My blog is back up! While it was down, I was still running around. Before I get distracted by India and Ecuador, I would like to tell you all what I have been up to.
Running Like Turkeys With Their Heads Cut Off
The Saturday after Thanksgiving, my dear friend Sofonisba Anguissola and I decided to spend the day in New York City. Within the first two hours of our adventure, we managed to eat lunch, walk through Times Square, ride on a merry-go-round in Bryant Park, visit the New York Public Library, explore an exhibit about Jack Kerouac, and stumble upon the Parsons building and fabric store featured on Project Runway. While Sofonisba and I enjoyed all of our activities, we were most thrilled by our brush with Project Runway. We spent a good twenty minutes touching fabrics, imitating Tim Gunn, and pretending to be models.
After running around Midtown, the Garment District, and the Theater District, we decided that it was time to kick back and relax in the Village. As we filled up on lattés from hip cafés and window-shopped at pricey clothing boutiques, we developed a severe problem: we had to go to the bathroom. The casual reader may laugh at our predicament. Relieving oneself is basic human function. It is not supposed to be difficult. Unfortunately, we were in New York City the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Every clean bathroom (a rarity in and of itself) was mobbed by tourists. After meditating on our challenge, we decided to run to my mother’s office, convince the security guard to let us in, and sneak, like spies, into the stalls. After we completed our mission, we rewarded ourselves by pretending to be hip New Yorkers. We went out for dinner and then watched a documentary about consumerism at an artsy movie theater.
Ms. Wanders Goes to Washington
One week later, I decided to trek down to Washington, D.C. to visit my extended family and watch oral argument at the Supreme Court. I traveled to and from Washington on a Greyhound bus. When I told people that I was going to take the bus, I discovered many stigmas. As a result, I would like to take a moment to preach the wonders of Greyhound:
• Greyhound has amazing customer service. The representatives smile, tell you that they love their job, make you the focus of their attention, and do not charge a fee when you change your schedule.
• Greyhound is flexible. When I showed up an hour early for my 10:00 AM bus, they told me that I could hop onto the 9:00 AM bus. I did not have to fill out any paperwork or pay extra money.
• Greyhound is a great deal. My round-trip ticket between New York City and Washington only cost $35. The trip itself lasted a little over four hours each way. A plane ticket would have cost gobs more money and would have required just as much time because I would have had to go through security, check my bags, and find my gate.
• Busses are more environmentally friendly than airplanes.
Now that I have gotten my love for Greyhound out of my system, I would like to focus on another object of my affection: Constitutional law. My last day in Washington, I went to the Supreme Court to watch oral argument. My grandmother and I hopped in line on the front steps of the Supreme Court at 8:30 AM. One and a half hours later, we were led inside, barely missing the cut-off. The case that we watched, Sprint v. Mendelsohn, was fairly boring. It focused on the use of “me-too” evidence in employment discrimination lawsuits (“me-too” evidence is testimony from individuals who believe that they have also been victims of discrimination). However, I loved watching the Supreme Court at work. I got butterflies in my stomach as soon as I walked into the room and saw all nine Justices. As the argument progressed, I had fun looking out for each Justice’s famous habits: Thomas refraining from participating, Breyer asking pointed questions, Breyer and Thomas cracking jokes, etc. When I left, I felt even more excited by the prospect of pursuing a career in Constitutional law.
The Girl in the Café
When I was not gallivanting, I spent most of the past month working at a local café (the same establishment where I worked this past summer). I loved my job because I was able to drink free lattés, practice Spanish, and taste-test gourmet recipes for my CIA-trained (Culinary Institute of America) boss, Skip. Skip had a penchant for pathetic jokes. We spent a lot of time exchanging witticisms in the kitchen.
This concludes Antigone update. In other news, I just accepted an offer to work at an academic summer program in Massachusetts after I return from Ecuador.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Announcement
Antigone will be taking a break from blogging. She is currently home, where there isn't much to blog about. She will publish new entries after she leaves for India and Ecuador on January 4.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Antigone and Bartleby Go To School
I would like to apologize for not posting for a while. This week has been crazy because I am leaving the farm on Sunday and moving back in with my family. Despite the chaos, I still have plenty of entertaining stories that I would love to share with my readers. Here is one of them. (Note: this story has been moderately toned down in an effort to enhance the style of writing. The truth is even more insulting and bizarre.)
