These are my work friends

Report from the Dominican Republic

Well, I'm here in the DR, having just returned from a border city near Haiti, and I can say that this is not exactly what I expected. We are spending the night in a hotel in San Juan, which is a larger city in the south, and when we first stayed here Sunday I thought that it was a little dingy. Now, having returned from Banica, it feels like a palace! We have a shower that is clean and has warm water. We have a bathroom with a toilet seat and flushing capabilities. We have air conditioning and electricity--we even have internet! Where we stayed last night, there were windows with no screens, extremely dirty floors, a disgusting bathroom with a huge spider, tons of noise all around and electricity only from 1am to 3am. A bat was stuck in my room last night so I had to sleep on the couch in the living room. It was incredibly hot and humid but I was so nervous about the mosquitos that I slept under a sheet. It was the longest night of my life. And there was a long cat fight that took place near our apartment that sounded not of this earth. So freaking bizarre. Roosters crowing at all hours, dogs barking, music blaring, etc etc etc. The woman who is leading our group, who has done plenty of field work in Costa Rica, Tibet, and even the DR said that she usually prides herself in her ability to survive any field conditions but that this experience has broken her. I honestly think we could have managed, but it's much better to be here tonight. I wouldn't have showered for 3 days and I don't have anything else to read to pass the time until I pass out...

Our work is going okay, except for the weird encounters we've had with people who are providing services. I feel a bit annoyed because there doesn't seem to be a problem with smoking in Banica. There are a few people who do, but it seems like a lot of effort to do all this work for a handful of people who still smoke. I guess I see the value in creating an entirely smoke-free community, but I don't know how sustainable that is.

My biggest question is: What do people do all day? I saw people (not just in Banica, but all over the country) sitting outside all day long, not doing a thing. Barely talking, not occupying themselves with any activity. Some people obviously work, but most seem to be lounging around all day. It's just a strange sight.

The whole vegan thing has been interesting. The woman who cooked for us seemed to understand what I could not eat, and I don't think I was unknowingly fed anything not-vegan, but she was super suspicious of me. She kept saying she didn't know what I eat if I don't eat meat, eggs, cheese, milk, etc. I explained to my teammates that where I live there is "cheese", "milk" and "meat" that I can eat that don't come from animals, and one of my teammates said that he knows a woman who is vegetarian and she makes something that tastes exactly like meat, and is very tasty. It was nice to hear that, and I was very happy to find chocolate Silk and soya chunks at the regular supermarket. I'm not quite sure how things will go in the other community, but I still have plenty of Luna bars and Vega shake mix if I need them. At this point, I could probably use some green pea powder... :)

Thankfully I have not gotten sick and I have been able to survive the heat, seemingly better than other teammates. I sweat all day long but it doesn't quite bother me. I think it's because of my time in the backcountry. And maybe all the Power yoga that I've done. I'm used to being sweaty, I suppose!

That's all for now. We'll see how the rest of the week goes. I miss my Adam and I already have work emergencies not related to the project that I need to take care of. What a challenge this kind of international project is. Don't tell anyone, but I've already considered quitting! But not seriously, of course. But I'm not that excited to do this kind of field work again. At least on such a tight budget.

I should just mention that I really love my teammates. They are so supportive and have so much knowledge and how-to about this country. I don't know what we would do without them. Yamel is hilarious. Jairo is very kind and friendly, and Arisleyda is great in a crisis. She's also friendly and compassionate. I love her.

Okay, now I'm really done. Time to shower. Love to all!

Burrito Salad

Last night, Adam and I had a very late dinner that I'm calling the Burrito Salad. We had lots of greens, so we started with those on a big plate. I reheated some white rice leftover from takeout, and mixed in chopped cilantro and lime juice. I also reheated some refried black beans. We chopped up some cherry tomatoes for garnish, and piled everything on top of the lettuce, with salsa and sliced avocado on top. It was delicious, and, as Adam said, if you ate that meal every day of your life (maybe mixing in some kale) you would live to be 5 billion years old. The truth is, all of this is incredibly good for you, and the only fat is in the avocado and beans. I might try some brown rice and still eat blueberries from time to time, but this is a good recipe to guide you through a long, healthy life. And one that won't make you feel guilty for eating dinner at 10:00 PM.

Sesame Cashew Noodles

I'm trying out this recipe for a picnic potluck this afternoon. I may toss in some fried tofu. I used Sriracha sauce instead of chili flakes.

