See next 2 posts for pics of White Sands...

White Sands (continued)... I just can't get over this place

The Ultimate Sand box Playground/ Natl Park!!!

I went to White Sands National Park yesterday with a friend. Unbelievably amazing destination! Crazy fun! Gorgeous! I'm a huge fan. These pics don't do it justice (of course). If you come to visit, we're definitely going here... only 1 hour away. Looks like snow, but so much warmer. We can hike, sled, jump off the dunes, somersault, run down, picnic, etc. There's some back country hiking, but I need to dust off my orienteering skills before I wander off to camp among some shifting dunes.

Not my house

These are all located on the Dripping Springs hike. There was a hotel up there back in the day, so people could escape the city. The 1st picture is the hotel, the forth picture is the stables. The 3rd is a sanatorium from not-sure-which-year for individuals with TB. They're trying to restore some of the buildings, but the structure in pic 2 may be a bit beyond salvage. Still, it looks cool. Well, I'm off the blog for now. I just posted a ton of posts, so hopefully you can get a peek into my life here. Sometime I'll post pictures of my apartment... but not today. Have a fabulous week!

Dripping Springs

These pics were taken on a hike up to Dripping Springs... which is the 2nd picture. You probably can't really see the springs, because it pretty much is just dripping. Some of the pictures I took because there was snow. Down in the valley, there's almost never snow, although apparently this is the wettest winter people around here can remember in a long time. We've had snow about twice I think. But we've had some rain too - not a lot, but we've had some. In the last picture you can see a city below in the valley. I'm not sure if my neighborhood is visible, but that's Las Cruces. That's where I hang my hat... just below the Organ mountains (not visible).

The move

If you look at the dates you'll see that the red rock pictures were taken earlier (on my move down to Las Cruces). They were right off the freeway. A scenic drive. The 1st picture is an ongoing fascination with my new environment. Imagine the panoramic view... but I think you can get the point.

Somewhere near Hatch, NM around Christmas time

These are taken from an old church in the area. I wish I had a cool story to tell you about it, but I don't know the history. Still, it's cool looking. My friend felt I should have a pic of me on Facebook (maybe I don't have any), so she took this one... a little posed. It's won't make Fb, but I guess it's ok for the blog. This was around Christmas time. Notice the light jacket. I won't be shoveling snow this year (yeah!)

Mesilla

Billy the Kid was sentenced to hang in the square of Mesilla back in the day. He got away... and was later killed. The 1st pic is a great little book store off the main square. I like it... then some pecan groves nearby. It's also a trail along an irrigation ditch. Apparently once you find the canals, you can run them from one end of the city to the other and some of them stretch to El Paso. I haven't spent much time on them. They're flat, but there's plenty of places to get good hills around here. The Antiques shop is just picturesque Southwest. I haven't been inside, I just like the cacti.

Wide open spaces

It's quite unexpected that I'm here in NM and I still do not know how long I'll stay. But, since I am here, it's a great opportunity to explore a place that I likely would not otherwise consider.

These pictures were taken on my drive from Roswell to Edgewood. I grew up in Colorado, but after so much time in Boston and elsewhere, I still get fascinated by so much open space... no houses, no trees, just cholla (?) cactus and a lot of sky. It's pretty. Different, but pretty.

Roswell

New Car

Bought in December. It was in this car that I re-learned how to drive when you are not in Boston. For those of you still in Boston, you need to know that when you leave traffic laws are much more than suggestions and they really do expect that you follow the speed limit... a very slow one I might add. I'm still irritated about my 2 ridiculous speeding tickets within 4 days of each other. It's a relief to now have NM plates. Now I can drive like I'm retired, taking my time and hopefully avoid taking some driving course in order to keep my license, should I get ticket #3 in this year (which happens to still have 10+ months).

I wanted a break yesterday, so I went up Smithfield canyon with a friend. The runner is not me, but I wish it was. I consider this place a hidden gem.

Snow in September

Snow on the mountains in September. It won't stick, and the cold won't stay but it's an obnoxious reminder that winter's right around the corner. Green canyon is 4 miles from Brett's house so Danielle, Tyler and I went hiking on Monday. I may have gained 3 pounds on that hike with all the rocks and sticks that Tyler let me carry for him. He has a lot of energy, but believe it or not, he does get tired.

Desert Wilderness

My parents live on this road... which doesn't exist on googlemaps. I just stepped out their front door to take this picture of desert wilderness from a small development. It's taken me a while to understand this place a bit, but I can see now why people would live here... I'm not saying that I'll be moving to NM, but if that was in my future, that would be fine.

