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Freelancing on the Road
In October, Vibhu and I plan to take our lives on the road. First, it’ll be a 
road trip back to the west coast to visit family before heading off to India to get married. After the grand event in Agra, we’ll be roaming around India for a while. Maybe a few months, maybe more. I have romantic visions of an overland adventure in a bio-diesel converted VW bus. Vibhu wants to study yoga and Ayurveda at an ashram. We both want to hang out on the beach in south Goa. Whatever our travels manifest into, money will be required.
At the moment, we have the luxury of two incomes, few expenses, and the ability to save a pretty penny every month. But in the same breath, we’ve also got a big traditional Indian wedding to finance, immigration documents to obtain, and a plan to travel for an indefinite length of time. I’ve been making budgets since elementary school when I first started getting allowance, so crunching the numbers again and again to figure out how we can afford our grand plans, well that’s old news.
Our current expenses add up to about $2,500 per month, but this figure will be completely obsolete once we sell our stuff, pack the car, and hit the road. India is a very inexpensive country, and the last time I travelled there, my daily budget of 400 rupees (about $10) was more than enough to cover the necessities. Between the two of us, a budget of 800 rupees per day should be more than adequate.
Although we should have enough money saved that we won’t need to 
rely on freelance writing gigs to keep us going, it sure would be nice to watch that money grow in a high-interest Indian savings account too. 800 rupees per day for two people comes to $140 per week or about 6 articles published each week at an online magazine. Travelling full-time and publishing that much seems a little daunting, especially in a country where wifi connections are extremely limited. But with some planning and research before hand, it can be done.
Dirt Bag Writer offers up some great resources for beginning freelancers which have been added to my “to do” list for the weekend. My goal between now and November is to expand my social networking use, develop a fully functional blog, and publish, publish, publish in whatever form possible. Hopefully the powers of these forces will converge with just enough momentum to launch myself into the universe of paid travel writing.
Photo Essay: Ditching the Fridge
Its hard to imagine life without a fridge, but in places all over the world people get by just fine without them. We’ve become accustomed to living in a society of modern conveniences, like microwaves, refrigerators, and electric coffee makers. But with a little imagination and heeding the ways of past generations, pulling the plug on your kitchen clunker really isn’t all that scary.
In an ongoing effort to green our lives, we thought we’d see what life without a fridge would look like. Refrigerators, especially old ones like ours, are the worst energy hogs in a home, sucking up 1,383 kilowatt hours per year. According to the US Department of Energy, that’s about 14% of a household’s annual energy usage. This translates to $120 per year (based on the US average price of electricity at 8.62 cents/KWh), or roughly 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide—the same as burning 105 gallons of gasoline.
Before electricity, households stored food in cold cellars and pantries, more food was grown at home, and grocery shopping was done on a more regular basis. “So why can’t we?” we asked ourselves. After a few weeks of mulling over the idea, sorting out the logistics, and reading other people’s experiences with going fridge-less, we finally did it.
1. After clearing out the mud room, we filled Ziploc bags with snow from the backyard to insulate the frozen foods just a bit more.
2. The bags of snow line the cooler where frozen foods will be stored. During the warmer months, we'll stop using frozen foods, but its really tough to get by during the winters here without frozen veggies.
3. I didn't realize how many condiments and sauces we actually had! But come on, its really hard to say no to sweet chili sauce...
4. Loading up our new 100% earth friendly, walk-in fridge & freezer with food.
5. Vibhu officially pulls the plug!
6. The new mud room fridge should stay below freezing for the next few months. We haven't quite worked out what we will do once the spring and summer roll around, but we've got some time to figure it out. Suggestions?
7. One more step towards environmentalism. Done and done!
Interested to see what other like-minded folks are doing out there? Check out some of my favorites.
Simple Ideas for Going Green
Going green has become a popular thing to do, and with new products, websites, and every store offering canvas shopping bags, its never been easier to walk a bit more lightly on the earth. I grew up in a family where composting, recycling, and buying in bulk were expected, but even if you’re new to the game, there are plenty of things you can do to lessen your impact, live healthier, and be more aware of your surroundings.
