It's the end of the week and I'm wrapped up in bed, Edie kneading on my tummy, feeling wonderfully satiated, inspired, and a bit sore from the David Dorfman Winter Intensive.
I was first introduced to David Dorfman Dance when Dancewave Co. learned underground, a piece inspired by the ideological controversy surrounding the radical group, the Weather Underground (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_underground). I was instantly taken by the powerful and swift movement, accented by throwing and slicing actions. The year after Dancewave Co. learned underground was my last year in the company and Diane, the artistic director, was kind enough to hook me up with a solo choreographed by Heather McArdle, a former member of David Dorfman Dance and our teacher for underground - so further down the Dorfman rabbit hole I went! Since then I've kept myself updated on the company and gone to a couple showings of their most recent work, Prophets of Funk, and was totally surprised and elated to find out that they were holding a winter intensive this year - finally a way to learn more about the company, the style, and it was right in NYC.
As the week approached I became nervous, I hadn't danced this style in a long time, what were the other dancers going to be like? These thoughts were quickly put to rest by the fact that this intensive was for me, for me to do something I love with a company that I love. Each day started at 10:00 and ended at either 5:30 or 6:00, an exhausting but certainly rewarding commitment. We would have Technique in the morning (taught by a company member like a regular 'modern' class - warm up, small phrase work), followed by Lab with David (more like a rehearsal, longer phrases, experimenting with form and configuration), lunch, repertory (company members would teach phrase work from a David Dorfman piece), and then one or two alternative classes (these included yoga, improvisation, partnering...). The first aspect about the intensive that struck me was the friendliness of the company. Everyone was so open and funny, we were all dancing together but they took on the role of the leaders. One of my favorite parts was learning some of the dancing from Prophets of Funk - a piece set to music by Sly and the Family Stone - fun fun fun! Another was the end of the week full group contact improvisation session (the group was split into two for all classes except for this one). It was so much fun to see the way other people moved and get a chance to dance and interact with everyone in the workshop.
I think I may have been the youngest one there, most of the other dancers were either graduates, in grad school, dancing professionally, or students majoring in dance. It was great to be able to see the stages ahead of me, how the technique level followed the stages people were at and how I focused more on expression and nuance because I lack the technical experience of many of the other dancers. David's style is so wonderful in that it combines the two; there are the high kicks, the crazy turns, but also the release, the expression of the sternum, all speckled with rhythm focused movement.
They're holding another workshop in the summer which I would love to attend. I really enjoyed how personable and engaging all the company members and David were. It got me really excited to take class at Skidmore in the fall and got lots of ideas moving for my own choreography and movement.
Here's a link to a video of Prophets of Funk: (we learned the first phrase they danced!)
In terms of the coming months I'm looking into an apprenticeship on a farm in the Northeast. What seems to make sense is to do a apprenticeship program in order to get the skills and attention needed for a first time farmer and then apply to work on other farms for pay once I have the experience and if I've enjoyed it so far. Looking forward to life!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Tel Aviv and a Grateful Brooklynite
So here's the official Tel Aviv report!
Tel Aviv is a unique city in every sense of the word. Around each corner is some beautiful overlooked piece of street art next to an open bakery with piles of spiced bread and stuffed pastries. From my room I could hear hourly chimes from the Church, the echoing call to prayer, along with unnamed bell songs and the dull pop of Chanukah fire works over the ocean.
My two favorite parts of the city were by far Old Jaffa and the Carmel Market. Old Jaffa is the oldest part of Tel Aviv located in the South. It used to be a port and was the center from which the now semi-metropolitan city sprung. It's classical Middle Eastern architecture, bounty of falafel/frozen yogurt/bakery/fresh juice joints, and location right near the sea make it the most nostalgic part of the city. Although the main intersection is rather touristy, once you walk in its labyrinth the graceful cross between ancient city and trendy modernity lures you in further. Shabat (Saturday) was our day off from the Gaga intensive and a couple friends from the workshop and I wandered and ate our way around the area. We started with Cafe Puaa, where along with delicious turkish coffee and challah bread you can buy anything in the cafe (from the table to the napkins), which made for some quite funky furniture combinations. Next up we headed to Abu Hassan which brags the best hummus in Tel Aviv. It's definitely a local spot and skipped out on atmosphere in favor for the quality of food. We ordered classic hummus, some type of bean dip, and spicy hummus which was much coarser and warm. Extremely delicious and cheap! The pita in Israel was definitely a highlight, it was springy and soft almost like a crumpet .. mm.. so good!
Carmel Market is the city's main food, clothing, and tourist goods market. It's always exciting to walk through a market in a foreign country, it feels like a direct root to the culture. Tables held mounds of olives, stacks of leafy greens, boxes of juicy strawberries, trays of carefully cut baklava, and trenches of sugary candy for the picking. On the latter half of the market there were plenty of hand of Miriam trinkets, simple clothing, sunglasses, etc. Outside the market was my favorite bakery which had filo knots stuffed with spinach and honey'd chocolate croissants - yum yum yum!
