Peru

I took this photograph in January 2009 on the Floating Reed Islands of the highest altitude lake on the planet, Lake Titicaca. We were on our way to the island of Amantani (pronounced a-mon-ton-ni) which is not a reed island but a very steep sloped mountain on the lake. I took thousands of photos on this trip, but this one really struck me. It's funny how it came about it. Let me share the story.

We boarded a boat from Puno on our way to Amantani island. On the way we made several stops to places I never imagined existed. The floating reed islands were our first stop. We stepped off onto the soft surface where the Quechua people demonstrated how the islands are made and maintained, we played soccer with the kids on the reeds and we even ate reeds. They made really solid boats out of reeds, and for 5 soles, they would give you a ride on one. Feeling the effects of altitude, I didn't feel up to going for the ride, so I stayed back. The women sang a beautiful song to those drifting away on the boat. I can't remember the song today, but I remember how I felt and I felt moved. Had I been on top of my game, I may not have shot this photo.

We then got back on the regular motorized boat and stopped at the empty looking island of Taquile (pronounced ta-kee-yay) where the people wore hats to symbloize their relationship status. When we docked the boat, there was not a soul around. We hiked up the hills and still no one. Some of us went ahead, so we waitied on a rock for the others. A man with a bull came strolling around the bend. He was wearing an interesting hat which we learned later meant he was married. We said hello in his language and he smiled a joyful toothless grin. I think less than 100 people inhabited this island. It was so quiet. This island is where they made the most beautiful and skilled crafts that you can find in all of Peru. I bought my alpaca wool ear warmer here. They were such great hosts. They demonstrated their traditional dances and an excited woman pulled me up to dance with her. Love is what these people were about. The views from this island were breathtaking. I have to share more photos. They took us up to their restaurant which was at the highest peak and we could look out onto the lake. They cooked us a delicious lunch with all the coca tea and bread we could ask for. I wish I were there now. To be continued...

Pare Down

One more week left at work and it feels strange. I have never worked somewhere so long. Three years and two months. I guess at my young age, that's pretty good considering I've had many jobs and they were all so very different. You would think that I would have cleared out my personal items by now, but I haven't even started.  I'm creating a map poster that will be submitted for a regional award competition in October for our organization and it has to be completed very soon. Next year it's supposed to be submitted at the ESRI International User Conference in San Diego which I've attended three years in a row. The subject is of remotely sensed oak trees, and I don't think that has ever been done before. So if you see it, it's probably mine/ours. Chances are I will not be there to see my glorious submission at the Map Gallery in 2011. I hope some of my friends will send a photo of it to me.

If you think well, if she hasn't cleared out her personal items at work, then I wonder what her home looks like. Yeah, not much has changed. I've got a stack of boxes full and empty, and I feel like I haven't even made a dent. I found some old t-shirts that I used to wear when I was a kid. Seriously, like from when I was 8 years old. I was so attached. One is my t-shirt from Quebec that a family friend brought back for me with a waterskiing bunny rabbit on it and the other is my worn out blue gymnastics t-shirt. I think I should put them on, have a farewell photo shoot and donate them to another kid. Which one of my photographically talented friends wants to volunteer in my farewell? Thank you for reading!

Progress?

In this digital age, we are finding solutions to our problems of resource consumption. It seems we've solved the problem of using less paper by creating and using digital files. But what are the consequences to the products we are developing? Are we depending more and more on other resources, such as oil, to drive our more "green" ways.  What resources are we depleting to accomplish this goal? Are all these new gadgets necessary? Are these products being developed to improve our quality of life, or are they just a tool to keep us slave to this consumer driven society? I find myself asking "Is all of this progress?"

I know, too heavy for Mon Amie Kelly. But I can't help but wonder. Since I'm in the market for a new computer because my current one is taking a ....  I'm trying to make the most conscious decisions. It's hard to stay focused on what I truly need and what the market is telling me I need. The new hot item right now, E-readers and iPads. They are supposed to improve the way we... read? Don't know about you, but I will be really sad when books cease to exist, it reminds me of one of the greatest books I've ever read, "Fahrenheit 451," will we begin to burn them to make space for our plastic gadgets and giant screens?