Last night my co-worker, Bartleby, and I drove 60 miles to Prestigious University to deliver a presentation about our organization to a hunger awareness club. We left at 4 pm in a mini van filled with colorful, handmade posters covered with definitions for “sustainability” and “agroecology.” True to my professional, corporate style, I had wanted to make a Powerpoint presentation. Bartleby would not let me. When I asked him why, he only said, “Fudge Powerpoint” (his words, verbatim). I tried to attain an explanation. “Powerpoint killed my dog,” would have sufficed. However, Bartleby repeated the same phrase. “Fudge Powerpoint. Fudge Powerpoint. Fudge Powerpoint.”
In the car, I asked Bartleby if we could listen to NPR. I knew better than to ask to listen to music (he gave it up this summer). Bartleby told me that it would be better for us to have a conversation. I complied by asking Bartleby about his family. He did not want to discuss his past. He would not talk about anything but our presentation, sustainability, and definitions for different theories of meditation, and sometimes would not talk at all.
We arrived at Prestigious University two hours later. My experience (also known as Antigone’s Realization That Professionalism Is A Dying Art) can be summarized as follows:
-The student leaders who organized the presentation told me that they had joined the hunger awareness club because they wanted an easy way to accrue community service hours, and that they knew almost nothing about my organization’s work.
-At 7 o’clock, the appointed time for the lecture, the student leaders explained that they had sent e-mails to thousands of people and passed out 80 flyers, but would not be able to provide an audience because their club’s theatre troupe had a dress rehearsal.
Student Leader: But it looks like you are really well prepared, so why don’t you just do it for the three of us?
Antigone: Bartleby and I drove 57 miles and would love to be able to tell more people about our work. It looks like there are a lot of people in the hallway. Why don’t you recruit some of them?
Five recruits later, we began our lecture.
After the presentation, Bartleby and I decided to grab a bite to eat. Bartleby decided to go the convenient store next door to find a vegan friendly option.
8:30: Bartleby leaves. Antigone orders.
8:40: Antigone receives food. She begins to eat, but is interrupted by a high school classmate. An extremely awkward interaction follows.
8:50: Antigone realizes that she is almost done with her food and remembers that Bartleby has a reputation for spending two hours in a grocery store, only to come out with two items.
9:00: Bartleby arrives with a bottle of orange juice and a box of nuts. He explains that he had to review juice companies’ respective human rights records, determine which juice was the most “local,” assess the sustainability of all available packaging, and analyze nutrition facts. He chose the OJ because, “It comes from Nantucket.”
Bartleby and I eventually left campus and discovered that the highway interchange on our directions did not work in reverse. I pointed to a map and asked Bartleby to find a route home. He, in turn, asked if he could skip chores the next morning to sleep in and meditate. He normally goes to bed at 8:30.
Using intuition and luck, I found my way back to the farm. As we drove along a dark, winding road, Bartleby turned to me and asked, “Antigone, do you know that song from Mulan that they sing before they attack the Huns? Can you sing it?” We sang Disney songs all the way home.
Last night my co-worker, Bartleby, and I drove 60 miles to Prestigious University to deliver a presentation about our organization to a hunger awareness club. We left at 4 pm in a mini van filled with colorful, handmade posters covered with definitions for “sustainability” and “agroecology.” True to my professional, corporate style, I had wanted to make a Powerpoint presentation. Bartleby would not let me. When I asked him why, he only said, “Fudge Powerpoint” (his words, verbatim). I tried to attain an explanation. “Powerpoint killed my dog,” would have sufficed. However, Bartleby repeated the same phrase. “Fudge Powerpoint. Fudge Powerpoint. Fudge Powerpoint.”
In the car, I asked Bartleby if we could listen to NPR. I knew better than to ask to listen to music (he gave it up this summer). Bartleby told me that it would be better for us to have a conversation. I complied by asking Bartleby about his family. He did not want to discuss his past. He would not talk about anything but our presentation, sustainability, and definitions for different theories of meditation, and sometimes would not talk at all.
We arrived at Prestigious University two hours later. My experience (also known as Antigone’s Realization That Professionalism Is A Dying Art) can be summarized as follows:
-The student leaders who organized the presentation told me that they had joined the hunger awareness club because they wanted an easy way to accrue community service hours, and that they knew almost nothing about my organization’s work.
-At 7 o’clock, the appointed time for the lecture, the student leaders explained that they had sent e-mails to thousands of people and passed out 80 flyers, but would not be able to provide an audience because their club’s theatre troupe had a dress rehearsal.
Student Leader: But it looks like you are really well prepared, so why don’t you just do it for the three of us?
Antigone: Bartleby and I drove 57 miles and would love to be able to tell more people about our work. It looks like there are a lot of people in the hallway. Why don’t you recruit some of them?
Five recruits later, we began our lecture.
After the presentation, Bartleby and I decided to grab a bite to eat. Bartleby decided to go the convenient store next door to find a vegan friendly option.
8:30: Bartleby leaves. Antigone orders.
