Ode to Lost Dreamers Like Me

On this trip I have had many fans (made up primarily of people who have to love me like my family and friends). One of these awesome individuals took such an active interest in my travels that he wrote a list of questions which I truly enjoyed thinking about. It has taken me awhile to give them the time they deserve, and I still ended up a little short on a few. However, for whomever is curious, here are some thoughts. Thank you to Michael Gratta for getting some rusty cogs grinding.


Was Josep affected by the dairy strike in Europe?


I meant to ask him about it, but he seemed to be a man with a real love for his life and one who was just clinging on to that sort of existence. His dream was to be able to sell artisenal cheese so that he was not forced into a situation where he would have to switch to more modern methods like hay and corn fed cows. Even now Josep has to sell his milk at a low price to be thrown into a mixed vat and homogenized and superheat treated. Considering the Spanish expertise on meat I would expect better than just the UHT (Ultra Heat Treated = tasteless) milk that I had everywhere outside the farm.



Is everyone freaking out about a recession over there too?

Everyone abroad vacillates between talking about how wealthy we are and how we are undergoing a huge recession and our money is worthless. It's all over the place and seems to affect no one worse than traveling Americans who get hounded for being wealthy and dominant or get ripped off for the dollar. But that's just the self involved perspective. Surprisingly, no one seems to have any desire to travel to the USA (the only ones who do have no capability because of our horribly strict VISA policy).



What are the thoughts about the future of american politics?

American politics are another confusion. People in India seem to be on the Obama train in some places and all about Bush (and therefore I assume McCain) in others. The strangest place was Macedonia where everyone knows perfectly well that they don't like what Bush does, but because he supports Macedonia in front of Greece they are on board with the Republicans. Overall most people know about our economy sinking faster than the Titanic, but they all still claim that we are the superpower of the world. I don't know what to think about it really, but I think the future, hopefully under Obama, will show that we are ready to step back and listen to how the rest of the world thinks we should handle ourselves. By the same token, I do see a need to maintain some influence in the Middle East; there are a lot of ideas out there I would like to keep far away from my hemisphere after having even befriended some of the Muslim world's most amazing people.

What does tumeric come from?

Turmeric is actually native to South Asia and is pervasive in Indian, especially South, cuisine. The yellow powder is widely traded in the south of India along with saffron (a more flavorful and expensive but similarly hued spice). It actually comes from a green leafy plant that reminds me of some houseplants back home; and, like the one I accidentally killed before I left, they require quite a bit of water. The spice is part of the root system and is baked in an oven and ground to a powder to create its household form. In addition, turmeric is often used in Indian ceremonies and worship because of its bright color and has a special place in Hindu tradition.


Did you go to Sintra in Portugal?

Sintra in Portugal was a beautiful place to drive around. Genna and I met some lovely people and gaped out the car window at the hillsides covered in vineyards. I love the steep narrow roads that force everyone to drive reasonably sized vehicles and the small community feel of it all. As we drove up to the northern border with Spain, people and scenery just kept getting friendlier and more beautiful. When we reached the absolutely adorable northernmost wine region of Melgaco, well known for their espumantes or Portuguese champagne, it almost felt like we had reached Zion.


Did you go to Granada?

Sadly, we did not make it to the south of Spain. Would you like to take a trip with me and show me around?


What was working on the farm like?

Working on the farm was one of the most phenomenal experiences of my life. Actually, since I am a rather blessed individual, I should pick a more descriptive adjective.

Working on the farm was not only educational in an agricultural aspect, but was perhaps the luckiest Genna and I have been on this entire trip. Here's why: the WOOFing organization is a little bit of a crap shoot as far as I have heard. While some "farmers" who have paid the fees to be a part of the organization truly are aiming themselves towards complete sustainability, many are said to be more like expatriates who have bought some comparatively cheap land and are looking for a place to hang out and be little hippies until the end of their days. I have no problem with this. Josep, on the other hand, I would imagine had a farm completely unlike most on the WOOFing list.

First of all, he ran one of the last traditional type dairy farms in probably all of Spain. The cows ate fresh grass every day, were talked to like children (albeit unruly ones) and cared for exclusively by Josep for the last 11 years. Genna and I worked our butts off and combined we could still never accomplish half of what this man could in one day. It's only after peeling the last callous off my palms in Macedonia that I truly was able to understand the fortune that Genna and I had to find such a quirky and traditional Catalunyan family to show us what the north of Spain was really about. I'm certain I will never experience anything like it again.


Are you homesick?

You know, there are things I miss about home, like my family and friends, but I love meeting new people and seeing how others get along. I would say my love for home ties with my love for the entire globe, so I'd like to divide my time between the two. Of course the other part about that is that I really have not had a long-term living quarter since I moved from Dirty Jersey (my first love) at age 16. So I guess that makes it all the easier for me to think of the world as my home, which, as corny as it sounds, I truly believe.

Are you going back to colorado?

As it turns out, I am going back to Colorado. I love the state and people of Colorado; it's a place that has a lot to offer when you don't know where you are going or what you are doing. It's a place where there is a laid back peace that I need when I'm not invested in a project. It's also a place where people, beyond all reason, seem to love me. Still, I had hoped to go to New York this September for graduate school and psyched myself up to see the leaves change for the first time in years. I hope to stay out here long enough to figure some things out, but not forever. I do think it's time to move on with my life and start something new somewhere new...anywhere.

What should I do with my life?

Learn. I can't figure any of it out so in the meantime I just think if I can open my eyes and ears and take time to think before I talk and act perhaps things will fall into place by my facilitation not overactive engagement. I guess it's sort of a laissez faire approach to life, but if it's done with the right heart I am hoping it has great potential. We'll see. (Too sappy? Get a tattoo to balance it out.)