And the beat goes on...

Well, it is my last night here in Spain (Catalunya) and I have done a terrible job of informing you of my adventures and keeping you up-to-date...i guess i was to busy having adventures. You'll just have to wait until I get back to the states and can tell you in person...in the meantime you can look at the pictures I've put up...someday I'll put up the rest. All I can say is that the past nine months have been a crazy adventure and I have made some of the best friends in the world that I will miss terribly. i am going to miss the kids a lots too...but someday I am sure I will see them all again. And with that, here is the typical end of a story saying in Catalunya:
"Vet aquí un gos, vet aquí un gat, aquest conte s'ha acabat"...which literally means, here comes a dog, here comes a cat, this story is finished. But which basically means, the end. and that's all she wrote.

Long Overdue...

I just got pictures from a calçotada I went to in March (that's what happens when you break your camera...you have to wait for people to get around to giving you the pictures they took) luckily thanks to my wonderful parents I now have a working camera waiting for me in the states, yay!!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/Sarah.K.Herman/CalOtada

fast as a speeding bullet

just got back from munich on monday
can't wait to come home....lots to pack, everyday is filled to the max!!
here are some pictures from munich, sorry there are no captions... http://picasaweb.google.com/Sarah.K.Herman/MarvelousMunich

quick update

went hiking a bunch this weekend!! here is the hike on sunday: http://picasaweb.google.es/excursionscat/070506AncientHousesInTheHills
after helping meritxell translate all the information for this hike and then seeing the "Ancient Houses In the Hills" ... i feel they may actuall be closer to cliff dwellings...except not necessarily attached to cliffs, but that's what they reminded me of...
i am attempting to clean my room and pack a bit up...not going very well, it is a disaster area in here
i am going to germany on the 17th to see viki again and i am really excited. this time i get to visit Munich, so it will be a lot of fun!!
i am starting a project for Gepec involving global warming, pictures, and a power point slide. I had my first adventure today wandering around trying to take pictures of chemical plants and ports and industrial things...i was mildly successful...hopefully i'll have better luck next time
ciao!!

'til by turning and turning we come down right

I really want to enjoy spain and all it has to offer, but at this point all i do is find myself thinking of coming home. This is not to say that I am not enjoying myself here, i love travelling. most recently i have been to scotland and hungary. when i get the pictures I will make albums and then you can see all about my trips. plus I love all my friends here. they are truly amazing and sweet and I have a wonderful time with them. This past sunday a small group of us went to Barcelona for a day out and fun lunch and here are some pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/Sarah.K.Herman/SundayLunch

I was supposed to go to France this weekend, but in the end it didn't work out. So instead i have the house to myself, which I absolutely love. i have walked around in my underware, listened to music and danced, cooked and made a mess and tonight i am hosting a dinner party that i think will be excellent.

in an attempt to take advantage of being in spain and living near the beach, after 9 months of being here, i've finally gone. I really enjoyed it, the sound of the water is always relaxing.

since being here I think i've only become more head strong and passionate about the environment and i have all sorts of plans and ideas to implement when i get back. i am still volunteering for GEPEC (the local environmental organization) when I am not travelling or working.

well, i'm off to go start cooking!

Short but Sweet

I am determined to write something, but it won't be long. I don't know exactly what my next sentence or thought was in the last post, so I'll just have to pick it up later or start over. Just wanted everyone to know I didn't forget about my blog...I am just too busy having adventures... my most recent adventure was a trip to Italy with Gabe, it was amazing!! here are pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/Sarah.K.Herman

Interestingly enough I got a wonderful book in English in Florence...it is call "The Rough Guide to Ethical Shopping" it is really excellent and I am very much enjoying reading it. Here is the first sentence: "Most of this book is concerned with the social and environmental implications of specific products, companies, labels (such as organic or Fairtrade) and approaches to ethically minded shopping" ...you can see why I like it so much.

Actually, most recently I went for a short hike this sunday...it was the first one of Sergi and Meritxell's business, and they had quite the turn out, yay! here are pictures (created by Meritxell from her pictures and from pictures by another guy on the hike): http://picasaweb.google.es/excursionscat

ok, well, in deference to my title, that is all for now!

It Matters

Think of how much money you have spent in the past month (rent/mortgage, food, utilities, interent/phone, car, gas, travel, shopping, etc...) what about the past year? Where is your money really going? It adds up and it matters what companies are getting in, because in the end, you give them a lot of money. You may say you are against child labor or fight for worker's rights in your own job, but what about those who produce all the, many times, "useless junk" that clutters our lives. Why is our society obssessed with consumerism and materialism? What was the last gift you gave someone? Did it really mean anything, or did you just get it because you thought you needed to get something? Wouldn't you rather just spend meaningful time with someone you are close to instead of trying to find them some other inane piece of clutter that they don't really need? It is easy to convince ourselves that we need the latest great new shirt, shoes, gadget or whatever, but chances are, you'll definitley survive and probably prosper without it.

so i am totally right in the middle or maybe just at the beginning of this entry but between Jan getting cranky and me wanting go for a run i will have to finish it later....so i know it is kind of strange right now...but i am publishing it because i don't want to lose anything i have started with incase i want it later

Lifesaving Links:
http://adbusters.org/metas/corpo/blackspotshoes/ - really amazing shoes...you should get them the next time you need shoes, I am!

the following thanks to my dad!:
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/whatsnew/f1ae0e0796b84010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html - Las Cruces Sun-News mentioned using two-button toilets to reduce water consumption. This Popular Science article gives an overview and links to the major manufacturers.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/home1.html - Wired magazine's January 2007 issue showcases 7 amazing (admittedly high-end) homes built to be low-impact. There are still some ideas for the rest of us here, even if we can't afford to do something so fancy.

Other alternative housing links:
http://www.cobcottage.com/whatis - sustainable and practical earth homes...i think someday i'll build one