8:40: Antigone receives food. She begins to eat, but is interrupted by a high school classmate. An extremely awkward interaction follows.
8:50: Antigone realizes that she is almost done with her food and remembers that Bartleby has a reputation for spending two hours in a grocery store, only to come out with two items.
9:00: Bartleby arrives with a bottle of orange juice and a box of nuts. He explains that he had to review juice companies’ respective human rights records, determine which juice was the most “local,” assess the sustainability of all available packaging, and analyze nutrition facts. He chose the OJ because, “It comes from Nantucket.”
Bartleby and I eventually left campus and discovered that the highway interchange on our directions did not work in reverse. I pointed to a map and asked Bartleby to find a route home. He, in turn, asked if he could skip chores the next morning to sleep in and meditate. He normally goes to bed at 8:30.
Using intuition and luck, I found my way back to the farm. As we drove along a dark, winding road, Bartleby turned to me and asked, “Antigone, do you know that song from Mulan that they sing before they attack the Huns? Can you sing it?” We sang Disney songs all the way home.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Antigone Bounces
An anecdote:
Today we went to a local field and played soccer. Half of the players were literally one foot taller than me (I have no idea how the farm finds so many 6'5" volunteers). I am a very aggressive soccer player. Thus, I spent most of the game running into and bouncing off of my housemates.
Today we went to a local field and played soccer. Half of the players were literally one foot taller than me (I have no idea how the farm finds so many 6'5" volunteers). I am a very aggressive soccer player. Thus, I spent most of the game running into and bouncing off of my housemates.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Why Is This Okay?
The correct answer is 56,000 liters. Think about it: one person could save 56,000 liters of water simply by changing their shower habits.
Today I am not going to post a trivia tidbit because I would like to focus on a more pressing issue. Please read the New York Times article "Environmental Laws Waived To Press Work on Border Fence." http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E7D71F38F930A15753C1A9619C8B63
The Department of Homeland Security has decided to build a gigantic fence through a national conservation area in violation of a court ruling. It "disagrees with the court's ruling" and divines that it will win an appeal. Michael Chertoff, who was not elected, is violating the separation of powers and attacking the environment. Meanwhile we whine about "activist judges." At least the members of the judicial branch have to create an illusion of impartiality.
Today I am not going to post a trivia tidbit because I would like to focus on a more pressing issue. Please read the New York Times article "Environmental Laws Waived To Press Work on Border Fence." http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E7D71F38F930A15753C1A9619C8B63
The Department of Homeland Security has decided to build a gigantic fence through a national conservation area in violation of a court ruling. It "disagrees with the court's ruling" and divines that it will win an appeal. Michael Chertoff, who was not elected, is violating the separation of powers and attacking the environment. Meanwhile we whine about "activist judges." At least the members of the judicial branch have to create an illusion of impartiality.
Monday, October 22, 2007
The Watershed
While I give you all a chance to catch up with the most recent trivia tidbit, I would like to share the story of the day’s adventures.
Today I decided to bicycle to a nearby river watershed. It was the most beautiful bike ride of my life. I was surrounded by autumnal foliage, swamps, mountains, fields, and wildlife. When I arrived at the watershed, I wandered on the bike paths and discovered a small beach. Unable to resist the perfectly clear, pristine waters, I jumped in, fully clothed (my attire confused nearby four-year-olds who asked, “Mommy, why is she wearing her shorts in the water?). As clichéd as it may sound, being in the river felt very spiritual because I was surrounded by nature. When I looked down, I saw little white fish swimming around my feet, up, I watched a hawk circle around the scene, and around, I admired a forest filled with red and gold leaves.
When I biked home, I met several men in the watershed who were wearing blaze orange. Apparently, it is hunting season. I need to get better about tracking where and when hunting happens and start wearing the reflective vest my mother sent me. Someone may hear the rustle of my bicycle wheels and shoot me, a la Dick Cheney.
Today I decided to bicycle to a nearby river watershed. It was the most beautiful bike ride of my life. I was surrounded by autumnal foliage, swamps, mountains, fields, and wildlife. When I arrived at the watershed, I wandered on the bike paths and discovered a small beach. Unable to resist the perfectly clear, pristine waters, I jumped in, fully clothed (my attire confused nearby four-year-olds who asked, “Mommy, why is she wearing her shorts in the water?). As clichéd as it may sound, being in the river felt very spiritual because I was surrounded by nature. When I looked down, I saw little white fish swimming around my feet, up, I watched a hawk circle around the scene, and around, I admired a forest filled with red and gold leaves.
