and now... in Vancouver! Plus, NorthStar thoughts...

Well, here I am!
Its colder than I was expecting... actually, to be frank, I wasn't really expecting anything- and I didn't take due diligence in preparing for this leg of the trip AT ALL. I didn't look at maps, I didn't ask where I'm staying, I didn't even check the weather. It wasn't until I had an hour and a half layover in Newark that I even LOOKED at a temperature map of North America... and YIKES! FULL AIRPORT FREAKOUT! Ok, I'm not really acclimated to 45 degree nights and 60 degree days, and I frantically ruffled through the suitcase in my mind: how many pairs of pants do I have? How many socks? Did I bring ANY tops other than tanks?!?!? Oh dear. And then- it was a mad dash from store to store to find something-anything- WARM and AFFORDABLE. Ok, its an airport- nothing affordable.

Off I went- no new purchases.
My flight companion was hilarious, and slept the whole way. Continental showed 2 films on the flight: Drillbit Taylor (ho hum, though enjoyable), and Penelope (LOVED IT!!!). I willed myself the whole way not to even NOTICE the temperature after we landed, and made it all the way back to my host's home without a shiver, thought she did (thankfully) put the heat on in the house as we slept!

So, naturally, my first thoughts here were: how do I DO this? I put on my ONE pair of acceptable/non-workout pants for my first full day: we took a tour of the facility in which the conference will be held----


OH. Did I even say what I'm DOING here in Vancouver? I'm volunteering with the 2008 International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC 2008). At AERO, back in June, I met some folks associated with a pretty interesting democratic experiential school here called Windsor House. They also happened to be organizing this conference- I had heard of the conference and even considered going (long before I showed up at AERO) but... I wasn't convinced that it would be worthwhile for ME personally. Then I spoke with Meghan (a teacher at Windsor House) and she convinced me to come and volunteer. So here I am. My first day here was a tour of the conference facility- it will be held on the campus of UBC, August 11-18. Since then I've been collecting duties (I love to help!) and figuring out this city I'm in.

And it was on the tour that the solution to my problem was revealed to me- LEGGINGS! I can still wear ALL my skirts, as long as I have LEGGINGS! My personal shopping mission proceeded from that very moment.

At this point I can happily say it was a success! I'll never be cold again- at least, not 'til October. To be fair to this lovely city, the weather of the first 3 days of my visit were very unusual for Vancouver in August. Today, the sun came out in FULL FORCE and it was lovely and warm. Still glad I have the leggings though!

Last night I met up with the Svelte Ms Spelt, a good poet and a good friend, at his home slam venue- Cafe Duex Soleils for the Apocalypse Road Show, a lovely little tribute to the destruction that love brings, in this case, the destruction of life on planet earth just after the show.





Think- Restaurant At the End of the Universe, with more black clothes and some intense sexual imagery. It was really great to see him... the last time we hung out must have been 2 years ago, Austin 2006? Maybe?




Today I met up with a hooper named Christa- she teaches hoop classes in the area, and on Saturdays hosts a skill play outdoor fest on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Poi, unicycles, juggling and hooping. Fun!






I met some fellow travelers Trish and Allison, from Ontario, with an awesome collapsible hoop made by Kaivalya in Colorado. I might even get one...




Ok, so until IDEC I'll be pretty busy-busy, and during IDEC I'll be pretty busy-busy also, but I'll do 1 or 2 IDEC updates in about a week.

I want to go back in time and talk about my experience at the NorthStar replication workshop. NorthStar, as a homeschool resource center for teens, is an admirable program and the replication workshop was really useful. Because it is NOT A SCHOOL, they do not generally deal with many of the administration details of a school: they don't take attendance, they don't require classes, they don't 'count credits', they don't issue diplomas. They just CARE, without the strings. In that way, the program freaking ROCKS! They do offer classes and workshops, and they provide a lot of support for student initiative and families going through the transition out of school. The replication workshop spent a relatively even time divided between unschooling theory in practice at NorthStar and functional administrative concerns. My hosts were very giving of their time, and very informative. I am very much looking forward to returning to the area and working with them.

While there, I also got the opportunity to stay in a very interesting co-housing community. Josh, one of the NorthStar founders, lived there and his family hosted me one night before I left. I also had a really cool meeting with him the morning before I went back to Boston. Josh is a life coach, and a really good one, too. It was a little intense, but wholly worthwhile, and I have a lot more confidence about this journey and this project now. I also am nearly convinced that (in actual fact) I DON'T need a masters degree under my belt in order to build this educational space, which opens me up to new thoughts and ideas about how to do it.

Did I mention there was ANOTHER hoop waiting for me at the co-housing community? Aha!



Ok, one more thing: I had a 4 hour layover in Springfield, MA and was feeling a little springy, so I went for a walk and found the Dr. Suess Memorial Sculpture Garden!