Quick update!

I am sort of falling behind here! Just a quick update for now; I’ll try to time my typing and my internet access better next time!

I have worked with my hands to improve the place that I am living every day I’ve been here, whether it is by swapping out natural wood load-bearing beams for 4x4s, putting up walls, or building a bed frame. My work has been supervised by our landlord and friend, Tino. He laughs readily, is incredibly skilled with his hands, and has hands down one of the best jobs ever: transforming mostly-inert lava into arable and buildable land.

I’ve also exercised every day I’ve been here, mostly by busting my ass up and down steep hills. My first experience with a humongous hill was on the evening of Monday the 23rd, after meeting a wonderful woman named Tiger Paw. She is Aaron/Panda’s drum instructor, as well as a co-masseuse (more on the frequency and nature of work exchanges on the island later). She has wanted to create an online presence for herself for quite a while; this has now become one of my jobs! Keep a look out for her on blogger and facebook, and become her fan; she’s fabulous! That said, the hill up from her house was one of the most punishing physical endeavors I’ve ever gone through. I was running on fumes, with every last calorie sucked from the meal I’d eaten earlier that day. It was an intense, humbling experience; I cannot for the life of me have more respect for folks who run marathons, compete in triathlons, or go through boot camp and into the armed services. I woke up the next day refreshed, with just a healthy tinge of tenseness in my legs.

Panda/Aaron and I have been recording some video, and we are working on getting it serviceable for the web. We’ve also been doing some sound recording as well, which will be much easier to get into your greedy little ears! And photos are on facebook!

Right now, I am sitting at Shankari’s artists bungalow, surrounded by beautiful gardens, intricate tilework, babbling fountains, and even a moat! Most of all, I have been meeting the most wonderful people, including another B. Conversations have been stimulating, work has been minimal in duration but intense, snacks have been fed to me regularly—B has served me more cups of tea and island hors d’oeuvres than I’ve ever been served!—and I’ve produced more opportunities for learning: a woman who owns a macadamia nut farm near the ocean needs some WFFERS (is that how that’s spelled? Pronounced WOOF-ers) to help pick nuts.

Soon, guests will arrive and a potluck will start, and my stomach is more than ready for the endeavor. I still haven’t seen a beach; the ocean remains a far-off reminder of what I have yet to explore. Even living surrounded by relative desolation, I feel more vibrant and alive than I have in years.

Aloha!

B