Thoughts on vacation.

After reading my latest post, you are right in assuming I had a great time on Martha's Vineyard. In fact, I had a blast. It was great to see Kara along with her brother and father. I was also very happy to meet a new friend in Justin. My experience on Martha's Vineyard was, however, difficult in the sense that I had many feelings to manage. I hope this post will help me articulate some of my life experiences so you can have another perspective of the world we live in, particularly Martha's Vineyard.

Upon landing at Martha's Vineyard, it didn't take long for me to notice how much money was being spent. My ticket, for example, cost 70 dollars round trip. Now before I even set foot on the island, I can help feed a family in rural India for a few weeks. I realized this wasn't a typical vacation spot when I found myself in a sea of white people holding multiple shopping bags as they walked across streets and into their Range Rovers. I could barely smell the salt in the air before I had trouble managing thoughts of guilt, sadness, and shame.

In the summer of 2006 I spent 2 weeks in rural Brazil participating in a church sponsored mission trip to help a humanitarian organization called the Medical Missionaries of Mary. During this time, along with painting a school and visiting impoverished farmers, I became inspired to help others. During this trip, I knew that whatever I did for a living when I grew older had to have a direct positive impact on a person's life every day.

Soon after this trip, in the fall of 2007, I spent 3 and half months in India studying abroad. It was during this time abroad that my life changed forever. India is the world's largest democracy and it struggles to rise into the industrialized world. Millions of Indians are trapped in a world of inadequate health care, insufficient schooling, and unemployment. Every day, while I walked on the street, I saw dozens of children begging. Coming up to your arms, asking for money, these children had looks of desperation and hopelessness that has been burned in my memory. I will never forget the night I landed in New Delhi, and as our bus took the group I was with to our hotel, I looked out the window and saw people sleeping on the street for what seemed like miles.

Now, as we fast forward to Oak Bluffs, this tiny island town had no visible signs of these horrors that plague parts of India. Now, to be fair, I will say the people I saw were vacationers, and I am sure the year round residents of Oak Bluffs and Martha's VIneyard have issues with healthcare, unemployment, and poverty. The point I want to make is these issues are very hard to find on the island because they are masked by a constant ambiance of wealth and well-being. There seems to be no struggle, and that is what bothered me. Having seen the struggles that people face on a daily basis, I have difficulty managing the reconciliation of my time in India and Brazil with times like being on Martha's Vineyard.

I will, at this time, say there is absolutely nothing wrong with Martha's Vineyard. In fact, I hope to go back some day. What I hope you, my reader, can begin to understand, is how it was difficult for me to enjoy the opportunity for relaxation on the island when I am aware that at the same time countless people are struggling throughout the world. I understand that any person can pick up a New York Times and be aware of the same thing but, at the risk of sounding self-righteous, the problems of the world become much more vivid when you experience them first hand.

My hope for you after having read this post is that you will continue to vacation in the cesspools of wealth that are tucked into the beautiful corners of our world. Keep going. sun bathe. water ski. swim. drink. eat. sleep. silence your phone. Do all the great things we yearn for as we toil away in the office after months of work and stress. Except the next time you go, actually read the paper on the plane, ferry, or train. Flip to whatever God awful atrocity is going on in the world at that time, and learn about it. Then, as you arrive at the resort, cabin, bungalow, or hostel, keep the article in your thoughts. I think this can help us become more grateful for what we have, and perhaps more aware of how we can help those in need. Remember that at all times, there is suffering. Personally, I think this is something we should be especially aware of as we swim up to the bar and order another margarita. I hope you do a better job than I did.

Hurricane Hasson Descends on the Vineyard

On Wednesday I awoke with my lovely girlfriend and was soon out the door after a light breakfast. Our dear friend Kara was staying on Martha's Vineyard for the week with her father and brother and we were extended an invitation to join them. Having never been to Martha's Vineyard, I was very excited at the opportunity to explore yet another corner of our great New England region. My only problem was I had to work on Thursday at 3:30 PM. So, the plan was this: take the New Bedford fast ferry at 9:30 AM on Wednesday and arrive at Oak Bluffs at 10:30. Enjoy the day at the Vineyard. Enjoy a great evening with Kara and her family at the vineyard. Wake up, have a light breakfast, and catch the 10:50 AM ferry back to New Bedford.

The trip was awesome. We arrived at Oak Bluffs at the same time as another ferry from Cape Cod, so the area was bustling with activity. There was a bunch of traffic laced with walkers and bikers. Oak Bluffs is a beautiful town set against golden sand beaches with rows of "gingerbread" houses lined against an expansive lawn. It was definitely an area I enjoyed being around. We spent the rest of the morning and much of the afternoon at the house Kara's dad was renting. I was able to meet her brother and father, who I had briefly met before at Saint Mike's, as well as her friend Justin. Justin is an awesome guy with a welcoming spirit and in him I found a new friend on the island.

Our time at the house grew longer and we eventually decided to bike to the beach on one of the island's many bike paths. Upon arriving to the beach, Justin, Kara, Sarah, and I were able to enjoy sandwiches and snacks with one another. I was able to take a quick dip with Justin before we had to leave to head back to the house to prepare for our evening activity: a sun set cruise on a catamaran!

The cruise was from 6 to 8 and it was magnificent in every way. Kara's dad prepared an assortment of snacks including crackers with an Amish blue cheese, grapes, and a great guacamole with chips. Along with all this he bought a bottle of white wine for us to share together. Throughout my short time on Martha's Vineyard, one thing that never ceased to amaze me was how I felt I had known Kara's father for years. He was so incredibly welcoming and generous during my stay on the island.

The cruise left Edgartown and tacked up the island towards Chapaquittek. It was amazing to spend time with Justin, Brendan, Kara, Sarah, and Jim. Upon returning, we stopped at a family-style restaurant to pick up a couple pizzas, drove home, and spent the evening watching the classic "Jaws", which happened to be filmed right on Martha's Vineyard!

The following morning, as any hurricane does, I left the island almost as quickly as I came. When I arrived at the ferry terminal I was shocked to learn the ferry would not be leaving until 12:30! It was stuck in New Bedford because the hurricane barrier locked it in the harbor. And so, before leaving I was able to spend some more quality moments with this group of beautiful people before returning to the mainland.

Sarah decided to return with me, so we walked up to the second deck of the fast ferry together. We sat on the open deck, felt the salty wind whip our hair, and soaked in the sun. We cruised through the cape islands, through Wood's Hole, and back to New Bedford. As we raced along the coast, with a bright sun in the sky, I couldn't help but look over at my beautiful girlfriend and think, my God, what I life I live!!