Power 4 on the Gratitude List

An attitude of gratitude!   As I pass my 10-days-remaining mark, I seek to really integrate this experience into my heart and my head.  Here's what comes barreling through:

#1#1#1: New friends and teachers. At the end of most yoga classes I, following the lead fo the instructor, put my hands near my heart, stretch upwards through my tip toppiest vertebra, but bow my chin deeply towards my heart and say Namaste.  Namaste means that I salute the teacher in you (and you, and you, and you.) It means thank you for being you. It is a reminder that everyone I meet along the journey is a teacher. Each in their own way. 

New Zealand is full of some of the sweetest, biggest-hearted folks I've come across.  I remember the first day I met Victoria, she put everything down to show me the lay of campus: Where the coffee lives, and where the Wifi is strongest. ("Wait a minute. strike that.. reverse it." -Willy Wonka) 

And Richard, who I seem to run into 100% of the times I make it to the library. Conversations with this Irish Samoan are too interesting to forgo for something like a bit of studying. (I'll study when I'm dead.)(JK, I am study enough when I'm alive, I'll become a mental loafer when I'm dead.) 

My flatmates of course have had the most positive influence of this experience. We're all away from home, but our little apartment has become a place of refuge. We sing songs, strum ukelele, tape drawings on the fridge, and cook up some of the most tasty, gourmet foods imaginable!

#2) Living by the sea shore. So I've probably averaged less than an hour of beach time every other week, but oh boy, the sea, she's a strong one.  At this moment the sound of dripping rain praises the windowsill.  It is a constant sound and it feels like the ocean.

I remember one of the first times I really connected at the beach. I laid out my travel yoga mat and came into tree pose. Usually my knees bow in and out, my ankles quiver, and I feel like a lopsided sapling. But not by the ocean. It was so interesting to notice how the element of water grounded me firmly into the sand. The wind was blowing hard, but my body barely wavered. The ocean is incredible. I am beginning to see why epic books often feature her. 

#3) Insomnia. Sleepless nights used to freak me out. I've read too much research about how we're primed to get a certain amount of ZzzzzZZzzs, and how quickly we fall into disrepair without enough REMs. 

But I have come to see sleeplessness isn't really a curse. It has enabled me to watch some really good movies, make beautiful art, and learn more about myself through journaling.  It seems like an opportunity for good rest always comes around eventually with divine timing.

#4) Classes. Two in particular have been hugely challenging. But that whole saying about coming through a struggle stronger (and smarter) really is true.  With that being said, I had better not push my luck: finals begin in 2 days!

I'm grateful to know more about how the Maori conceptualize health. They acknowledge all aspects, including family, physical, mental, and spiritual.

My intro to Maori culture teachers are probably the most captivating, humorous lecturers I've ever met, and I'm grateful that that doesn't come at the expense of learning-- actually it enhances the breadth of the content, allowing it to become part of real life!

Its hard to not group my whole experience here into my momentary feeling about it.  So I'll just say: this momentary feeling about it certainly is part of my whole experience here in NZ.  I feel lucky to be here and so excited to be homeward bound soon.  

Quiet Sunday

Kittens in Mittens

Hi folks of America! 

It's Sunday in Christchurch and I can't fathom where the 300,000 people of this town go...  it's so quiet!  There are a few people who are out getting exercise,  hoofing it to and fro across the sidewalks, but aside from that it is quiet, quiet, quiet. 

Delicious Kiwi study snack

Today marks the beginning of my official last month in New Zealand.  As always, I am seeking the positive aspects of this journey.  When people ask why I came here,  I feel confounded because I can't really make sense of what prompted me to move half a world away.  I'm still figuring this one out.  

Playing around on my phone again

I can't wait to give my dog a big hug and appreciate how awesome it is to have a car again!!!!

Our microwave is full of stamina. This porcelain plate wasn't up to the task, apparently.

hellllloooooo up there!

I found this tiny piece of paper as I was doing yoga, a forward fold to be specific, in my room.... 

Ear Candy for Mother Earth

Here's a beautiful song written by Moana Maniapoto, a Maori woman.  It is "a song of solidarity to the Maui dolphins, very much an endangered species in NZ waters.  The dolphin will go the same way at the now extinct Totoroi (native quail)."

She's singing in Te Reo,  the Maori language.  I recognized the word rangatira.  Like te ao Maori (the Maori worldviews), there is a lot of intersection between words and concepts.  Rangatira, as I understand it, conveys the meaning of chieftanship. Within that there are ideas of family, the relationship and obligations between humans with nature, power (mana), and untouchable sacredness (tapu).

With all that being said, give it a listen; in true form, the sounds convey it best.

Love your mother earth, treat her kindly, and enjoy the beautiful music:

https://soundcloud.com/moana-3/upokohue

Flying Buddha and the Quixotic Autumn

Hi guys and gals!

Hoping that the spring most of you are enjoying feels refreshing and smells delicious!   It's been rainy here too,  but without the promise of hot summer days ahead.  My body doesn't get it.  

The days are getting shorter, yet the flowers continue to bloom. No comprende. 

I'm looking ahead to only three more weeks of classes,  then finals,  then pretty much straight away headed back to the states! 

May is NZ music month.  Check out any of these guys! 

