Backpacking Tips

Wanna know how I survived traveling around Southeast Asia for 4 months with only 2 backpacks? Are you thinking of embarking on your own backpacking journey, but have no clue what to get or how to pack? Are you an organization junkie who thrives on efficiency and being prepared? Are you an awesome friend who loves to read about my wanderlust? If you answered yes to any of these, then this blog post is for you!! :-D Prompted by some good friends of mine, I decided to write a post to encourage anyone who is wanting to backpack but unsure of how to start. I really hope you find some helpful tips here and that you are inspired to get out there and have an adventure!

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Let me start by saying that I avoid checking bags whenever possible. Lost luggage is no fun to deal with. I know from experience and I’d rather spare you the hassle! I also have always followed a very simple rule for traveling: If you can’t carry it, you can’t bring it. Don’t pack more than you alone can manage! Sometimes you will find yourself in situations that don’t have luggage carts, people to help, or enough room on particular modes of transportation. Don’t let your luggage bog you down. You will have wonderful experiences whether you wear the same shirt three days in a row or not. My advice is to get over the need to wear something new every day and get used to handwashing clothes. Backpacking is not about being stylish, and clean is a relative term. If you can’t wrap your head around that, then backpacking may not be for you! Even if this kind of traveling is not your cup of tea, I invite you to continue reading anyway, because most of these tips are good for any kind of travel. Flexibility is the most valuable thing you can bring with you when traveling, so don’t worry so much and just have fun! 

Solidly framed backpack : $20.00-200.00 
I really lucked out with my backpack. I went to REI during one of their Scratch and Dent Sales and found a great used backpack that only cost me $20. $20!!! Framed backpacks cost anywhere from $40-500 and it’s important to get one that fits comfortably and properly. Again, I really lucked out because mine fits me pretty well and hasn’t caused me any problems. If there is an REI near you I HIGHLY recommend checking out their Scratch and Dent Sales. I also got a pair of Keens at that sale for really cheap. Be prepared to find a ton of great stuff!




Drawstring camping bags : Pack of 3 for $5.00 
These bags can be found in the camping section of Walmart and are super awesome when it comes to packing, regardless of whether you are backpacking or not. They’re like drawstring sleeping bag bags and you can stuff so much more in them than if you didn't have them. They come in a pack of 3, and each bag is a different color and a different size. This makes organizing really easy and you can access things incredibly conveniently. For example, I put my socks and underwear in the small red bag, shorts in the medium blue bag, and shirts in the large green bag. That way I knew exactly which bag I needed to pull out because I had a system. No more rifling through and unpacking your entire backpack to get the shirt you’re looking for only to discover it was actually in a different place altogether. Hooray for organization! Also, any other small bags (like the ones that are given to first class passengers on airplanes) are super convenient for chargers, glasses, tissues, pill boxes, etc. So next time you’re on a flight and pass the first class rows on your way off the plane, swipe a bag or two! They are factored into the ticket costs, so if they aren’t taken from the passengers who were sitting there then it’s their loss and your gain! But it still never hurts to be discreet about it ;) 

Clothesline (shoelaces and rope are fine substitutes) : <$5.00 
Any kind of rope or string is going to be handy to have on any trip. At some point you will come across a situation in which rope or string will be useful. From hanging wet clothes to affixing extra things to your backpack. It takes up no space and can literally save you. 

Carabiners : ~$1.00 each 
Clip these to all your bags. Just like string or rope, these babies are wildly handy to have. I always bring a backpack with me wherever I go, whether I’m strolling around the neighborhood for 30 minutes or have a full day-trip ahead of me. I often stop in a store or get some groceries or souvenirs and I don’t always have extra room in my backpack. I just clip the grocery bag to my backpack with a carabiner and bam, I am hands-free again! 

Mosquito repellent and sunscreen wipes : $3.00-20.00 
Like I said before, I rarely check bags. This means my liquids are limited. Instead of wasting my liquids on things like mosquito repellent or sunscreen, buy the wipes instead. They can be shoved into those extra pockets around your backpack so they’re also great for limited space. Not to mention you minimize your risk of leakage problems! 

Tiger balm : $6.00+ 
Tiger balm is a natural remedy to help soothe mosquito bites, congested sinuses, sore muscles, you name it. Plus it’s not a liquid so it doesn’t count against your liquid limit! Here are some more uses: http://tiger.the-balm.com/uses.htm 

Microfiber towel : $12.00-24.00 
A microfiber towel is light, thin, and dries super fast. Much better than a regular towel. I got mine on Amazon, and REI has them too. 





Washcloths : $1.00-6.00 
Get washcloths that are not actually cloth, but plastic. These dry incredibly fast and never retain odor or mold. I use these at home in addition to travel. Also, Korean spa scrubbers are similar to these but only cost $1 each. Look for them in Korean markets (Super H Mart) and other Korean stores. 

