Everything

You and Your Orthodontia

Remember how oddly excited we were to talk about our glasses? Let's wax philosophical about our tangles with orthodontia!

I spent the larger part of elementary school with exactly one snaggle tooth and a semi-significant space between my two front teeth. This, coupled with my awesome purple grandma glasses and triangle perm made for prettttty cute school photos, let me assure you. I spent fifth and sixth grade removing retainers before I mowed through the cafeteria pizza and spent the better part of seventh grade sporting braces.

I realize that one year of braces can't hold a candle to some people's two or three years. I even have friends who've been through two (!) sets of braces. When I'm traveling and living abroad, people occasionally peg me as American because of my "sparkly, overly perfect teeth." What?!

Did you have braces? Do you think Americans are unusually fixated on their teeth? How do you feel about crooked teeth?

A Song For Ex-Boyfriends

I would like to dedicate this video to my desperately attractive (but largely useless) British ex-boyfriend. When I first met him he told me I was "quite fit" and I was all "Uh, I don't really work out that much. I, um, walk everywhere but ..."

Later, we also had communication issues around the words "pissed," "biscuit," and "monogamy."

What song would you dedicate to an ex?

Crossing Over To The Dark Side

In the last 12 years, I have lived in 15 (!) different apartments. And of those 15 apartments? I repainted 6 of them. I am totally BFFs with blue tape and primer and spackle. I've painted kitchens red and bedrooms periwinkle and offices leaf green. And I've learned the hard way that most apartments are white because that business is easy. Getting a dark, lush color requires gallons upon gallons of paint and a good primer. Not, as I previously believed, no primer and one gallon of the Walmart store-brand red paint. Surprising, that.

But if you have the patience and the drop clothes to pull off dark paint, you can create a posh, cozy, intriguing space with (several) flips of the paint brush.

A bit of inspiration you say?

Doesn't this gray and yellow look fantastic together?
And I love the weird, yellow-censored poster. So strange!

Gray and lime? Also oddly pleasing.

Isn't the brocade on that wallpaper lovely?

I love the blue door against the matte, black paint.

Shiny black paint and a velvety yellow chair in a bathroom?
If that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

I would never have imagined purple could look so restrained
and classy. I guess chandeliers will do that.

Have you ever painted your space a dark color? Do you repaint your spaces?

What a Difference A Coat of Paint Makes

Isn't this amazing? Imagine all the dirty, run down eyesores in your city repainted in these shades. For more information of Dulux's project, visit letscolourproject. You can even take part in upcoming events!

True Story: My Parents Grew and Sold Marijuana

This is part of our True Stories interview series, in which we talk to people who have experienced interesting/amazing/challenging things. This is the story of Indeana*, her parents and their marijuana business.

How would you describe your childhood?
The first word that comes to mind is "dysfunctional." My mom and dad's parenting philosophy includes theories like:
"Your brothers [13 and 14 years old] are going to drink anyway, so I might as well buy the booze for them and then at least they aren't doing it in the woods."
[Upon finding out that my boyfriend and I were waiting until we got married to have sex, I was 15] "Marriage is just a piece of paper! Why don't you just go out in the woods and burn some leaves. Have your own ceremony!" (What Mom tries to convince her daughter NOT to be abstinent!?)
"Mom! I missed the bus can you drive me to school?? [3 miles away]" "I'm tired, just skip today."

I was absent at least one day every week of high school and usually twice a week in middle school and elementary. To this day, I don't know how to do math problems like 1000 minus 674 because I missed the day of school where they taught us how to "borrow" from numbers with several zeros.

What were your parents' "day jobs"?
Dad is a self-employed mechanic (and he's incredibly mechanically intelligent, but he has NO ambition) and Mom bartended, worked in retail, or at a greenhouse. Mostly though we lived off welfare and other government assistance programs. I was in the free lunch program, our heating oil was paid for in the winter, groceries were bought with food stamps, there was even one Christmas where a local charity donated presents to my family. The harvest is in the fall so by Christmas we always had plenty of money. But since it was drug money, no one knew, so we got donations and hand-outs anyway.

How old were you when you realized what was going on?
I always knew that Mom and Dad [and my brothers, aunts, uncles, family friends, visitors...] did drugs, but it wasn't until about fourth grade that I realized they were growing and selling. I remember stewing in my room thinking "How can I tell Mom that I know? How do I say it?" Finally in fifth grade I was sitting at the table with her after dinner and I just said, "Mom, I know what you and Dad are doing." Her face was hilarious!