Alright I think I've thoroughly made my point with the food, the other part of my time in Israel was spent in the Gaga dance intensive. Gaga is a dance language in which movement is based off of motivation and sensation. The connection to Israel is as follows: the artistic director, Ohad Naharin, of Israel's national dance company, Batsheva, created Gaga and uses it's principles to create work for the company and the company takes Gaga class every day. The 7 1/2 day intensive I took focused on the participants gaining access to the sensations that create the Gaga language. Each day would start with an hour 1/2 Gaga class (exercises that gave us the base of the Gaga language), a half hour break, two hour repertory class (learning phrases from work that Batsheva performs), lunch break, and an hour 1/2 'Methodics' class (similar to the first class, but slower, questions are allowed and with more focus on one or two specific sensations). Some examples of the sensations that teachers used would be like 'move from the action of pulling your bones apart from one another' 'try to shake something off your skin' 'float, as if you've just been dropped into still water, you don't have to try, the water supports you' 'feel the connection between your lower back, the snake of your spine, and the roof of your mouth, play with this connection' 'pull your ribs away from your pelvis, while the pelvis pulls towards the ground the rib cage rises up, the space between growing wider and wider'. We pay attention to spots that are sometimes numbed out during dancing; the back of the neck, in between the knuckles, the center of the palms, the bottoms of the feet. When we learn repertory the imagery becomes a bit more playful; in one phrase we stand still at the beginning but are told the feeling is supposed to be like just under the surface there is steam traveling throughout our body. In another phrase our stomach explodes forward, in another we are like aliens dropped on the planet for the first time - everything new and our body begins to move without us trying, in another our body movements are the music (this one is called Metronome, the movement and music - tick tick tick). It makes for quite a brain and body twister. This type of treatment of the body allows for incredible range of movement. Once we're no longer focusing on 'get your leg this high' or 'look like her' and the movement is coming from somewhere deep inside the results are really moving and a lot more interesting to look at.
A highlight of the intensive was the open improvisations they held after class. I signed up for the second day improv was available and it was a ton of fun. They have a DJ (a former member of Batsheva actually) who played a wonderfully diverse playlist and the stage was open. About 20 people had signed up for the day but I think only around 10 or 11 ended up participating, with a full audience watching (the other workshop participants). There are no rules, you can partner/touch other people or not, you can come on and off when you please, you can speak, stand still, whatever. I think someone from the intensive took a video which I'll definitely try to locate and post!
So the flip side of the wonderful experience was the exhausting toll it took on my body and mind! The work was so 'radical' that it was hard to turn it off after leaving the studio (walking down the street I couldn't help but thinking 'float your bones') not to mention it being the first real dance class in 3 months! I decided to forgo my plans to Jerusalem and instead flew home after the intensive was over. It must have been in the stars because there was a slight flight change in my original flight and I was eligible to change my flight free of charge. Traveling alone is much more emotionally difficult than I expected, when doing so in such an urban city as Tel Aviv I had to fight a bit to see the bright side. However, I did learn how much I valued the comforts I can only find at home and the dance intensive was one of the most valuable dance experiences I have had.
Next up is a week long modern dance workshop with the David Dorfman Dance Company in New York. For the spring I'm looking into farming opportunities on the East coast. I still have research to do and each step of this journey is helping me see what I value most. Very excited to do some good old release technique during the intensive! For more info check the site out: http://www.daviddorfmandance.org/workshops.php
Much love and light,
Hannah
Tel Aviv is a unique city in every sense of the word. Around each corner is some beautiful overlooked piece of street art next to an open bakery with piles of spiced bread and stuffed pastries. From my room I could hear hourly chimes from the Church, the echoing call to prayer, along with unnamed bell songs and the dull pop of Chanukah fire works over the ocean.
My two favorite parts of the city were by far Old Jaffa and the Carmel Market. Old Jaffa is the oldest part of Tel Aviv located in the South. It used to be a port and was the center from which the now semi-metropolitan city sprung. It's classical Middle Eastern architecture, bounty of falafel/frozen yogurt/bakery/fresh juice joints, and location right near the sea make it the most nostalgic part of the city. Although the main intersection is rather touristy, once you walk in its labyrinth the graceful cross between ancient city and trendy modernity lures you in further. Shabat (Saturday) was our day off from the Gaga intensive and a couple friends from the workshop and I wandered and ate our way around the area. We started with Cafe Puaa, where along with delicious turkish coffee and challah bread you can buy anything in the cafe (from the table to the napkins), which made for some quite funky furniture combinations. Next up we headed to Abu Hassan which brags the best hummus in Tel Aviv. It's definitely a local spot and skipped out on atmosphere in favor for the quality of food. We ordered classic hummus, some type of bean dip, and spicy hummus which was much coarser and warm. Extremely delicious and cheap! The pita in Israel was definitely a highlight, it was springy and soft almost like a crumpet .. mm.. so good!