Travel utensils   : $12.00 
These are fantastic travel utensils. I always travel with these, as well as a pair of compact metal travel chopsticks that was gifted to me by a dear friend. To-Go Ware includes a bamboo fork, spoon, knife, and chopsticks in a convenient carrying case equipped with its own carabiner. Great great product. I’ve never had any problems with these in airport security, although my metal chopsticks did set off a red flag once, but it was no problem and they didn’t confiscate them. 

Universal adapter and extension cord : $5.00-15.00 
The only advice I have on these is that some are better than others hah. Unfortunately it’s really really hard to be able to tell without trying them whether it’s of good quality or not. I just bought one for $10 and when I plug it in, it falls right out of the outlet because it is heavy. Some have a tighter fit so that it holds better. I just prop it with bags underneath it and it’s been fine. Another option is to keep a small roll of tape in your bag for situations like this. Packing an extension cord allows you to plug in multiple devices from one outlet. Pack smarter, not harder :) 

Flip flops : $2.00+ 
If you are staying in hostels, you will want flip flops to protect your feet against fungus. Get the cheapest pair you can find and use them only for showers. Wear more comfortable ones for walking around. 

Plastic bags 
We all have a surplus of plastic grocery bags. Stick a handful of them in each piece of luggage you have. Use them to hold your dirty clothes, for storing your shower flip flops and other shoes, for trash bags, etc. 

Ziploc bags 
I use these for waterproofing my phone, preventing liquid bottles from leaking, collecting shells and rocks, and saving food leftovers. 

Bandanas
Bandanas are cheap, useful, and come in a lovely variety of colors and styles. I first realized bandanas were amazing when I was 7 years old. My twin brother and I were at summer camp and went to Stone Mountain for a hike. Our counselor had a bandana tied around her backpack, and we asked her why she had it. She replied, "Well, you never know when you might need it." Unimpressed, we both shrugged the answer off and went about our hike. During the hike, Jason (my twin brother), slipped and fell onto a very sharp stick. The counselor promptly took the bandana off her backpack and tied it around Jason's leg to minimize the bleeding, racing him down the mountain on her back. Jason ended up with several stitches in his leg and a very memorable story. Ever since, I have always had a bandana around all my backpacks. They've come in handy for wiping up spills, cleaning sunglasses, use as an emergency napkin, handkerchief, even as a makeshift scarf in cold weather, and luckily not for any injuries (yet). You could even use them for patching holes in clothing/bags. Which segways me into this next item...

Sewing kit 
Next time you stay in a hotel, ask for a sewing kit and keep it in your backpack. These are extremely handy for patching things on the go. I used mine several times to patch holes in pockets and broken seams and everything was good as new. 

Eye shade and ear plugs 
These are included in the first class bags that I talked about earlier. These can be particularly useful if you are staying in hostels where people are coming in and out of the room on their own schedule. Don’t let them interrupt your beauty sleep! 

Tissue paper / moist towelettes / wipes 
Always useful! Especially if you are in Asian countries that only have squat toilets. 

Food 
It’s always good to have food on you. There will be times when you are in transit and won’t have the time or ability to get food. Don’t let hanger ruin your adventures! Energy/granola bars, mini bags of nuts and pretzels (save them from your flights!), bananas, apples, oranges, and peanut butter packets are some personal favorites. Keep them in your backpack!

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Other tips: 

• Wear polyester/nylon/rayon clothing 
These materials are very quick drying, making them ideal for handwashing situations. They also help keep you cool during summer traveling. Cotton, while soft and comfortable, takes a long time to dry. Also, cotton is terrible (and dangerous) for cold weather camping and will actually make you colder if temperatures drop below freezing because it retains moisture. Jeans take forever to dry, and if you are in a humid climate, don’t expect them to ever get fully dry. 

• Wear long sleeves and hats 
The sun is damaging to your skin. Instead of worrying about applying and reapplying sunscreen all day long, wear long sleeves and hats for summer travels. If your clothing is polyester you won’t be miserably uncomfortable, I promise. If you travel anywhere that is hot, notice how locals dress. You will find that they cover their skin. Do what locals do! 

• NO money belt 
I highly recommend NOT purchasing a money belt. You don’t wear a money belt on the regular so you will be fumbling with it constantly, which makes you very vulnerable to pick pocketing and a prime target. Stick with what’s familiar. 

• Zippered pockets 
Buy clothing that has pockets with zippers. This makes your belongings infinitely more secure. I’ve had a camera slip right out of my pocket during a bus ride. 

• Diversify your money 
Don’t keep all your credit cards, debit cards, and cash in your wallet because you will be royally screwed if it gets lost or stolen. Keep some on you, some in a backpack, and some in a locker at the hostel. That way you always have backup money. 

