Not Venice, Italy - Venice Beach, CA. It's where I've been living for the last three weeks. They have felt like months though because so much is happening. In fact this whole trip back to the US has been like that. Visiting my parents in PA, then California...a festival, a road trip, then moving into this beach house. My head is spinning. And I am about to embark on the biggest adventure/experience of all - Burning Man.
I've never been, but "burners" say it's like coming home. I'm feeling the same from what I know about it because I'm coming to a place where you interact with others like with family that accepts you for who you are without question, with all your weirdness. Where you play without inhibitions like when you were a child.
Why isn't real life like this? Well the part that's interesting to me now is how cultures form and how we're influenced by them. Everyone knows we're social animals, we want to enjoy life with others. We find these others by finding communities, but usually these communities have "in" members and the outsiders, and certain rules - the practices and appearance that tells everyone you're part of it. We spend most of our time trying to either get "in" or to stay "in" by dressing like "them," acting like them, talking about what they're talking about, etc. If you think about it this applies on a large or small scale, as big as a national culture and as small as a clique of friends. But certain communities like Burning Man have a lot fewer of these "rules," so the community is there for you, no matter who you are. I actually noticed myself automatically figuring out how to dress so that I fit in there until I realized the whole point is to not do that! I think it's our nature to find out how to fit in...how to stay safe.
Anyway Venice feels like a nice step in this direction with all the lovely weirdness going on here. JD was documenting this scene nicely the first few days we were here: http://venicebeachfront.tumblr.com/.
I can't believe the summer is almost over, but I'll feel ready to get back to teaching after these couple of months. I think I needed a familiar place and, of course, the ocean, to think. I'm excited about the next step - digging deeper into the Spanish culture and traveling more and observing, learning. Meanwhile, some pictures below of previous adventures that I haven't been posting. I'll be better about it!
I've never been, but "burners" say it's like coming home. I'm feeling the same from what I know about it because I'm coming to a place where you interact with others like with family that accepts you for who you are without question, with all your weirdness. Where you play without inhibitions like when you were a child.
Why isn't real life like this? Well the part that's interesting to me now is how cultures form and how we're influenced by them. Everyone knows we're social animals, we want to enjoy life with others. We find these others by finding communities, but usually these communities have "in" members and the outsiders, and certain rules - the practices and appearance that tells everyone you're part of it. We spend most of our time trying to either get "in" or to stay "in" by dressing like "them," acting like them, talking about what they're talking about, etc. If you think about it this applies on a large or small scale, as big as a national culture and as small as a clique of friends. But certain communities like Burning Man have a lot fewer of these "rules," so the community is there for you, no matter who you are. I actually noticed myself automatically figuring out how to dress so that I fit in there until I realized the whole point is to not do that! I think it's our nature to find out how to fit in...how to stay safe.
Anyway Venice feels like a nice step in this direction with all the lovely weirdness going on here. JD was documenting this scene nicely the first few days we were here: http://venicebeachfront.tumblr.com/.
I can't believe the summer is almost over, but I'll feel ready to get back to teaching after these couple of months. I think I needed a familiar place and, of course, the ocean, to think. I'm excited about the next step - digging deeper into the Spanish culture and traveling more and observing, learning. Meanwhile, some pictures below of previous adventures that I haven't been posting. I'll be better about it!
March trip to Dublin for this lovely lady's birthday!
Mom's visit and a wonderful Semana Santa in the south of Spain.
JD visiting so that we can be beach bums in Nerja.
Yes, there was lots of work before this restful time in Sunshine House, Evia, Greece.
A visit to the mothership - Athens, Greece.
Upon landing in CA an immediate music festival complete with bug cars!
Road trip through Big Sur ♥ ♥ ♥
And now I'm in
Venice Beach, CA
