The pleasure of stumbling upon a magical place with little to no expectations is one of my favorite feelings. It’s a lot harder to do these days now that we seemingly live out our entire lives online in a public arena. 

Before visiting the Faroe Islands and working with Adventure Canada, I sort of had an idea of what it might look like from just being active in the travel world on social media. Big mountains. No trees. Crazy islands. Turf houses. Sheep. Puffins. 

It was kind of like Iceland but different too. Wow me. There were so many things that I was surprised to learn while visiting the Faroe Islands.

25 photos to inspire you to visit the Faroe Islands

One of the biggest things I loved about the Faroe Islands was how enigmatic it was; it was like a mystery trying to unravel. Forever curious, I’m always reading, contemplating, and asking a shit ton of questions. I learned a lot from a week there on the North Atlantic Saga expedition trip. One of the amazing things about Adventure Canada is that they invest a lot in local guides and share the culture of a place in a kind, not-weird way. There are a lot of lectures on board about the people and places we visit, and we get to spend a lot of time with locals. 

But let me be frank, there are no two ways about it: the Faroe Islands are kind of weird. Mysterious and unexpected, it was unlike anywhere I’ve been, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.

But what can you expect? Remote, wild, and pretty challenging to get to means that many of its cultural facets and history have remained unchanged for centuries. Only recently booming in tourism, I noticed the Faroes reconciling their past and present in quite a few ways. 

Here are some things I was surprised to learn while visiting the Faroe Islands. Enjoy!

1. The sea cliffs are wild

I was reading a book about the Faroe Islands, The Land of Maybe, and there was a morbid yet hilarious anecdote (my favorite kind) from a foreign author. He was spending time with hardcore older locals in the Faroes as they practiced the traditional way of harvesting bird eggs and chicks from the steep sea cliffs. They essentially tie a rope to a guy as he slides down the cliff while the rest hang on. Hardcore, I know – basically, modern Vikings. 

All wearing thick wooly jumpers and heavy pants, they were making fun of the author in his shiny Goretex jacket and rainpants. They said something along the lines of: “mate, you can’t wear that. It’s got no traction; if you slip on the grass, you’ll slide and fly right off the cliffs.”

In fact, I learned that more than 70% of the land in the Faroe Islands is over 200 meters above sea level. Comprised of 18 major islands, the archipelago looks like the land was just yanked up from the sea floor, with huge sea cliffs just about everywhere. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t such dramatic and wild scenery. And of course, you know who loves a good big sea cliff? Birds. Puffins in particular. 

2. Irish and not Norse likely were the first settlers here

The Faroes present very much as Scandinavian and, therefore, by default, in the minds of non-Scandinavians like us, must be Viking. 

And that’s definitely true. Norsemen are thought to have arrived in the Faroes and settled around the 9th or 10th centuries. Under the kingdom of Norway til 1380, when they went to the kingdom of Denmark, where they’ve been ever since. I know this is a fast and loose history but just go with it. Nowadays, the Faroe Islands are “self-governing” under Denmark.

Recent archeological evidence shook things up and revealed that there were Gaelic settlers here since as early as 500 AD. Burnt barley, peat, and sheep DNA show that humans were here a lot earlier than initially thought. There are also stories from the traveling Irish monks from the time depicting the Faroes. This is just another of the many things I was surprised to learn while visiting the Faroe Islands.

3. It’s actually kind of conservative

Oh man, I could be way off the mark here, but I don’t think I am. Please chime in with your thoughts. I spoke with many Faroese people and observed even more, spending my evenings reading about the Faroes, and I realized that it’s actually quite a conservative country. Or perhaps it appears really conservative compared to the rest of Scandinavia, which decidedly isn’t. Chalk it up to my experience of growing up in the Bible Belt, but I can spot conservatives a mile away. It was one of the biggest things that I was surprised to learn while visiting the Faroe Islands.

Here are my reasons. First off, everyone here has approximately one billion children. The average birth rate is 2.5 kids. Almost everyone I met mentioned that they had between four and six kids. Like EVERYONE. Are they even still having children in the rest of Scandinavia? Jokes aside, but seriously, it’s well known the more economically developed a country, the fewer kids they have, and the Nordic countries lead the way, with their birth rates steadily declining. The Faroe Islands retain highly restrictive abortion laws, too. I’ll just leave that little tidbit there. 

It also struck me that the Faroes were actively religious in a way you don’t see in Scandinavian or European countries anymore. Probably goes hand in hand with the above. There is also a gender imbalance in the Faroes, with far more men than women. Probably because it’s so small and remote, many, many women leave the Faroes to live and work abroad, never coming back. Actually, a lot of young people leave and don’t return, though the population decline has begun reversing. 

All of this leads to my next point:

6. Most people mostly support the whaling

I think the most public evidence of how conservative the Faroe Islands are is their stance on whaling, i.e., they’re all for it in the name of “culture.” 

Oh man, I have so much to say on this, which merits a post all on its own, but after so much research, deep thinking, and careful consideration, my opinion is that whaling should stop in the Faroes. I support indigenous subsistence whaling, something I learned a lot about while in the Arctic. That is not what is happening in the Faroes. Summed up, whaling in the Faroes continues because they don’t want to be told they can’t.

I was really shocked speaking to so many people here about the grindadráp, aka the Grind (rhymes with wind), the traditional practice of herding pods of whales and dolphins into bays and slaughtering them all to eat only certain parts. Nearly everyone I spoke to supports the Grind, citing it as an important cultural, practical, and traditional practice. The ones who opposed only opposed for medical reasons because the blubber and meat contain toxic levels of mercury and other pollutants. 

I don’t take this stance lightly. Visiting a place and vocally disagreeing with a cultural practice is not something I do often.

But make no mistake, the Faroes are white and privileged. They have the highest GDP per capita in Europe, with massive funding from Denmark. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the richest countries in the world. You can buy Ben and Jerry’s at their supermarkets, and they have better road infrastructure than we do in New Zealand. In fact, the Grind was dying out, and only when Sea Shepherd started campaigning against it did its popularity resurge with heaps of young men signing up for workshops on literally how to kill whales so they could “preserve their culture” against global opposition.

Will it impact how I feel about visiting the Faroes? Not really. It’s an awesome country and if I refused to visit places based on a practice I disagree with, I’d never leave my house. I can give you examples like this for literally every place I’ve ever visited. 

Anyway, I have much more to say about this, but I wasn’t expecting the Grind to be so popular. I was really surprised to learn this while visiting the Faroe Islands. A big part of me really thought it would be quite niche, perhaps delegated to old people and dying out like other controversial practices in other countries. I was wrong.

5. Puffins are smaller than I thought

Phew, that was heavy. Let’s head back to something lighter. Puffins. 

Another thing I was surprised to learn while visiting the Faroe Islands was all about the cutest birds ever. I’ve seen puffins in Iceland and when we were in Scotland before sailing for the Faroes. But I didn’t see any close-up. They were always flying, on the water, or living their best lives on bird cliffs. Disclosure: usually, you can see them close up in those places, too; I just didn’t. Also, every photo of puffins is super close up; they appear big, especially when their beaks are full of fish, like northern penguins. 

Only once I got up close and personal with them in the Faroes did I realize they’re tiny. They’re only about 30cm or a foot tall. They’re little. Another thing I learned was the name for baby puffins is pufflings. I died. How cute. 

6. Tórshavn is such a cute little city

The capital of the Faroe Islands is Tórshavn, and boy is it a cute little town. Home to a third of the Faroese population, which is around 14,000 folk, Tórshavn is named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder. 

The historic downtown by the harbor is ridiculously cute, full of traditional colorful boats. Turf roof houses mingle with bright buildings downtown, and it’s one of the only places in the Faroes where you can see trees. There are modern cafes, cute shops, and great views, perfect to wander around. Further afield you can tell there is a lot of growth and development in Tórshavn. 

Something I found fascinating was that the Norse set up their parliament here in 850 AD in Tinganes, a peninsula downtown right by the water, making Tórshavn the capital. Definitely don’t miss wandering around down here. 

7. The infrastructure is great

For being such a remote place and so hard to get to for such a long time, I found that the infrastructure was really impressive. It was one of the biggest things I was surprised to learn while visiting the Faroe Islands.

You can tell a lot of money has gone into making the Faroes more accessible both for locals and visitors. The islands have a great road network with an elaborate bridge and tunnel network connecting them. There are also regular flights, ferries, and even undersea tunnels. It blows my mind, considering where I live in New Zealand, it takes *literally* a year to build a roundabout. 

The Faroes are also leading the charge (pun intended) when it comes to producing sustainable electricity. More than half of their electricity comes from renewable energy sources. Pretty cool. 

8. Fermented sheep is pretty tasty

Ok, ok, ok, I understand most of you will likely not agree with me on this, but I actually liked all of the fermented and air-dried food around the Faroes. The one positive of having had a top chef as a partner was improving my (already snobbish) palette. Flavor is everything, and the flavor of skerpikjøt will knock you on your ass. 

Skerpikjøt is a common dish in the Faroes, a wind-dried mutton shank in the harsh North Atlantic wind. Yum yum. They’re hung in special drying sheds called hjallur where there is a specific curing process over many months. Then they’re usually served sliced on bread. I got to try it a few times while in the Faroes, and while many of the passengers would take a small, polite bite, cough, and hide the rest, I ate about ten. 

The same goes for another traditional Faroese dish, air-dried fish (usually cod) called æstur fiskur. You’ll often see them hanging outside houses in the villages, swinging in the breeze like some kind of stinky wind chime. Delicious.

9. There are almost no trees

There are no two ways about it; the Faroe Islands are very windy. In fact, they’re one of the windiest places in Europe. It also has a ton of sheep. The high winds whip up sea salt into the air, making trees hard to grow here. Combined, there are no native forests in the Faroe Islands, though there is evidence there once were trees here before we humans came (with grazing sheep). 

Nowadays, there really aren’t any trees. Some are planted around Tórshavn and other settlements, but generally, the land here is bog, moss, and grass. It lends credence to the saying that if you’re ever lost in the Arctic, just stand up.

10. It’s even better than you imagine

There were so many things that I was surprised to learn while visiting the Faroe Islands. All in all, I loved the Faroe Islands and would go back in a heartbeat. It’s such a spectacular place, incredibly interesting, and unlike anywhere else in the world. The spectacular landscapes filled with treeless mountains, steep sea cliffs, impressive waterfalls, and an absolute shit ton of birds make it the ideal place to visit for those who are drawn towards wild spaces.

Incredibly fascinating, the Faroes struck me as a place that only gets more interesting with every visit. Can’t wait to go back! 

Have you been to the Faroe Islands? Does anything surprise you, too? Spill. 

Many thanks to Adventure Canada for hosting me in the Faroe Islands – like always, I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, like you could expect less from me!

The post 10 things that surprised me about the Faroe Islands appeared first on Young Adventuress.

When the epidemic became a pandemic, I was bumping along on a dogsled in subzero temperatures, far from anything resembling cell service.

When I crashed landed back to reality,  the world was in chaos.

