One of the coolest places on the face of the planet has got to be the new Green School on the Indonesian island of Bali. In short, it's a brand new school for local kiddies and expat children who live on the island...and has the most amazing campus you've ever been on (this coming from a girl who was at OW's Leadership Academy in South Africa when it opened). It's all green--with a huge water vortex from the Ayung River that creates energy; all organic fruits and vegetables grown on-site; and every single thing on the campus made from bamboo. Truly a beautiful spot.
I met dear Ben when I was in Indo a few months ago. He is the Head of Admissions and when I showed up on campus for a little tour, he was bounding around, tired and happy as a little puppy. A few month before, he'd completely uprooted his wife and small baby to Bali to help run this school. What a dream job! Though he was totally exhausted, his sheer and utter enthusiasm for the project was so dang inspiring. Who wouldn't want to be this young, move to a beautiful tropical island, and help start one of the most incredible schools in the world? We became fast friends and on-the-spot, I seriously considered dropping my life back in the US and moving to Bali to just be somewhere near this school (among other things).
As you can see, expats come in all shapes and sizes. Young, old, on a boat, on an island, some retired, some starting over. It's such beautiful stuff, the things people do to get them selves out of the grind. In the end, why not? You know...who has time to abide by all these crazy rules and regulations in life? It's all about finding the swifter path to something totally enchanting for your soul. Sadly, not many people do it.
Meanwhile, I just read Ben's bio and he is a 3-time winner on
Jeopardy. How wild is that? Would love to know how much dinero. And,
please check out these houses on campus. They are for the school
leaders, teachers, etc...what a lucky place to be! And, dig thru their
website, I promise you will educate yourself on some pretty advanced
(yet simple) ways of living. Lots of good video on there, too~ 
it's so amazing to see what these people are doing! :-)
so inspirational!
i would love to do do somthing like that. . .
Posted by: Candace "whim" Bennett | January 04, 2009 at 06:36 PM
I AM grateful every day that I'm an ex-pat living the life I never could ever have dreamed of.......anyone can do it! If it's important enough to you, you'll figure out a way........
I love the "ex-pat" blogs you're doing. When you get to San Miguel I want you to meet Angie - she was in Haiti for 21 years and has been in San Miguel 14......amazing woman. Left Fla in her 20's and never looked back!
Posted by: Barbara | October 10, 2008 at 05:42 PM
Awesome, just awesome! This is so inspirational. I have forwarded this on to a whole bunch of people. My daughter goes to Ak Lu'um, a new Waldorf school in the jungle that is being run as eco-friendly and green as possible here and still conform to our governmental (SEP) standards. (www.akluum.com) Lots of good ideas for us to impliment ourselves as we plan our new home!
Posted by: Michele in Playa | October 10, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Yeah that tub..It is just amazing every time I check out this site. Its educational and ispiring at the same time- it is exactly what I have been searching for in life- to be an expat myself. Much thanks to Misty, I am realizing and awakening from the particular unhappy life. I lived in the most remote corner like in Bali when I was young. How did I get to this aweful life that I am in? How did we get away from the wholesome goodness of organic and the natural way of living? What I see here is way better life, then in Seattle...
Posted by: Shane C. | October 10, 2008 at 12:03 AM
For real! Could you imagine the education you'd get from a place like this...so inspiring and happy and full.
Posted by: Misty | October 09, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Man, I would have loved going to that school! And that tub!
Posted by: Julie | October 09, 2008 at 07:12 AM