Thank you for reading my thoughts, as I return to the online shops. ;-)

Marseille, France

In my quest to stay psyched about my move to the south of France, I took a look at Google Images to see what people have posted for Marseille, France. Most of the images are of Le Vieux Port (The Old Port) which has so much history. I found this really cool map of Marseille in 1575. Since I'm a total map nerd, I had to have it to share. The body of water between the city and the hills is considered Vieux-Port today. My parents grew up in this city so when I showed them my sweet find, they were stoked. There is even a place on the map called "l'infermerie pour les pestiferez" which loosely translated is "the hospital for the plagued." My dad found that to be totally hilarious, so just for that reason I appreciate it even more.  Enjoy!

Count down

Alrighty guys, I've purchased my one way ticket to France. Departure date: September 26th, 2010. Seeing how today is the 30th of August, I've got less than one month before I say "adieu!" to Southern California and say "bonjour!" to the south of France. My days in my home town are numbered and I'm really feeling it. Packing things up has made me realize how much stuff I have. It's necessary for me to edit the possessions in my life and in my space. It seemed perfect timing when one of my favorite photography websites posted an article about buying less. The author of this article, Matthew Dutile, referenced an article from the New York Times and it really struck a cord with me. It tells the story of people living minimalist lives and having only 100 personal items. I need to accomplish this for my move to France. With airline baggage fees so high it only makes sense to edit. Fortunately, there are only a few materials at this point in my life that I will be bringing.

Here's a short list of the items I plan on bringing.

1. computer
2. camera gear
3. scuba gear
4. clothes

Luckily, that doesn't sound like much. However, some of that gear I will be carrying on, too precious to leave at the mercy of the airline baggage handlers. Items that I'm leaving behind that I'm sad about, my snowboard & gear, photos, historical kelly items, my dogs, my friends, my family, this life. I'm turning a page, I'm changing my scenery, and my daily life will be so different. I look forward to an improved quality of life, I look forward to bonding with my distant relatives, I look forward to la boulangerie et la pâtisserie! What a trip. See you next time!

Live, Eat, Breath

I am so excited about moving to France. Before I move, I want to go to french restuarants & watch french films && speak it all day! Weekends are too short! Unfortunately, there isn't anything that remotely resembles authentic french culture in my hometown.... I mean other then my parents. This week there was a French Film Festival in Hollywood. I think I'm going to try to catch a rerun tomorrow. Alrighty, that's it for now! I'm going out with my friend Katy. Who knows what sort of trouble we'll get into. Fun Fun.

Our GIS server was down earlier today, so I spent some time on google street view looking at all the familiar places I will be in a couple months. I can't wait

Espresso

There are so many reasons why moving to France is going to be awesome for me. I was speaking french with people from Switzerland last night, one of which is from Marseille and it got me excited! I was really hoping I could leave at least a month before my new job started so that I could visit people that I  know all over Europe, but I don't think it's going to work out that way.

My lucky brother is getting married to a lucky gal this year and I can't miss it! I know everything is going to work out, I just have anxiety about how it will all pan out since their wedding might fall really close to my departure date. There is so much coordinating, organizing and preparation to be done my heart beats a little faster thinking about it.

Stop me if I'm sounding too happy, but there really isn't any reason for me not to go. Of course I will miss my parents and my brothers and my nieces and the people in my everyday life here, but it will not be forever. In fact, I may come back a more appreciative and better person. Just another chapter in my book. Moving to France is a decision I will never regret.

Even though in total I've spent maybe 20 weeks of my life in the south of France, there is so much that is still unknown. What I am most excited about is getting to know my, so close yet so far, family in France. I can't believe I finally get to know my uncles, aunts, cousins and their children so much better. It's unfortunate that my grandparents are no longer living, I would have loved to bond more with them, but I was lucky to spend quality time with them before they passed away. I have family in Italy too, I don't know them but it would be amazing  to reconnect with them.