23 things I love about my birthday

1. Sharing it with my wombmate
2. 7/23 is a beautiful number, isn't it? :)
3. Chicory
4. Queen Anne's Lace
5. Blueberries
6. Peaches
7. Plums
8. Eggplant (Emily Eggplant!)
9. Summer storms
10. Cool lake breezes in the morning
11. Full farmers markets
12. Fireflies
13. Summer concerts
14. Freckles
15. Heat lightning
16. Patio dinners
17. Sunflowers
18. Vacations
19. Iced tea
20. Vegging out in cool places
21. Sundresses
22. Homemade pies
23. Beach weather on the Great Lakes (a rare sight!)

BIRTHDAY!

Well, all I can say is that life continues to get better the older I get. At 25, I am blessed to be as active and energetic as I've ever been, and significantly wiser about the world. Mostly, I'm happier. For a long time I thought it was better to be brooding and unhappy but thankfully I've grown out of that phase. Having a cheerful, fun-loving and compassionate partner makes being happy a breeze.

So, I had a wonderful birthday spent with family. My mom is in town and Betsy, Charlie, Adam, Mom, Chuck and Ryan and I had dinner at a new pizzeria. They graciously let Adam and me bring our own vegan cheese to the restaurant to put on our pizza. It was a little dry and could have used more flavor, but I'll definitely try it again. The day was full of downpours and thunder, but it cleared up in the evening and we had a lovely dinner out on the patio between Boulder and the pizzeria. Complete with a pretty sky.

We came back to our house for cupcakes and presents. I made coconut cupcakes with chocolate coconut frosting....yum! The presents were very nice and it was so good to spend time with my family. Adam got us a cooler to transport all of our vegan treats (vegenaise, margarine, tofu, soy milk, etc.) when we travel, and he made me the best gift ever! We're biking to his family's vacation cottage on Keuka Lake next weekend, and he designed and printed beautiful vouchers for an overnight in Geneva and a shopping spree at Geneva's health food store. We're going to bike to Geneva after work on Friday, spend the night at a hotel, and then go shopping for our food needs before biking another hour to Keuka. How fabulous! He also got me a lovely brown frock which I really love. Perfect for work, and especially for biking to work! Awesome!

So here's to another year older, another year to continue growing, to keep on adventuring, and keep on loving.

10 travel tips

I have the magnificent good fortune to have a job that requires occasional travel to the Caribbean. Although this has created a good bit of stress for me, it is also an incredible experience that allows me to enjoy my wanderlust while maintaining a (fabulous) relationship with my Adam. I leave for my first trip to the Dominican Republic in less than 2 weeks, so for me, that means I'm starting to pack.

Having spent months living in the woods of California and carrying all of my belongings on my back, I'm aware of what it means to travel light. I have spent a good deal of money on gear that is meant to make travel easier, and I'm lucky that I have plenty of skills and knowledge about packing to be prepared.

Some new things that make me a bit worried: contaminated water, malaria and dengue carrying mosquitoes and the threat of hurricanes and flooding. Of course, we had to filter all of our water in California, but we didn't have to worry about fresh fruits and veggies. We also had the pleasant experience of being eaten alive by mosquitoes (we went over Mosquito Pass several times that summer). Only once have I experienced the rains that come with hurricane season, my second time in Puerto Rico. But all of those things together create a new situation for me. I'm also slightly nervous about being vegan in very rural communities. Should make for an interesting challenge. I'm bringing luna bars and nutritional shakes, so I shouldn't be deprived.

