At 10 years old I learned to surf at the Ocean Experience Surf Camp in Oceanside San Diego. I got my first board at 13 – a 6’2” thruster with a drawing of Winnie the Pooh on the bottom. I was so cool. In high school I started the Westview Surf Team, the only organization that could consistently get high school teenagers out of bed to do anything before school. On more than one occasion…
Before departing my mentor asked me, “What are your goals for this trip?” An innocuous question uttered with piercing intent, or at least from the lips of a man whom I know to value every word. He is a poet. At the time I was embarrassed and surprised to find I couldn’t answer the question. To most, I could come up with a sly, passable statement that would satisfy, and probably inspire. To him, I…
My introduction to the study of linguistics came from my friend and fellow Cal lacrosse player, Kevin, who also happens to be the most intelligent man I know. Four years ago we were sitting in front of the Golden Bear Café eating sandwiches from Cheese & Stuff, “turkey, no cheese, everything, no pickles, no mustard, thanks Sam.” He was going on about a genius professor we had each heard speak by the name of George…
Living on a farm in New Berlin, Pennsylvania this summer building the manufacturing facility for our startup, Gilson Boards, the founding team discussed purchasing livestock on a few occasions. I was the strongest proponent of acquiring an animal, a pig my general organism of fancy. We would go to the auction once every two weeks to eat fish sandwiches and homemade fries, drink Mountain Dew, and search for a 100 lb. pig. We even went…
Culture shock is a picnic idea. It is the stark beauty of an open field beneath a majestic temple primed and begging for the blanket and wicker box filled with goodies. It is the excited planning of a crisp white wine, veggie platter hors d’oeuvres, deli sandwiches, with a chance of sundresses. It is the realization that none of this is possible. You haven’t seen white wine anywhere; the knowledge required to find ice to…
**I apologize to those following along and noting the absence of recent updates. Updating a website without internet access proved beyond my wizardly abilities. Thank you for your patience and support. And comments always make my day.** ________________________________________________________________ A two-hour bus ride away fellow ETA and friend, Max B., lives in a little village called Pabelan. During our two-weak orientation Max and I hit it off splendidly. With ETAs placed all over Indonesia it…
Gunung Merapi (Mount Merapi) is an active volcano hovering over the town of Kaliurang. The town is about 25 minutes north of Yogyakarta, a lush and beautiful drive up to the base of the mountain. I was invited to attend a conference with some of the other teachers in the town, but found myself quite incapable of participating due to my fledgling Indonesian language skills. I decided to take the day exploring the town.…
I hoped the plane rides would draw on painfully like a Padres baseball game. I hoped the jet-lag would prepare me for the undead lifestyle for when the apocalypse comes. I hoped the culture shock would leave me feeling like Wilson - deflated, bloody, wearing a smirk of indecipherable emotion. There is something to be said for low expectations and their effect on perception. Just read this HuffPost article about why us Gen Y…
With only five days 24 hours until I depart for Indonesia, the race is on to boil, synthesize and pare my life down into two suitcases. This process is surreal and curious as I comb through collections of items from the last 6 years of "where I live": San Diego, Berkeley, Nashville. Soon, Yogyakarta can claim a spot on that list. Until then, I will share the packing process, a few important things to consider, and…
On Friday, I received what I assumed to be a routine email from the Fulbright Commission. Walking the halls at JT Moore I opened the email fully expecting a form letter reminding me that I had applied, a notification that they hadn't forgotten about me. If I ever want to mercilessly drown someone in shattered dreams I will be sure to make the first word of their letter of denial "Congratulations!" The few friends who have…