bouncin’ into the unknown.
January 17, 2008
It was fun to read all the comments on the eject post-it-note post. Seems like some of you have been in that same place before, and others are maybe standing there present moment. A friend (who is maybe standing some place in between, or rather staring at her eject button from a distance but not wanting to press it cause she simply doesn’t know where she wants it to take her) emailed to ask “HOW” I got to Nepal.
I fly a lot in my dreams. Always have. Well, always except for the time when I couldn’t because I was carrying two extremely heavy grocery bags that were weighing me down–oui, that was a tough time I remember. The image above, however, is of my Tigger Dream–that is, my bouncin‘ dream. It’s also one of my top 3 favorite dreams of all time. (And yes, I know the other 2 just as vividly well.) In the dream, I could bounce. I would squat down and spring up high into the sky, land in the mountains, and spring back up into the stars. I bounced over rivers and oceans and thru all kinds of exotic lands.
Ironically, this Tigger Dream happened right after I decided to eject–when I started moving forward with plans to do what I really wanted to do. It was the same eject-button doodleR friend who (after I told him about it) ordered me to go home and draw my dream.
When I was little, my dad always had me make a list of pros & cons when I was trying to make a decision, so I could see things a bit clearer. This is what I remember of my pros-list.
• do volunteer work in another country (something I always wanted to do, which would also allow me to get outside of “me” more and get a fresh perspective)
• travel alone (something adventurous that I always wanted to do but was scared to death to do, too. plus, I needed the reflection time…and to also find my own strength & confidence & incdependence)
• take a break from my corporate illustration job and then, hopefully, go on my own (which would again, give me perspective and help me to grow as an artist/illustrator)
• have new experiences in a foreign land, specifically in a culture that was alive and rich in spirit and love and spirituality, and not materialism.
• live simpler
• learn another language
• trek in the Himalayas
• live in the mountains
It seemed my list pointed me to Nepal, so that choice was easy. It had Mt. Everest and sacred cows, and I could live in a village without ANY cars.
So then I started tackling my list of things I needed to do to make it happen:
• researched Nepal and volunteer programs at schools in the Everest region
• met people on-line and friends who’ve done something similar
• arranged a leave-of-absence from my job for 5 months (this was my ‘safety-net’ since I didn’t know if I’d be brave enough to quit just yet)
• took ESL training
• found a friend to sublet my apartment
• saved $ to cover car/student loans while I was away (I stopped my car ins. for the 5 months)
• raised the money for my ticket and the ngo by giving massages to friends for tax-deductible donations to the ngo (at the time I was taking massage courses, and it was a nice way to ‘ask’ for money. Plus, I sent a donation letter out to some friends/family.) I also had a show of drawings from a previous trip to Asia which earned a nice savings for my trip.
• collected loads of art supplies, books, fun education stuff for the school (from family, friends, work, and clients)
• had a HUGE sale of my belongings…because really, I decided, I wanted to be light and free and not feel attached to physical “stuff”
Then, just a few weeks before I was supposed to leave, the program was canceled due to violence–the Maoist rebels were very active in a civil war against the Monarchy (particularly in the mountainous regions), and the US Embassy issued a travel-warning on their website which basically meant it wasn’t safe, and to travel at your own risk. I kinda freaked. Nepal was supposed to be the a land of peace. To top things off, I had a kidney stone attack and ended up in the hospital. My sky was falling. I didn’t know what to do. A friend talked me into going on a roadtrip to Taos to think about my Plan B…which was (after emailing and talking with people living Nepal) to still go, only I would have to find volunteer work in the Kathmandu Valley. I had to let go of control of ‘my’ adventure, of what I thought it would be.
I flew to KTM alone, which has to be one of the most exciting and empowering things I’ve ever done. I still remember checking into a room at a guest house and going for a walk in the narrow streets full of exotic things, new colors, beautiful people, and cows. It was so surreal.
Within 2 days, I met a lot of people (Nepalis and foreigners) and found several different opportunities for volunteer work. (It’s endless there, really.) On the 3rd day, I took a taxi to a rural village outside of Kathmandu (with NO cars!) to a school. I showed up not knowing anyone. It was scary and awesome. In no time, I moved into a small room and had 10 kids and 4 adults as smallhouse-mates. It was an amazing 4 1/2 months, as the story goes. I fell in love with the people, the culture, the land. I also was able to trek to Everest, and found that I always felt quite safe. Oh, and I emailed my resignation letter to Hallmark. I learned what I wanted for my life, and I’ve been living that way ever since. We’ve been back to Nepal and India in ’06, and will go again…
I feel like I’m going on some sort of new adventure soon, although I’m not sure what. Two nights ago, I had another journey-like dream. I boarded a boat in the ocean. Then, a balloon appeared overhead with handles hanging down. I grabbed on, and a flock of black birds lifted the balloon into the sky. Hmmmm…
14 Responses to “bouncin’ into the unknown.”
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January 17th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I was wondering how it was that you wound up traveling to Nepal. What a courageous journey, so inspiring. Zach e-mailed today and he loves everything about Vietnam (he is only there for two days so far and decided he wants to go back) – he wanted to challenge himself and do something out of his comfort zone. I can already hear the transformation taking place within him. Reading this today really resonates with where my heart and mind are right now.
