Love letter to Cumberland

Cumberland,

How do I even begin to express my love for you? By dancing in your streets, hugging all your people, writing you a love letter? I didn't know which one to choose, so I decided to do it all. I left you this morning, after four months of bliss and sunshine. The winter months made me doubt my love for you, but that's a personal thing. It's not you, it's me. I'm a summer child and you definitely brought the child out in me these past months. Running around the forest, skinny dipping in the lake, digging in the dirt. 

Three seasons in four months, it felt like we were only together for five minutes when actually I lived a lifetime with you as my witness. I felt lost under all those layers of clothes, out of my element in the cold. You made me feel at home and lit the fire. I arrived by myself and I left with a family. Being part of a community is something I longed for dearly, and you welcomed me with open arms. My search for work got answered by four jobs. I got to write! For a living! And meet the most amazing people, collect their stories and be a sister in the Cumberland family. A wild woman in a bunch of even wilder women. A travelling spirit finding a place to rest. 

I fell in love and made dear friends. I'm leaving with a heart overflowing with love. My creative spark is alight, leaving books of poetry in island houses. The mountains cradle my thoughts. The trees clear my mind of any worries. The ocean's salty water attracts me every time, clothes off in a heart beat. Waves spit me back out on the beach, making me a better person. It's the combination of all of this, that makes me feel so good. But it's the people that make it a home. A place filled with love. A valley full of memories, I take them with me wherever I go.

And I will always come back.

Love,

Joke

Lost in the woods

One fine Tuesday morning I decided it was time for a road trip. I loaded the car with coffee, cookies, my friend Ryan and a gangsta rap playlist. Ready to hit the road, Drake was shouting from the speaker: 0 to 100 baby real quick. I hit the gas and my poor old car could hardly make it to 80 before she started shaking and rattling like she was going to fall apart on the spot. That's okay, we've got time! Holidays! I don't care about other cars passing me. Constantly. And honking. I just get into grandma mode and wear my snail speed with pride. 

So slowly but surely we rattled along until the air tasted salty and Tofino welcomed us with open arms. Hugs from worldwide friends and ocean views got me all excited. Adventure time! Four of us took off on a well prepared hike through the woods, to find an old plane wreck. Coffee, speakers, joints, shoes off and pants rolled up. Two minutes later we were knee deep in mud, swinging from one rope to another, following bright orange ribbons some nice hiker placed in the trees. 

We found the plane wreck and did the tourist thing: taking pictures while climbing the plane. Overlooking the tree tops and our deliciously muddy feet, I smiled with delight. So happy to be back in Tofino! We stayed there for a while and slowly got back down, deep into the mud. We made our way through the dirt slush and were laughing and tagging along until one crazy fast Canadian couple passed us. With no mud on their feet, legs or face! They smiled at us and walked like they knew something we didn't... A short cut! Without mud! Let's follow these guys! And so we did. They were almost racing through that forest so it was hard to keep up, but we found them deep in the woods. 

The girl asked us if we knew where we were going. We laughed. "Of course not, we were following you!" Anyway, we would just follow this mossy path and find our way out. Until the path hit a dead end of many many branches and bushes and I don't know why but we just kept going. Was this perhaps an animal path more than a human path? The wolf tracks told us yes. We lightly panicked. Okay, we freaked out. 

We tried to walk back but wherever we looked was dense forest. We were really trapped. In a gigantic forest filled to the brim with wolves, bears and cougars. Fun fun fun! The first thing on my mind was: "we'll have to spend the night in this forest!" And then: "We're never going to make it out alive!" I screamed to keep the wildlife away, but mostly just to scream. We marched through that forest like we knew where we were going, but clearly, we had no clue. 

Ryan's phone was the hero of the day, with a gps showing us the way to the road. We had to walk through bushes and climb ditches and more than once did we hear cars passing like a mirage. Reality was: we were still in the middle of that wild forest. We yelled and howled and ran and accidentally hit each other with brances in the face. And then: the relieving sound of the highway! 

Never have I been so happy to hear cars flying past us. We made it! We survived! Hugs all around! Followed by ocean swims to wash that mad adrenaline off our bodies. To celebrate life, we feasted on seafood and wine. That night, we watched the sunset from a couch in the sky. Someone placed a couch on a platform in the forest (just a 5 minute walk this time), overlooking the ocean. A magical end of a wild day. 

