In the last quarter of 2009, most of my plans focused on a more stationary life. I moved all my possessions to Boulder, started a job in the Dragons office, started house-hunting, made new friends, and thought 2010 would find me settling a bit. By the 2010 New Year, those plans were sidetracked as I was invited to instruct a 13-week course in SE Asia, an offer I could not refuse. The decision sparked my busiest year of travel yet, granting me countless new experiences, even more new friends, opportunities to learn from other instructors and connect with bright young students, and perhaps most importantly, a great deal of self-exploration. After two long journeys along the Mekong (one northbound and one southbound) an exceptional summer of laughter and outdoor fun in Boulder, two newly-visited countries (China, Mexico), and connections with family and old friends in between, I had a rather brilliant year of fun, adventure and learning. As 2010 comes to a close, many of my thoughts are similar to a year ago, though this time they are a bit more concrete. Soon I will return to Boulder, an admin job in the office (which I enjoy greatly), and a place that feels like home.
Below, in no particular order, are 100 of my brightest moments in 2010, a year I won’t soon (ever?) forget. I extend my appreciation to all of you who made it so, a year rich with experience, growth, joy, laughter, tears, movement, tranquility, and love…
1. Walking in to the Yi village in Yunnan province in late spring, in the snow, with all the rhododendrons blooming, being greeted by a warm community, a fire, hot tea, and endless plates of fry-bread and fried potatoes.
2. The end-of-Buddhist Lent festival in Luang Prabang, candle boats ablaze!
3. A few brief moments of perfection while crossing the Mekong from Ban Xieng Mene to Luang Prabang in the early morning.
4. Fishing with Pop and Bill in Rocky Mountain National Park.
5 Folk festival in Lyons with Mom & Dad and friends.
6. Birthday in Austin at the Broken Spoke, learning to two-step with Maryann and Wyatt.
7. Solo fly-fishing, cycling, and camping on the Poudre River over a beautiful July weekend.
8. Nightime playground fun with Becca & Simon.
9. Afterwork volleyball at the North Boulder Rec Center.
10. Cycling ‘round Boulder all summer.
11. Snowboarding @ Mammoth in June with Chris, Simon, Luis P, Aaron, Francisco and Galleta.
12. The Mustache & Sidepone party in Palo Alto with Pesos, Mejillas, and new friends.
13. The massive, day-long food-buy in El Segundo before Dragons orientation with Abrie, Eva, Annie & Sarah, and the following drive up to Rock Creek.
14. Wine & Cheese evening at Dragons orientation.
15. Bluegrass @ Oskar Blues all summer.
16. Breakfast at Lucille’s with Mom and Pop.
17. Two 6-hr boat rides on the Mekong between Stung Treng and Kratie.
18. Connecting with my homestay parents in Ban Xieng Mene, learning more Lao.
19. My first Christmas at home in NC since 2004, and a brilliant White Xmas at that.
20. Setting off floating lanterns from a rooftop in Kunming.
21. First glimpse of the Mekong in Yingpan.
22. Reaching 13,000 ft summit in Laojunshan with the fall Dargons.
23. A hilarious breakfast at Tom’s with Simon, Sarah, Eva, & Mary–kicking off a summer of laughter.
24. “Let them eat…”
25. Exploring the 7km cave in Khammouane, Laos by boat—otherworldly.
26. Being profiled on a Chinese TV dating show.
27. Beach volleyball and soccer with the park rangers in Nam Kading NPA.
28. Micheladas on the beach, Ricardo catching a big fish with only his hands and a knife, and then fresh ceviche on the pier.
29. How many games of 500?
30. Learning all about the Luang Namtha forest with Mr. Buakhet and Mr. Pong.
31. 17 flavors of Mooncakes & the Mid-autumn festival in Yingpan. Dinner with the I-team and floating lanterns hanging over the town’s night-sky.
32. The first morning after entering Cambodia and speaking Khmer again with locals at the Stung Treng market, and the warm feeling of “home”.
33. Sunset swimming, ultimate Frisbee, and bonfires on the Don Daeng beach.
34. Sitting at an old temple on the hill overlooking Shangri-la, pondering the news from my father, staring at the giant prayer wheel, and contemplating impermanence.
35. Seeing Iron & Wine (with Calexico) with Sherriff and Trigger, later meeting Sam Beam at the Driskill.
36. Countless hours of bus-rides through Yunnan, Laos, and Cambodia.
37. Dancing round the fire with the fine Yi community of Yangyuchang.
38. A brilliant trek through Tiger Leaping gorge with Stew, Allana, and the Spring Mekong-ers.
39. A century ride around the temples of Angkor.
40. Beng Mealea in the early morning. Still as impressive as ever, even on my 7th visit.
41. Seeing the Cambodian Living Arts rehearsals (dance students, and Master Kong Nay). Never fails to fill me with joy.
42. Lao New Year in Ban Xieng Mene—a 3-day waterfight.
43. A Dodger game with Matt in the bleachers.
44. The bioluminescence on Koh Rong Samloem.
45. Hiking up Bear Peak with Maryann and Shannon.
46. A winter celebration in Four-Mile Canyon, staying up to the wee hours with Andrew, Matt, and Kylie playing old records.