When I biked home, I met several men in the watershed who were wearing blaze orange. Apparently, it is hunting season. I need to get better about tracking where and when hunting happens and start wearing the reflective vest my mother sent me. Someone may hear the rustle of my bicycle wheels and shoot me, a la Dick Cheney.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
The Nine
I have not posted in nine days. My apologies. Tonight I will get you all caught up with my life.
First things first, we need to clear up to the answer to my last trivia tidbit, “What substances can be composted?” Leslie and Edwin were both right. All organic substances can be composted. However, some organic materials decompose more quickly than others. On the farm, all of the materials in our compost decompose in three or fewer years.
Antigone Wanders’s Eighth Trivia Tidbit:
How many liters of water does the average human being save annually by switching to the Navy style of showering: turning off the water when they apply soap and shave, and only using water to get wet and rinse off? Extra points go to commenters who identify the ancillary benefits of using less water.
And now for the scoop:
Lately I have been busy amassing documents required for my Ecuadorian visa and searching for a summer job. Ecuador has very strict visa requirements. So far I have had to obtain a copy of my police record (rather a document indicating my lack thereof) and get an HIV test.
Like me, the farm has been busy. Last spring, our barn burnt down. Today we held a barn raising. Contrary to my expectations, our barn raising did not include any construction. We waited for the contractor to come and then watched in awe as a crane removed lumber from a truck. The festivities attracted a reputable crowd, including a television reporter and a State Senator.
After the “barn raising,” I finished my new favorite book: THE NINE: INSIDE THE SECRET WORLD OF THE SUPREME COURT by Jeffrey Toobin. The Nine is a popular press account of recent Supreme Court case law. As I read, I relearned cases and precedents that I had forgotten, and discovered once again why I am a law nerd. There is something special about the logic that progress from the Constitution, to opinion, to opinion. It is also amazing to think about how each Justice’s philosophy and personality affects his interpretation of the Constitution and approach. Every time I think about Constitutional law, I smile. It might hold my future.
-Antigone Wanders
First things first, we need to clear up to the answer to my last trivia tidbit, “What substances can be composted?” Leslie and Edwin were both right. All organic substances can be composted. However, some organic materials decompose more quickly than others. On the farm, all of the materials in our compost decompose in three or fewer years.
Antigone Wanders’s Eighth Trivia Tidbit:
How many liters of water does the average human being save annually by switching to the Navy style of showering: turning off the water when they apply soap and shave, and only using water to get wet and rinse off? Extra points go to commenters who identify the ancillary benefits of using less water.
And now for the scoop:
Lately I have been busy amassing documents required for my Ecuadorian visa and searching for a summer job. Ecuador has very strict visa requirements. So far I have had to obtain a copy of my police record (rather a document indicating my lack thereof) and get an HIV test.
Like me, the farm has been busy. Last spring, our barn burnt down. Today we held a barn raising. Contrary to my expectations, our barn raising did not include any construction. We waited for the contractor to come and then watched in awe as a crane removed lumber from a truck. The festivities attracted a reputable crowd, including a television reporter and a State Senator.
After the “barn raising,” I finished my new favorite book: THE NINE: INSIDE THE SECRET WORLD OF THE SUPREME COURT by Jeffrey Toobin. The Nine is a popular press account of recent Supreme Court case law. As I read, I relearned cases and precedents that I had forgotten, and discovered once again why I am a law nerd. There is something special about the logic that progress from the Constitution, to opinion, to opinion. It is also amazing to think about how each Justice’s philosophy and personality affects his interpretation of the Constitution and approach. Every time I think about Constitutional law, I smile. It might hold my future.
-Antigone Wanders
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Exciting News
Hey coffee lovers! Coffee beans are green or yellow before roasted.
This weekend's question will help you all become more sustainable.
Antigone Wanders's Seventh Trivia Tidbit
What substances can be composted?
I do not have a lot of time to write, but I want to share some exciting news.
The nonprofit in Ecuador accepted my volunteer application. As a result, I am going to move to the Equator in January. I will start off by doing outreach in the street markets every morning. Depending on how quickly I become acclimated, I may do additional work in the afternoons. When I am not volunteering, I plan to take Spanish and Salsa classes, and visit Ecuador's national parks and Inca ruins.
In other news, one of my lifelong dreams came true today. My first official ballot arrived in the mail (I have to fill out an absentee ballot since I am not at home). My ballot happened to arrive at the same time as package of politically themed gifts and chocolate chip cooks from my aunt in Minnesota. Mail is glorious.
I will write more later.
-Antigone Wanders
This weekend's question will help you all become more sustainable.
Antigone Wanders's Seventh Trivia Tidbit
What substances can be composted?
I do not have a lot of time to write, but I want to share some exciting news.
