This was my first burning man. I heard about it in 2007 when an exchange student at my college from my home country wanted me to go with him in the Summer. I couldn’t due to commitments and work, but I really wanted to go. He made it sound revolutionary. I then spent the next 16 years working and using my little time off to fly home to visit my family, with no breaks due to being on a Visa.
I quit my job so this was the year I would do it, if I was going to. I wanted to camp alone or possibly in the VW camp because I have a vanagon that I was going to take. I ended up deciding that although I *thought* I could do this on my own, I might be better off in a camp where I can be put to use, help people, participate (which was my foremost objective) and have some friendly faces surrounding me. I found out from a few festivals I was able to attend this year that having a place to return to with some guard rails and friendly faces can shake off unwanted followers.
Anyway, I joined in CAMP THREAT. I like threats, I like them. And I miss them.
Now that I’m home I’m having a bit of a struggle. I’ve found that I’m having a lot of random flash backs/day dreams to moments out there and also a lot of dreams about the playa, my camp mates. I didn’t really eat for the first 3 days after I got home because I wasn’t hungry. I’m going about my normal routine, seeing friends, attending events, and chatting with my camp mates as they reach out (they don’t live near me) and hoping that I start to feel more normal soon. I gather that this could be expected? I am not really sure.
I want to return next year.
I had a fantastic time.