Cali Hash House Harriers

Yesterday we hosted the first ever Cali hash!  A "hash" is a run/scavenger hunt/party.  Basically, the “hashers” follow a trail of chalk or flour (2-5 miles or 3-8 kilometers) set by the “hare” to a Hash Bash celebration with refreshments (mostly beer). However, the run gets interesting with false trails, beer stopping points, and checkpoints for hashers to catch up. It is not a race!  Instead, it's a chance for people to explore new parts of a city, make friends, and get their hearts pumping.  

And we're off!  Photo by Katie Smith

The International Hash House Harriers was founded in Malaysia in 1938 by a group of bored runners who originated the club as an alternative to lonesome (and boring) individual running. It is based in every major city worldwide, as well as many smaller towns.  Some of the objectives of the original Hash House Harriers from the 1938 group were:

• To promote physical fitness among our members

• To get rid of weekend hangovers

• To acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer

• To persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel

We first did hash runs when we lived in Busan, South Korea.  We only did a couple but really enjoyed them.  After living here in Cali for two years, we thought starting a hash club would be a great way for the expats of all the different schools in Cali to get together and socialize.  We started in front of our apartment.  Aaron served as the hare and did a fantastic job setting a trail.  The trail meandered through the south of Cali and included 3 stream crossings, plank bridges, some fantastic views of the mountains at sunset, and a whole lot of fun.  We ended with a cookout at a friend's house with plenty of food and beverages.  We are going to try and do this the last weekend of every month in different parts of the city.   People and dogs of all ages are invited!  If interested, check out our Facebook page: Cali Hash House Harriers

One of the 3 stream crossings along the way!

At a "Hash Hold"--that symbol means to get a drink and wait for others.

We're back!

The blur.  That's what I am going to call the 2015-2016 school year.  Between being a student and teaching students, my mind didn't have time to process the day to day of our life (hence the blog hiatus).  It was a year of growth in many ways to say the least.  But now I've finished my master's degree, Aaron will finish his in December, and we will be living and working in the same country for more than 2 years--something we have never done together! We are truly enjoying feeling settled here and going back to our day to day routine.

Part of that routine is biking to school most days.  Driving in Cali is ridiculous.  Biking in Cali is not much better. Yet biking here is one of our favorite ways to get around.  There's something about filtering through traffic and trying to navigate around cars, trucks, motorbikes, street performers, vendors, potholes, sewer grates, speed bumps, stray dogs, lizards, horse carts, and glass that stimulates an unbeatable adrenaline rush.  Yet soon, the higher we climb up to school, the mountains begin to peak above the clouds, the sounds of the city fade in the distance, and that adrenaline is tamed by the energy of the Farallones.  Each morning starts with this rollercoaster, and we wouldn't have it any other way.  This is home.