"Portland is the best city in the world."

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Just arrived in Portland and couch surfing happily.
The quote above is most certainly accredited to Lacey who is hosting me, from when she was walking me around her neighborhood.

In any case a quick recap of Evergreen: my camera ran out of batteries and I was slow to change it so I hardly took a photo for most of my time there. Let alone a decent one. I spent 10 days in a freshman dorm enjoying the intensity of the week as all the fellows in my particular room were being arrested intermittently for taking part in protests against the Iraqi war-tanks coming through the Olympic Port. I for one had not the energy to be pepper sprayed, shot at by rubber bullets, or flashbanged so I chose to be a bit more passive and studied or found other shtuyot throughout the week.

Evergreen was a pretty cool school but I did not feel a sense of absolute contentment from some of the students and although I loved the calm atmosphere I couldn't imagine living on-campus for too long, yet I was there for probably the most 10 chaotic days imaginable. It has a number of absolutely brilliant aspects from the Organic Farm to the Independent Studies program (A graduate in the area I spoke got credit for working at an organic farm in Costa Rica one semester even!).

Olympia itself I didn't have enough to enjoy but it had a great feel to it, especially with such pleasantly moist air. Their Farmer's Market was a nice show with a number of odd stands, ie a man selling a special root from the Andes called Yacon which is like a potato but better, or the shelled black walnut stand.

In any case, I've been in Portland for 36 hours or so now it's been fairly dreary(happy winter!) but I've had a bit of time to explore the locality I am in of the Northwest sector. Lacey and Cathy who I am staying with have been incredibly welcoming and even invited me Wednesday to their annual Pie Day. A day of too much pie and friends I am guessing.

Moving on, it's time to make some hummus, and hope the rain stops so that bicycling is feasible today.

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Photos

My dorm room couch at Evergreen
breathe deep the green air!

Cool Archeticutre
I visited this building after walking 10 minutes through the rain forest.

And it's occupants
studying Ag.

Evergreen's Organic Farm
some students I spoke to there have been studying there off and on for the last 6 years. For some it's their first.

Going for a walk
With Chuckles, the lost dog that belonged to a UPS man.

Sitting in on class
Seeds of Change!

Four of my hosts, and a kitty.
From the bottom clockwise:
Tofer, Pontwam, Tree, and Pönd.

The loaner bicycle from Evergreen Bike Shop
went for a cool's day ride...

The second place I was hosted at
downstairs from the first.