in three sentences? michael is a man of few words but much passion. he loves raking, which made for a really lovely experience (see my other post); he loves sports, which made for solid conversation; he loves music, and I saw his big cd collection when he showed me his room; and he loves his woodwork. he showed me his workshop on wednesday, and gave me a chance to see a hobby of his that really keeps him involved with the community at camphill while also providing him with a space to really call his own in which he gets to devote his time and energy into something he cares very deeply about.

this is michael's drawing of a baseball--some very important things to note: one, we are both phillies fans, so crisis averted; two, riva commented that the colors really bring this to life, and that the use of yellow especially makes the other colors pop, with which I concur.

the first morning I worked with michael, we were on the dairy farm raking leaves. at dinner the night before, I remember that he was so excited to rake--I'd asked him about what type of work he did on the dairy farm and for the rest of the night he kept telling me how he hoped that we'd be raking. and I think it was a really great morning and a really lovely experience. working with him doing something he absolutely loved gave me a new attitude--even though I wasn't exactly over the moon to be raking (it's a regular chore for me to begin with, so it wasn't like I was doing something new like working in the weavery or pottery studio), it was easy to have fun when he was so invovled. part of the reason why it was so memorable is because it was so relaxed, fun, and comfortable.

Setting:

Medium-security women’s prison in North Philadelphia. Class attendance ranges from around 8-15 women, once a week, for an hour and a half. Classroom has a chalkboard, and three long, rectangular tables and chairs.

Rationale:

One morning Sula and I went on an impromptu walk. We were supposed to meet Suzy and Sebastian at the herb garden, but they weren’t there yet. The weather was pleasant so we decided to take wander around. We walked all the way down the main road. We saw a variety of people walk and drive by. There was a really old man who we didn’t know how to interact with. There was a young family in front of us, a woman with her two kids. One of the kids was riding a scooter. Halfway through the walk the road got really steep and the kid put their scooter to lean against a tree. The family kept walking. Sula and I commented that it’s like Camphill has a honor code. I started to think about what it would be like to grow up in Camphill.

My project focused on a large corportaion and what they represent with their clothing designs, labor practices, and political supporters. If I wanted to bring this a step further, I could try to organize some awareness group to educate people who may be unaware of Urban's practices, considering a large amount of people shop here regularly. Considering there was a lot of information about the Urban controversies online, I'm wondering if there is more that the company hides. 

Although working with Sebastian was an incredible, and in many ways life-changing experience, the most directly transformative memory for me took place at a lunch at Kerria House. Sebastian, his house family (a mother, a father, and three daughters), Ina, Natalie, and two older villagers were present, enjoying a delicious meal. Gavin, the house father, was incredibly friendly and respectful towards the villagers who lived in his home, incorporating everyone at the table into the conversation and valuing everyone’s contributions. As Natalie and I learned, he had actually had some experience in working with individuals with developmental disabilities (unlike many of the other house family members around Camphill). 

Sebastian's portrait of me as the Princess Bride:

Sebastian was an incredible partner to work with over the course of our Camphill stay. He is one of the most genuinely kind people I have ever met, and was constantly concerned about my comfort and happiness (I was sick during the trip, and he was sure to check in and pat me on the back every time I coughed). Sebastian is multi-talented and goal-driven--he was working on a beautiful tapestry in the weavery and a mosaic cross in the pottery room when I was visiting. Sebastian's style was what stood out most of all; every day he wore a different vest and accessorized with multiple rings and beaded necklaces.