• Paper copies 
Print copies of your passport, visa, and driver’s license. Again, if things get lost or stolen, you at least have something. It’s also helpful to have electronic copies of these on your phone, tablet, or laptop. 

• Fold your dirty clothes 
I know this sounds weird, but just like folding or rolling clean clothes is more efficient for space saving, doing it with your dirty clothes makes just as much sense. 

• Buy groceries 
If you are staying at hostels and wanting to keep a low budget, buy groceries for some of your meals instead of always eating out. Most hostels have communal kitchens with pots, pans, condiments, etc. Pick up a head of broccoli and a can of tuna and you’ve got an easy, healthy meal for only a couple bucks. 

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I also have a small bag that I carry with me everywhere. Fortune favors the prepared, so I like to be prepared. It contains the following items: 

• Glasses and an extra pair of contacts 
• Eyedrops 
• Antacid tablets 
• Ibuprofen 
• Bandaids 
• Moist towelette wipes / rubbing alcohol pads 
• Sewing kit 
• Eye shade and ear plugs 
• Tissues 
• Pens 
• Nail file 
• Safety pins 
• Floss 
• Mouthwash 
• Mints / gum 
• Comb 
• Headphones 
• USB drive 
• Battery operated USB charger 
• Batteries 

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I’m sure I have forgotten several tips, but hopefully this was helpful!! I will add to it when I think of things. Hope this has inspired you and shown you that you too can embark on a wonderful backpacking excursion! 


Time of post: 6,146 views

Where in the world is Ku?

I've created a public calendar so that my wonderful family and friends can check out where I'll be in the foreseeable future! Anything with a question mark is tentative. I feel like I know someone in just about every city I go to, so in the event that I haven't reached out to you and I'm comin through your hood, let me know so we can hang! :-D

Tales of Taipei

Well hey, Blogger!! Haven't been on you in a while! I had a wonderfully amazing time in Xiamen spending time with new and old family and learning about my roots. I come from some really awesome people and it makes me very proud :-)

I'm currently in Taipei, Taiwan and absolutely loving it!! Since I've been slacking with the posts, here are a few separate snippets about my time here so far.

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This city is unlike any I've ever been to. Below are some factors that contribute to my adoration of this beautiful place:

Transportation

The Taipei metro is fast, cheap, convenient, accessible, clean, and super easy to navigate. Scrolling marquees in both Chinese and English make getting lost difficult. Before you even enter a station there are screens outside the gates indicating whether a train is about to arrive or has just left, so you never have to run frantically to the platform only to watch your train pull away from you. There are lines on the platforms to organize people entering and exiting the trains, and what's even more fascinating is that people actually abide by them! This was an immediately noticeable difference from the metro in Shanghai where everyone is constantly pushing and shoving their way on and off the trains in utter chaos. Children, elderly, disabled folks, and pregnant women are not spared any courtesies on the mainland. Chinese people on the mainland are in a constant struggle with each other because there are just SO many people EVERYWHERE. It's no wonder they've inhabited a fend-for-yourself disposition. But Taiwan is miniscule compared to the mainland. The entire island has only 23 million people compared to the mainland's 1.3 billion people (not to mention the glaringly obvious difference in land mass), so it's only natural that there would be differences. Plus Taiwan is democratic! So for example, with escalators, everyone (I mean EVERYONE) stands on the right side so that people can pass on the left. While this is also common in America, it is more a theory than an actual practice. And here, priority seating is always followed. There are often empty seats on the subway cars even when there are several people still standing. I've never experienced a city with people who are so cooperative as those in Taipei. Bus systems, especially in foreign languages, can be overwhelmingly confusing. But bus signs and routes here are very clear (also in Chinese and English) and are pretty easy to understand. If subways and busses weren't enough, there are also cheap, fast trains that cover the entire perimeter of Taiwan. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Also there are clean bathrooms in every metro station. I feel like I haven't seen that in other cities, but maybe I haven't been paying attention?

Nature

To piggyback on transportation, it's incredibly easy to access nature from this modern city. Just hop on a metro line and ride it til the end and you will be only minutes away from outdoorsy wonders including hiking trails, hot springs, and lush mountains. No need for a car to get your nature on here!

Food

Two words: street food!! It's cheap, delicious, and, unlike some other areas of Southeast Asia, Taiwan's street food is not likely to divert you to spending half a day on the porcelain express. $5USD will get you plenty satiated at a night market. If you've had enough of foods that have been fried and skewered, just walk around and you'll undoubtedly come across a variety of international restaurants to choose from, also very affordably priced. Taipei offers the same diversity of cuisine available in Hong Kong but without the dent in your wallet.

History and Culture

Museums? Art? Temples? Monuments? Shows? Artifacts? Festivals? It's all here!!

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OK so let me tell you about a glorious day I had here.