Did they ever talk to you about what they were doing? Or why?
There was never any talk of why. I know it's because my parents' lives turned out very differently than they had hoped. Mom got pregnant when she was 17 and rushed into marrying my dad, who has always been abusive. They both lost all vibrancy and just sort of exist now. They have no ambition, no drive.

Growing pot is seasonal (winters off, woo!), relatively easy and very profitable. It's a career that feeds all their worse qualities, including their addictions. We sometimes talked about what they were doing. What type of soil is best, problems they were having, where their "crops" were, stuff like that. Once Mom saw me cutting pictures out of magazines for a collage. Apparently I was pretty dexterous with the scissors because she offered to pay me to help them trim the plants when they brought in the harvest. (I never did.)

Did they smoke it around you? What did they tell you about using drugs?
Yup, they smoked around me. Constantly. When I got to be 14 or so they even tried passing to me but I just wasn't into it. I was always the black sheep in my family because I never did drugs, never got in trouble at school, never drank, etc. For my oldest brother's graduation party, Mom threw him an all-night kegger party with about 150 friends and family. I had a booze-free barbecue with 10 friends. The subject of why they did drugs or what they thought about it never came up. I almost think they didn't think that deeply about it. They smoked because they had always smoked.

Do you have any idea how much money they made selling pot?
Not a clue. I know it was a lot though because several times a week during the harvest they would bring in six or eight huge garbage bags full of pot plants. They had dozens of crops all over the county, each with at least that much. There were seasons though when the weather wasn't in their favor or pests were abnormally problematic and they would complain about the harvest being smaller.

Did you ever meet any of the people they sold it to?
Yup. The main guy was my Mom's "cousin" who I really don't think was her cousin because no one ever told me whose son he was! He was the "wholesale" buyer who most of the stuff went to. The rest went in small portions here and there to friends and family members.

Did you ever feel like anyone in the family was in danger because of the pot?
YES! When I was a kid I hated letting the dogs in and out at night. Every time I opened the front door and looked out into the woods that faced our house I'd imagine a DEA agent with a sniper rifle aimed at our house. Laying in bed at night my mind would wander towards scenarios of us being raided and me having to take my little brother and hide him in a cupboard so he didn't get taken away. That constant fear is the biggest reason why I never have and never will do drugs.

How did they do all of this without getting caught? Did they ever get caught? Do they still do it now?
I'm amazed they never got caught. I think the only reason they didn't is because they worked with family instead of strangers and we lived in a very rural area. If a man fully clad in camo jumps out of a van carrying a backpack and hikes miles into the woods, people in the sticks just think he's hunting.

But even working with family has risks. Two of my uncles (let's call them Uncle A and Uncle B) helped out for years and then there was a big feud and Uncle A bailed. Mom and Dad were sure he was gonna turn them in or sabotage their crops so they had to find new locations and destroy everything he knew about. Uncle B stuck around for a few more years after that but then there was another feud and he left too, so the whole process started again. This time there was all kinds of backstabbing and name calling. The Uncles even kidnapped one of our dogs and ditched him miles away from home in the woods. It's a miracle we found him, he was emaciated and confused. It was awful.

I'm pretty sure Mom and Dad are done with it now. My brothers are older and married and Uncles A and B are gone. They just don't have enough help anymore. Mom is currently on Disability and they still get all kinds of government assistance. Since it's just the two of them and my little brother at home it's apparently enough for them to survive without the pot money.

Do you think any of this affected your feelings towards drugs?
Absolutely! Like I said above, that constant sense of fear makes drugs supremely unappealing to me. Watching my parents use substance abuse as a means to not confront their issues, watching my mom's mental health deteriorate, watching my dad waste his incredible intelligence, watching my older brother nearly get a divorce because his wife can't stand him doing pot but he can't/won't quit, worrying constantly that my little brother will go down the same path... That's plenty of motivation for me to stay clean.

Do any of you know people who grow their own pot? Any questions for Indeana?

* not her real name

Dino Walk of Shame

I love this on so many levels. Also: if you replaced "ice cream" with "cheese" this would be a pretty accurate representation of my life. Just FYI.

Instructions

Cue The Underwear Dancing .... Now!

