virgin burner from NY (and sort of Australia?)

jaytro4 · Post by **jaytro4** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:41 am

Hey,
so I'm from NY but have been living in Australia for the past two and a half years and got into the festival scene there, just came home to sort out some visa stuff and realized I was going to be here while burning man is on, so I bought my ticket, all excited, and then realized I don't have friends here who are interested in going, or don't have the money, or can't leave their jobs for it, or whatnot... Any tips on getting from the east coast to the playa (and bringing a bike?)? I don't want to go alone! I'm planning on being sober for BM, cuz I think one should be able to appreciate something sober before they experience it on mind altering substances, are there camps that generally support that, but wouldn't get upset if I chose to change my mind on the last day or something? I really love cooking, and I'm pretty good at making large amounts of delicious food for people, how can I get involved with people who might have a killer kitchen setup? Also, I love life drawing, will there be places that encourage that? and I give good back massages and play a pretty good taiko drum and heard that Beats Antique will be playing and i didn't even realize that there would be music and I guess all I'm saying is "HELP! I'M A NEWBIE, I WANT TO DO AWESOME THINGS AND MEET AWESOME PEOPLE AND GENERALLY LOVE BM, TELL ME HOW PLEASE!"

Much love (and thank you in advance for any advice you may be able to give),
Jenna

"Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly"

Post by **Elderberry** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:42 am

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

Have questions? Read this first: http://www.burningman.com/first_timers/
Everybody on eplaya is always excited to help first timers; but in sympathy for some of us old timers, please get your required reading out of the way before posting. As hard as it is to rein in the the excitement and enthusiasm, and as unbelievable as it might seem, most of your questions have already been asked and answered, if you just take a moment to read.

Now, let the adventure begin!

illy dilly · Post by **illy dilly** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:47 am

Welcome Jaytro!
I'm glad you decided to take the opportunity to go to Burning Man while you have the chance!
What do you have in mind when you say festival scene?

Sounds like you have a lot of reading to do. Go check out the Theme Camps thread and the Get involved thread! It will answer a lot of the questions you asked.

More or less, follow Jkisha's intro then try asking more precise questions to get better answers.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:48 am

WELCOME!

http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... ading.html

Read, study, research.

Post by **Savannah** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:06 am

Hi Jenna!

How to get from the east coast to the playa:
http://rideshare.burningman.com

Or fly to Reno w/ just goggles and costumes, comfortable boots or shoes, & meet your rideshare there or pick up a rental. Shop for everything else at their WalMarts and Home Depots, etc (Reno lays out the red carpet for Burners, retail-wise) and drive to the nearby playa from there.

Or consider the 5 day trip with the Green Tortoise Hostel:
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures ... tival.html

I would not camp with a sober camp if you truly don't have any issues with chemical dependency and actually want to keep your options open. However, if you do have a concern or two, or want to attend AA or NA on the playa, that's available and there are tons of people who are in the same boat:

http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... sober.html

You will be offered drinks from time to time, but I haven't really observed a culture of peer pressure there. Just friendliness, in the same way that people would offer you a chair to sit down in. It is possible to go an entire burn sober and still feel like you are in an altered state--because the place is weird, beautiful, and mind-blowing all on its own.

And if you decide to indulge just a little, know that it will hit you a bit harder out there anyway, so there's no need to go nuts. You want to make memories and actually keep them.

jaytro4 · Post by **jaytro4** » Sat Jul 23, 2011 2:03 am

When i say the festival scene, I mean I've performed with a drumming group called The Rhythm Hunters at woodford folk festival, woolombi festival, regen festival, the dreaming festival (although I dint perform at that one), cygnet folk festival, mullumbimby music festival, and I met the love of my life at confest

(although he's missing out on this due to not having enough money to visit

)... I think Confest was probably the closest thing to Burning Man that I went to there, but I don't think that makes me prepared for what this will be like... I'm mostly just worried about food... I don't have to shower for a week if I've got baby wipes, but I'd like to be able to cook with people, because it's such an social experience for me and one of the ways I show people how much I love and appreciate them... Is there a culinary camp or something?? There was the gypsy Kitchen at confest, which was a wonderful welcoming place...

Substance wise, I've got no dependency problems (i drink a glass of wine with dinner once a week or so, I smoke pot about once a month?), I just had a friend who went with a camp a few years ago and she said they were all basically jut high or tripping the whole time and she wasn't expecting that and was pretty disappointed by it. I'm all for people enjoying themselves, but I think that would disappoint me too, you know?

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:20 am

i like crACK AND pCP.....BUT THats just ME!

WELCOME TO ePLaya.

Post by **Savannah** » Sat Jul 23, 2011 2:55 pm

I just had a friend who went with a camp a few years ago and she said they were all basically jut high or tripping the whole time and she wasn't expecting that and was pretty disappointed by it. I'm all for people enjoying themselves, but I think that would disappoint me too, you know?

I can see how that would be disappointing. Degree of indulgence varies pretty widely from camp to camp. Each has its own micro-culture. If you camp with a small group of likeminded individuals--or solo (as much as anyone is solo out there, anyway)--you might like that the best.

If you want to camp with others (say, some group in the 2011 Theme Camps forum) when you write an email or message to introduce yourself, you can mention that while you're not seeking an outright sober camp, you don't drink much, and are looking for a compatible environment. Then they can reply "Oh, you'll fit right in"--or gently warn you away.

jaytro4 · Post by **jaytro4** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:22 pm

I had the most incredible experience on the playa... an incredible camp, lots of great workshops, gifts given and received alike, early entry to the playa, helping open the temple, and a playa nickname! So much love to everyone who was there. I am immensely grateful, my virgin burn was fully participatory and mind boggling, and i will most CERTAINLY be back next year (this time with my partner, flying in from Oz). So much love!!!

Post by **Savannah** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:27 pm

I love it when the newly deflowered come back to say how it went. I am beyond happy for you.

jaytro4 · Post by **jaytro4** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:27 pm

Now i'm dealing with trying to not become a playa preacher to all my friends... it's sad realizing that some of the people you spend time with would just want to be tourists, and shouldn't be encouraged to attend because they wouldn't come at it in the right spirit... it's definitely making me rethink my priorities friendwise... but I met so many beautiful new people and am so encouraged by all the love I gave and received there, so I'm pretty sure i'll be fine

and all the friends that i DO convince to go will be beautiful additions!

virgin burner from NY (and sort of Australia?)

virgin burner from NY (and sort of Australia?)

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