Heading back to the US off A on a plane full of tourists, I was all clean and ready for the next phase in this trip.
Going through customs was a breeze and I picked up by my friend Max, the airport was crazy busy as it was the 4th July weekend
(American independence day) and the start of the summer holidays.
Arriving back at Penny and Max’s house I was informed we were in for a treat of an evening ahead with a nautical theme, we were having dinner and then heading to a boat for a water taxi to another bar. Penny and Max have a lot of antipodeans friends and Americans also living in L.A so it was fabulous to meet some new people and chat about life and numerous interesting topics. The boat cruise was fantastic as there are a lot of waterways near their place so it’s a great way to get around.
The following day I couldn’t help but head to Venice beach again on penny’s bike to catch some of the antics and fun. It was a lot busier this time and hotter so people watching were at it’s best!
Penny is an amazing cook/chief so I was treated to a fabulous meal before Arty came to pick me up.
Reminiscing of my trip to Baja and showing Arty all my pictures set in my mind how fabulous and lucky I was to experience San Juanico. I will definitely go back!
Before I took my train to San Diego, we went out for Brunch. One of my favourite things to do is eat so it’s fabulous to check out all the places that are on offer. There is so many places and different fun names, its incredible. There are many healthy options too! I must say I do miss a flat White coffee!
So now here I am at camp land. http://www.campland.com
with the Paskowitz crew, its been a week now I have been here and we have had one camp so far. It was a special camp as it was the first ever time they have welcomed families with autistic kids. We had 5 families of varying sizes with kids that had varying autistic characteristics. We had 2 nights and 3 days together, surfing and chilling out at beach back at camp around the fire or at the picnic tables sharing conversations. Tremendously interesting to learn about other people and families. The kids that had autism were real characters, incredible minds and capabilities. What the families endure to live with such a disorder is incredible. I truly take my hat off to them all. Bless!
Surfers Healing
When we go to the beach we go to the same spot every time as we have a permit to be there (county is very strict on regulations and beach use, especially surf instructing we will get regular checks). Tourmaline is the spot, it has a small dirt track to the beach and we set up shade tents on the beach and spend most part of the day there, 2 sessions of surfing with a long lunch break in between.
I have got a bike and I have found a yoga place up the street where I can practise yoga – Core Power Yoga.
So today starts the first camp with typical people, and we will be into the first full camp. I am truly feeling really blessed to have the opportunity to work with the Paskowitz family.
They are a very famous surfing family and have extreme expertise in surf camp operation and working in the water with autistic kids. Some of the instructors are amazing water men, it takes great skill and strength to take some of the kids tandem surfing and be responsible for another human in the water.
I feel like I need to pinch myself just to realise what I am doing! Summer in California is what all the songs and movies say, it’s incredible! So very different from anything we have in Aotearoa!
I have had my first tears of homesickness, but all my whanau and friends remain stuck to my heart, keeping my taonga (greenstone carving) on all the time keeps my strength up!
Any way thats it for now, as I write so much more has been happening so I update you soon!
Love Fi…xx
