Worms at Goerge's worm farm... he showed Marcus and I how the worms wouldn't eat the standard NKP fertilizer. (supporting the case for organics)... this was in Kookaburrow EV.

A roo at Kookaburrow... I stayed with Marcus, Carolyn, and Haley... had a great time learning about wicking bads (whice I'll explain when I have more time) and hanging out with all of them.


I appologize for the minimal coverage here...it's just that I am so sleepy and need to pack for the desert trip I leave for tomorrow morning. I have so many stories to tell about the last two weeks' adventures, but neither the time nor energy to share them right now.

Am enjoying my last bits of time in Albury... it's been interesting as I say farewell to folks at different times because everyone's leaving campus to go other places over the break. It's hard to fit everything in though... as I want to give everyone a proper send off, but am both busy and sleepy... I'm looking forward to the bus ride tomorrow for sleeping... woot...

thankful list:
-sleep (when you can get it)
-surprises-I came home from my EV tour to find the house decorated with streamers and my room full of balloons
-pp's chips
-water
-sleeping in your own bed (that feeling of being home, in a restful place)
-crazy things from the Bellingen market
-pictures
-adventures

Some city art in Coff's Harbour.
I do appreciate a good tree... this fig was in the first Ecovillage I stayed at, Billen Cliffs. It was a "stop the car!" sort of photo op.
Jacque and I.... I stayed with Jacque in Homeland Ecovillage. She's the one I mentioned whose facial expressions are so entertaining. Full of colorful stories and kindness...
A toothbrushing party from the days of our marathon sleepover week (just before I left)
Jacque's backyard... what a view!

recent adventures...

I can only share bits and pieces of my recent travels not much time before my next train... spent today in Coff's Harbour on the coast... met a lovely Japanese girl, Nimyn, who I had dinner with in a snazzy orange and purple Indian restaurant.... Stayed at Homeland Ecovillage and stayed with Jacque who had the most interesting transitions between facial expressions, her eyes would go wide and her face long before she'd scrunch the whole thing up in a huge smile :D ... spent a few days in Sundara Retreat, near a small temple... had fresh bananas and oranges... learned the secret techniques of cracking macadamia nut shells... am taking a train to Bundaberg, in Queensland tonight for my third Ecovillage.... will tell stories later... much love!
megs

ps-the thankful list-
-sunshine
-tropical weather
-internet
-trains
-Nimyn
-the Bellingen market!!!!!
-fresh food
-smiles
-hot chocolate booths

tell everybody I'm on my way!

Today is the first day of total freedom... no more "study" on this study abroad trip... it's just me in this crazy place... I'm leaving today for Sundara Retreat, the first of my Ecovillage stops... have decided not to take my computer on the trip... so who knows when I'll have internet access again. Need to finish packing, just wanted to share some excitement :)
love,
megs

ps-thankful for:
-popcorn in the shape of a southern cross
-silly parties
-snacks for long train trips
-finding a ride into town
-costume masks
-dancing music

on my way...

Today I concluded my semester with the somewhat ritualistic task of staying up all night working on an assignment. It's an interesting exercise in watching how quickly time flies... and that's usually what gets me to that place to being with. (Mom, I hold you partially responsible... you did just tell me the other day that it's not assignments that make memories...) Every time something ends and time starts speeding quicker than before I cling to those moments of reality... those full-full moments... and somehow it's as if they slow down just enough to let me grab on their shirt-tails and go for a wild ride... I hung up laundry today as the sun rose... the silence seemed familiar for one of those days before you leave a place.

Tomorrow I hop on a train and start my little Ecovillage crawl... I'm excited for new adventures as always... and Ecovillages... how wonderful they are! but today I'm listening to Switchfoot (you'd think they're my favorite band right now or something)... but, hey-lyrics like "when I woke with the sunrise, I want more than just a good time, more than just fine"... "I'm singing, spirit take me up in arms with you"... "you're raising the dead in me"...

Excuse the disconected nature of this little blurb... (that's what lack of sleep will do to you)... I'm savoring these last moments with everyone here... most of my house has been crashing out in the living room having a big ol' slumber party every night for nearly a week now... I appreciate that, and our random tickling fights and slow motion fighting... whenever you get ready to leave a place it always sparkles like crazy....

but the truth of it is
(and let's not even pretend that I came up with this one on my own)
-that we are leaving-
always...
"every moment that we borrow brings us closer to tomorrow"

I hope you're feelin' this alive, wherever you are....
much love :)
megs

ps-thankful list-
-the smell of clean laundry
-music in the morning
-hanging out laundry-even with cold hands on this "winter" morning
-days that are so big they require theme songs

-that crazy high you get from the combination of morning sun and sleeplessness
-adventures
-family
-water
-jumping on the beds, in the living room
-books... the stack I'm about to pack to bring with me on my next adventure
-those big lessons in life that never change, but rather just change form
-love

pretty sure one of the best res. pranks... ever!

