Blogs from Massachusetts, United States, North America - page 118

I have become an addict. And can now understand coffee drinkers. For the day is unembraceable until my morning romp through the forest, with a stop to plant a kiss on the snout of my delicious desert mirage, Abu Dhabi. Without those uberpleasant 45 minutes of hiking, watch out world. But this morning, my soothing routine got monkey-wrenched. Luckily, my partner-in-chore roommate, Ariel, had unroutinely gotten up this morning before 7am and was pulled into the mayhem with me. She had stumbled into the common room, interrupting my morning stretch, stumbling towards the coffee-containing kitchen, when we heard a crackled radio call come through. It was the couple from the farm next door: they had news. They were now the proud owners of two pigs--that weren’t theirs. With one flash of a triple-dog-dare-ya’ grin, Ariel ... read more

I have fallen in love. He’s tall, dark and handsome, with a caramel complexion and a sexy swagger. He’s intelligent, entertaining, and emotionally expressive to boot. His hobbies include foraging, wandering and being ornery. We’re a complementary pair, although he has to stoop about 3 feet to plant one on me. His name is Abu, Abu Dhabi Camelidae. He hails from the Middle East and the Sahara. The first few days here, he was all, “'tis but a kiss I beg, Why art thou coy?” And I was all, “Why doth thou bother?” But on Day 6, as I was walking him home, sparks flew, birds chirped, stars danced, wind blew and grass grew. And we’ve been inseparable ever since. The irony is that I traveled all the way through Senegal and Mali, but had ... read more

In the hay barn, there’s this quasi-organized chore board consulted every day at 8am and 4pm. It’s fashioned with slips of laminated farm duties, turned this way or that in their makeshift slots. For a newbie like me, I can’t yet assess a chore’s water-lugging, manure-squishing or electric fence-zapping risk. So on Day 4, I asked another volunteer for guidance, and we (bravely) chose one we both hadn’t done. “Ewe Flock” it was titled. Somehow, we thought herding 100 ewes and their donkey shepherd was a reasonable novice-level chore. The task didn’t seem too daunting as we looked out over the flock of dull mammals lulling about. Mission: from pasture to night yard. I asked my partner-in-chore, Ariel: Just how does one go about this? I mean, I’d seen it done hundreds of times in Senegal ... read more

I'm baaaaaaack...... What began as a quick refresher course in Western living back home, has turned into the World's Longest Farewell Tour and an eternity of waiting and shifting moods. Reverse culture shock shifted to restlessness, to excitement to leave, which dulled to eager anticipation and onward to boredom. In the 6-week eternity of being an unemployed bum, living with my parents (as opposed to the wandering vagabond, living wherever my head found a pillow I was while traveling - which is way cooler, honestly), I nearly forgot the excitement, slipping back into a routine and a normal view of the world. I now see how your viewpoint as a transient drifter in no way resembles that of a permanent dweller, regardless of how permanent you actually are. A random conversation with a stranger or a ... read more

Well, last day in Boston today. Feeling more relaxed about the whole trip and move to Australia now that we are getting used to the idea. We'll feel like seasoned travellers once we arrive in Melbourne. The weather in Boston could not have been better. Clear blue skies all day, every day. Temperatures slowly rising to high 20's low 30's by about 5pm, then hovering around mid 20's all evening. Lovely. I am starting to lose my blue English hue and beginning to sport a rather nifty T-Shirt tan. Boston weather has been pretty much perfect, New York may be another story - could be 8 - 10 degrees warmer and a damn sight stickier. Walked our feet off again today, it's all good training for what’s to come. Made a pact to always take the ... read more