My home country, the U.S., was floundering. The news was changing so fast. It seemed possible that in three days, airports might be closed forever. I chose the safe option: stay put in Greenland until further notice. ⁣

5 things I learned while helping out with lambing in South Greenland

As the months went by, it became apparent that nothing was getting better. It eventually became clear that we were entering a sort of New Normal. With more safety protocols in place, granted some more efficiently in some areas than others, I could see things changing. People now wear masks and withhold hugs. The world adapted, rather than purely reacting.⁣

I needed to reassess my decision to stay in Greenland.

Just because we can, does it mean we should?

With people able to congregate outdoors, it seemed that numbers were going down (“seemed” being the operative word). The longer I stayed outside the U.S., the higher the risk another wave would begin, and I would lose my chance to travel home.

Plus, I was insanely homesick. A three-week trip had turned into four months. My mental health was taking a deep dive, making a living abroad during a global health crisis into my ver own hell. So as I waited for a visa extension that may never have arrived, I decided to jump while I had the chance. ⁣

As I arranged my journey home, I remembered why I had decided to stay put in the first place. I was living in a small town in South Greenland. It would take me five flights, four days, and one boat ride to get back to my home airport in Massachusetts. 

⁣By the time I began my first leg of the journey (a boat taxi through the iceberg-dotted fjords), I’d heard rumors from both ends of the spectrum. 

Make sure to arrive 3 hours early, the airports are packed. 

The terminal is a ghost town, no one is traveling. 

Airlines are enforcing strict rules. 

The planes are fully booked and no one is wearing masks.

Greenland had responded to the virus aggressively to protect the country’s fragile healthcare system. By the time I left the country, life was business-as-usual for several months. COVID19 in Greenland was tiny.

No one was wearing masks. Social distancing was a thing of the past. 

In many ways, it was hard to imagine what the rest of the world was enduring when things seemed almost normal here. 

In the capital, when I switched to the international terminal, the transformation was akin to culture shock. Whereas the domestic terminal had no obvious restrictions, suddenly, hazard tape covered seats to encourage distancing. Travel during the COVID19 pandemic was different.

I felt like a fumbling newborn lamb as I put on my mask for the first time, hopscotching through the terminal to keep space between myself and the other passengers.  

When we touched down in Copenhagen, we left row-by-row––and not to stand until the row in front of us had left. All but a few listened to this request.

Inside, the airport was empty, with no one around. Except for a couple of cafes, all shops were closed. Half-squeezed hand sanitizer bottles were attached to poles with yellow hazard tape. Signs with cute graphics encouraged social distancing and hand washing. Airport employees stationed at entrances enforced mask-wearing rules. 

I made my way to the hotel airport, where I would spend the night, and was surprised to realize that I was the only person wearing a mask at the check-in line. While the airport was enforcing strict rules, as soon as people stepped out of the sliding doors they ditched their masks. 

The next morning, I walked through the echoing airport halls for my third day of pandemic travel.

Security lines were non-existent. My British Airways flight to Heathrow was less than half full. We were boarded back to front to lessen potential contact and given hygiene packs filled with hand sanitizer and wipes. There was no in-flight service.

At Heathrow, the flight attendants tried to enforce row-by-row off-boarding but still struggled to get passengers to comply. Travel during the COVID19 pandemic varied place to place.

In Heathrow, some of the stores had notes of encouragement taped to their shuttered doors. Travelers made their own private spaces in the roped-off food courts and dining areas. It appeared that Starbucks, which was not open, had tried to prevent this by blocking off their seating area, but to no avail.

It seemed like a last-ditch petty effort to try to keep people from their empty tables, and many travelers (including myself) walked around the barriers to find a seat away from others. 

There weren’t many people on my last and final leg to Boston. By this point, I knew the drill. I had bought enough food at the airport to sustain me for the flight and turned my row into my private oasis of self-sufficiency.

The airplane had become nothing more than a shuttle from point A to B, an experience I was trying to get through with as little human contact as possible. 

Flight attendants did hand out a health form required by the U.S. government. I wrote down my contact information and checked that yes, I had recently spent time in Denmark, one of the countries singled out on the sheet as being high risk. 

When we disembarked, we filed past several fold-out tables staffed by health workers. They asked me how I was feeling as I handed over my health form. Staff offered me a form encouraging self-quarantine before sending me on my merry way.

No one took my temperature nor asked me any questions. 

Once back at my house, I self-isolated for the required two weeks. No one from the airport or health department followed up with me either. 

My main takeaway from flying during the pandemic is to make yourself as self-sufficient as possible. The airline crew needs to have as little contact with you as possible. Bring your food, drinks, headphones, and blanket/pillow.

You’ll have to do due diligence on your end to ensure the airline is enforcing masks and social distancing on the plane. Decide beforehand what you will feel comfortable with (will you sit next to a stranger? Will you accept food from the flight attendants?) and speak up if you feel crowded or unsafe. 

I do believe that travel can be done safely right now. But it takes time, patience, and planning. 

What do you think about travel during the COVID19 pandemic? Have any experience with this? Share!

The post What it’s like to travel during the COVID19 pandemic appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Where is the love, Aotearoa?

Aotearoa. The land of the long white cloud. The name of New Zealand itself makes me emotional; it gives me goosebumps and has me beaming with pride.

I feel proud to be a New Zealand citizen, proud of our culture, our values, our sports teams, our response to events like earthquakes, the Christchurch mosque shootings, and, most recently, the COVID19 pandemic that has enveloped the world and brought us uncertainty in every possible way. 

Every single time we’ve faced adversity in New Zealand, kiwis have rallied together. We’ve united as one no matter what. We have shown the world what kiwis are made of. Unity, community spirit, strength, support, and good humor. We love the indomitable, good old kiwi spirit.

The gritty, hard reality of being a kiwi expat during COVID19

However, as I write this from London, in many ways, I feel the kiwi spirit that is so inherent to our culture seems a little bit lost in light of current events.

Recently there’s been a proposal for people coming into New Zealand to foot their own $3,000+ bill for a mandatory 14-day stay at a quarantine facility (if they stay for less than 90 days). There has been a fair amount of “lively” discussion in the news around this change of plans—good, bad, and relatively hideous.

Until now, this managed isolation/quarantine imposed by the government came free of charge. However, a lot of us expats are shocked by the reaction of other kiwis. When we speak of the unfairness of the New Zealand quarantine fees, hate follows.

For those of us living overseas, the negative response to this announcement from New Zealanders at home has taken us aback big time! We have been called ‘tone-deaf’ and ‘privileged,’ among many other unkind things. The proposed charge possibly violates the New Zealand Bill of Rights. There are many different reasons why this decision is currently causing us, expats, a whole lot of anxiety, disappointment, and stress. 

There has never been a more critical time for empathy and kindness.

For a lot of Kiwis returning home, including myself, there is already a lot of financial, emotional, and mental stress and pressure. And that’s not even digging into the fact that we are stuck across closed borders far from home with no light at the end of the tunnel.

I’d like to share some insights into my situation. In the hopes, it might illuminate the complexity of the issue of being a kiwi expat during COVID19 and how hard it can be.

1. 1. Financial: I work in the travel industry; therefore, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on my income. Additionally, the cost of the flight back home has meant I have had to dig deep into my savings to find that money. An added cost to quarantine would mean I would literally have no money left to start a new life or even just live.
   2. Emotional: Having to leave the life I have in London means having to say good-bye to my sister, brother-in-law, and my partner. With the borders closed, I do not know when I will have the opportunity to see any of them again. Can you imagine?
   3. Mental: I have been living with my partner in London during the lockdown. We have had each other’s support. I’ve had my sister and brother-in-law around me. We’ve all had each other’s backs through the lockdown. However, leaving that to be in isolation in a hotel room away from everyone I love is causing a lot of anxiety.

When love isn’t essential: long-distance relationships during coronavirus

I acknowledge that having a Kiwi passport that allows me two years in the UK is a massive privilege.

However, this privilege has also come at a cost. The cost of the visa and NHS surcharge itself, the cost of setting up a new life in a foreign country without a job, the cost of facing an endless number of months unemployed. Most kiwis in my position have often taken pay cuts to be able to enjoy this privilege. We are now returning home only because we have to, not out of choice.

The deputy leader of the opposition party, Gerry Brownlee, along with other resident New Zealanders, has argued that us returning kiwis have had a lot of time to come back home. While that may be partly true, this move again comes at a cost and doesn’t factor in many things. 

Do you guys even remember March? You know, when everyone thought this would blow over in a month?

Coming back to New Zealand early in the middle of a pandemic is so hard. It means quitting jobs and giving up an income (something that is so valuable now). We have to break leases on apartments with huge fees. We would be uprooting our lives to move back home to unemployment and uncertainty. Once again, in New Zealand, some of us may potentially end up on the government benefit. This is paid for by taxpayer money too.

All of these factors, along with the official NZ government advice to ‘stay put and stay safe, wherever you are’ has meant that kiwis have refrained on getting on flights to go back home. Talk about conflicting messaging!

With airports closed, airlines grounded right through from March to May, kiwis wanting to come back home have had flights canceled more than three times. There just haven’t been enough flights. Now there are even less because of the restriction on the number of kiwis allowed to enter the country every day.

Additionally, the cost of the flight back home is about £1,500 one way!! That’s NZ $3,000. NO ONE has that kind of money to fork out at the moment, so it has been tough going for a lot of us. And no travel insurance will cover COVID costs either. Add in the New Zealand quarantine fees are you looking at a big chunk of money.

I have been a taxpayer in New Zealand for over 15 years. And the same is true for UK for the last two years.

Over that time, my tax has contributed to many things. From keeping our roads in good condition to keeping our rivers safe, keeping criminals in prison to protect society, our amazing health system, education. Recently, the wage subsidy that was announced by the NZ Government for the benefit of its citizens whose incomes were impacted by the pandemic was also paid for using the taxpayer money.

It’s said that the managed isolation and quarantine program is the country’s best defence against community spread of COVID19. The program protects five million New Zealanders. To me, it seems only fair that the government’s allocation for the managed isolation and quarantine is higher than what it currently is (less than 1%)!

The cost for two weeks in managed isolation is more than the rent and bills most Kiwis pay in London for an entire month.

It is entirely unfair to have us pay a considerable sum of money (up to $3,100 per adult). With a policy that the government has brought in to keep the country safe, there’s no choice. And imagine if it’s your entire family?

Recently I read that a prominent journalist in the NZ media said, “it’s cheeky for returning Kiwis to ask for a free two-week hotel stay.”

That just blew my mind. It is not a hotel stay I am choosing to undertake!! I am being forced by the government to stay in a room for two weeks to protect my country. In Christchurch, I have a perfectly suitable home where I can isolate. I have my bedroom and a separate bathroom to that of my parents. There’s even independent access to a lounge of my own. I would also much rather be at home in isolation than in a hotel room away from my family in London as well as Christchurch.

However, given that managed isolation is the government’s strongest defence, I will happily do so to keep New Zealand safe. But why do I have to pay for it?

Managed isolation is for the benefit of the whole country, so why then is there a bias against those returning home? Why shouldn’t the team of 5 million contribute to keeping the entire country safe? 