Some things I'm thinking about as I pack:
1. It's going to be wet. No doubt about it. That means everything, especially my underwear, goes in ziplock bags. In addition to keeping things dry, they also make packing much easier. Decompress the air and the bags slip in nicely. We'll have vehicles to keep our belongings dry, but it's just good to be on the safe side. I'm also bringing a lightweight rain jacket and pants. My sandals will be fine, since it will be hot. If it were cold I'd bring waterproof boots, but I'm not concerned for this trip.
2. It's going to be hot. We've been getting humid 90+ degree days, but it could be hotter in the DR. I'm happier if I have fresh clothes to change into, but I need to limit space. That means I'm bringing quick drying materials that will allow me to use two outfits, one to wash and one to wear. This also helps because I have to spray my clothes with insect repellent, but there's only enough spray for about 3 outfits. The spray lasts through several washes. I should be just fine.
3. I will need field work clothing and resort clothing. We're doing a two day training at the resort, then field work for a week, and then 4 more days at the resort. I need versatile clothes that will be appropriate for a more professional setting as well as doing informal interviews in poor communities. That means one or two dresses/skirts for the resort, and a few pants/long shorts that will keep me protected from mosquitoes, and not too hot, while maintaining a modest appearance.
4. I need space for lots of supplies. That means I'm being skimpy with my personal items. I'll bring a small bottle of liquid castile soap (for body, face and hair) and my creme leave-in conditioner will work as a hair product to tame my curls. Toothbrush, toothpaste, FLOSS!, sunscreen, insect repellent and deodorant will be about all that I need. I will probably also bring a small bottle of water and about 10 drops of tea tree oil. I use it on blemishes and cuts as an anti-bacterial solution. It also smells good! Tea tree is  AMAZING for foot funk, if you're hiking a lot. Soak your feet in water and epsom salts and mix in some tea tree. Foot funk be-gone!
5. I'm probably going to get sick. I'm going to take anti-malarial medication (chloroquine) and I've been vaccinated for Typhoid, tetanus, Hep A and B, and all the other required vaccines. But I nearly always have stomach issues when I travel. We got a zpack prescription, but I'm also bringing Immodium and chewable fiber tablets. A coworker who traveled to Africa said she had anticipated diarrhea, but not constipation. Hence, the fiber. I'll also bring plenty of ibuprofen since I'm prone to sun headaches and I'll bring some 24-hour allergy pills. We're supplying first aid kits for all of our teams, so other items will be included in that.
6. On a long trip, I'm going to want to look pretty occasionally. That means I might bring mascara, concealer and my perfume stick. I use a great roll-on perfume oil that I can find at most food co-ops and other hippie shops. I use "Egyptian Goddess" but there are other nice scents, like Vanilla and Patchouli. I may also bring some jewelry, because it's a big part of how I express myself. I notice that I can sometimes lose touch with my Emily-ness when I travel, and it's nice to have a pair of earrings and a necklace that feel like "me". I think of it like a talisman of sorts, protecting me from getting lost in this wild world.
7. Comfort is key. Therefore, I'm bringing only comfortable shoes, clothes that I like wearing and some creature comforts like an i-pod and a good book. Comfort for me also means a good pair of sunglasses and lots of clean underwear.
8. Nothing goes as planned. That's why I like to be prepared for any situation. We might end up in the middle of a tropical storm or someone might get seriously hurt. No matter where I go, I bring some rope, my pocket knife and extra underwear (how many times has that come up now?). Some people are resourceful, but the key to that is resources. You can't use it if you don't have it. My time in the wilderness made me aware of how much we depend on Nature's mercy, and I don't take for granted that we are all still alive today because of the survival skills and instincts we depend on daily. This sounds very morbid, but I just think it's practical to think about ways that I could be more prepared in scary situations.
9. Routine is important. I am horrible at this one. When I travel, I get wrapped up in the newness of everything and forget that the Emily at home really needs some morning peace, and lots of sleep, to function properly. I usually eat at certain times and I'm very particular about balancing my meals. I am sensitive to eating too many carbs, not enough fruits and veggies, and especially getting enough water throughout the day. I drink more water than anyone I know, and I sometimes skimp when I'm traveling because it's expensive or because I forget that I need to keep that normal hydration level up. I also need to remember to brush my teeth and take more showers than I'm inclined to (when possible). 
10. Bring some tea! Although the DR is going to be ridiculously hot, it doesn't hurt to bring a few bags of mint tea. I might brew it at night and then I'll have a refreshing cool drink for the next day. This is especially important because all of the water needs to be boiled in order to be safe (or bottled or filtered). I like traveling with tea because you can ask for free hot water almost anywhere and have a nice beverage. This is wonderful in expensive airports. It's also a good idea to bring your own mug because often they give you hot drinks in styrofoam, which I try to avoid. Tea is great for making friends and helping people feel comfortable. I'm a big fan. Keep it in a ziplock bag!

With all of that put into coherent sentences, I will now commence packing! If I think of anything else, I'll make another post.

*I thought about including something about language, but since I'm fluent in Spanish I'm not too concerned. I think it's beyond crucial to learn a bit of a language before you go somewhere that English is not widely used. It's for your own comfort and for the sake of the indigenous folk who have to deal with your lack of competence to function in their country. Learn how to say things and to ask questions, but also learn what the responses might be. If you need directions someplace, but never learned "left, right, straight" you'll be useless. That is all...

