Three weeks of laptop-less bliss, wild-caught salmon meals, hikes through multiple biomes, and the warm laughter of old friendships.
Couldn’t have asked for a more restorative and health-giving post-PhD graduation trip to the PNW.
Author: hyvhuynh
Three weeks of laptop-less bliss, wild-caught salmon meals, hikes through multiple biomes, and the warm laughter of old friendships.
Couldn’t have asked for a more restorative and health-giving post-PhD graduation trip to the PNW.
Forest Park | International Rose Test Garden | Portland Japanese Garden | Oxbow Park | Tryon Creek State Park | Eagle Creek
Asheville,
You were the most nurturing mountain town to live in while writing and finishing a 175-page dissertation (guess I finally got to have my romantic “recluse in the mountains” phase of life). Thank you for the nourishing community, the 360 degrees of natural beauty-fueled inspiration, and your constant little reminders to be kinder and more gentle towards myself.
“Ocean, are you listening?
The most beautiful part
of your body is wherever
your mother’s shadow falls.”
I have a video recording of my doctoral defense and that moment my advisor welcomed me back into the room and said, “Congratulations, Dr. Hy Huynh.” The moment happened so fast in real-time though, so I’m grateful I can go back, slow it down, and savor that moment, frame by frame.
It’s been a while since I’ve written anything leisurely, and you know what? I completely and unreservedly blame this dissertation. For the past few weeks, it’s been academic writing, research, statistics, and analysis *every day* for as long as I physically and possibly can. On the bright side, I am happy to share that the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and closer. I’m starting to squint, reaching around aimlessly looking for the sunglasses I dropped on the floor. Come April, I’ll finally be finished with this dissertation:
One of my favorite memories of my recent trip to Colombia was photographing Julian and his abuelo on a hike at Cocora Valley. The day before, his abuelo had asked if he could join us, even expressing interest in hiking with us. He wanted to do it all. It wasn’t until later that I learned he hadn’t been back to Cocora Valley in more than twenty years.
Once on horseback and another time on foot, I’ve been fortunate to experience the wonder and wisdom of Cocora Valley in Salento, Colombia. It’s become my place of refuge this month, a place where I’ve been able to both calmly reflect and seek advice and perspective during these difficult times.
There are relationships that are centered around certain places,
sometimes remaining and laying dormant there for all time,
rejuvenated only when time allows presences to align.