In the wake of New Zealand’s second wave of COVID19, it has pained me to see that the ‘hate’ has now turned towards Aucklanders and the low-income family at the heart of this outbreak. No doubt, they’re already struggling with COVID19. But the amount of grief they’re getting from the rest of the country is shocking and heartbreaking. What happened to the team of five million? Where is the love?

This year has already been a stressful one for most of us. Not being able to see family on the other side of the world has been difficult. The New Zealand quarantine fees are now going to make it even harder for some people to be with their families. Given the second wave, with no light at the end of the tunnel, it’s so hard. Christmas this year will be very different for a lot of families. People will remain separated due to the complexities of the pandemic and NZ’s strategy. 

What the government decides to do with regards to borders, charges, lockdown levels, etc. is up to them. I get that we can somewhat influence the decision but ultimately can’t control it. What we can control is how we kiwis respond to it and engage with our community.

I know New Zealanders are better than the sentiment that is currently lingering in the country. The resentment, hate, and blame target those Kiwis stuck overseas and those at the heart of the current outbreak. It has never been us versus them like it is at the moment.

At the start of the pandemic, Jacinda Ardern said, “be kind, be considerate, think of others and stay home.” I urge all New Zealanders to be the same way. Please do this for returning kiwis as well as those affected by the second wave. We want to feel like Aotearoa is our home. We want to feel welcome at home. We want to feel like we are one.

What are your thoughts on the New Zealand quarantine fees? Do you think kiwis should have to foot their quarantine bill? Do you find a lack of empathy online these days? Spill!

The post $3,100 to come home? Where is the love, Aotearoa? appeared first on Young Adventuress.

I’m super curious to hear what you guys think about travel during COVID19. How do you feel about travel right now? My gut reaction is to be appalled. It just doesn’t sit well with me. I shared some words on Instagram a few days ago around this, which ignited quite the hot debate.

My honest opinion is that travel during a global pandemic is inherently selfish. I’ve tried to think of a better word for it, but I still come back to selfishness. Self-serving. Self-focused at best. Willfully disregarding others at the worst. 

To the traveler who wishes they could be anywhere else right now

But I’m open-minded too. I’m sure there are a lot of factors I haven’t considered. For this reason, I’m hoping to hear some different opinions on travel during COVID19.

But first, hear me out. Here are my current thoughts tumbling around in my mind about travel during COVID19.

I’m an American living in New Zealand.

Our borders have been closed to all but citizens and permanent residents since March. There’s a mandatory two-week quarantine for everyone who arrives from abroad in a government facility i.e., a nice hotel. We’ve eliminated COVID19 in New Zealand, except for some people in said quarantines who’ve just arrived from overseas.

Life is mostly back to normal here, no masks, no gloves, no social distancing. Why? Because there is no community transmission of the virus in New Zealand. We can travel here safe in the knowledge that we can’t get the virus.

Throughout our strict lockdowns over a couple of months, our badass Prime Minister asked us to be kind and to think of others. She asked us to imagine that we all were carrying the virus with the potential to spread it and to act accordingly. She asked us to think about our friends, our coworkers, our families.

There literally was a branded campaign here in New Zealand called Unite Against COVID19. 

Almost daily, we received briefings from Jacinda, reminding us to be kind and have empathy. She would join us from her couch in the evenings on Facebook Live, telling us it was going to be ok. We are a team of five million, and we need to look after each other.

In a lot of ways, it felt like we were at war with an invisible enemy. COVID was the enemy, and to defeat it, we had to unite. It sounds so foolish to write it, but hey, IT WORKED.

Believe me; I thank my lucky stars I get to live here. 

Up to 80% of people could have COVID and not know they have it. We know how it spreads. 

Do you guys remember how different the news was around COVID19 and how much it has changed from January to now? First, it was just China. Then it was only adults. Don’t buy masks. Then it was respiratory. Masks are mandatory. You can be immune. Now it’s vascular. Not sure about the antibodies. On and on and on it goes.

I think it’s safe to say we are literally figuring out this as we go. However, one thing is painfully apparent and clear:

The virus spreads when people move. The virus stops when people stop. Travel spreads COVID. It’s pretty simple.

I get it. I’m literally the queen of travel. It’s all I’ve known for the past decade. My work and income are dependent on tourism. It brings me immense joy. Travel is my heart and soul. For me, travel is freedom.

And in one fell swoop, it was taken away from me. The life I built was *POOF* changed in an instant, by circumstances far out of my hands. What do I do? 

Then on Easter, the things you dread most as an expat happened to me. The man who was virtually my father passed away unexpectedly back in the US, shattering my world. Grief consumed me, and it still does. I’m still coming terms with the loss, and the pure helplessness of not being able to return to where I grew up to be with my mom and family in this dark time. Guilt eats away at me daily. I’m learning to live with it. 

You see, I probably could have traveled home to the US, but I didn’t. I have a lot of reasons, but perhaps the major one is responsibility. Would it have been the responsible choice to travel across the world in a pandemic? Unequivaquably NO.

This isn’t about me at all.

What if I contracted the virus and spread it? I can’t bear to imagine being part of the problem. I couldn’t bear to potentially burden our healthcare workers. I thought, first of the essential workers. Deep down, this wasn’t essential. I can wait. My mom will wait for me. We are making the best of it.

In a lot of ways, this is a war. Would you travel during a war? Probably not. 

Ask anyone, and they will tell you how much COVID19 has sucked for them.

We are all in the same boat. You’re apart from your partner – so are tens of thousands of people. You miss your family. Newsflash, so do we all. You lost your job. Your world changed. Certainty has all but disappeared. That’s the same for literally EVERYONE EVERYWHERE. We’re all fucked together.

Survive. Adapt. Grow. Roll with it. That’s what makes us human.

Someone I love once told me that all Americans are selfish.

Even reading those words right now makes me bristle. I don’t like that. I didn’t like to hear that then, and I don’t like to hear that now. Of course, I don’t believe in sweeping generalizations, and it’s something I actively work towards removing from my language. But deep down, part of me is beginning to understand it, and it makes me ashamed.

America was founded for freedom and independence. The land of opportunity gave rise to the power of the individual. Family and community were replaced by success, growth, and unchecked capitalism. The goalpost shifted from a vocabulary of “us” to “me.” The US is very much now an economy of “me first,” and it’s never been more evident than during this global crisis.

It’s also nothing new. It’s the same attitude that disregards free healthcare for all. Of ICE and putting children in cages. Of police brutality and institutionalized racism. Of incredible gun violence and mass shootings. And now, the freedom to infect others. The US is the mecca of “me versus them.”

As the bodies pile up and science is ignored in favor of “economy,” it seems that our humanity, our empathy is stripped away.

To me, it seems that a lot of people and a lot of governments are more concerned with money than health, with economics than life. My opinion is that’s pretty fucking selfish, and it breaks my heart. Every name on those death charts was a person who had a family. Who had friends. Who had dreams and hopes and potential. And it’s gone, leaving grief and suffering in its wake. 

Perhaps you haven’t felt this pain. Maybe you don’t love someone who is at risk or is immuno-comprised. But have people truly lost that ability for compassion? Is it so hard now to put aside our egos and consider putting others before ourselves?

Is that sacrifice too big of an ask? Is being inconvenienced worth those little freedoms?

I have to believe that we haven’t forgotten how to be human.

Meanwhile, I would also like to take this opportunity for my fellow influencers to kindly shut the fuck up with your “travel safely during coronavirus” tips and tricks. I’m saying this in the most respectful way possible. 

Above all, we are at war. We are in the middle of a global pandemic that, according to experts, is only getting worse. One of my biggest pet peeves are people pretending to be experts in things they’re not. Amplify the experts, not politicians. Spread science and facts, not your agenda. In most places, travel during COVID19 isn’t safe. 

To clarify, we all wish we were traveling now. We all wish we were “back to normal.” Just because you’re tired of lockdown and over quarantines and your feet are itchy for an adventure isn’t an excuse. We don’t get to decide when COVID19 is over.

But pretending and encouraging people to be neglectful of the most significant public health crisis our generation has ever known is NOT GOOD. VERY BAD. ALL CAPS. 

I believe in my responsibility in what I share, and I know I’m not going to pretend travel during COVID19 is fine when it isn’t.

We all have control over our choices and our actions, and I hope that people begin to sit with this idea of collective responsibility. Let’s make less selfish choices then! Travel during COVID19 is complicated.

We’re lucky here in New Zealand to have a leader who gets it, and who made seemingly all the right choices. A lot of places don’t have that. This is why it’s never been more important to look at the bigger picture and understand that we are all making personal sacrifices in the hopes of controlling the virus and saving people’s lives.

In short, this all brings me back to my original point – just because we can, does it mean we should?

We do have the internet. We do have access to the WHO and to see what places like New Zealand have done to eliminate COVID19. Even if there aren’t mandatory quarantines, it’s doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do them. Also, if your home is opening back up, what to scientists say? Remember Jacinda’s words – be kind, be considerate, think of others, and stay at home.

We will travel again.

This all will pass someday, but for now, try and do the right thing for the world as a whole. Good luck, I’m right there struggling with you!

How do you feel about the ethics of travel during COVID19? Spill!

The post Just because we can, does it mean we should? appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Black people are routinely killed on our streets in the US.

Many of them don’t get any public attention. The ones that do have to fight tooth and nail to have their stories heard. This is not a new phenomenon. This has been going on for decades. Centuries. What we see now in our country is a direct result of a nation built on slavery. It’s a system that permeates with injustice. 

The uprising we could all see coming – BLACK LIVES MATTER

White People: If you’re feeling uncomfortable, good. If you’re feeling tired, good. If you’re feeling there must be something more you can do, there is.

Racism is not something that is unlearned overnight. It takes years of active anti-racism work, and as White people, our time is up for doing the work. We have sat on our heels long enough. No more time. No more waiting. It is on all of us, and we have a lot of making up to do, so let’s start with the basics. Here is our guide to being a better ally.

 

 

 

 

 

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Here are 10 simple ways you can #ShowUp against racism from @derrickclifton, originally published on @mic. Read the whole article at the link on our story, and share our posts on your story to amplify.

A post shared by From Privilege to Progress (@privtoprog) on May 27, 2020 at 8:37am PDT

1. Stop harassing Black people

I mean this in every sense of the word. Yes, stop physically harassing Black people (obviously) but also, stop mentally harassing Black people.

The Black community is grieving. They are TIRED. How do I know this? Because they are telling us over and over again and LOUDLY. They are begging us to stop sharing traumatic images of George Floyd as he takes his last breath. They are asking us to get out of their DM’s with unnecessary messages of sympathy from strangers. They are pleading for just a tiny corner of their mind not to be filled with White people.

If you want to support the Black community, simply shut up and listen.

Listen to their lived experiences with everyday racism, and when they speak, don’t make it about you. This is not a time for your white guilt to show up. This is not a time to relate to their issues. This is a time for you to acknowledge their pain and how you contribute to systematic oppression, which as a White person, you do whether you like it or not.

We all saw the video of Amy Cooper, who called the cops on Christian Cooper, a Black man who asked her to leash her dog. Every White woman I know let out a collective sigh of disappointment as we shunned her deplorable actions. But as white women, we have a responsibility to look at Amy Cooper and ask not how could she have done this, but how am I like her? How are the women I know and respect like here? It’s easy to distance from her, but it’s essential to look inward and pinpoint when precisely we have wielded our power as White people over others. 