Tonight we had a big ol' family dinner because I'm leaving soon... it was really funny... We had a huge meal: falafel and spring rolls for the entre, Ryan's famous sautay chicken stir fry, dirt pudding, fudge cake, and ice cream... good stuff! We were all sitting around the table telling our favorite res memories... when Suzy and Sarah keep insisting that someone tries their muffins. We're all amused that they put coins in the cake... and we're even more amused at the funny looking muffins they're trying so hard to get us to eat. Ellie cut into one and it turns out it is actually dirt... they thought it would be a funny prank since I was making 'dirt' pudding for dessert if they would make actual dirt pie. So they went out earlier in the day and mixed mud and water then actually baked the 'muffins'... we all had a huge laugh, then we phoned our RA, Dave, who was so eager to try some the dirt pudding I was telling him about... Ryan pretended to be looking at photos on his camera while he video taped Dave the whole time. Dave took a bite and hit a rock.... he ran to the sink to spit it out and we all had the absolute biggest laugh... then we decided to put the rest of the muffins to use... so we went to house three first. We told them because it was my going away dinner we wanted to share some of the extra dessert. Monica took it because she trusted me and took the biggest bite... she too made a run for the sink... we all had a good laugh and took the desserts to house four... I convinced Dale that it was 'my mama's recipe and we were taking a video like how we made a card for grams when she sends cookies'... so he has a bite... then a laugh and spits it out.... we went down the hall to Dan, who was so polite that he ate the dessert for about three minutes and only when he hit a rock said it was disgusting.... I told him it was a family recipe and we were making the video for mom... we all had another huge laugh (at this point we were getting pretty sore)... then we took the desserts to house five... where we fed eager little mouths... then there was a bit of a food fight where I got covered with mud and chocolate. It was honestly the funniest thing I've ever been a part of, I don't think I've ever laughed so hard. I'm laughing right now, honestly! So now my house is a bit afraid of what the payback will be, but we're pretty sure that will be hard to top. As soon as Ryan e-mails me the picture, I'll post it... e-mail me if you would like to see video footage... good good stuff... and thus the lesson of the day-never forget to laugh, it is the best!

thankful list-
laughter!
more laughter!
memories
being sentimental
food
chocolate
world environment day-and making up cheers to celebrate and then studying on the oval
laughing so hard you don't need to go to the gym
friendships-however different they may be
collecting stories to tell when I'm old, especially ones that will remind kids that we were just as crazy as they are

Yeah-it's Friday! Woot!


Recently for one reason or another I have found myself being the shoulder to cry on for a few folks. Although it is hard when you are the one upset, the need for others is a fortunate connection. It has been really good to have opportunities to help people.

Am getting closer to my Ecovillage and desert adventures... the people at Kookaburra Ecovillage are being a bit silly and less than overly cooperative. Might not end up visiting them... we shall see. Am just excited about adventures... and as all of my classes are winding up I'm feeling good of everything that I learned academically this semester.

Have been reading up a storm on my study breaks, which has been great too. Even got in a bit of needlepoint yesterday while we watched Beauty and Beast. Everyone had a good laugh about my needle pointing... I do enjoy it though... my Missy and mama can support my belief that it is a cool thing to do :)

Got a few more books from the library today... I love that whole requesting books thing. Am still jamming out to Switchback tunes.

The other night we had a farewell dinner at the Kinross woolshed. The biggest hoot was that Colleen told the guy who was playing music and he said farewell to me and played a few American tunes and we all got up and danced.... that's funny because no one dances at the Kini.

Then I went to a farewell lunch from the international center here.... it was of course, me and many Canadians. I have felt a huge economic gap between myself and that group in my time here. I also think we had different priorities and goals in our adventures. I wanted to meet and learn about Australians, whereas they had a bit of a Canadian network between them. It also makes me a bit crazy to hear them talk about all of their travel (seemingly for the sake of travel)... they're always talking about where they're flying next weekend and what tour they're doing... whereas I'm always hoppin' in a different friend's car going home to meet their families and see their Australia... or getting on a train to visit lots of Ecovillages... Regardless of our differences we both seem to be satisfied overall with our time spent in this country. I can't help but see how Berea has made me a different person... Not saying that the difference is better or worse, just that it has shaped many of my experiences and perspectives.

Things I'm thankful for today:
-The librarian who checks out most of my books and recognies certain topics as ones that would interest me
-music
-carebear blankets
-the fact that people need each other (that reminds me of a Tuesdays with Morrie quote-which I'll procede to botch... it's something like "When you first come into the world you need people to care for you, and when you get old like me you need people too... the secret is--in between you don't stop needing them")
-water to drink
-The Power of Now
-small colored scraps of paper perfect for writing quotes on
-the Switchfoot line "The shadow proves the sunshine"
-e-mails from home