January 8, 2009 - Home: An Attempt to Summarize

I’ve been asked several times since coming home “what do you think was the most important part of the trip?” My immediate answer is the passion I discovered for working in communities to create or discover systems that are potentially self-sustaining for generations and that bring out the best in people through relationship to each other and to the land.
I hold fast to that answer with all my heart, but there were less vocalized and equally important discoveries made in my time overseas, not the least significant of which was the realization that travel may not be as much of a necessity for my own happiness as I had suspected. I had a marvelous time, but now I am even more convinced that people will be people, no matter where they make a home. As much as I enjoy traveling, I’m sure I won’t find any more interesting people “out there” than I would in my own figurative back yard. I did encounter some people with fascinating stories, especially in my last month mucking about on my own (mutual vagrancy seems to create an almost tangible geniality between wanderers), but in all honesty I’ve known some people since elementary school (and some for less than a week) with stories and philosophies at least as interesting. Often, all it takes is a little curiosity to begin to discover the uncharted territory behind the faces in front of my own. And what is traveling about if not exploring heretofore unknown aspects of life? This is not to say that I wish I hadn’t traveled. I wouldn’t have known the value of the treasure I hold in my very hands if I hadn’t gone thousands of miles away to see if anyone else’s treasure was any better.
Of course, the land was breathtaking, and living five minutes from the ocean, a bay and mossy old woods certainly didn‘t do me any harm… but not once did I think with apprehension about returning home. Oregon’s mountains, beaches and forests remain the apple of my eye, even after taking the consistently gray skies into consideration. Just about the only thing I couldn’t find a parallel for was the deep history worn into the walls of churches and cobblestone streets. That was something I had to feel to understand. And of course, every city had its own flavor, whether subtle or all too obvious, and every person told their story through a cultural filter unlike any I’ve encountered in the States. But the fact remains that what sustains my heart and soul, adventure included, can be found (with intention) here in the place I’ve chosen to call home as easily as anywhere else.
In answer to the inevitable following question (“what’s next?”), I hope to pursue my aforementioned passion with a degree in Environmental Science, so I’ll be re-tackling the undergraduate scene sometime in the next couple of years if all goes even slightly according to plan. I might look at minoring in Theatre Arts as well, just to keep that torch I carry for the stage burning bright. Meanwhile, I’ll be taking advantage of my dear parents’ offer to feed and shelter me for a few months while I get back on my feet financially and begin to pay off those pesky loans, before incurring more of this ever-present test of responsibility called debt. I remind myself often to be grateful - what did Dad tell me about this sort of thing? Builds character? That must be it. While steadily building character, I will explore moving to an environmentally-conscious community of ‘homeless’ people in NE Portland - although they’ve done pretty well for themselves considering their apparent lack of resume-worthy credentials. They’ve graduated from tents to simple raised wooden dwellings, a community garden and wood shed, showers and a ‘main office’ of sorts. My reasons for attempting this move include a desire to live as simply as possible for the sake of my social and environmental conscience as well as my wallet, to be within reasonable bus-ride distance of Portland State University, and to attempt to understand the kind of struggles I hope to help alleviate in the future.
Thank you for following all or part of my journey online, and for all the support I received while overseas in emails, comments, even phone calls (don‘t hesitate to stay in touch!) The trip was more than worthwhile, and I can’t help but feel that it has only kicked off a whole new adventure. I’m holding my breath for the next big wave…