Simply enjoying life... and the speed at which I'm traveling

Perfect end to a breathtaking week:
getting a ride along the cliffsides overlooking Epidavros on the back of a Professor's motorbike. Nicht schlecht.

Neredeyse...σχεδόν... left Istanbul, next stop- Athens! Naturally a whopping 20 hour bus ride leads not only to a few new vocabulary words in both Turkish and Greek, but some very interesting conversations. It is an easily-discoverable fact that traveling opens your eyes to the world, and to current pressing issues (such as the animosity between my two destination lands, and the visible economic crisis in Greece). The following travel experience altered my view of the world and the possibilities I see within it that realm.

 a beloved pastime:
 people watching (especially cute kids)

With great appreciation, I was given time off from work to attend the Kufstein 2nd Annual Summer School in Epidavros, Greece. From Sunday evening to Saturday morning bright sun shone upon the fragrant orange groves, glistening un-touristified waters (avoiding high tide tourist season times), and the heads of the excited participants. Such an intensive week, with such marvelous students and presenters, was just as wonderful a treat as the scrumptious traditional greek food, home cooked and served to us nightly. It was absolutely uplifting to arrive with a clear intention of being actively involved, and receive such positive energy in return. The week was educational, refreshing and fun; most importantly I came away in an empowered state, ready to foster these new ideas into reality.

Set in the stage of the small ancient Epidavros theater,
a scene with some of the school's actors

How I imagine my future reality: coasting along to new adventures and projects, we are an international group of friends that has begun a non-for profit organization that supports local artists and activists in their efforts to revitalize local community networks. We use our sail boat not only as a mode of transportation to sail from port to port, one community project to the next, but we also command this vessel as a tool for open space forums- creating an international atmosphere that allows critic and creativity in the form of arts programming, workshops and discussions. Our FriendSHIP, would be a long-term project that consists of a basis manifesto, yet manipulating a model of presentation to adjust to the needs and desires of individual communities.

This is just the start. This framework and many more connected ideas were formulated and supported during this blissful week in Epidavros. And what is truly amazing is that the first steps are being made. In the summer I am returning to Minnesota to get down to business with the gang, to assess how we can turn this plan into action. I would love to hear your commentary, and I promise to stay connected with how this dream unfolds.

Keep dreaming! While at that, take time to smell the orange blossoms and stay still to hear the busy bees.