It’s easy to look around and see problems: people out of work, water shortages, food contamination, starvation, natural disasters, environmental destruction, war, intolerance, there’s always something. If you’re like me, the sheer volume and magnitude of suffering can be overwhelming. I wonder what, if anything, I can do in the face of such need. Well,…
who are the watsons?
We are a 30-something married couple who decided to leave behind our home, careers and comfortable Silicon Valley lifestyle to try a new course. Join us as we travel the world to learn about other cultures, lifestyles and ways to generate income beyond the traditional 9-5.
Monthly Archives: August 2010
Photo Friday: Kia Ora, Auckland
Kia ora,* Auckland. We hiked up Mount Eden, the highest natural point in Auckland to capture some scene-setting shots: Hei konei ra, * In Maori, kia ora is similar to aloha in Hawaiian, having several shades of meaning. Literally “be well,” kia ora [ki ora] can also be used to say “hi,” “greetings,” “thank you,”…
New Zealand: Land of Opposites
Last Friday (or Thursday for those of you on the other side of the international date line), we arrived in New Zealand, home of the Kiwis (simultaneously referring to the fruits, birds, and human residents of this island nation) and a land of opposites for those of us from the States. Let’s start with the…
Follow-up: Ocean woes
Back in June, I wrote about my newly discovered fear of ocean swimming and I resolved to delve deeper while we were in Hawaii. Mission accomplished! Before we left Hawaii, I floated and drifted — swam is too strong a word — first at Waikiki Beach on Oahu and then later at Kikaua Beach on…
Attachment and impermanence
Before we left California, one of our friends told us that she couldn’t do what we were doing. She didn’t feel comfortable, she said, purging most of her belongings, packing up her home, and leaving it behind indefinitely. At the time, we were having so much fun purging, and particularly watching people get excited over…