Before you do anything, resist all urge to message a Black person asking them to explain things to you. This is a problem that was caused by White people. This is our problem to solve and it’s long overdue to get to work.

 

 

 

 

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White supremacy is a system of structural and societal racism which privileges white people over everyone else, regardless of the presence or absence of racial hatred. White racial advantages occur at both a collective and an individual level. We just updated this chart, which presents *some* of the ways people practice and reinforce white supremacy that they may not be aware of, or even think of as “white supremacy”. If you are unsure of what any of these terms mean, please feel free to look them up. There is an abundance of scholarship and research on each of these things. Image Source: Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (2005). Adapted: Ellen Tuzzolo (2016); Mary Julia Cooksey Cordero (@jewelspewels) (2019); The Conscious Kid (2020). #AntiRacism #AntiRacist #TeachersOfInstagram #WhitePrivilege

A post shared by The Conscious Kid (@theconsciouskid) on May 26, 2020 at 5:35pm PDT

2. First things first: Learn to use Google

Dismantling white supremacy is not quick and easy work, which is why the ideal time to get started on this is yesterday. Destroying systems of oppression does not come about from sharing a few posts on social media.

It requires consistent work and self-education.

As tempted as you might be to reach out to your “Black friend” and ask them to help you learn, check yourself.

It is not the job of a Black person to educate you, especially when there are thousands of free resources at your fingertips.

 

 

 

 

 

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WHITENESS IN THE OUTDOORS. I’ve had this idea in my head for a while now and the recent events in the news, specifically the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man hunted down by two white men on a jog led me to spend the past few days listening and learning from people of color, specifically African Americans in the outdoors. . This post is my attempt as an imperfect white person with privilege to take action and encourage other white people to do the same because there’s no “outdoors for all” when racism exists. As a white person, I can’t speak to the unique experiences of marginalized groups surrounding race, so this is my attempt to amplify the voices of POC in the outdoors. . Thank you for reading. I’m always seeking to improve my skill of allyship as I’m not an expert in this and I am open to constructive feedback. . SHARE- Feel free to share, but if you do, please tag the people of color you see mentioned on each page as this is information compiled by me but told by them. . SAVE- Please don’t just read this once and move on but save this as a resource to come back to and reread. . CHALLENGE- read and then reread and then comment a friend, an outdoor leader, sponsored athlete or brand you think would benefit from seeing this too. . Credit to @alisonmdesir @_lassosafroworld, @teresabaker11, @she_colorsnature, @courtneyahndesign, @katieboue @naturechola, @vasu_sojitra, @skynoire, @ava, @chescaleigh @guantesolo and ellen tozolo

A post shared by Pattie Gonia (@pattiegonia) on May 13, 2020 at 9:12am PDT

Here’s the challenge: Anytime you need clarification on something racist, google it. Here are a few examples.

• You know that imitating accents is racists, but you’re not quite sure why. Google it.
• You understand why people are protesting peacefully, but you’re not sure why things are getting violent. Google it.
• You know that personally, as a White person, you struggled through hardships throughout your life, so why don’t you get special treatment too? Google it.
• If you have thought, “I’m tired of being demonized for my ethnicity” as a white politician who has been elected to a uniformly white cabinet? Google it. (Looking at you Judith Collins)
• Slavery happened hundreds of years ago, so you’re not quite sure why Black people are still going on about oppression? Google It.
• If the thought crossed your mind that MLK was a peaceful protestor, and we need more people like him. Google it.

 

 

 

 

 

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#Facts

A post shared by Winston Duke (@winstoncduke) on May 31, 2020 at 1:08am PDT

Do you see how this works? It’s easy.

I’m not trying to be an asshole here; I’m just trying to highlight that before you give your opinion on any subject regarding race, give yourself 10 minutes to research it and form an educated opinion before opening your mouth. It’s so easy and free, and literally, anyone with the internet can do it.

Educate yourself first.

 

 

 

 

 

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❤️✊?

A post shared by Indigenousmotherhood (@indigenousmotherhood) on May 31, 2020 at 8:54am PDT

3. Understand this is not about you

If you have a human beating heart, you should have felt it breaking into a million pieces as every news broadcast showed George Floyd suffocating under the knee of a white officer begging for his mother and his life.

You would have felt pain. You would have felt discomfort. You would have felt tired of seeing this shit on television again and again and again.

Sit with that pain and understand it, but don’t forget that this experience is not about you and your pain.

 

 

 

 

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#justiceforgeorgefloyd #blacklivesmatter

A post shared by BILLIE EILISH (@billieeilish) on May 30, 2020 at 3:31am PDT

If you felt tired from seeing that clip over and over, imagine what it would be like to be his family. His friends. Black communities are who are reminded daily that the guarding forces of our country do not have their best interest in mind. Black communities are carrying generations of racism and oppression on their shoulders every day. They carry an inherited trauma we can’t begin to understand as white people.

Do not make their pain about you.

No one chooses their race. I may not have chosen to be White, but I benefit every day from my race. As a white person, I will always have the ability to opt-out of the conversation with my silence.

Make the right choice.

 

 

 

 

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when we are given a directive we don’t really want to do we will be as literal as is humanely possible. Know how kids will do the limited specific thing you said even though it is CLEAR that you were speaking about all the dishes in the sink and not just the one plate from the morning they ate off? that is how far too many white folks act when asked to DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHITE SUPREMACIST VIOLENCE. All of a sudden your interpretation is so specific and so literal as to never have to do anything. PLEASE STOP IT! JOIN A DIRECT ACTION GROUP. JOIN OR START A SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE (SURJ) Chapter in your community. from a line of white protestors in front of the police in the protests happening in your city RIGHT NOW. START A PROTEST! GO TO YOUR POLICE STATION AND DEMAND TO SEE THE REPORTS OF OFFICER COMPLAINTS AND DEMAND FIRINGS. CALL YOUR DA EVERYDAMNDAY AND ASK WHY OFFICERS HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED! FIND OUT THE RECORD OF YOUR POLICE CHIEF, DA, ELECTED OFFICIALS REGARDING RACIAL JUSTICE AND CAMPAIGN TO GET SHITTY ONES OUT OF OFFICE. THE LIST OF BODY RELATED ACTIVITIES WHERE YOUR WHITENESS HAS LEVERAGE ARE INEXHAUSTIBLE. COME ON Y’ALL. STOP BEING INTENTIONALLY OBTUSE AND GO DO THE DAMN WORK WITH YOUR BODY. Stop making Black people work this damn hard for you to fix YALLS problem. Stop. #georgefloyd #whitesupremacy #blacklivesmatter #minneapolis #minnesota #whitesgettowork

A post shared by Sonya Renee Taylor (@sonyareneetaylor) on May 30, 2020 at 4:37pm PDT

4. When you do something good, keep it to yourself

We all seek approval from others at times. We all want to be admired and applauded by our peers. It’s ingrained in our capitalistic society to be the best and to flaunt it, so here’s your challenge: When you do something good — and you will do something useful — keep it to yourself.

If you are going to post it on social media, ask yourself why. Are you seeking approval and attention, or will your post actually support the cause you are fighting for?

I’m not saying you can’t share your participation in the protests or the work you’re doing, but before you do, just simply take five minutes to examine why you are doing it.

Is it meant for your white friends to encourage them to follow suit? Is it meant for your Black friends to prove you’re one of the good ones? Be honest.

Doing the work of dismantling white supremacy is a thankless job, so put away your expectations for praise and simply get to work.

 

 

 

 

 

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〰️ This is to my white friends with feed fatigue. I’m hoping that we can speak frankly for a moment. 〰️ A call for sustained attention and care. . #blacklivesmatter #whitefatigue

A post shared by Rebecca Scolnick (@beescolnick) on May 30, 2020 at 2:57pm PDT

5. Stop posting, get reading

Sharing posts on social media is fine, but let’s be clear, it is not activism.

Activism takes work. It takes sacrifice. Reposting a few Instagrams here and there will not change anything. As White people, the change starts with ourselves by examining how we contribute to a racist society.

The good news is there are thousands of free resources to help you get started on anti-racism work. Commit to 30 minutes a day and start your free education now.

Anti-Racism Resources

The guide above was compiled by two White women and is jam-packed with information for your easy consumption. There are resources for raising anti-racist children, podcasts, books, articles, videos, movies, and so much more.

Commit to getting through the entire document even if it takes you a year.

 

 

 

 

 

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❤️✊?

A post shared by Indigenousmotherhood (@indigenousmotherhood) on May 31, 2020 at 8:54am PDT

There are many Black women and men on social media doling out free education on systematic oppression. They have done the work for you and have taken the time to clearly explain how routine oppression works and how we all play a part in it.

If you follow these people who often offer free education, you do so understanding they never owe you anything. They don’t owe you further explanations. They don’t owe you a response as you play the devil’s advocate. They don’t owe any answers at all. If you follow them and you learn something, pay them.

Most will share their PayPal, Patreon, or Venmo details and would appreciate your monetary contributions. Listen to them. Amplify them. And leave them the hell alone.

 

 

 

 

 

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Black Care over Black Consumption: A thread ?? . . . Compensation over Consumption: PayPal: alysonjt90 Venmo: AlysonThompson Cash App: AlysonThompson

A post shared by Alyson Thompson (she/her) ?️‍? (@alysonthompson) on May 31, 2020 at 4:03am PDT

These are the people I follow who are doing incredible work, both in fighting for justice and their respective fields.

While they often educate their following on social justice, they are so much more than that. They are scientists, environmentalists, photographers, journalists, athletes.

They are Black men and women who are fighting for their lives. Follow them too!

• WildGinaa
• Joelakamag
• Laura.edmondson
• Mélise Marie
• Rachel Cargle
• Sassy Latte
• Mona Chalabi
• Munroe Bergdorf
• she_colorsnature
• Greengrilleah

The time to get to work is long overdue.

We shouldn’t have to be compiling hand-holding guides to end racism in 2020, but here we are. We all have work to do, myself included. As you move through your anti-racisms work, know you will make mistakes. Unlearning decades of systematic oppression takes time and effort, and you’ll often get it wrong. When you do, own it. Apologize without getting defensive.

Listen to the people who are correcting you. Move on and continue to learn.

What do you have to add to this guide to being a better ally? Any creatives or activists whose work has enlightened you? Share. 

 

 

 

 

 

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and if you are a white ally/accomplice or non-Black POC, or just a Black member of the community looking for those who are communicating willfully and diligently within the movement, support the individual work of these folx listed: @ebonyjanice @ericabuddington @jamiraburley @mspackyetti @duanecia @shamellbell @marclamonthill @tamikadmallory @ericaford_ilovemylife + @rachel.cargle. word to @spotify and “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” by #GilScottHeron.

A post shared by Joél (Joe-elle) Leon. (@joelakamag) on May 31, 2020 at 10:12am PDT

The post A white girl’s humble guide to being a better ally appeared first on Young Adventuress.