The nonprofit in Ecuador accepted my volunteer application. As a result, I am going to move to the Equator in January. I will start off by doing outreach in the street markets every morning. Depending on how quickly I become acclimated, I may do additional work in the afternoons. When I am not volunteering, I plan to take Spanish and Salsa classes, and visit Ecuador's national parks and Inca ruins.
In other news, one of my lifelong dreams came true today. My first official ballot arrived in the mail (I have to fill out an absentee ballot since I am not at home). My ballot happened to arrive at the same time as package of politically themed gifts and chocolate chip cooks from my aunt in Minnesota. Mail is glorious.
I will write more later.
-Antigone Wanders
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Strong, Like Girl
Now it is time to reveal the true ignorance of youth. Granted, I doubt that this lack of knowledge is limited to adolescents. Some of the students in my group had trouble identifying all of the countries featured in our global village. They are:
Kenya,
Poland,
Guatemala,
China,
Thailand,
Peru,
and (drum roll please)
the United States!
Needless to say, I was shocked.
I would also like to take a moment to address Mimi's question about grocery prices. I know very little about agricultural policy. However, I imagine that the rise in food prices has to do with government subsidies and fuel costs. Locally grown produce is beneficial because it does not need to be shipped on a plane. Does anyone else know the answer? Feel free to chime in on the comments page.
This post's trivia tidbit is going to take us to distant coffee fields.
Antigone Wanders's Sixth Trivia Tidbit
What color are coffee beans before they are roasted?
And now, the news from the farm:
One of the best parts of the farm is the absence of traditional gender roles. Half of the education volunteers are male, and the majority of the farm hands are female. On Friday I had to suffer for my equality. This weekend we are having a harvest festival. Thousands of visitors are coming to walk through the global village and sample our produce. Another lady farm hand and I had to set up all of the furniture in the global village. We found 6 sandwich boards, 17 tables, and 30 chairs, loaded them onto a pick-up truck, and dropped them off at different sites. My proudest moment came when I had to drive the pick-up truck backwards down a winding, rock-strewn forest path that was as wide as the vehicle.* Moving all of the furniture made me feel very accomplished.
*Thanks is given to my parents for owning homes with ridiculous driveways. At my father's house, I have to back out of a garage and turn 100 degrees so that I can go up a hill with a 35-40 degree incline. As an added challenge, I need to make sure that I do not go over the cliff located across from the garage. At my mom's house, I need to turn around a tree without hitting a second car parked at the back of the driveway, and then back out without hitting the wall or the lines of rocks randomly placed on either side of my path.
Kenya,
Poland,
Guatemala,
China,
Thailand,
Peru,
and (drum roll please)
the United States!
Needless to say, I was shocked.
I would also like to take a moment to address Mimi's question about grocery prices. I know very little about agricultural policy. However, I imagine that the rise in food prices has to do with government subsidies and fuel costs. Locally grown produce is beneficial because it does not need to be shipped on a plane. Does anyone else know the answer? Feel free to chime in on the comments page.
This post's trivia tidbit is going to take us to distant coffee fields.
Antigone Wanders's Sixth Trivia Tidbit
What color are coffee beans before they are roasted?
And now, the news from the farm:
One of the best parts of the farm is the absence of traditional gender roles. Half of the education volunteers are male, and the majority of the farm hands are female. On Friday I had to suffer for my equality. This weekend we are having a harvest festival. Thousands of visitors are coming to walk through the global village and sample our produce. Another lady farm hand and I had to set up all of the furniture in the global village. We found 6 sandwich boards, 17 tables, and 30 chairs, loaded them onto a pick-up truck, and dropped them off at different sites. My proudest moment came when I had to drive the pick-up truck backwards down a winding, rock-strewn forest path that was as wide as the vehicle.* Moving all of the furniture made me feel very accomplished.
*Thanks is given to my parents for owning homes with ridiculous driveways. At my father's house, I have to back out of a garage and turn 100 degrees so that I can go up a hill with a 35-40 degree incline. As an added challenge, I need to make sure that I do not go over the cliff located across from the garage. At my mom's house, I need to turn around a tree without hitting a second car parked at the back of the driveway, and then back out without hitting the wall or the lines of rocks randomly placed on either side of my path.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Why Everyone Needs to Spend Time On An Organic Farm
Thank you for all of your responses. I was happy to see a crowded comment section. The answer that I was looking for was satyagraha. However, “passive resistance” is an acceptable English translation (even though the movie Gandhi said that his resistance was not passive, just peaceful).
Antigone Wanders’s Fifth Trivia Tidbit:
This week I led educational programming for seventh graders. At one point, I asked my students to tell me where countries that we had discussed were located on a world map. They simply had to choose the correct continent and identify the general region where each country was located. I would like you to guess which countries students had trouble locating.
