3 weeks, 11 beds, lots of adventure...priceless

I'm currently 30,000 feet in the air somewhere over Colorado. Out the window I see miles of light grey clouds as the sun is setting. I'm leaving California after spending 4 days at Yosemite and 4 days at the Hazon Food Conference. I just realized that since leaving Teva Dec. 7th, I've slept in 11 different beds in 6 different states. I love the adventure travel life of meeting new people, seeing great friends, and having new experiences. There's a lot more ahead. I'm also excited about getting to Rwanda and being in the same place for a little while (I'm sure that will also include lots of adventures!).

I enjoyed being at the food conference. I saw lots of good friends from many diiferent places in my life. I helped to lead some of the children's programming. My favorite activity with the kids was tidepooling. For those of you that don't know (I didn't know what it was until this weekend) it involves going to the beach and finding puddles of water with lots of sea creatures. My favorite thing that we found was a star fish. The guy leading the activity showed us how it can tickle you by putting its mouth parts to your arm. The were also lots of little crabs that the kids enjoyed crawling on their hands.

I had the opportunity to attend a couple of the "adult" sessions. I got the hear on inspirational talk by a panel of female farmers. It was funny when they were talking about their farming clothing styles. It was just cool hearing from other females that enjoy farming and the connection to land. I went to other sessions on composting/biodynamic farming and genetically modefied crops. These are both topics that I know only a little about and I'm excited to learn more. Does this excite anyone else? I'd love to hear your thoughts. I think I'll write a post soon about these topics.

After the conference, I went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium! Some of the creatures were incredible. Check out the picture of my favorite creature that I learned about...the Sea Dragon.

I'm on top of the world...or at least the 5th tallest waterfall

I know that I haven't landed in Rwanda yet (leaving date is Jan. 11th) but I want to share my current adventure.  This adventure is intended to get me ready for my next big move.  I wanted to have some time for relaxing and self reflecting.  So...I set out to California.  I'm here for Hazon's Food Conference helping to lead the kids program.  I decided that since I'm already over here, I might as well go to Yosemite.  Thanks to Tzlil for helping me how awesome the place is and encouraging me to take part in the beauty of the west (I have this habit of hearing others travel stories and then just have to check it out for myself).  I love being a tourist in my own country.  Sometimes I think that you have to go to other places but look right here.  This place is freakin awesome.  

On the bus on the way to the Yosemite Bug Hostel, I met this lady who works in the park.  Her and I spent the evening talking about life and she gave me some suggestions on places to visit in the park.  It was a great start to the trip.  We met another person traveling from Austria who gave us a ride into the park.  As we approached, I was blown away by the grandeur of this place.  The granite rock walls reach up into the sky and many have huge waterfalls cascading off of them.  The landscape was also enhanced by the white snow.

My first day in the park I watched a movie about the park and hiked to the lower falls of Yosemite Falls (the fifth largest waterfall in the world).  I headed back to the hostel early for a yoga class and get this...the hostel even has a spa!  I treated myself to the sauna and hot tub.  The second day, I hiked to the top of Yosemite Falls...just 2,420ft...and man am I sore...but it was incredible.  The hike was steep but views made up for the intensity of the hike.  I got to see the whole Yosemite landscape.  There was also a point where you could see all three levels of the falls.  The top part was covered in ice and snow which made hiking a bit tricky.  And of course the day ended with a dip in the hot tub.  The third day I got up early to catch a bus to Badger Pass, the ski area in Yosemite.  There I joined up with a group led by one of the park rangers for a snowshoeing adventure.  We hiked up to the old Badger Pass ski area and learned about winter ecolgy along the way.  He told us that 70% of crops grown in California get their water source from the snow melt in Yosemite...he said in that way we're all connected to the place.  I sure felt that being there.  From the top it was beautiful.  All you could see where snow topped trees for miles.  We even had a race down the mountain in 2ft of snow and believe me, it wasn't easy.  I had lunch with the ranger and he was even on my bus on the way back to the hostel.  I enjoyed talking with him about the park.  After Badger Pass, I hiked to Mirror Lake which was frozen so the mirror was gone.

The park is very quite this time of year.  It's hard to believe that in the summer, the place gets packed.  I spent much of the time hiking on my own which lends itself to lots of thinking and reflecting.  There were many times that I had the mentality that I want to see this, do that, go there.  I do want to do all those things but there's a time and a place for the now.  I had to work on enjoying the moment and not think of what might be next.  I think that's going to be my big goal and aim...to be in the present.  If I don't see sometime then I want to be ok with that and realize that I saw what I saw and it was incredible.  There are so many things that I might miss but that's ok.  I do think that I need to some exceptions sometimes...especially when meeting a cute guy from New Zealand who travels the world learning to make wine.  I don't think that I could meet a more perfect guy...lol.   I was hiking the falls and met the guy at the beginning.  We talked about New Zealand, traveling, and wine amoung other things....all some of my favorites!  I could have gone down with him at the beginning but decided to continue to enjoy the hike and go further...I guess this is a time for exceptions to goals.  I am glad though that I made it to the top.      

Song Dudu and I Wrote for Orientation

Headed to Rwanda!!!!!!
to the tune of "Wagon Wheel"

Headed to Rwanda to the land of 1,000 hills
And it's kinda scary, but a lot of thrills
Starin' out the plane
And pray to God I'll be alright

I made it through the interview
And here I am
I'll be on the farm, And I'll lend a hand
Together we're ready for this adventure

Chorus:
So, I'm gonna to teach the youth, gonna teach them well
Give them hope, I can tell
Hey, we'll have a good time
Teach the youth help them grow
Teach the youth what they want to know
Hey, we'll have a good time

Comin’ to Rwanda from Israel and USA
We’re going to take part in this amazing project
Fixing and building
Creating and growing

Oh, there’s a stunning natural beauty, green grass, and fruit trees
Hang out on the farm or viewin’ the landscape
But, let’s work together
To livin’ the good life in Aghahozo

Repeat Chorus

Walkin’ round the village maintaining its grace
Creating big new projects
Keeping it a beautiful place
Working together with nature and all that’s around
To hiking through these hills

And we'll shed some sweat but I'm sure it'll be fun
Caring about the environment
Should be the vision of everyone
Tikkun olam
Creatin’ the leaders of tomorrow

Repeat Chorus