“First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action;” who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a “more convenient season.” Letter from Birmingham Jail by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., 16 April 1963

For the past couple of days, I’ve been struggling to find the words to articulate my thoughts on the black lives matter movement for equality in the US as protests sweep my home country. My desk is littered with unfinished notes, yet no words seem to fit or right to share. I was afraid to say the wrong thing. I was afraid of saying something that could be perceived as racist, so I just didn’t say anything MEANINGFUL at all.

But then the realization hit – this isn’t about me. 

MY silence is just as bad as any words of outward racism. In the silence of the white moderate, of white girls just like me, lies the true killer. This silence in which I have been complicit in what has allowed POC to be persecuted, hurt, threatened, and killed for centuries. Silence is the knee on the throat, suffocating human lives.

I’ve been breathing the air of racism my entire life.

I am racist. Fuck, that was hard to write. Something I’ve learned is that in reality, we are all either racist or actively anti-racist. There is no middle ground.

Just like the three policemen who stood by and watched Derek Chauvin kill George Floyd and did nothing about it, we cannot stand by and continue to be silent while our fellow humans are dying.

As the great and indomitable Maya Angelou once wrote – “do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

I won’t be patronizing and say easy fluff words like “I’m sorry or I see you, and I hear you.” Fuck that. Who cares? It means nothing. Instead, I’m committing to showing the fuck up alongside POC to upend the system (in which I’ve been complicit) that intentionally suppress basic human rights.

When your government fails you, you dissent. When your nation kills you, you fight back. When your country doesn’t follow its own constitution to provide “equality before the law,” you hold them accountable. When your “leader in chief” threatens violence, you vote him out.

This doesn’t end with protests. This ends when black people and POC live and are treated equally and with dignity.

My heart breaks that I can’t be in the US to protest in person right now, and truly do the hard work of showing up. I may be stuck halfway around the world behind a closed New Zealand border with no passport but I will do all I can to show up and be an ally and truly support the people who need it the most now. Are you committed to showing up too?

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

BLACK LIVES MATTER. 

SAY IT WITH ME ONE MORE TIME, BLACK LIVES MATTER.

Places I’m donating to:

• The Bail Project
• The ACLU
• Communities United Against Police Brutality
• Campaign Zero
• The Loveland Foundation

Books I’m reading to un-learn my racism:

• Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo 
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander 
• Freedom Is A Constant Struggle by Angela Davis

Names of victims I’m honoring:

• George Floyd
• Breonna Taylor
• Eric Garner
• Ahmaud Arbery
• Freddie Gray
• Bothem Jean
• Atatiana Jefferson
• Amadou Diallo
• Jonathan Ferrell
• RenishaMcBride
• Stephon Clark
• Jordan Edwards
• Jordan Davis
• Walter Scott
• Alton Sterling
• Aiyana Jones
• Yvonne  Smallwood
• Mike Brown
• Tamir Rice
• Philandro Castile
• Trayvon Martin
• And thousands more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by The New York Times (@nytimes) on May 29, 2020 at 6:13am PDT

The post The uprising we could all see coming – BLACK LIVES MATTER appeared first on Young Adventuress.

“The world is burning.” 

“Can you leave Greenland??”

“Everything has changed.” 

My friends and family were, to put it lightly, freaking out. 

Before I set off on the dogsled, the Greenlanders I spoke to shrugged off the coronavirus like a baseless rumor. When I re-entered civilization and cell phone service, I tried to absorb in minutes what the rest of the world had experienced over the course of five days. 

COVID-19 was now a pandemic. Italy was on lockdown. Denmark had closed its borders. Trump announced a European travel ban, and toilet paper was the hoarders’ item of choice. 

My mind was still reeling as I checked into my hotel unprepared to experience Greenland during a pandemic, eager to warm up. I needed to be reminded several times to stay behind the freshly placed yellow warning tape in front of the reception desk. Were there always this many hand sanitizers around? At breakfast the next morning, I choked on a sip of water, and my hacking coughs inspired more than one accusatory glare. 

If getting off the dogsled felt like entering a parallel universe, trying to understand all of the breaking news was like solving a Rubik’s cube. Every new twist brought about another obstacle to contend with.

I was scheduled to leave Greenland in less than two days. My journey back to Boston in the USA would take me through two European airports over three days. Three days in coronavirus-world? It seemed likely that these airports might not even be operating by the time I reached my second layover. 

An hour before my flight left, I decided not to get on it. At first, my decision was about waiting for clarity. But as the week continued, the only thing that became clear was that no one knew what would happen next as I began to experience Greenland during a pandemic.

COVID-19 was spreading rapidly, and the consensus seemed to be: stay home if you can. 

To the traveler who wishes they could be anywhere else right now

As the week progressed, the confusion and chaos increased.

And while it might seem drastic to choose to stay on an island in the Arctic Circle during a global epidemic, an even more frightening thought is returning home only to infect my 76-year-old father or the stranger who uses a luggage cart after me. What would you choose?

At the time of writing, I’m on my 58th day of staying longer than planned in Greenland. Here are five things I’ve learned while unexpectedly living indefinitely on our world’s largest island during a pandemic. 

1. A decade of solo travel was the best preparation for dealing with unprecedented times

My decision to stay in Greenland has left some of my friends slack-jawed. What if you’re stuck there for months? What if the world ends as we know it? I like to kid that as a 30-year-old female who has been single for five years, I’m pretty well inured to the idea of dying alone. 

But the reality is that having traveled solo to over 40 countries in the past ten years, dealing with the unexpected has become one of my greatest talents. When I was 13 years old, I flew alone from Johannesburg to Boston and got stuck at JFK airport during a snowstorm. After getting shuttled from gate to gate, a flight attendant offered to take me home for the night, so I didn’t have to sleep on the airport floor. I slept on her futon under sparkling Christmas tree lights, then ate pancakes with her daughter the next morning. 

Since staying in Greenland, I keep thinking back to that first brush with travel-induced calamity. Travel has taught me, more than anything else, that the majority of humans are good and that I can handle almost any situation that comes my way. 

This has been proven ten-fold in Greenland. The people I’ve met have welcomed me into their homes, onto their boats, and at their dinner tables. 

2. Even though I know I can handle this situation, I still need to feel all the feelings

As everyone continues to remind us, we are in never-before-seen times. So while in some ways I feel wildly prepared for unexpectedly living in Greenland during a pandemic, this situation still brings up a lot of emotions that I have to work through, regardless of how well-adjusted I feel. 

I get caught off-guard by a sudden constricting of my chest as an endless stream of “what-if” scenarios flood my mind – all of them involving my overweight, 10-year-old basset hound, Webster. I’m a pro at sweeping my feelings under the proverbial rug, and I seem to have successfully managed to project most of my worries onto him instead.

So rather than panicking about my pregnant sister-in-law giving birth during a pandemic, I worry that my dog will pass away (from what? The stress dreams offer endless options!) thinking that his mom never came home to say goodbye. 

After spending the first month of my extended stay in Greenland during a pandemic with my mind in full Emergency Mode, I’ve settled into the second month with a keen awareness that I need to make choices that acknowledge this stress in my life.

I have to to stay sane.

For me, this means having a morning routine of journaling, coffee, and some sort of anxiety-reducing movement – and does not include my phone until after I’ve taken this time for myself. While I’m not able to follow it every morning, especially now that I’m able to travel around the country, it makes a huge difference when I do. 

3. The United States is a total clusterfuck

The U.S. exists in a spotlight.

As one of the most powerful countries in the world, what we do spreads far and wide. Our news, our products, our tv shows, our films all extend far beyond our borders. I’ve always thought of traveling outside the U.S. as akin to stepping out of that spotlight. You’re no longer staring into the glare, but are now a part of the audience.

Watching my home country flounder from afar has been painful. The U.S. is broken in so many ways.

We do not have social safety nets in place to avoid widespread economic and physical suffering. Systemic racism continues to rot us from the inside out. For many Americans, health insurance and employment go hand-in-hand. As the unemployment rate climbs to almost 15%, this leaves millions of Americans without health insurance during a pandemic.

GoFundMe campaigns are covering astronomical bills for pandemic assistance that our government should be doing instead. And those most affected–black communities, people of color, undocumented immigrants, LGBTQ communities, disabled people, and women as a whole–are those with the least representation and support within our system. 

Of course, Greenland (and everywhere) certainly has its own share of economic and sociopolitical issues, including a very fragile healthcare system that cannot handle an outbreak. But clearly understanding the country’s weaknesses, the government enacted a swift and robust response to the pandemic. After two cases were confirmed in the capital, travel was banned domestically and internationally. Greenland, during a pandemic, was under control.

As of May 11th, Greenland has been coronavirus-free for over a month, and all 11 confirmed cases have fully recovered. Greenland is currently open for domestic travel, with incoming international travel permitted only for essential trips.

4. Trump wasn’t the first American to try to buy Greenland

During WWII, Greenland became a de facto protectorate of the United States. In exchange for protection from Nazi Germany, the U.S. was able to place its military all over the country. After the war, the U.S. offered Denmark 100 million USD for Greenland. The Danes politely declined but agreed to let the U.S. keep a restricted military presence.

Over 60 years later, Greenland is still cleaning up the mess the Americans left behind at these military sites. 

This mess includes a top-secret nuclear missile launch base that the U.S. tried to build under the ice cap in the 1950s. It was called Project Iceworm, and they did it behind everyone’s backs. They abandoned the experiment when they realized that the ice cap moves. This would crush their tunnels in a matter of years. But guess what they left behind? A whole lot of nuclear waste. 

As of right now, the nuclear waste is still beneath the ice. But climate change projections show that the toxic substances may be released into the environment in the near future. And this is just one of over 30 military sites that the U.S. left behind without cleaning up.  

5. If the end is nigh, I’m definitely in the right country

Greenland is the least densely populated territory in the world.

A population of 56,000 is spread out over an area roughly the size of western Europe. Hunting is a big part of Greenland’s heritage and present existence. Almost all of the Greenlanders I have met are hunters themselves. Otherwise, they have family members who hunt or buy their meat supply directly from hunters. And I don’t mean leisurely hunting on the weekends. This is hunting to get enough reindeer to supply you and your family for the winter months ahead.

The same applies to fishing and foraging. In home after home, I’ve seen freezers filled with crowberries, rainbow trout, lumpfish roe, and blueberries saved from previous seasons. 

While there are efforts to experiment with agriculture in the country, there are virtually no vegetables or fruit grown in Greenland. Supermarkets are stocked with supplies shipped in from Denmark, which means that being a vegan or vegetarian here is the least sustainable choice you can make. 

Do I actually think the end is near? Probably not. But if the apocalypse does come, I have to say I’m kind of relieved to be in Greenland. To be surrounded by people who know how to hunt down their dinner–and probably have two freezers filled with meat from last year–is reassuring, to say the least.

What would you do if you find yourself in my situation in Greenland during a pandemic? Would you stay or risk travel? Are you experiencing a lockdown in an unexpected place? Share!

The post 5 things I’ve learned while stuck living in Greenland during a pandemic appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Amongst the chaos and sadness that’s gripping the world because of the global COVID-19 outbreak, it’s easy to overlook this Earth Day in place of more urgent matters like widespread job loss. I get it.

But as economies are on hold and communities around the world are self-isolating, Earth Day carries on, becoming a historic day for us in more ways than one. And it needs our attention now more than ever.

