wajumau / Anna of the lichen mind

16 weeks on a therapeutic backpacking expedition in the Oregon high desert. A beautiful and mystical place…

I work at the market and people often ask: “where’s the first Starbucks?” And I really just want to tell them:

Starbucks is a CORPORATE WHORE!!!

and not to support them because there are many small local establishments that need their support. Places that serve Fair Trade coffee and treat their workers well. Places that have some character because I tell you, the first starbucks is just like any starbucks except, like Anna from London noted, the historical plaque.

If you need more reason not to go the first starbucks, or any other starbucks for that matter, you might want to know that currently starbucks has the power to improve the lives of hundreds of Ethiopian farmers, but is choosing not to: http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/rs/profile.cfm?id=291#campaigns

Set in the woods, you feel like your in a fairy tale (this feeling can also be increased with the help of hallucinogens, although these are not necessary… no drugs are needed at all because this place is so phantasmagorical).
This event (although it does not seem temporary, it seems that it’s as permanent as one’s imagination) is slightly overwhelming. There are so many great shows and workshops and gallerys going on at the same time at different places that it is hard to know what to do. This confusion could probably be avoided if you were to go every year and knew your way around and knew what shows were not to miss.
So go with an open mind, money or items to barter with, and a costume (you will feel slightly out of place without one)...