I took the metro in the morning to Xiangshan station and walked about 0.5km to the base of Elephant Mountain (there was excellent signage). I spent almost 4 hours hiking (and not leisurely) around the mountain and didn't come close to covering even 1/4 of the trails. These are well-paved, well-signed trails that satisfy explorers of all ages and skill levels. Some may scoff at the artifice of groomed steps instead of rugged rocky terrain, but a smoother path does not necessarily mean a less arduous hike. I personally loved seeing a number of elderly people dedicated to what seemed like a routine trek for them. I got winded throughout my journey (and I'm a triathlete, damnit!) and was impressed with their nonchalance and perseverance. A non-paved path would surely result in less people able to enjoy fresh air and exercise in such beautiful scenery. There are points along the trail with exercise equipment, even a barbell with weights! 

There are tons of side spurt trails for those looking for more of a challenge on a less populated path, and I took my chances on one of these outliers. I'm so glad I did because I eventually discovered a very steep path that had knotted ropes to climb up large mossy rocks! It was like rockclimbing, but without the security of a harness. Before I committed to the climb, I realized that I was very much alone. I hadn't seen anybody on this side path and I was at least 30 minutes away from the main path. If I fell or slipped it was very likely I wouldn't be found for a while... I could hear my mother's voice in my head urging me not to risk it, but I shook it off and decided that this was my do-one-thing-every-day-that-scares-you moment (shout out to Baz Luhrmann). So up I went! In retrospect I feel like it really wasn't that scary, but I was actually a bit shaky when I reached the top! I was rewarded with a beautiful view of Taipei101 that was blemished by an enormous spider resting in its spectacular web. I went up a bit further, feeling very cat-like; if there is a higher place to go, I wanna be up there! I almost laughed out loud when I saw what was at the very top: IT WAS THE MAIN PATH!!!!! Miffed at the sheer thought that anyone would take the easy way back down after such an exhilarating climb, I promptly turned around and went back down the ropes course! It was much less scary going down, although that might be because I actually put away my headphones on the descent :-P

Feeling wonderfully accomplished, I made my way back down the mountain with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. I hopped back onto the metro and only rode it one stop to the Taipei101 station. Walked a few blocks to Eslite Bookstore, which is a large chain with several floors of books, shops, and food. I had lunch at a vegetarian place that used a plate-by-weight system (like Whole Foods' cafeteria). At only $109TWD (<$4USD), I was thoroughly full. I wandered around the bookstore a bit, but it wasn't like Borders or Barnes and Noble. No big comfy couches or chairs to post up in and get lost in a crisp new cookbook (my personal go-to). Instead there were only hard chairs or benches and most of the books were sealed with clear wrappers to preserve the mystery of their contents. It was crowded, noisy, and cold, so I went back out into the steamy city streets.

I took the metro from Taipei101 over to the Taipei Zoo station to catch the gondola up to Maokong. The gondola costs $50TWD (<$2USD) to the top and another $50TWD to come back down. It takes approximately 30 minutes each way and has a few exit points along the way for tea and temples. I spotted a rooftop restaurant at the top and went straight there to settle in for the sunset. To my surprise I was the only one there for a good while. Granted, I got there around 17:30, so a bit early for dinner, but still. With a view like that I'm shocked it‘s not packed 24/7!

I stayed for a couple hours reading and soaking in the view. Ordered fried noodles (kinda like Pad See Ew) for $100TWD (~$3USD) and it was almost too much food. Sunset was around 18:30 and was absolutely marvelous from Maokong. What a great way to wind down the day :-)

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Today I had a nice turn of events. After just missing the bus to go the a national park, I botched that plan and explored Shilin instead. I meandered along the Keelung River, which was lined with a long bike path, rugby fields, and softball fields. I then went past the Taipei Astronomical Museum (which I did not go to because I decided that I have to wait and go with my aerospace/astrophysics best friend!) and noticed a sign that said something like "Science and Physics Park." Say what? It was like Sci-Trek... OUTSIDE!! Tons of interactive structures all over! Very very cool.

I then went along a perpendicular river and it was smaller and quieter. The bike path continued on along this river, but there were no more sports fields. Instead, locals with fishing poles dotted the riverbank. I sat and relaxed on a bench under a bridge for a bit to enjoy the shade and the breeze. A group of tandem bikers came and took a break under the bridge as well. Some of the bikers were escorted to the benches and had walking sticks. Half of the bikers were blind! The group leader made an announcement and was given a plaque from the group. He started crying as he spoke to the group and it was so so moving. How wonderful that this group enables blind people to experience bike riding in a safe way! And how rewarding it must be to give someone that kind of experience. No doubt they do it voluntarily. Does this kind of organization exist in the States? If not, it really should, and I want to be a part of it!! I was so glad I got to witness this special moment. I love how even despite language barriers, so much can be understood by one another. So much of what is communicated is through body language and facial expressions, not specific words, and I've experienced that so fully on this trip. 