Carmel Market is the city's main food, clothing, and tourist goods market. It's always exciting to walk through a market in a foreign country, it feels like a direct root to the culture. Tables held mounds of olives, stacks of leafy greens, boxes of juicy strawberries, trays of carefully cut baklava, and trenches of sugary candy for the picking. On the latter half of the market there were plenty of hand of Miriam trinkets, simple clothing, sunglasses, etc. Outside the market was my favorite bakery which had filo knots stuffed with spinach and honey'd chocolate croissants - yum yum yum!
Alright I think I've thoroughly made my point with the food, the other part of my time in Israel was spent in the Gaga dance intensive. Gaga is a dance language in which movement is based off of motivation and sensation. The connection to Israel is as follows: the artistic director, Ohad Naharin, of Israel's national dance company, Batsheva, created Gaga and uses it's principles to create work for the company and the company takes Gaga class every day. The 7 1/2 day intensive I took focused on the participants gaining access to the sensations that create the Gaga language. Each day would start with an hour 1/2 Gaga class (exercises that gave us the base of the Gaga language), a half hour break, two hour repertory class (learning phrases from work that Batsheva performs), lunch break, and an hour 1/2 'Methodics' class (similar to the first class, but slower, questions are allowed and with more focus on one or two specific sensations). Some examples of the sensations that teachers used would be like 'move from the action of pulling your bones apart from one another' 'try to shake something off your skin' 'float, as if you've just been dropped into still water, you don't have to try, the water supports you' 'feel the connection between your lower back, the snake of your spine, and the roof of your mouth, play with this connection' 'pull your ribs away from your pelvis, while the pelvis pulls towards the ground the rib cage rises up, the space between growing wider and wider'. We pay attention to spots that are sometimes numbed out during dancing; the back of the neck, in between the knuckles, the center of the palms, the bottoms of the feet. When we learn repertory the imagery becomes a bit more playful; in one phrase we stand still at the beginning but are told the feeling is supposed to be like just under the surface there is steam traveling throughout our body. In another phrase our stomach explodes forward, in another we are like aliens dropped on the planet for the first time - everything new and our body begins to move without us trying, in another our body movements are the music (this one is called Metronome, the movement and music - tick tick tick). It makes for quite a brain and body twister. This type of treatment of the body allows for incredible range of movement. Once we're no longer focusing on 'get your leg this high' or 'look like her' and the movement is coming from somewhere deep inside the results are really moving and a lot more interesting to look at.
A highlight of the intensive was the open improvisations they held after class. I signed up for the second day improv was available and it was a ton of fun. They have a DJ (a former member of Batsheva actually) who played a wonderfully diverse playlist and the stage was open. About 20 people had signed up for the day but I think only around 10 or 11 ended up participating, with a full audience watching (the other workshop participants). There are no rules, you can partner/touch other people or not, you can come on and off when you please, you can speak, stand still, whatever. I think someone from the intensive took a video which I'll definitely try to locate and post!
So the flip side of the wonderful experience was the exhausting toll it took on my body and mind! The work was so 'radical' that it was hard to turn it off after leaving the studio (walking down the street I couldn't help but thinking 'float your bones') not to mention it being the first real dance class in 3 months! I decided to forgo my plans to Jerusalem and instead flew home after the intensive was over. It must have been in the stars because there was a slight flight change in my original flight and I was eligible to change my flight free of charge. Traveling alone is much more emotionally difficult than I expected, when doing so in such an urban city as Tel Aviv I had to fight a bit to see the bright side. However, I did learn how much I valued the comforts I can only find at home and the dance intensive was one of the most valuable dance experiences I have had.
Next up is a week long modern dance workshop with the David Dorfman Dance Company in New York. For the spring I'm looking into farming opportunities on the East coast. I still have research to do and each step of this journey is helping me see what I value most. Very excited to do some good old release technique during the intensive! For more info check the site out: http://www.daviddorfmandance.org/workshops.php
Much love and light,
Hannah
Friday, December 23, 2011
First Days, Southern Tel Aviv
Alright so here I am!
I'm staying at the Florentine Hostel in the Florentine neighborhood of Tel Aviv, which is in South Tel Aviv and east of Old Jaffa. It's quite a funky hostel, up a couple flights of stairs but makes up for anything with its fantastic roof lounge complete with hammocks, couches, and view of the city. I'm actually already at the end of my stay! But, it has been uniquely comfortable (wait until I show you my bed :) - it will be a wait I left my camera/computer cord at home unfortunately). The first evening all I managed to do was walk to nearby Florentine St. to check out the neighborhood vibe. It's kind of like a pre-Williamsburg Williamsburg but lower the ground and a bit shabbier. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, delis, motor shops, and walls with interesting graffiti. Graffiti! It's really incredible here, an art form not to be looked past and that I've really enjoyed spotting all over the city.
