Who am I, Who are you?

If someone asks you, who are you? What would you say? You'll stop and try to analyze what it is that person really wants to hear. It's a big question you'll spend your while life trying to answer.

Of course we want strangers to think the best of us, unless of course you hope to never see them again.

Some people spend their whole lives trying to fit into mainstream society, to cover up mishaps and blemishes, but it is those very things that make us the people we are.

Who am I? I started thinking about that as I was staring at a manikin at work. I hate manakins, but I liked that one. I feel the same way about fire hydrants, either I love it or hate it (usually really like them). I've paraglided, surfed, climbed, but I'm afraid of balloons. You that moment when you're just waiting for it to pop! I love ramen noodles, the rain, and chinese market gardens. Clean Freak. Giving blood makes me black out. I travel. I am a perfectionist with ambition and drive. Love to fall asleep to good movies. Busy makes me happy.


I could go on for age about the quirkeyness we develop and prefer to call "finding ourselves..."

So Who are you?

 

This photo was taken at Boundary Stream Reserve on a volunteer trip with the Department of Conservation, New Zealand

Thinkin Out Loud

I think about my blog all the time, about what I want to write to you. I hope to say something inspiring or tell you about the adventures I've been on. Anyone can ramble on about one thing or another, and I try to focus the topics of my blog back to the journey I've put myself into.

Now I'll be honest, I'm lost. lol   No idea where I am, and slight confusion as to where I've been. My main goal was to come to New Zealand where I aspired to surf, climb, and make the most of my life.  I am in the place where I've been reborn.

As you would expect, upon my return things are different than I remember. The main difference being that I've Finally entered into the real world, away from academia and models of idealism. My head is filled with grandeur ideas and that I am meant to change the world. Here I am, now how do I change it? What am I suppose to change? Is it really my job to change it? Does it even need changing?

It's nice that I've come across the time to contemplate such things, I'm eager to do something! My flatmate who is an inspirational musician told me that if I'm passionate about something, than I should go for it, and I agree. The problem is that I'm passionate about life, and everything that makes it up! I can't spread myself too thin, but I can't concentrate myself so much that I'm blinded from the rest.

There are three areas of interest that I'm particularly motivated by: Leading Edge of Science especially to do with Wildlife, The Art of Expression- Photography and Communications, Business- the Art of Management and Entrepreneurship. It may sound like I've broken it down nicely, but these are three huge areas of interest that just begin to overlap.

Then I want to prioritize, what's most important to me?  Love, Work, Education, Friends, New Zealand, Family, Conservation, Fun, Traveling...? Just to name a few. It seems each drives me in a new direction. I could just let life happen around me, but I don't just want to go with the flow, I want to help decide where. By now you're probably thinking I think to much, lol... I shouldn't worry so much. It's important to me though. If I'm going to be passionate and put my efforts into something, I want to do it properly. I have the drive and energy to make a big difference in this world, and I want to be able to give back to the people who've helped me so much.

I think BIG.

My mom always tells me, it'll all work out. It does too. I want to make the most of my life.

Satisfaction of Life

"A traveler does not know where he is going, but a tourist does not know where he has been." -Global Gypsy

So I continue this journey into adulthood, trying to sort out my life. I have so much ambition and still seek the idealism taught in university. Though I realize that there is an enormous grey zone beyond this that makes up reality, I belive that harnessing this power of ambition is what drives society in any direction. I want to create a tidal wave that shakes the planet, where we no longer fear recession and the inability to buy unnecessary things, but rather seek satisfaction in the work we are passionate about.

We endure constant change in life and within ourselves, from that we are able to seek the treasures of this short life, and take those golden moments where others also find their passion. In any given moment each and every one of us can bring passion into our lives, and to the lives of others.

Perhaps Sheryl Crow said it best, "It's not having what you want, its wanting what you've got."

 The more materialism you have, often the more difficult happiness becomes. I first learned this on my travels to Ecuador. Some of these people were the poorest I've ever met, and the happiest. From the time I've spent with a people from all walks of life, I find that those more down to earth are better in tune with themselves.