I stayed there on the bench under the bridge for a while after they left, almost paralyzed by their compassion. Call me naive or sheltered or even my mother, but I will always believe that people in general are good. I know we get exposed to so much negativity and cruelty with the news and media, but when I am out in the world and I see people helping each other, in small and big ways, it's powerful. When I pay attention and I disconnect from my phone, my iPod, my tablet, and other distractions, I see so many little gestures. From alerting someone of an item dropped to assisting with lifting a heavy object to giving up a seat, these are all meaningful acts of kindness. Yes it's cliché, but they make the world such better place, and I feel so grateful whenever I witness them.

People helping people. That's what it's all about, guys :-D

July update

I made some really great friends at Verdura, my first WWOOF farm in China! I was the first WWOOFer they've ever had so it has been a new experience for all of us! They tell me I set the bar too high for future volunteers, that I restored their faith in Americans, and were plotting to hide my passport so I couldn't leave :-P

Some of the people I work with took me out to dinner on my last night at the farm and we all had a great time. They'd never hung out together outside of work! Lots of laughing and of course lots of food!

Spent a couple nights in Ningbo on the way down to Xiamen. Was really nice to relax there and walk around.

I'm in Xiamen now with my cousin, Keith. Got here just in time for the 4th of July! In trying to find out if there was an American scene here for the holiday, we saw online that it was a boat from Xiamen that had the tea that was in the Boston Tea Party so that the US should be thankful for Xiamen hah! We found a Texas restaurant, played some foosball, and made some friends! Continued the party on the beach and even saw some fireworks!! The owner of the restaurant at the beach decided we were his new best friends and treated us to food and drinks galore! We then went swimming out to a boat and promptly got yelled at by a Chinese guy (whose boat it was) but we didn't mess it up! Finally strolled back home around 3am, probably the latest I've been up since arriving in Asia! Was a fun night :-)

Some interesting observations and tid bits:
■ I lasted 2 months traveling around Asia before having any kind of stomach issues. I can't even go that long at home without a funny tummy!
■ When eating, anything that needs to be discarded (dried chilies, ginger chunks, bones) gets put directly on the table and is all cleaned up after the meal when wiping the table down (no table cloth).
■ Mosquito "incense" coils are incredibly more effective than anything citronella in the States, and they burn for 12 hrs! I got a box of them to use at the next farm just in case!
■ It is popular for girls/women to wear contacts that make their irises look bigger. Here it's considered beautiful to have large irises, but from a Western perspective, the first time I saw it it looked so creepy!
■ Chinese women are unbelievably strong both physically and emotionally.
■ Chinese men often lift up their shirts to expose their bellies when it's hot outside.
■ The local workers call me Xiao Gu (Little Ku) and it makes me smile :-) Nobody believes that I'm 27 hah!
■ Toilet paper is rarely available in public restrooms, you have to carry your own pack of tissues. I now opt for squat toilets instead of Western ones if given the choice. Also, regardless of toilet style, all toilet paper is discarded in trash cans, not flushed down.
■ It's common to see children (usually with slits in their pants) squatting over streets, sidewalks, and grass to relieve themselves. When you gotta go you gotta go!
■ All hotels have electric kettles in each room to sterilize water, which is great for saving money on bottled water.
■ All waste bins are coupled with recycling bins.
■ I have yet to sleep in a bed with a top sheet. They all have fitted sheets and a blanket but no top sheet. Mattresses are considerably thinner and harder than in the US. In the summer many people put bamboo mats on beds and pillows to stay cool.
■ It's common for domestic flights to have delays, but the high speed trains are extremely timely. Security for the trains is very light, no need to empty pockets or dispose of liquids, I got through with a 3" knife in my pocket.
■ I unknowingly got a train ticket that does not have an assigned seat so I spent the 5.5 hr ride from Ningbo to Xiamen bouncing around different seats and standing in between cars!
■ A big tour group got on the train and had a duffle bag entirely dedicated to lychees to share and eat on the ride :-)
■ I've grown to really enjoy waking up early. It's so nice to have so much of the day! I read an article once that said there is a high correlation between successful people and waking up early and I believe it. I intend to maintain my early rising when I return home!
■ I should cook for more people more often. Being here has made me feel wonderfully validated, both in terms of my work ethic and my cooking. Working for my dad and cooking for friends and family hasn't always made me feel confident in my skills. But being in a completely new and disconnected environment has really made me realize my worth and abilities. Especially being a foreigner, I've had to "prove" myself and I can comfortably say that I have! Local Mr Zhou even joined us for lunch one day because the others raved to him about my dishes :-D He said I'm the only foreigner who can cook Chinese food!! I want to feed people when I get home, not as a job but to shift to having people over for meals more than going out to eat so much. I want to have a regular open house meal at my place (wherever that may be) for my friends (yes, YOU!) to come and get a free homecooked meal! Who's in??
■ I should art more too.
■ I'm contemplating going even more minimal when I return. I've already grown accustomed to no dishwasher, no TV, and no car. Now I want to remove internet. Not completely, just from my home! I spend far too much time in front of a screen and I honestly don't have the self control to not use the internet when it's easily available. If I eliminate it from my home, I know I will create more art and music. I really love times when I'm disconnected, but I don't have the will power to not be online. I may also start handwashing and air drying my laundry.

