A good traveler as no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. -Lao Tzu First, in contradiction to my profile, I am NOT writing this from a temple in South East Asia. Being technologically challenged, I was unable to write a new profile without it affecting my other blog sites. Thus, this introduction. I am writing this intro from my apartment in Korla, a city in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. I arrived here yesterday, and will begin my new teaching job later this week. My plan for this blog is to chronicle my thoughts and experiences whenever I am so moved. Since I am at the beginning of a new cultural learning curve, I forsee no shortage of incidents to relate, although many of them may be at my own expense. Unlike 'Blogging the Dream,' I won't be sending out notices when I write. So feel free to check on this site whenever you have the inclination. See you soon.
The Balinese have much to teach us about the (non) art of celebration. The making of splendid occasions occupies much of their time. If you ask a Balinese what he does, he will proudly answer, "I am a Baris dancer" or "I am a mask maker." If you persist and ask again, "No, I mean how do you get your rice?" he loses interest, his voice drops, he may turn away, deciding this is a pretty boring conversation. "Oh that," he will say. -Corita Kent
This profile is written from my home of the last 6 months, a temple in South East Asia.
I began travelling at age 15; 3 months hitchhiking and train-riding thru Europe. The bug bit early, and I've wandered and wondered through some interesting spaces since.
Professionally, I hold an M.A. in psychology. I've managed EAP programs at two National Parks, created a mental health service in rural Alaska, and have worked for several community mental health centers.
I've also staffed EVERY position in food and beverage, driven a snowcoach, and poured wine in a vineyard's tastingroom. I've worked on an ambulance crew, taught at the college level, and spent a year doing magic shows across America. I was a handyman at a buddhist retreat center, a recruiter for Yellowstone Park, and an assistant manager for Thrifty's Drugstore. I've dagged sheep in New Zealand, cooked in Australia, washed dishes in Ireland, and was a gardener in a Scottish monastary. One year I had 32 jobs (and the accompanying 32 W-2 forms).
If success is measured monetarily, then I've blown it big-time. But so far so good, and when it's time to retire maybe I'll have to get a real job.