47. Cookie & the Cupcakes.
48. Euchre, Anis, and a long, late-night discussion of relationships, family and life with Aaron.
49. The many bowls of noodles in China. Especially the knife-cut and hand-pulled ones.
50. Learning to make papaya salad with my homestay family in BXM.
51. Playing bocce with Gabe and half-dozen drunk Lao teenagers.
52. Breakfast at our Tibetan homestay—flat bread, yak cheese, and countless cups of yak butter tea ‘round the stove.
53. Staying up with Stew and homestay father in Yangyuchang, roasting potatoes in the fire, and telling stories.
54. The day hike up to the 12,000 ridge through the blooming rhododendrons, and the view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
55. Decompressing from the spring Mekong course in a small, mountain cowboy-town near Veracruz.
56. Winter day-hikes in the Flatirons.
57. Sunset above Kep with Allana and a kind French woman.
58. Prek Pdao, Cambodia. Chatting with Mara’s family and cruising around the village on motorbike.
59. 1-on-1 conversations with students…too many to list individually, but thank you Mekong 2010-ers. You made my year special, lively, and memorable.
60. The island wedding on Koh Preah—and the adolescent boys who couldn’t stop dancing.
61. Bacii ceremonies in Ban Xieng Mene.
62. Sitting riverside with Mara in Stung Treng, and talking about relationships.
63. Trekking up to the Hmong village, their splendid hospitality, and a surreal dawn storm the next morning.
64. Trekking around the blue lagoons, caves, forests, and rice fields of Khammouane Province.
65. Making boat paddles by hand with Lao villagers, then racing (and capsizing!) along the river in the freshly painted boats.
66. A visit to the Plain of Jars, and learning about MAG’s work to clear UXO in Laos.
67. Lao New Year lunch with my homestay family, then riding out to a waterfall with the father, and a savage tropical storm that came out of nowhere and stranded us briefly under a roof that nearly blew off.
68. Waking early to make sticky rice with my homestay mother, then going to the Wat to give alms.
69. Entering China for the first time, and the stark contrast to Laos/Cambodia.
70. Eating family-style in Yunnan with a big group, especially when Stew ordered. A cornucopia of dishes, all distinct and delicious, and a belly that seemingly never got full (or didn’t want to get full anyway).
71. The excitement about Yak yogurt in Zhongdian.
72. Sitting in a shallow Mekong rapid, eating tamarind, and talking about the possibilities of afterlife.
73. A night at the hot springs, sleeping under the stars, waking to frost on the sleeping bag.
74. A group of Dragons mulling over Karina’s unstartable Previa, then towing it, then Japhy slacklining on the tow strap.
75. “Eva, it’s the last night of the program, the Hot Phone is not going to ring. No, I’m not knocking on wood”…(Less than an hour later)…RING RING!
76. An afternoon solo at Lake Agnes, fishing and reading on the rocks.
77. Walking round Don Daeng in late afternoon light—what a special place.
78. Leo Kotke & Sam Bush at the Denver Botanical Gardens with Matt, Kylie, and Shannon. Perfect summer night.
79. Mushroom Hotpot and a night at the spa in Kunming!
80. The traffic jam on the way to Shaxi, and the kind old woman who shared tea, pears, and walnuts with us.
81. The opening ceremony of the Fall Mekong program in Shaxi…especially the candle-lit walk through the old town.
82. Sidewalk dance party outside the electronics shop while waiting for the bus.
83. The relief that came with the success of my father’s surgery, and hearing he was working and fishing again.
84. Learning to cook a few dishes in a Chinese restaurant kitchen.
85. Super scary but memorable…a student collapsing mid-trek at 13,000 ft, and the ensuing evac by 4WD to get him to a hospital 3 hours away.
86. Walking into the Big Sheep Meadow after a strenuous ascent and a fun descent through bamboo forest and many stream crossings.
87. Bathing in the Mekong @ sunrise, sunset, midday, and by moonlight.
88. Deep in the Lao jungle, a conversation about gratitude and respect with students.
89. Playing kataw in the afternoon in BXM.
90. The Ranch Summit in Austin, TX.
91. A week of relaxed fun and great food with Pesos y Mejillas in Palo Alto.
92. Mountain biking in Nisene Marks…especially bombing the downhill.
93. Harvesting and threshing rice in the hot sun with Lao villagers and students.
94. The excitement of picking students up at the airport at the beginning of the program.
95. The bittersweet relief of watching them depart at the end.
96. Learning to speak a tiny bit of Mandarin, as well as improving (slightly) my Lao and Khmer
97. Learning some Aero Yoga.
98. Learning more about patience and compassion from Allana, humility and service from Mara, and organization and thoroughness from Cat.
99. Learning more about what I want the coming years, most notably community, family and less transient relationships.
100. Coming home to the US, with no (current) plans to travel in 2011, and how deliciously strange/strangely delicious that feels.
