It's now been well over two months that I've been back in the United States after another interesting run in the eastern hemisphere. Last time it was a journey into a post disaster zone with a predetermined goal to see what I could do to make a difference following the devastating effects of Super Typhoon Hayan. For me it was the prefect undertaking; to venture at the last minute to a country I knew little about in order to get off the couch and try to help people less fortunate than myself find solutions to their crises.
I didn't know what to expect (except I envisioned myself running through a survival situation, plucking children out from under the rubble and such...). Of course, that image was far from reality, but I was lucky enough that the one organization I was accepted by was All Hands Volunteers, who not only were willing to do the dirty work that many other aid groups avoid, but were also a hell of a lot of fun to work for. After less than a month of the most rewarding work of my life, I was ready to get back out there any way I could.
The second trip to the East was slightly less exciting, crewing for a 76 year old boat owner from Georgia who needed his yacht delivered back to the states. I could go into details but I will refrain to prevent you from destroying your computer in sheer disgust. In any case I either had a position on a yacht that was likely to meet Davy Jones at the bottom of the sea, or I would have to decide to take a big leap of faith and try my hand at experiencing being homeless in Asia. After 9 days, a near fatal run in with a fishing vessel, and many other shipboard disasters the decision was made for me.
Of course, I needed to figure out how to survive in such an alien and fascinating part of the world with hardly a dime to my name. First I posted up with the Buddhists to practice the art of Vipassana for 10 days. Ten very-long-and-challenging- days I must say. But I learned a lot and like to think that ultimately it helped me to grow in some ways rather than to become totally whack in the head.
The following months had a lot of sleeping in the open, a lot of eating groundscored rice, and a lot of busking in the streets. After a week long stint as the only foreigner at the Democratic Reform Movement in Bangkok, eventually I made enough money playing in the streets to buy a ticket to Australia, where I hoped my prospects would be better...but that's for the next story.
Coming soon to a blog near you.
I didn't know what to expect (except I envisioned myself running through a survival situation, plucking children out from under the rubble and such...). Of course, that image was far from reality, but I was lucky enough that the one organization I was accepted by was All Hands Volunteers, who not only were willing to do the dirty work that many other aid groups avoid, but were also a hell of a lot of fun to work for. After less than a month of the most rewarding work of my life, I was ready to get back out there any way I could.
The second trip to the East was slightly less exciting, crewing for a 76 year old boat owner from Georgia who needed his yacht delivered back to the states. I could go into details but I will refrain to prevent you from destroying your computer in sheer disgust. In any case I either had a position on a yacht that was likely to meet Davy Jones at the bottom of the sea, or I would have to decide to take a big leap of faith and try my hand at experiencing being homeless in Asia. After 9 days, a near fatal run in with a fishing vessel, and many other shipboard disasters the decision was made for me.
Of course, I needed to figure out how to survive in such an alien and fascinating part of the world with hardly a dime to my name. First I posted up with the Buddhists to practice the art of Vipassana for 10 days. Ten very-long-and-challenging- days I must say. But I learned a lot and like to think that ultimately it helped me to grow in some ways rather than to become totally whack in the head.
The following months had a lot of sleeping in the open, a lot of eating groundscored rice, and a lot of busking in the streets. After a week long stint as the only foreigner at the Democratic Reform Movement in Bangkok, eventually I made enough money playing in the streets to buy a ticket to Australia, where I hoped my prospects would be better...but that's for the next story.
Coming soon to a blog near you.
No comments:
Post a Comment