Vibhu and I do what we can to be earth-friendly without getting radical to the point of completely going off the grid. The things we do to lessen our impact have become transparent aspects of our daily life that have required a minimal amount of effort and reflect a philosophy for the way we want to live our lives.
Here’s a few of the rules we live by:
- We’re vegetarian, and buy locally grown, in-season, organic as much as possible
- Buy in bulk
- Never put fruits & veggies from the grocery store in plastic bags from the produce section
- Always bring our own bags to the grocery store & farmers market
- Use only 100% recycled toilet paper
- Use only energy-efficient light bulbs
- Drive a Prius (sparingly). We use it only when the trip is longer than 2 miles (1 mile in the winter!) or when going to the grocery store
- Live by the philosophy, “First try to DIY, if that’s not possible, buy it second-hand. If second-hand isn’t available, buy it local. If buying it local isn’t possible, buy product with the least amount of packaging.”
- No paper towels. No plastic wrap. No aluminum foil.
- Wash & re-use Ziploc bags many, many times before recycling them
- Recycle and Compost enthusiastically
- Use only 100% natural, flushable kitty litter
- Unplug all appliances when they aren’t in use
- Only use the cold cycle on the washing machine
- Never use the dryer. I’ve learned to LOVE hanging clothes to dry. It’s calming and meditative.
- Use laundry detergent that non-toxic, biodegradable, and free of dyes and perfumes
- Another philosophy to live by…”If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.”
We live in a small province where eco-friendly is far from the norm. And while there are plenty of other things that we wish we could do (e.g. buy entirely organic and local, have a year-round garden, and have access to public transportation options), this is a great start. If we can do it, so can you!
Even if You’re New to Travel Writing, These Guys Still Want Your Stuff!
There are lots of lists out there directing writers to appropriate publications to get their work published, and depending on your interests and focus, your own list can be quite unique. But for me, being new to the world of travel writing, I’ve compiled this list as a reference for writers just starting out to hopefully make the querying process a little less intimidating. I have focused on online publications since these are generally more accessible to us newbies. Some pay and some don’t, but at this point in the game, its more about getting exposure than dinero.
This list has been built as a joint effort with my fellow MatadorU students who’ve got an knack for this kind of thing. Many many thanks to Candice, Rob, Abbie, Joanna, Amiee, Alouise, and Nick!
ONLINE MAGAZINES & PUBICATIONS
2Camels is a website that highlights a wide range of events and festivals from around the world with an extensive array of articles and snippets. The editor of 2Camels, Paul Dodson, is looking for writers and photographers who have a passion for festivals, events and travelling. Writers should surround the reader with the experience, encouraging them to smell the local foods frying in the street shacks and hear the roar of the crowds as the bulls run down the streets of Pamplona. Articles should be timeless and capture the essence of the event rather than providing concert line-ups or information that changes from year-to-year. 2Camels receives 4 million hits a year, so in addition to exposure, writers are guaranteed a healthy bio complete with link love and $20 per article. Submission guidelines are detailed and can be found here.
52 Perfect Days is an online website that gives people an ideal way to spend a perfect day in a city. Unfortunately this is only for cities in the US and Baja Mexico. They pay via google ad sense, so in order for this to work you would have to have your own website or at least a blog.
The Backpacker Daily is a relatively new online magazine devoted to stories, reviews, and the arts inspired by travel. Check out the submission information here.
Big World Magazine is all about finding the most unique destinations in the world. The publication is fairly new, and while there’s no payment for published articles yet, it’s a great starting place for getting your name out there. Stories are crisp, clean, and informative. Your article must fit into one of the categories: Big Shot (images and videos), Voices (audio clips), Culture, Journey, Probe, Far Flung, People, Fest, Eat, Comment and Reading. Go directly to the Submissions page to submit your article online.
BootsnAll is an online travel community that publishes travel stories, blogs, and guides. Continually taking applications for travel writers. See jobs at BootsnAll here.
Brave New Traveler is part of the Matador Network of travel sites and focuses on edgy articles which drive attention and provokes reactions; destination stories are not the norm, individual thoughts and opinions are. Submission form is here.