Yesterday I was really able to explore Tel Aviv. I started out walking around Old Jaffa Port, grabbing a hot potato filo pastry (thought it was eggs but tasty nonetheless) and stumbling upon the eclectic Old Jaffa flea market (mostly junk but junk with personality). I then walked up towards central Tel Aviv, passing the beautiful beach which was peppered with surfers. My aim was Carmel Market which was wonderful! It seems to be the main market, filled with fruits, veggies, pastries, clothing, knick knacks, and about everything in between. I picked up some eggs, bok choy, a pomegranate, tea, some pastries, a charm, and a green dress. On the way back to the hostel I had my first falafel - yum! It was stuffed to the brim and really really good, especially the pita... and the hummus....and the falafel... :) I was also able to see Suzanne Dellal Center where the dance intensive will be held. It's in a really beautiful quiet neighborhood called Neve Tsdek. I actually must hop to for I'm moving in an apartment today and checking out of Florentine today!
I will be sure to update as soon as possible, there is a lot of Tel Aviv to tell! Today I plan on exploring more to the North, perhaps a museum and park and walking down some of the must see streets...
Til next time!
I'm staying at the Florentine Hostel in the Florentine neighborhood of Tel Aviv, which is in South Tel Aviv and east of Old Jaffa. It's quite a funky hostel, up a couple flights of stairs but makes up for anything with its fantastic roof lounge complete with hammocks, couches, and view of the city. I'm actually already at the end of my stay! But, it has been uniquely comfortable (wait until I show you my bed :) - it will be a wait I left my camera/computer cord at home unfortunately). The first evening all I managed to do was walk to nearby Florentine St. to check out the neighborhood vibe. It's kind of like a pre-Williamsburg Williamsburg but lower the ground and a bit shabbier. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, delis, motor shops, and walls with interesting graffiti. Graffiti! It's really incredible here, an art form not to be looked past and that I've really enjoyed spotting all over the city.
Yesterday I was really able to explore Tel Aviv. I started out walking around Old Jaffa Port, grabbing a hot potato filo pastry (thought it was eggs but tasty nonetheless) and stumbling upon the eclectic Old Jaffa flea market (mostly junk but junk with personality). I then walked up towards central Tel Aviv, passing the beautiful beach which was peppered with surfers. My aim was Carmel Market which was wonderful! It seems to be the main market, filled with fruits, veggies, pastries, clothing, knick knacks, and about everything in between. I picked up some eggs, bok choy, a pomegranate, tea, some pastries, a charm, and a green dress. On the way back to the hostel I had my first falafel - yum! It was stuffed to the brim and really really good, especially the pita... and the hummus....and the falafel... :) I was also able to see Suzanne Dellal Center where the dance intensive will be held. It's in a really beautiful quiet neighborhood called Neve Tsdek. I actually must hop to for I'm moving in an apartment today and checking out of Florentine today!
I will be sure to update as soon as possible, there is a lot of Tel Aviv to tell! Today I plan on exploring more to the North, perhaps a museum and park and walking down some of the must see streets...
Til next time!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
First Night in Tel Aviv!
Hello! Shalom! I'm here! My 9:00PM flight out of JFK last night arrived at the Ben Gurion Airport at 1:45 PM today. The flight seemd quick, I was able to get a good bit of sleep and read. I took the train to a bus station in Tel Aviv and then walked about 30 min to the hostel, which is in a very ahem discrete location but totally funky and relaxed. I opted to walk to get the lay of the land (and I'm all for being cheap in foreign countries!) and just be able to move and observe Tel Aviv. I'm checking in in about 2 hours and until then I plan to just read and eat some hummus and red pepper spread I got from a local grocery - leave exploring for the next couple of days - no rush! I did walk down Florentine Street which had a lot of groceries, restaurants, and little food places. Where I've explored is very urban so far but I think I'll get a more rounded idea of Tel Aviv, it's people, architecture and culture as I look around tomorrow. I plan to walk over to Old Jaffa and then down the beach towards Northern Tel Aviv, get some falafel for lunch, do some window shopping and reading in a nice park. Looking forward to giving you more updates!
Until next time! (check out the new location :) )
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
In Completeness
Aloha everyone!
Wow, it's been awhile and the things I have to share are bubbling to be told! Hmm I think I'll just dive right into it!
This may be the 30th time I've posted about Ecstatic Dance but I really love it to no end. A couple weeks ago the Invocation was done in the style of a Kirtan. A kirtan is a call and response chanting in Sanscrit (I don't know much about the history, maybe looking up a video might give you a good idea of what it's like!). There we were maybe 100 gathered around a woman and a man who led the kirtan. While he drummed, she sang and the entire body of people responded, just thinking of it gives me chills now. I didn't know the words, didn't know what they meant but they held so much conviction and ancient power to be draped in their sounds was elating.
