Hello Everyone,
I will be visiting the US for the first time this summer, for roughly a month, and Burning Man happily coincides with the dates I am there! I’ve grown up in Dubai, lived 17 years here now, am 23, and am originally from South Africa
I’ll be visiting two of my close friends (living around Santa Barbara CA) that I have grown up with, and if everything falls in order: potentially have 1 or both of them do the drive up from SB to Bman with me. If not, I think I will be making the trip solo, which too would be an experience.. just slightly more scary in terms of getting there & back, and the whole planning side of things!
Either way, I’m super excited to get involved with the gifting –still figuring out how/what to gift-, contributing to any camps whilst I’m there (am watching the theme camp boards), have frequented eplaya & pretty much all of the available bman content online haha, and look forwards to possibly running into y’all on the playa.
Keegan
First timer - South African living in Dubai :)
Re: First timer - South African living in Dubai :)
Welcome to ePlaya! Keep in mind that the last thing you want to gift is a trinket. Give of your on-site time and talents instead. For example, do you play a musical instrument? Serenade people! 
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BoyScoutGirl
- Posts: 1643
- Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:04 pm
- Camp Name: Lamplighters!
- Location: SD, CA
Re: First timer - South African living in Dubai :)
x1000Elliot wrote:Welcome to ePlaya! Keep in mind that the last thing you want to gift is a trinket. Give of your on-site time and talents instead. For example, do you play a musical instrument? Serenade people!
I don't need another chapstick or necklace with the man on it, but I would love to see your smile or a receive a high five or hear a funny joke.
When he lights his streetlamp, it is as if he brought one more star to life, or one flower.
When he puts out his lamp, he sends the flower, or the star, to sleep.
That is a beautiful occupation.
- Le Petit Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
When he puts out his lamp, he sends the flower, or the star, to sleep.
That is a beautiful occupation.
- Le Petit Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Re: First timer - South African living in Dubai :)
Thanks for the responsesBoyScoutGirl wrote:Elliot wrote:
Welcome to ePlaya! Keep in mind that the last thing you want to gift is a trinket. Give of your on-site time and talents instead. For example, do you play a musical instrument? Serenade people!
x1000
I don't need another chapstick or necklace with the man on it, but I would love to see your smile or a receive a high five or hear a funny joke.
These are the insider tips one needs as a first-time burner! Sadly, I lack in the musical department, but am a huge fan of interacting with people I don't know (friends in the making as I see it) haha. I wouldn't be looking at giving out trinkets as suggested below, but was rather thinking of gifting via getting involved with the population there in one way or another - I really like the joke/highfive ideas
Although there is a lot of mention to bring sunscreen and the likes of aftersun protection, one thing that stuck with me from a 24 hour beach party a while back were these groups of people roaming with small aloe vera & sunscreen dispensers in the mornings / afternoons. They'd ask people if they would like it applied, then apply as necessary. I thinking something along these lines, carried on a utility belt and exchange an application of sunscreen / aloe vera etc for a... highfive :p You get the jist! All of this is still in a very early thought stage, so we'll see!
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BoyScoutGirl
- Posts: 1643
- Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:04 pm
- Camp Name: Lamplighters!
- Location: SD, CA
Re: First timer - South African living in Dubai :)
Thinking toward utility and excited to interact? Excellent. You'll go far, Savant - there are plenty of friends to be made at Burning Man
One thing, though: I'm wary of your use of the word "exchange." One of Burning Man's proclaimed core principles is gifting, defined as:
On the other hand, there are plenty of bartenders who will ask for a song or a dance or a funny walk before they pour you a beer and there are even "slave" "markets" of sorts that run on bartering. Heck, my camp is known for giving out trinkets to volunteers as thanks for what amounts to an hour or more of manual labor in a costume.
In that light, asking for a high five after you've just carefully applied some aloe and sunscreen doesn't seem like a big deal. I think the key is to approach it like a gift: don't have a sign saying "X for Y" and don't set it up verbally as an exchange. Instead, set up the hug/high five/handshake afterward, with a hopeful face rather than an air of "I worked for this." It's a small thing and many might not even notice the difference, but the small things together create the atmosphere that makes BM so different and so, so precious.
One thing, though: I'm wary of your use of the word "exchange." One of Burning Man's proclaimed core principles is gifting, defined as:
Especially note that last sentence: gifting is not an exchange, it's a gift. At its purest, gifting is not done with expectation of reward or something in return.Some guy in a hat wrote: "Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value."
On the other hand, there are plenty of bartenders who will ask for a song or a dance or a funny walk before they pour you a beer and there are even "slave" "markets" of sorts that run on bartering. Heck, my camp is known for giving out trinkets to volunteers as thanks for what amounts to an hour or more of manual labor in a costume.
In that light, asking for a high five after you've just carefully applied some aloe and sunscreen doesn't seem like a big deal. I think the key is to approach it like a gift: don't have a sign saying "X for Y" and don't set it up verbally as an exchange. Instead, set up the hug/high five/handshake afterward, with a hopeful face rather than an air of "I worked for this." It's a small thing and many might not even notice the difference, but the small things together create the atmosphere that makes BM so different and so, so precious.
When he lights his streetlamp, it is as if he brought one more star to life, or one flower.
When he puts out his lamp, he sends the flower, or the star, to sleep.
That is a beautiful occupation.
- Le Petit Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
When he puts out his lamp, he sends the flower, or the star, to sleep.
That is a beautiful occupation.
- Le Petit Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Re: First timer - South African living in Dubai :)
Ah yes, my poor choice of words! You are right with the whole not-expecting anything in return part, I was making a poor attempt (in hindsight) to incorporate the suggestion of giving out highfives and suchSavant wrote:Especially note that last sentence: gifting is not an exchange, it's a gift. At its purest, gifting is not done with expectation of reward or something in return.
Super excited for the theme camp boards to start popping up, as I'd like to get involved with the construction / take down of a camp (im in the US for another 2 weeks following BMAN, so no rush!), plus being involved in it's activities. I know there is so much going on especially for a first timer, however I am reading mixed suggestions about camping solo vs joining a theme camp for my first burn... can't make up my mind.
Lastly, and I know it's still mad far away from the actual event, but I take it it's not too difficult to find a ride from Santa Barbara to Bman? It's a long trip, but due to me flying in internationally into LAX a week before the event (as I have to get a few things before I travel) I'm sorted hoping to either find some way to chip in for gas and share a ride.. should my friends be unable to attend.
Thanks again