It's probably a little to early to start waxing poetic about how this experience has been,  so I'll save or for a later blog.  In the mean time I'll take note of a few things of varying interestingness.
In my " Maori health perspectives" class I'm learning about the deep importance of family as am aspect of health.  We watched a fantastic documentary about a Maori family with a genetic disorder.  Through very pressing times,  whanau (Pronounced:pheynow) are the well of strength. 

I'm coming to enjoy statistics more every day.  It doesn't come easy to me,  but the examples we use in classes come from real life scenarios,  which is very cool.  I imagine all the ways I could use stats in my own life. 

As always,  food is a favorite subject for discussion.  Purple cabbage is my choice pick veggie right now.  Oh yeah,  I forgot to mention that carrots are very tasty here: always sweet,  never with that bitter taste.  

Is this paleo?! *flexes arm muscle*

I've been taking action to get stronger.  The Rec center offers a variety of free classes every day,  so despite my urge to hermit away,  I just can't pass up the opportunity for free motivation.  Aside from fitness classes,  I went to a Buddhist meditation and also am acrobatic yoga workshop last week. They were both refreshing and interesting!

Proud to announce I was climbing across the wall race champion! 

The only thing better than doing yoga, is having someone else do yoga for you! Heheheh

Flying buddha! 

Wishing you health and wellness in the most robust sense of the term. 
Love,
Darwin

On Climbing Mountains

I am so inspired by this quote from Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance.  

“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you’re no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn’t just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here’s where things grow.” P199 - Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

October 2013 Trip to Jackson, WY for some backcountry snowboarding

We Yell

Food foraging on campus -- walnuts and lemons, oh my!

Practicing photo editing on my Samsung galaxy S4. 

Forgiveness. (Read caption)

A confoundingly green autumn day.

More typical autumn colors

Tree working that ombre effect without bleach

Nachos!

Speaking loud and being surrounded by Americans:

My Austrian roommate,  (Viennese, she'd have me emphasize) made a spry comment about her experience of international living and laughing.  She's always witty and quick, but the way this realization hit her clear as day made for a memorable moment of humorous honesty:

"Back home I am somewhat of am anomaly. .. I can't help it that when I find something really funny, I LAUGH.  Some girls can contain themselves with a tiny little giggle...."

(She proceeds to coyly cover her mouth and feign timid noises of delight. ...)

".. but me,  when I find something really funny,  I LAUGH.  loud!  I kid you not:

back home I am accustomed to my friends telling me to 'Frankie, Please Be Quieter,  You're Being So Louuuud,'  on average 3  times a day.  But here,  surrounded by Americans,  it has been almost 3 months and I haven't been asked to quiet down even once! !!!!!"

Ah,  international revelations.  It was so sweet to see how thrilled dear Frankie was to realize that not only is she not being asked to politely Shut Up on a regular basis, but the joy of discovering that she is rarely even in the top 10% of the loudest people in a given room!

Zen and the Art of Curry Sauce

I'm sleepy because I have been up all night soaking in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence by Robert Pirsig. I found a copy at the library that has been in the library's circulation since April 14th, 1993. It wears its age well.

The book is part travel journey and part philosophical ramblings:  not much different from my own life, but addicting in its articulate complexity.  It really gets my wheels rolling.

I finally made it the farmers market with my roommates!  We planned to leave at 9, but didn't get out of the house until ten owing to a purring fluff machine of a kitty who decided we were to adopt him. 

We named him Sparkle Jones. It took us ~12 hours to begrudgingly call the phone number on his collar.

The farmers market was great.  I felt a little sore missing the deals all my local farmers give me on produce,  but ended up with a beautiful haul of early autumnal veggies.

NZ Queen apples, yum. And carrots taste magical here. Sweet and crunchy. 

 As I write,  a thick pan of saag simmers on the stove top. It will taste so good with brown rice, yum! (ingredients: ginger,  garlic,  curry powder and paste,  boiled spinach and coconut milk)

Soggy Saag, made with farmers market spinach.

The main difference I noticed (it seems that a great percentage of my mental capacity is dedicated to comparison and contrasts) is that this farmers market was bustling with a huge variety of artisan products like cakes,  beads,  cheeses,  honeys, cured meats, hummuses (?Word?), scones,  teas,  etc.  whereas the Taos farmers market is predominantly produce.  The produce here was fairly pricey,  but not entirely out of college student budget expensive. 

This stall wins presentation hands down. Look at the flowers on those cakes!

Bustling Christchurch / Canterbury farmers market.

This cutie selling raspberries had raspberry colored cheeks!

Enjoying a fresh-picked apple by the Avon river

Bamboo shade on a prodigal saturday

Speaking of college budget: I am pleased to inform you of my university's apparently new and pretty effective marketing campaign. It seems that kiwi advertisers are finally getting savvy to the fact that sex sells.  This handsome fellow was staring back at me from bus billboard.

I didn't realize until after I crossed the Pacific ocean that this fellow doesn't accurately reflect the average uni population

Tonight is my last night before classes get rolling again.  It'll be back to the daily routine for another 6 weeks.  Keeping a positive mindset and staying integrated with my experience is my highest intention right now.  I'm keeping faith that the answers I seek will follow. 

Positive psychology works:  using adjectives like these help me maintain an attitude of gratitude.

Doodle of Disco.  I want to add a flower in there, too. Free time is the best.

Two drawings on tracing paper come together for a spooky but soothing effect.