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.

Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions.”

- Peter Hoeg

I don't know who this Hoeng guy is, but he seems to have some insight into my experience.

The process of getting all my ducks in a row has been a two-fold challenge. First, I had to procure said ducks. Second, they tend to waddle off at random. When you have one or two ducks--no prob, Bob;  up but when your flock reaches a dozen or so, it starts to get a little unnerving.

But! Here I am, spending my last night in the comfort of my super cozy bed. I have successfully applied for the study abroad program through UNM, and have been accepted as an international exchange student at the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch, New Zealand.  My preliminary schedule is all set. My passport sits at attention on my shelf, fat with the hologram of my glorious and insanely necessary student visa. Next to it sits a Lonely Planet guidebook mottled with blue post-it notes, delineating the beginnings of adventyres yet to come.  Thick printed itineraries are waiting in my backpack because I don't trust in my ability to procure digital proof of the flights if something comes up.  A 10'x20' storage unit is peacefully resting in Taos, sated with boxes full of ex-room decors, books, collected letters, skis, bikes, and clothes.

 

This is everything I want to bring. Including un-enthused dog.

The hardest part will be saying peace out to my pup. Although she is currently blissfully farming to the point that i'm nearly nauseous, I still can't imagine leaving her home.  I'll miss her right down to the stanky rips.

We took a wonderful hike on our fave go-to in Taos: Devisadero Trail

Paring down my closet to fit into 2 carry on suitcases hasn't been a walk in the park. I bought these awesome vacuum seal bags that are really helping to transform my bags into dense bricks of clothes-and-no-air, but even so... Ito a challenge to not bring every awesome piece of clothing I own!!

Here's the packing list Nathalie sent me:

• 3 pants

• 1 shorts

• 1 skirt

• 5 t shirts

• 3 long sleeve

• 2 button up

• 2 dresses

• Socks

• Undies

• 3 shoes

• 1 winter jacket with boots                  

• 1 rain jacket with rain shoes

Aaaaaand.... here's what I ended up with:

• 6 pants
• 2 shorts
• 0 skirts
• 10 +/- 3 t-shirts
• 2 long sleeves
• 2 button up
• No socks or undies
• Jk
• 5 dresses :-/
• 6 shoes?!?! :-/
• 1 winter jacket with boots (which were included in the shoes count)
• 1 rain jacket

 So, tomorrow I move out completely. I'm feeling some strange mixture of contentment and anticipation.  But i'll rest well knowing that no matter what happens,  I'll have plenty of pants.

Xoxo