Hello there everyone!
(For those of you who still check this thing, congratulations. You get a very special gift from my travels when I return home.)
This last month has been a complete mad-hatter of a time. I honestly have no idea where to begin.
It has been one month and (seven?) days since I have written a blog post. Yeah, I know. You may be asking yourself how I survived. Well, to be honest, it's been challenging. This last month has made me very concious of my addiction to social networking sites and I have been working to rid myself of the need to feel self important by posting something silly for the world to see. The good news is, I no longer think in Tweets, Facebook updates or blog posts. Go me.
For the sake of keeping you all updated on my travels and future plans I going to share with you here the email I just sent to my family.
Hello everyone!!! I just wanted to write a quick hello and update you all on my travels so far, as well as my travels to come... As you all know, I flew into Sydney on the 25th of March. What you may not have known is that I was scared shitless of leaving such a loving community and family to venture into the unknown. But, travel and grow I knew I must so I packed up my gear into a small backpack and headed into the wild.
When I arrived in Sydney I instantly felt a connection to the people, places and smells around me. My first day was spent at a craft market helping Kate (the women I was staying with in Sydney, and one of the team members at Play in the Wild!) sell her incredible hand-made books. The fashion, the vendors and the accents were all too beautiful. The next week was full of fun, making myself a journal in Kate's workshop, planning Play in the Wild! activities and spending quality time on the white sandy beaches of Sydney.
When Catherine and Jesse (the founders of Play in the Wild!) arrived, planning Play in the Wild! along with Dialogs of the Heart ( a Nonviolent Communication Training that we did the weekend before camp) became our top priority. The adventure continued as we packed up our gear in the Rav. 4 and drove the 14 hour trip to Brisbane.
Play in the Wild! was amazing experience for every youth and trainer involved. We laughed, cried and danced our hearts out in the green bush of Oz. The trans-formative week reminded me of how much a community and individuals can share and learn together when a container of love holds them all.
As we said our tearful goodbyes, we all parted ways two saturdays ago, going back to our prospective homes around the world, taking with us the feeling of strong love, support, community and friendship.
One more successful Play in the Wild Youth Intensive under my belt.
The next few days were filled the brim with site seeing of the Sydney Opera house, relaxing on the beach and trying to regain my voice that I had lost due to allergies at camp. (Think Marcel the Shell type voice.)
Then we hopped on another plane to Melbourne for Catherine and Jesse's wedding celebration at a beautiful wildlife sanctuary. The wedding was on Sunday the 29th of April, surrounded by Dingos, Kolas and NVC trainers. We danced our hearts out and ate purple cake. It was a perfect way to part ways with friends and family, celebrating the love and connection that lives in us all.
Which leads me here: one more day until I am in Auckland, New Zealand. 28 more days until I am in Wales and a month and some time until I am back in the Capay Valley in California USA.
Thank you so much for supporting me on my walk-about, and know that wherever my travels take me, I am thinking of you and how fortunate I am to have such incredible family and friends. See you all soon! XOXOX
-Hannah Rose.
