Tina's wanderings around the world

Amla berries (fruit) aka Indian gooseberries and amalaki.  I agree, they do look like gooseberries, albeit big gooseberries roundabout the size of a walnut.  Amla is something I was first introduced to in Bali, a solo trip I haven't written about yet--a week of yoga, jamu, Nyepi, and batik. The best word to describe that trip is regenerative. I came back feeling relaxed, restored, and healthier than I've felt in quite some time, only to be hit with my second bout of Covid. Go figure. During the trip, one of my jamu teachers took me on a tour of his sample garden, a smaller scale version of his organic farm where he can show people many plants in a small space. He grows different kinds of herbs, spices, flowers, and fruits, and he showed me purple, black, yellow, and white turmerics. I tasted cinnamon barks cut straight from the tree (punchy and delicious). And he off-handedly pointed out an amla tree, one that's newer to him but that is apparently a "miracle tree"...

Fun fact. I quit my job. Or rather, I'm taking a pause. When I said there were a lot of reasons I was ending my contract early, it was true. Around three years' worth of reasons, stress, and feeling undervalued, I figured it was time to call it a day. At least for a while. I want a few months to just breathe and not have to wake up at 5am or 6am. Or go to bed at a grandma hour. Or go to bed without Marcus!! Or feel unseen.  That leaves a significant vacuum in my days, one that I'm not unfamiliar with, but I'm trying to approach it differently this time. I'm trying to value this time, rather than be scared of it. I'm usually scared at how long my time in between jobs is going to last, and I stress about whether and when someone is going to hire me. This time, I know I'll get hired. I don't know when, but it's just a question of time. And I don't want to waste this time, I want to treat it as precious and to use it wisely. Even if using it wisely i...