"god does not call us to ease, but to faithful joy. he is closing in on some of you, smiling and with tears in his eyes, knowing how much of himself he is going to show you--and how much it will cost."

so here in this quaint and worn-in office/home of ours there are books that seem to float all around us. books on architecture. books on engineering [more interesting than you would think as i have flirted with a few], books on restoration, books on others who have gone before us, books on how we can reach the unreachable nations of this world, books on how we should breathe days.

i have been reading a book on the later, one that tells me: don't waste your life. i have had to take many small breaks and often stop only after reading a page to give a quick evaluation if this is how i am living my very own life. there has been wrestling and testing of motives that, to be quite frank, have grown into a few frustrations at the author. even amidst those i pressed on and finished the book in a clean swoop to conquer the mere two-hundred pages of paper. this book begins by describing a story of an early retired couple who moves down to flordia to live out their lives cruising the waves on their 30-foot trawler, playing some leisure softball and collecting sea shells. the picture illustrates that at the end of their time all they have to show is the shells they collected. this is it. a simple nice ending to a life, one might say. the author stops at nothing less than shouting without exclamation points and capitalization to let us know this is not what we are called for. and even larger, what we are made for. not that there is anything to ruin by telling you more, but i suppose you will just have to seek for yourself if you desire.

tonight we are setting out by taxi first, train second, bus third, airplane fourth and feet fifth. setting out on a journey. i can't yet put any description words before the journey but i'm sure will have more than a few words when we return. our team is at work for three weeks and onto all ends of india. departing home in mussoorie, down the mountain to dehradun and on an overnight train to delhi. we will be in lucknow in the north, bombay [present day mumbai] on the western coast and most described as indian's hollywood, or the coined term bollywood. our project site is a dash in indian standards, roughly five hours east of the big city and over to pune [poo-nay]. after this we gather up some more stamina to fly down south to the state of tamil nadu and the city of madurai. okay breath. in and out.

there will be so much to feast my eyes on. taste the deliciousness of in my mouth. hear sweet words of misunderstood languages. false interpretation will abound. my mind will be raw from drawings and meetings of all sorts. my heart will probably explode more than thrice.
and stories will overflow, i'm sure.

| musssoorie housing |

_one day last weekend i ventured around town. the goal was to pick up the traditional indian style clothing i got made for my time here. these are a few images that my eyes caught sight of.



--------------------------:: transportation::

--------------------------:: road cow::

-------------------------------:: architecture ::

---------------------------:: view ::

---------------------------:: street bazaar ::

this is just one day.


before i left i distinctly remember a friend of mine telling me that there would be ordinary days. awhat? you mean every day i spend in this unknown country i'm venturing off to won't be extra-ordinary? well, NO it will not be. no matter where you reside there are the routine days filled with humdrum tasks. you still have to wash your clothes without any electrical devices, and dare i say you still have to take showers or bucket baths depending on where you are seeking refuge [to date i've taken three, i won't do the math]. so here might be the layout for a conventional day around this place:

○ the mornings are precious as things are bright and so fresh in the mountains which seems to creep right into our home-office.
○ though waking up seems to be a bit of a struggle since outside of my cocoon of blankets is much below comfortable temperatures.
○ i make some tea, grab a banana from a bunch of twenty and gather round with all to worship in english & hindi, and to discuss how god is alive in us and this world of his.
○ then not moving very far we are all off to to the daily tasks. work on the computer. work in the kitchen. work around Oaklands. work collaborating for projects and project trips to come. this is mostly all dependent on if we have power for such activities and internet for connection to the world.
○ noon-thirty is lunch time and each day we are greeted with delicious indian food made by our cook, Annu. things are taking an upward swing towards my liking of indian food especially since we enjoy it in the warmth of the sun. this is usually followed by a small stroll around the block.
○ chai time is at three prompt and gives us just the right dosage to finish the work day strong.
○ we end at six pm and i either head off for a run to catch the last glimpse of the winter line sunset that graciously float through the sky or maybe walk to the prakash market at the nearby bazaar.
○ once back at home we all gather around and eat dinner together like one big family. there are kids, we might strum music on guitars or battle out a game of settlers.
○ then we have the rest of the nigh to explore mussoorie, read and read some more, catch up on e-mails or just enjoy each others company around the bukari [our life source of heat]

but like i said, this is just one day and tomorrow could be completely full of newness.

home.here.

i've never been much of a walker, often times i have caught myself running a bit when attempting to go on a walk. yep, there goes some girl. sort of. kind of. jogging...in jeans. odd, i know. what is so much of the difference really? people in the town of mussoorie [my current location] walk everywhere. i don't think it is because they might lack the transportation to propel themselves quickly, but instead that is the method in which they would prefer to move.