And now the news from the farm:
Today, I had an extremely relaxing day-off. If I were not ambitious, a day like today would have motivated me to spend the rest of my life on an organic farm. Here is what I did:
Last night:
I danced in a pasture until 1 am.
This morning:
I started to read Candide by Voltaire. Then I watched the movie Elizabeth.
Lunchtime:
I went to the garden and picked fresh onions, tomatoes, and grapes. Afterwards, I used my harvest and fresh garlic and basil to make pasta sauce.
This afternoon:
I discussed regional attitudes towards education with my housemates. Then I went on a long bike ride. While I was biking, I discovered a trail in the forest. I followed the trail until I came upon a stream. I wanted to follow the trail, but I felt like I had to continue my bike ride. Then I remember that I had no plans for the rest of the day. I could follow any trail I wanted as long as I had enough energy.
This evening:
I went to a grocery store, a buffalo farm, and a Chinese restaurant.
Antigone Wanders’s Fifth Trivia Tidbit:
This week I led educational programming for seventh graders. At one point, I asked my students to tell me where countries that we had discussed were located on a world map. They simply had to choose the correct continent and identify the general region where each country was located. I would like you to guess which countries students had trouble locating.
And now the news from the farm:
Today, I had an extremely relaxing day-off. If I were not ambitious, a day like today would have motivated me to spend the rest of my life on an organic farm. Here is what I did:
Last night:
I danced in a pasture until 1 am.
This morning:
I started to read Candide by Voltaire. Then I watched the movie Elizabeth.
Lunchtime:
I went to the garden and picked fresh onions, tomatoes, and grapes. Afterwards, I used my harvest and fresh garlic and basil to make pasta sauce.
This afternoon:
I discussed regional attitudes towards education with my housemates. Then I went on a long bike ride. While I was biking, I discovered a trail in the forest. I followed the trail until I came upon a stream. I wanted to follow the trail, but I felt like I had to continue my bike ride. Then I remember that I had no plans for the rest of the day. I could follow any trail I wanted as long as I had enough energy.
This evening:
I went to a grocery store, a buffalo farm, and a Chinese restaurant.
Monday, September 17, 2007
My Wacky Idea
I would like to thank Bob for being the only person who responded to my last tidbit. It is nice to know that someone still cares, even though he does it in a belligerent manner. The correct answer is females. Girls and women account for up to 70% of the world’s impoverished.
Now it is time for a fourth tidbit. Hopefully more people will answer.
Antigone Wanders’s Fourth Trivia Tidbit
Last night I watched the movie Gandhi. Mohandas K. Gandhi was concerned by British attempts to suppress Indian economic development. What type of resistance did Gandhi utilize? I’m looking for a specific word. You get bonus points if you can name an event that exemplifies this philosophy.
Now I would like to tell you all about my latest gap year idea.
My favorite thing about my gap year is the freedom. The world is my oyster. I can read, travel, farm, and do almost anything that strikes my fancy. I can throw my plans out of the window and create a new future from scratch. This weekend, I discovered Bike and Build (http://www.bikeandbuild.org), a potential twist for my whimsical gap year path. Bike and Build participants are college students who spend the summer biking from the East Coast to the West Coast. Along the way, they stop at Habitat for Humanity projects and lend a hand. I want to do Bike and Build. I have always had a secret dream of biking across the country, and I would not mind adding power tools to the adventure. The only catch is I would have to raise over $4000. Does anyone have creative fundraising ideas?
Now it is time for a fourth tidbit. Hopefully more people will answer.
Antigone Wanders’s Fourth Trivia Tidbit
Last night I watched the movie Gandhi. Mohandas K. Gandhi was concerned by British attempts to suppress Indian economic development. What type of resistance did Gandhi utilize? I’m looking for a specific word. You get bonus points if you can name an event that exemplifies this philosophy.
Now I would like to tell you all about my latest gap year idea.
My favorite thing about my gap year is the freedom. The world is my oyster. I can read, travel, farm, and do almost anything that strikes my fancy. I can throw my plans out of the window and create a new future from scratch. This weekend, I discovered Bike and Build (http://www.bikeandbuild.org), a potential twist for my whimsical gap year path. Bike and Build participants are college students who spend the summer biking from the East Coast to the West Coast. Along the way, they stop at Habitat for Humanity projects and lend a hand. I want to do Bike and Build. I have always had a secret dream of biking across the country, and I would not mind adding power tools to the adventure. The only catch is I would have to raise over $4000. Does anyone have creative fundraising ideas?
