The trek begins. "Say goodbye to your shoulders and your knees."

Well, this may be my last post for a little while. I'm not sure how often I will get to check my email while I'm over in Bangladesh. I am packing up the last of my things today. Which consists mostly of long baggy clothing to conceal any amount of skin above my elbows and my ankles. It's strongly suggested that all girls traveling in Bangladesh dress very modestly, especially if they want to respect and connect with the locals.

We begin our long and grueling flight schedule early tomorrow morning. We fly out at 9:30 am , which means we have to be at the airport 4 hours prior to departure because we have to check in so much stuff. We fly from Honolulu to Taiwan, Taiwan to Thailand, and then Thailand to Bangladesh. Then I think it's about a 12 hour bus ride to the place we are staying in Cox's Bazar. Fun! ehem.

Actually, as much as I hate sleeping sitting up on a plane , I really look forward to the "getting there" part of our trips. A lot of team bonding happens and it makes actually arriving at our destination really exciting.

I guess you'll know for sure if I really meant that in a few days :)

How to pack a surf board for international travel:

Every trip we go on we pack ourselves out to the max with donations to give away in Bangladesh. We are limited to one small carry-on for our personal things and then each of us checks in two large suitcases full of donations and sometimes even a surfboard. This year we are bringing 13 surfboards to donate and 26 suitcases stuffed with surf gear, toys, clothes, candies etc. Packing up up this much stuff is no easy task but, it is so rewarding to actually be the one to hand it to those in need.

Check out the trailer for "Gum For My Boat". This documentary video will appear at this years New York Surf Film Festival, Sept. 25, 27th. It highlights the Bangladesh Surf Club, and the lives of the young boys and girls involved.
I am excited to work with these very kids over in Bangladesh in only a few days!

Gum For My Boat: Surfing In Bangladesh Trailer from Russell Brownley on Vimeo.

Count Down to Bangladesh!

I'm counting down the three days left until I depart with a team of 15 volunteers to the country of Bangladesh with Surfing The Nations. STN, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) foundation is committed to impacting local and international communities through the sport of surfing and selfless service by meeting needs and changing lives.

On September 18th, 2009 we leave for Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, to continue to serve the local poor communities of that city. We began the first ever surf club in the history of this nation in 2005. Introducing the sport of surfing has revolutionized the youth activities of this seaside community. Surfing is bridging the gap between the rich, working class and the poor members of society. Please take a moment and visit the website www.gumformyboat.com You may watch the trailer of a documentary that will be premiering at the New York Film Festival, Sept 25-27th, documenting the Bangladesh Surf Club, and the lives of the young boys and girls involved.

As a photographer and media coordinator for Surfing The Nations I feel that I have been given the incredible opportunity and privilege to be able to experience Bangladesh first hand and communicate visually the incredible changes that are developing with in the community of Cox's Bazar. I plan to use my skills in photography to not only document but also to validate the lives of the kids in the surf club who are experiencing a new sense of hope and love for the first time in their lives.

When I am not on international assignments I am a full time staff volunteer at Surfing The Nations in Oahu Hawaii. I rely on prayer and financial support to continue working full time with Surfing The Nations.

Please do not at all feel obligated to give financially. However, if you are lead and are able please consider partnering with me to Give Back and to give significance to those in need.

Aloha,
Janelle

Donations can be made online by visiting www.surfingthenations.com

*click contributions
*by putting "donation for Janelle Cadamia" in the "note" box your donation will go directly into my account.

Checks may also be mailed to:

Janelle Cadamia
c/o Surfing The Nations
PO box 860366
Wahiawa,Hawaii
96786


Or donations can be made through paypal here:

Into the Deep Blue. Photo Gear and all.

A few weeks ago I had the amazing opportunity to learn some underwater photography from one of the North Shores top surf photographers, Brian Bielmann (brianbielmann.com).
Here are some of my favorites from the day.

www.flickr.com Life as it should be...janelle@cadamia.com's Deep Blue photoset

Philippines 2009 album on Flickr

www.flickr.com Life as it should be...janelle@cadamia.com's The Philippines photoset

FlashlightPhenomenon

The moon was full and the stars out. Went on a little night adventure last Friday. Found this field a short bike ride away, somewhere between Wahiawa and the pineapple plantation. Took with me a few cameras, a few tripods and a few friends and came back with these images.  

www.flickr.com Life as it should be...janelle@cadamia.com's Israel Egypt Jordan photoset

Haoles Gettin' Barreled

I threw together this video when I was in the Philippines this past April. We met a local surfer named Jing who took us on a boat trip around Siargao to surf at some of the breaks around the island. I was maybe a little too eager at first 'cause I dinged my board on the reef at the first stop, so I was out of commission for the rest of the day. But, that wasn't enough to keep this fish out of the water. Here is the footage I got from watching the waves barrel over the reef. (Ps. Watching waves under water is one of the most amazing things to see in God's creation. Ahhh! I love it!)

  Enjoy the vid...

Coaching Surf in Waianae

    Today was an incredible day. A team of us went down to Waianae on the west side of the island. We met up with a kids club there that is set up as a recreational program for kids who come from low income families and many of whom live on the streets and beaches with their parents. Every wednesday we are coaching a surf/swimming class for them. We are helping them one-on-one to work on improving their water skills. You'd think that every kid in Hawaii would know how to swim. But, several of the kids, even though they have grown up next to the water  their whole lives have never had anyone take the time to teach them how to swim. Some kids are still learning how to hold their breath under water and float on their own while others are already paddling fast on the board and popping up on their feet. 

    I was paired up with a little girl named Emily. It was so cool to see how in just a few hours she went from being totally scared to dunk her head under water to by the end of the session jumping up on the surf board like a pro. Her dad practically had to drag her out of the water at the end of the day. I could really see how we were teaching these kids more than just how to swim and surf. We were teaching them how to trust in more than themselves and believe that they really can do something well if they work hard at it. I could just see the confidence glowing through her even by just giving her the littlest bit of encouragement. 

     I sometimes take for granted how great it is to be encouraged because in the community that I live in I hear it all the time. But, for a lot of these kids it is not such a regular occurrence. When I look at these kids I can't help but dream about what they could become when they grow up. Some of the greatest surfers in Hawaii barely knew how to swim when they started. But, it's because people believed in them and coached them to keep trying than they are where they are today. And even beyond surfing, it's the fact that they are hearing from someone else that they are worth something.

I can't wait for next Wednesday!

Here is a video I threw together from the day. ( My water camera quality is not that good, but you get the idea :)

  *Janelle

Be a part of it all!

If you would like to partner with me in the work God is doing here in Surfing The Nations, any financial contribution you feel led to give would be greatly appreciated. This can securely be done by clicking the button below. 

Thank You!

Janelle