on feet.

taking it in.

making eye contact.

stretching the legs.

waves of hello.

stopping at leisure.

so today after our first full day in the office i went for a walk. it wasn't my first one here, and i know it won't the last by any means. you see, we live on a hill, quite a massive and steep hill that is a part of a greater mountain range. the start of the indian himalayas are to the east. the small-ish town of 30,000,mussoorie, is sprinkled amongst the hillside to the west. yes, third world countries have outrageously gorgeous landscapes too. i'm in awe morning noon and night as we are forced to work/live/eat/learn outdoors since the inside is quite the ice box. works for me. and i'm sure you would be fine with it too.

so this walk, ahhh yes, in the light that was left i first walked on the east road and gazed into the distant snow capped mountains. looped around and caught the last of a winter line sunset-(amazingly straight line that the sun sets upon and only in particular places)-. i had to keep reminding myself this was home for a while and i feel extremely lucky to be in such a beautiful place. god has given this landscape for anyone to enjoy and i'm reminded of this with each stroll i take. i pass more residents on foot than by car or motorbike which makes me smile as i greet a few. i'm thankful as the breath escapes from me and on into beauty.

we were busy today. i'm sure we will be busy tomorrow. there is a lot to learn. and the more i learn the more i realize i do not know. this is a great feeling and gives me topics to ponder on walks.

winter line---------------------------------

mussoorie floating through the hills----------------------------------

a new friend: Jalore---------------------------& the himalayas-------

investment


when i hear the word investment i think of a positive effect on money. this endowment is something that has high hopes of return. we would never invest in a product/idea/person/company that we didn't think would bring us some kind of gain.

_the past seven days was spent getting to know and love 28 others. not one of us knew any of the others before this time and by the end you would not have guessed that fact. i was blown away by the amount of time spent in the investment of one anothers lives. all of the EMI interns had orientation in colorado springs for a week and it was p-a-c-k-e-d full of stuff from the moment we rose until we fell into bed each night. it was so amazing to see people who were living the same life, in a sense, as you. having the same hopes, dreams, fears, timeline, unknown future were all commonalities shared by the majority. you mean "i'm not the only one who doesn't know what i'm going to be doing, or where i'm going to living after this is over?" whew. there is definitely something to say about the people i met there. i'm not sure there are many other places i have ever been where we came to know each other and showed a true interest in others when we knew we might probably not see any of them again. well, besides the two lucky ones who happen to be living in Mussoorie with me. then i will be seeing lots and lots and quite a lot of them. what is it about new friendships that are so addicting? good thing we are all on the same page and after a week of happy unforced interrogation we still like each other. i presume we are going to be just fine for our time here and really can't wait to see what adventures we get into with the places we travel.

atrue.story

i first started this blog when i traveled to rome for architecture school back in two thousand & seven and somehow have kept it alive. at times it has been a bit lean and lacking in attention but has made it through the changes in my life with some sort of documentation. be it images, stories, thoughts, impressions, a ramble of my own or a quote borrowed. for those who have followed along the years, i'm impressed and honored. for those who are joining as i venture off to India, welcome and stay a while. though i'm not much for the detailed chatter, i hope there is something that provokes you--to envision. to act. to dream. to understand. to hope. to relate. and to just see the world a bit through my eyes [and words].

i've been sleeping on the couch at our house for three nights now. i don't mind it as the couch is more comfortable than my bed and leaves little room for tossing. it's all about flexibility, right? while packing up my entire room and the remnants scattered about i'm appalled at the amount of possessions i own. we own. we as americans own so stinkin' much. a dream of mine is to one day see all of my belongings fit into my little jetta but i don't think that will happen in my lifetime. the real thing is, i'm about to go live in a place i have never seen and all with two suitcases packed with my so called things. that is all, just two, and will be more than enough i'm sure. it is quite amazing when you realize what little you need. and who is to say what the real reason for the need is? might it be: happiness, warmth, options, comfort, obsession, acceptance, the list goes on..

tomorrow i leave this denver life of mine and will begin an amazing journey. first an orientation in colorado springs, just a jump away. then i will travel to the farthest place from home with little in tow. in fact as far as once i start heading back to the US i might as well just continue on the same direction. i believe my needs will be sustained by something so much greater than me, and you, or this silly blog, or troubled nations. this work in me has already begun and with open arms i can not wait to live what lies ahead.

