Hello Kroka
Community!
I am Mayah, the Vermont Semester 2015 blog writer. In each blog I will attempt to share the many voices within our semester team by sharing authorship of our experience.
I am Mayah, the Vermont Semester 2015 blog writer. In each blog I will attempt to share the many voices within our semester team by sharing authorship of our experience.
A Kroka Morning
Already I can feel the threads of our community begin to
weave as the people around me draw closer, make connections, and start to
settle in to the gentle routine of life at Kroka. With each day that passes our
family forms a little bit more, and people become increasingly more comfortable
with the systems that keep our community running smoothly.
Our day
begins with a wake up call from our Energy Manager, Chase. Pulling on headlamps
and a second pair of socks, we emerge into the chilly morning air that has
remained untouched by the sun since it set the evening before. One by one we
trickle into the Big Yurt: our kitchen, dining room, living room, play space,
work space, and gathering space. Sleepy "good mornings" are
exchanged, and we have a snack before heading out to do chores.
Soon, we
are spread out across the campus chopping wood, cooking breakfast, cleaning and
taking care of the animals. When the much anticipated bell is rung, it is time to
return to the warmth of the yurt and eat breakfast. By the time that we have
finished dishes, the sun is climbing steadily over the trees and we are ready
to go outside and enjoy it! We greet the day by finding our own space among the
trees and dwellings, and enjoying some much needed solo time.
The rest of
the morning is spent in our morning block, which is composed of different
things every day. Some of us spend it in the warm basement of the Haven sewing
Anoraks with Lisl, others exercise with Misha or stretch our brains with a math
lesson. At 12:30, we are circled up and singing, very much ready for our next
meal after a full morning.
A Kroka Afternoon
[Rachel]
After lunch
we wash dishes slowly, reluctant to leave the warmth of the Yurt and of our
semester mates. When we manage to extract ourselves, we head off; hands shoved
in jacket pockets and hats securely on heads to ward off the cold. Our
afternoon block is composed of whatever we missed in the morning; if we sewed anoraks
before lunch, we have time to work on our big jobs and to exercise. Our
workouts might be challenging, but they are never boring; while one afternoon
might find us doing yoga in the yurt, the next could be spent playing blob tag
on the Beaver Pond to test our skating skills.
After hours
spent apart, it is a joy to gather back in the yurt. As the evening creeps in
and dyes the snow and sky pink and orange and red, warm colors for a cold
night. We sing ourselves together again, and dinner is accompanied by energetic
discussions of our day. Pushups and Poetry follows, a rousing round of talk and
calisthenics. Finally, we settle into evening meeting, checking in on
individual and group heath before returning to our dwellings.
With fires
lit in stoves and everything wrapped in velvet darkness, we sleep and dream of
days to come.
What else have we been up to?
Sunday was spent on our first trial expedition, which consisted of six hours of skiing with backpacks. By the end we were tired and chilly, but the group came out of it with glowing faces and an incredible sense of communal accomplishment.
Last night some of us went contra dancing, a semester tradition for many years. Several of the students are avid dancers and had a blast teaching the less experienced how to "swing", "allemande" and "gypsy".
When we are not skiing, working on big jobs or doing chores, we are in the sewing room learning how to make Anoraks. They will keep us warm and dry during our upcoming days of skiing, and are an essential part of our pre-trip process.
Taking Charge of our Community
On Wednesday we were assigned Big jobs, which are specific
titles given to each student that cover all of the chores and responsibilities
that come with expedition, and keep our community running smoothly. Each day, time
is set aside to work on these jobs and to begin preparation for expedition. For
example, the medic makes sure we're all staying healthy, the expedition food
managers plan what and how much food we will resupply with at layovers, and the
bike manager works on getting our bikes into tip top shape for the spring.
Lets hear it from the students!
Izzy
Expedition Food Manager
"I'm excited to learn how to manage food on
expedition"
Andrew
Farm and Firewood Manager
"I am looking forward to working with the Farm animals."
Emma
Navigator
"I get to lead everyone to my house!"
Ezra
Kitchen Manager
"I'm excited to not forget kitchen equipment so
that everyone can eat"
Sam
Water, bathroom and bike manager
"I'm really excited about learning all of the of the
mechanics- Joe is a great teacher."
Tommy
Gear Manager
"I'm really excited to get some hands-on experience
with the tent, and to work alongside Nathanael in ski management."
Hazel
Base Camp Food Manager
"I am looking forward to planning luxurious meals for our layovers"
"I am looking forward to planning luxurious meals for our layovers"
Mayah
Scribe
"I'm so excited to be able to use my passion for
writing in a productive way while on semester, and to bring the ideas from the
group together"
Chase
Energy Manager
"I'm excited to be the one to power the group."
Nathanael
Ski Manager
"I'm glad to have Misha as my big job mentor, and
excited to work with him more."
Jamie
Expedition Food Manager
"I'm excited to start the packout process alongside
Izzy."
Noa
Camp logistics, treasurer
"There is a lot of artistic work involved with my big
job that is a lot of fun, I'm really enjoying it."
Cat
Medic, hygiene, sweep
"I'm learning about homeopathic medicine, as well as
the risks and medicines that come along with leading a simple lifestyle"
Rachel
Sewing Manager
"I am excited about my honing sewing technique and keeping everyone's gear in best shape."
Rachel
Sewing Manager
"I am excited about my honing sewing technique and keeping everyone's gear in best shape."
Jamie and Izzy prepare dry food for expedition |
Mayah dances at the Nelson Contra Dance |
Semester Ice Dancing |
Emma |
Lisl teaching Tommy |
Chase |
Ezra |
Hazel, Rachel, Oliver, and Tommy practicing on the Beaver Pond |
Izzy, Cat, Jamie, and Rachel playing Blob tag |
Tommy chasing Andrew |
Sam |
Nathanael |
Noa, Rachel, Andrew, Jamie |
Nathanael and Tommy |