Also, I'm happy to say that I went for a nice run outside today and did not site any coyotes, nor did I have any encounters with wolves or mountain lions. It was a rather uneventful run, which is fortunate seeing as I left my gun and pack of ferocious dogs at home... I did get passed by a couple of jack rabbits at impressive speeds, but I took that in stride and made it here to write this blog.

Two more days and I'll be back in Boston for a harder-core job search. It's been great to see so much family including all the immediate and a significant chunk of the extended, a bunch of friends, and Arches (which I never managed to see during the time I lived in UT). Arches Natl Park fit into the drive from UT to NM. It's been a great trip - MA to CO to UT to NM... and tomorrow... to CO... and Friday... to MA. It's time to contribute something to society, ideally as part of an income generating activity. I do not promise to keep this blog updated, but please keep in touch.

I had a test this week at the JFK building in Boston. This quote was on the wall. I like it.

"But this nation was not found solely on the principle of citizen's rights. Equally important, though too often not discussed is citizen's responsibility. For our privileges can be no greater than our obligations. The protection of our rights can endure no longer than the performance of our responsibilities. Each can be neglected only at the peril of the other."

Pres John F. Kennedy
Nashville, TN
May 18, 1963

Fall

It's probably about time for me to update my blog. These pictures are all pretty close to my house. The lakes were taken on a roomate stroll. Shelly's the friend on the trail and Andrea is on the swing. The bridge is part of one of my favorite trail-funs in the Fells. I took my camera with me on this particular run because it was the Fall, but this is the only picture I actually took. At any rate, it's a great place to run. Fall in NE is a nice distraction from school and the fun of writing excessively long papers.

I've posted pictures since writing this post so I would like to make a few comments. The kids wanted to help me with my laundry... this was not forced labor. Having a few nephews and nieces of my own I recognize the need to appropriately limit such enthusiastic assistance. For example, I'm ok with and even humored by the above 'sweater stretch' method of drying as well as the clothes that get dragged on the ground before making it onto the line (they're short I totally understand)... but in an effort to be somewhat time efficient I do as much as I can alone and then let them step in for the rest. I miss these kids. I think the pic ax picture would make a great cover for a safety manual... and finally - Mt Mulanje is gorgeous - imagine seeing it in person!!!

It's Tuesday and I come home on Friday... so this is probably the last post until I come back and post all the amazing pics, etc. Anyways, this past weekend has been amazing and it's a bit sad to be leaving. Still, I'm ready to just wrap up a few things and come back home. My friend Betsy has been in town (usually up in Dowa just north of Lilongwe). We staying in her NGO's team house. That was a different world and the minute I went in I felt like a billionaire. I think you would not be all that impressed, but a few weeks in the village and scattered lodges changes your perspective on what you should appreciate as amazing and this was beyond amazing. I had some chicken foot yesterday. It's not too bad, but really not much to it. It looks crazy, but if you can get past the fact that you're knawing on a claw, it's fine.

So, I watched a few evenings of the Olympics and caught up on a few bits of news that I had no idea about - Pakistan, Russia/Georgia. Betsy was also awesome. Since we've both been living in villages and have some similar experiences we find each others stories hillarious. I'm not so sure you'll react the same way, but that's ok, I can tell them to you anyways. Betsy is a nutritionist intern - almost an MS and almost an RD.

Thanks for reading if you still are. I notice there are no more comments, but that's fine. I recognize that this has been really sporatic. Have a great week. I really hope to be home on Saturday... which I will be unless a conection problem leaves me chillin' in Addis for an extra day. Let's hope I can postpone my Ethiopian adventures to another trip. I'm almost ready to be chillin' in Boston, and I think 2 more days will do the trick. See you all soon!

Public transport

I've been off traveling for the last week or so. I went from Lilongwe to Blantyre to Nsanje (detouring through Chikwawa) then back up to Monkey Bay (via Blantyre, Zomba, Mangochi) and then caught a car back to Lilongwe. I've never been more appreciative of shocks and soft seats as I was in the truck back to Lilongwe which took 3 hours and would have been around 8 on public transit (or more). It was all great, but I'll tell you about the places when I get home. The most entertaining is the transport.

When I was leaving Nsanje to travel N I went with McJustice (Malawian friend) to see what time the first buses would leave in the morning. They started at 2am. Well, good thing we checked because they came to wake him up at 2 to see if I was ready and then again at 3:30 when the next one left. Of course I had no idea because I was on the other side of the lodge. They were so frustrated that I was not ready by 3:30 that they told him they would not come back. Tragic really because the walk to the bus station is a strenuous 3 minutes. I'm sure he was relieved.