Life right about now

Oh what a wonderful day! Waking up feeling free, birds singing it's time to shine. Morning coffee rituals with friends in the garden. Long lost catch ups of two days not seeing each other. When coworkers turn friends turn family, 24 hours feels like a long time without hugs. Cuddles, stories, laughter. We decide who will be the bun and who will be the hot dog in the middle. Two buns make a sandwich but they will feel the cold wind on their backs. It's best to be the dog, stay warm in winter time. All with a serious face. I nearly hit the floor laughing. Life is sweet, I think.

Last night's tipsy texting tells me summer is here. My heart skips a beat all the time. Caffeine keeps me going but everything happens with a shiver. I burnt my face in that first sun. In burnt the burn the next day and now I'm like a snake shedding skin but still smiling. Some days I wake up feeling like a wild woman, ready to take over the world. Dancing naked to yeasayer eating chocolates in the shower, all the good stuff all at the same time. Finding a forgotten taco like a treasure in the fridge. More coffee. More shivers. Wearing only glitters. Half a day off and I'm having a one woman party. I write, trying to pour my excitement for life into words. I kiss the paper, make ink stains on hands and cheeks.

Strawberries ripen just by looking at them. I close my eyes and smell memories of summer fields of joy, cheap champagne picnics, swaying hips on festival grounds. I taste the salt of your body while swimming in the ocean. Cold water is my morning alarm. Hair still wet, slamming car doors, almost late for work. I see myself in your sunglasses and smile every time you walk past the window. 

The rain makes life less heavy, the air is clean, plants are relieved and the pavement smokes. I love the smell of rain on a hot day. I get out until my feet are muddy and my legs can't dance anymore. I've got something for you, you say and push a piece of paper in my hands. 1920s typewriter ink, fingers moving fast, mistakes are made easily so you flipped the page and there it is. A poem named Joke the Wild. Words get blurry as my eyes do too. I smile and hug and hug some more. Summer rain makes for starry skies. Coming home tastes like your words on my lips. 

Living on couches

Couch surfing is as simple as it is genius. You spend the night on someone's couch. The fun part is: you usually find yourself in a stranger's home, in a place you've never been before. Magic happens when you enter someone's home. You enter their lives and as you change into your PJ's you realise you are home. For one night you're living in someone else's house, being a part of a stranger's private life. Just like that. 

When people open up their doors, they open their hearts. It's incredible how generous and kind people are. You'll see when you try couch surfing yourself. I travelled around the world sleeping on stranger's sofas, floors, spare beds and I loved it. The night filled with stories, feeling the smooth transition of strangers turning into friends. Waking up and being confused for the first three seconds: where am I? Oh that's right, I'm in Simone's loft in Vienna. Or at Sue's farm in Tasmania. And you know you're in for an adventure.

Seeing the world through others' eyes is a very special thing. To be able to do this, you have to go deep. Superficial weather talk at the supermarket is not going to cut it. It won't open your eyes, stir up your brain, shake your soul. I want to be moved by stories. So I surf couches. I'm not in it for the free accommodation. I'm here to listen and learn. There is something vulnerable and loving about people opening their homes to strangers. It makes them share precious things. Like a home cooked meal, life stories and most important: time. Couch surfing forces you to connect. To spend time together, away from the digital world, living totally and completely in the now.

I missed it. Couch surfing has been a part of my travelling life for a long time, and after months of having a key to my own home, my feet started getting itchy. Not for faraway travels this time. For connection. For meeting people and sharing moments of truth. Get past the lines I throw at customer's faces: hi darling, how are you going? As a server, I hope you just say you're fine and order a burrito. As a human, I want to hear it all. The whole story. I want to sit down with you on your couch and listen and not once will we talk about the weather. 

So after three months of serving the community of Cumberland margaritas and beers, talking mostly about margaritas and beers, it is time to cut the crap and get to know each other. Hi, I'm Joke, I talk to strangers and collect stories. I traded my bed for couches, sleeping in a different home every night. Feeling like a traveller while working seven days a week at the same places. Getting out of the routine, into people's lives, one couch at a time.

Winter blues solutions

Some mornings I wake up in a sun-filled room, jump out of bed into the day and feel ready for adventures. Talking to strangers, smiles everywhere and life is sweet. Other mornings the rain tries to get me out of bed. I reply with a groan and turn around, blanket over my head, hiding from the day. On grey days, I'm not always in the mood. To be social, leave the house or wear pants. They call it the winter blues.