It amazes me how quickly my priorities and interests shift. When I was in high school, my goal was to go to a college where I could snowboard on the weekends. I had little interest in cooking and absolutely no interest in agriculture. When I graduated from college I wanted to live in a high rise and become a top business executive. Last year I never would have even entertained the idea of living anywhere but midtown Atlanta. And now? I want a simple 9-5 job and a house where I can grow my own produce. But I have so much inner conflict! I want to literally plant some roots, but I also want to continue traveling and exploring. I feel like I have to choose. One idea is to get a job at Delta so that I can have flight benefits, that way I could stay in Atlanta but still travel often! I'm mulling several things over so we will see. Please stay tuned and continue vicariously joining me on this journey of life :-) As always, thoughts and comments are very appreciated!

Weekend trip

I got to go to Weihai this weekend! The city is on the coast so it's been a nice change in scenery and a good break from the farm. Despite vigorously scrubbing and exfoliating in the sandy beach, I still have dirt-stained hands and feet from the farm hah. I've fully accepted the fact that being clean on a farm is a relative concept :-P

I've been having a great time on this adventure and after 2 months of being gone I will admit that I'm missing home a bit. It's been unusually chilly here, but I know my next few destinations will be sweltering and typhoony, so I'm soaking in the breezes.

I've made some wonderful friends at the farm and even though I have 2 weeks left everyone is sad that I'm leaving. I have decided that after my southern excursions to Ningbo, Xiamen, and Taiwan, I will come back to the farm before heading back to the States! It will be nice to see everyone again and I can also store some things which will be nice. I'll also get to see if the doggies remember me :-)

Just wanted to post an update that I am safe and well!! Hugs!

Reflections from early June

In true blog form, below is an entry of my rambling thoughts in full blogger style. Feel free to skip this one, it's mainly just for me to get my thoughts out so I can figure out what I want to do with my life during this quarter life crisis! This is a post of me venting about a lot that's been on my mind so I apologize in advance if it sounds like a lot of complaining. It helps me organize my thoughts when I write them down, and I hope some of you can help me. I would really appreciate any thoughts or advice :) I can't be the only who has felt like this!

Now more than ever people are creating their own jobs because there just aren't enough jobs available. If you can do what you love, that's terrific! But what if you can't do what you love? Does that mean life is less fulfilling? Does it mean that you've settled? Does it mean that if you don't do what you love then you're selling out to The Man?

We live in a society that tells us that the answer to all of these questions is yes. For years I've been trying to figure out how to make my passions profitable, and I understand the logic behind that goal, but does it really make sense for all of us? My qualm is that I have many passions, none of which I feel I can realistically do for a living. In the wise words of an e-card, "I do many things well, none of which generate income."

So instead of trying to find a "perfect" job, what's wrong with getting a decent job so that I can come home afterwards and then focus on what I love? We are so pressured to find what we love and make it our job, because if you love what you do then it won't feel like work, right? But what's wrong with work?

Let me take a moment to give some background on my perspective. As far as I know my only readers are people who personally know me, shout out to you handful of dedicated Ku fans! For anyone who doesn't know, I have spent the last 5 years running a medical device start up company with my father. I have learned a great deal in the past half decade, all of which is completely credited to my dad, who is an excellent teacher and mentor. Our adventure with this company has given me the unique opportunity to experience a variety of jobs in areas of manufacturing, marketing, research, accounting, sales, design, coordinating, patents, insurance, FDA regulation, training, clinical trials, publishing papers, and more.

About a year ago, my boss-dad told me that if I was interested in dropping down to part-time, I was more than welcome. We had found a distributor for our device to do sales so my workload was forecasted to not be as heavy. Excited with the door of possibilities ajar, I sold my condo and started making travel plans. I took a road trip around the States for 7 weeks, took a mini trip to Australia, and headed to Southeast Asia for the summer. I am currently in China, south of Shanghai, WWOOFing on a farm.

I had several goals with this trip:
1) Spend more time in China (I was here in 2009 for 10 days and had been itching to come back ever since)
2) Eat
3) Figure out what I want to do with my life

I get restless easily. Since leaving the nest, I've never lived in the same building for more than 2 years. My relationships have never made it much longer. I don't have a car, nor do I have any pets. My job has been the longest commitment in my life so far, and I'm not even full-time anymore.