Escape Artist offers information to people interested in pursuing the expatriate lifestyle. It offers information on living abroad, international real estate, asset protection and securing jobs overseas. In addition to extensive online content, Escape Artist publishes Escape From America Magazine, which is published monthly, focuses on international relocation and is read by nearly 400,000 subscribers. The site publishes countless articles every month as well as eBooks and special reports. The average article is 1,500-3,000 words; payment depends on the needs and desires of the site and writer. More details on pay structure and submission guidelines can be found here.
Everywhere seeks authentic world experiences. Anyone with a travel story is invited to submit their writing and photographs to the Everywhere travel website, then community members vote on the stories they like the best. Editors choose from the highest quality work submitted on the site to create a printed publication. Those who write contributions that are chosen for publication are paid and receive a free subscription to the magazine. Visit the community and learn more about the selection process here.
The Expeditioner is an online magazine featuring articles for young and avid travellers. Writers are encouraged to submit first-person narratives ranging from 900-1,200 words that inspire fellow travellers. Check the site’s list of articles on file to get a feel for the voice of the site. Writers should take note of all the destinations that have no articles on file as these may be the easiest areas to break in to. Pay depends upon experience. Full submission guidelines can be found here.
Galavanting is an online travel magazine specifically catering to women. The publication features stories about travelling women and self-discovery. Galavanting is actively seeking feature travel essays, blog posts, and travel tips. See detailed contributor’s guidelines here.
Global Backpacking was started by editor David Lee in 1999 to promote independent travel. Contributors are wanted to offer articles on topics like couch surfing, teaching English abroad and travel book reviews. Other ideas will be considered. Contributors won’t be paid but will be promoted via social networking sites as well location specific posts will get syndicated on Lonely Planet online and other travel websites.
Go Nomad is a “comprehensive resource centre”, offering information on thousands of exotic destinations and unique stories. Sections include Features, Destinations, Tours, Women’s Travel, and more. Stories should be between 800 to 2,000 words, emailed to editorial@gonomad.com including a head shot, short bio, and photographs submitted in a Google Picasa album. For more details, check out the submissions guidelines.
- Here’s a tip: When querying, be sure to mention that you have promoted the site in some way, whether it be a link on your blog or a Tweet. Your article will be bumped to the front of the line in doing so.
Go World Travel Magazine is home to a wide variety of destination writing. The site has subscribers from more than 50 countries and is growing consistently and constantly. Articles should be written from an international perspective. Go World Travel Magazine has a number of categories, including destination, personality profiles, eco-travel, off the beaten path and first-person narratives. The publication values strong descriptive writing with vivid descriptions, anecdotes and language that conveys curiosity and interest in a destination. Writers should include a sidebar with useful information. Features should be 800-1,200 words and pay between $35 and $50. For details on pay for shorter pieces and for comprehensive instructions on how to submit, see the full writers’ guidelines here.
Hackwriters publishes a large variety of writing on its monthly online magazine and have a dedicated section to travel related writing if it is analytical or questioning in nature. They are based in an academic institution, have been running for 10 years and linked to the Creative Writing MA from the University of Portsmouth, which as it turns out is the uni which awarded me my electronics degree. Email Editor: hackwriters@gmail.com
InsideOut Travel is an online publication for the financially concerned, “anyone who values the experience of travelling and learning about other cultures more than importing the luxuries of everyday life to a new location.” The publication is constantly looking for good advice on how to make your dollar stretch. Submit detailed queries to submissions@insideoutmag.com. Writing samples should be sent as a link in the body of an email rather than an attached document.
In The Know Traveler publishes stories 450-600 words in length that according to the website inspires travel. The pay is $10 per article and you’ll be featured on the contributors page. You can also blog for the website but you will not be paid.
Iwend is the online publication of Wend Magazine with a strong focus on travel, adventure, and activism. They don’t pay for articles, but getting published here is probably a great foot in to publishing in their print magazine, Wend.
On A Junket publishes articles of a personal nature from passionate travellers. They are not looking for guidebook or a best of series. Submissions should be 500 and 2000 and sent via email with word document attachment. While they don’t pay for writing, On A Junket has had travel writing contests with the top prize of $ 150 US.
