Ecotourism

EcoTourism

So this idea has been on my brain all tipsy night since dinner for Marica’s birthday at the Mexican restaurant across the street, through karyoke at the amazing little place at the top of the labrith of the half abandoned mall (the room with hip-hop murals glazing the walls, three levels of cushioned seats), and to this evening where Emma, Erin and I watched huge lanterns (golden flickering lights) rise off the mountain side and into the starry night above the city.

I’m been thinking about ecotrouism and how it fits really well with lots of my interests and passions. First of all, for me personally, it puts a good taste in my mouth; the whole thing is just rich with the kind of memories I treasure – family, nature, meeting people, staying and getting to know people, helping and visiting the earth. Second it is very close to both trip leading, and making a “artistic home”. Trip leading, my joy and passion, and also something I’m good at is something I’ve been wanting to do for a least a few years sometime in my athletic youth, but I’ve never seen it as a longer term thing because theres just the bigger fish to fry of my life energy to devote to saving the earth. Ecotourism, on the other hand, takes that life drive and applies it! It would almost be like the Wildeness Philosophy House, but for all the time! I could organize the place, work with a team of people, but also have indepence and responsibility, and leadership time, on my own. I would be able to teach and share about rich biology/ecology/environment knowledge that gives the place its flavor, and also get to know and talk with new people all the time. (something that gives me lots of energy). In the ENFP personality type career style, it says they are good working with other people, on their own time (starting their own business), and they tend to make the place they work have a wonderful, unique asthetic. That sounds pretty spot on to me, if I were working at or starting a little ecotrousim resort/camp somewhere.

Also, half way through our Agroecology course we stopped at this little ecotourism resort called “the Nest” in Chiang Dao. I was –high- off uphoria the whole time we were there. Something about the place, the charm, the integration with nature, the living within a set of environmental values / principles, the friendly/frankness of the woman who owned it, it drove me crazy with excitement.

It wouldn’t be saving the world. I wish I could do that –write policy, report on an coporate scandle, be a env lawyer…. But at least for now… I don’t know if I am that person. I know I could learn the skills, but its hard to chose one, to know which one to devote four + (or however many) years to. Those things are pretty scary, big unknowns to me now. Shrouded in a mist of lack of knowledge, and meek confidence. Plus, where would I live, who would I surround myself with?

It might be a lot of dealing with picky rich people. But naturally, people don’t really tend to get on my nerves. People others can’t stand, I like just fine, so I think… well… maybe it wouldn’t bother me as much as other people.

I don’t know much about it… so maybe that is why it would be a great ICRP (integrated cultural research project) to do for the next month. So that I can get to know it, up close and personal, since it doesn’t exist so much back where I come from. (I could do bio research, voluenteer at a zoo there…. But, well, it might be good to know about third world ecotourism for the future).

Also it would fit very nicely into a Udall Application, as a refined focus I recently got a ton of feedback from Mia, one of the directors of Udall, on my last years application. She says she would look to show focus and commitment. Environmental communications narrows to ecotourism. (I wonder how many ecotourism applicants there are…??? There was a park ranger… kind of like US ecotouism…and I thought she was fascinating/ it sounded like fun) I mean Wilderness House, Land Sea, Nordhouse, Woofer, and then learning about biology/ecology and env poetry / art as ways to engage others in the wilderness and inspire greater value of nature….

I can push that more believably than say env. communications to journalism or lawyer, since I have no experience in either.

Is it big enough to satisfy me? What are my expectations of myself? Honestly, probably not. But maybe combined with some other things, free time to do that art, write those poems….

Can I live comfortably? Well, one thing is clear, if I were living so close to nature I don’t care if I drive and old car, live in a small house, don’t have AC, and get my clothes from Op Shops. If I have time for art and talking to people about nature… what else do I need? (also if Tor was doing ecology research in the nearby areas….) I don’t think I would be my whole life, but for a while…. + It might be a nice lead into teaching???