This past weekend was my last Ecstatic Dance at Kalani, but it may have been the best one yet. I came down after the invocation and could hear the EMAX vibrating with music and whoops from dancers. The energy inside was fantastic. I usually sit for a short time to center myself, come into the room, and then wait to be moved - it did not take long this time. I sat down and instantly felt red, orange, yellow, strong, inspired, energy. I danced and danced, looking around brought a smile to my face and boundless uninhibited movement energy to my body. I looked up and the DJ was completely zoned out (or in) moving like water behind his computer...such a blessing to be in this boiling pot of inspired release.
It's quite easy to get comfortable here, going to the same classes, eating with the same people, but the great thing is it's also very easy to try something new... for me it was aerial dance! Wow, I had so so much fun. Aerial dancing is climbing, hanging, posing, moving on cloth silks hung from the ceiling. It also encompasses dancing on a hanging ring and swing. It's extremely trying on the upper body - lats, triceps, abs were burning for a bit (a bit as in days) - but so rewarding to be able to move and explore in the air with something as beautiful and expressive as fabric.
Ah! Next thing! An exciting last Friday. My friend Amanda and I decided on a whim to rent another volunteer's car for the day and just explore. We gathered whoever was interested and headed off to the nearby tide pools. Let me add that the car was a tiny slightly outdated white convertible which made the trip that much more fun! The tide pools are not as magical on the outside as one would expect, more like a lava rock field with pools here and there - but inside the pools was absolutely magnificent. Angel fish, cat-like fish, tiny bright blue and yellow fish wove among the brightly colored twisted coral. Such awe, being able to peer into the underworld of sea life.
As we rolled on, top down, six of us piled in the car, listening to a jazzy rendition of 'Jingle Bells' with palms trees and piles of lava rock zipping by, joy washed over me. I am exactly here.
Next stop was Pahoa, the nearest town. Kinda funky/barren/weird vibe there; composed of two hippy coffee shops, a couple boutiques, an awesome book store, sparse banks/necessity stores, an Island Naturals food store, and a handful of empty storefronts.
Fast forward to Friday night! Look up: Medicine for the People. They're a fantastic band based between the Big Island and Portland, Oregon with real momentum behind their songs (style... alternative indie?). They played at the local Kava Bar, which was just bustling with energy and bursting with lively souls. A really wonderful experience, dancing and jumping, listening to real live music followed by a sleepy ride home.
Next adventure? My trip with my dear friend Hanna. This past Monday we decided to take off in her car to camp at Hookena (pronounced Ho-oh-ken-nah) a beach on Kona side - South west side of Hawaii. It felt really good to be road tripping, off in the car, watching the scenery pass and talking on a plane of understanding. Hookena was small with black sand and possessed an unspeakable peacefulness, unknown to the rocky crashing waves on Puna side (where Kalani is). We swam, snorkeled, ate what we had (granola, spiky fruit, cucumber, and chocolate?), and talked as a drum beat in the background, accompanied once and a while by the sounds of harmonica and guitar. The night was cool and we ended up like cocoons in our little tent. I woke up around 4:00AM, looked up through the mesh ceiling of the tent, thousands of stars.
The next morning we kept driving north up the coast, went through a couple of towns (Kona, Hawi...) each with it's own strange Big Island vibe. Got some much needed eggs with veggies and ketchup at a place called Rebel Kitchen, ate in the sun. Kept driving, on one side huge fist-like mountains, sometimes covered in greenery and cows, sometimes in brush and lava rock, on the other side the ocean, expansive and wide. We stopped at Hapuna beach, beautiful white sand, blue waters, more fun snorkeling (gliding through mini-underworlds inhabited by alien fish), twisted sun-bleached and weathered drift wood lining the beach and reaching towards the sun. We made a wrong turn and ended up at a scenic point overlooking Polulu Valley... wow. The coastline was made up by jaw-dropping cliffs, behind it the valley was soft and green, rolling and dipping in sensual earthy folds.
The trip ended with us racing to make dinner Tuesday night, all that was left was rice but with some sweet and spicy sauce it was the perfect filling dinner. The trip occurred at the perfect time (as does everything), it gave me the promise of excitement in the future. It felt good to have a backpack and to be moving freely again.
So here I am, wrapping things up at Kalani, so deeply grateful for my experience here. Deeply grateful. What has allowed to be seen here will be with me as I travel on. I keep on living now with this experience in my back pocket, a stamp on my passport, something has been opened that will never close and I move forward open and accepting of that which is infront of me.
Wow, it's been awhile and the things I have to share are bubbling to be told! Hmm I think I'll just dive right into it!