Restless Me is an online publication dedicated to alternative travel. While the site is being relaunched, articles are still being accepted. Quoting the submission guidelines, “We work with beginning writers who want to learn the craft of travel writing, and experienced writers who want to stretch their creative legs in ways they wouldn’t be able to elsewhere.” If you feel you have a strong, unique, narrative voice, submit a full story to editors@restlessme.com. Restless Me also accepts music and book reviews.
Road Junky is an online publication featuring destination guides, travel tips, and travel culture. Road Junky is looking for travel writers to expand their city and country guides. The publication is also interested in travel stories, but does not pay for these. Road Junky is also looking for translators, editors, and marketing experts. See travel writing and photography submission details here.
Transitions Abroad is a useful, practical planning guide for long-term or short-term cultural immersion, whether its volunteering abroad, studying abroad, working abroad, etc. With over 6 million visitors per year, the pay is good and the content versatile. Review the different sections here, including a Current Needs section. Submit all manuscripts in a Word document to webeditorial@transitionsabroad.com.
Travel Thru History explores historical and cultural experiences. Visitors to the site are immersed in the past and present with writing that takes people to another time and place. Editor W. Ruth Kozak seeks stories that feature the historical, archaeological and cultural dimensions of a destination. Writers who have taken literary journeys, visited sites haunted by artists, and wandered through the halls of interesting museums and art galleries are encouraged to submit material. Travel Thru History provides more than just destination information; writers need to engage readers with strong details about a destination. Stories range from 500-1,500 words, and payment depends on length of article. Writers must submit photography if an article is accepted. Complete submission guidelines can be found here.
Vagabondish is yet another great travel site. This one doesn’t pay but promises to link to your blog if they publish your content. A good way to get some exposure if you’re starting out in the travel writing. There is a general contact form on the website to fill out if you are interested in submitting.
Verge Magazine is a print and online publication that explores opportunities to study, work and volunteer abroad for readers in Canada and the United States. Co-founder and editor-in-chief Jeff Minthorn has extensive experience travelling and working abroad, and it is expected that writers of Verge will provide content that motivates and informs readers interested in doing the same. Articles should be engaging and provide how-to information for readers interested in learning more about travelling with a purpose. There are many department columns and feature opportunities open to freelance submissions. Providing photographs is strongly encouraged. Verge Magazine pays $.10 (CAD) per word. Writers may submit manuscripts or detailed queries as noted in the submission guidelines, which can be accessed here.
Wanderlust and Lipstick is a publication for lady writers only, Wanderlust and Lipstick has a light-hearted, fun approach to travel writing. Beth Whitman, with more than 22 years of travel experience, is always looking for new stories from the road. Check out the submission guidelines here. While writers are not paid for their articles right now, a book is in the works for 2010. Also worth noting is the contests section, prizes including vacation packages.
Phew! That’s a big ‘ol list. Bookmark this or hang it on your wall, but make sure you keep writing, keep querying, and get that passion of yours published!
Namaste 2010!
Namaste 2010! I’m a little late in getting my first post of the year up, but no worries, this is the start of a whole new year of blogging for me. 2008 and 2009 were both stellar years, 2 of the best…no, THE 2 best years of my life. I’ve never been so excited to see the changing of the year as I am this time around since 2010 has some great things lined up for me already.
I’m not so much of a resolution maker as I am a list and goal maker. So to get things rolling, here’s my list of BIG goals for the year:
Learn Hindi: In November, I’ll be starring in a great, big, over the top production of my very own Indian wedding. The colors, commotion, and excitement of this are slightly thrwarted by a nagging sense of overwhelmed urgency to be able to communicate with my future inlaws and the hundreds of people that will come to meet me on November 17, 2010. My current grasp of Hindi can be summed up in relation to food and basic greetings, but that’s not quite going to cut when this towering stature of an American girl comes to join the Gupta Family. I’ll got 11 months and counting to command the Hindi languge, wish me luck!
