Roots

June 12, 2016 by Torrie Hazelwood in Travel, Norway

I've been thinking a lot about the concept of "home" recently so much so that I decided to launch a new photo/interview project for myself to explore how others conceptualize home. My curiosities around how people think about home largely stem from leading a bit of a nomadic life and yet finding myself feeling "at home" on many occasions. One of my earliest memories of this was in Norway. For those of you who know me this will come as no surprise. I am part Norwegian and have been brought up to be fiercely proud of this. My childhood home is smattered with bits of Norway - rosemaling (Norwegian folk art), hand crafted wooden goblets, fine cheese slicers, little trolls and elf creature figurines from folklore and mini viking ships. Norway felt like home even before I arrived for the first time years ago - I was familiar with food, language and customs - plus I have family there who make me feel so comfortable and welcome.

This May I traveled back to Norway with my family to see the May 17 celebrations in Oslo (Norwegian Constitution Day) - a day in which, among other things, Norwegians dress in their traditional bunad and eat copious amounts of ice cream - and to spend some quality time with family and the fjords. From bike rides to trail running to kayaking in the fjords, my love for the outdoors is undoubtedly rooted in my Norwegian blood. I draw my energy and inspiration from being outside and find that the steep cliffs shooting into the waters of the fjords and the subtle appreciation for outdoor life in Norway sits well with my soul and makes me feel, simply put, at home.

I've Been to the Land Down Under

April 02, 2016 by Torrie Hazelwood in New Zealand, Travel

Two and a half weeks, five people in a five person car, all of our camping gear and the west coast of New Zealand's South Island to explore. We experienced the beautiful contrasts between the cultivated and wild landscapes, felt dwarfed by the mountains and calmed by crashing waves that lulled us to sleep. We kayaked in the Tasman sea, hiked up mountains, drove (a lot), swam in blue pools, and jumped from bridges (bungees attached...sometimes). We are now left with indescribable moments of awe at what nature has to offer and a hunger to come back and continue exploring. This is an incredibly abbreviated version of our trip and it will take me a while to cull through my memories to choose one to recount here. In the meantime, enjoy these images.

*Sunrise on Te Pukatea, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand*

*Sunset on Onetahuti, Abel Tasman National Park , New Zealand*

*Catching a water taxi in Awaroa Bay, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand*

*Car trouble in Hari Hari, New Zealand (our car is not pictured).*

*Gillespies Beach Campground, Fox Glacier, New Zealand*

*Reflection of Mt. Cook at Lake Matheson, Fox Glacier, New Zealand*

*Summit of Roys Peak, Wanaka, New Zealand*

*Our trusty car entering Fiordland, New Zealand*

*Sunrise at Cascade Creek Campground, Fiordland, New Zealand*

*Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand*

*Setting up camp near Queenstown, New Zealand*

*(Somewhat successful shot) near Queenstown, New Zealand*

As I Predicted

March 21, 2016 by Torrie Hazelwood in New Zealand, Travel

Well, I've done what I thought I would do. Namely, I've chosen to be with friends and conveniently "forgotten" to sit down and write. I struggle with the balance of remaining present while seeking alone time to write and process, as I feel memories are constantly being created and, due to the limited I have with the incredible family I've found here, it's hard to convince myself to sit on my own. This is an entirely new feeling for me. I am someone who is very comfortable spending time by myself and, up until recently, I felt that I needed that time to recharge. But something wonderful has happened in that the people I'm surrounded by fill me a sense of ease where I can at once be with them while also regaining energy. It occurs to me daily how fearcly kind, confident, humble and hilarious the people I live with are and for that I am forever grateful.

*Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, Waiotapu, New Zealand*

Becket-Chimney Corners Around the World, Part 2

January 14, 2016 by Torrie Hazelwood in Travel, Australia

Its a hard thing to convey to people and even harder to believe it when they say they understand. I talk about camp a lot (some may say this is a massive understatement) but there's a reason. Tucked away in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Town of Becket plays host to a community that is at once global and local. Many of us have lived and/or traveled with each other to distant places. We stay in one others' homes where they and/or their parents and relatives take us in as surrogate family/children, making us feel at home because they know it will be reciprocated when they visit us. We crave spending time with each other, whether to hear about one anothers day, a good travel story, singing or simply sit quietly in each others presence while doing our own thing. Being together flexes a certain part of my heart reserved for my camp friends. Having worked at a camp like BCCYMCA, we know the value of teamwork, we are (in most cases) aware of our strengths and where we can improve and each adventure is not left for one person to plan and no job is done without the support of another. For many, we feel our second home is in the Berkshires, a physical place for us to get together, but in reality, we are each others' second home, spread around the world and waiting to welcome each other home.

These are a few images from when my Kiwi camp friends and I visited Australian and USA camp friends living in Merimbula, Australia. Most of us met at Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA in Becket, Massachusetts, USA.

Mount Doom: The Time I Simply Walked into Mordor

January 13, 2016 by Torrie Hazelwood in Travel, New Zealand

Since arriving in New Zealand I have been blown away by how consistently beautiful this country is. In an effort to live out my many Lord of the Rings fantasies, I have hiked mountains, sought out waterfalls, and traversed the North Island - I've even found the perfect Gandalf-style walking stick. Here to help me realize my LOTR dreams are my Kiwi camp friends I made while at Becket Chimney Corners YMCA in the States (I expect they will be thrilled at the prospect of dressing up as elves, dwarfs, hobbits, etc. to go hiking). As the great Galdalf the Grey once said "all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us" and with that I will spend my days here exploring, petting Kiwi birds, and shouting "you shall not pass!" whenever the mood catches me.

*Mount Doom (aka Mt. Ngauruhoe) Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand*

*Ngarotopounamu Lake, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand*

What can you fit on a motorbike in Vietnam?

December 20, 2015 by Torrie Hazelwood in Travel, Vietnam

The Game: What can you fit on a motorbike in Vietnam?
1. A family of 5.
2. The biggest air conditioner I've ever seen.
3. Two 8ft trees strapped to each side like panniers.
4. A 5x5x5 size stack of takeout boxes and bowls.
5. Roughly 15 empty water coolers.
6. A guy holding about 4 6' mirrors.
7. All the fruits!
8. Two sets of mannequin legs.
9. A huge bag of Christmas baubles.
10. An elderly couple carrying a big basket of eggs who gave zero fuqs as they cut off a giant dumpster truck #rideordie.

This list could go on and on but the answer to what can you fit on a motorbike in Vietnam is actually anything...if you've got the right attitude.

*Detached curiosity at Ailu Cate Cafe, Saigon, Vietnam*

Bánh tráng trộn (my favorite street food), Saigon, Vietnam — *Bánh tráng trộn (my favorite street food)*, *Saigon, Vietnam*

Meeting the Fam

December 20, 2015 by Torrie Hazelwood in Travel, Vietnam

I was met in Vietnam by the most friendly face. A little over a year ago I led a youth travel trip to Vietnam and worked with Yen, who is arguably one of the loveliest human beings ever. On this visit, Yen brought me back to her home town, Bien Hoa, to meet her family. Unsurprisingly, her family was warm and welcoming, despite the language barrier. That evening, I went to dinner with Yen, her twin sister, and several of their friends, stopped by a coffee shop to hear some live music (Yen had the group sing some Adele songs #hello) and hung out with her cat and kittens. The next morning we got up bright and early to play badminton and eat some pho (sidebar: I have been here for a week and have eaten pho 9 times #noregrets). Later we had lunch with her family, which was a huge treat as her family is incredibly busy getting ready for her brother's wedding that's two weeks away, before heading to the airport to go to Phu Quoc!