This may be the 30th time I've posted about Ecstatic Dance but I really love it to no end. A couple weeks ago the Invocation was done in the style of a Kirtan. A kirtan is a call and response chanting in Sanscrit (I don't know much about the history, maybe looking up a video might give you a good idea of what it's like!). There we were maybe 100 gathered around a woman and a man who led the kirtan. While he drummed, she sang and the entire body of people responded, just thinking of it gives me chills now. I didn't know the words, didn't know what they meant but they held so much conviction and ancient power to be draped in their sounds was elating.
This past weekend was my last Ecstatic Dance at Kalani, but it may have been the best one yet. I came down after the invocation and could hear the EMAX vibrating with music and whoops from dancers. The energy inside was fantastic. I usually sit for a short time to center myself, come into the room, and then wait to be moved - it did not take long this time. I sat down and instantly felt red, orange, yellow, strong, inspired, energy. I danced and danced, looking around brought a smile to my face and boundless uninhibited movement energy to my body. I looked up and the DJ was completely zoned out (or in) moving like water behind his computer...such a blessing to be in this boiling pot of inspired release.
It's quite easy to get comfortable here, going to the same classes, eating with the same people, but the great thing is it's also very easy to try something new... for me it was aerial dance! Wow, I had so so much fun. Aerial dancing is climbing, hanging, posing, moving on cloth silks hung from the ceiling. It also encompasses dancing on a hanging ring and swing. It's extremely trying on the upper body - lats, triceps, abs were burning for a bit (a bit as in days) - but so rewarding to be able to move and explore in the air with something as beautiful and expressive as fabric.
Ah! Next thing! An exciting last Friday. My friend Amanda and I decided on a whim to rent another volunteer's car for the day and just explore. We gathered whoever was interested and headed off to the nearby tide pools. Let me add that the car was a tiny slightly outdated white convertible which made the trip that much more fun! The tide pools are not as magical on the outside as one would expect, more like a lava rock field with pools here and there - but inside the pools was absolutely magnificent. Angel fish, cat-like fish, tiny bright blue and yellow fish wove among the brightly colored twisted coral. Such awe, being able to peer into the underworld of sea life.
As we rolled on, top down, six of us piled in the car, listening to a jazzy rendition of 'Jingle Bells' with palms trees and piles of lava rock zipping by, joy washed over me. I am exactly here.
Next stop was Pahoa, the nearest town. Kinda funky/barren/weird vibe there; composed of two hippy coffee shops, a couple boutiques, an awesome book store, sparse banks/necessity stores, an Island Naturals food store, and a handful of empty storefronts.
Fast forward to Friday night! Look up: Medicine for the People. They're a fantastic band based between the Big Island and Portland, Oregon with real momentum behind their songs (style... alternative indie?). They played at the local Kava Bar, which was just bustling with energy and bursting with lively souls. A really wonderful experience, dancing and jumping, listening to real live music followed by a sleepy ride home.
Next adventure? My trip with my dear friend Hanna. This past Monday we decided to take off in her car to camp at Hookena (pronounced Ho-oh-ken-nah) a beach on Kona side - South west side of Hawaii. It felt really good to be road tripping, off in the car, watching the scenery pass and talking on a plane of understanding. Hookena was small with black sand and possessed an unspeakable peacefulness, unknown to the rocky crashing waves on Puna side (where Kalani is). We swam, snorkeled, ate what we had (granola, spiky fruit, cucumber, and chocolate?), and talked as a drum beat in the background, accompanied once and a while by the sounds of harmonica and guitar. The night was cool and we ended up like cocoons in our little tent. I woke up around 4:00AM, looked up through the mesh ceiling of the tent, thousands of stars.
The next morning we kept driving north up the coast, went through a couple of towns (Kona, Hawi...) each with it's own strange Big Island vibe. Got some much needed eggs with veggies and ketchup at a place called Rebel Kitchen, ate in the sun. Kept driving, on one side huge fist-like mountains, sometimes covered in greenery and cows, sometimes in brush and lava rock, on the other side the ocean, expansive and wide. We stopped at Hapuna beach, beautiful white sand, blue waters, more fun snorkeling (gliding through mini-underworlds inhabited by alien fish), twisted sun-bleached and weathered drift wood lining the beach and reaching towards the sun. We made a wrong turn and ended up at a scenic point overlooking Polulu Valley... wow. The coastline was made up by jaw-dropping cliffs, behind it the valley was soft and green, rolling and dipping in sensual earthy folds.
The trip ended with us racing to make dinner Tuesday night, all that was left was rice but with some sweet and spicy sauce it was the perfect filling dinner. The trip occurred at the perfect time (as does everything), it gave me the promise of excitement in the future. It felt good to have a backpack and to be moving freely again.
So here I am, wrapping things up at Kalani, so deeply grateful for my experience here. Deeply grateful. What has allowed to be seen here will be with me as I travel on. I keep on living now with this experience in my back pocket, a stamp on my passport, something has been opened that will never close and I move forward open and accepting of that which is infront of me.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Movin' On...
Aloha everyone!
Hope all is well on the mainland, it's starting to really feel like winter here... which means lots and lots of rain! The things I wanted to write about today kind of have a common theme: moving on. First and most exciting news first: I've moved to an A-frame! Through a series of very fortunate events, I'm a-frame-sitting for another staff member for the rest of my time here! An A-frame is like a triangle shack, which sounds a lot worse that it is. I will make sure to upload pictures next post of my old tent and new home :) Especially as it begins to rain more, I'm thankful for a dry space that I can actually stand up in - I can't even imagine how roomy being at home in Brooklyn will feel!
Alright moving on and moving up in the kitchen! I am now trained in the "front of house" position! I hadn't had any interest in being front of house when I was first in the kitchen and then one day the intrigue hit me - fortunately it was the same day Sami, the kitchen manager, asked me if I was interested! As part of crew, I would usually do 'behind the scenes' things (cutting, prepping, cleaning) but now I get the privilege of managing the outer part of the Lanai (coffee, juices, writing out menus, music, toast...). There's a bit more of creative element to it and it's much more independent because I'm the only one with my job on the shift. It's a very different vibe but I'm totally enjoying it.
Another fun part of a being a volunteer is the 'free box'. The free box is a corner of the volunteer lounge that is basically a second hand store - for free! If you're done with anything; books, perfume, a shirt, hat, movie, pink netted shirt (yes, it's still in there), you can just stick it in the free box and anyone can take it or leave it. It's a really fun, communal way of recycling, everyone shows off the good finds they got from the free box and often when complimented on an item of clothing the response is "Free box!"
Now on the meloncholy side of moving on... oh cats. There are many, many ferrel kitties here and of course my two closest friends here are just as cat-crazy as me. We had been longing for a kitty to call our own, feed raw ahi to and play in the grass with but alas Pele presented us with the littlest sickest kitten in Puna. The pool thing was huddled next to the pool heater when my friend Amanda found him. For two days we nursed the frail kitty, covering him in towels, feeding him sugar water and tuna juice. The next day Amanda came to the Lanai with tears in her eyes, he wasn't going to make it to see the morning. The outpouring of love that came to that little kitten, Koa, as we came to call him, before his passing was immense. Shola, a volunteer came in and offered healing energy work while Cheryl led all of us in a prayer song (I know - where else but Hawaii would this scene occur). He was encircled by women singing and sending him love. Later that day his breaths shallowed out and his body became stiff, he let out his last cry and passed on. I'm not really sure what to take from it, I felt a loss but was almost unaffected because I was reassured by the idea that his life will live on in other creatures on this earth.
That's about all the updates I have for now, a bit antsy to get off the computer! Sending much much love and light to everyone!
It all begins with gratitude....
Aloha
Hope all is well on the mainland, it's starting to really feel like winter here... which means lots and lots of rain! The things I wanted to write about today kind of have a common theme: moving on. First and most exciting news first: I've moved to an A-frame! Through a series of very fortunate events, I'm a-frame-sitting for another staff member for the rest of my time here! An A-frame is like a triangle shack, which sounds a lot worse that it is. I will make sure to upload pictures next post of my old tent and new home :) Especially as it begins to rain more, I'm thankful for a dry space that I can actually stand up in - I can't even imagine how roomy being at home in Brooklyn will feel!
Alright moving on and moving up in the kitchen! I am now trained in the "front of house" position! I hadn't had any interest in being front of house when I was first in the kitchen and then one day the intrigue hit me - fortunately it was the same day Sami, the kitchen manager, asked me if I was interested! As part of crew, I would usually do 'behind the scenes' things (cutting, prepping, cleaning) but now I get the privilege of managing the outer part of the Lanai (coffee, juices, writing out menus, music, toast...). There's a bit more of creative element to it and it's much more independent because I'm the only one with my job on the shift. It's a very different vibe but I'm totally enjoying it.
Another fun part of a being a volunteer is the 'free box'. The free box is a corner of the volunteer lounge that is basically a second hand store - for free! If you're done with anything; books, perfume, a shirt, hat, movie, pink netted shirt (yes, it's still in there), you can just stick it in the free box and anyone can take it or leave it. It's a really fun, communal way of recycling, everyone shows off the good finds they got from the free box and often when complimented on an item of clothing the response is "Free box!"
Now on the meloncholy side of moving on... oh cats. There are many, many ferrel kitties here and of course my two closest friends here are just as cat-crazy as me. We had been longing for a kitty to call our own, feed raw ahi to and play in the grass with but alas Pele presented us with the littlest sickest kitten in Puna. The pool thing was huddled next to the pool heater when my friend Amanda found him. For two days we nursed the frail kitty, covering him in towels, feeding him sugar water and tuna juice. The next day Amanda came to the Lanai with tears in her eyes, he wasn't going to make it to see the morning. The outpouring of love that came to that little kitten, Koa, as we came to call him, before his passing was immense. Shola, a volunteer came in and offered healing energy work while Cheryl led all of us in a prayer song (I know - where else but Hawaii would this scene occur). He was encircled by women singing and sending him love. Later that day his breaths shallowed out and his body became stiff, he let out his last cry and passed on. I'm not really sure what to take from it, I felt a loss but was almost unaffected because I was reassured by the idea that his life will live on in other creatures on this earth.