Friday, September 14, 2007
Life and Death
I am not giving you a new trivia tidbit because I posted one last night. However, I would like to report some exciting news. Today, our cow Nicole gave birth. She produced a healthy, female, pure-bred Jersey calf named Mabel. The birth was eagerly anticipated. The entire farm staff had spent 30 minutes staring at a cow's butt, growing depressed each time it spurted poop instead of a cute baby animal.
Afterwards we processed 45 chickens. I apparently impressed the livestock coordinator with my mad skills. I may have a future in bird slaughter.
By the way, I would like to apologize for not recognizing all of the parties who produced correct answers to the last trivia tidbit (Bob). I will try not to do it again. Maybe I should follow businesses and schools' strategy for managing members of the Millenial generation: Give every individual an award to their contribution. To quote Barney the Dinosaur, "Everyone is special / Everyone in his or her own special way!"
Afterwards we processed 45 chickens. I apparently impressed the livestock coordinator with my mad skills. I may have a future in bird slaughter.
By the way, I would like to apologize for not recognizing all of the parties who produced correct answers to the last trivia tidbit (Bob). I will try not to do it again. Maybe I should follow businesses and schools' strategy for managing members of the Millenial generation: Give every individual an award to their contribution. To quote Barney the Dinosaur, "Everyone is special / Everyone in his or her own special way!"
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Animal Farm
Dad had the answer that I was thinking of. Chicken feces are known for their high nitrogen content. That being said, I was impressed by all of the different interpretations of “best.” I especially enjoyed Uncle David’s answer. Animals defecate a lot, making tidy feces desirable.
Antigone Wanders’s Third Trivia Tidbit
Enough about poop. Today I am going to shift gears. Which single demographic accounts for up to 70% of the world’s impoverished?
And now, the news from the farm:
Animals keep rural life exciting. They often do not do what you want them to do. Case and point: On Tuesday, the cows broke their fence and charged into the garden right before the farm staff was supposed to hold a moment of silence for the victims of September 11. Chaos ensued as humans chased cattle, cattle walked into fences, and walkie-talkie voices argued about whether or not it was possible to pause the commotion to memorialize 9/11.
Unfortunately, not all animal surprises are that comical. Livestock unexpectedly become sick or injured. Sometimes you are able to nurse the creatures back to health (e.g. the guinea pig and motherless ducklings in my living room). Other times, you need to put them out of their misery. This week, a flock of fowl (the kosher king broilers) became cannibalistic. Whoever gave them fresh water and food inevitably returned with birds who had flesh and feathers gouged out of their backs and wings. We killed two birds on Sunday and processed three on Monday. Tomorrow, we are going to process the rest.
Antigone Wanders’s Third Trivia Tidbit
Enough about poop. Today I am going to shift gears. Which single demographic accounts for up to 70% of the world’s impoverished?
And now, the news from the farm:
Animals keep rural life exciting. They often do not do what you want them to do. Case and point: On Tuesday, the cows broke their fence and charged into the garden right before the farm staff was supposed to hold a moment of silence for the victims of September 11. Chaos ensued as humans chased cattle, cattle walked into fences, and walkie-talkie voices argued about whether or not it was possible to pause the commotion to memorialize 9/11.
Unfortunately, not all animal surprises are that comical. Livestock unexpectedly become sick or injured. Sometimes you are able to nurse the creatures back to health (e.g. the guinea pig and motherless ducklings in my living room). Other times, you need to put them out of their misery. This week, a flock of fowl (the kosher king broilers) became cannibalistic. Whoever gave them fresh water and food inevitably returned with birds who had flesh and feathers gouged out of their backs and wings. We killed two birds on Sunday and processed three on Monday. Tomorrow, we are going to process the rest.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Bicycle, Bicycle
Thank you all for answering my poopy question. I think that you have identified all of the conventional uses of manure. However, if given more time, I am sure that you could come up with more wacky ideas. In my opinion, the most interesting practical use for manure is fuel. Feces have a very high methane content. In Tibet, nomads cook food over burning yak excrement. On the farm, it is too humid to dry yak feces (someone has actually tried). Instead, we have a machine that extracts methane from manure (granted, it is currently broken). All of the methane created by livestock has begun to concern environmentalists. According to the UN, the cattle industry releases more greenhouse gases every year than all cars combined.
Antigone Wanders’s Second Trivia Tidbit
I think that I am going to continue with the manure theme. Feces are very nutrient rich. They are great fertilizer. Which farm animal excretes the best fertilizer? You get bonus points if you also know why.
And now the news from the farm:
I am a very independent person. When my ten housemates dragged their feet about going grocery shopping, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I could not spend another day without milk, fruit, or bread. After I Rand McNallied directions to the nearest supermarket, I hopped on my bike to find food.