This song makes me want to run around the apartment in my tighty whities, maybe doing a few rock star jumps for good measure. What's your favorite underwear-dancing song?

Yes and Yes Network of Nice Hook Ups!

I need a hook up!

I need to know about Santiago, Chile

I might have the possibility, if come up with enough money for the flight, to go to Santiago de Chile and live there with a friend who will study there. I will only be staying two weeks. And I would like to get some tips from people who have been there or live there at the moment.
pia( dot) keusen (at) googlemail (dot) com

I need to know about design schools
I'm at 16 year old native born Californian currently living in Germany as an exchange student. I fly back to California in 5 weeks and pretty much as soon as I get back I need to decide on colleges and all that. I really want to study International design; my problem is I don't know if that exists? I'm really interested in studying in another country. I only know German and English, but I'm totally eager and willing to learn another language, so that's not a problem. I'd like to know about any good design/marketing schools in the US or any advice about careers/colleges related to design/advertising that involves as much travel as possible.
sara (dot) robillard (at) gmail (dot) com

I'm looking for information about community organizations, non-profits and other similar organizations in North Africa and Mediterranean Europe.
I'm planning on taking a 2-3 month trip to various countries in North Africa and the Mediterranean. My goal is to spend a few weeks in each country that I go to, and I would like to volunteer while I am there. I am hoping to teach, but would really be happy working in any capacity, and I will work for free! I realize there are many services that provide placement for this sort of thing, but I can't afford to spend my hard-earned trip money on fees. I'm also not asking for any non-monetary type of payment, I'm totally willing to pay for my lodging, food, etc... I just would love the opportunity to spend some time working with people or organizations who may need help. So, what I'm asking for is contact information or introductions to schools, churches, community organizations/centers, animal shelters or hospitals, non-profits, really anybody that could benefit from having a volunteer for a short period of time. The specific countries I'm planning on visiting are Morocco, Tunisia, Spain, Greece, France and Italy. Though if the right opportunity arose I would love to spend time in other countries in the same area. (p.s. I already told this reader about WWOOF and couchsurfing. Do you guy have any other ideas?)
kat_penguino (at) yahoo (dot) com

I want to meet people in Orlando
I'd love to meet people. I live in Orlando, Florida. I'm 25 years old, I teach students with learning disabilities. I'm currently working towards my masters in exceptional education at UCF. I'm looking to meet someone new, anyone, someone cool that I can have coffee with and maybe even bitch a little bit about how wonderful but exhausting graduate school is. I'm easy to talk to, I promise. I have tons of cool teacher stories about the students I teach. I love teaching, I love art, and I love conversation. My life right now is surrounded by a sea of people getting married and having babies, none of which I'm quite ready for. I enjoy day trips around Florida and the perks of being 25, like going out dancing to mo-town music until I can't see straight!
amber (dot) hand (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to know about becoming a script reader for a film studio or production company.
I'm UCLA trained to read and evaluate screenplays, the problem is that I don't live in L.A or have any contacts in the industry. Does anyone know of production companies or film studios that would hire a reader who lives away from L.A.? Do any of your readers work in film production? Aside from moving, what things can I do to make myself more marketable? How do I approach major studios/production companies? Any guidance in the area would be greatly appreciated!
rockette74 (at) yahoo (dot) com

I need to know about traveling through New Zealand and Australia
My boyfriend and I are hoping to go traveling in Australia and New Zealand next year/year after. Would anyone out there be able to offer sage advice on: Where we should spend the most time. The vague plan is to focus on the East Coast and possibly South in Aus, and spend the most time in NZ. But is this bonkers? Would six months be long enough? Working holiday visas. Are they worthwhile? How hard is it to find work - realistically and not Lonely-Planet-Optimistically? Do you just stay in hostels while you're working? Has anyone taken part in the WWOOF project or similar and worked on farms? Does the cash you earn actually help eke out limited travel funds? I hear Aussie taxes are steep. Or is volunteering the way to go? (Editor's note: Yes, I lived in New Zealand. But I didn't really travel around that much! I bet one of you would be able to help her more than I could)
jess.hobbs (at) hotmail (dot) co (dot) uk