By no means can we ever justify COVID-19 as a “good” thing to happen to the world. However, if you follow the news, you might be inclined to think COVID-19 is having a positive effect on the environment.

Air quality has improved, noise pollution has dropped, people can hear birds chirping and even catch a glimpse of wildlife in their cities. While we may be getting a sneak peek into what the world could look like, experts are saying that COVID-19 will be detrimental to environmental issues in the long run.

I know, I know. You’ve seen the before and after photos of LA’s air pollution. Perhaps you’ve seen the clearer waterways, and you saw that dolphins are swimming in the Venice canals again. While these are all good things, they are also very temporary, and some viral news stories are even FAKE. They are the short-term results of a long-term problem that we must not lose sight of.

Let’s look at air pollution. Short-term air pollution, which can last for a few days or a few hours, has decreased. This is why the cities you live in are free from smog. Yes, this is good news; however, despite the drop in pollution, greenhouse gasses are still being emitted.

The World Meteorological Organization reported that Carbon Dioxide Levels are still reaching record highs.

Oksana Tarasova, Head of Atmospheric Environment Research Division WMO, explains “If we look at how the levels of atmospheric CO2 are formed, it’s not annual emissions in particular which are controlling the levels; it’s the total accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere since pre-industrial times which form the current level. So, the reduced emissions within one particular year of this scale are very unlikely to have an impact on global levels of carbon dioxide.”

In short, a year of reduced carbon emissions isn’t going to make a difference.

The clean waterways you’re seeing are a direct result of low human impact (i.e., boats which stir up sediment in the water) and is not indicative of pollution. Clearwater can still be very polluted. Murky waters can be free of pollution.

The wildlife you see in your cities will disappear from the streets as soon as regular human activity resumes.

And the dolphins? I’m sorry to report that those photos were taken in Sardinia, 800km away from Venice, and is not a particularly uncommon occurrence.

I’m sorry if this bursts your bubble, but I’m not telling you this to add insult to injury.

Of course, a reduction in pollution right now is excellent; however, in the grand scheme of things, the environmental impact from COVID-19 will be nominal at best, and incredibly detrimental at its worst.

Why? Because as global economies suffocate and governments and businesses are tightening their belts, one of the first initiatives of any commercial or government to get cut is sustainability.

We have already seen several governments announce that they are lowering environmental standards, suspending environmental monitoring requirements, reducing environmental enforcement, and restricting public participation. Governments are using COVID-19 as an excuse to roll back environmental progress. DAMN.

The greenwashing in the news is giving people the idea that this is a problem that we can fix with just a few months of lifestyle changes. To be clear, this is a problem we can fix, but it’s going to take a lot longer than two months. It’s going to require real leadership and global cooperation. An easy ask, right?

Don’t lose hope.

That feeling of fresh air and clean water is obtainable, but to get there, we must not forget the environment now when it needs us the most, and we must not forget it when life goes back to normal.

For the first time in modern history, we are getting a rare glimpse into a future we could have. Human activity is on pause and with it, mass pollution too. We see the results of an unplanned experiment. Earth can heal if we stop hurting her, but we have a long way to go.

If this global pandemic teaches you anything, let it be this: the Climate Crisis is so big that even months of completely halted human activity still isn’t enough to negate decades of climate abuse.

Even the most convincing photos of our world healing itself exaggerate the impact we as individuals have on the environment. Sure, keep recycling, do your beach cleanups, use those reusable coffee cups.

Just don’t lose sight that the climate crisis is much bigger than that. It’s so much bigger than one person.

The damage we’ve caused to the world through our obsession with fossil fuels cannot be reversed by a few months of “calling it quits.” This is a very real long-term problem that requires immediate and large-scale action on a global level.

If that makes you feel small and helpless, you’re not alone.

I often reflect on the minimal impact I, one singular person, can create. The truth is that any significant change with tangible impact will need to come from the top.

We need to elect leaders who will take this seriously. We must have governments prioritize climate change mitigation even during a global pandemic. Staying informed about corporations and their environmental priorities and when they don’t align with our personal views is essential, and we need to hold them accountable.

To solve the climate crisis, we need to do more than use reusable shopping bags.

We need to mobilize as a nation, as a global community and demand structural change, and we need to do it now. Not in a few months. Not in 2 years when COVID has settled down. Now.

Relish hearing the chirping of the birds. Enjoy seeing a pack of coyotes roam through your city streets. Soak in the fresh air you can breathe in unapologetically. Take it all in now because when COVID-19 is over, we’ll not only be back to where we were, we’ll be worse off.

Some day, although it may not feel like it now, this global pandemic will be in our past. When it is, what will we have learned from our lived experiences? Will we care about our smog levels again once we return to work and eat out at our favorite restaurant, or will we shove it under the rug in exchange for resuming our lives?

Perhaps this will be the end of capitalism or fossil fuels or senseless selfishness. We may never be able to go back to the way things were. We have a rare, unique opportunity right now to imagine the way things can be.

So happy Earth Day, friends. Try not to be discouraged, my fellow earth dwelling nature lovers. The problem may seem impossible now, but we can each play our part. Have the hard conversations. Discuss the climate crisis with your friends, your family, your stubborn conservative grandpa. When the time comes to cast your vote in November, remember Mother Earth and the overwhelming task at hand.

What do you think? How can we help honor Earth Day every day? Have anything else to add? Spill.

The post Sorry to ruin Earth Day, but COVID-19 is NOT good for the environment appeared first on Young Adventuress.

It’s like a car crash, and I just can’t tear my eyes away. I’m enthralled yet horrified, obsessed, and disgusted. The plot twists, the surprises, the frightening real glimpses of human truths, holy shit!

With a tagline of murder, mayhem, and madness, Tiger King follows the storyline of Joe Exotic, a zoo owner in bumfuck, Oklahoma, with a narrative arc that spirals out of control in a true murder-for-hire story from the underworld of big cat breeding.

Buckle up.

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Where’s the lie? #tigerking #joeexotic #carolebaskin #netflix #quarantine #covid_19 #socialdistancing #socialdistance #tigerkingmemes

A post shared by Erika Kelly (@cattybritches) on Mar 23, 2020 at 3:22pm PDT

There are gun-loving gay cowboys with mullets. The cults. The polygamy. The loss of limbs and teeth. Inbred tigers, ligers, and illegal lemurs. Excessive dynamite and guns lovingly adorned with pink camo.

Accidental suicide and haphazard murder plots. Flower crowns. So much leopard print. Failed grassroots governor elections. Expired Walmart meat pizzas. Hillbillies and their homemade country music videos featuring fat tigers.

Missing husbands. Meth and sequins. Florida. I can’t even.

Honestly, this show is batshit insane. AND IT’S REAL.

But what makes me sad about the train wreck human drama of this docu-series is that the stars, the tigers, are all but forgotten.

Did you know there are more captive tigers in the US than in the wild? How is breeding tigers in your redneck backyard still allowed? How are these pretend “wildlife sanctuaries” still allowed? And for god’s sake, how is Carole Baskin not in jail for murder/fraud/animal abuse and/or all of the above?

And yet no matter how vile it gets, how can I STILL feel compassion for these horrible people who put baby tigers in suitcases and carry guns around like candy?

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Visit us by making reservations at MyrtleBeachSafari.com Link In Bio ??♥️ #repost • @mimicalacool Best…..day….EVER!!!!! @myrtlebeachsafari & @docantle at @myrtlebeachsafaritours have the most incredible experience ever! It’s a bucket list item that I’d suggest to the world! @rarespeciesfund is doing amazing work to help save these tigers! Blessed to have learned more about these incredible creatures! #savethetigers #blessed #grateful #myrtlebeachsafari ??

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Disguised behind the most insane group of characters you’ve ever laid eyes on, Tiger King shines a light on the whole heap of uncomfortable truths.

Last year National Geographic broke a significant feature that there are more tigers in private zoos and as pets in the USA than in the wild. What the hell?!

That has to stop now. Totally unacceptable for many reasons, one primary being that your neighbor might have a lion in his garage that could escape and eat you, the other major one being that lions belong in Africa, not rural Ohio, and tigers belong in India not fucking Oklahoma.

(sorry, this makes me absolutely livid)

These huge apex predators need massive amounts of territory and belong in the wild. Of course, that opens a whole other wormhole of issues from habitat loss to revenge killings to food loss, but that is where the bulk of conservation work should be focused.

You don’t need big cat sanctuaries in America if people aren’t allowed to have big cats as pets that end up needing “rescuing.”

The other main point is that real conservation doesn’t allow human interaction with animals. No yanking newborn tiger cubs from their moms to pose for selfies. No swimming with huge elephants. No cuddling drugged tigers for your new Tinder pic.

Big cats and endangered species belong in the wild or proper conservation centers without human interaction, period.

Going to Southeast Asia? Please be kind and don’t ride elephants

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Tap the link in our bio for more info about how to make reservations! ?♥️ #repost @miss_snapalots ・・・ 27 ? Thank you @myrtlebeachsafari for once in a lifetime experience! ? It’s so amazing what you all do! Please go follow and help save these rare species! @rarespeciesfund #savethetigersavetheworld

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What’s more, I’m appalled at how many massive profiles on social media feature guys and their exotic pets. Instagram, why do you allow this kind of content? Unethical wildlife breeding and captive endangered species bred for photos, and profit are wrong. And it’s illegal. Almost every one of these profiles has faced criminal charges and received abuse warnings.

These zoos and rescue centers give the impression they are for conservation when the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.

It’s important to question that when you see unethical wildlife practices.

Suffering unseen: The dark truth behind wildlife tourism

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3 of the 4 different color varieties of tigers! Come meet these tiger cubs by tapping the link in our bio to make reservations! ??

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For example, you can pay thousands of dollars to swim with a tiger or for a “volunteer” experience. Seriously? Your tiger selfies aren’t volunteering.

Where does that money go? Where do the profits from these sanctuaries go? How are they using the money they make from breeding and using tigers to fund wildlife conservation? How do they have so many baby tigers all the time? Why aren’t they with their mothers?

Baby tigers become useless in captivity after only 12 weeks because they’ve become too big and too dangerous to interact with people. After that, they usually just disappear.

Not a single one of these conservation tigers bred in America has ever been released back into the world. How could they when they’re raised and hand-fed by humans?

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@loganpaul helping us spread the message….Save The Tiger, Save The World❗️? The tiger stands as the last great sentinel of the forest, if we lose the tiger we will lose a piece of ourselves forever. But if we save the Tiger we could save the world, in order for the tiger to survive it needs clean clear skies, pristine lakes and rivers, wide open spaces, plentiful prey animals, and most importantly it needs you, people who care! Therefore if we save the Tiger, we save the world.

A post shared by Myrtle Beach Safari (@myrtlebeachsafari) on Feb 4, 2020 at 8:22am PST

Perhaps the most heart-wrenching part for me is seeing photos of white tigers.

These white tigers are incredibly inbred, almost all are from the same white Bengal tiger that was sold into the US in the 1960s from India. There is no conservation reason to breed white tigers, why would you breed for a recessive gene like that if you were trying to save a population of endangered animals like? Your focus would be on genetic diversity.