Depending on your view, I'm either afraid of commitment or I suffer from wanderlust. Perhaps it's a bit of both. I've been noticing this pattern in my life for quite some time and I am still on the fence about whether it's good or bad. I worry that I will never be satisfied; that I'll always think that the grass is greener on the other side. I don't like feeling that way. I want to be able to be content and to just enjoy life instead of always searching for something. If you've ever heard "Something's Missing" by John Mayer, it describes the feeling perfectly: "Something's missing, and I don't know how to fix it. Something's missing and I don't know what it is at all."

Let's explore the thought that "The grass isn't greener on the other side, it's green where you water it." What if instead of trying to find the perfect job or perfect house or perfect relationship, I choose to be content with what I have? Is that any different from settling? Where is the line between facing reality and giving up hope for the best? Does anybody else worry about this?

I started this post with the intentions of fleshing out what I want out of my next job.

Working at this farm is fun, and I enjoy the work a lot. But I am aware now more than ever that I do not want to work in a start up company again, at least not for a while. Even though this business is completely different from mine, new companies all have similar challenges. The most struggling challenge I have found both with my company and with this company is the lack of support from an experienced team. While some people may find this kind of challenge exhilarating, I find it extremely frustrating and exhausting. I may be adventurous in some areas, but I've discovered that exploring the unknown in a business environment is just flat out draining. In the kitchen, bring it on! With art and music, it's an absolute requirement! But in work, no thank you. I'm not afraid of making mistakes, those who have experienced my cooking know all too well how experimental I can be, since the most at stake is only a few bucks and a mess in my kitchen. But when it comes to work, I've come to the conclusion that the unknown only means one thing: inefficiency. Lots of time, money, and energy goes into new companies, and while none of it is wasted (as they're all learning experiences), they certainly still get expended, usually at the cost of someone else's money.

I don't like being responsible for things in which I am neither qualified nor skilled, and in any start up, everyone involved is forced into those roles, sometimes with little help. I like sticking with what I'm good at: organization, design, and creativity. I want to be part of a team in which I am responsible for one or two areas, not twenty seven. I don't want to be a manager, I don't want to try and get to the "top". To me, management is just babysitting adults. Lots of people daydream about being their own boss, and I don't understand it. It's an enormous burden and I don't think people realize the weight of the responsibility. Perhaps it's because most people have bad bosses, but I've been blessed with good ones, and I prefer to let them handle the plethora of responsibilities.

Working here feels too much like what I've been doing for the last 5 years. I both live and work here. There is no separation, and I don't like that. I want work and home to be separate and I know that now more than ever. I don't necessarily want to work for a big company, but I want to work at an established company. I want to put my juggling balls down.

I feel a little silly as I write this because I know that every job will involve doing things with which I'm not familiar and doing things I don't want to do. I went from one extreme of sitting at home in front of a computer all day to the other extreme of being outside doing physical work all day. I know with great confidence now that I don't want either of those, but there are definitely a lot of possibilities in between. This was the point of my trip, to try to narrow down what I want to do.

One thing I have noticed is that I actually don't work very well with others :-\ I don't trust people to do things right, so I tend to take on a lot of responsibilities and do them myself instead. This is another reason why I'm not good for management hah. I think if I was part of a team with people who were reliable it would be a different story; and in my mind, as long as you have good people, the type of work is irrelevant. In work I've often felt like I lack support, so I would rather focus on finding work with a good team with reliable people than finding the perfect job description.

One of the things I dislike most about working from home is that I do a lot of work outside of typical work hours. Sure it's nice to have flexibility throughout the day, but I hate not being able to have work and home separated. I know it's likely that I will eat my words, but I want structure; I crave it. I want to go to a place and be able to mentally and physically clock in and clock out. When I leave work, I want to fully leave work. I'm to the point where I think I want a job that is routine (maybe administrative?) so that I can come home and focus on cooking, art, gardening, and music. Everything I love to do doesn't make money, and I'm very much ok with that. I can work to work and not live to work.

Here are some other things I'm contemplating, in no particular order:
» Ignore everything I just wrote and try to find a travel writing job where I will continue working from "home"
» Move to France, squat in my parents' place, and do local work
» Come back to Atlanta and see if I can even find a job!
» Get a RV and nomad around the Americas
» Stalk Nicole Curtis to try to become her apprentice and learn how to renovate houses
» Again ignore everything, and focus all my energy back into PneumoniaCheck
» Try to find a job in the area of agriculture, philanthropy, urban farming, food, etc. that is 9-5.