I need design/decorating advice
My husband and I are currently living in a modern, cookie-cutter apartment complex with hand-me-down or Craigslist furniture that I, for the most part, dislike. Being at home makes me feel anxious, because I just don't feel like this apartment is "ours." I am constantly trying to figure out how to rearrange the place or change it up to make it feel like a classy, organized, modern, homey place, and I just keep coming up empty. I need to know how to decorate/arrange my living room so I feel less like a transient. I can even send you pictures!
ymejo3 (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to meet people in Salt Lake City
I moved from San Francisco to Salt Lake City a couple of years ago(for love!), and I'm still struggling a lot. It's a hell of a change in lifestyle and in culture. I know there are awesome people in this town, and lots of cool things to do, but I have a hard time meeting people and making friends and getting out there and doing things. I've been tempted to go apply to the graduate creative writing program(even though I already have an MFA) just for the built-in set of friends, but that's, well, kind of expensive. I'm a writer, and a voracious reader, and kind of dorky, and I would love to meet cool people. Thanks so much!
jenfoo (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to know about universities in England
I'm leaving my half-finished law degree in Oslo, Norway and going to London, UK to study photography. I'm looking for someone who can help me chose between Middlesex, Kingston and Roehampton Universities. I have no idea which one is the best fit for me, so if anyone has knowledge about London Universities (anything helps), I would be very happy! If you are living in London and looking for a new friend - even better!
marthehagen (at) yahoo (dot) no

I need to meet people in Madison, Wisconsin
I've recently relocated to Madison, WI and I'm still looking for some fabulous ladies to hang out with. Ideal candidates would be ages 21-40 and enjoy going out for drinks/dancing, hanging out in random coffee shops and attending quirky concerts/art exhibits/etc.
smisen (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to know how to create a press kit
I would really love some advice on how to put together a press kit for my jewelry. I have taken a bunch of photos of my work, but I'm not sure where to go next. Should it include a letter? Samples? What should I use for a logo? I have absolutely no idea where to start. My Flickr is where all my photos are. I would really appreciate the help as I have a book on how to start craft business but it’s not very helpful. Thanks so much in advance!
Beach_xc (at) yahoo (dot) com

We need to meet people in San Francisco (three (!) different readers emailed me about this! Ceee-ute!)
I’m moving to San Francisco in July and I know there are some great people in the city that I would get along with really well, but I don’t know where to start! I’d love to meet sincere, friendly, fun people who enjoy any of the following: Yoga, photography and anyone who would want to go on little photo shoot sessions around the city, an appreciation for Swedish design/style/language or music artists :), people who love laughter, reading, cooking healthy vegetarian meals, trying new things, being outdoors, and having picnics.
angelicamrobles (at) gmail (dot) com

I'm looking for a little help here. I moved to San Francisco a couple months ago and I'm looking for a new friend (or group of friends!) to go to art openings with. I want to get to know the local art scene but I'm a little shy and get easily overwhelmed when I go to shows my myself. Are there any San Francisco Yes and Yes readers out there who are maybe a little shy but love art too? Lets be friends!
centamichel (at) gmail (dot) com

I will be moving to San Francisco, CA for work in August and am eager for some input on my new city! I'm a 24 year old marketing fashion assistant (ModCloth.com - check us out!) who loves to go out and meet people, so any advice on best neighborhoods to live and where to go out would be great! Also, what is the best way to look for housing besides Craigslist? In addition, restaurants, bars/clubs, activities and also things/places to steer clear of what be fantastic! How can I live in San Fran on a budget?
emr5005 (at) gmail (dot) com

I can give you a hook up!

I can offer advice about administrative issues in regards to going to college.
I've worked in Registrar's and Admissions offices almost nonstop since 2004, so questions people have about the inner-workings I could help with.
ymejo3 (at) gmail (dot) com

I can tell you about the adoption process
I've previously worked in international and domestic adoptions as well as with foster youth both from the US and unaccompanied refugee minors who are in foster care (some from Bhutan!). I can advise on adoptions: What do I look for in an agency? Do I really need an agency? What age children can I adopt? How do I decide where to adopt from? How long does it take? What's a dossier? What's an I800-A?
eleanorh (at) gmail (dot) com

I can offer advice on starting out in publishing
(I've worked in editorial roles since graduating three years ago - including for a graduate careers publisher), and places to visit in the UK (Edinburgh! Cornwall! Oxford!)
jess.hobbs (at) hotmail (dot) co (dot) uk

I can give advice on starting an internet business, getting secretly married for health insurance benefits or job search/resume critique advice
smisen (at) gmail (dot) com

Can you help any of these awesome ladies out? Did any of you get successfully hooked up from last month's Network of Nice?