 Commercials and advertising confuse us, selling not a product, but the idea that you can buy happiness when you purchase it. Beautiful people, cars, and clothing make us look better, happier right?  This illusion is toxic to the American society, and makes us loose sight of what it really means to be happy.

I've found a transitional niche in life, I only work about 20 hours a week (If I'm Lucky). The rest of it I ended up volunteering to the surf club, climbing wall, environmental causes... and to friends. So I've managed to make my hobbies entirely inexpensive by investing time INTO them, not AT THEM. Perhaps its a fluke, but its the most rewarding job I'll never be paid for. 

I find myself fighting to find balance in my own life, its so easy to follow main stream society. I suppose it comes down to values, find what you value most and build your life around it.

I want to give, to give everything and have nothing. People are everything, and I could never give enough to help someone find happiness in their own life, for good. We each have to take the steps towards our everyday happiness. It can be found anywhere, it's everywhere around us. Life is a roller-coaster, its time you enjoyed it!

These photos are from a bouldering trip with the Massey Alpine Club out at Lynn Hill. Many of the climbers have never climbed outdoors, never a better time to start!

Finding My Cheese

I told myself that with this blog, Journey, I'd try not to make things so "Sugar Lollipop and Dandy." Life is a journey, and a roller coaster. I find that we make time to photograph and remember the moments we enjoy in life, like finding this awesome rusted old car on the beach. We try to forget the things that bring us down, like the poor guy who lost this vehicle, and that there was absolutely no surf for the surfboard. Rather, I like to remember that it was a beautiful sunny day at the beach and in good company.

Now I'm sure you're thinking that if the worst of my problems is no surf, than what could possibly go wrong...   I'm riding up to the peak of the roller coaster, and I fear the unknown. It's a steep climb, and I'm loving it, but what goes up, must come down...

What could possibly come next? I fear the unknown, I have no idea what sharp turns will alter the path of my future. Will I stay in New Zealand? Will I get a job that pays me? Will I be swallowed up by student loans and wage slave the rest of my way through life. I'm afraid, because my eyes are opened to see the vast world before me, and endless possibilities.

 I've got to be realistic, I couldn't possibly keep up this lifestyle? What's going to happen? I've begun to close my eyes because I know the cart is about to drop or turn, fall off the track. Whats the worst that could happen? I Don't Know??!?!?

I surge onward to the unknown, surfing the beaches of New Zealand, making friends, and taking a risk- to live life...

This week I...

This week I: Organized Intro to Surf Weekend, BBQ at my house, ran in Relay for Life (200K all together), Voted Climbing Wall Officer, Fixed my Bike, couches for climbing wall, designed logo for surf club sweatshirts, liaised with important people, belaying workshop, invite to do research with Kia, and brought a group ...of people along the Tongariro Crossing in stayed in the awesome MUAC hut!!!

 

Here we are at Himatangi Beach, susin out what the waves are dishin up!

Massey Alpine Club out at the Relay for Life event. We just finished a 24 hour run where we completed over 200k, and ranked in the top 15% for placement. It was awesome! I spent the whole next day sleeping.

Twister with Gettes and Jester's Pies

You wouldn't believe me even if I told you... Excuses as to why I haven't caught you all up with my blog. So I'll just stick to the usual excuse, which is no lie, "You never know what's going to happen in New Zealand!"

I've done so much since I've been here already! So yes, in fact I was playing twister with a gette and got a free pie from a jester, whom I was later responsible for making fly off a balance board (land surf board). Whoops!  I've been surfing, climbing, high-lining, slacklining, rafting, kayaking, tramping, backpacking, exploring caves, and swimming in the most spectacular places on the planet. 

So having said that, I'm sorry I haven't spent the time to tell you all about it until now. Sleep is overrated right?

 

I told you, you wouldn't believe me... I guess I'll have to let the pics speak for themselves...