We walked over @ just after 4am in the calm... peace... quiet that you would expect at 4am. Then after boarding the minibus, the driver proceeded to drive around town honking repetatively and reving the engine, while a guy in back yelled out the window "Blantyre! Blantyre!" I was cringing at first, but then I found it very comical. I laughed to myself of course because no one else found this out of place. I'm sure the poor people who had intended to sleep in were now thrilled to be jolted from their sleep, as if going to Blantyre had not occured to them until now... 4am. What a great time to recruit. Anyways, we finally left at 4:50.

My favorite transit story actually happend a few weeks ago. I was going to look at a friends plot just outside of Lilongwe. He told me he would meet me at the bus depot, a short car ride from the turnoff to Salima. The trip was pretty normal, except that at some point we turned off onto this dirt road and started driving into these villages. That wasn't in the directions, but I didn't think too much of it because I'd never been to his place before - who knows, maybe he knew a short-cut.

Soon enough the car stopped and the driver came around to open my door. I didn't realize this was my stop, but he would have had to open the door for me anyways because there was no longer a handle on the inside. In fact, it wasn't supposed to be my stop. On asking where the bus depot was I got a confident gesture towards the building I was now in front of - an orphanage. I sensed a language barrier... my Chichewa is too limited for these types of situations (in addition to most situation). I repeated "bus depot" with questioning emphasis. He pointed again matter-of-factly at the building, and not deterred at all by my confusion got in the car and drove off.

I really felt like I was in a movie. I was in a small village somewhere in Malawi. People who didn't speak English were staring at me - a bit out of place - and I was hoping that I would not have to hike back out to the road. This is not necessarily something to be concerned about. I called my friend on my handy celtel cell phone, and read the orphanage sign which named the village and he said ok, he could be there soon. Great- no big deal. At this point of just hanging out, a man comes out of a nearby building and says, "Madam, you are a stranger in a strange place." That was true, and such a great line. He was actually a friend of my friend and showed me around.

Once I met with my friend we walked to his house. I found it cool that he grows 12 varieties of bananas - I tried 2 of them - and has 2 beehives... among other things. I'm pretty sure looking back, that the driver was likely pointing through the orphanage as if to say, "It's there. You know, the bus depot right over there - right behind the orphanage, down the trail, through the village, over the soil eroded ditch, and through the market." Maybe that's what he meant when he pointed at the orphanage, because in fact that is where it was. How obvious. What a great country.

Oversimplified on a Saturday afternoon

Maybe you’d like to know what I spend my time doing here besides obsessing about food and snakes. I’m looking at the economic feasibility of implementing permaculture in Malawi. I see a ton of potential in it. This country is full of small holder farmers who will enter the yearly hunger season in about Dec/ Jan when their storage of maize runs out, though it hasn’t always been that way. Actually, in some areas of the country the hungry season may start earlier this year. It’s sad and I also believe it’s not necessary because there are solutions. There’s more to it than that, but it’s hard for me to present complexity on a mainly one way blog. People here do not plan ahead. Just one example, I waited 2.5 hours at the immigration office this week because they’d run out of receipts and finally sent someone to get them. I try to bring a book with me when I’m out. They don’t plan ahead with food either (Law of the Harvest) and rely on their full year’s supply of food from 1 crop – maize. I don’t know how many of you have tried nsima. It’s ok, but just ok. They eat it at every meal with not much else. It makes their stomach full, which is something. Anyhow, the current fertilizer subsidies and maize policies don’t line up with the government’s recently released nutrition recommendations (6 food groups). As a side note, these guidelines are going to have a few minor changes to include local foods such as termites and mice. Anyways, maize alone can’t address the kwashiorkor or iron deficiency, or vitamin A deficiency and no, we should not just supplement the country forever.

I’ve seen some really impressive permaculture plots here. Those that get it eat really well – no hungry season. There are amazing foods here. As a result gradually it’s catching on in some area. I see the current maize and fertilizer policies as costly, backfiring right now, input heavy, and completely unable to be an effective solution of the problem they are apparently designed to address. Economists are gems, but I think they could use a bit of nutritional input. This is not an immediate solution, there is a lot of work to do, but the time is right for it to take off because people are at high risk with a yearly hunger season reminder and a life expectancy around the age of 38. Anyhow I’m looking at income, expenditures, and fascinating related information.

Aside from all that excitement, I had a brownie last night in town, now that was exciting. The village kids are over again to watch a movie. The favorite is HS Musical 2. I could probably sing most of the songs for you by now. They get really into it and it’s like a dance party in the living room. They also sing along as best they can, which is pretty impressive since they don’t really speak English. I’m not sure what they’ll watch today. They’re still deciding… Lion King 2 won with a slim margin over HS Musical 2. By the way, Tyler congratulations on catching your own rabbit. We had a couple rabbits here few a few days, but probably the dogs got to them. Hopefully you have better luck.