The Meaning of Success

Guilty (Pleasures) As Charged

I was recently engaged in one of those awkward get-to-know-you, what-are-you-into conversations and found myself saying "Well, I mean in terms of proper, you know, "good music" I like (insert a bunch of stuff that's socially acknowledged as worthwhile here) but, uh, in terms of guilty pleasures I love (insert embarrassing, yet totally awesome stuff here)."

And after uttering this ridiculous disclaimer about the things that I like, I made an official decision: I'm not going to have 'Guilty Pleasures' anymore.

Which is not to say that I'm going to stop liking certain "awesomely bad" stuff. Good lord, no! Perish the thought!

But I'm old enough - and comfortable enough in who I am - that I'm going to stop putting the things I like under separate headings. Really, anything that any of us like (a tv show, a band, a movie, a kind of food) exists because there's a market. Hundreds of thousands of other people like that same thing! There's got to be something redeemable or interesting or fun about it if it's widely available to the masses.

And really? Is there anything more intrinsically valuable in the music of The Knux (indie hop hop duo) than the music of The Black Eyed Peas (ubiquitous, top-40 hip hop group)? They're rapping about the same stuff, and (I think) with about the same level of talent. Am I a more interesting/intelligent person because I like a band that fewer people know about? Am I significantly more awesome because I listen to a radio station that introduced me to The Knux?

And is there reason that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (snarky, funny, offensive critical darling of a television show) is "better" than Jersey Shore (funny, offensive, wildly popular, much maligned MTV reality show)? They're both entertaining and neither of them are upping our IQ points. So why should I feel embarrassed about discussing Snooki's outfits?

I'd also like to take this occasion to quote a bathroom stall I read over the weekend: "Everything in moderation. Even moderation." Life can't be all documentaries and whole wheat bread and Pulitzer Prize winning books. We all need a bit of Bring It On and pizza in our lives from time to time.

So in the interest of full disclosure, here are some of the things that I (previously) filed under the heading of "Guilty Pleasure." They will now be filed under the super concise heading of "Stuff That I Like. I Just Like It, Okay? It's Not Ironic, I'm Just Totally Into It."

* Ke$ha, Katy Perry, Shakira, Beyonce
* The Lawrence Welk Show
* Jersey Shore
* Eating Swiss Miss mix powder. Or cake mix. Or crescent roll dough.

How do you feel about the concept of "guilty pleasures"? What are yours?

Your Other Summer Jam

Is this song new? No. Is it incredibly awesome? Yes. Is it perfect for late-night summer strutting and dancing? Also yes!

That's a lot of questions that I just answered for you, yo.

Yay-Saying: BFF Roadtrip

Isn't roadtripping with your bestie fantastic? Eating terrible gas station food, singing along to the radio, discussing (in depth) your future plans for bangs? It's something that should be done at least every three months, I think.

Last month The BFF and I took a three day weekend to poke around Wisconsin. Did you know that there's heaps of fun to be had in Wisconsin? Fact.

We hiked a bit and then took these graduation-photo worthy shots
on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi.

The recipe for a perfect campsite: overlarge tent that
contained an inflatable mattress, perfect blanket, blood orange soda,
cheap vodka. (My Bolivian hiking self blushes over sleeping
on an inflatable mattress. What a weinie!)

Reading Trivial Pursuit cards in a tiny jazz bar on a quiet Friday night.

Sometimes we like to wander through graveyards, looking at the old fashioned
names on the gravestones and indulging our tortured, inner goth
photographer. Also, based on the above photo I'm totally
pissed at Raymond, buried to the right of me.

We happened upon a gorgeous Catholic shrine in the hills surrounding La Crosse.

It was some sort of special spring festival that included placing a ring of
flowers over the Virgin Mary's head and then carrying this little statue
up into the hills.

Diner fare is another requirement of all road trips. Apparently, I'm

very excited about my map that details all of the dairy farms in Wisconsin.

Success! Fresh, squeeky cheese curds! Obviously, I ate the whole bag.

Are you going on any roadtrips this summer? Do you travel with your best friend?

Do you need a hook up? Can you hook someone up?

Friends! How did you like the first session of The Network of Nice? Did you get the hook up you were looking for? Were you able to help someone else?

