History, Sweating, and Camping

Hello again,
So I know that I haven't been updating regularly, who wants to be inside with a laptop when it is sunny and beautiful and 70* outside?

I will admit that it is hard to remember what happened the past week, but I will do my best. In one of my classes we talked about alternative energy and then we got to go inside (but not up) one of the wind turbines. That was kind of cool. I also learned about tidal power and wave power, which was interesting because I didn't even know that those were possibilities. I also learned that bat's get killed flying into wind turbines, which was not cool. However, if you put out a radar signal (one as weak as a radar gun) from the top of the turbine then they will avoid it.

In another class (group dynamics & conflict facilitation) we learned about non violent communication. It is difficult to explain but is basically a way to communicate based on focusing on what you are observing, feeling, needing, and then making a request. I know that's not a good explanation, for a better one click here. Part of the idea is that behind every feeling there is a need that is not being met and non violent communication focuses more on the need than the feeling.

On Thursday, we went on an outing to Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairn. Culloden Battlefield is the site of the last ever battle to be fought on British soil. It was a giant, bloody battle; many people view it as a battle between the Scots and the English but it's slightly more complex than that. If you are really interested you can click here. Clava Cairns are 4000 year old burial mounds/astrological awsomeness. They were originally beehive shaped burial chambers or mounds but are roofless now. Two them were built with such precision that the passageways leading into them align with the point on the horizon where the sun sets on the summer solstice so they sun rays shine right into the cairn.

On Friday we sweat our prayers in a sweat lodge. We had to take off all of our jewelry because it would get so hot that it could burn us. I have never sweat so much in my life. It was like being back in the womb, pitch black and incredibly hot. We sung and prayed and it was incredible. Words would not do it justice and so I will not even attempt to explain it. You will just have to trust me.

On Saturday a few of the guys in our group decided to bike an hour and a half to caves by the ocean that have pictish stone carvings in them and to camp there. The rest of the guys went to the pubs so we had a girls night. We had girly talk all night and looked up our astrological charts and ate popcorn.

Last night, (Sunday) I decided to sleep outside (in the sand dunes) with my friend Nicole. We managed to find two sleeping bags from people in the community AND someone showed us this amazing hidden shack in the middle of the sand dunes. Andrew and Debbie (a girl my age who we randomly met who is staying with Mo) came out with us and they started a little fire for us and we all hung out for a while. I slept with my thermals, leggings, flannel pants, two pairs of socks, three shirts on and a winter had and STILL woke up cold throughout the night. While it is nice and warm during the day, it's still freezing at night and when we woke up around 8 am everything outside was covered in frosty dew. Then we ate breakfast on top of a roof and then had work departments (cleaning at Cluny) all day. We actually hitch hiked there (we wanted to have lunch there and the bus only goes there after lunch) and ate lunch with Wilhemina; this amazing old(er) woman who used to do homecare there with us but now works in the dining hall. She's kind of a motherly figure to us and listens to us and gives advice.

Every day here the sun stays out longer and longer; yesterday was actually daylight savings time. It's 8 PM now and STILL pretty light out, I love it. I feel like my entire personality has changed since it started to get warm and sunny outside. Everyday is amazing and wonderful and sunny; I love love love love LOVE it. I've been taking long walks down the beach, swinging on swings, laying in the grass, just soaking up the sunny goodness.

I almost forgot! I'm learning how to play the Didgeridoo! Well, kind of. Craig, one of the community members plays it and he taught me and a few other students a little about it. There's no use playing it until you can circular breathe, which I can't. Yet. I've been practicing. So I'll keep you updated on that. I guess I'm not really learning how to play the didgeridoo, I'm learning how to breathe right, but it's a step in the right direction.

Anyway, Aunt Kay- Some zoning regulations and policies are just stupid. I say build it anyway and practice civil disobedience! I think that you know way more about alternative energy than I do. And build Tinytown so I can move in and live with you! I'll help build it! I hope that your goats are all awesome. I have decided that one hundred years in the future when I have my own house and job I want to have one (pygmy) goat, a sheep, a horse and a dog. Maybe two of everything so they don't get lonely. Do goats get lonely?

And finally, new pictures are up. Check here.

Cheers!