KL:
Do you like to shake your booty on the dance floor?
JC: Now I do, hell yeah!
KL:
You used to not?
JC: Well, once I got over being shy. I still have
trouble moving my hips. But I work down at this
surf camp, Las
Olas, in Mexico, and we do salsa dancing down
there, and everyone tries to teach me how to move
my hips, it's like everyone's goal down there,
to get me to move my body more.
KL:
Where is Las Olas?
JC: It's down by Puerto Vallarta, in warm, tropical
mainland Mexico. I feel really lucky. I thought
I'd get the job and maybe work two weeks, 'cause
I didn't think teaching surfing was my cup of
tea. But, I get flown down to Mexico and get accommodation
and food paid for as well as a pay check, and
I get to meet the most amazing 18 women per week
that I'm down there. They're like big sisters
to me, they're successful and adventurous and
they want to learn how to surf. And I've definitely
taken the time to learn so I love to be able to
teach and help people out and see the smile on
their faces and the stoke they have for the lifestyle.
It's just amazing. And they've been great contacts
for me for my life. I've learned a lot through
them. My bosses are amazing people too; it's really
about empowering women and having a good time.
So yeah, I'm a surf instructor and sometimes the
massage therapist. It's been the most amazing
job ever.
KL:
The massage therapist?
JC: Yeah, I've been doing massage for about 3
years. I did environmental studies up in Santa
Cruz, and that gave me a sense of the big picture,
but I felt kind of insignificant in trying to
help these problems. I've always liked the body
and bodywork, and I want to help one person at
a time, more hands on work, so I went to massage
school, and I'm really glad I did it, it was a
really good decision.
KL:
You didn't quite go for the environmental studies
program at UCSC? Huh?
JC: I didn't really focus that much on one particular
topic. It was really good for undergrad because
I got to take pieces of like water policy and
organic farming, and sustainable development along
the U.S./ Mexico border and social inequalities,
and a really broad spectrum of things. But my
favorite class was my last quarter and it was
social documentation, where we did a photo and
video lab and put together a documentary. So I
would love to work on some environmental documentary
projects or somehow work in marketing with environmental
stuff, it's definitely part of the way I live
and think, I think. I'd love to pursue it more,
but maybe more from a marketing standpoint, or
helping with projects that are environmentally
sound. My goal was to get a degree, and keep surfing,
then work in the surf industry. So, yeah, it'll
come back around, the environmental thing.
KL:
Where's your head been at lately?
JC: I've been trying to figure out my path, like
always. I'm a person who has a lot of different
projects, a lot of different interests, so it's
hard for me to focus on one thing. But I've been
really into pursuing photography, keeping it has
a hobby, but keeping my head in the photographic
mode. I've been trying to figure out if I want
to chill here in North County, be settled, I'm
liking it. And yeah, the whole sponsorship thing
is always interesting and something I've tried
to keep up on. But things could be changing with
sponsors, that's why I wanted to start my own
thing too with the surfboards. I kinda always
have felt that I'm doing a lot of work but not
getting much out of it - a paycheck every so often,
but that just reimburses the costs you put into
it, always kind of staying even. It's been fun,
don't get me wrong, but I'm really excited to
push my own little business and be a business
owner, and go that direction. I've been spinning
out a bit on which direction I'm going, but I
feel really lucky with the people I have around
me and with everything I have. Sheesh, I've lived
so many of dreams already, I can't even believe
it. So I'll keep dreaming, and keep positive,
things always work out how they should.
Julie Cox Interview
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