3

Sayonara, Adventure School. I’ll miss you! Allie Wollner, awesome, intern, the adventure school

As promised, today’s post will broach that question I’m sure all of you have been dying to hear the answer to:

What have I, Allie Wollner, really learned from my summer internship with The Adventure School? 

Having already made this speech once to my father, I find myself in a favorable position to say it again, articulately, but with a little more flair this time.

First things first:

As one might expect, working at The Adventure School unfailingly presented me with new adventures all the time. Whether it meant showing foreigners from all over the world the crème de la crème of Seattle, attending art openings where I mixed with the hip and infamous, or riding the adventure bike (aka the spin art bike) all the way from south Seattle to Laurelhurst with some exciting hi-jinks ensuing en route, I was never ever bored. And get this- they never made me fetch coffee for them. Not even once. 

I also felt truly thrilled to have this opportunity to pursue my own passion by working with The Adventure School. This internship allowed me to write, all summer and in my own slightly irreverent voice, about a wide array of interesting people, ideas, and occurrences I would have never discovered on my own.

And the parties I saw! So thrilling, so super-cool Seattle, and so FUN. I has a blast working the smorgasbord of Adventure School summer events. In the process, I also met a throng of captivating individuals. And speaking of said individuals…

Here’s thing that struck me the most about my experience this summer:

The number of people I met who were turning up their talents full blast to engage with their passions, and in the process making fulfilling lives for themselves. Having always been an adamant (read: stubborn) person who knows my mind (read: insists on doing it my way), encountering a critical mass of people blazing their own trails and dancing to the beats of their own drums inspired me endlessly.

From where I stand, choosing path of one’s own making looks like damn hard work and a considerable number of uphill battles. But all of the people I met seemed so excited to be pouring themselves in to their respective projects that I’m not scared. I feel certain all of the blood, sweat, and tears must be worth it. This is unquestionably the life that I want for myself- one in which I feel feel so thrilled and engaged by whatever I’m doing that I’m loathe to stop working at the end of the day. 

So, after three months with The Adventure School, here I go. Inspired, invigorated, enthusiastic, and more adventurous than ever, about to embark on my last year of college.

And after that?

Look for me in the blogosphere. Or The Stranger. Or The New Yorker. Or something entirely different. Semper ad Extremum foeva! 

Who knows!

So Long, Farewell, Aufiderzein, Goodnight!

xo,
allie

31

Adventurer Profile- Allie Wollner Adventurer Profile, Allie Wollner, intern

I can’t believe it. I’m loathe to believe it. I don’t want to believe it. But I have to believe it. Come Friday, it’s time to pack my bags and journey back east to finish my formal schooling. Yes, that’s right. I’ve only got 9 more months to finish my degree and to find myself a suitable husband.

Just kidding!!!

After gathering answers for countless Adventurer Profiles this summer, Cori and Aviva insisted I write my own. I’ve been thinking about my answers real hard too. Because I take these things very, very seriously.

What skill do you want to learn?
How to read the constellations.

Food and drink you donʼt want to live without?
Ice cream of any kind and Prosecco. Without these two things, the world would be so sad. 

What’s the scariest thing you can think of?
Leading an unfulfilled life.

What is your favourite party supply?
Costumes, costumes, costumes!

Your favorite book of the moment?
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende. The woman can WRITE!

Describe your dream party place.
A secret space behind some kind of unassuming facade like a defaced, windowless warehouse, perhaps with broken, sealed-off windows and up a flight of dingy, disgusting stairs. Once around a corner, you’d come upon a garden/living space that could only be described as breathtaking because it’s so unexpected. Candles everywhere, vast amounts of natural light, high ceilings, and self-washing dinnerware.

What is the evil version of you like?
A self-absorbed, compassionless mega-bitch who’s glued to a Blackberry and wears very thin stilettoes. I also never eat carbs.

What gives you confidence?
The song “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen! Seriously. Whenever I listen to that I feel like Obama’s campaign slogan has shrunk down just for me: “Yes, I CAN!” 

Name four essential elements of a good party.
Really good ambient lighting, a playlist that extols you to dance, a critical mass of people ready and willing to generate a serious amounts of good energy, and something completely unexpected…like people in robot costumes.

What do you appreciate most about a party host?
Someone with a sense of humor who also knows what it takes to throw a good party.

Favorite adventure supply?
A tub of Wet’n'Wild mega sparkles.

Describe the best party you ever attended.
Of late? Hands down Bastille Day at the Corson Building.

Hotel room or campsite?
After living dirty collegeland, a hotel room. A NICE one.

Do you have a style icon?
Can Can dancer from The Moulin Rouge meets California flower child.

Where is your next adventure destination?
PVD, yo! Rhode Island, represent! Because college is ALWAYS an adventure. 

If you could teach a class about anything in the world ever, what would you teach?
How to make lederhosen out of old curtains. Like Maria Von Trapp!

Your motto?
Explore incessantly.

What is your spirit animal?
I’ve been thinking really, really hard about this one all summer. My spirit animal is the Scat. That’s a squirrel-cat. Crafty, capricious, and somewhat frenetic. But in a fun way.

4

Live from New York, it’s… Allie, art, intern, New York, Stephan Sagmeister

me!

Allie Wollner here, Adventure School summer intern and reckless adventurer reporting live from New York, the city that, so to speak, never sleeps. That is how you Americans say it, yes?

A few days ago, I found myself at the MOMA standing in front of a piece of art that I think makes an important statement about the status of the modern day intern. For your critical review: An ad for the Detroit chapter of the national AGIA design association by graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister.

The man in the picture is Mr. Sagmeister’s intern. He carved these words into his own body. With an Xacto knife. Himself.

My thoughts on the piece:

Aviva and Cori-

Thank you for not requiring me to carve each post into my body, then photograph it, and then post on the blog.

It truly saves a lot of time.

Love,
Allie