences, travels, knowledge expands,
Follow the dreams your heart demands
For there's only one way to discover your life
Stop out of the box
There will be a little strife

Nobody said it was easy to do
A seeker will search for the path that's true

In one year's time there's much to release
Uncover your spirit
And you will find peace

JS 12/25/07