The Fruitarian returns to the far East...

Ahhhh, as I sit here sipping my jasmine tea and designing my website, I take a moment to pause and update all of you, whomever you are, on the progression of my life. I've recently landed back in Taiwan, having left India after a long (nearly) 8 months! Identically as I said last time I left: it will be a while before I return to India (though last time 'a while' turned out to be only 1.5 years..)

Nonetheless, yes, I am now back in East Asia, my much preferred place to live, and I'm quite content with the jasmine in my tea rather than my hair!

Jasmine flowers in hair

I'm back here first to work at the same English language camp that I engaged in a year ago. This past year has flown by, though it has been jam-packed with loads of new learning and exploration, opening up my world to other realms previously unimagined. I am thrilled to report such non-material progress.

As hinted in my past few communications, I essentially sacrificed my external life over the past five months and donated it to Auroville, the largest intentional community in the world - a spiritual, international community based upon human unity - located in the heat and chaos of southern India. There I engaged in an extremely intensive, multi-lateral internship experience. I lived there two years ago for a brilliant study abroad program called Living Routes, and I returned this year out of availability of the Indian visa (after studying Bengai on the State Department's penny in Kolkata this summer).

The 'A' marker is TAINAN

Back to the here and now: Taiwan. I arrived expected to be merely a teacher in the same role as last year but was greeted by the owner of the company in proposal to make me the camp leader. After hearing the differences (same pay, 1/3 less days working, no actual in-class teaching responsibiities, only day camps, no overnight..) I quickly jumped on the 'yes' key! The universe is surely looking out for me. They have numerous simultaneous camps a over the island, so as this camp in the north begins, I will board a train tomorrow morning to head down to Tainan in the much-warmer south. Indeed happy am I!

Idlis: probiotic fermented steamed rice!

Otherwise, the fruitarianism is going along quite well with high spirits. I took a two-three day haitus before I left India, because I wanted a sweet parting with my sweet, sweet idlis, which I still adore. But now I'm here in Taiwan, termed by this article as a fruit-lover's paradise. One order of that, please!

More adventures to come soon enough...

With love and light,

apd