Tourlou (Greek vegetable stew)

One of my favorite veg-friendly restaurants in Rochester is Aladdin's. I used to work in the neighborhood and would often get take-out to take back to the teen center. My good friend and former coworker, Greta, recommended that I get this dish the first time I went. As usual, Greta knows the best of everything in this fabulous town. I've been hooked ever since.

This evening, after a very stormy day, I managed to leave work with clear skies and a cool breeze. I hopped on my bike and headed to the Monroe Village Farmer's market, by far my favorite of all the city markets. I had gazpacho on the brain, but after I saw a beautiful eggplant, I decided to try to replicate Aladdin's tourlou recipe.

The key here is cooking this for a long time. I mean, at least 45 minutes. The longer it cooks, the better. I didn't really use a recipe, but I'll probably look for some to tweak this recipe. So here goes:

1 medium eggplant, sliced and quartered
1 smallish zucchini, sliced
1 small onion, sliced (I didn't use this, but I'm sure it would be lovely)
1 block tofu, frozen*, thawed and cubed 
1 large clove garlic, minced
2-3 Tbs olive oil (I used MUCH more than this, to replicate Aladdin's dish!)
1 14-oz can of fire roasted crushed tomatoes (probably any chunky tomato sauce would work)
1-2 Tbs lemon juice



Saute the eggplant, zucchini, garlic and tofu in the olive oil. I used less oil to start so that I got some nice browning. Not necessary, but a nice touch.

Cook for about 15 minutes, until the tofu is nicely brown. Add the tomatoes and about a half can of water. Cook on medium to medium high heat for 30 minutes until the zucchini and eggplant break apart and incorporate into the sauce (you may have to smoosh them with a spoon). Add the lemon juice and another splash of olive oil. That's it!

I'm going to eat it on toast once Adam comes in from doing yardwork. If you have parsley, make sure you put a bit on top.

*Aladdin's uses chickpeas, but I didn't have any. Freezing tofu is a nice technique if you're sick of plain tofu, or if you're looking for something that won't fall apart as much. If you have bad luck with frying breaded tofu (it falls apart, it doesn't soak up the breading, etc.) I would suggest trying this out. It's also a great way to keep tofu around without having to change the water daily (we buy our tofu in bulk. If you buy it in the individual containers, no water changing necessary).

I also have another fruit crisp in the oven. This time I'm using peaches, rhubarb, blueberries, and plums. I put both nutmeg and cardamom in, so we'll see if it's a bit too spicy.

Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies. Last week, I accidently bought $18 worth of chocolate chips from the bulk section of the food co-op. I was eating about 5 handfuls a day, when Adam told me that he really likes chocolate chips, but only when they're wrapped up in sugar, oil and flour. He's very tactful. So I whipped these up. Unfortunately, this made less than 2 dozen cookies, and they've been devoured in less than 24 hours. Need I say more?

1/2 C whole wheat flour
1/2 C buckwheat flour*
1 C quick oats
dash of salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/ C oil
1 Tbs vanilla extract
1/2 C sugar (agave and maple syrup work too)
2-5 Tbs water
1/2 C chopped walnuts
1 scant cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 F. Mix ingredients together, adding the chocolate chips last. Let the batter sit for a few minutes. Spoon 1/4 C blobs onto a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes, keeping an eye on them as they cook.

I adapted this from a recipe in the Rabbit Food Cookbook, by Beth A. Barnett. Her recipe calls for less oatmeal and lots of shredded coconut, which I didn't have. It's neat that not having all the ingredients grants you the right to copy someone's recipe.

*You don't have to use buckwheat flour. Use all whole wheat, or some unbleached all-purpose flour.

