Far and Wide Trek for Developmental Disabilities: UP AND DOWN

Monday, June 23, 2008

UP AND DOWN

I am going to write this real fast. Just wanted to keep up with the updates and not sure when I'm going to cross another internet cafe. Well I'm well north of Fort Bragg, California. Things have been good but tough. The hills are relentless and winding for miles upon miles. They have steep grades which makes it even more ....fun? But in all seriousness, the hills and difficult wind is all subsituted for unbelievable picturesque landscapes. The camping is relaxing and always get to meet great people. There was one large family camping in some grounds near San Francisco that made me feel like my surname was Clarke. They really took care of me and fed me amazing food. I got to try Aboloni which is a large mussel about 8 inches in size and really delicious. Very expensive if you were to buy one... It would cost about $200. But if you go down and grab it yourself your allowed 3 of them. But no scuba tanks are allowed... only a snorkel. It was a really cool process and community knitting type of food. Because it is not easy to prepare.

It's funny to see sea lions and to hear them in the morning when camping near the beach. Sometimes being lucky enough to see dolphins playing in the sea. I have yet to see whales but apparently it's not that uncommon. It's also interesting to watch these little birds, I'm not sure but maybe they are a sparrow or something similar in size. They chase away these massive black birds (maybe a raven?) But I think the smaller bird is protecting their young and chasing away these bigger birds that are about 5x their size. It's always a great sight to see this small birds bravery. It's courage is motivating in a strange way.

One last story, an older guy camped next to me lastnight. He was a funny guy, his hair was perfect and he was really well manored and kept talking about his hiking that he has been doing and how he is getting paid to do it. I acknowledged but he kept bringing up how he was getting paid to have vacation. I thought maybe he was wanting to ask him what he does for a living. So finally I asked him of what he did. He said "top secret" he stopped talking and went into his tent. I didn't know if he was serious but it was a funny way to end a conversation.

So keep warm and safe
Godspeed
Matthew.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: Hey Matt!
I'm so glad your trek is going well! I love reading about all the interesting people you get to meet, and the places you get to see. Your trek is an inspiration to all of us. Best wishes and safe journey.; June 25, 2008 at 1:51 AM

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A little about Matthew

All my life, a life spent with a younger sister who has Down syndrome, I believed that inclusion was the way of the future, that she would graduate and become a part of the community, that she was someone who could contribute just like anyone else. I have learned that the idea, and the words around it, is still in vogue. It’s the practice that’s wanting. Since her graduation, she takes part in a day program where the only *normal* people are her supervisors. She has become invisible again, part of a protected ghetto for people with disabilities, safe from others and them safe from her.
Much of my early life was trying to educate my peers about my sister’s disability and, being a kid, sometimes landing in the occasional fight. (Certainly true with my sister, who has always been outspoken!)
It saddens me to see that we continue to isolate people with mental disabilities because we don’t understand or are uncomfortable with what we see as unbridgeable differences. I believe that we can make a positive difference in how people view each other if we make an effort to encourage understanding through education.
Having worked with organizations and institutions dedicated to helping individuals with special needs, I have firsthand knowledge of how little society as a whole understands the challenges people with mental disabilities face on a daily basis. From my work with adults and children in Hamilton, I have learned a great deal about special needs. I also learned how a few people work incredibly hard to make a few underfunded programs work as well as they do. This past fifteen months I have spent teaching in South Korea. During this time, I did considerable research into the types of support that individuals with special needs receive and how it can be improved with relatively simple steps.
From my previous experience and from my research, the idea of the Far and Wide Bike Trek was born. It seems a logical next step, a way to raise awareness and funds for people with mental challenges. My hope is that I can connect with associations and individuals along the way in an effort to get some recognition for people in communities across the land. It helps that athletics, especially cycling, is something I love and it’s an honour to do something for others that they may not be able to do for themselves. This also would enable me to meet with community leaders and charity organizations across the continent to discuss the problems people with special needs face, and to share ideas. With only negligible help on the part of the community, many of these individuals’ lives can be made infinitely more manageable.
In addition, by using a bicycle, I’m also achieving other goals. Not only is the bicycle an excellent and neglected form of transportation, it’s environmentally friendly and a great form of exercise. I think the messages that we need to care for our environment and we need to take care of our bodies through exercise are important ones as well.
Finally, outside of monetary concerns and environmental awareness, I am genuinely interested in bringing to the attention of people everywhere how capable, frequently astonishing, and incredibly special people with mental challenges are. Although there are a handful of programs (such as the Special Olympics) with this goal, I feel as if the Far and Wide Bike Trek can truly drive the point home. Please be a part of my dream. Thank you for your time.

Far and Wide Trek for Developmental Disabilities

Monday, June 23, 2008

UP AND DOWN

1 comment:

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