Get Published: Vibhu and I want to take our lives on the road after the wedding, so aside from the adventure and plethora of mangoes that will bring, it also means making income on the road. Traveling in 2008 re-kindled a love for writing and photography that I had forgotten about and now I’m finally ready to make my dream of being a travel writer a reality.
500 Followers on Twitter: Social media is here and its revolutionizing the way people think, do business, and interact. Twitter, Digg, Stumble Upon, Delicious, and the good ol’ standby, Facebook are just a few of the massively powerful tools out there that I am beginning to grasp, appreciate, and utilize. 500 is kind of a random number, but I figure its a good wholesome number to start with….I’m already pushing the 100 mark, so why don’t you follow me too @wanderingdona ???
Fundraiser for Team 100: I started the Team 100 Athletic Scholarship Program back in the summer of 2008 as a result of living with and being inspired by the team in Arusha. I’ve been dragging my feet in securing funding to continue the program, and its WAY overdue that I do something about that. So this year, I’m finally going to do some fundraising…I’m thinking its going to take the form of a pay by donation dinner. Vibhu will be the chef. Bombay Frankies anyone?
Turn Off the Fridge: We’ve been talking about it, meaning to do it, but its scary. We’ve even decided that this is the weekend to do it. We’re pulling the plug on our fridge, in yet another step towards greener living. The enclosed mud room off the side of the house stays well below freezing all winter, so really its silly to keep a big energy-draining clunker plugged in. With a little rearranging, organizing, and probably more than a few days of adjusting, we’re going to convert our 100% Mother Earth Approved mud room into a functional refrigerator and shrink our carbon footprint just that much more. Skeptical? Check back soon for updates and photos!
So here’s to a new year of happiness, silliness, and lots of love! Lets go rock it.
Chai Aboard the Indian Rail
“Chai-eeeeee, chai-eeeeeee!,” as the train slows to a crawl at Virar station, young men flood into the carriage, attracting potential customers with their sing-song calls for sweet, milky chai. The carriage erupts into a flurry of commotion, and a perfectly executed production unfolds before me. Some Wallahs display their skills and vie to impress customers by expertly pouring long, thin streams of chai from giant kettles held high above their heads into tiny clay cups balanced on calloused fingertips. Others woo passengers with beautiful, sung descriptions of their product. Passengers’ broad smiles and laughing eyes delight in this ritual, and in exchange for a meager five rupees, participants are rewarded with a few delightful sips of India’s most popular beverage.
“Madam. Excuse me, Madam?” I turn to see my berth mates settling into their meal, carefully packed in round aluminum canisters. “You must be hungry. Please join us.” The young family is traveling from their home in the southern state of Karanataka to Mumbai to visit family during Holi, the annual festival of color which invites an open disregard to all polite civility.
Mr. Gupta struggles with one of the canisters. His fingers pull at the lid with admirable determination until the lid pops free, unleashing a tantalizing burst of steam that sends condensation dripping into the piles of turmeric, cumin, and green chili coated potatoes. The spices tickle my nose and tease my neglected stomach into a flurry of grumbling anticipation. Leaning through the barred window, I stretch my arms into the hot wind of a landscape yearning for the arrival of the monsoons, and using the last drops pooled in the bottom of a discarded baggie of water, I rinse my hands of the inevitable dusty grime that a 30 hour train journey accumulates.
The young girl sitting across from me meticulously unwraps a package of grease-stained newspaper and offers me the largest puri in the pile. Conversation hovers around my life back home, my family, and my motives for traveling alone as we tear off pieces of puri to use as utensils for the aloo subji. Between bites, I struggle to adequately explain my yearning for independence and freedom to a family in which personal identity is defined in the presence, not absence, of family.
The train slows again, and instinctively I reach for my coin purse. I can almost taste that raw, slightly bitter, textured taste of earth mixing with the sweet, milky gingery smooth. The voice of a fine limbed boy, barefoot and draped in a much too large kurta catches my attention amongst the chaotic commotion of Wallahs selling everything from chai to samosas to chaat and fresh juice. I flag the boy and in an instant he hands me a little mud cup, filled to the brim with Indian’s favorite past time, its national treasure, and a symbol of unmatched hospitality. I pass the cup carefully to my new friends, and order six more.
