Circus Life Part 3

Posted by Kristin Hawkinson on Monday, January 9, 2017 Under: Cirque Italia

The last 10 days have been pretty crazy. I started off 2017 by driving from Wisconsin (thanks for letting me couchsurf again Meredith and Dan!!!! <3 ) to South Carolina to pick up Paige and Isaac from South Carolina. I went from -20 degree weather to 75 degree weather in a matter of 24 hours. The drive to SC was brutal; being trapped in a metal box without being able to move around or look away from the road for 15 solid hours felt like a form of torture. Granted, I was able to listen to music and podcasts to stimulate my brain a bit, but the primal part of me was raging by the last three hours of being in the car. I can only imagine what animals feel like when they’re trapped in a cage. I was once again reminded of the horrors of the meat industry, thus strengthening my resolve for avoiding meat and dairy. Haven’t had any meat in 2017, hopefully that holds true all year!

Arriving at the circus felt oddly satisfying. Not just because of the nice Florida weather but being back in this culture, and with core friends present (and more English speaking people), feels almost like home. Managing the ticket office has been stressful yet gratifying, but worth it at the end of the day to crack open a beer, break out the uke, and jam with the tribe. Last year I remember writing that the circus crew was cliquey; this year they still are, but much less so because some of the problem people have left, leaving everyone in a much better mood around each other overall. It feels like this opportunity was a golden one and I’m content that I made the decision to pursue it this year.

The circus performances are really great this year; standing ovations ensue at the end of almost every show. And I’m really glad to hear that their planned route takes us to the northwest part of the country: the only place I didn’t get to explore during my 2016 trip. The business itself, centered around entertainment, focuses little on personal/ethical values though. Except for good customer service (which is only to secure their reputation), the nature of the business doesn’t allow for time to make mindful decisions about things like consumption and waste. I’m hopeful that I will be able to fill in this gap at least a little bit. I know I won't be able to make much headway in reducing their carbon footprint, and that's going to make me feel defeated at times, but I know I just have to keep my chin up and take one step at a time. Big changes take time and finesse. I know I can make use of my downtime by educating myself, writing more story drafts for the future children’s book, and simply enjoy the company of my dear friends in the meantime.

Last chance for family time before a whole year of traveling. I'm gonna miss these cuddle puddles.