I wasn't expecting endless summers when moving to Canada. So I had to get used to winter, to dark mornings, looking out of the window and feeling an emotion best described as 'meh'. Like other winter bluesers, I had to find a way to get around the grey. Add sparks of light and golden glitter to cloudy skies. I tried warming up and sweating in steam rooms and saunas. Drinking bottomless cups of coffee. Dancing until the break of dawn. All good, all fine, but the grey day feeling wouldn't leave me. And the next morning would be one of head aches and a heavy heart.

I started writing more letters. More than ever. Fitting tales and hugs in envelopes to send around the world. One fine day, I found a love letter in my snail mail box. All the way from Australia. Another one from Belgium, England, Canada, Spain. Every morning now, rain or shine, I jump out of bed with a fresh face and butterflies in my belly. Excitement in every step, a twinkle in every eye I meet, until I reach the post office and turn the key. Unlocking the PO box is like opening a treasure chest. The joy of writing letters multiplies when receiving a handwritten postcard filled with stories that make my day bathe in sunlight.

Thank you to all sweet letter writers, for sending me so much love and joy. Turning winter blues into summer heat.

Lovelovelove!

Vancouver Island lovin'

It's been two months since I moved to Vancouver Island and I am feeling settled in. As if I've been here all along, like the trees in the magical forest of our backyard. I unpacked my backpack for the second time and surprised myself on how many items I have been gathering over the past months. Living in a house requires a certain dress code. It's all about house coats and funky aprons. So when the thrift store had a  50% sale, I went all out. 

With summer in mind, I found myself trying on tutus and wedding dresses. One shiny dress with pink bows and other hilarious ugliness made me fall in love. So my festival outfit is checked off my shopping list. While planning sunfilled adventures and road trips, I am working three jobs and exploring everything Cumberland has to offer. 

When I arrived here two months ago, people would ask me why I moved here. Did I have a plan? A job? Did I follow the love of my life to this tiny village on an island far away from home? I replied with a triple no and a smile, pointing out of the window, at the trees and mountains and ocean. THAT's why I moved here. Often the response was: "oh nice. But you do realise there are no jobs and single men here?" Smile on repeat and a little bit of a panic in my brain. I handed out resumes like a maniac, went to career fairs and checked craigslist every hour. No jobs. One month passed and as soon as the snow storms calmed down, I got a call for a job interview. And another one. And another! Three interviews lead to three jobs and I couldn't be more grateful to work for small, local businesses. 

I have never lived in a little community where everyone knows everyone. It feels good! It means you work with friends, live with friends, party with friends. Cumberland is a special place filled with wonderful people. Sunny mornings drinking coffee on the porch, yelling good morning to everyone walking by. Saturday night dancing to funky tunes and Sunday mimosas and live blues for brunch. Morning shimmy shakedown and dance hall classes. Late night writing. Icy cold lake skinny dipping. Snowy mountain adventures and forest missions. Ecstatic dancing and steam room chanting. All the goods to soothe my soul.

Oh, and the summer is already happening in my mind. My feet got ridiculously itchy last week and I daydreamt of road trips and camping under the stars. I started looking around for a vehicle. This morning I woke up and found my dream car. I bought it without blinking. I can't wait to move into my little house on wheels and take it for adventures. River baths, bonfire coffees, starry skies and endless journeys. Bring it on. 

Winter beach fire

Dirty chai to set the mood

slow tunes follow 

the rising sun

you rest your head

on the dragonfly pillow

your hand shades your eyes

I jump around spilling

cold coffee on the ground

twirling the wine glass in the air

fancy morning coffees

we drink and stare

out through the valley

where the trees hit the mountains

the snow touches the sky

the waves take the fire

barefoot on the rocks

memories of shooting starts

keeping me up all night

listening to the song of the ocean

thinking everything will be alright

Snowy adventures

If I would explain last week in colours, I would speak in snow and night sky. Clouds gathering, flakes falling. Wherever I look, I see paintings of white and black and all the shades of grey. Not the exciting kind, more the stay inside and carry blankets around the house kind of story. Don't be fooled by my cosy style as I wrap my socks around my legs, all the way up to my knees, pyjama pants neatly tucked in them to keep the warmth in. I stare out of the window and see my freedom wheels, riding me all over the place in search for crazy adventures. Just not now. A bike covered in snow is not always the way to roll. 

I have been stuck in my snowy cabin. The only way to get a coffee is to hitch hike into town. It's easy but slippery and I kinda like not having to wear outside clothes (meaning anything that is not considered PJ's). But one fine morning I peeled my pyjamas off my body and decided it was time for action! It's not because I'm stuck in the snow I can't go on adventures! Right? I gave my bike a look of a disappointment, grabbed my coat and hopped in my new friend Carol's car. 