These white tigers are purely bred for their beauty; even though most of them have so many inbred defects, they would have no hope of surviving in the wild. It’s just cruel.

Can someone please tell me how it’s ethical or moral to breed a lion with a tiger and then put it on a leash and keep it a cage so you can make money?

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Tap the link in our bio to meet this incredible tiger cub animal ambassadors! ?♥️ #repost • @charlestonblonde ? Y’all can you even handle the cuteness? I’ve had so many questions about our time at @myrtlebeachsafari that I decided to write an entire blog post about it. Check it out. The link is in my bio.

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I just had my 60th birthday. I wanted to come hang out with one of my favorite big cats, Apollo here is only five years old and already weighs over 900 pounds and stands 11.5 feet tall on his hind legs. When I asked my partner Moksha what her favorite thing she learned about ligers over the last 20 years of hanging out she said “he’s bilingual as he speaks both lion and tiger” She doesn’t look 40 does she. The world largest cat. Over 900 lbs and 11.5 ft tall.

A post shared by Dr. Bhagavan Antle (@docantle) on Mar 25, 2020 at 5:22am PDT

What’s sad is that this isn’t unique to America. Lions are bred for slaughter on canned hunting farms in South Africa, and China has a massive market for tiger parts (among all others) for traditional medicine and food. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

With many of these for-profit private zoos and exotic animal pet owners on Instagram masquerading as “conservation” projects, it’s never been more important to question where you chose to spend your tourism dollars.

Travelers love animals, me included, but it’s imperative to follow a few guidelines for responsibly interacting with wildlife.

At the end of the day, we have the power as consumers to stand up and say exploiting wildlife and endangered species is wrong. Dig deep and do your research before going to any of these places and have a thorough look around when you’re there. Does it look suitable for the animals?

Beware of buzzwords like “gives back to conservation,” sanctuary,” and “rescue.” Is the animal interacting in a way that isn’t normal? Has it been trained? Most of these training methods are based on fear and are cruel.

My god, imagine the impact it would have if all of the profits and expenses from exploiting exotic animals went towards conservation projects, what a difference that would make.

Listen, I get it. I would fucking love to cuddle a baby tiger. Their squeaks are so cute, and I know it’s super unique. But it’s not right. Those tigers don’t belong on my Instagram or in my arms.

One day I’ll follow in the footsteps of Rudyard Kipling to India and hopefully get to track wild tigers on safari in their natural habitat. But I will only do that in the most responsible way I can.

I’ve tracked leopards in Sri Lanka, lions in Botswana, cheetahs in South Africa, and elephants just about everywhere. It’s a real privilege that I’ve been able to go to these places, something I don’t ever take advantage of or forget.

It’s powerful and so special to see majestic, iconic creatures in the wild, where they belong. There is something so profoundly sad and degrading to such a mighty animal reduced to misery for the enjoyment of humans.

The second disturbing truth brought to light from Tiger King was just how disconnected I am from my American siblings.

I grew up in rural Virginia, about 15 minutes from West Virginia, so I am far from inexperienced when it comes to Trump-loving, gun-toting, uneducated rednecks. But this show was next level sad and made me face my privilege in an uncomfortable way.

If things are going to change, a whole heap of cultural mindsets would have to shift. With education and opportunity, anything is possible.

I think the US needs to work on prison reform, drug rehab programs, and healthy community programs for its people. If anything, Tiger King was a painful glimpse of what excessive gun freedom + meth + extreme poverty + lack of opportunity does to people.

So please, Netflix, stop streaming this outside of America; it’s’s not a good look for us.

And for the love of God, please never take a selfie with a baby endangered animal at one of these places!

Also, I think I’m going crazy. Send me something sane to binge-watch, please that won’t rile me up. Thanks.

Did you know about these seedy depths of wildlife tourism? Have you ever seen one of these fantastic animals in the wild? Where would you go on safari if you could? Spill!

The post How Netflix’s Tiger King reveals just how messed up wildlife tourism has become appeared first on Young Adventuress.

I’ve been an American expat in New Zealand for seven years, and I’ve never been more grateful for this country welcoming me with open arms, especially now amid the COVID 19 pandemic. In a few short weeks, I will qualify for permanent residency, which I can’t wait for. 

I love everything about New Zealand.

From the wild landscapes to the quirky culture to the DIY friendly attitude, it’s a great place to live. No wonder it consistently ranks among one of the happiest countries in the world. But unfortunately, as we sink into the total shitshow that is 2020, the stark contrast between my birthplace and where I call home now has never been more apparent.

Kindness. I can’t think of a more straightforward way to put it.

Last Friday, an NBC correspondent asked Trump, “What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now who are scared?” to which he replied, “I say that you’re a terrible reporter, that’s what I say.”

What. An. Asshole.

Even seeing it now I can feel my face flush red with anger. I feel so ashamed of where I’m from, and I’m terrified for my friends and family in the US. You deserve so much better. It shouldn’t take a pandemic and a failure of the federal government to bring fundamental human rights to a country that once was “the leader of the free world.” 

Cruel, petulant, and heartless.

This is not how you lead. This is not how you talk to people. This is not how you comfort a nation of 330 million human beings who, you know, have hearts, fears, worries, and families to think about. Where is the respect? Where is his dignity?

What frightens me, even more, are all people who agree with him. It’s reflective of how selfish the American culture has become (has it always been that way and I’m only seeing it now that I’ve left?) There is no place in this world for that “me, me ME” attitude. We have to look out for one another. Politics don’t matter right now; nobody wants people to get sick and die.

Damnit, I’m furious all over again writing this.

In contrast, our excellent PM, Jacinda Ardern, has been comforting and reassuring Kiwis almost daily, live-streaming, and answering questions, including running a press conference just for kids around COVID 19. She even does spontaneous FB lives from her sofa in sweatpants after putting her toddler to bed.

Each time she addresses us, you can see the toll this experience is taking on her face. She didn’t sign up for this, but she is leading us the best way possible. Her hope and belief in keeping Kiwis safe above all else ring through every word she speaks. Compassion and understanding radiate from her. She talks to us with clear plans and objectives of what we need to do to get through this, usually with scientists by her side.

Jacinda is the kind of figure you want to comfort you in times of crisis. We are all facing an unknown future, and it’s scary.

And every single time Jacinda speaks to the New Zealand community, she reminds us to be kind and to support one another. There is even a page on the NZ government response website to COVID 19 about kindness.

And she reminds us to be strong. Acknowledging what she is asking all of us is massive, she wants us to unite against spreading COVID 19 by staying at home.

To be honest, considering what humanity has gone through over the millennia, it’s not that hard.

Staying home is easy. Being kind is harder. And being kind to yourself? Well, that’s a challenge, especially for people like me.

We are facing unprecedented times (to echo every politician on earth), and it’s pretty freaking scary. If we aren’t careful, we can be consumed by terror, fear, anxiety, depression, and all those other nasty thoughts that like to lurk in the dark recesses of our minds.

But it’s never been more critical to share compassion, empathy, and love. It’s what makes us human, after all. Kindness is a choice.

As we move into four weeks (minimum) of home isolation here in New Zealand, Jacinda’s message of kindness couldn’t be more poignant. We are being tested.

Now is the time to work harder than ever at being considerate, helpful, and selfless. Remember to think of others and not just ourselves. Perhaps we aren’t staying at home because we are worried we will get sick, but rather remember we are doing it for everyone else.

If we all stop moving, COVID 19 will stop moving. It’s pretty easy yet tough.

Now is the time to think beyond ourselves, to think of our collective communities and groups. It’s not about “me” anymore, it’s about everyone. Make your decisions with that in mind. I chose kindness. Don’t be an asshole.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live in a heartless world. I hope and believe we will come out of the other side of this stronger and better. Kia kaha, as we say here in New Zealand, which means “stay strong” in Māori.

Be kind, be compassionate, be helpful, and supportive. Above all, be human. And for god’s sake, stop trying to make Instagram Lives a thing. It’s so annoying. And stay the fuck at home. Deal?

How are you coping during this new future we’re facing? How are you staying kind to yourself and others? Spill!

The post It takes nothing to be kind appeared first on Young Adventuress.

It’s no secret that New Zealand has become a hot spot destination for nature lovers around the world. While Kiwis are generally happy to share their little slice of heaven with the rest of the world. They only ask one small thing: don’t take the piss.

Need a translation? No worries, I gotcha.

Take the piss is a British/NZ/Australian term that does NOT mean go pee on something.

When someone in New Zealand is taking the piss, it means that the person has taken certain liberties at the expense of others — still confused? Let me put it in layman’s terms: If you visit New Zealand, please stop treating it like your own personal garbage can.

For a while, New Zealand was known as a dream destination for “freedom camping.”

In short, freedom camping is a poorly-named activity that allows travelers setting up camp anywhere, even places with no facilities or designated campsites. A classic kiwi pastime, it was all well and good when it was mostly just kiwis out freedom camping around their own country.

But what do you think happened when New Zealand exploded into tourism stardom, and millions of people flocked to this little island for a holiday?

If you guessed heaps of people saw it as a chance to travel for free, then you are correct. If you guessed that freedom camping pisses off a lot of locals and is a massive part of the overtourism conversation today? You are also right.

Freedom Camping Tips For Campervans

To be clear, New Zealand does still allow freedom camping but under strict guidelines (which many ignore). However, it’s often misunderstood, and it DEFINITELY does not mean you can pull up your wildly offensive Wicked Campervan and park at the most Instagram-able site you can find.

Don’t worry fam, if you’ve dreamed of renting out an outrageously expensive old VW Combi and camping by a wild, vacant turquoise lake filled with blossoming flowers; you’re not out of luck. I’m going to tell you exactly how you can have your cake and eat it too.

Here’s precisely how you can freedom camp responsibly in New Zealand, be respectful and not take the piss. Read on, dear ones.

1. Go self-contained, do it

There was once a time when freedom camping wasn’t as popular, and local councils didn’t view it as a threat to New Zealand’s pristine environment.

That all changed in 2011 when the Rugby World Cup resulted in entire fleets of campervans being rented out. The public 420 designated free campsites were trashed. People pooped everywhere. It was a mess.

In 2018, regulations got tighter. Now, the national standard says that all camper vans must be self-contained. Self-contained is the word to remember around freedom camping.

This means you need to be able to live in your vehicle for three days without requiring more water or dumping your wast.

Let me put it differently.

This means you need to be able to shit in your van for three days without getting rid of your poo. So don’t come at me with your Toyota Estima telling me it’s self-contained unless you’ve got three days of poo stored up there to prove it, ok?

The regulations also require the vehicle to have freshwater storage, wastewater storage, a lidded bin for your rubbish, and a toilet that can be used inside the car, even when the bed is in place.

Let’s make it clear for the people in the back. If your van does not have a toilet, it isn’t self-contained.

Poo in a loo – and be prepared for when there isn’t one

This is what a self-contained van looks like. Does it look like something your grandparents would travel in? Yes, but that’s just how it works. It’s big enough to live in for days.

2. That little blue sticker doesn’t mean shit

If you’ve been in New Zealand, you’ve probably seen the much-coveted blue sticker that is supposed to prove your van is the self-contained meaning you can camp anywhere you damn well, please. Not true.

