joined on 10/11/04
last updated 09/25/09
Africa,
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Horticulture and Permaculture,
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Jessi Junk's Pink Flaming-O Lounge,
landscape architecture,
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Permaculture,
Renewable Energy and Solar Power,
Shine on, Marie,
Team Evinrude,
The Practical Nomad,
Underbiters,
Women Photographers,
World Travellers,
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
--Rumi
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A view of the Indian Ocean- Imorana-Mananara, Madagascar
The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.
– T.S. Eliot
Sunset in Honduras, Central America
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? .......Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do....... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
--Marianne Williamson
sunrise on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, Central America
...Our yesterdays are but dreams
Our tomorrows are merely visions
But today lived well makes
Every yesterday a dream of joy
And each tomorrow a vision of promise.
-Sanskrit Poem (5th Century CE)
Caribbean Sea, Belize, Central America
"Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of
all, to see life as it is and not as it should be."
- Cervantes
Machu Picchu, Peru, South America
When we live our lives with passion, we crusade for our hearts; we dare to hope and to dream, without fearing failure; we are inspired with great purpose, our thoughts boundless and our minds open to embrace a world of limitless possibilities; hidden talents and abilities awaken in the face of challenge and excitement; and we discover ourselves to be greater people by far than we ever imagined we could be.
Patanjali
Yoga Sutras (C200BCE- C200CE)
Lago Titicaca, Isla Del Sol, Bolivia, South America
"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." -Edgar Allen Poe
about me
I love music. I love art. I love people. I love life. I love love.
Yellow Planetary Warrior
Gemini sun, Gemini moon, Gemini rising
Also, visit my travel blog:
www.glowingz.com
Currently I'm attending the University of Michigan for my masters degree in Landscape Architecture (class of 2012).
April 7, 2006
This lovely little chica is a truly beautiful soul........ on a little journey of leanring and discovering as she spins her way round central america.....sending love and hugs where ever she goes!! hee hee......
Helena really made me trip what it was and I will always be eternally grateful to her for her time and company....her laughs and giggles...... her sense of smell as she manages to find warm freshly cooked banana bread from several blocks away........
Fun memories of just sitting in the park....watching the world....eating cakes and drinking coffee.....putting the world to rights and smiling....ALOT.....
Of how in my hour of need she jumped on a boat across the lake ... just to come and give me a hug........how she loves her little kittty...... how the hoop comes out at every available opportunity........ how she speaks fluent spanish....( ok nearly but she speaks it far better than she gives herself credit for!)......how she got to finish my bowl of spaghetti cause my food took to long to cook and my boat arrived and how I left in a rush with a hug..... but it didnt feel like a proper goodbye......but then I guess it didnt need to........See you on the playa lovely lady.........if not before......
THANK YOU....xxx
October 28, 2005
Get Ready World! Love Dervish spinning your way!!
Helen finds a way to connect with everyone- she holds space equally with wild coyotes and urban artistes! When we met at Esalen, I immediately recognized the quiet strength of her spirit- she is on the path of becoming truly free. And, I might add, enjoying every minute of it!
August 10, 2005
helen is a true goddess in green, or pink, or whatever color she so desires. always the fun party partner, she brings the good vibes and spreads the love in a big way!
mwwahh : )
July 18, 2005
Helen is a bright shining light, radiating joy and Love for life and others. She is a compassionate, caring, intelligent and beautiful young lady. And of course she is a slice of slices. A full slice for sure. Whether she's helping on the farm or getting down at a show, she's stokin' the good vibe. A true glitter dun' gal. I feel fortunate to know her and have her as a friend. Did I mention how slicealicious she is? Damn!
June 17, 2005
Helen shines so much light and beauty into this world. People are attracted to her wild side and comforting energy too. She is a true friend who would never hurt a fly. I don't think I've ever felt even a tid bit of negativity from this amazing woman. And what a slice! Helen's melon's have become a local favorite around these parts.
Love you, Helen!!
March 29, 2005
A soul adventurer out to conquer the furthest reaches of this frontier with her intergalactic hoop, Helen brings new and amazing things to life - whether she's flyin solo in the desert or raising the level of the collective vibe with stories of her adventures. Helen is a warm, compassionate, and awesome soul. Anybody would be lucky to have her as a friend.
Oh yeah, and she's one biatch that this pimp has never had to smack around. ;-)
March 12, 2005
Helen rocks! She's super crafty and creative. And I love hearing her tales of Burning Man and Esalen. She's come along way in the time that I've known her and I'm stoked that's she continues to grow in new and positive ways. Yay Helen! = )
February 23, 2005
Helen is an awesome young lady! She's a great friend, who is there for you when you need her. I've been fortunate enough to see her grow so much in the last year :) With her new-found independence, she is exploring all sorts of different interestes that she couldn't before. I admire her courage and her willingness to try new things. She's also one of the sweetest, caring, and genuine individuals i know. Not to mention, she is one hot slice!