Having lived in New Jersey, a state filled with hills, I expected an easy ride. It did not take long to remember that I had moved to a mountain range. I felt like Sisyphus. Every time I reached the crest of a hill, I discovered a new, steep incline.
After I overcame my assent-induced shock, I began to enjoy my ride. What goes up must come down. Every foot I pedaled up was another foot that I would get to whiz through at the end of my ride. I cheered myself up the mountain. At the top, I gave into gravity and sped downwards with the wind blowing in my hair.
Antigone Wanders’s Second Trivia Tidbit
I think that I am going to continue with the manure theme. Feces are very nutrient rich. They are great fertilizer. Which farm animal excretes the best fertilizer? You get bonus points if you also know why.
And now the news from the farm:
I am a very independent person. When my ten housemates dragged their feet about going grocery shopping, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I could not spend another day without milk, fruit, or bread. After I Rand McNallied directions to the nearest supermarket, I hopped on my bike to find food.
Having lived in New Jersey, a state filled with hills, I expected an easy ride. It did not take long to remember that I had moved to a mountain range. I felt like Sisyphus. Every time I reached the crest of a hill, I discovered a new, steep incline.
After I overcame my assent-induced shock, I began to enjoy my ride. What goes up must come down. Every foot I pedaled up was another foot that I would get to whiz through at the end of my ride. I cheered myself up the mountain. At the top, I gave into gravity and sped downwards with the wind blowing in my hair.
Monday, September 3, 2007
The First 24 Hours
Even though I arrived at the farm yesterday, I have already had at least six new experiences. I:
1. ate freshly picked grapes,
2. milked goats,
3. herded sheep,
4. cooked a traditional Akha meal over a fire in Thailand,*
5. fed water buffalo, and
6. met a camel named “Abu.”
Living on the farm is very enjoyable. All of my work and activities happen on site. I do not need to worry about coordinating my schedule with work, school, or extracurricular activities. I am simply expected to work hard and go with the flow. The people are extremely refreshing. No one asks where I go to college or what my SAT score is. They care more about social responsibility, organic food, and good conversation. I think that I am going to be happy here.
Since the purpose of the farm is to teach visitors about global poverty and sustainable development, I am going to try to include information that I acquire in training and on the job in my blog. I intend to conclude each post with a trivia question. Post all answers and wild guesses as comments.
Antigone Wanders’s First Trivia Tidbit:
What are beneficial uses for manure?
*The farm includes a global village with models of homes in Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Tibet, Thailand, and Appalachia. They are adding replicas of homes in Kenya, India, and Poland.
1. ate freshly picked grapes,
2. milked goats,
3. herded sheep,
4. cooked a traditional Akha meal over a fire in Thailand,*
5. fed water buffalo, and
6. met a camel named “Abu.”
Living on the farm is very enjoyable. All of my work and activities happen on site. I do not need to worry about coordinating my schedule with work, school, or extracurricular activities. I am simply expected to work hard and go with the flow. The people are extremely refreshing. No one asks where I go to college or what my SAT score is. They care more about social responsibility, organic food, and good conversation. I think that I am going to be happy here.
Since the purpose of the farm is to teach visitors about global poverty and sustainable development, I am going to try to include information that I acquire in training and on the job in my blog. I intend to conclude each post with a trivia question. Post all answers and wild guesses as comments.
Antigone Wanders’s First Trivia Tidbit:
What are beneficial uses for manure?
*The farm includes a global village with models of homes in Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Tibet, Thailand, and Appalachia. They are adding replicas of homes in Kenya, India, and Poland.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Hello, Goodbye
Dear friends, family members, and whatever other poor souls choose to read this blog,
Hello, goodbye. Having turned 18, I am leaving home to begin my gap year adventures. I have decided to create this blog so that you all will have an easier time keeping track of where I am and what I am doing. If you can think of other individuals who are interested in following my whereabouts and well-being, feel free to invite them to read my musings.
I realize that some of you will forget to check my blog, even though you are genuinely interested in reading about my life. If you would like to be e-mailed whenever I add a new entry, please post a comment with your e-mail address. I will be sure to alert you.
-Antigone Wanders
Hello, goodbye. Having turned 18, I am leaving home to begin my gap year adventures. I have decided to create this blog so that you all will have an easier time keeping track of where I am and what I am doing. If you can think of other individuals who are interested in following my whereabouts and well-being, feel free to invite them to read my musings.
I realize that some of you will forget to check my blog, even though you are genuinely interested in reading about my life. If you would like to be e-mailed whenever I add a new entry, please post a comment with your e-mail address. I will be sure to alert you.
-Antigone Wanders