I know it's natural to go through this kind of thing, and I'm not really even that stressed about it, but it's just what I've been thinking about over here. I know things will work out no matter what. I've had an incredible life so far and I'm so grateful for all of my opportunities and the fact that I even have so many options. Have any of you ever felt like this? Wondered about jobs and settling and what you should do with your life? Let's talk!!

Anyway, thanks for sitting through my rambling :)

Farm overview

Our general routine here is as follows:
06:00 - Wake up
06:30 - Breakfast
07:00 - Work
11:00 - Prepare lunch
11:30 - Lunch
12:00 - Work
16:00 - Go home
18:00 - Dinner
21:00-22:00 - Bed

Working here is a lot of fun, it's a great work environment with really nice people. I love all the physical activity! Such a nice change of pace from sitting at home in front of my computer all day. I've already spent a good bit of time in the kitchen, they like when I make dishes and provide new ideas for meal. And whoawhoawhoa they have a Vitamix blender!! So you know I am all up in their kitchen! Shout out to Our Potluck Family :-D I've already made not 1, but 2 batches of wonderfully smooth hummus! Best hummus I've ever made! While chick peas are hard to find here, I used large white beans instead and nobody could tell the difference! This blender, man, I can't even tell you how in love with it I am. Vitamix blenders are $300-600 in the States and I've been lusting after one for years and saving up for it. But there are comparable high speed blenders here for only $70!! So I am DEFINITELY buying one here! Packing it in my backpack will be interesting :-P

The microgreens here include white and red radish, mustard greens, sunflower, kale, red chard, chives, red cabbage, and arugula. Herbs include mint, basil (Genovese, Thai, and purple), thyme, cilantro, parsley, and lemongrass. And we also have baby spinach, sorrel, and clover. The farm's personal garden has lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, scallions, kale, corn, eggplant, and wheat!

My projects so far have been to transplant basil into the aquaponics "pond", consolidate hundreds of styrafoam boxes of plants into one greenhouse (they have 4 greenhouses total and 3 had sporadic boxes around and were really unorganized), plant a private herb garden for the farm's personal use, test gauze for sprouting, and various other odd jobs like filling/planting trays, transplanting, shoveling chicken crap for fertilizer, watering, moving trays around, etc. Lots to do!

They use a mixture of coconut husk, water, and perlite as a grow media instead of soil to start seeds in trays. The trays get covered with vermiculite, are watered, and then put in a grow house that is heated to induce sprouting. After the seedlings sprout, the trays are moved out onto large tables where they grow only about 3-4 inches tall and then they are harvested for sale! So depending on the seeds, it only takes 7-21 days from seed to harvest! Super fast. I can't wait to try it on my own, on a much smaller scale of course :)

The trays look like Chia pets and I like to "pet" them when I walk by them hah. They also have a bunch of rows of plants in the soil that they want to use for commercial sale as well. Soil and water contamination is inevitable in China, but they mix in their media and other natural fertilizers to improve the quality of the soil. Shrug, I haven't gotten sick yet and I'm hoping I don't have any long term effects from only 3 months!

Various plants have been put into the aquaponics system for testing but they are wanting it to be all basil. They sell the microgreens individually and also in a mix that has all the microgreens as well as mint and cilantro and it tastes DELICIOUS!! Such a yummy salad cuz it's a bit peppery and spicy and fresh, very flavorful! We eat very well here!!

I thought I might start getting homesick after being gone a month, but so far I've been OK. I haven't felt too far from family since I was with my cousin in Shanghai. Perhaps after being out here in rural China for 6 weeks I'll start missing home, but I've only been here just shy of 2 weeks and they already joke about me staying for good! Heh I'm glad they like me here, I certainly am learning a WHOLE bunch! I've been given a few projects and I love how much responsibility I'm given even though I'm just a volunteer. I feel like I already have a "farm family" :-)

Beat (the Swiss manager) spent some time with me showing me all the greenhouses and broke down what every area is on the farm. We are the only ones around during the weekends and it's a good time for training. He's really nice, a very good teacher, and let's me feel really involved. He encourages me to ask questions and to even question their methods so that I can really learn things and so that they can also be flexible with their methods if something isn't working. Even though I know zero about farming, coming from a start-up background I feel like I really understand some of their challenges. The farm hasn't even been in existence for a year and they already have a small but steady customer base. It's impressive the system they already have in place in such a short time! Kinda gives me motivation to hit the ground running with PneumoniaCheck when I get back!

Everything here is very interesting and I'm certainly learning a lot, but it's definitely not traditional Chinese farming hah. We even eat a fair amount of Western food! Spaghetti, sandwiches, French fries. But they are trying to shift to a healthier things so I'm making lots of smoothies with their badass blender. And trying to learn some authentic Chinese dishes too!

OK sorry, this was a very long, unorganized post! Lots of cutting and pasting so my bad. I'll try and make the next post more fluid! Thanks for checking up on me :-)

Hugs from the farm!