*Yen's family outside their home, Bien Hoa, Vietnam*

In n' Out of Taipei

December 12, 2015 by Torrie Hazelwood in Travel, Taiwan

First, let me say, from my experience, that the Taiwanese people are some of the most friendly and helpful people I've encountered thus far on this trip. If you ask someone for directions or point to map of where you want to go, they will help you! And there's a good chance they may even walk with you to that place to make sure you get there okay! In-credible.

During my last week in Taiwan, I visited the Treasure Hill Artist Village (to get lost and then see some street art), Yehliu Geological Park (to be trampled by the unruly tourists) and a few towns along the Pingxi railway line (to watch a hundred prayer lanterns be launched by families, couples and a bunch of ladies groups who were THRILLED to send up their lanterns and then spent five minutes afterwards jumping, clapping and hugging - life is exciting, people).

*Treasure Hill Artist Village, Taipei, Taiwan*

*Zhongpu Bridge (Lover Bridge), Pingxi, Pingxi Distict, Taiwan*

*Shifen Old Street, Pingxi Distict, Taiwan*

So Many Night Markets, So Little Time

December 01, 2015 by Torrie Hazelwood in Travel, Taiwan

Here are a few things I really like about Taiwan so far:

1. There are statues like the one in the first photo. This has led me to believe that Taiwan has totally embraced the technology-loving, selfie-taking, peace-sign wielding culture and to prove it they erected a monument. Amazing. P.S. all of the metro stations have free wifi.

2. Night markets galore. You can find just about anything you need and many things you didn't know you needed. From technology (yeah, I bought one of those mini lenses that clips onto your iPhone for $5 - watch out Instagram!), to clothes with some of the finest Chinglish, to incredible street food where you get one red bean cake and then return 20 minutes later to get two more and you end up taking a selfie with the stand's presider (hey, Ariel, catch ya on Facebook!), Taipei has THE best night markets.

3. Cassette tapes are readily available. I recently watched a video of an 8 year old trying to figure out how to use a cassette tape player and after it was over I took a hard look at my 25 year old self and marveled at how far we've come with technology. I also questioned if we are teaching the youth the important things (shouldn't we all still know the joy that is clipping your cassette player to your belt and cruising down the driveway on your rollerblades before running inside to watch Full House?). Yet another reminder that the 90's were a magical time.

Shida Night Market, part 1Taipei, Taiwan — *Shida Night Market, part 1*
*Taipei, Taiwan*

Shilin Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan — *Shilin Night Market,* *Taipei, Taiwan*

Shida Night Market, part 2 (photo credit: K. Walter)Taipei, Taiwan — *Shida Night Market, part 2 (photo credit: K. Walter)*
*Taipei, Taiwan*

"Hey, hey, hey ladiesss [market]!"

November 26, 2015 by Torrie Hazelwood in Travel, Hong Kong

Hong Kong felt, in many ways, like a coming home. The comfort I experienced while being there no doubt had a great deal to do with the reduced language barrier (many people spoke at least a little English), more familiar food options to cater to the large ex-pat community (coffee shops everywhere #blessed) and the city function in a way that was more familiar to me. I was able to experience the Lan Kwai Fang Carnival, which is a giant street fair that was Korean themed this year! From trying some delicious local eats to watching an up-and-coming KPOP singer (her name was Ha-Rin Lee - notably not Harry, as I initially thought), the carnival, and the rest of my time in Hong Kong, will inevitably draw me back...and maybe inspire me to purchase a few KPOP songs.

"Hey ladiessss!"  - Beastie Boys (this song was stuck in my head the ENTIRE time I was walking through this market) Ladies Market, Hong Kong — *"Hey ladiessss!" - Beastie Boys* *(this song was stuck in my head the ENTIRE time I was walking through this market)*
*Ladies Market, Hong Kong*

*Star Ferry, Kowloon to Hong Kong Island*

A reminder of home in the heart of Hong KongPortland Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong — *A reminder of home in the heart of Hong Kong*
*Portland Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong*