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"Lesson 9: Absolutely anything is possible. Two massive semi-trucks twisted up in the air as art? Okay. A “Barbie Death Camp” where you can desecrate and bury those little blond bitches? Sure."
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By Erin
Granat
Although I’ve
lived a few hours from the Black Rock Desert most of my life, it took
my boyfriend coming all the way from New Zealand to finally find
myself at the counter-culture creativity festival known as Burning
Man. I was always game to go, just a bit intimidated by a week in the
hostile desert with no amenities. But with an outdoorsy Kiwi at my
side and the desire to show him a side of America not seen on CNN, it
was time to give it a go. Here are the top ten lessons we learned at
Burning Man ’07.
Lesson 1
It is possible to
survive on beef jerky for three days. It’s just not
that appetizing.
Lesson 2
Playa dust is as
inevitable as young Hollywood rehab. It will barnacle on you
and everything you own. Make peace with it. It is your friend.
Lesson 3
The water the trucks
spray to lessen dust contains sewage particles. But it still feels damn
good to run under.
Lesson 4
“Playa magic”
is not a myth. We took refuge from a
dust storm in a stranger’s car. An hour and a few beers later,
she realized she recognized me and my heart-shaped sunglasses from
walking around San Francisco the week before. She invited us to
dinner the next night. I gave her the sunglasses. Only at Burning
Man.
Lesson 5
Rave culture is
alive and well. Those fuzzy Kangol hats
weren’t exiled (as historians once thought). Oh, no. They just
only come out to play at Black Rock City where no one will judge
them, thank you very much.
Lesson 6
There is no such
thing as too many glow sticks at Burning Man.You can put them in
your hair, around your clothes, under your clothes, on your bike, on
your neighbor’s bike. The sky’s the limit.
Lesson 7
Don’t be a
menace to BRC while drinking your juice on the playa. When a nice dreadlocked
Argentine gifts you a smoothie, don’t swill it while riding
your bike. You will run into people. Naked people. And they won’t
be happy when you spill puréed fruit all over them.
Lesson 8
Have no plan at
Burning Man. It’s virtually
impossible to see everything; would you try to see every inch of a
city in a matter of days anyway? The less of an agenda you stick to,
the more fun you will have.
Lesson 9
Absolutely anything
is possible. Two massive semi-trucks | 
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Your article is short , sweet , funny and informative. I would like to see more photos though.
Witty. I dug your brief commentary. As ecclectic and counter culture as burning man is, I'm impressed how you've captured some bit of it with so few words.