The situation in Madagascar has continued to escalate, and now it seems they are gearing up for a civil war.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7937264.stm
All of the remaining Peace Corps volunteers in the country are currently being evacuated. Meanwhile, the military has threatened to take control of the government because the standing government and the opposition have not come to a resolution in the last three months, and more people are being harmed and killed in protests all over the country.
Major cities have been blockaded off to the rest of the country, and it seems that military presence is everywhere. And the worst part is how LITTLE news I can find ANYWHERE about what is going on. There's 20 million people in Madagascar, most of them children.
Oh, and I love it when I mention Madagascar, and people only know about the cartoon. No, actually, it's a real place on earth.
This is what happens when DJ's let power go to their heads: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7859093.stmSeriously? A DJ is heading up the civil war?
After two long years in Africa, I finally made it back to the states, safe and sound. It was a bit of a dramatic exit with a government take-over currently in progress in the capital of Madagascar, but I managed to escape the ordeal unharmed!
There's more of an update, as usual, on my website at blog.glowingz.com
For now, I'm in the process of getting into graduate school in a Landscape Architecture program. I'm just now receiving my acceptance letters, so I'll be making a decision on where to go in the coming weeks!
And it seems that tribe.net usage has declined since I was away. I followed the masses over to facebook, so be sure to connect up with me there if we haven't already!
I look forward to seeing all of your beautiful faces up close and personal out on a dance floor near you ASAP! Get in touch! I miss you!!!!
Being in the Peace Corps, I tend to have a lot of free time. I've read more novels in this last year than I care to admit. I wanted to share these particular books because they're all real life truly inspiring stories.
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
www.amazon.com/Mountains-.../ref=sr_1_1Dr Farmer is a real life hero fighting disease and poverty in some of the most impoverished countries in the world.
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time
www.amazon.com/Three-Cups.../ref=sr_1_1A mountain climber gets lost on a mountain in Pakistan. When he turns up in a small village and finds the people he befriends there have no school, he begins his mission to build schools in some of the most remote regions of the Himalayas. Amazing story!
The 100 Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating
www.amazon.com/100-Mile-D.../ref=sr_1_2A young couple write about their experience eating entirely local foods found within 100 miles of their home in British Columbia. If you're a fan of supporting your local farmers (or even if you're not!) read this book to find out how eating local foods can help save the planet!
The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring
www.amazon.com/Wild-Trees.../ref=sr_1_1This is a story about biologists who spend their time researching in the forest canopy of some of the tallest trees in the world (including my personal favorite, the redwoods).
I admire people who take risks for things they feel passionately about.
That's the main reason I recommend all of these books.
If you have any other books you recommend, please tell me about them. Or better yet, send it over!
BP 36
Mananara Nord 511
Madagascar
Here's my Amazon wish list:
www.amazon.com/gp/registr...HR2PP63Z83/
Thanks.
Mazatoa! (Malagasy for "enjoy!")
This will be my last post on tribe for awhile. Madagascar, here I come! I'm leaving California in less than 2 days. Can you believe it!?
From now on all updates will be on my personal website.
I'm shamelessly plugging my newly redesigned blog at: blog.glowingz.com
You can sign up for e-mail updates, so you can hear about what's happening as soon as I write: www.feedblitz.com/f/
I hope you all will check in on me while I'm away.
And if you think of it, send me letters! Snail mail is all the rage in Madagascar.
Here's my address:
Helen Graham, PCT Peace Corps
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 12091
Poste Zoom Ankorondrano
101 Antananarivo
Madagascar
It only costs $0.84 to send a letter to Madagascar. Send me some love! Mail takes around two weeks to arrive... So write now! And write often! :-)
Lots of love to you all. I will think of you often...
Yours truly,
Helen
It's official!! I'm heading to Madagascar on February 19th to start my service with the Peace Corps!! It's not exactly West Africa like I had originally thought. Instead, they're sending me to an exotic island in the Indian Ocean. AND I'll be doing environmental work as an agroforestry volunteer until April 2009!! Amazing....
See what Wikipedia has to say about it:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar
Also be sure to check in with me on my blog at:
www.glowingz.com
Keep in touch, my friends! And come visit me in my remote African island village!!
I hope to celebrate with you all this New Years Eve at the Sea of Dreams!
Thank you all for your continual love and support.
Love love love!
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