Caught in the Cross Fire
We set out on foot from a small village nestled at the base of Mt. Bisoke and spent the next few hours following buffalo paths up steep muddy inclines, cutting through thick vegetation, and diligently trying to avoid the stinging nettles that grazed our arms. Clutching at roots and branches to drag ourselves up a particularly strenuous uphill stretch, our armed guide stopped in his tracks and motioned for silence. With the intensity of a magician revealing his secret behind the veil, Jean Pierre pushes aside the greenery to reveal a full grown Silverback munching on wild celery. The gorilla glaces in our direction, his eyes strikingly human, offers up a humph of indignation, and continues with his breakfast. Adrenaline fueled excitement pulses through me, my eyes wild in amazement, as I stood paralyzed, stunned by the reality in front of me.
About half of the world’s remaining 700 mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains of central Africa. Dissected by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, the dramatic slopes of these volcanic mountains are lush with tropical forests, an enormous diversity of mammals, birds, and reptiles, and civil unrest that has gripped this region for decades. The plight of the mountain gorilla has been well documented over the past 20 years, and it is widely recognized that the future of these magnificent creatures is in great peril. Slash and burn agriculture and logging have accelerated loss of habitat, black market demand for their hands and feet as trophy pieces have incentivized poachers, and capturing infants to raise as pets have all contributed to their dwindling numbers. However, in the last few years, the mountain gorilla has added yet another adversary to its list, and unfortunately these guys are proving to be much more deadly.
Sitting on top of Mount Bisoke, embraced by the chill of a gray, soggy mist I pull my knees into my chest and stare pensively across her crater lake. The deep green canopy of trees and mysterious mountains tainted by images of news headlines—rebels, AK-47’s, child soldiers, death, dying, despair—consume the landscape. The invisible border that slices the peak of Mount Bisoke in half intrigues me, and it’s only my faint sense of reason and responsibility that keeps my bum firmly planted on the Rwandan side. The rest of me wants to approach that line , to wiggle my toes across it, to dance a little happy dance, just to see what happens. Just to say I did.
“Shhh, listen. You hear that?” My ears strain to hear the faint pop, pop, pop in the distance. Cutting through the thick mist I could just barely make out the dull cracking of bullets. I don’t shutter in fear. I don’t worry about our safety. I sit quietly and I listen. I acknowledge the bullets, their seeming familiarity with the landscape, and sadly it’s almost like they belong.
The horror of the Rwandan Hutu-Tutsi genocide that captured the world’s attention in 1994 continues to wreak havoc on the eastern region of the DRC. Fleeing UN persecution, Hutu extremists were granted refuge in the DRC by President Mobutu where they launched continued attacks on Rwanda and laid the foundation for a bitter, highly-political period of conflict and lawlessness that continues today. The resource rich Virunga Mountain Range is one of Africa’s most bio-diverse regions, and a highly coveted position of control for rebel groups. In July 2007, the headquarters of Virunga National Park was taken by a rebel group in a plot masterminded by Honore Mashagiro, the Director of Virunga NP himself. The attack resulted in the slaughter of 9 gorillas, the acquisition of millions of dollars worth of resources, and control of land that thousands of people rely on for their livelihood—a major power move that has had, and will continue to have devastating consequences for the people of the eastern region of the DRC.
I caught a fleeting glimpse of daily life in the eastern DRC as Kate and I explored the strangely deserted streets of Goma a few days later. Aside from UN patrols of armed men and a few lone construction workers repairing a section of road long past repair, the streets were curiously bare. We hired two motorbikes to take us to the outskirts of town where a friend was preparing dinner for us. The further we got from Goma’s center, the more populated the streets became, and slowly, the energy and commotion felt wonderfully African again. But signs of war were everywhere. Machetes and guns. People with missing hands and deformed skulls. Temporary camps. But life too was normal. Prince and his family welcomed us into their small home, and set before us a feast of ugali, fried fish, and greens. Children peaked through the windows, giggling at the sight of muzungus. Christian music blared from a nearby store and conversation spiraled around politics, religion, and hopes for the future. Prince introduced us to his wife and new daughter, we took photographs with his mother, uncles, and curious kids. I had so many questions and wished the language barrier wasn’t quite so pronounced. I was desperately curious to know sort of truth was really behind the headlines.
Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC all officially charge visitors $500 to track gorillas, however in the latter, the lack of regulation allows for activities that are detrimental to the conservation of this disappearing species. There are a plethora of companies and individuals who will offer tours for drastically less, most of whom are connected to rebel groups or corrupt park rangers taking a backhander. Beyond that, stumbling upon unhabituated family groups is dangerous not only for yourself (gorillas are incredibly territorial, especially when young are involved), but for the gorillas as well, who’s increased tolerance of human contact puts them at heightened risk in the face of a poacher. Virunga NP leaves much to be desired and visitors to the region should do their homework before setting off on an unofficial gorilla trek.
“Do you want to go see the gorillas?” Prince inquired, just as we were heading back into town before darkness fell over the streets. Explaining that we had seen gorillas in Rwanda, Prince continued. “I can get you diamonds. Cheap. Please my friend, please.” Kate and I glanced at each other knowing full well that the source of the diamonds were just as toxic as supporting the gorilla trade. The pang of desperation in his voice left me feeling helpless, as this kind man stood before me simply trying to support his family in a country where the luxury of ethics is obsolete, his options come down to mere survival.
Bringing Home the Tree
Beautiful, dainty snowflakes floated from the skies yesterday, covering the landscape in a soft powdery white. It made for a storybook winter wonderland as we cut down our Christmas tree from a friend’s property. A little guy, definitely Charlie Brownesque, but for us crunchy granola types, his non-conformity was just perfect. We showered Charlie down in the bathtub when we got home, melting the icicles from his branches and covering the newly washed tub in a layer of pine needles.
We pride ourselves in living a life of minimalist existence, not wanting to acquire more than what will fit comfortably in Zoe (aka Ms. Prius) in the event that we decide to just up and go. We’re not about to let our lives get settled here, not now, not on PEI. So we didn’t buy a tree stand, figuring we could just jerry-rig something together from stuff lying around the house. First we tried a Bundt pan set snuggly inside a pie dish, but that was a bit too unstable for the likes of a curious kitten desperate to claw her way to the top of Charlie. Vibhu rediscovered a metal cylinder he found on the beach this summer, and although his plans to make a portable BBQ out of it never quite panned out, it did make a perfect Christmas tree stand for an entirely awesome, way too kitschy Christmas set up.
Charlie’s balanced up on top of a reindeer wrapped cylinder, secured to the wall with string for extra kitty-defying support, and strung out on those psychedelic energy efficient lights that I haven’t quite come to appreciate yet. A feable attempt at spending nothing on our Christmas tree; I hate it so much that I love it.
Notes from December 3, 2009
I just walked by someone’s cubicle and the sweet, crisp scent of fresh evergreen was intoxicating. Oh how I long for warm cozy fires, hot chocolate in giant mugs and mounds of whipped cream, Christmas carols and pretty lights.
It’s December 3 and my life is practically void of Christmas carols. Back at home we have a radio station dedicated solely to holiday music starting December 1 every year. I haven’t found anything like that here…surprising since Islanders begin prepping for Christmas as soon as they close the door on the last trick-or-treaters. This morning I added ‘Feliz Navidad’ to my ringtones hoping to add a dash of Christmas cheer every time someone calls me. Sadly, no one has called me yet.
‘Feliz Navidad’ has been my favorite Christmas carol since I first heard it on the Sesame Street Christmas Special. It will forever remind me of Big Bird and Snuffalufogous ice skating.
Its grey and soggy outside, and what’s left of the light reminds me that its close to quittin’ time. I’m meeting Vibhu for coffee right after work, but more than anything I want hot chocolate and Russian tea cookies like my mom always make this time of year. I wonder if I’ll be able to find any suitable alternative. I just hope I’ll be able to brush my teeth before cozying into the dentist’s chair, a mouth full of coffee and cookie remnants might not be the best way to greet the person who’s about to drill into my teeth.
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