I'm putting together the June edition of The Network of Nice - would you like to be part of it? If you're looking for advice, input or just want to meet some cool people in your new city, send me a 100-word write up about the hook up you're looking for at sarah_vonbargen (at) yahoo (dot) com. You should also be comfortable having your email address published on the internet. Although I'd love to publish each and every connection request that I receive, I'm afraid time and space don't allow for that. As previously noted, The Network of Nice gives preference to those seeking personal, advice-based connections, rather than requests to promote a product or find a job.

Also! If you've got a unique area of expertise (adopting a baby! opening a hair salon! building a house!) that you'd be willing to share, I'd love to hear from you. Let's help each other out!

Photo Fun For All!

Friends! Have you ever gotten a chain letter? One of those ridiculous photocopied numbers, asking you to tuck a dollar/recipes/check into an envelope and send it on to the next person on the list? And if you do, you'll become a millionaire! And if you don't? Well, no soup for you, missy!

Allison had a fantastic idea - what about a photographic chain letter?!

Here's how it works:

1) If you want to play along, enter your name and mailing address (don't forget your country!) into this google doc.

2) I buy some disposable cameras

3) I take a picture of something that makes me happy

4) I send the camera to you

5) Within one week, you take a picture of something that makes you happy

6) You send it to the person on who's next on the list that's included in the package

7) All the cameras eventually make their way back to me, I develop the film and awesomeness ensues! And maybe even a flickr group!

Are you keen? If so, go plug your mailing address into that document!

More About Me Than You Ever Wanted To Know

Once, I went on a date with a graphic artist. The next day, he emailed me this picture he drew. This is me, expressing concern about my jawline and thinking about moving to Australia.

Lovely, lovely Amy of Just a Titch fame interviewed me! So if you're curious to know how I feel about about lawn maintenance, drunk friends and The Jealousies do pop over and give it a read.

True Story: I Did A Religious Pilgrimage

This is one of our True Story interviews, in which we talk to interesting people who have done amazing things. La Historiadora de Moda is one of the clever ladies behind Fashionable Academics. This is her story of taking part in The Camino de Santiago de Compostela - a pilgrimage route that people have been walking for more than 1,000 years! She walked 30 kilometers a day for 10 days! And didn't die! (But her toenails did fall off.)

Could you tell us about your religious background?
I should say that I didn’t do the Camino de Santiago for religious reasons at all. My religious background is perhaps a bit strange and quite mixed. My mother’s side of the family is Roman Catholic, and one of my late uncles was a Benedictine monk. My father’s side of the family is Methodist, but he himself was not religious. I grew up very nominally Catholic. My sister married the son of a Southern Baptist preacher and has been re-baptized as an adult. I flirted with returning to the Catholic Church, but did not.

I ended up marrying a Jew and considered converting to Reform Judaism, but ultimately did not go through the process. I'm a spiritual person and an ethical monotheist, who likes saints, but I don’t identify with any organized religion.

When did you decide that you wanted to do the pilgrimage? What made you decide to do it?
I’m a historian of early modern Spain and I’ve taught several history courses that focus on the Middle Ages and the Age of the Crusades and the Spanish Reconquista. As a historian, I’ve long been fascinated by pilgrims and pre-modern religious culture. In the spring of 2007 I decided that there would never be such a prime opportunity to go on the Camino de Santiago. I was living in Madrid at the time, and I had a friend who wanted to do the Camino as well. We started doing some research and decided to walk from Astorga to Santiago de Compostela. We left Madrid on May 27th and took a train to Leon and a bus from there to Astorga and began walking the next day. We arrived in Compostela on June 6th, after walking approximately 150 miles.

How did you deal with food and lodging?
Along the route of the Camino Francés, which is the main route of the Camino, there are numerous pilgrim hostels, where anyone who has a stamped credential, or pilgrim’s passport, can stay until all the beds are taken. Some cost a few euros a night and some cost nothing but ask for a donation. It’s all very basic. Pilgrims bring their own sleeping bags and towels.

The most memorable of the places that we stayed at was a pilgrim’s hostel in a Benedictine monastery, which had been founded in the sixth century and rebuilt in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries after a fire. There were easily a hundred of us pilgrims staying in the same room that night in Samos. Most of the pilgrim’s hostels are located near or have a restaurant and/or kitchen within them and provide a pilgrim’s meal for 9-15 euro (usually two courses, dessert, and a beverage). The main route of the Camino is dotted with small villages and towns, where you can stop at a grocery and purchase food or at a café-bar for a café con leche and toast or a sandwich or piece of tortilla (potato omelet) here and there throughout the day.