" there is a brief moment before you jump off the platform, when you are fully aware of your situation. nothing you can do at that moment will prepare you for what is about to happen. every cell of your being lights up. up until now you have relied on your own beliefs, attitudes, talents, and ideas. ditch them. jesus wants your complete and total devotion. follow him. "

{oswald chambers was a brilliant man}

i am departing for india soon and though a little terrified i can't wait to jump head first into this new part of my life.
*stay tuned for things
worth mentioning, beauty
captured behind the lens and more...

midwestery


even in the midst of being at the highest peak of crazy person over here, there is still time for a jot or two. it's like exercising: when life gets going you still have to get out and run around to burn some steam, it's extremely healthy and helpful to being productive. so exercising the mind via diction is the answer since there doesn't even seem to be time for physical movement.

i recently went to two new states. yesum.
and i guess three if you count a drive-by and a stop for lunch, but i wouldn't. plus it was nebraska and the only good thing to come of the state is the people, thus far from my observations. so that was the cornhusker state.
we roadtripped way longer than i have ever driven in one day and the time seemed to fly. i knew this had to do with who was sitting drivers seat and being in communication with said person. when the weather is lovely and the conversation of meaning and insight the trek to the destination is not the least bit daunting. this is also attainable when solo-tripping especially if you are in a point of extreme comfort with yourself and cherishing the time alone. this can be a beautiful thing.

well iowa was next up on the list and on into a small town of some notable architecture was upon me. i wish i knew more about american architects and had a plethora of stored knowledge of their design work destinations. alas, i don't. but this then gives the excitement when you find out there is something to gander at when in local-town-mid-west, u.s.a. and frank lloyd wright was the man of the hour here. we stealthily got in on a class tour and got the low down on this prairie style home frank designed back in 1908 for some wealthy couple who knew his capabilities and admired his work. i realized there is something to say for an architect who is known by so many for residential design. it would be hard pressing to find another such to fit this description, but then again, like i said before, this proficiency of mine is lacking. whelp, who doesn't enjoy a good frank lloyd wright house?!

i've come to realize that architecture and climbing can be the fuel to travel, for me at least. what is it you travel for? of course there are friends, family, sights for the tourist to gawk, pictures to snap with a held peace sign of such sights, stamps in a passport etc. but as reminded recently from a treasured friend: all the places we go and see and return to only mean so much as who we share them with. don't ever forget this [period]

oh, and i went to minnesota :)

] a frank wright feature & fall foliage [


] what people in iowa do for fun: junk parks [

] antoine predock designs sweet ceilings at UofM [

] frank gehry with a side of minneapolis [

sweetfayetteville

sheesh, i adore that town of fayetteville, arkansas. and was lucky enough to get to take a weekend trip there that was decided upon four days prior to departure. flying by the seat of my pants: not usually my style as i love to plan but have never ever been one to turn down spontaneity and travel whim. i think my major shortcoming, besides being an incessant sinner, is becoming upset when plans don't follow through as anticipated. but this didn't happen on this outing since there wasn't much to anticipate over the short days before. i just knew where i had to be, what time i needed to show up, when i was to return and most importantly how i was to dress while bouncing around.

the reason for the dash to fayetteville: [the land of razorbacks, surprisingly good mexican cuisine, wondrous fall foliage and quite thoughtful design hidden about], was a uniting of lovers. it was a fabulous wedding at that and such a perfect autumn day to say "ido". seeing so many familiar faces brought an even bigger smile to my face as each was embraced. but what all these familiar sights, sounds, faces, places, stomping grounds got me to thinking was the filter in which we perceive them in. as we evolve as a person, fluctuating in many different aspects of who we are, we begin to see things different as well. i can't imagine what my eyes would pick up on, if and when i travel back to rome, knowing without a doubt that each city we travel to serves us for that time and it's not always what the city's wonders show us but in what it can offer personally to those who choose to come.

i biked both days i was in fay. and as i pedaled around to remembered places of time well spent ,there was something different about being in these places, as if i was a bit removed. this little college town has undergone some enormous transformations, and fantastic needs that are good for this place. it pulled me in new directions both physically and mentally and left me not lingering on the past life i held there but what life could be like if i were to dwell in this town. pieces of me want this place to stay "as is" and left unchanged for fear of not understanding the locus anymore but i suppose this is the transformation that needs to happen. just as people are evolving, hopefully so, as are cities. and that is a bittersweet beautiful movement.

ze vol walker aka home for 5yrs.

a new parking structure and bookstore

a new bike trail of wonderful connections

i'm moving to I N D I A!

yep, come January i will be off to mussooire, a small town in northern india at the base of the himalayas. i will get to be a part of and do so many wonderful things in my time there. if you want to know more, contact me, please.

*i will keep this little blog of mine to share news and adventures a-plenty.

a few maps of the country

[a view from mussooire to the himalayas]

[landscape surrounding the town]