That's about all the updates I have for now, a bit antsy to get off the computer! Sending much much love and light to everyone!
It all begins with gratitude....
Aloha
Friday, November 11, 2011
Celebrate!
Good Morning O'hana!
It's certainly been a while! I got up this morning and it felt right to blog again.
Let's start with Halloweeeen! Halloween was truly a ton of fun. I had a PM shift (1:30-8ish) which we banged out so everyone could get out, get dressed, and celebrate Halloween Hawaiian-style. I was wary and a bit tired but decided to jump at the opportunity anyway. Two friends and I had managed to arrange a ride with a woman from Kalani's guest services so a mermaid, butterfly, ballerina, and Pocahontas headed off to the big Halloween party down the road. It felt so strange but wonderful to be getting out of Kalani, riding down the rolling red road underneath the velvety star speckled sky. Not sure if I've mentioned it before but Puna (and some would say Hawaii as a whole) has a large gay community, so of course the entry fee to the party was going to the Puna Men's Choir. The 'gay factor' was also in some way comforting, creating a less predatory environment for a single woman.
There were day of the dead trannies, draculas, greek gods and goddesses, a lady out to the spa, a storm trooper, sparkles and plenty of hairy thighs. It was so much fun to let go and dancing my heart out with my friends, feeling free and accepted at this strange little gathering.
The latest celebration was last night, a housekeeping/warming/going away party! The housekeeping managers Joe and Annalisa hosted a housewarming party for the housekeeping department which was opened up to everyone as the night went on. The beautiful little house was simple but had one room with three gigantic screen walls looking out into the jungle. We sung karaoke till Puna midnight (10:00PM.. haha) laughing at ourselves and enjoying the peacefully festive night.
I'm past the halfway point here at Kalani. My arrival seems eons away and the end seems so close. The days have begun to go by faster. Yoga classes, meals, pool time, laughing in the art shed, trotting down to EMAX and back up, cycle through; each time different, each time more precious. I shift between excitement to go home, share all I've learned and see my friends and family, to fearing that I'll lose what I've gained without the beautifully woven support system of Kalani. So for now I'm setting the intention to focus on being in the moment, being in my body, and to continue exuding gratefulness for all the light in my life and for the expanse ahead of me.
The breakfast conch has called so off I go! There's much more to say and update you all on so look forward to a new post soon (...hopefully :) )
Aloha
It's certainly been a while! I got up this morning and it felt right to blog again.
Let's start with Halloweeeen! Halloween was truly a ton of fun. I had a PM shift (1:30-8ish) which we banged out so everyone could get out, get dressed, and celebrate Halloween Hawaiian-style. I was wary and a bit tired but decided to jump at the opportunity anyway. Two friends and I had managed to arrange a ride with a woman from Kalani's guest services so a mermaid, butterfly, ballerina, and Pocahontas headed off to the big Halloween party down the road. It felt so strange but wonderful to be getting out of Kalani, riding down the rolling red road underneath the velvety star speckled sky. Not sure if I've mentioned it before but Puna (and some would say Hawaii as a whole) has a large gay community, so of course the entry fee to the party was going to the Puna Men's Choir. The 'gay factor' was also in some way comforting, creating a less predatory environment for a single woman.
There were day of the dead trannies, draculas, greek gods and goddesses, a lady out to the spa, a storm trooper, sparkles and plenty of hairy thighs. It was so much fun to let go and dancing my heart out with my friends, feeling free and accepted at this strange little gathering.
The latest celebration was last night, a housekeeping/warming/going away party! The housekeeping managers Joe and Annalisa hosted a housewarming party for the housekeeping department which was opened up to everyone as the night went on. The beautiful little house was simple but had one room with three gigantic screen walls looking out into the jungle. We sung karaoke till Puna midnight (10:00PM.. haha) laughing at ourselves and enjoying the peacefully festive night.
I'm past the halfway point here at Kalani. My arrival seems eons away and the end seems so close. The days have begun to go by faster. Yoga classes, meals, pool time, laughing in the art shed, trotting down to EMAX and back up, cycle through; each time different, each time more precious. I shift between excitement to go home, share all I've learned and see my friends and family, to fearing that I'll lose what I've gained without the beautifully woven support system of Kalani. So for now I'm setting the intention to focus on being in the moment, being in my body, and to continue exuding gratefulness for all the light in my life and for the expanse ahead of me.
The breakfast conch has called so off I go! There's much more to say and update you all on so look forward to a new post soon (...hopefully :) )
Aloha
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