Voyage | Final edition

Xavier A. Talamantes

8th Mar. 2020

FD2

Word Count = 1072

“Meow… meeeow…. mreow!” the budget smartphone chimed. Xavier lied on the floor in his Japanese futon. It was quite a sensible alternative to a traditional bed frame and mattress he thought for his small room. It allowed him the space to convert into a studio by day, and bedroom by night. The display of his economical Microsoft Lumia read, “4:15 am alarm. Good morning!” Today is Monday and during the summer Xavier takes part in Creativity Inspiring Conservation, a youth environmental activism art program supported by the Seattle Aquarium. Located on the picturesque wharf, overlooking the Puget Sound, and neighboring the bustling Pikes Place Market. Both animals and art interested Xavier, so the decision between the two was tough. Class started at 9:00 am and Xavier lived on Whidbey Island, a long narrow island north the city–Closer to Victoria, BC than Seattle itself. Xavier’s family was supportive of his engagement in the program, at least for his college application than anything, but the timing didn’t work for anyone in the household, and at 15-years-old, driving wasn’t an option yet. But in an effort of their support, if they could offer transportation, the least they could offer was a smartphone– “Now you can ride the bus!” Although a trivial endeavor, it didn’t cost us much for me to participate. [thesis]But telling the stories that might otherwise go unheard, that is priceless.[thesis]

“Meow!” the cat alarm continued to ring, it’s 4:17 am, the morning is still cold and dark, and it’s time to get ready for the voyage off-island.

Being in the Olympic Rainshadow, showers and mist are the default environment conditions. In the early hours of the morning, walking the two miles to the bus stop in only the first hazy light of the day, Zay walked quietly with his coffee-to-go. At this time of the day, the roads are empty, the lights are off, and even the birds fell silent. The road to my house is along the shore, and only the faint sounds of crashing waves fill the still foggy air. Our small island bus wouldn’t be considered a bus by most, but it offers its services for free, so we more than obliged. The small white bus drove the few of us awake on the island down its long, windy roads. It’s a thirty-minute ride through the dense, lush forest, lit by the rising sun, and Xavier watches sleepily from the window of the fake-bus as the island starts to wake.

At the very southern point of the island is the ferry terminal. It’s a twenty-minute boat ride across the sound. The large boat only rocks a little against the sea, and as the sun glitters off the rippling waves, you can spot the occasional seal or whale as they glide through the cold and salty waters below.

The boat pulled into the dock and the walk-on passengers disembark first. Xavier has arrived at Mukilteo, on the mainland of Washington, and there was only a single 45-minute bus ride left into the heart of the bustling city, this time a proper double-decker. The road into the city is once again windy, and at the final bend, you’re greeted with the impressive towering skyline of Seattle. A bustling port city that is a business, art, and technology hub. The Space Needle stands as a beacon of the city’s unique character, that is unlike any other. The morning is still young, but the city is much livelier and active. Xavier thinks to himself, “One day I’ll be one of these people. Lawyers, designers, students. All productive and busy, with their coffee and bagel from one of the Starbucks on every corner.”

Xavier is just a high school student though, who lives in a small town on a small island. He isn’t one of those people yet, so he goes to Tully’s– It’s another regional coffee chain, and conveniently located near his stop too. Due to the many different public transportations, Xavier has to ride, he always leaves early so he has time to catch a later bus or ferry should he need, however, most mornings he finds himself with about an hour before class starts. Finding something to do for an hour is easy in the city, especially when you’re young, and this is one of the few times you get to pretend to be an adult. Most of these mornings Xavier frequents the early-morning vendors at Pike’s setting up for the day, and walks along the large wharf and watches the beautiful stormy grey sea and misty mountains in the blurry distance, or even peer into the art galleries on nearly every block.

It was during these quiet early mornings on his own he was able to think about what he wanted for himself, as he was getting older and looking into careers, majors, and universities. Could he see himself in another coffee shop, maybe in Providence, or perhaps far away on a distant tropical island? He had always loved art but was that a viable career, and simply enjoying the process of making art doesn’t make you an artist, does it? “What is art, and what do I do with it?” were the questions that plagued his mind. But mind that no bother because it is 8:45 am and class starts soon.

Located on the top floor of the aquarium, in the offices and working spaces is this amazing collaboration of researchers, educators, and city workers. From the great windows, the view was even more captivating than below on the Wharf. Today’s workshop is about painting and our instructor is a professor from the Cornish School of Arts, a school in the city. With the technical instruction on the projects as well as an overview of our environmental focus, the professor urges us to continue making art as we get older. Seattle has always had a focus on health and being modern, and as a new generation moves in, there is a new wave of social change. “Art is about answering a question, and this is your medium. Voice your thoughts. This is your world that you’re growing into, and you are important,” she concluded.

“Being an artist can be challenging, you are responsible for yourself. It is an independent field and the lack of security can be overwhelming. [thesis]But telling the stories that might otherwise go unheard, that is priceless[thesis]” Xavier thought “I… I think I can handle it.”