It’s usually stuck on the back windshield or bumper of a campervan – or shitty converted hatchback or mini-van used by long-term backpackers to bum around in.

If you’re shopping around for a camper van to use during your year-long working holiday, don’t let some slimy salesperson trick you into believing that blue sticker has any meaning whatsoever.

The magical blue sticker means nothing any more!

If you’re confused, refer to the requirements in point #1.

If you can’t poop in the van for three days straight according to the specifications, it’s not self-contained.

Even the van it has 10 of those blue stickers on the back, it’s not self-contained. I could get some of those stickers on the black market and pop them on my Subaru Outback. That doesn’t make it self-contained.

Don’t pay an extra $1,000 for that van you found on Trade Me just for the sticker! The sticker doesn’t mean anything anymore. It’s the actual set up inside the camper. This is what they check for.

Do you think they’ve got a toilet and three days of poo in here? NO.

3. Where can you park your self-contained camper van?

Now that you know what your self contained camper van is and is not, you can start looking for designated freedom camping spots.

Just because you have a self-contained vehicle does not mean you can pull up on any quiet road you feel like and conk out for the night.

Chances are people probably live down that road and don’t want to see your ugly ass van when they wake up in the morning. Please respect the people and the land here. New Zealand is the home of many, and it’s not Disney Land. Would you park your car outside someone’s house and live out of it wherever you’re from? Then why would you do it here?

This also means you can’t drive up to the shores of Lake Wanaka for a peaceful night of sleep.

Try it, and you’ll be met with a $400 fine when you wake up in the morning. Trust me, it’s easier to pay for a campsite at that point.

But, if you’re dead set on finding free camp spots, you’re not out of luck.

There are plenty of spots for responsible freedom camping, but the rules and regulations change depending on the region your in, and the specific DOC land around said region. The best bet is to go to the local iSite Visitor Information Center, DOC visitor Center or check with the local council.

Rankers are also an excellent resource for those looking to find a proper freedom camping location.

While it makes a beautiful photo, it’s unrealistic to think you can pull up to any old beach and park up for the night. Most likely, your free campsite will be an old gravel parking lot in the middle of nowhere.

4. How to be an excellent little freedom camper

Okay, you’ve got the right vehicle, you’ve found the right spot to park up for the night, now what?

Just like any camper, there are a few things you can do to be a responsible visitor. Remember, each location will have it’s own specific rules and regulations. These hot tips will be universal no matter where you are.

• Generally, No Fires: Fires can be a serious threat to New Zealand’s ecosystem, especially in dry regions such as Central Otago. There are year-round fire restrictions on public conservation lands, and no open fires are permitted during the fire season. You should only light a fire at designated DOC campsites with fire pit amenities. If you’re hoping to roast some s’mores by the fire, you’re probably out of luck. Be prepared to cook all of your food on your gas stovetop.

• Pack it in Pack it out: It seems ridiculous to have to say this in 2020, but here we go. You must take whatever littler you accumulate while camping out of the campsite with you and dispose of it in the rubbish bins or recycling bins. Chocolate bar wrappers, toilet paper, tea bags, we’ve seen it all. Don’t try to tell me it accidentally fell out of your pocket; we don’t care. When you’re getting ready to leave a site, do a thorough once over to make sure your site is clean.

• Don’t bathe in the lake: As tempting as it may be to score a free shower in crystal clear lakes, resist all temptation and pay for an actual shower elsewhere. You can find cold and sometimes hot showers at campsites as well as paid showers at gas stations or hostels. Similarly, don’t wash your manky-ass clothes in the lakes or rivers either. Soaps and detergents are harmful to water life, so if you’re going to wash your clothes in a buck, dump the water in the soil to let the dirt filter it before entering the water systems.

• Dispose of your wastewater at designated areas: Now that you know how to be a responsible freedom camper with a vehicle that can hold wastewater (greywater) for three days, what the hell do you do with it when it’s full? You don’t dump your shit anywhere other than designated waste disposal dump stations. Most official campsites will have dump stations

• Boil your water for at least 3 minutes: In general, water in New Zealand is much cleaner than a lot of other countries, and often drinking from rivers and streams will be harmless, but it’s best not to gamble if you’re worried about the water quality. Give the water a quick three-minute boil to get rid of any harmful bacteria that may be lurking.

• Lock your shit up: While it’s rare to find violent crime in New Zealand, theft is relatively common when it comes to visitors and camper vans. Be sure to lock up your camper van when you’re out or when you’re sleeping for the night. There have been a few sporadic cases of violent crime against camper vans; While you generally don’t have to worry about that, it’s always good to think twice before camping in a super remote and isolated area.

• Lastly, pay for a freaking campsite once in a while: Look, I get it, traveling is expensive, and even $20 campsites can add up over a few weeks. But tough shit. That’s life. That’s traveling. Not everything can come for free. By all means, do your best to seek out one of the 500 open designated freedom camping areas. If you can’t find one close by, bite the bullet and find a local campsite.

5. Just stay in campsites or holiday parks

You can find holiday parks in nearly every town, and DOC campsites dotted all down the country.

New Zealand has an incredible network of cheap campsites and holiday parks galore where you can park up with heaps of facilities. When I am traveling around in a campervan, I often split my nights between holiday park campsites, freedom camping, and DOC campsites. After all, hot showers are fantastic.

If you end up at an unattended DOC campsite, don’t take the piss and try to pay for free. Don’t arrive late at night and leave before dawn all to avoid the $10 fee.

The money you pay for DOC campsites is much needed to maintain our beautiful ecosystems. It provides facilities to visitors so everyone can enjoy this country. Seek out freedom camping if you must, but don’t forget that there’s nothing wrong with a good old fashion DOC campsite once in a while.

Now, go forth and be free, you wild ‘lil freedom campers.

Get that shot that will win you at least 20 likes on the gram. Twirl in the field of lupins, New Zealand’s most beautiful weed.

Do what you need to do but do it responsibly. Thanks for visiting this beautiful part of the world. And an even bigger thanks for leaving it better than you found it.

Have any tips for freedom camping responsibly? Have you ever traveled this way before? Spill!

The post Your friendly guide to freedom camping in New Zealand appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Living in Wanaka, the heart of the Southern Alps of New Zealand, and a peaceful lakeside mountain town, I’ve spent a lot of time in our neighboring national park – Mt. Aspiring.

Mount Aspiring National Park is a magical mix of remote high country wilderness, big mountains, and stunning river valleys. Home to over a hundred glaciers, it’s a place straight from the Lord of the Rings – literally. Every time I explore Mt. Aspiring, it takes my breath away.

But a new phenomenon has arrived in New Zealand – for the past couple of weeks, the smoke and dust from the unprecedented bushfires in Australia have arrived in New Zealand.

I was away from Wanaka when I started to see posts from all my Wanaka friends on social media about their cars coated with thick red dust. It seems the devastating effects of the immense wildfires in Australia have made their way here.

As hundreds of uncontrolled fires burn across New South Wales and the Queensland coastlines in Australia, the wind has carried the smoke, ash, and dust thousands of kilometers across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.

For days our usually clear skies were hazy, a bizarre thing to witness.

As the sky turned an ominous yellow haze, the smoke blanketed towns all across the South Island before eventually clearing up a few days later as the winds changed.

We carried on with our normalcy and routines, luckily free from the horrors of fires (at present). But as I journeyed back into Mt. Aspiring National Park last Friday, I noticed something unusual.

Why did the glaciers appear to be red?

Hopping on a last-minute scenic helicopter flight with Wanaka Helicopters out to see the glaciers around Mt. Aspiring, I was fizzing with excitement as I piled into the front seat on one of those calm, spring mornings.

We’ve had a crazy amount of rain this springtime in Wanaka, so much rain in fact that the lake is high. Normally quite dry on this side of the mountains, everyone is worried the town might flood this week as more rain is on the way.

Right now is the perfect time for a scenic flight around Wanaka, and it’s definitely the most colorful time of year. The valleys are bright green with all of the rainfall, and there is still snow on the mountaintops. For photographers like me, we froth on these colors.

As the snow melts and the mountains are pounded with massive rainfalls, hundreds of temporary waterfalls gush down from the glaciers in a scene out of a movie. It doesn’t look real.

Taking off from the Wanaka airport on a morning Amazing Aspiring scenic heli flight, conditions were just magical. No wind, blue skies, and warm air, spring was in the air, and I was itching to take in my favorite mountains again.

Zooming out over the town and down the iconic Matukituki Valley, I could see the river was pumping, and the lake was high, while the stunning peak of Mt. Aspiring twinkled in the distance.

And as we got closer and closer towards the first of the mighty glaciers, I pulled my sunglasses off to wipe them. Did I see things, or did the snow look, well, a bit red?

From far away, the glaciers looked almost dirty, a sooty look they often get at the end of a hot summer as the ice melts and rock tumbles down onto the ice in certain places. But it was springtime, and the snows were beginning to melt. What’s the deal?

Chatting with the pilot, I realized this phenomenon was tied to the raging wildfires plaguing the east coast of Australia. The recent westerlies brought a red haze and smoke across the pond here to New Zealand.

As the dust settled across the South Island, it coated our glaciers in a layer of red too.

How crazy is that?

While I’m no scientist, I wonder this layer of red will exist in the ice to tell the story of the bushfires in a thousand years? The same way we could see the ash layers from ancient volcanic eruptions around the world now?

Curious. Curious.

As a frequent visitor to Mt. Aspiring, and flying as often as I can around these big mountains I call home, it was unusual and exciting to see something rare and different. How crazy is it that we can see the impact of fires in Australia here in New Zealand?!

It’s pretty remarkable to see the impact of the fires from so far away.

Our glaciers don’t need any more battles as they are already truly endangered; it puts the impact of climate change into even more stark reality we can’t ignore.

This will cause our glaciers to melt even faster due to the obstruction of the ice-albedo effect – where shiny glaciers reflect energy into space. Someone correct me, but this is how I understand it to work; the red dust is now covering the usually reflective glacial ice, causing the glaciers to melt faster. Ah, science!

Cue the anti-climate change propaganda. Though I would be heartily surprised if there were any non-science believers still on my blog.

The higher temperatures caused by climate change allows for more dryness and worse fire seasons in Australia especially. Greenhouse gas emissions have a direct impact on increased temperatures, which equates to increased dryness.

Climate change definitely makes bushfires worse.

Nothing really puts into perspective both the immensity of our mountains quite like a helicopter flight. It shows just how fragile they are. Especially when you see the impact of something so massive here in New Zealand.

I want everyone to be able to experience the joy and euphoria that comes from these wild spaces. I want to preserve our glaciers for generations to come. It breaks my heart to see the devastation both directly in Australia but also high on our precious mountains here in New Zealand.

Good luck to everyone working hard to stop this.

Have you ever seen anything like this? Have you experienced the effects of wildfires before? I’m curious, share if you don’t mind.

Many thanks to Wanaka Helicopters for showing me around my favorite mountains. Like always, I’m keeping it real – as if you could expect less from me!

The post Australia’s wildfires are turning New Zealand’s glaciers red appeared first on Young Adventuress.