Also, I think flying in one’s dreams is a true sign of happiness….
January 17th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
oh man, i’m SO excited for Zach. sometimes knowing someone is having that kind of experience is just as thrilling to me as if i was doing it! keep me posted about his travels!
one of the wildest things that i forgot to mention is that one of my students/good friends (from the school I was at), Surya, is on a similar adventure! he landed yesterday in LA enroute to Iowa on a college scholarship–he’s traveling for the first time out of Nepal, and i was so giddy talking to him for the first time yesterday when he arrived. i’m hoping he’ll start a blog to write about what it’s like being here, coming from Nepal, and experiencing so many new things, so different from his home/culture.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:53 am
jenny, in this battle of daily life, your posts make me remember to nuture my dreams.
had to give you an award for your posts. see it in my blog!
January 18th, 2008 at 9:36 am
You are wonderful. Bouncing dreams???!!?? How fun! Tigger was/is my favorite, always. How cool to paint your dreams. Thank you for such an inspiring post!
January 19th, 2008 at 6:39 am
Wow. I think you are amazing and admire your courage!
P.S. I fly too ;)
January 21st, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Jenny, this was so inspiring and reminded me that the sky is the limit as long as we are willing to get off the ground! You obviously did great there, with some serious wings.
I haven’t been around for a while, and back blogging, and participated for the 1st time to Illustration Friday and gave you some credit for it in my post.
Also, I am sorry I missed your workshop and didn’t even get to say hello while you were in Jackson. It’s not that I didn’t want to, I even saw your show… But I’m sure you’re not holding it against me, just not your style.
Anyways, your work is awesome and I just love looking at it for the sense of freedom is kindles in me. It’s so refreshing. Thanks for sharing so much of your colored world!
January 21st, 2008 at 7:43 pm
nice story about Nepal- I’ve been 4 times, and adopted a daughter there in 2005. i generally do some posts around Nepali holidays on my blog- which as you know, are elaborate and last a while…
nice artwork, great stories- glad to find your blog!
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:01 am
Miss Jenny – I am convinced your new dream means something about our new water retaining system, and that you will move to our farmand build a private little studio in our upper 10 and have donkeys and bouncing things…
no really – dreams are so wonderful – aren’t you glad you painted them. SO many don’t listen to their hearts, or are afraid, or have so many strings attached to their jobs they are afraid to cut. I stayed free and single for a long time so I could dream and explore [not that you can't be with a partner, but for me, it worked better]. I’m glad you shared this, and maybe someone a bit stuck will see one way one dreamer flew! xoxox
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
i always have water dreams…..sometimes peaceful rolling wavey ones, sometimes torrential tsunami ones….dreams are so powerful, so telling….I see a new adventure coming.
Christine
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:16 pm
what fun comments! i’m happy if you find it inspiring. i think y’all should post a doodle or painting of a dream soon. i’d love to see these flying, rolling, watery, dreamy-dreams!
and Shepherd girl! i’m bouncin out to those upper 10 of yours in late april, gonna sleep under the stars with your donkeys and patrick! will you make us a pie? hehe. i’ll pick the berries!
and Salmonpoetry gal! nice to meet you! i’m excited to check out your blog, too. I feel so connected to Nepal (as you!) and love having friends like that.i’ll be in portland in april so maybe our paths will cross.
and Aude, it’s great to finally hear from you! i thought you moved to Moracca!
January 25th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
It was the best best postings i ever ran into in your site .Awesome.I could make it just today.I feel so good.oh ,so so good.I liked how drawing could be the nicest way to interpret your dreams.I will too try to do that.
And i was happy too to know how we came to see and meet each other.thanks that you came to Bhaktapur and not went to Everest.Thanks maoists at least for that.
That was such a nice story.Jenny you are just so GOOD.YOU ARE A GENIUS AT INTERPRETING YOUR WORLD.
I wish your new dream will take you to the world of optimum satisfaction.that’s perhaps the sign of flying high and high…
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:51 am
Wow. Do you have a series of paintings based on your Nepali adventure? I’ll have to dig around your site a little more. I don’t remember coming across them before…
If I was boss of the world, travel to a different country/culture for several months would be mandatory after highschool graduation. I think that would be a worthy use of our tax dollars :-)
Has Surya started a blog?
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
hi Nadine–i so agree with you. i wish i would have traveled after h.s. and it’s something we really want to do with our kids (when we have them), early on in their lives, and then encourage them to do later.
as far as Nepal drawings, i have a huge sketchbook full and some paintings i had a show with…i’ll have to upload more eventually to flickr and note that.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:47 am
i think your travel is out of inquisitiveness–and your dreams are about your soul’s spiritual journey!
Those blackbirds are interesting. Love your blog.