Category Archives: New Haven

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Third Time’s a Charm?

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This is the third time I’m packing up and leaving New Haven to go on the road. Incredible how life unfolds itself in the most unexpected ways. It may seem similar, but here’s what’s different this time around.

I’m lighter… Spent the last 3 months purging my parents’ house, which has been my dumping ground for 10+ years. MANY bags and boxes of books, clothes, gadgets and gizmos tossed, sold, and donated. I’m leaving physically, mentally, and energetically lighter.

Clear eyes, full hearts… What began as a brief interlude in between travels turned into more than a year of tremendous growth. I learned to embrace the subtleties of staying in one place. I found community. I discovered the power and humbleness of being a teacher and serving others. And I leave New Haven this time not out of a desperate need to escape, but instead with my heart already so, so full.

My Intention… Is to go deeper inward. My friend Anna and I used to joke that we went all the way to India just to sit in a room with our eyes closed for hours. A bit funny but also true. This time there’s no need for guidebooks or grand itineraries. I am absolutely ecstatic about simply floating in the middle of the ocean, deepening my yoga and meditation practice, and spending time with great friends who expand my soul. Doing nothing, just BEING.

But first…
The very first thing I’ll be doing as soon as the plane takes off is… sleeping!! Another joke Anna and I used to say in India was that by the time we finished our morning practice and fully enjoyed breakfast, it would already be 2pm and nearly time to get ready for dinner. After 15 months of East Coast grind, I’m ready to surrender back into a natural rhythm and allow my mind and body relax, absorb, and process.

In the inevitable whirlwind before any trip, I was up until 3am last night trying to figure out how to fit a year’s worth of gear for temperatures ranging from 10-35deg C into a single backpack that wasn’t horrendously overpacked. Not sure I succeeded but it eventually looked something like this:

20150825_012144My packing skills are a little rusty, but a copy of The Prophet is always included. Food for the traveling soul!

Follow Me:
Aug 25-Sep 10: Tunis, Tunisia
Sep 11-17: Gozo, Malta
Sep 18-29: Tubingen, Germany
Sep 30-Oct 6: Barcelona & Madrid, Spain
Oct 7: Mother India!

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Shoutout to New Haven Farms

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A few photos of my time with New Haven Farms.

The beginning: Planting strawberries

The early days of our hoop house

Making beds. I arrived one Sunday after a 20 mile run to find this waiting for me. Quite a day!

Sunset at the Market & James garden. Beautiful day!

Trellising tomatoes

Liberty garden ripe for harvest!

Purple beans! Very yummy

Distributing our CSA!

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Two Weeks Notice

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Time is flying! A few lofty to-do list items made for a busy busy June and July. I’m thrilled and satisfied to check these off the list before hitting the road!

– Ann Arbor Marathon complete

– GREs FINALLY done & scores are good

– Started Crossfit — still in my third week of on-ramp classes but I’ll be able to finish by the end of the month

— Two weeks notice at work

This week I wind down most of my commitments in New Haven: CitySeed, New Haven Farms, Breathing Room. So many memorable days, nights, and weekends spent with wonderful people at each of these places. Sad to have to leave them behind.

It’s hard to fathom that in two weeks I’ll basically be homeless and unemployed by choice. I’ve been soaking in these last days in my lovely apartment — the quiet mornings with fresh juice and the New York Times (I can’t fit a juicer in my travel gear, can I?) and lazy nights in bed with Netflix. I’ll miss these things for sure, but it’s time to trade in some comforts for adventure.

A glimpse into the first leg of the trip!

Cross Country Road Trip

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First Taste of Our CSA

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Nothing beats tasting the fruits of your labor, quite literally. Beautiful little strawberries are coming out now in our community garden. Yesterday in between a morning of basking in the sun and an approaching afternoon thunderstorm, I picked one to try. SO DELICIOUS! Warm and sweet and juicy and ah… I never want to eat a store-bought strawberry again!

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Coming Up Asparagus

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Beginning my farming experience right here in New Haven! Last month I joined the New Haven Farms team, helping maintain several of their local community gardens. Despite repeated admittance of my complete lack of gardening experience and knowledge, I was easily welcomed onto the team and trusted to start managing the plots solo. No one seemed apprehensive about letting my neophyte self loose in the garden with seeds and trowels in hand!

Workday #3, Maura and I plant at the Market & James plot. We had some lovely strawberry plants, which I’ve worked with before. We also had some asparagus, which I had never seen outside of the grocery store. Who knew asparagus looked like this??

Equipped with the meager knowledge that asparagus like to be deep in the dirt with a good amount of room, I dug deep, planted a row, and called it a good day. Fast forward to about 2 weeks later, Rebecca’s (our team leader) mom comes by to admire and advise our gardens — and to deliver a special message. Apparently, in my brilliance I had planted the asparagus upside-down!! Yep, for 2 weeks we had been watering them with the roots sticking up out of the ground and no one had a clue! HAHA

I have a feeling this is just the beginning of many more goofs to come in my new farming adventures. Can’t wait! Luckily, the mistake was easy enough to fix and the asparagus is now coming up nicely. Hello, babies!