My 100+ Things

1. New Trek 7000 bike
2. Old road bike, "Magdalena"
3. Old mountain bike, "Sprocket"
4. Panniers
5. Bike tools (lube, patches, etc.)
6. Helmet
7. Black purse
8. Wallet
9. Sunglasses
10. Water bottle
11. Rain gear
12. Keens
13. Chaco flipz
14. Old tennis shoes
15. Newer tennis shoes
16. Black heels
17. Black flats
18. Red sandals
19. Brown kitten heels
20. Brown flats
21. Light brown heels
22. Cookbooks (too many to list right now)
23. Library (will work on reducing this)
24. Daypack
25. Backpack (for weekend trips)
26. Snowshoe sleeping bag
27. Quechua sleeping bag
28. Lafuma sleeping bag
29. Half dome 2-person 3-season tent
30. Inflatable sleeping pad
31. iPhone + charger
32. Purple purse
33. Outland purse
34. Black J Crew dress
35. Brown J Crew dress
36. Purple cords
37. Blue work dress
38. Grey work dress
39. Grey stretchy dress w/ belt
40. Suit
41. Brown patterned jacket
42. Grey pencil skirt
43. Brown pants
44. Skinny khakis
45. Boot cut khakis
46. Black patterned jacket
47. Light blue collared shirt
48. Light green collared shirt
49. Black collared shirt
50. Coral collared shirt
51. White collared shirt
52. White collared 3/4 shirt
53. Brown short sleeve dress
54. Black 3/4 dress
55. Blue plaid 3/4 dress
56. Grey/blue striped short sleeve dress
57. Yellow skirt
58. Grey striped skirt
59. Blue confirmation dress
60. Black 3/4 sweater
61. Navy blue wrap dress
62. White collared short sleeve shirt
63. White silk dress
64. Black woman-of-honor dress
65. Chartreuse T #1
66. Chartreuse T #2
67. Peach short sleeve knit
68. Orange print short sleeve sweater
69. Grey hip length sweater
70. Cream colored cardigan
71. Gray cardigan
72. Peach cardigan
73. Old brown cardigan #1
74. Old brown cardigan #2
75. Teal wrap shirt
76. Black polka dot wrap dress
77. Teal silk dress
78. Green zip up pullover
79. Magenta scoop neck 3/4
80. Grey long sleeve t
81. Yellow cardigan
82. Brown v-neck sweater
83. Red striped v-neck sweater
84. Peach pilly cardigan
85. Brown pullover fleece hoodie
86. Magenta long sleeve thermal
87. Brown turtleneck dress
88. Lobby days upcycled t-shirt
89. Grey sweatshirt
90. Black zip up hooded fleece
91. Brown zip up heavy fleece
92. White heart hoodie
93. Purple belted plaid shirt
94. Magenta sweatshirt
95. Green graduation dress
96. Brown brocade coat
97. Purple sundress
98. Red and black sundress
99. Teal sundress
100. Navy blue short sleeve dress
101. Light blue Anthropologie dress
102. Peach strapless dress
103. Winter coat
104. Grey hooded sweatshirt
105. Grey and pink striped dress
106. Black t-shirt
107. Brown cami
108. Yellow v-neck tank
109. Black scoop tank
110. Flowered knee length skirt
111. Brown bermuda shorts
112. Brown high waist shorts
113. Black cami
114. Red plaid shirt
115. Purple banda shirt
116. Green t-shirt w/ yellow flowers
117. Light blue hiking pants
118. Grey hiking chinos
119. Orange henna cami
120. Teal fan t-shirt
121. Grey Adopt t-shirt
122. White koufax t-shirt
123. Black feminist t-shirt
124. Quoi de neuf t-shirt
125. Blue v-neck 3/4 shirt
126. Tan tree pose t-shirt
127. Teal long sleeve shirt
128. Pink cami
129. Multicolored yoga tank
130. Tan and purple halter tank
131. Buddha t-shirt
132. Go vegan upcycled t-shirt
133. Brown v-neck yoga shirt
134. Grey cap sleeve shirt
135. Light blue tank
136. Polka dot jammies
137. Peach nightie
138. Cream jammie pants
139. Striped jammie shirt
140. Blue scoop neck t-shirt
141. Black scoop neck t-shirt
142. Mustard scoop neck t-shirt
143. Lime bicycle t-shirt
144. Grey strapless shirt/skirt
145. Blue Nike t-shirt
146. Pink yoga pants
147. Old black yoga pants
148. New black yoga pants
149. Black knee length shorts
150. Green J Crew tissue t (long)
151. Green tie dye hippie t shirt
152. Pink Kylee t-shirt
153. Khaki AE capris
154. Maroon soft shell
155. Black poly pro shirt
156. Magenta poly pro leggings
157. Teal fleece pullover
158. Black fleece sweatpants
159. Amelia t-shirt skirt
160. Purple yoga capris
161. Brown prana pants
162. AE flare jeans
163. AE skinny jeans
164. AE straight jeans
165. Aeropostale straight jeans
166. Green purse
167. Green wrist purse
168. Green silk scarf
169. Blue scarf
170. Gold scarf
171. Teal fake pashmina
172. Magenta silk scarf
173. Plaid hat
174. Brown belt
175. Teal messenger bag
176. Fleece slippers
177. Gold party heels
178. Alarm clock
179. Grey undershirt
180. Black short shorts

To be continued...