Connectivity Logistics
The past three months I was in India I paid for 3G data for my iPhone 4 and was amazed with the stable connection. I did have a hard time with cell phone companies, I tried Idea, Vodaphone and Airtel, I recommend Airtel they were by far the best. I was able to work online at most times when I wanted. The one thing I had to stay on top of was keeping my computer and phone charged because we had power-cuts virtually everyday.
Summary - Meeting w/Advisor
This is an excerpt of the introduction-notes from the first meeting with my main advisor.
Simha- just getting to Switzerland after being in India for 3 months. Met Ethan in Mexico, talked to Liora, resonated strongly with what she was saying. Saw Gaia U again at 2010 P/C convergence. Talked to Ethan again. Couldn’t pay for it, so didn’t pursue it. Maintains simple life, caretaking, growing garden. Moved to Ashram. Been to 2 PDCs, building ovens. Hasn’t been able to make money doing what he loves. Just hard labor. Put on a workshop but didn’t make any money at it. Needs a piece of paper, experience leading projects. Filled out application, mom and step-dad are supporting. Aim is to be self-supporting. Very grateful that he persevered and went through with it without knowing what was going to happen. Interviewed with Liora on the side of the road in CA. Got i-phone. Felt like it was what he was supposed to be doing. Slowly GU is coming into clarity of how it works. Just had half-hour meeting with Eric Dean, guild buddy, and it went really well. Just before call got e-mail about guild buddies. Rest of the training has been pretty smooth. Needs to write more stories, because there is a lot. Did 2 calls before orientation. Was anxious to get going. Wanted to know how connection was, how maestro works and ready to get on orientation calls.
Meetings (.txt)
Blogs and Photo Galleries
Kailash Ashram Food Forest Photo Gallery
Kailash Huglekulture Photo Gallery
I started my first Blog for a friend who was in jail in Mexico (It is no longer public because he is free!). When he was transferred to las Islas Marias (an island prison in the Pacific) I posted the basic contact/regulation information for the prison, his blog was getting 400 hits a day! I split this section of his blog into its own blog called Las Islas Marias.
EcoSocial Research and Dialogue - A blog I started to feature information from the Eco Social Field http://episystemic.wordpress.com
IM-Mergent - A blog with poetry and ramblings I started in Dec of 2012 - http://imergence.wordpress.com/
Vermont For Evolution - A blog I started back in April of 2010. Its focus is Vermont innovations and progress as well as issues we face as Vermonters. http://vermont4evolution.wordpress.com/
Las Islas Marias - A forum for people who have loved ones on this island prison in Mexico, it allows them to help each other contacting, visiting, sending things etc. An Italian woman, Laura, has devoted her life to helping Mexican inmates through teaching yoga. She has been the main facilitator on this blog. - http://islasmarias.wordpress.com/
Haven of Vermont - A blog I wrote for Vermont Commons - http://www.vtcommons.org/blog/1286
Vermont Commons Land Trust - A blog that came out of an article I wrote on VT Commons, that is really just a compilation of documents - http://vtclt.wordpress.com/
Eco Social Rearch - An online newspaper dedicated to the EcoSocial field. The site selects from different feeds I choose and publishes a new paper daily - https://paper.li/EcoSocialDesign/1382019572
The Food Watch Daily - An online newspaper dedicated to food sovereignty and food issues. The site selects from different feeds I choose and publishes a new paper daily - http://paper.li/VT4Evolution/1321698505
My Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/walkinginom
Bristol farmers Market
The video above is of the Bristol Farmers Market in Vermont. My wife Corinne walked around to film the different events and tents. I am seen in this clip making a embroidery thread necklace. During this film we were only selling jewelry as we were still working on building our cob oven. Shortly after we were selling 50+ loaves of bread once a week.
India PDC
Video of a group meeting during 2012 PDC at Sapney Farm, Auroville S. India, taken by Corinne Chatelan.
Daily Reflections
These goal reflections were written on my iPhone Notes at the end of each day. I emailed them to myself so I could catalogue them on my hard drive.
April 6
The only goal I missed was to watch more Mahara videos. I used the time to organize my bookmarks and am satisfied with the day as it was busy being one of my last here in India. I liked doing this Daily Goal list and reflection. Now I must keep it up!
April 7
it really helps for me to use a timer I did for most of my work sessions but at one point I didn't and I got carried away and over worked myself. A good productive day! I leave for the airport tomorrow evening and will arrive in Swiss Tuesday afternoon (time warp and long daaay ahead.) Gaia U orientation call 2 hours after arrival or middle of the night. Not sure if I will pull this off... Might have to listen to the recording.
April 8
It's 10:30 and we are half way to the airport. It was a packed rushed day. Our diver was sleepy and it was a stressful drive trying to keep him awake we actually made him pull over a sleep a bit after splashing water on his face didn't work. I was reflecting on un/learning in this situation. I had actually asked him if he was rested before we left, because this isn't the first time. So I didn't get many of my goals done. I actually didn't plan too. my approach was to give a wide variety of possible activities hoping something would get done. It did. I think my time was well managed with so much to do (packing, saying good buy, wrapping up loose end, paying bills) I still got some work done!
April 10
Good day! I got a lot done. I feel I need a few stories that are specific unfolding of events. I got an email from Josh so we will set up a think and listen. I need to be more vigilant using a timer. I need to see if I have one on my desktop.
Yesterday I was traveling with no rest (India -Switzerland) so I only did a few notes with no Daily Goal list and missed the orientation call.
April 11
I worked on my profile on the e portfolio - it took more time than I thought but I feel it was a good investment, I now understand the basics of Mahara. I need a second timer for scrums, I downloaded one for my desktop but it would be nice if I could see it while I work.
April 12
For having 2 meetings I got a lot done. My meeting w/ Eric went well and it was good to get to know Saskia. I could have used my timer more. I also started a project (needed some hands on work) got all the pieces cut out for my new hand bag, old one is worn out.
April 14
today I worked hard and I am happy with learning more about the inns and outs of mahara I also posted a 'slideshow' it is more of just a scrolling pdf window into my profile of a little book I made for my parents. This took many mistakes to get right. sizing and density and pages I really went for it and It might have taken me along time but now I know how, and I am sure I will use this else where in my portfolio.
April 19
I haven't been recording my daily reflections as of late, so here is one.
Something I just noticed about my “getting it down” process: It is difficult for me to work outside of "space". I realized when I had created the pages and collections, a container that I needed to fill everything was easier. I think this is my visual inclination to learning.
have had an open window and have been crunching Mahara and the different outlets of media and how to connect them. I watched a video on how to turn multiple documents into a multi-paged PDF for my “community booklet” media-window on my profile page. I also used youtube editor to splice multiple videos together for the “Bristol Market” video in the Art & Craft unlearning section. I realized I am pretty good at navigating the digital plug-in world. I don’t intend to get into code.
My daily goal list went out the window the last days and so did my 30 min. scrumming. Summer is coming! I will be in Vermont soon and I am hitting the ground running. I intend to finish my Life and Career Review in the next couple of days, take a break and start prepping for my Learning Intention Pathway Design - OP1B.
When I arrive in VT I will be helping Mark Krawczyk to install a multi purpose hedge row on his land. The we will teach an oven building course together at Yestermorrow, then I will be taking a 6 day timber framing course. Corinne will be joining me soon after.
The design for the pathway opens there, no plans, no sure place or job. We are trusting that our lives have led us to this moment for a very good reason and as we proceed our visioning gets clearer and the trail to follow will be lit and glowing.