I met Carol a week ago, when life was still sunny and warm. My bike and I were on a journey in Courtenay and of course I had no idea where I was going so I asked a fellow biking lady for directions. And just like that, a new friendship was born! We swapped biking for hiking and set off on a day trip to Campbell River. The drive was like a dream of winter wonderland, with snowy trees, mountains and views so beautiful my old little camera had no idea what to do with them.

As we approached Elk Falls Provincial Park, I got excited. I had only ever heard of snowshoeing when I moved to BC two weeks ago. And yes, I imagined walking around with tennis rackets tied under my shoes. Which - for those of you who are with me - is NOT the case. Getting ready took me about two hours but there I was with snowshoes and poles and thermal underwear. Elk Falls, show me what you've got! 

A gorgeous forest walk and then... A lot of steps to get to the viewpoint. The gear went off (except for the thermals) and I enjoyed the gorgeous falls. As I was looking around, I felt as if I was really living in a painting. Oh, beautiful Vancouver Island! I'm in love.

Island life

It's been one week since I left the mainland to bundle up in a tiny house on Vancouver Island. And boy, it feels good to be here! Already on the ferry to the island I got treated to something I have NEVER seen before! okay guess!

Nope, that's not it. Guess again!

No... Does that even exist?

I'll tell you before you dig any deeper in that absurd mind of yours. I saw fifty baby dolphins jumping around the boat!!! I could hardly hold myself from jumping around the place myself! I was giggling so loud I woke up the lady in front of me and we started talking and I thought: wow I have to do a lot more loud laughing by myself and people will start talking to me. Maybe it's just island people. They are the best. That brings me back to why I couldn't stop thinking about this place and eventually had to move here. These glorious people I met on dance floors, in forests or at house parties last summer. 

I had never even heard of the Comox Valley before. Until I met a busker in Vancouver who told me all about the beautiful place he lives, the Valley indeed. He offered me his couch and two days later I hopped on the ferry to Vancouver Island. The sweetest people picked me up when I was hitch hiking and I immediately had a good feeling about this place. The mountains, ocean and forests blew my mind. Meeting inspiring artists, finding hidden festivals, going on adventures with new friends who turned into family straight away.

I travelled across Canada and lived in Toronto but the island was still on my mind. And now, many months later, I can giggle as loud as I want in my tiny home, on the bike, anywhere and everywhere because there are more mountains than people and the people that do live here, are hilarious. So I blend right in. 

So what does one do on an island, you may ask. Hiking, biking, eating scones and doing new things like bikram yoga where sweating takes on new dimensions. Meeting friends, thinking of looking for a job but going for a beach walk instead. Talking with herbalists about collaborations, writing a fresh new book, taking a step back from the busy city life. This slow paced island life has got me all wrapped up in warm blankets and hugs. Especially when I woke up to a perfect snowy landscape this morning. Soup making, letter writing and snow ball fights. That's what I do when I'm all snowed in and can't get my bike to take me anywhere without hitting the ground. It's like the island is pushing me to do things that are good for the soul. To reconnect and grow. To see nature's beauty and appreciate the little things more than ever. 

Wishing you a soulful weekend!

City girl goes island

You know how sometimes when one door closes, another, better one, opens? Flashback to the beginning of December in Toronto. It was freezing cold and I just got let go from my warehouse work, seeing it as the ultimate sign to start writing more than ever. One week later I found a fancy job as a communication specialist at a scientific research institute. It took me eight hours of exams, two job interviews, Saturday meetings and a total makeover to fit into their corporate world. But I got the job! 

All I had to do now was change my dresscode, hide tattoos, take out piercings, wear skirts that cover my knees and look like a corporate copy. And I would have to stay in Toronto until my Canadian visa expires. Okay, I thought, I can do this. I was a bit nervous. With shaky hands I stored away my dreams of moving to Vancouver Island and writing about things that don't necessarily involve scientific research while wearing golden flower dresses and dying my hair pink. The company offered me a welcome dinner and a salary I thought I would never earn in this lifetime. I would start as soon as I returned from my month of winter holidays in Belgium. 

But on the last day of 2016 I got an email from the scientific institute. Bad news. They were not able to give me the job. I saw the bubble of me looking like a business woman in my corporate outfit pop, together with the idea of living in a big grey city for another six months, working a 9 to 5 job writing lab reports while wearing fake glasses. (When I think of myself as a business woman, I always wear glasses.) Pop! Nothing left. But relief. 

