Nov. 2009

My life is this incredible circle that somehow inspires me over and over again. The wind is sound enough to create my interest in what exists around me. The sun so bright my eyes must close and I go inward again…and the wind blows and it starts over and over, cycling. I received something to keep on me to protect me. To attach it with a pin and although its cold my jacket is not where it is pinned but to my camera strap as that truly what is my companion. I never would have known. As I never can, many smiles for that belief and the solidness of dissipated space as the concrete.
I soon fly back to the states. Texas will hold me for a few days then to mother and lutui in Danby. This extraordinary stage of travel for Habitat for Humanity as a volunteer, being overly paid in experience in a happy exchange for my time is ending in Europe and Central Asia. I have met extraordinary people, had many offers to be married off and witnessed many communities, even become a part of some.
My exploration of representing women in my personal work has come to new places. I spend time with women communicating in English, with a translator or just in existing in space together for extended periods of time. Their light enters my work and when the men step outside the space that is in the room has been taken over again by the women clan. I watch and participate.
The roles in Tajikistan, where I most recently was, I experienced as a women in jeans. Also I was invited to the other side where I wore scarves and was left to be with the clan. Men of Multiple marriages sat as we drank tea, me and all the men, glowing happy people. Or I was with the women and children to have Tea, depending on the house. Many men were not of multiple marriages but I came to understand that this point did not signify how much love was in the partnership or what kind of partnership it was. The older men with more than one wife looked much older than the men with only one. I can image it would be a lot of work, as they also jokingly say. An extended conversation for another time.
The water system is in need of more infrastructures. Habitat has a water filter programs there which seems to be a great investment choice for a family. But a greater distribution system is needed for the communities to have water year round and without needing to manually retrieve it.
The road to Radt is incredible. Beauty . in the fog the mountains look like an exquisite painting that is flat only the reality is so many distances and depths of detail. The tricks it plays with your eyes and the hawks flying around. The road goes on and on. Dirt for hours of bumpy driving.
Tajikistan is like Romania. I will be returning to spend time and photograph.
I am now in Kyrgyzstan.

A friend- aug 4th

August 4th
Romania
And the flight to Vienna will leave in forty minutes. That is of course the flight BEFORE mine. I have crossed security, without interest in totally missing my flight. Outside a woman I wanted to sit with. Relaxed in her long skirt something spread out on the ground under tree. An excuse of needing a light to speak but I did not, yet sat in front of her a bit and after she left for a while when she returned she sat down with me.
As well talked through some broken language communications but English fluidity to a good enough degree. She a Roma of back ground and of her history. At 15 married. Off to belgum to see her husband there for work, who pushed her into a car at that age to make her go to the hotel and then she was his wife. Instead of going to Germany to school or study other place. Interesting, was it all truths? I don’t know but she was safe in my space and me in hers. She spoke of corruption and very hard living but our energies were in line for the many hours we sat together in the darkening lawn from early evening till the day was soon to change to the next. Incredible to experience this would be a woman I would choose to be good friends with. If we crossed in our lives.
How different for either of us. A lifetime away from each others experience but friendship would grow with time, as something exists. I hope she is fine through the night outside the airport. I know I am fine in this waiting room. Although sleep could end in a missed flight. When the delay was mentioned I should have asked about an earlier flight. Being that I was here so early but I didn’t assume more than one went out in the evening. Being that chris dropped me an hour and half early. Here I am. Hopefully this flight…I can too leave on. We will see. How wonderful my full life. Not enough time for sleeping though.. Goodness Celine Dion , you are everywhere. Sleep.