some things never change

Bailey found this today.

Did you see it rain yesterday? I made a small video.

so we thought geologic processes were slow

"All of those broken bones in northern Japan, all of those broken lives and those broken homes prompt us to remember what in calmer times we are invariably minded to forget: ... mankind inhabits this earth subject to geological consent - which can be withdrawn at any time." - Simon Winchester

On a lighter note, someone forgot to empty the rain barrels today. It's finals week and I've been working on a landscape architecture wetland policy project all day. I can't help but conclude that we've contributed to America's No Net Loss policy on wetlands. Sweet.

My yard is a pond.

where do you look to find beauty?

Technically I didn't travel around the world. But just the same, I figured I'd have all these revelations and new world views and all that nonsense that the naive traveler thinks will come of the worldly adventure.

And I did. The places I visited were amazing in the very sense of the word - I was indeed filled with astonishment every day to the point at which my brain was overloaded with stimuli. Sadly, as will happen to any place after some time, the shock of my surroundings was slowly muted by their persistent shock-ability.

Sometimes you have to look away. You have to look at something different to remember how impressive the sight in front of you is. I feel this way about people and landscapes, but it is in my nature (or probably nurture) to be more attracted to the landscapes. But I was in India! So I didn't look away.

From indian himalaya

Sunrise over the greater Himalaya, from the foothills.

And after my world travels, I came home and thought that maybe the visual stimuli would subside and my brain would have a chance to recuperate. Naive traveler. I find that my expectations and assumptions continually get the best of me. I did not see the pacific northwest for 3 solid months.

From Mar 14, 2011

Sunrise over Oregon, from my home.

I go and come

When you go somewhere new and come back everyone always asks "How was it?" Whether or not we are genuinely interested, we seem to feel obligated to ask the question.

How do you explain that that time was and always will be a completely unique experience to you and no matter what you do with your words or pictures, no one can ever really go back there with you?

Week 1: Muketeshwar - Himalayan Foothills

Yet, I still find myself wanting to share every moment of that crazy experience with everyone I love. I think the biggest revelation I've had after three months of traveling in India, Nepal and Ghana is that real experience in invaluable. Learning that primarily or solely consists of textual study or even collaborative discussion are really only brushing the surface of a place or issue. Living the knowledge, being prodded by 'culture', being put outside your comfort zone helps expose your conscience to the real heart of the matter out there, and sometimes it transforms knowledge into wisdom. I call this a revelation, others call it culture shock.

It's Ghana man...

After traveling for 2 months in India and Nepal, I stopped by Africa to visit 2 best friends.

Adrienne Bovee

Jacob Janin

It was the hottest month of my body's life.

Nepal is like...

touristy

chaotic

trendy

mountainous

just a brush of the surface

the best class of my college career: the indian himalaya

While my physical travels are long over, nothing about September-December of 2011 will ever leave me.

I would like to start a small documentation of what happened in that time period (maybe mostly pictures, maybe some words).

I spent the first month and a half studying in the Indian Himalayas. What does that mean you ask? I had no clue either but here is a glimpse of what turned out to be the best class of my college career:

Student presentations:

Each student taught one class session on

a topic of their choice relating to India, the Himalaya, ecology, culture or any mix.

The most hands-on lecture you'll ever find.

This class session was spent learning about the geology of when India crashed into Asia and produced the mountains we were sitting in.

Our midterm exam was administered in the 100 year old home of the late king of the Valley.