30 km a day for 10 days is so far, for so long! Did you have to replace your shoes? How did your body respond to walking that distance?
We averaged about 25-30 km a day, carrying packs that weighed around 20-25 kilos. Some days we walked a bit more, and some days we walked a bit less. I did have to replace my shoes because I very foolishly tried to do the Camino in a pair of Diesel sneakers that didn’t provide any real ankle support. Three days in, I broke down and purchased a pair of hiking boots and a walking stick.

I did have some blisters and some ankle swelling (from wearing the wrong kind of shoes to start with) and my friend had to be very patient with my slow pace until my ankle would warm up after a half hour or so every morning. A few days after I had finished the Camino, I lost one of my toenails. Other than that, my body held up pretty well until it was over. I was a bit tired and sore, but it wasn’t anything unmanageable. My friend told me after it was over that he wasn’t sure I would be able to make it with my ankle, but I never doubted in my mind that I would make it to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

Could you tell us what the atmosphere was like on the trail? Did the pilgrims interact with each other?
The atmosphere on the trail was absolutely amazing and very friendly, although there is a bit of a social divide between those who walk the Camino and those who cycle it. Fellow pilgrims greeted each other with the phrase, “Buen Camino,” regardless of what language they spoke and how few other Spanish words they knew. I met so many awesome people from all over the world during those ten days of walking. Sometimes my friend and I would end up walking with someone for hours. Sometimes we would only walk with someone for a few minutes and then they would stop or speed up, and I would wonder if I’d ever meet up with them again. Sometimes I did. Sometimes I didn’t.

When you walk with someone for several hours and eat dinner together and drink cognac together and sleep in the same space, you get to know him or her pretty well. There was plenty of time on the trail to share stories, crack jokes, or just walk in companionable silence. I’m actually still in touch with several of the people that I met on the Camino.

How did you feel when you finally reached your destination? What did you do?
When I arrived at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, I wept. Once I arrived, I saw fellow pilgrims – friends – that I never had expected to see again and would never see again, and many of us were crying and embracing each other in turn. I attended a pilgrim’s mass, like countless pilgrims for centuries before me had. Then I walked around Santiago de Compostela and purchased my shell necklace at one of the boutiques. (That necklace and my hiker’s backpack are the only souvenirs that I still have from the Camino.) My friend and I met up with some of our fellow pilgrims for a celebratory dinner that night in Compostela, and then he and I caught a night train back to Madrid.

How did taking part in the pilgrimage effect your faith?
For me the Camino was a very reflective -- almost Zen-like -- experience. I did a lot of walking meditation and worked through a lot of personal shit in my head. More than anything else the Camino gave me a lot of hope for humanity.

I met one woman on the Camino who was walking the 30+ days from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (on the border between France and Spain) to Santiago de Compostela as a fundraiser for girls’ education in Afghanistan. I met another woman who was walking the Way of St. James because it was a task left uncrossed off on her deceased husband’s bucket list. I met people who were doing it because they were devout Catholics taking part in a ritual of religious devotion that is centuries old. On this path, across the north of Spain, we all came together, regardless of religious and cultural differences and motivations, and formed friendships, paid for each others coffees, stood guard for one another while we urinated in fields, and slept in the same dormitories.

Amazing! Have any of your ever done a religious pilgrimage? Or just a really, really long hike? Any questions for our hiker?

Around The World In 80 Seconds

Since I'm saving every last penny for my big trip in October, I won't be doing much travel this summer. If you, too, are homebound this summer, we can take a bit of comfort in this great video. Around the world in 80 seconds? Yes, please!

via Code For Something
Got the travelbug?  Check out my ebooks and podcasts on making long-term travel a reality!  Only $15 forpetessake!

Pencil Vs Camera

Have you seen this great pencil vs. photograph pieces by Ben Heine? Impressive, no? I think I'll commission one of Andy Samberg proposing to me.

Mischief Champion

Why is everything funnier when animals are saying it? If you love these, you'll love everything on offer over at Mischief Champion - and you can order artist signed prints for a mere $10! What are you waiting for?! I'd like a print of the cat and the bear - it makes me think of teaching.