These Scenery Pics are from Able Tasman National Park, South Island New Zealand. I met up with a couple of backpackers in Nelson who decided to hitchhike with me to the top of the track and we'd do it together. We spent four days hiking along the Coastal Track, and I'd take another two weeks just to sit on the beach and play in the crystal blue waters. It was Spectacular!!

Kayakers make their way in and out of the coves hoping to catch a glimpse of the marine life in this beautiful sanctuary. 

 

Backpacking across the beach in a light rain shower... gotta get clean somehow!

These guys are my buddies, Chris and Katrein, the king and queen of Isla de Capri (an imaginary island we were going to create using bottles- we've already sorted out politics, dubbed "Lord of the Pineapples" and sorted a population plan for the island... now all we need to do is build it. Lol...We hitched and completed Able Tasman together!

 

You never know who you'll meet in a hostle. We're actually in a VW bus, one of the first touring vehicles in New Zealand, and just behind us there is a GIANT JINGA SET! The guy in the white had is  "Lord of the Pinapples," otherwise known as Brian.

I spent the holiday with my true love!  HAPPY VALENTINES DAY NEW ZEALAND!!!

Have I convinced you to come and see me yet? I've got a flat now, a job working at Kathmandu (outdoors store), and full access to surf equipment. Look forward to seeing you!

Valenties with True Love

Able Tasman- Coastal Track, 4 day hike!

COMING SOON!! Valentines

70 Couch Surfers Over Two Volcanos

So I've really left you guys hangin over the past few weeks, what can I say I've been having fun!

About two weeks ago now I decided to take off for the weekend because an uncertain "fish" (see reference previous blog) made last minute plans. Of course, then so did I!
Nearly 6pm already, I stuffed a large pack with anything that would deem me "self sufficient," hopped on a bike, and rode to the edge of town. After a quick chat with a lady at the gas station, she insisted that I stored my bike in the back for safer keeping. I was just going to hide it in a bush somewhere?!? lol

So I quickly threw my thumb out, not quite sure how to pronounce the name of the city I was going to, and I was off.

(I was talking to someone about hitching and just realized that I've probably ridden with over 200 people here in NZ)

I managed to get most of the way to the Tongariro crossing with my final hitch for he day, (I DO NOT HITCH AT NIGHT). I had him drop me off at a crossroads in Tongariro National Park where I'd attempt to finish my trip in the morning. My plan was to meet up with a group of Couch Surfers and do the Tongariro Crossing in the morning, only problem was that they were leaving at 7:30 am. oh yeah, and I didn't know any of them. lol

The night sky was full of shining stars in the dark sky, and the full moon came out and lit up the world once more. I threw up a tent in the native bush, and the landscape, came alive. The agave plants shook with life, and little critters, hedgehogs and bats, rodents, and a chorus of birds made the music of the night. Grinning from ear to ear, I realized, this is freedom.

In the morning, I quickly packed up my tent to throw a thumb out on an empty road. Sure enough, the minute I got there, a car stopped on the side and took me on my way.

Now I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to reach the village before the CS'ers left for the trail head. After giving it a good go, I realized my chances were better to meet them at the trail, though I wasn't sure which end they would start from. I walked along the road way for a while before I came by a shuttle station to the trail head.

Making a quick decision, I decided I had to guess the trailhead 50/50, and would hike it either way. Luckily I was able to leave my huge pack with the shuttle service and take a more reasonable day bag.

Off I went, and believe it or not, I found the CS'ers (thus the title lol). It isn't easy to coordinate that many people, so I give em dibbs! Car load after car load, they arrived.

... to be Continued

A Bigger Fish!

There's always a Guy, lol:

Sometimes, much more often than you like to admit to yourself, there is a special"someone else" who tends to influence the things you do. Now that can get complicated when you don't have a job, a house, or any set plans. Even more so if you're a bum at his house, lol.

Then reality hits. We'll keep it short and sweet, more doors just opened up and I'm lookin' for a bigger fish!