Day 5

The stomach bug.

Yes. It's been going around and I caught it.

You know what's really strange...I'm in a log cabin, using an outhouse, surrounded by about 30 people and oddly enough, I felt quite comfortable.

The people here are so wonderful! I've been in good conversations throughout the day. And when the day rains, there really isn't anything much else to do. After sleeping for half the afternoon I felt much better. Everyone's been going through huge adjustments here and when you're given a little TLC and good company you can't get much better than that. You really need to stop to think about what's most important in your life. Is it the new dinning room set? Is it your bedroom set? Is it the marble counter top in your kitchen? Or, indoor plumbing can you say?

Wouldn't you say the most important part of life is being out close net family who love you dearly. Would devote every minute of their day to enjoying each other's company. You can sleep on a futon mattress on the floor, or eat every meal on a 1' high wooden table, or live without carpets or pretty walls. But the one thing you can't live without is love and family and wonderful friends. Ionia, in my eyes is the riches community I've ever come across.

Day 4

So I woke up this morning and felt fantastic. If you really want to know why it was because I finally FINALLY figured out how to use the outhouse. I guess my body just gave in that there wasn't going to be any plumbing anytime soon...so when you gotta go, you gotta go.

Feeling like a whole new person, I was really eager to make the best of out this day as I can. Starting with a little tai chi class, moving on to an awesome stretch. A bit sore of course from the 6 hour hike the day before, but the stretching took care of that problem. I quickly got dress in my country jeans (got them at Old Navy) and went out to see what activities I can get involved in. "Seems like a great day to paint a barn," I thought to myself. Something every true New York does day to day. So I took on the challenge. I think I was quite good at it, being the "experienced" painter I am. Bottom line, I had fun. The day included a lecture from a brillant, almost too brillant, Mark V....and I can't remember the rest of his name. Than, a miracle.... the sun came out!! We spent all afternoon playing Volleyball it was awesome! Haven't felt this young in forever. And the best part was I felt GREAT!

Speaking of great, ever eaten Alaskan fish fresh out of the sea? Amazing! We got to hang out with a bunch of real professional fishermen tonight. Had ourselves a little bonfire. Roasted a little marshmellows (I didn't eat them just watched) and had a jolly time. The life of a fisherman in Alaska....I never could imagine.

Alaska - the first few days.

It's about a 12 hour trip to get to Alaska. This includes 2 planes rides with a small 30 minute wait inbetween them. Once I got to Anchorage at 2pm (Alaska time) there was then another 3 hour drive to get to Kenai (pronouced Ken-eye). I guess that's a rough trip...couldn't image it being much worse...but it gets worse. Since I was the first one to land that afternoon, I waited around the airport for other guests to land. It wasn't until about 7pm that we were ready to venture out to the Kenai farms. 1 van, 8 teens (and adults), an 8 hour experience. About 30 minutes into the trip we stopped dead in a line of traffice. Turns out, there was a head on collision with a boat and a car? Never quite got the actually story, it didn't seem to matter after your told it will be another 4 hours before all is cleared up. That's 4 hours on the side of a road, staring the ocean with snow covered mountains in the back. Gas station was about a 15min walk down the road, and of course I needed to use the restroom, so we killed some time but going on a stroll. Didn't quite kill enough time as we sat in the van for a total of 5 hours. Mind you it's now about 1am Alaska time, I've been awake and traveling since 5am (New York time) and therefore have bee awake for almost 24 hours! We finally arrived to Kenai and the Ionia farms at 5:30am. Delirious, in pain from a messed up stomach, I was not a happy camper.

Day 2
I woke up around 7:30am (only 2 hours after falling asleep) to enjoy some breakfast and meet the members of Ionia. That didn't go over well so I went back to sleep till 12:30. Things were going alright here. My biggest issue is the outhouse experience. No matter how much I tried, it wasn't working for me. Ahhh! Even the 2 hours of dance feastival we had that night didn't help me go. Although that was plenty fun. Amazing how without TV or electronics (aside from this computer) families can still learn to create their own fun.

Day 3
Major liver energy running crazy!!

The fact I still haven't been able to use the outhouses have taken a major effect on me. This has never happened to me in all my life! Could be the fact that these Ionia's don't see privacy to be of major importance in living. Well, to each his own. My body seems to find privacy necessary for some actions. To top it off, today was the day of our 1st big hike! 1 mile up, 1 mile down. Stay tune for the photos of Marisa mudsliding in the rain, up and down cliffs. I must also thank the sponsors that made this trip possible. My Merrill waterproof hiking sneaker, Paragon Sports rain slicker, and Aldo's green army hat. Without these belonging, I could not have made it alive. To say the least, it was probably the most amazing thing I've ever since. I compare it to the Sound of Music Scene when they are climbing straight over tops of mountatins. I guess that was realistic. And I want to thank my new patient Ionian friend who stay with me ever step of the way, for if it wasn't for him I would have fallen on my a** much more. And after it was all say and done...I felt AMAZING! Greatest adrenline rush that could exist, which has given me the energy to still be awake to post these blogs.

Cheers to fun in the mud!

Alaska Experience

In deciding to create a new career, to establish a resinating dream, I have venuture across the continent to Alaska. It's the land of snow top mountains all year round and midnight sun. It's also the home of a small macrobiotic community called Ionia. Orginated by 4 families, sharing the same beliefs and way living, the community has grown into a 200 acer world of wonderous life. Imagine little house on the prairy back in the 1800's, building log cabins, having to heat their houses with burning wood, bathing outside and using outhouses. Then imagine the most sufisticated little house on the prairy, that's Ionia. They have some of the top of the line applicances for....outhouses, burning heaters, and outdoor barrels to bath in. No exageration, you will find no other place like this in the entire world. Among the families choices to live life as simply as possible, there is an unbelievable bond between each person and child here. Something so very special.

I hope to document my experiences here and share them with all. Funny, exciting, tramatizing...I'll do my best to share it all.

Here's to adventure!