Again, an ocean of possibilities opened up and as the waves waltzed in, so did I. I decided not to let this shake my mood and danced all ideas of elegance away. Fresh adventures, I thought as I twirled around in my glitter dress. When the headache kicked in and sparkles were traded for PJ's, I opened a new email. A friend from Vancouver Island was looking for a roommate. If I'm interested to move in with her and live in the finest of Canadian nature, between ocean and mountain, lakes and pines, beach and bears? I didn't have to think twice.

I packed all my glitters, flowers, dresses that dramatically show both my knees, art supplies and dreams into my backpack and booked a flight to BC. Island life, I'm ready!

Vancouver Island, let's get married!

I've been living in the beautiful land of Canada for one month now and I fell in love 5692573 times already. Life is good in the summer sun. On my first days in Vancouver I met a wonderful musician who hosted me in his dream house on Vancouver Island. All mountain views and salty air and I felt like home sweet home. Hitch hiking with the most stunning views, collecting stories, living life day by day. 

After years of catching rides and sleeping on couches, I decided it was time to give back to hitchers and create a home while being on the road. Yes, I did what all grown ups do and bought a car. My first old noisy lady of a truck. She's older than the boys I date and huskier than my voice after five days of festivals. But she's a rockstar and goes by the name Patti. Yay to the freedom of driving wherever I want to, sleeping in the back of my truck and going thrift shop crazy because for the first time in my travel life I have space to put things! No to carrying overflowing backpacks, yes to singing along with the radio and sticking my head out of the window like a dog feeling the breeze.

Another big thing happened while I was falling in love with the island: I became a member of the 27 club! Well, not really, because I'm alive and not quite as famous but if you ignore all that and just shout hooray and happy birthday you will see the biggest smile on my face. I bought a present for myself in shape of a wedding dress, ready to be worn all over the country to dance and frolick and who knows maybe even get married in.

As I was driving around in my home on wheels, picking berries while hiking in the forest and swimming in fresh lakes surrounded by mountains and stars, I thought things couldn't get any better. Life was flowing and I happily went with it, saying yes to every new adventure coming my way. So one night I found myself on a beach in Tofino, around a fire and beautiful people, hugging Jess (who I met in Australia three years ago) and celebrating the summer solstice like a dream. I lived in a hippy commune and enjoyed the sweet Tofino life, singing karaoke, dancing to hiphop and soaking up the beach views. 

I heard about a little underground festival on Cortes Island, and my curiosity wins every time. So I hopped on a water taxi and danced, swam, looked at the glow in the dark jelly fish and met the most amazing friends. My energy levels were rising while my voice was fading as I arrived at the second festival that week: Tall Tree. On top of a mountain, waking to pine tree views, laughing, loving, dancing so hard my body is still recovering. 

On the ferry back to Vancouver I felt a rush of emotions. Sadness to leave this island I love, the people I just met and hold close in my heart, gratefulness for everything that happened, nerves for Belgian friends to meet and letters to read, total bliss standing on the ferry deck, looking out over the Gulf Islands and ocean. At that moment a band started playing and people were cheering as whales showed up in the distance.

You know that intense feeling of happiness coming over you for a couple of seconds, leaving you longing to find a way to hold onto it. I think I found the way. Follow your path, do what feels good, be yourself completely, without fear, without judgement, love endlessly and share your smile with everyone. Many will smile back, many will think you're a weirdo. That's where you look at yourself, your beat up truck home, your wedding dress, your husky voice from laughing too loud for days on end and blistering feet from dancing all night, your crazy friends and their happy faces and realise it's fucking great being a weirdo. 

Stay weird, that's how I love you best.

Weekend in the woods

Life's on a roll

meeting people on a daily base

tagging along going places

I wouldn't even know about

if it wasn't for talking to musicians

saying yes to invitations

hitch hiking all over the island

to find the garden of eden.

My absolute dream house

where records are playing

cooking on my woollen socks

sending flavours of spiced chicken

across the living room.

Red wine and Isaac Hayes

bring me to a hazy place

of closed eyes

pillows on the couch

falling asleep has never been

sweeter than to Louis Armstrongs voice.

I walk the streets of New Orleans

in the 1920ies

wearing a top hat and

heels that go clack clack

he lights me a smoke

I don't tell anyone 

my life's the road

I ain't never going home

cause I'm on a roll

I speak to strangers

talk and drink

until all lipstick's gone.

You lay my cards

for a giggle you say

there's love in the air tonight

don't know about you but

I'm staying up till the light 

of day warms my face

reminds me there's 

nowhere to be

no place to go 

cause life's the road

and I ain't never going home.