Research

Not a bad selection.  I even spotted another future goal "Bicycling the Pacific Coast: Canada to Mexico"

Stuff Bicyclists Like - Insanely Long, Perhaps Reckless Bike Rides

You know those nagging thoughts that linger in your mind, itching and gnawing every once in a while? Whenever I get one of those I think back to what I learned in the best film I've ever seen in my life:

“Farmer Hoggett knew that little ideas that tickled and nagged and refused to go away should never be ignored, for in them lie the seeds of destiny.” -Babe

Well, I've had this idea for a couple years now, so while I don't think it'll reveal any sort of destiny, I can't ignore it much longer.

Quest: 100 mile bike ride
Destination: a friend's place in Davis, CA (will have to check in with them first or else risk crashing at the Amtrak station...on the plus side there's an In-N-Out nearby)
Prep: buy bike patches, eat more protein, stop eating cookies and froyo
Logistics: route map pending
Countdown: 10 days

Will update soon

--------- End of mission log ---------

Some favorite places in Berkeley

Click image to view interactive map with comments on selected places.

To Build a Home

There is a house built out of stone
Wooden floors, walls and window sills
Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust
This is a place where I don't feel alone
This is a place where I feel at home 

- "To Build a Home" The Cinematic Orchestra

I can't wait to be home. Being in a state of errantry is exciting, and I've never wanted to be one to be tied down to one place, but there's something about a home. Maybe it's because I've been listening to Mercedes Sosa, but I mean really listening to it.

Empeze con la cancion "me gustan los estudiantes" y memorize la letra. Estuve tan feliz escuchandolo que hasta estuve cantandolo mientras camine a mis clases y no me importo quien me escuchaba. Luego escuche "Gracias a la vida:"

Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario
Con el, las palabras que pienso y declaro
Madre, amigo, hermano
Y luz alumbrando la ruta del alma del que estoy amando

Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados
Con ellos anduve cuidades y charcos
Playas y desiertos, montañas y llanos
Y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio

Esa cancion tiene una cualidad inquietante- susurra en mi oido y el alma de tiempos pasados con mi familia y historia, pero tambien de tiempos que aun no han venido.  Ese sentimiento es a la vez emocionante y tranquilo.

No se de lo que estoy diciendo. Queria practicar escribiendo en español, comi mucha azucar anoche y estoy emocionada que voy a regresar a mi casa- al lugar donde se que estan la gente que amo con toda mi vida.

Y queria escribir tambien. La proxima vez voy a practicar el uso de acentos.
Bueno.
Hasta la proxima vez!

Geography Course 198

Some highlights from my camping trip.

How cities can promote environmental justice

Maybe cities aren't the best proponents of environmental justice (as of now).  Most often, cities are the scene of the crime - fires at a Chevron refinery in Richmond, CA, air pollution from the port in Wilmington, CA.  These cases and others like it impact already vulnerable communities the most, but it doesn't have to be so.

Environmental Justice.  It was hard to define this especially because I hear so many different meanings. But the best and clearest definition I've heard comes from activist Majora Carter "no community should be saddled with more environmental burdens and less environmental benefits than any other." In her TED talk, Carter speaks of how the creation of a greenway along the South Bronx waterfront transformed the surrounding neighborhoods with green open spaces and mixed-use economic development.

I am inspired to think that cities don't have to be the sites of social and environmental degradation anymore.

Here is Majora Carter on "Greening the Ghetto"

Me on Vacation

From either humortrain.com or failblog.org (I forget)

Ugh, the sad truth. It's spring break and I have to drag myself to go outside. But so far, it has not been a total waste.  I went to a Trader Joe's for the first time and splurged on their chocolate almonds.  It's the small victories that count.

The big victory is that I survived near death by challenging my inexperienced Angeleno legs to bike San Francisco's hilly streets, much to the annoyance of the motorists behind me.  Never mind the hills, the ridiculous wind speed alone almost toppled me into the car's path.  I'm exaggerating, but those winds do travel really fast.  

So, chocolate almonds and conqueror of Market Street, SF. Pretty good start to my first spring break away from home.

Farmer's Market at Market/7th St