wow. it's today. that sure snuck up.

FRANCE!!!! TODAY!!!!!

I Wished I Had a Mobile But Then Was Glad I Didn´t

oh goodness, it has been another week! :)

I have been to an apple farm south of Copenhagen and am now on a charming Island called Fejø. Tomorrow I go to Odense and then Billund, from where I will fly to Scotland! I will be working on an organic farm that also brews organic beer! I am looking forward to that.

Okay, I have a story to tell you. It is called "I Wished I Had a Mobile But Then Was Glad I Didn´t"

I left the apple farm with a nice farewell from the owners there. It was going to be quite a process, with trains and buses and ferries, to get to the next place on the remote island of Fejø. I was happy to be traveling again. It was a beautiful day, with normal Danish wind and normal Danish clouds momentarily flitting in front of the sun.

I had arranged with the next farm (Mick and Anne) to arrive on the island sometime in the evening that day. I was supposed to call to tell Mick which ferry I would be taking. At the first connection I looked for a phone but didn´t find one. I didnt have time at any other connections either, but I was not worried because, of course, the ferry station would have one. I began to wish that I had a mobile.

The ferry station was not much to speak of. No restrooms, and no phone. My optimistic self still didn't worry. I hopped on the boat and went out on the deck to feel the wind and watch the bounty of jellyfish in the water. I was hoping to find a store at the other end... or something. Fifteen minutes later the boat docked at Fejø. There were only houses. No stores. No phones.

So, there I was, on an island with no way to contact my soon to be hosts. I did the only thing I could. There was only one road, so I started walking.... and walked some more. I asked some people I passed if they knew where a phone was... and they gave me the "I dont speak English" look. So I kept walking... thinking... "Maybe I will just find them." Ha. I kept my eye out for nice-looking people.

Finally, I passed a young-looking woman standing near her car. I called out and asked if she spoke English... she did. YES! So, then I asked if she knew where I could find a phone... she did. YES! She brought out her mobile (what generosity!). I told her I was calling Mick Malloney and asked if she knew him. She did. YES! "What good fortune," I thought. I asked if she knew where his house was and she offered to walk me there! YES! It was a pretty long way. She hadn´t seen them in about four years and they were happy she visited... and I was happy she showed me the way. Later she explained that the nearest store was at the other end of the island (six kilometers away).

And then I was glad I didn´t have a mobile because it was so cool the way things worked out. Of the 700 people on the island, I found her. She walked me the whole way, and she even had some interesting stories and bits of information! So, I suppose, the moral of this story is, life goes on without cell phones, (and it might even be a little better without them).

The End.

Thirteen days can sometimes feel like more.

At midnight on the thirtieth of July I arrived in Baar, Switzerland. I had traveled a lot, gone through a bit of time change, switched transportations nine times (plane, bus, train). Since then I've been a few more places. I have been meaning to write a few stories to post here. They are coming soon. For now, I thought I'd add some pictures with a bit of itinerary. (There are two pictures for each place).

30-31 of July: Baar, Switzerland (with friends of friends)
1-3 of August: Gimmelwald, Switzerland (hostel in the mountainside)
3-7 : Schonaich, Germany (with family of friends)
7-12: Døstrøp, Demark (WWOOFing)

and yes..... stories will be coming later... because now, I am going to the beach. :)

Okay. Now I think I'm ready. Almost.

Hello!

I have realized, over the past few weeks, that there are many details to take care of, before one leaves one's home for 5 months. One of those is to create a space where thoughts can be collected and shared with people one loves. So, here I sit (with a glass of ice water, it's so hot!), creating this thing they call a blog (really, who thought of that name?) to share with all of you!

Many people lately have been asking me about this trip on which I am about to embark. I tell them where I am going, and when (the facts). Beyond that, I know nothing about this trip. It is all a very new. I've traveled alone in Mexico, yes, but that is so known-- it is familiar. It is hard for me to answer any real questions about the next few months. I have found it quite odd to try and articulate what I don't know-- and won't know, until whatever it is, happens.

So, anyway, back to the facts. By Thursday night I hope to be in southwest Switzerland with my friend Jen at her Swiss friend's house.

I leave tomorrow at noon from PDX (less than twelve hours... I really ought to be sleeping now... it's all my brother's fault... due to his gracious kindness I am resting at his apartment for the night... his gracious kindness also forgot his keys on his desk and will be calling me to let him in, in a bit).

I think I am ready to go, but again, I won't know until I'm there. I won't know until I get lost, or realize something I forgot, or can't speak the language. Really though, I do think I've done all I can. I have my fingernail clippers, that's all I really need, right? Oh, I have my passport too.

Alright, this is getting lengthy, I better go. Love to you all. And an especially big thank you to the E-house ladies who I had the pleasure of spending a week with. What an absolutely lovely time. (It's true--- things do always work out, and though I don't want to do it, I must thank the French consulate for not getting my Visa taken care of in the time I wanted them to. Oh! And thanks to my mother and brother who endured my unhappy self, throughout the Visa mess. And thanks to all of you who I complained to! It came! And thanks for all of your helpful ideas!)

-joy

ps. In case you are wondering, I hope to be on here every few weeks, (Linfield is actually paying me to do so! yeah!) and I am sure that I'll have interesting things to share (probably too many things) about people, and food, and traveling and being tired, and being very happy, and farming techniques of Danish and Scottish people, and France, and school.... and i'll try to keep it readable (but who knows? Maybe I am a terrible writer! Maybe no one will read this! Maybe I won't ever get to France! Maybe I'll get pneumonia! Or maybe it will be a really positive experience where I learn a lot. I'm hoping for the latter. :)

pps. Eleven and a half hours!! :)